AEW Rampage Review - November 10, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

AEW World Tag Team Champion Ricky Starks def. Preston Vance

I assumed that Starks and Big Bill were headed for a tag title rematch with FTR based on Starks' Collision match with Dax Harwood two weeks ago, but it looks like Starks and Bill will be moving into a program with La Faccion Ingobernable instead (unless it's a three-way tag team match for the belts at Full Gear). This was a good match from Starks and Vance. I'd like to see Vance spotlighted in more singles matches because he shined while masked in The Dark Order.

Red Velvet def. Ruby Soho

Velvet lost her return match to Julia Hart on Wednesday's Dynamite but was surprisingly able to win here. We'll see if the idea was that Velvet won clean on her own and will be pushed going forward or if she only won because Soho was distracted by the flowers she was sent mid-match. I've never been thee biggest Red Velvet fan, and I'd rather see Soho rack up wins, but this Soho storyline with Angelo Parker has potential and time will tell if Velvet can continue to improve. This was decent enough.

The Kingdom def. Two Local Athletes

I'm happy that The Kingdom are finally winning on AEW TV (after never really appearing on AEW TV at all and largely been relegated to ROH TV), but this storyline with Roderick Strong needs to reach its next chapter. The incessant screaming from Strong from his wheelchair got old a while ago and they've been spinning their wheels until AEW is ready for The Kingdom to face MJF for the ROH World Tag Team Championship. This was a simple squash for them.

FTR def. Komander and AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo

Komander and Vikingo aren't a regular team, so although it was obvious Komander was taking the pinfall loss here, this was still a very entertaining main event with excellent action. FTR work well with just about everyone and the crowd ate this up. House of Black were shown applauding on the big screen afterward as the show went off the air. I'm disappointed we're not getting Bryan Danielson vs. Malakai Black for now due to Danielson's injury, but I'm looking forward to FTR vs. Buddy Matthews and Brody King soon, possibly at Full Gear.

Overall Show

I can't remember the last time Rampage was live, so that definitely helped made this an above-average episode by Rampage standards. The main event was easily the best thing on the show, but this was an enjoyable hour on the whole. I wish Rampage was this fun more consistently, and I say that every time, but it tends to go back to being a throwaway show the very next week. At least this show was worthwhile and set up some stuff for Saturday's Collision.

SEE MORE: Rampage Reviews