AEW Rampage Results (08/19) - FTW Title Match, AEW Tag Team Title Match, AEW Trios Tournament Quarter Finals Match
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s official results of "AEW Rampage" on August 19, 2022!
FTW Champion Hook will be putting his title on the line against "The Reality" Zack Clayton. While Hook was 'speaking' with Tony Schiavone on last week's show, Clayton interrupted the interview and introduced himself to AEW audiences before challenging Hook to a match. Clayton brings seven years of experience on the indies to the table, and has appeared on AEW a handful of times over the last two years. Will this be enough for him to defeat the Cold Hearted Handsome Devil and end his 11 match streak?
AEW Tag Team Champions Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland will also be defending their titles against former AFO members Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy of Private Party. This will be Swerve In Our Glory's first title defence and the first time the two teams will come face to face in what is set to be the opening bout of the show. Will the underdogs Private Party be able to pick up the win and show the world what they are made of?
Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor of Best Friends will take on Ari Daivari, Parker Boudreaux and Slim-J of the Trustbusters in a Quarter Finals Match in the AEW Trios Championship Tournament. Daivari has tried to get Cassidy to join his group over the last few weeks with the promise of money from his trust fund, but has been unsuccessful thus far in his attempts to do so.
The Fallen Goddess Athena will go one-on-one with Superbad Penelope Ford. Ford made her return to action earlier this week on "AEW Dark: Elevation" after being sidelined with an undisclosed injury for the past seven months and is hungrier than ever. Meanwhile, fan favorite Athena looks to pick up a win to bring her closer to earning a shot at the TBS Title after being entangled in a bitter feud with Jade Cargill and The Baddies over the last several weeks.
Ring Of Honor Champion Claudio Castagnoli will be addressing fans on the show. Castagnoli dethroned Jonathan Gresham during Death Before Dishonor back in late July to win the title and join the long list of big stars to hold the belt. His first title defence took place two weeks ago at Battle of the Belts, where he managed to slip away with the belt after a hard fought bout with rising Japanese star Konosuke Takeshita.
We hear from Claudio Castagnoli
We are live! Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta head to the ring, with mics in hand. Castagnoli says it feels great to stand in front of his mentor, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. He says he would feel more comfortable standing in ring gear to defend his title. He issues an open challenge before we hear the words "I will". Dustin Rhodes answers and he says he's dreamt of being in Castagnoli's place for the last 30 years. He says it's a dream of his and if he accepts, then he will give him the best version of himself. He says he sees the fire in his eyes and says if he brings his A-Game, then he is on. The two shake hands before castagnoli walks off.
We head backstage to Lexy Nair, Ortiz and Ruby Soho. Soho says they have been dying to get their hands on Sammy Guevara and Tay Melo and Ortiz says they should do it next week.
Back at ringside, Private Party head to the ring followed by Swerve In Our Glory.
Swerve In Our Glory vs. Private Party for the AEW Tag Team Titles
The bell rings and the two lock up. Kassidy delivers several right hands before Lee pushes him to the mat. Swerve tags in and goes flying off the top. Kassidy counters with a back elbow before Swerve rolls to the outside. Kassidy hits him with a Tornado through the middle rope.
Back from the break, Swerve hits a double stomp off the top and tags in Lee. Lee throws Kassidy across the ring before delivering a splash in the corner. He throws him again before delivering a clothesline. He goes for a pin, but Kassidy kicks out. Quen tags in and Lee throws him into the corner. He goes for another pin, but Quen kicks out. Swerve tags in and delivers a kick to Quen's head. He goes for a pin, but Quen kicks out. Swerve hits the JML Driver on Quen for the win.
Winners: Swerve In Our Glory
Hook vs. Zack Clayton for the FTW Title
Back at ringside, "The Reality" Zack Clayton heads down and says he is the biggest star at the show. He says it's a shame he has to win the FTW Championship in this cest poll and will bring it back to a state that people respect: New Jersey. Hook's music hits and he comes to the ring.
The bell rings and Hook locks in the Sleeper right away for the win.
Winner: Hook
We head to Matt Menard and Angelo Parker. They say that the way he walks around the company rubs them the wrong way and asks what if the title was held by a sports entertainer.
We head backstage to Lexy Nair and the Factory at a poker table. Powerhouse Hobbs approaches them and flips the table. He says Marshall was supposed to take care of Starks. Marshall says he sticks to his word before he walks off.
Buddy Matthews vs. Serpentico
Back from the break, Billy Gunn addresses his sons and says that he will beat them next with his friends. The Acclaimed walk in and scissor him.
Buddy Matthews and Julia Hart head to the ring. Serpentico already waits inside.
The bell rings and Matthews delivers a drop kick to Serpentico in the corner. He rolls out of the ring before Matthews delivers a knee off the apron. Matthews sends Serpentico into the barricade before tossing him back into the ring and power bombing into the corner. He delivers a knee, followed by a Pump Handle Slam for the win.
Winner: Buddy Matthews
After the match, Miro heads to the ring with Malakai Black's mask. Matthews and Miro begin brawling before Miro tosses him into the ring steps. Hart stares down Miro before he delivers a splash to Matthews in the corner. He follows it up with several stomps and a super kick.
We head backstage to Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter and Rebel. Baker says she wants to watch ThunderStorm unravel and says she can't think of a more toxic team. She asks Toni Storm if her mind is right and say they will be watching.
Penelope Ford heads to the ring, followed by Athena.
Athena vs. Penelope Ford
The bell rings and the two lock up. Ford knocks Athena to the mat, but she kips up and delivers an arm drag. Ford looks for a springboard back elbow, but Athena catches her. Ford escapes and sends her into the ropes before delivering a drop kick to her back. She sends her head into the apron. Ford beats Athena down some more before Athena manages to hit the Eclipse for the win.
Winner: Athena
After the break, Jade Cargill and The Baddies head to the ring and assault Athena with a sledge hammer.
We then go to a video of the events leading to the match between CM Punk and Jon Moxley next week.
Back from the break, The Trustbusters head to the ring, followed by Best Friends
Best Friends vs. Trustbusters in a Quarter Finals Match for the AEW Trios Championships
Daivari and Taylor begin the action. The bell rings and Daivari hits Taylor from behind. Slim and Beretta tag in. Beretta delivers a power bomb, then goes for a pin, but Slim kicks out. Boudreaux tags in and hits Beretta from behind as the match spills to the outside. The Trustbusters attack the Best Friends. Boudreaux tosses Beretta back in the ring and delivers a right hand to his midsection. He sends him to the mat and tags in Slim. Slim chokes him on the middle rope before Beretta fights back and delivers some right hands to Slim's midsection. Beretta hits a forearm and a chop before Slim tags in Daivari. Daivari hits a couple elbows on Beretta before Beretta hits a forearm. Slim tags back in and Beretta delivers the Half and Half.
Beretta makes the hot tag to Beretta and delivers his signature kicks. He delivers a DDt before he kips up. Slim delivers a spinning neck breaker, followed by a Tornado off the top to take out Beretta and Taylor on the outside. Daivari makes the blind tag and hits a Frog Splash. He goes for a pin, but Cassidy kicks out. Cassdiy hits the Orange Punch before Best Friends send Boudreaux over the barricade. Cassidy climbs to the top, but Sonny Kiss knocks him off. Kiss looks to check on Boudreaux, but Danhausen appears out of nowhere and curses the Trustbusters. Slim hits a diving reverse DDT, then goes for a pin but Cassidy kicks out. Daivari tags in and the three men hit a Pyramid Splash on Slim for the win.
Winners: Best Friends