AEW Rampage live results: Adam Cole vs. Tomohiro Ishii

The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament qualifying matches will continue on Friday’s AEW Rampage as Adam Cole takes on NJPW’s Tomohiro Ishii in the latter’s return to the promotion.

The match is also a preview of June’s newly-announced Forbidden Door pay-per-view between AEW and NJPW.

The TBS title will be on the line as undefeated inaugural champion Jade Cargill will look for another defense of the gold against new challenger Marina Shafir. Shafir, a former WWE NXT wrestler, is unbeaten this year and made her Dynamite debut last week.

In a grudge match, Eddie Kingston will face Daniel Garcia of the Jericho Appreciation Society. Both the JAS and Santana & Ortiz will be banned from ringside for the match.

Ahead of his heavyweight clash with Wardlow this Wednesday, Lance Archer will face Serpentico.

Two promos have also been announced as Tony Schiavone will interview Owen Hart Foundation Tournament qualifiers Britt Baker, Toni Storm and Jamie Hayter in addition to Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland.

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From Pittsburgh, with Excalibur, Taz and Ricky Starks on commentary

Adam Cole defeated Tomohiro Ishii (w/ Rocky Romero & Orange Cassidy) in an Owen Hart Cup Qualifier (11:14)

A shoulder tackle sent Cole flying out of the ring early on. Cole drove Ishii into the corner with formers and kicks, but when Cole stopped to celebrate, Ishii dropped him with a vicious chop. The fight went to the floor, and Cole ducked a clothesline, causing Ishii to hit the post instead. Cole sent Ishii into the ring barricade, then tossed him back into the ring for some ground and pound offense.

Cole drove a knee into Ishii’s back and worked a chinlock. Cole followed up with a hangman’s neckbreaker. Cole tried slapping Ishii around a bit, and that was a mistake. Ishii no-sold a series of forearms from Cole. Ishii then dropped Cole with a single forearm, then caught Cole with a spinning powerslam. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Cole hit an ushigoroshi as the show went to a split-screen break. 

Back from the break, Ishii hit a delayed superplex for a near fall. Cole dodged a sliding lariat and hit a superkick. Cole went to Lower the Boom, but Ishii ducked and hit the sliding lariat for the near fall. Ishii went for a brainbuster, but Cole countered it with a kneecap brainbuster for a near fall. Cole went for a Panama Sunrise, but Ishii avoided it and hit an enziguri.

Both guys were down, and Ishii made it to his feet first. Ishii with a headabutt, but Cole came back with a superkick. Ishii flattened Cole with a lariat. Jay White ran down and attacked Rocky Romero, throwing him into the ringside stairs. This distraction allowed Cole to hit Ishii with a low blow, and Cole Lowered the Boom to get the pin. 

– Earlier today, AEW security threw Jericho Appreciation Society out of the building. Except for Danny Garcia, who has a match with Eddie Kingston later. Jericho is filing a complaint with HR over this! Danny Garcia promised to win, because he’s a “Sports Entertainer.” 

– HOOK SPEAKS! Danhausen destoryed a bag of chips in the back (because they are the source of Hook’s power, you see). “You wanted my attention, you got it.”

Lance Archer defeated Serpentico (w/ Jake Roberts) (0:33)

Serpentico tried a tope suicidia before the bell and that went about as badly as you’d expect. A suplex and Everybody Dies finished Serpentico in short order. After the match, Archer chokeslammed Serpentico. Shawn Spears on commentary was super-enthused about Archer’s chances against Wardlow next week.

– Mark Sterling narrates a package of Tony Nese highlights. Sterling promised to take Nese to the top! 

 Eddie Kingston defeated Danny Garcia (11:22 aired)

Everyone from both guys’ respective groups is barred from the building to keep this one-on-one. Kingston brawls with Garcia and takes the fight to the floor, whipping Garcia into the barricade and the steel stairs. Kingston missed a charge and collided with the stairs, and Garcia took control. Back in the ring, Garcia buried knees into Kingston’s ribs. Kingston came back with a chop, but Garcia hit a shoulder to the ribs. Garcia kept up the shots to the ribs, and Kingston kept coming back with chops.

Garcia worked over Kingston in the corner with forearms, and bit the head of Kingston. Kingston came back, biting Garcia’s ear. The fight went to the floor again, and Garcia sent Kingston into the ringpost. 

After a picture-in-picture break, both guys exchanged strikes in the middle of the ring. Kingston went for a suplex but Garcia countered into an abdominal stretch. Kingston tried to counter, but Garcia turned that into a German suplex for a near fall. Garica stomped on Kingston in the corner. Garcia charged into a boot, and Kingston followed up with a knee off the middle rope. Kingston went for a DDT, but Garica took him down with a double-leg takedown and locked in a Boston crab. Kingston made the ropes, but Garcia pulled him back into a Sharpshooter. Kingston broke that hold by getting to the ropes again.

Garcia went for another Sharpshooter, but Kingston kicked out and caught Garcia with a enziguri. Half-and-half suplex from Kingston got a near fall. Garcia avoided a spinning backfist, but Kingston caught him with a backdrop suplex, then hit the spinning backfist on the second try for the pinfall. Great stuff here. 

After the match, Kingston threatened whipping Garcia with his belt, but got on the microphone and told Garcia he’d spare him. But,  that beating was a message for his boss. 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland promised the war with Team Taz wasn’t over yet. Lee was particularly disappointed that Taz interfered. Ricky Starks offered a retort from commentary. This feud must continue! 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed Toni Storm, Jamie Hayter and Dr. Britt Baker, DMD. Toni Storm took over the promo and promised to win the tournament. Sure seems like this is going to a Britt/Storm final match.

– Promo for Dynamite, with Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler both promising to honor Owen Hart by winning the tournament. The rest of the Dynamite rundown didn’t add any new matches to the show. More of the Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood interviews will air on a special “Road to…” on the AEW YouTube channel this Tuesday at 6:30 EST. 

Jade Cargill (w/ Mark Sterling and The Baddies at ringside) defeated Marina Shafir to reatin the TBS Championship (11:41)

Shafir started with some leg kicks, which stunned Cargill. But Cargill soon got the advantage with a fallaway slam and a clothesline to the floor. On the floor, Cargill really dominated. While Sterling distracted the ref, Red Velvet and Kiera Hogan beat on Shafir from behind the barricade.

Back in the ring, Cargill got a near fall after a back suplex. Cargill with the ground and pound offense, but some posing from Cargill allowed Shafir to pick Cargill’s leg and lock on a guillotine. Cargill powered out and got another nearfall as the show went to its final split-screen break.

Cargill had an inverted abdominal stretch on Shafir, but she escaped with a hip throw. Shafir went after Cargill’s knee and locked in a kneebar. Cargill got to the ropes to force a break. Shafir wrapped Cargill’s leg against the post and tossed Sterling on the floor as well. 

The Baddies distracted Shafir by throwing popcorn at her. Cargill blindsided Shafir with a pumpkick. Cargill chokeslammed Shafir on the timekeeper’s table that did not break. That was a spot this match didn’t need. Cargill dumped Shafir back into the ring, and celebrated with the Baddies at ringside.

Cargill went for an arrogant cover, but Shafir picked her ankle and locked in a heel hook. Cargill kicked her way out of the hold with her free leg, and then abruptly finished Shafir off with the Jaded slam. This was basically an extended squash for Cargill. But she looked like a big star. 

Post-match, money shot out of the ring posts and green balloons fell from the ceiling to celebrate Cargill’s victory. 

Final Thoughts: 

This was an okay show.