AEW Rampage: New Years Smash Review – December 29, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Rampage with a video package recapped the events from this past Wednesday’s Dynamite involving AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill, The Don Callis Family, Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin.
Chris Jericho talks about how Guevara quit The Don Callis Family and how they had attacked him which led to Jericho helping him with Sting & Darby Allin helping them. He hypes the 8 Man Tag Team match at Worlds End and said that this was the 1st time that he was teaming with Sting. He said that after their No Holds Barred match earlier this year Sting called him and said I don’t like you but I respect you. If you ever need anything, I have your back. He added that Sting was a man of his word that he had Sting’s back too. Jericho said that before the match he had some things to work out with Sammy Guevara and calls him to the ring.
Sammy Guevara came out and Jericho said that Orlando loved him and he was a big fan. He added that they had a great match at Arthur Ashe Stadium in September but instead of celebrating together, Guevara turned on him and joined The Don Callis Family. Jericho said he wanted to know why face 2 face and man 2 man.
Guevara said it was hard being in Jericho’s shadow as Jericho has done it all. He added that somewhere along the line he started blaming Jericho as the reason Guevara wasn’t where he wanted to be. Guevara said that he felt like he needed more that Jericho was holding him back but in reality he was holding himself back. He said it’s time he stops blaming others look inward bust his ass and become the man he knows he is.
Guevara said that he & Tay Melo just had the baby and he was out with a concussion so he had a lot of time to reflect and now he knows he is the man he needs to be. He said he should have been the good friend that Jericho was to him and apologized.
Jericho accepted his apology and offered his own apology. He said he knows he can be controlling and can push in a different direction but has been a fan of Guevara’s from the start. He said he had him in the Inner Circle, Jericho Appreciation Society and is with him now. Jericho said he helped him because he knew that Callis was a manipulative son of a b*tch who leeches on young talent that doubts themselves. Jericho said that Guevara is not that guy he has always believed in him and always will.
Jericho said that after the 8 Man Tag Team Match he still has a guaranteed AEW World Tag Team Title Match. He asked Guevara to reunite La Sex Gods and be his partner. Guevara hesitated but eventually embraced Jericho.
We get a video recapping FTR’s altercation with the House Of Black after saving Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard this past Saturday on Collision.
Backstage Renee Paquette interviewed Garcia & Menard & Paquette noted that it was a bumpy road but that Garcia was able to score 3 points over Brody King in the Continental Classic. Menard said it was the biggest win of Garcia’s career and couldn’t understand why House Of Black did what they did. Garcia said he was tired of guys coming in and thinking they could run over them. He said it may not be today, tomorrow or next week but they would get their revenge.
Ruby Soho vs. Marina Shafir
Match starts off with a lock up then they exchanged several reversals in the corner before Ruby Soho took Marina Shafir down with a hair pull before Soho escaped to the outside and was confronted by Nyla Rose.
Back in the ring Shafir took her down with a leg sweep and followed up with a series of kicks then Harley Cameron distracted Shafir which gave Soho the advantage.
With Shafir on the outside Cameron & Saraya approached her but were run off by Rose as we go to a break.
After the break Soho had the advantage but Shafir retaliated with a clothesline and a kick to the chest.
She followed up with a backbreaker and a take down followed by a choke hold and another kick for near fall. Saraya jumps up on the apron and was pulled down by Rose.
Cameron jumped on Rose’s back but Rose flips her over then chased Saraya over the barricade and into the crowd with Shafir distracted, Soho landed a kick for a near fall.
Soho missed a dive off the top rope and Shafir follows up with a kick and an attempted choke hold but Cameron distracted the referee and Shafir allowing Soho to roll her up for the win.
Winner: Ruby Soho (5:13)
Rate: 5
Don Callis was backstage with The Don Callis Family, Big Bill & Ricky Starks & each took turns hyping the 8 Man Tag Team Match at Worlds End as we go to a break.
After the break Renee Paquette interviewed Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander. Willow requested the time and wanted to clear the air with Statlander about the rumor Stokely Hathaway had been spreading. Both proclaimed mutual respect until Hathaway enters the area. He asked Nightingale why it took her so long to save Statlander on Dynamite. This led to Hathaway making a match between them at Worlds End.
ROH Pure Title Match
Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Matt Sydal
Wheeler Yuta & Matt Sydal exchanged chain and mat wrestling to start this match before Sydal rolls up Yuta for a near fall then Yuta chops Sydal & Sydal follows up with a kick.
Yuta swept the legs and attempted a near fall with his feet on the ropes but Sydal kicks out and rolls up Yuta for a near fall.
Sydal hits a roundhouse kick, a leg sweep and a standing moonsault for a a near fall before Yuta gained the advantage as we go to a break
After the break Yuta maintained the advantage before Sydal ducks a clothesline and hits a spinning kick and regained the advantage with a series of kicks.
Sydal hit an Air Raid Crash for a near fall before Sydal missed a top rope dive and Yuta countered with a kick of his own.
Yuta & Sydal exchanged strikes as Yuta hits a German suplex on Sydal for a near fall before Yuta hits an Angle Slam for a near fall.
Yuta grabs a submission hold but Sydal reached the ropes for his 1st rope break.
Yuta hits an open handed strike but Sydal counters with a high knee and a roll up for a near fall.
Yuta took Sydal with a series of elbow strikes into a Seatbelt roll up for the win.
Winner & Still ROH Pure Champion: Wheeler Yuta (9:34) (STILL CHAMPION!!!!)
Rate: 6
After the match, Danhausen came out and appointed himself the 4th judge & notes that Yuta had cheated so he was disqualifying him so Yuta attacks Danhausen and told him to kiss my ass. He continued the attack until FTW Champion Hook made the save and clears Yuta from the ring.
A video recaps Samoa Joe & AEW World Champion MJF losing the ROH World Tag Team Titles to the Devil’s Henchmen on Dynamite followed by Joe’s post match attack then both men hyped the AEW World Title match at Worlds End.
Trios Match
Best Friends (International Champion Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta) vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti
Orange Cassidy & Action Andretti starts this match with Cassidy quickly rolling Andretti up for a near fall with Andretti returning the favor.
Cassidy follows up with a dropkick and moved Andretti to his corner. Cassidy & Trent Beretta hits a double team move on Andretti & Beretta took over on offense.
Dante Martin tags in and went back & forth with Beretta then Dante regained the advantage and tags in Darius Martin then both teams were in the ring while Best Friends ends up on the floor.
Top Flight & Andretti hits a triple dive on the floor as the show went to its final picture in picture break.
After the break Romero was squaring off with Andretti as the two exchanged blows.
Romero tags out to Beretta while Andretti tags out to Dante & hits a flurry of fast paced offense. Dante hits a flying cross body for a near fall.
Darius tags in and Top Flight hits several moves on Beretta with Dante covering which was broken up by Cassidy. Darius picks Cassidy up for a suplex but was hit with a Stun Dog Millionaire.
Dante dropkicks Cassidy as he fell into a German suplex by Darius then Romero attempts Sliced Bread on Darius but be blocks it and Dante took him down.
Top Flight & Andretti then hit moves on Beretta with Andretti hitting a 450 springboard splash then goes for a cover but its broken up by Cassidy & Romero.
A series of offense by both teams then Romero tags in and was met with a Half Nelson Driver by Dante Martin for the win.
Winners: Top Flight & Action Andretti (12:54)
Rate: 7
