AEW Rampage live results: TNT Championship qualifier
A series of qualifying matches for the ladder match to crown a new TNT Champion at Forbidden Door begins on tonight’s AEW Rampage.
Konosuke Takeshita of The Don Callis Family takes on Penta El Zero Miedo in a match to determine who will advance to the ladder match at Forbidden Door to fill the TNT title vacated by the injured Adam Copeland.
Four additional matches are also set for tonight’s episode.
Toni Storm will face Viva Van in a Women’s World title eliminator bout where Van gets a shot at Storm’s Women’s World Championship if she wins.
Penta’s tag team partner Rey Fenix will go one-on-one with Isiah Kassidy on the program.
Satnam Singh will be in action in a squash match against an enhancement talent.
Before challenging Will Ospreay for the International Championship on Saturday’s Collision episode, Kyle O’Reilly will have a match on tonight’s episode as well.
The show begins at the special start time of 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on TNT.
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Excalibur and Tony Schiavone were on the call for tonight’s Rampage.
TNT Ladder Match Qualifier: Konosuke Takeshita def. Penta El Zero Miedo
We kicked off with both men already in the ring. Fast dodging action between Takeshita and Penta to start off, ending in a stalemate. Takeshita tried to go for the mask of Penta, but the referee stopped him. Running boot to Penta by Takeshita.
Takeshita sent to the outside, as Penta tried to go for a dive. Takeshita got out of the way and blocked a running boot as he then slammed Penta onto the apron. Takeshita continued to work over Penta with a resthold, followed by repeated knees to the gut. Cover by Takeshita only got a two-count.
The action turned to Picture in Picture with Takeshita in control of the match.
Back on full-screen action as Penta tried to create some momentum. He had Takeshita trapped on the top rope, but Takeshita countered for a fireman’s carry attempt. Penta reversed that into a top rope Frankensteiner as he now had the advantage. Penta soared over the top rope with a dive onto Takeshita outside the ring.
Takeshita avoided a top rope stomp as he then rolled Penta through for a deadlift wheelbarrow German suplex. Penta answered right back with Made in Japan, but that got a very close near-fall. He stomped on Takeshita and tried to go for the arm break. Takeshita fought out and knocked Penta down with a fierce lariat.
On the apron, Penta leapt from the turnbuckle and hit a Canadian Destroyer right on the apron that momentarily stunned Takeshita. Penta had Takeshita right where he wanted him, but he got flattened by a Blue Thunder Bomb.
Takeshita crushed Penta with a powerful punch before he finished things off with the Power Drive Knee to qualify for the Forbidden Door TNT Championship Ladder Match.
Fantastic opener for Rampage featuring two great talents in AEW. Takeshita as part of the TNT Ladder Match is a wise addition and it’ll be interesting to see who fills out the rest of the match. Jack Perry will certainly be another name who’ll be in this match at Forbidden Door.
– We got a recap of last Friday’s Rampage, when HOOK attacked Chris Jericho at the commentary table. Backstage, Jericho was with Big Bill and Bryan Keith, as he addressed HOOK’s attack. He said that he was stepping down from his commentator role on Rampage to focus on being a part of Collision and Dynamite. Back on commentary, “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard took Jericho’s place.
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– Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett talked about the Undisputed Kingdom’s failures at Double or Nothing. Strong complained that he was supposed to be in the Casino Battle Royal on Dynamite, stating that he was coming after Lio Rush for taking his spot. The match was then made: Rush vs. Strong for tomorrow’s Collision.
Satnam Singh def. Peter Avalon
Avalon looked terrified to face Singh at the start of the match, as he approached slowly. Singh offered Avalon a free pin, but did a very powerful kickout. From there, Singh choked Avalon and slammed him to the mat repeatedly. Bearhug by Singh brought a quick end to this squash.
Just a fun, short squash to showcase Singh.
– Cage of Agony spoke backstage, offering a challenge to all comers on tomorrow’s Collision. Hechicero appeared with the group, appearing to join forces with them.
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AEW Women’s Championship Eliminator: “Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Viva Van
Storm and Van started by locking up in the middle of the ring before Van tried to apply the jujikitami to no avail. Storm took advantage by sending Van to the outside with a running hip strike as we took a Picture-in-Picture break.
The action continued with Storm and Van exchanging strikes before Storm got the better of her opponent. Van’s attempt at taking advantage was stopped cold by a rope-assisted backstabber, followed by the fisherman’s suplex.
Van surprised Storm with a two-footed kick to the face, then an axe kick. That got a near-fall. Van was looking for some sort of maneuver, but Storm fought out of it as she sent Van into the corner. Running hip attack, then the Storm Zero got the win for the Timeless One.
A nice little match and I thought Viva Van got a good showing even in defeat. Look for more of her to come in the future.
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– Saraya and Harley Cameron had remarks for Mariah May ahead of Saraya’s match against May on next week’s Dynamite.
Kyle O’Reilly def. Jordan Cruz
O’Reilly started off strong with a running knee to the corner, as he continued on the offensive against Cruz. O’Reilly targeted Cruz’s arm with repeated strikes and a hammerlock.
Cruz momentarily had the advantage, but O’Reilly took over with mounted strikes, then bringing an end to the match with a jujikitame arm submission.
O’Reilly looked good in this quick squash ahead of his International Championship Match against Will Ospreay on Collision. His strikes just have that oomph to it and it’s always a joy to see him really lay into those attacks of his.
– Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie were backstage, as he issued a challenge to Claudio Castagnoli for tomorrow’s Collision.
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Rey Fenix vs. Isiah Kassidy
Kassidy and Fenix showed each other respect to start off the match. The commentators talked about MJF’s return on next week’s Dynamite as things started off. Fenix floored Kassidy with a nice dropkick, as he continued the onslaught.
Kassidy responded with a springboard hurricanrana, but Fenix remained on his feet. Fenix ran at a full head of speed and did a nice feint dodge between the ropes. Kassidy with another hurricanrana, but Fenix answered right back with a German suplex. We went to Picture-in-Picture at this point.
Rampage returned with Kassidy and Fenix continuing to hit each other with their best strikes. Fenix intercepted an attempted Kassidy springboard attack from the middle rope with a springboard hurricanrana for the near fall.
Fenix had Kassidy in his sights, but Kassidy countered with an enzuigiri to take advantage. With Fenix on the outside, Kassidy took flight and took him down with a flying dive over the top rope. Tornado DDT by Kassidy got a close two-count.
Kassidy landed the Canadian Destroyer on Fenix, but again only a two count. Senton missed by Kassidy as Fenix took advantage and soared with the frog splash. One, two… a very dramatic kickout by Kassidy.
Fenix ran across the ropes to hit an impressive diving kick on Kassidy. He then set up Kassidy for a big double underhook driver for the one, two, three and the victory.
Fantastic main event between Fenix and Kassidy to cap off a very breezy and entertaining hour of action on Rampage. It’s great to see Fenix back in action in AEW after a long break for injury, and I enjoy seeing Isiah Kassidy get a chance to show up and show out as a singles competitor. Would love to see more of that.
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Tomorrow Night on AEW Collision:
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. Johnny TV
- The Cage of Agony in action
- Roderick Strong vs. Lio Rush
- AEW International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle O’Reilly
- Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty) vs. West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs)