AEW Rampage: Holiday Bash Review – December 22, 2023
International Title Match
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Rocky Romero
Match starts off with a lock up then they take turns locking each other in submission holds before Orange Cassidy connects with a dropkick. Rocky Romero hits a hurricanrana and a tope suicida then gets Cassidy back inside the ring.
Cassidy rolls back outside and Romero executes a hurricanrana then gets Cassidy back inside and delivers a pair of clotheslines, but Cassidy rolls him up.
Romero kicks out and hits a tilt a whirl backbreaker then lands a 2nd backbreaker and delivers a stomp. He whips him into opposite corners but Cassidy catches him with a tornado DDT and ascends to the top rope.
He delivers a crossbody but Romero delivers a suplex and drapes him across the top rope. He looks to fly but Cassidy ducks out of the way. Romero then suplexes him on the apron.
After the break Romero & Cassidy exchange strikes with one another before Cassidy hits Orange Punch and fires off his signature kicks.
He then delivers a pair of kicks to Romero’s face but Romero responds with a tornado DDT and a kneeling belly 2 back piledriver. Cassidy then hits Beach Break for the win.
Winner & Still International Champion: Orange Cassidy (10:50) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Rate: 7
After the match Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Romero all hug one another.
We then head backstage where Tony Schiavone is standing by with Kris Statlander. Stokely Hathaway walks in and claims that Willow Nightingale has been going around telling people that they would’ve lost their Street Fight this past Saturday on Collision if it wasn’t for her. He tells her to look in the mirror to see the woman that he does.
Tag Team Match
The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) vs. The Hardys (Matt & Jeff)
Matt Hardy fires off shoulders on Matt Taven in the corner then hits a back body drop and tags in Jeff Hardy. Jeff delivers a leg drop and a splash then tags Matt back in.
The Hardys double team on Taven but Mike Bennett tags in and fires off right hands on him. Jeff becomes legal and hits a side Russian leg sweep then ascends to the top rope.
Taven looks to pull him down but the referee sees him & this opens the door for Bennett to trip Jeff as we go to a break.
Back from the break Matt tags in and delivers a pair of clotheslines to Taven then follows it up with 3 Faces of Deletion and a powerbomb then hits Side Effect and tosses Taven over the timekeeper’s table on the outside.
Jeff rains down right hands on Bennett before Matt sends him crashing into the ring steps shoulders first and hits 3 Faces of Deletion to him on top of them.
He grabs a chair but the referee grabs it away from him inside the ring & this opens the door for Taven to slide back in the ring and roll him up for the win.
Winners: The Kingdom (9:27)
Rate: 5
Skye Blue vs. Queen Aminata
Skye Blue & Queen Aminata stare one another down then Blue spits in Aminata’s face and they go back & forth with forearms before Blue gains the upper hand and fires off several but Aminata executes a swinging neckbreaker.
The action spills to the outside and Blue continues beating down Aminata then tosses her back inside the ring and fires off strikes but Aminata shoves her and hits a German suplex.
She follows it up with a hip attack and a running knee then looks to fly but Blue ducks out of the way and delivers a thrust kick then gets Aminata up on her shoulders and plants her.
She then locks in a Dragon Sleeper & Aminata taps out for the submission win.
Winner By Submission: Skye Blue (3:44)
Rate: 3
AAA Mega Title Match
El Hijo Del Vikingo (c) vs. Black Taurus
El Hijo Del Vikingo & Black Taurus go back & forth then Taurus delivers a shoulder block and an arm drag but Vikingo catches him with a hurricanrana.
Taurus follows suit but Vikingo catches him with a boot then hits a neck crank and a Samoan Drop as we go to a break.
After the break Taurus goes flying and takes Vikingo out on the outside then Vikingo looks to do the same but Taurus catches him and gets him up on his shoulders.
He sends him crashing into the floor with a slam and gets him back inside the ring then he ascends to the top rope but Taurus rolls out of the way.
Vikingo then delivers an avalanche hurricanrana before Taurus hits him with a spear then charges at him but Vikingo sends him onto the apron.
Taurus ascends to the top rope and drags Vikingo up to join him then hits an avalanche Michinoku Driver and a variation on a backbreaker. He follows it up with a clothesline that turns Vikingo inside out but Vikingo delivers a jawbreaker and a kick.
He follows it up with a pair of running double knees and tosses him back inside the ring then hits a Crucifix Bomb and a 2nd pair of running double knees then ascends to the top rope and hits 630 Senton for the win.
Winner & Still AAA Mega Champion: El Hijo Del Vikingo (14:13) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
