AEW Rampage live results: Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston

AEW Rampage will see Bryan Danielson take on Eddie Kingston in a World title eliminator tournament semifinal match.

Danielson advanced by defeating Dustin Rhodes while Kingston bested Lance Archer. This will be their first match since a 2010 Chikara show and only their second singles clash ever. The winner moves on to face the winner of Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy at Full Gear.

In a trilogy match, Dante Martin will face Matt Sydal. The two squared off twice in June in matches that received rave reviews, but Martin came up short on both occasions. This was originally slated to be Martin and Lio Rush vs. Matt and Mike Sydal, but was changed due to a Mike injury.

AEW Women’s Champion Dr. Britt Baker will be in non-title action for the second straight Rampage as she faces Abadon in the company’s first Trick or Treat match. The “treat” is that if Abadon wins, she’ll receive a future shot at the title while the “trick” is that it’s a no dq match.

CM Punk will also have a backstage promo on the show as well.

This week’s matches were taped after Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite in Boston.

**********

Your hosts are Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho & Ricky Starks 

Bryan Danielson defeated Eddie Kingston to advance to the finals of the World Title Eliminator Tournament (16:23)

They told a great story of Danielson clearly being the better wrestler, but Kingston being too tough and/or stubborn to give up. 

Dueling “Let’s go Eddie! Let’s go Bryan!” chants to start. Kingston backed Danielson into the ropes for a hard chop. Both men were very cautious in the early going. Danielson caught Kingston with kicks and chops in the corner, but Kingston countered with machine gun chops. Danielson came back with a flying clothesline and a dropkick into the corner as the action picked up. On the floor, a frustrated Kingston tossed a folding chair around ringside. 

Back in the ring, Kingston tried to control Danielson on the mat, but Danielson easily maneuvered out of it. Danielson looked mildly annoyed with Kingston’s attempt to wrestle him, and started to work over his arm. Kingston came back with a knee to the midsection and more chops. After exchanging headbutts, Kingston hit a flying dropkick to a pop from the crowd.  

Kingston backed Dnaileson into the ring for more chops to take control as the show went to a picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Danielson knocked Kingston to the floor. Danielson tried to follow with flying knees, but Kingston caught him with a Saito suplex on the floor. Kingston went back in the ring to take the count-out victory, but Danielson got back into the ring before the 10 count. 

Kingston hit another Saito suplex for a near fall, then locked in the stretch plum. Danielson got to the ropes to break the hold. 

Danielson’s chest looked like hamburger meat after all the hard chops from Kingston. Kingston set up Danielson for a superplex, but Bryan broke it up with a headbutt. There are way too many headbutts in this match for a dude who spent 4 years on the shelf with concussion issues. Danielson came back with a top rope back superplex and both guys were down. 

Danielson made it to his feet first and began exchanging strikes with Kingston. Kingston won the exchange with an enziguri, but Danielson came back with a hook kick and then the “yes” kicks to Kingston’s chest. Danielson went for the running knee, but Kingston dropped down to avoid it. Danielson came down with elbows and forearms, then locked on a Fujiarwa armbar. Kingston fought out of the hold and countered with a DDT. 

Both men recovered and exchanged strikes again. Kingston went for an enziguri but Danielson blocked it. Kingston then hit the spinning back fist and both guys were down. Kingston crawled over to Danielson, but he crawled right into a triangle choke. Danielson rained down on Kingston’s head with elbows while he was locked in the choke, and Kingston had no choice but to pass out… not before flipping off Danielson first, however. 

Absolute classic. Danielson advanced to the final round at Full Gear. 

During the break, Danielson tried to show Kingston some respect with a handshake, but Kingston walked away instead. 

– Tony Schiavone interviewed CM Punk. This was interrupted by Eddie Kingston screaming about his loss off camera, then eventually Kingston got into CM Punk’s face. Punk called Kingston “unprofessional” and asked Kingston if he wanted to go to sleep again. Kingston and Punk had to be separated by Ruby Soho, among others. This very clearly sets up a Full Gear match.

Dante Martin (w/ Lio Rush) defeated Matt Sydal (10:58)

This was promoted as the third match in the trilogy. Sydal won the first two. This match was just as good as the others but with the right guy going over. 

Sydal got in between Martin and Rush while Rush was trying to “coach” him. Honestly, Martin is already bigger than both these guys. I’d like to see him involved in something else, but it’s a okay spot for him to get some shine as a singles competitor. 

Sydal tried a snapmare on Martin but Martin landed on his feet. After some back and forth, Martin hit a springboard shotgun dropkick off the top that sent Sydal to the floor. Martin followed up with a springboard moonsault to the floor and the show went to another picture-in-picture break. 

Back from the break, Martin hit a gamengiri after being pretty well dominated during the picture-in-picture. Sydal got Martin with a hook kick and Martin’s selling was fantastic. Sydal followed up with a standing mariposa. After a high sunset flip for two, Martin hit a double footstomp on the chest on a standing Sydal for a near fall. Martin went to the top rope, but Sydal caught him with a jumping rana. Martin was able to get a crucifix for a nearfall. Sydal went for the lightning spiral, but Martin flipped through it and landed on his feet, then hit a flip stunner on Sydal. Martin then came off the top with the double springboard moonsault and held Sydal down for the three. 

The commentators were a little too quick to give Lio Rush the credit for Martin finally getting over the hump with Sydal. Great match. 

– Mark Henry moderated the Abadon and Britt Baker face-to-face. Abandon growled and spat up blood in response to Henry’s question. “It looks like Abadon doesn’t has a comment.” Baker’s stooges were painted up like zombies, and while Baker talked, Abadon left. “Well, Abadon is gone, so…” This was great. 

Card Rundown: Newly announced for next week’s live Rampage, Red Velvet v. the Bunny in the TBS tournament and John Silver v. Adam Cole. No new matches were made for Wednesday’s Dynamite. 

AEW World Champion Dr. Britt Baker (w/ Rebel & Jamie Hayter) defeated Abadon in a non-title “Trick or Treat” no disqualification match (7:27 aired)

This started out kind of slow but turned into a heck of a match. 

Abadon hit a stunner early, and Baker went to the floor to get help from Hayer and Rebel, and the show went to a commercial. 

Back from break, Abandon hit a senton on Baker who was under a chair. Abadon wedged a chair in the corner, and Baker sent Abadon headfirst into the chair. Hayter and Rebel pulled Abadon out of the ring. Abadon pulled Baker out of the ring, but Baker hit a swinging neckbreaker on Abadon onto a table, which did not break. Baker tried to suplex Abadon through the table, and it didn’t break from that, either. Abadon sat up and no-sold both moves. 

Abadon tossed Baker back in the ring and found a sack of thumbtacks under the ring. Starks: “I hate these bags.”  Abadon poured the tacks onto the mat. After a struggle which saw both women tease bumps into the tacks, Abadon drove Baker into the tacks with a uranage. But, this only got a two count. Baker came back by throwing a chair at Abadon’s face. Baker wedged Abadon’s head into the chair and gave her a curb stomp. Baker went for the glove, and Abadon sat up. Baker had a look of sheer terror on her face, then she superkicked Abadon. Baker grabbed a handful of tacks and shoved them into Abadon’s mouth, then superkicked her again. Baker went for lockjaw, but hesitated at sticking her fingers in Abadon’s mouth. Abadon grabbed Baker’s hand and bit down on her fingers. Finally, Hayter and Rebel interfered. Abadon went after Rebel and bit her face, which allowed Baker to roll up Abadon for the pin. 

Final Thoughts:

Abadon will give me nightmares tonight so thanks for that. Britt Baker may be crazy, taking bumps into thumbtacks. Baker’s facial expressions throughout the match were great. She looked terrifed whenever Abadon would make her comebacks. I hope this proves to be a star making performance for Abadon and she gets more of a push. But Abadon might have just gotten this spot because it was Halloween. 

Setting up Punk/Kingston and Danielson vs. (probably) Moxley for Full Gear is loading up an already loaded card. 

Great show. Definitely worth checking out.