AEW Rampage live results: Adam Cole vs. Evil Uno, two title matches

Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage from Chicago, Illinois, will feature two title matches and Adam Cole vs. Evil Uno.

Cole is coming off a loss to Orange Cassidy in their lights out match at the recent AEW Beach Break event, but is not counting that as a defeat because it was unsanctioned and doesn’t count against his record. He said in a Wednesday promo that after he wins Friday, the world will know what he wants next — assumed to be a World title match.

Friday will see TNT Champion Sammy Guevara in action against Isiah Kassidy in an open challenge title match. This will be Guevara’s first title defense since defeating Cody Rhodes in a ladder match at Beach Break to unify the titles.

FTW Champion Ricky Starks will return to action in a title defense against the surging Jay Lethal that has been building the past few weeks.

In a highly-anticipated women’s match, Thunder Rosa will take on Mercedes Martinez weeks after Martinez cost Rosa her match against Jade Cargill in a TBS title tournament semifinal.

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Taped in Chicago, Illinois, with Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Taz on the call. 

Adam Cole defeated Evil Uno (2:28)

The commentators hammer home the point that the loss to Orange Cassidy does not affect Adam Cole’s win-loss record and his spot as the #1 contender for the World Champion. Evil Uno got a jobberific “already in the ring” introduction and no entrance music.

Cole started off fast with a pump kick and didn’t let up. Uno came back with a hanging neckbreaker and a clothesline. Uno went for a senton, but Cole got his knees up. Cole followed up with a high knee, a superkick, and then Cole Lowered the Boom to get the pinfall.

After the match, Cole got on the house mic ran down the list of all the men he’s beaten in his undefeated singles run. Cole promised to be more ruthless. “No matter the promotion, no matter the company, no matter the brand, Adam Cole always ends up running the show.” Adam Cole ended the promo with a promise to become the AEW World Championship.

– Smart Mark Sterling and TBS Champion Jade Cargill cut a promo backstage looking for looking for her 27th victim.

Sammy Guevara defeated Isiah Kassidy (w/ Matt Hardy & Mark Quen) to retain the TNT Championship (9:14)

Guevara is wearing both TNT title belts to the ring. Guevara’s ribs were taped, illustrating the aftermath from the ladder match with Cody last  week. The injured ribs didn’t stop Guevara from hit a tope suicida over the ropes on Kassidy, then kipping up on the floor. Back in the ring, Guevara avoided a charge from Kassidy and hit a gamengiri. But while Quen distracted referee Aubrey Edwards, Hardy hit Guevara with a Side Effect on the ring apron. The show went to a picture-in-picture break with the match on the floor.

Back from break, Kassidy worked Guevara over with a chinlock. Guevara escaped a back suplex attempt and caught Kassidy with clotheslines and a ripcord knee strike. Guevara went for the GTH but he couldn’t hold up Kassidy (because of his ribs). Kassidy drove an elbow into Guevara’s ribs. Guevara hit a superkick and began to ascend to the top, but then Andrade El Idolo’s music played, distracting Sammy. As Andrade El Idolo and Jose entered the arena, the distraction allowed Kassidy to catch Guevara with a sling blade into a backbreaker, then a backstabber for a near fall.

Guevara rolled to the ring apron to try and buy some time, and when he tried to springboard back into the ring, Kassidy caught him with a cutter. Kassidy followed up with a tope suicida on the floor and then a senton atomico in the ring for a near fall. El Idolo and Jose encouraged Kassidy, and Guevara got a near fall with a backslide. Guevara hit an enziguri on Kassidy, decided to take Quen out with a spectacular moonsault to the floor, then hit a double jump springboard cutter on Kassidy. Guevara then hit the GTH for the pin to retain the championship. Great TV match, and the HFO isn’t looking like a great investment for Andrade.

After the match, it looks like Andrade and Matt are going to jump Guevara (which causes Jericho to get up from commentary). Before things get out of hand, Darby Allin ran in to chase El Idolo and the AHFO away. Allin and Guevara have a staredown in the ring, and Allin salutes the TNT Champion.

– QT Marshall cut a promo running down Hook in a pretaped segment. Marshall has a new student to face Hook that we have never seen before and the match is set for next week. 

– Kris Statlander made the mistake of agreeing to a backstage interview with Tony Schiavone. Leyla Hirsh jumped Statlander from behind with a steel chair. Red Velvet made the save. 

Thunder Rosa defeated Mercedes Martinez by disqualification (6:37 aired)

Rosa hit Martinez with a shotgun dropkick out of the blocks and dominated the opening minutes of the match. Martinez came back with a spinebuster just as the show went to a sprint-screen break for about three minutes of action.

After a full ad break, the show returned with Martinez hitting a death valley driver from the middle rope for a near fall. Martinez attempted a crucifix powerbomb out of the corner, but Rosa slipped out a caught Martinez with a Emerald Frosion. Martinez slid out to the floor. On the floor, Martinez pulled a pipe out from under the ring and clocked Rosa in the face for the disqualification. What? A DQ in AEW?

The disqualification here is clearly leading to a rematch, and the action was fine up until the dq. Free TV disqualifications are totally fine to advance a story. 

– Another promo package hyping up Serena Deeb.

– In the back, Tony Schiavone interviewed Martinez but was quickly interrupted by Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and her crew. And now it’s clear: Baker paid off Martinez to take out Thunder Rosa. This was a surprise to Jamie Hayter. Although Baker isn’t happy that Martinez lost the match, and makes it clear to Martinez she is not to lose again, or her time in AEW will be shorter than the time at her last job. 

And now it’s pretty clear how we’re getting to Thunder Rosa v. Britt for the Women’s World Title at the pay-per-view. 

On Dynamite Wednesday:

• Inner Circle Team Meeting
• MJF Speaks!
• Hangman Page v. Lance Archer for the AEW World Title in a Texas Death Match.
• Face of the Revolution Ladder Match Qualifying Match. (This is now Isiah Kassidy vs. a new AEW talent)
• A huge announcement from Tony Khan. (Didn’t he promise this for tonight on Twitter?)

On Ramage Next Friday:

• Hook vs a member of QT Marshall’s Factory that the graphic identifies as “Blake Li.” 
• Jurassic Express v. The Gunn Club for the AEW World Tag Team Titles. 

Ricky Starks (w/ Powerhouse Hobbs) defeated Jay Lethal to retain the FTW Championship (12:51)

Lethal sent Starks into the ring barricade after a tope suicida. Lethal hit the move a second time, and Powerhouse Hobbs got out of his chair and into Lethal’s face. Lethal tried to send Starks into the ringpost, but Starks slid under the ropes and swung around the ringpost to hit Lethal with a clothesline in a great spot. The show went to its last split-screen break.

During the break, Starks hit a fantastic belly-to-belly suplex. Lethal escaped a front facelock and caught Starks with a clothesline. Starks missed a splash in the corner and Lethal went for pin attempts off a roll up and a La Magistral’s cradle. Starks hit an absolutely spectacular sit out powerbomb for a near fall. Both men exchanged strikes, and Lethal took Starks down with a pump kick and an enziguri. Hobbs got on the apron and was knocked to the floor with a drop kick. Lethal tried to hit a tope on Hobbs on the floor, but Hobbs avoided it and sent Lethal crashing to the floor. Dante Martin ran in from the crowd and took out Hobbs with a spectacular springboard crossbody, then encouraged Lethal back into the ring.

Back in the ring, Lethal hit a twisting cutter. Lethal went for the Lethal Injection, but Starks avoided it. Starks set up a Jay Driller, but Lethal countered that into a jackknife cover. Lethal went for the Lethal Injection, but when he sprung off the ropes, Starks pulled him out of the air and dropped Lethal with the Roshambeaux to get the pin in a spectacular finish. Excellent match! 

Final Thoughts: 

The biggest news out of this show is we’re now on a very clear path to Adam Cole v. Adam Page for the World Title at Revolution , and a pretty clear path to Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker for the Women’s title at the pay-per-view as well. 

Darby Allin v. Sammy Guevara for the TNT Title was teased, but I don’t think that will be for Revolution unless the Darby/Andrade storyline resolves itself pretty quicky. 

I don’t really like that Tony Khan teased a big announcement for tonight, which was only an announcement of an announcement on Dynamite Wednesday. But that’s a minor complaint.