AEW Rampage: New Year's Smash Review - December 30, 2022

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy def. Trent Beretta

This was a fun match between best friends (pun intended), but the outcome was never in doubt due to the ongoing Cassidy and Kip Sabian feud. Cassidy isn't dropping that title until he can beat Sabian, and honestly, I'm surprised their storyline has lasted this long considering it hasn't been overly interesting. Nonetheless, this had the expected comedy early on but got good in the second half. I still think Beretta is underrated despite how many standout singles showings he's had in AEW.

Kip Sabian def. Atiba

Sabian already appeared on commentary for the opener, so I don't think it was necessary to have him wrestle a match of his own right afterward. Obviously, it was a total squash and was over within two minutes. It makes sense to give him a win before he eventually challenges Cassidy for the All-Atlantic Championship, but considering it was against an unknown enhancement talent, does anyone honestly see him as more of a threat to the title than they did before?

Tony Schiavone Interviewed Jon Moxley

Moxley has to be considered AEW's MVP for 2022. Not only in the ring and on the mic, but also behind the scenes for how he's carried the company in the absence of others. He did an excellent job of addressing Adam Page here and setting up a match between the two that will likely take place on the January 11th edition of Dynamite in Los Angeles. Page will give an update on his status this coming week on Dynamite.

AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill def. Kiera Hogan

This match has been in the works for a while, but unlike Moxley vs. Page, the build behind it has been abysmal. There was no need to split Hogan away from Cargill and I don't think Hogan has cut a single promo on television since then. I appreciated that this was competitive and Hogan came closer to beating Cargill than most, but it was still consumed by a commercial break and didn't feel very eventful. Red Velvet stopping Cargill from hitting Hogan was also confusing because I don't remember any tension being teased between Cargill and Velvet previously, so the whole storyline feels lazy.

Swerve Strickland def. ROH Pure Champion Wheeler Yuta (Non-Title)

Both Strickland and Yuta are terrific talents, so it was no surprise that this was an entertaining and very well wrestled main event. Both guys have killed it this year and are primed for even bigger years in 2023 if they can keep it up. The pacing was a bit too frantic at times down the stretch, but otherwise, they delivered. Strickland winning was the right call as AEW looks to establish him as a singles star with a new group.

Overall Show

Rampage has seen an uptick in quality in recent weeks, but like last week, this was another largely forgettable holiday show. Sabian's squash was whatever and a waste of time, but the other three matches were fun and featured above-average action. Feel free to make time for the main event specifically, but this program continues to be light on storyline-significant stuff. Moxley's promo was the only exception, as Rampage was really his show in 2022.

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