AEW Rampage Review - March 8, 2024

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Trent Beretta and AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy def. Kip Sabian and The Butcher

It was said that this was intended to serve as a preview of the upcoming AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament. Cassidy has finally dropped the AEW International Championship, so maybe he and Beretta will go far in the tourney. This was a pretty simple showcase for them, but I don't think it needed to last as long as it did with Sabian and Butcher hardly being a threat.

AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart def. Robyn Renegade

This was branded as an "open challenge," but I don't believe it was one of those instances where Hart (or her opponent, I don't remember how the rules work) got to choose the stipulation. Rather, it was a basic bout with no real suspense surrounding the outcome. Renegade is fine, but she didn't exactly have a standout performance here. The best thing I can say about this is that, unlike the opener, it was kept short and sweet.

Penta El Zero Miedo def. Action Andretti

I have no idea what AEW is doing with Penta at this point, because it's clear he's not going to be involved in anything of note anytime soon. He'll win these meaningless matches on Rampage that ultimately amount to nothing. Don't get me wrong, this was a well-wrestled affair, but there was no reason for it to exist, and if nothing comes from it, then it solely happened to kill television time. That's it.

Top Flight def. AAA Cruiserweight Champion Komander & "Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith and Private Party in a Three-Way Tag Team Match

Rampage is entering ROH TV territory by featuring tag team main events that don't mean anything. Seriously, what was the point of this? I know Top Flight and Private Party have been feuding for a while now, but throwing Komander and Keith in there with no explanation for why they were teaming was random. It was a fun three-way for what it was worth, but again, it was worth nothing. At the very least, this win gives Top Flight a momentum ahead of the upcoming AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament.

Overall Show

By and large, AEW has done a better job of making Rampage more meaningful in 2024 (not must-see, mind you, but meaningful to a certain extent). Thus, I have no idea what the hell happened with this episode. The stuff with The Outcasts, Ruby Soho and Angelo Parker continues to play out in backstage segments and that storyline has been bearable, but not a single one of these matches served a purpose, resulting in this episode being a waste of time.

SEE MORE: Rampage Reviews