AEW has a rare live Rampage this week, as they have their second night in the NOW Arena of Chicago Illinois, only 2 days away from ALL OUT. Not much can be said about this building that isn’t well known given it’s so tied to the history of AEW. In 2008 however, it was home to TNA’s Bound For Glory event. It saw Sting defeat Samoa Joe in the main event and the birth of the infamous Main Event Mafia group. It also had, rather peculiarly, the last wrestling-tied appearance of Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael. Who was the guest referee for Monster’s Ball. Where Beer Money defeated LAX, Team 3D, and Abyss/Matt Morgan to retain the TNA World Tag Team titles. Bless McMichael as his health concerns have been on the news as of late and an event to aid him has been scheduled, titled Money for Mongo. With that out of the way let’s take a look at the AEW Rampage card for this week.
AEW Rampage Card for September 2, 2022
#AEWRampage TONIGHT 10/9c LIVE on TNT
-AEW Trios Tournament Rampage Final #Hangman+#DarkOrder v @OrangeCassidy+#BestFriends
–@QTMarshall v @starkmanjones
-Sammy & Tay v Ortiz & Ruby Soho
-A sit down w/ Jade Cargill & Athena
-Hear from Tag Champs #SwerveInOurGlory & #TheAcclaimed pic.twitter.com/6noewWsDN8— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 2, 2022
The Other Half Of The Final
The likely main event or opener this week on Rampage is none other than the second semifinal of the Trios Tournament as The Best Friends take on The Dark Order. However, a substitution has been made. It was seen coming a mile away, but sometimes, that’s all fine and good. Hangman Page is taking Preston Vance’s place on the team following injury. Meaning that it’s now VERY likely we may see him clash with his former The Elite friends in the finals on Sunday. Thus reviving their never-ending soap opera of anxiety, misunderstandings, and millennial angst.
The match itself will likely be a barn-burner as the trios have been on fire lately, doing everything in their power to let us know why finally sanctioning these titles was a fantastic idea. But we all know what is being set up for us at ALL OUT. The next chapter in the never-ending saga of The Elite.
Talking On The Go-Home
Two talking segments have been announced for Rampage. Peculiar to say the least. Athena, the challenger to Jade Cargill’s TBS Championship, and Cargill herself will be interviewed by none other than ‘The World’s Strongest Man”, Mark Henry. As the former ‘Sexual Chocolate’ looks to get the final word from the two athletic girls just days before their title match at ALL OUT.
Also scheduled are the AEW Tag Team Champions, Swerve In Our Glory, Keith Lee, and Swerve Strickland, confronting their #1 Contenders, The Acclaimed. The always loud Anthony Bowens and Max Caster, now aided by WWE Hall Of Famer and D-Generation X member, Billy Gunn. We have to imagine some rapping by Caster will ensue. Which will be interesting, being face to face with Strickland. Insert a Hit Row joke here if you’d like.
Starks’ Last Obstacle
#AEWRampage TONIGHT 10/9c LIVE on TNT
-AEW Trios Tournament Rampage Final #Hangman+#DarkOrder v @OrangeCassidy+#BestFriends
–@QTMarshall v @starkmanjones
-Sammy & Tay v Ortiz & Ruby Soho
-A sit down w/ Jade Cargill & Athena
-Hear from Tag Champs #SwerveInOurGlory & #TheAcclaimed pic.twitter.com/dIBzJLOnnm— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 2, 2022
Ricky Starks gave a lifetime performance a few weeks ago defeating Danhausen for the FTW Championship, then in a bid for more TV time, announced an open challenge which resulted in him losing the title to Hook. But not feeling any shame in his desire get more TV time. Enter tag team partner Powerhouse Hobbs who was not at all amused by Starks’ claim that he was fine with the idea of losing.
This has led to Ricky Starks’ chase for revenge while Powerhouse Hobbs simply looks to duck his ALL OUT opponent and slow him down as much as possible. As such, Hobbs recruited QT Marshall and his Factory to do whatever they can to slow down Starks. But…………. It’s The Factory.
Ricky Starks faces off against said The Factory leader, QT Marshall on tonight’s Rampage. What will happen between the two rivals following the match?
Mixed Tag Clash
The other likely opener/main event match of the show, Sammy Guevara and Tay Melo once again take on the rather odd tandem of Ortiz and Ruby Soho. Remnants of the Chris Jericho/Eddie Kingston feud as Tay Melo had broken Ruby Soho’s hand weeks ago as Chris Jericho looked to anger Eddie Kingston prior to their Barbed Wire Match.
Without a doubt, it will be an excellent match, as well as a hell of an opportunity for Ortiz given his current predicament with Santana’s injury and rumors of turmoil between the two.
All that and more is set for tonight’s AEW Rampage card. The final show before AEW’s biggest event of the year, ALL OUT.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the important news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS and AEW Dark: Elevation (Monday nights) and AEW: Dark (Tuesday nights) at 7 PM ET on YouTube. In addition, AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday.
