This past Wednesday night's edition of Dynamite was historic for a number of reasons, chief among them the fact that in the aftermath, AEW CEO Tony Khan was forced to vacate both the AEW World Title and the AEW World Trios Championship. The Trios Titles would not stay vacant long though as Death Triangle would defeat The Best Friends to become the new champions in a tremendous contest:
As for the World Title, it was determined a three week Grand Slam Tournament of Champions would determine a new champion, and it began on Dynamite with Bryan Danielson defeating “Hangman” Adam Page in the first Wild Card match-up, setting up an All Out 2022 rematch with Chris Jericho this coming Wednesday in Albany. In addition, Wardlow decimated Tony Nese in a TNT Title Match, Toni Storm topped Penelope Ford in an Eliminator Match, and Daniel Garcia made dreams come true not only when he won the ROH Pure Title in front of his hometown audience, but also when his wrestling hero, the man who retired the original Pure Title in 2006, Bryan Danielson, strapped the belt around Red Death's waist.
The next edition of Rampage begins at 10:00pm EDT/9:00pm CDT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, and it brings to fans the next Wild Card match in the Grand Slam Tournament between Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara, Claudio Castagnoli defending the ROH World Title against Dax Harwood, Samoa Joe making his presence known, and Serena Deeb in action against Madison Rayne! And be sure to visit the official AEW YouTube channel to get caught up with Dynamite highlights, Dark: Elevation, AEW Dark, Road To, and this week's Control Center with Tony Schiavone!
GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT RAMPAGE WILD CARD...
Sammy Guevara (w/ Tay Melo) vs. Darby Allin
It was a rivalry that helped define the AEW careers of both men, and this Friday night it will be renewed when Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin collide in the Rampage Wild Card Match of the Grand Slam Tournament of Champions! It's been seven months since their last one-on-one collision, a TNT Title bout when Sammy was the victorious defending champion, but in their three singles bouts, it is Darby with the overall advantage. Factor in that TNT Title Match Three Way with Andrade in which Guevara pinned Andrade, and their record is a dead heat.
But the last time they shared a ring at Revolution 2022, it was as allies rather than enemies, with a modicum of respect having been built up from the wars they'd shared, but that was a Guevara who'd made a choice to stand alone, one who had stepped away from The Inner Circle, but before The Jericho Appreciation Society had been formed around Chris Jericho. Now the “Spanish God” has returned to form, once more embraced the darkness in his heart, and along with Tay Melo, fully thrown his lot into Jericho's stable once more, and coming out of a AAA Mixed Tag Title victory over Ruby and Ortiz during the All Out 2022: Zero Hour.
As for Darby, he's coming out of a fresh hell with The House of Black and their Trios victory at All Out 2022 last Sunday night. It was quite the physical battle, one that had to take its toll on the Relentless One, but that doesn't mean he's going to shy away from a battle that could lead Darby to the AEW World Title. In addition, Allin has promised to enter into this battle without Sting at his side, but can Sammy be trusted to leave The J.A.S. in the back and fight this one straight up?
And to the victor of this battle next week on Rampage waits Jon Moxley...
ROH WORLD TITLE MATCH...
Claudio Castagnoli(c) vs. Dax Harwood
For Claudio Castagnoli, reigning as a World Champion was a dream long chased after, and fought extremely hard to achieve, and now that it has been accomplished, the work becomes even harder as there is the effort to maintain World Champion status, the effort to live up to the legacy of those who came before, and the effort to grow his own legacy as the champion in this new era of honor.
With that in mind, ever since capturing the championship at ROH's Death Before Dishonor 2022 event, Castagnoli has been willing to take on all challengers, lead with an Open Contract, and welcoming anyone to the fight in order to build that legacy. To date, in the 48 days since beating Jonathan Gresham, Double C has been challenged by Konosuke Takeshita, Dustin Rhodes, and Ari Daivari, and turned away each of their challenges. Three different athletes, three very different styles, and Castagnoli has been able to adapt to them all with great success, and this Friday he welcomes the challenge of yet another competitor.
Dax Harwood, one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions, the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions, and the reigning AAA World Tag Champions with Cash Wheeler, will be the next man to step up to the challenge. Obviously Dax is most closely associated with tag team wrestling, but he's demonstrated on multiple occasions in AEW just how strong a singles wrestler he can be as well with fights against his own partner, against Jungle Boy, Will Ospreay, and Jay Lethal, to name a few. Dax's accomplishments as both a singles and tag have given many fans motivation to declare him the best wrestler of the year thus far, and he could only bolster his resume by ascending to the throne as the 37th ROH World Champion!
Claudio has been through many a rough fight in his career, and Dax is sure to bring him another one in this championship bout! Will Harwood add another title to the collection amassing around his waist, or will The Blackpool Combat Club member continue building upon his legacy as ROH World Champion?
WHEN SAMOA JOE SPEAKS, YOU LISTEN...
And speaking of the legacy of ROH World Champions, the longest reigning one in the titles 20 year history made his return to AEW at All Out 2022, and now reigning ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe will return to TNT this Friday night on Rampage!
After helping The Pinnacle against Jay Lethal's consortium on Sunday night, where does Joe go from there? Tune in Friday night to see what he has to say!
ONE-ON-ONE...
Madison Rayne vs. Serena Deeb
Madison Rayne may have been brought into AEW as a coach, but she's proven to be quite a player as well! She's already given Jade Cargill a tremendous fight for the TBS Title, but after failing in that bid, she aims to build herself back up into title contention. That journey begins now, and with another woman who's perpetually in the championship conversation, but has not been able to claim either the AEW Women's World Title or ROH Women's World Title for herself either, “The Professor” Serena Deeb!
Deeb is on a five-match win streak since losing to Mercedes Martinez at DBD '22 in their ROH Women's World Title Match, and she wants to get another shot at becoming champion sooner rather than later! Can Rayne rain on the Deeb parade this Friday night, or will “The Professor” teach “The Coach” a new wrestling lesson?
Rampage begins at 10:00pm EDT/9:00pm CDT on TNT, as well as at AEWPlus.com for our international audiences, and features an ROH World Title Match, a clash between two of AEW's premier Women's wrestlers, and the reigniting of an old rivalry between Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara, only now with AEW World Title implications! Get prepared for all that's coming at the official AEW YouTube channel with Dynamite highlights, Dark: Elevation, AEW Dark, Road To, and this week's Control Center with Tony Schiavone!