**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Tonight’s episode of AEW RAMPAGE was broadcast from the sold-out Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA!
It’s Friday and you know what that means!
Tonight’s announce team was Excalibur, “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz, “The Wizard” Chris Jericho, and Adam Cole!
The Young Bucks—Matt & Nick Jackson vs. The Lucha Brothers—Penta Oscuro & Rey Fenix (with Alex Abrahantes)!
Penta Oscura and Matt Jackson began the match for their respective teams. Penta threw his glove in Matt’s face. Matt ducked a sling blade and then escaped a fear factor attempt. Penta Oscura landed an up kick but Matt swept out Penta Oscuro’s leg.
“A stale mate here to start this contest,” said Excalibur.
Nick Jackson tagged in, as did Rey Fenix, and Rey Fenix tried a powerbomb to the outside but Nick landed on his feet. They returned to the ring and they grazed one another with kicks.
The fans chanted “A-E-W! A-E-W! A-E-W!”
Matt Jackson knocked down Rey Fenix with a blindside shot. Nick Jackson flipped over the top rope onto Rey Fenix but then Penta Oscura seized the moment with a tope con hiro on the Bucks. Rey Fenix followed up with a tornillo on the Bucks!
Nick Jackson blasted Rey Fenix with a kick off the apron but Rey returned fire with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker!
“Both teams leaving it all out here,” said Taz.
Rey Fenix jumped off the top rope but Matt Jackson raised his knees in defense, forcing Rey to crash land! Matt Jackson used the locomotion Northern Lights suplexes on Rey Fenix and then finished with a double suplex on both Lucha Bros!
Nick Jackson dropped a beautiful senton atomico on Rey Fenix for a near fall. The Lucha Bros used a foot stomp/DDT combo on Nick Jackson outside the ring, and a foot stomp/DDT combo on Penta inside the ring for a near fall! Rey Fenix flattened Matt Jackson with a frog splash for another near fall.
AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurassic Express and the Hardys watched the match from the front row.
Nick Jackson dropkicked the Lucha Bros into a poison rana, with Penta Oscura landing on the crown of his head! Nick Jackson and Rey Fenix traded forearm shivers. Rey Fenix splashed Nick Jackson from on top of Penta Oscura’s shoulders! Penta followed up with a destroyer on Matt Jackson!
Nick Jackson countered a black fire driver with a cradle for a near fall. Matt tagged in and he and Nick started a superkick party for the Lucha Brothers! The Bucks drilled Rey with a Meltzer Driver but Rey was able to escape the pin attempt! Matt Jackson ripped off Penta’s mask. He covered his face to protect his identity but the Bucks superkicked him. The Bucks nailed Rey Fenix with the BTE Trigger and then pinned him!
“What a classic we just witnessed!” said Excalibur.
Nick Jackson jumped into the crowd after the match to celebrate with his family.
Team Taz’s FTW Champion “Absolute” Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs made short work of their unnamed opponents!
“These two men proving they do not get paid by the hour,” said Excalibur.
“The Fallen Goddess” Athena vs. Kiera Hogan (with TBS Champion Jade Cargill, publicist Stokely Hathaway, and Red Velvet)!
Kiera cracked Athena with a forearm. Athena caught Kiera but Kiera escaped. Athena connected with a crossbody off the ropes to Kiera Hogan.
Athena got in the face of Jade Cargill outside the ring. Athena tried to jump into the ring at Kiera but Red Velvet trapped her leg. Kiera rocked Athena with a kick to the spine. She mounted Athena with the ground and pound attack.
Athena blasted Kiera with a shotgun dropkick! Athena connected with a front hand spring into an elbow strike on Kiera. Red Velvet kicked Athena from behind and Kiera gained the upper hand from her Baddies partner. But Athena rallied back and used the swan diving cutter and pinned Kiera Hogan!
“Impressive debut from Athena!” said Chris Jericho.
The House of Black inducted Julia Hart into their group!
Newly Crowned AEW World Champion CM Punk Addressed the AEW World Championship!
CM Punk: “When I got here earlier today I pulled up to the arena and every bone in my body was screaming at me to turn around, and when I say every bone in my bodies, I mean even the broken ones. But everyone here deserves an explanation.
“I said since I stepped foot in AEW that I would give you my all until the wheels fell off. I’ve got good news and bad news. Which one do you want first? Because the last thing I ever wanted to feel was like I was letting any of you down or leave you feeling disappointed. So I hope thus far I haven’t made you feel that way. I have loved every single second I have been in this ring. Every second I’ve been in this ring in front of all of you is a gift I thought I’d never be able to experience again.
“Here’s the bad news. The bad news is I’m injured and I need surgery. A couple of things are broken, the biggest thing is my heart. The wheels are still there. They haven’t fallen off, it’s just that one of them has been broken. This is a bump in the road. It hurts like hell. I want to wrestle for you. I want to wrestle right now.
“And that being said, let’s talk about this title. I told Tony that I don’t want to hold this place up. There’s a lot of talent that can hold this title. I’m talking Bryan Danielson. I’m talking Jon Moxley. But Tony told me he believes in CM Punk, and I needed to hear that. Sometimes I get a little down on myself and then doubt creeps in.
“I’m not going to let that doubt creep in and that get back is going to be bigger than the setback. I’m champion for a reason and I’m going to show you exactly why. I’m going to come back bigger, faster, hungrier than ever before and I’m going to prove when I am the best in the world!”
Main Event Time!
TNT Championship Title Match!
TNT Champ Scorpio Sky (with “All Ego” Ethan Page & American Top Team’s Dan Lambert) vs. Dante Martin (with Matt Sydal)!
Dante used head scissors and then an arm drag to take down Scorpio Sky. Dante jumped over Sky and dropkicked him to the outside. Dante jumped from the top rope to Scorpio Sky outside the ring. He followed up with a shotgun dropkick to the champ for a near fall!
Dante used a diving cross body press on Scorpio Sky but Sky rolled through. Dante smashed Sky with a flying foot stomp. Scorpio Sky had enough and ended Dante’s impressive momentum with the TKO to score the pin!
***THIS WEDNESDAY on #AEWDynamite at 8/7c on TBS, we’ll kick things off with a Battle Royale to determine who faces #1 contender Jon Moxley in the Dynamite main event! The winner of Dynamite’s main event goes on to #ForbiddenDoor to challenge for the Interim #AEW World Championship!
We will be live from the Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, MO!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!