AEW Rampage Preview (9/16/22): ROH Title On The Line
AEW Rampage is the last show before AEW Grand Slam. Grand Slam is essentially a pay-per-view caliber show, put on during the week. As of writing this, Rampage is set to feature four matches including a title match. On the surface, the show seems lackluster, but it has the potential to be better than expected. With AEW Dynamite being good recently, it puts pressure on Rampage to follow. There can be some outcomes that have an effect on AEW Grand Slam next week. So, here’s a preview of AEW Rampage.
Penelope Ford vs Willow Nightingale
This is Penelope Ford’s fifth match since returning to the ring after a seven-month absence. Ford is looking to establish herself as a serious threat in the women’s division. Since her return, she is 2-2 and has a career record of 34-18 in AEW. She is looking to crack into the top five rankings in the women’s division to earn a shot at a title. Willow Nightingale wrestles across various different promotions. She has appeared on AEW before, challenging Jade Cargill for the TBS title. Nightingale is looking to pick up another win against a notable name in AEW. If Ford can manage to string together a few wins in a row, it’s likely she’ll crack the top five in the rankings and earn a shot at a title.
Matt Hardy vs Darby Allin
Matt Hardy is looking to show he can still hang with the young guys in AEW. He challenged Darby Allin to a match, looking to prove a point. Hardy and Allin have only faced off in a singles match once in AEW where Allin got the better of Hardy. Allin is looking to score another big win against a professional wrestling legend and childhood hero, Matt Hardy. Hardy was a part of the original Team Extreme that paved the way for tag teams nearly 20 years ago. He helped change the landscape of tag team wrestling and it hasn’t been the same ever since. Allin, who has been with AEW since its inception, is one of the wrestlers who has competed in the most matches in AEW and is searching for a big win against a legend.
Ethan Page vs Danhausen
Ethan Page has distanced himself from American Top Team and joined a new team, The Firm. Over the past couple of months, Page has mostly competed on AEW Dark. In fact, his last match on a weekly show in AEW came in July. It’s been no secret that Page thinks he deserves to be on television more and I completely agree. He is looking to make a statement by beating one of the most beloved wrestlers on the AEW roster, Danhausen, who has seemingly become a crowd favorite since joining the company. Although Danhausen hasn’t wrestled much since arriving at AEW, he is loved by the fans. Page has been a bully towards Danhausen and can’t stand that type of wrestler.
*ROH World Television Championship Match*
Josh Woods vs Samoa Joe (c)
Samoa Joe granted Josh Woods a shot at the ROH world television title. Joe is seeing his first bit of action since he defeated Jay Lethal at ROH Death Before Dishonor, and it will be just his second match in a four-month period. He is looking to shake the rust off and prove a point by beating Josh Woods. Josh Woods is an ROH/AEW wrestler and is a former ROH pure champion in his own rights. Woods is 29-19 in matches during 2022. He is looking to score a major victory by defeating a true veteran of professional wrestling in Joe. However, Joe is looking to show he is not one to mess with and still has all of his in-ring skills. Just like every Samoa Joe match, I expect this one to be intense and physical as hell.
