Post by sethisthegoat on Dec 22, 2023 17:06:16 GMT -5
AEW Winter is Coming
Rampage
Dec. 22, 2023
The show opens with a recap of the major moments from the Dynamite Winter is Coming episode, showcasing the Young Bucks beating the Usos; Paul Heyman’s AEW debut and alignment with Wardlow; Natural Selection defending their belts against the Outsiders; Jeff Cobb’s win of the battle royale, which featured Scotty Flamingo’s debut; Kenny Omega and Roman Reigns’ double countout; the huge 8-woman tag that saw Beth Phoenix pin Ronda Rousey; and Cody Rhodes’ defense of the AEW World Championship against Malakai Black, with the help of holding the tights and some rope leverage.Pat McAfee and Coach welcome the fans to the show. They run down the Rampage card and note that this will be the final episode of Rampage before AEW shifts to Collision in 2024, which will be a 2-hour show allowing for more of AEW’s talent to be featured.
Match 1 - TBS Championship: Sasha Banks © (15-3) vs. Alexa Bliss (11-5) w/ The Beautiful People
- Banks uses her size advantage to get the early advantage, dragging Bliss down to the mat and applying various stretches
- Bliss rakes her eyes to break the hold and hits an enziguri to bring Banks to her knees
- A little later, Bliss hits the Glitter Blizzard (sunset flip powerbomb) on Banks for a nearfall
- Banks heats back up with multiple forehand chops, a Japanese arm drag and, when Bliss pops up, a tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown.
- She hits Bankrupt next for a nearfall, only broken by Bliss’ foot on the ropes
- Bliss rolls to the outside to regroup. Velvet Sky slides in on the other side of the ring to attack Banks, but the ref intercepts her as Banks follows Bliss out of the ring only to be attacked by Angelina Love hitting the Botox Injection (bicycle kick).
- Bliss whips Banks into the stars, back first, then smashes her face in the ring post before rolling her back in the ring.
- Bliss hits the Insult to Injury (standing double knee drop, followed by a standing moonsault double knee drop) that gets 2
- As Bliss argues with the ref, Banks rolls Bliss up for 2; Bliss rakes her eyes again, kicks her in the gut and hits a DDT before going to the top rope and hitting the Twisted Bliss for the pinfall and the win in 14:22.
- Bliss celebrates the win with the Beautiful People, ending Banks’ reign as the inaugural TBS Champion at 4 months.
—
Match 2 - Dean Malenko (13-13) w/ Jake Hager vs. Rey Mysterio (8-4)
- Mysterio hits a springboard crossbody, followed by a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, sending Malenko into prime 6-1-9 position. But Hager pulls Malenko free to the outside before Mysterio can hit the move.
- Mysterio with suicide dive knocks both Hager and Malenko down!
- Back in the ring, Malenko hits a gutbuster, followed by a backbreaker. He attempts a superplex, but Mysterio blocks it and pushes him off. Mysterio hits a diving hurricanrana, followed by a 619! He goes for the springboard splash, but Hager pulls Malenko out of the way.
- Malenko locks in the Texas Cloverleaf, but Mysterio reaches the ropes. Malenko then tries to hit a powerbomb, but Mysterio counters with a sunset flip. Hager gets on the apron and distracts the referee, allowing for Malenko to kick out.
- Malenko finally locks the Cloverleaf in again in the middle of the ring. Though Mysterio struggles for a long time, he finally taps out at 12:10.
- Malenko and Hager celebrate and head to the back. Mysterio looks dejected, but the fans chant “Thank you, Rey!” as he leaves an AEW ring for the final time.
—
Main Event - LAX vs. DX (six-man tag)
- The match starts with Homicide and Road Dogg in the ring. Homicide cheap shots Road Dogg and beats him down. Hernandez continues the assault on Road Dogg and hits a Border Toss for a pin that is broken up by Gunn.
- Konnan and Gunn square off next. Gunn gets the upper hand and tags in Triple H, who hits a spinebuster on Konnan. Homicide tags in and hits a Cop Killa on Triple H and covers him, but Road Dogg breaks up the pin. Road Dogg then hits a pumphandle slam on Homicide and covers him, but Hernandez breaks up the pin.
- Homicide hits a diving headbutt on Triple H for a nearfall. Homicide tries to hit the Cop Killa again, but Triple H escapes and tags in Gunn, who hits a Fameasser on Homicide. Pinfall broken up by Konnan
- Konnan hits a rolling thunder lariat on Road Dogg and goes for the Tequila Sunrise, but Road Dogg counters with a roll up for a two count. Road Dogg then tags in Triple H, who hits a Pedigree on Konnan. He covers him, but Hernandez breaks up the pin. Hernandez then hits a Border Toss on Triple H and covers him, but Billy Gunn breaks up the pin.
- The match breaks down into a chaotic brawl, with all six men fighting in and out of the ring. The referee tries to restore order, but fails. The highlight of the brawl is when Billy Gunn hits a diving clothesline on Hernandez, sending him through the announce table.
- The brawl ends when Homicide and Triple H get back in the ring. Homicide hits a low blow on Triple H and goes for the Cop Killa, but Triple H counters with a backdrop. He hits another Pedigree on Homicide and covers him for the three count, securing the win for DX after 20 minutes.
Pat McAfee and Coach thank the AEW fans for a great 2023 and note that this is the final regular show of the year. AEW will be back next week with an awards show, featuring an interview with Tony Khan, and will return in 2024 for the fallout from Winter is Coming, plus the first ever Owen Hart Cup that will kick off on Collision in the New Year.