AEW Rampage Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Aug. 11
August 12, 2023AEW Rampage Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Aug. 11
The August 11 episode of AEW Rampage saw the continuation of the feud between Darby Allin and Mogul Embassy as the former TNT champion battled "The Machine" Brian Cage in singles action.
International champion Orange Cassidy defended against Johnny TV in the night's other main event while Ring of Honor World Tag Team champions Aussie Open saw action and Sky Blue battled Saraya for the right to advance to All In and a shot at the AEW World Women's Championship.
Match Card
- AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy vs. Johnny TV
- Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage
- Winner Goes to All In: Skye Blue vs. Saraya
- ROH Tag Team champions Aussie Open in action
Announced for Rampage are the following:
Darby Allin vs. Brian Cage
- Allin as the small, fearless babyface against the massive bruiser Cage is a formula that will always work. Allin out-wrestling Cage and scoring the win off an inside package was a great finish, proof of his ability to overcome the onslaught of any opponent and score a come-from-behind victory from out of nowhere.
- Luchasaurus attacked Allin after the match, a reminder of the side feud going on between them that started two weeks earlier on Collision. All while Christian Cage watched from backstage.
- Britt Baker vowed to defeat The Bunny on Dynamite this Wednesday during a backstage segment and cash her ticket to All In for the AEW World Women's Championship.
Darby Allin dealt a blow to The Mogul Embassy to kick off this week's show, defeating "The Machine" Brian Cage and building momentum toward All In and the Coffin Match with Sting against AR Fox and Swerve Strickland.
The celebration was short-lived as Luchasaurus attacked, much to the delight of Christian Cage, who watched the beating from the backstage area.
Allin, like his buddy CM Punk on Collision, is in the midst of several ongoing storylines, two of which were on display here. The match with Cage was really strong and showcased the chemistry between them.
The beating at the hands of the masked big man continued his pursuit of the TNT Championship that he is as synonymous with as anyone.
A competitor as over as anyone in AEW, showcasing his in-ring creativity while putting over the ferocity and strength of his rivals, was a solid way to kick off this week's show and make sure the face-painted antihero remained at the forefront of the promotion.
Result
Allin defeated Cage
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy vs. Johnny TV
- Yuta joined the commentary team and is clearly the guy that is being positioned to challenge Cassidy next. The idea of him being the guy to end Freshly Squeezed's reign is not one this writer is willing to entertain. Because it would be ridiculous and wrong, most because that win should be saved for someone who can actually benefit from it.
- "What's taking you so long? Get to this ring so I can punch your face in," Cassidy ordered Yuta.
- Yuta said he wants to take the only thing that is important to Cassidy: his title, next week, in Nashville.
AEW International champion Orange Cassidy defended against Johnny TV in the night's second match, the latter accompanied to the squared circle by Harley Cameron, QT Marshall and Aaron Solo.
The match was somewhat disappointing given the strength of Cassidy's title defenses over the last six months, but it was fine enough for what it was. Considering it was secondary to the post-match verbal exchange between Freshly Squeezed and Wheeler Yuta of The Blackpool Combat Club.
That match will have some excited but the prospect of Wheeler being the one to dethrone Cassidy, as part of BCC's recovery efforts following their loss in Blood & Guts, is not particularly appealing.
Yuta still has some work to do from a character perspective to really achieve the level of success that reflects his in-ring ability.
Result
Cassidy defeated TV
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeways
Aussie Open vs. Outrunners
- The physical intensity of Aussie Open sets them apart from other teams on the roster, and especially from MJF and Cole.
On the heels of a challenge issued by Adam Cole and MJF for the Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship at the All In: Zero Hour preshow, Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher of Aussie Open battled Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd of The Outrunners.
The underdogs were not able to outrun anything Davis and Fletcher threw at them as the ROH champs rolled to victory with Coriolis.
After the match, they accepted Cole and MJF's challenge for a match in Wembley on August 27.
This was a successful segment that highlighted the physical dominance and chemistry between Fletcher and Davis and provided a taste of what the world champion and his best buddy are in store for at Zero Hour.
Result
Aussie Open defeated The Outrunners
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
Winner Goes to All In: Saraya vs. Skye Blue
- Storm's new Marilyn Monroe-esque appearance and unhinged personality are fantastic and immediately set her apart from The Outcasts, proving she really does not need to be a part of the faction at this point.
- Blue is growing more confident with every passing week and it is showing in her body language and the way she carries herself. She is the future of this women's division.
- Storm pulled Saraya out of the way of a senton off the ring apron and the babyface crashed to the floor below.
- A late distraction by Storm and Soho, including spraypaint to the eyes, cost Blue the title as the second-generation heel earned her way to All In.
Saraya cashed her ticket to Wembley Stadium in London for All In with a win over Skye Blue in Friday night's main event.
The bout saw the Brit earn a shot at Hikaru Shida's AEW World Women's Championship with the help of Ruby Soho and Toni Storm, who provided a distraction at the right time and supplied the spraypaint necessary for Saraya to pick up the win.
It was a competitive match that highlighted Blue as a plucky underdog and allowed Saraya to get some ring time, something that has been sorely lacking for one of wrestling's more influential women of her generation.
We could see Saraya and Storm do battle in London and given the recent character shift for the latter, that is probably to be expected, especially since she hardly resembles the Outcasts she shares the group with at this point.
Result
Saraya defeated Blue
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways