AEW Rampage: Darby Allin Wins Royal Rampage
Darby Allin emerged victorious from a chaotic Royal Rampage match on AEW Rampage, earning a shot at the AEW World Championship at Grand Slam in September.
The episode, broadcast on TNT from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, kicked off with the Royal Rampage, a 20-man battle royale featuring a diverse array of AEW talent.
The first four entrants were Orange Cassidy, Claudio Castagnoli, Brody King, and Komander. Komander and Claudio engaged in a fast-paced exchange, while Cassidy and Brody King traded blows.
Tomohiro Ishii, Brian Cage, The Butcher, "Daddy Magic" Matt Menard, Roderick Strong, Kip Sabian, Brandon Cutler, Nick Wayne, Kyle O'Reilly, Jeff Jarrett, Matt Taven, Jay Lethal, Mike Bennett, The Beast Mortos, Darby Allin, and Lio Rush rounded out the participants.
The match was a whirlwind of action, with numerous eliminations, alliances, and betrayals. Notable moments included:
Brody King and The Butcher forming a temporary alliance, only to turn on each other.
Tomohiro Ishii eliminating Cutler with a quick running lariat, which Tony Schiavone declared "the quickest elimination ever".
Jeff Jarrett receiving a hero's welcome from the Nashville crowd.
The Beast Mortos dominating the match, before being taken down by Jeff Jarrett.
Hangman Adam Page surprising everyone by attacking Jeff Jarrett, adding further chaos to the already frantic match.
In the end, it was Darby Allin, the last man standing in his ring, who emerged victorious after a dramatic showdown with Claudio Castagnoli. He earned the right to challenge for the AEW World Championship at Grand Slam on Wednesday, September 25th.
The excitement continued with a quick victory for Kris Statlander over Leila Grey, followed by a brutal display of power by Lance Archer, who dominated his opponent before finishing him off with the Blackout.
The main event saw a four-way tag team match featuring Private Party, Don Callis Family (Rush & Kyle Fletcher), The Outrunners, and The Righteous.
Don Callis, who joined the commentary team, seemed to be whispering instructions to his family, which led to Rush & Kyle Fletcher taking the victory after a hard-fought match, leaving many to speculate on Callis' influence.
AEW Rampage ended with a brutal post-match attack by Rush on Turbo Floyd, adding further tension to the ever-shifting landscape of AEW.
Don't miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts XI live on Saturday on TNT from the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas! Catch AEW Dynamite on TBS next Wednesday live from the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina!
