1/6 AEW Rampage results: McGuire’s review of Darby Allin vs. Mike Bennett for the TNT Title, Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson vs. “Top Flight” Darius Martin and Dante Martin, Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker vs. Charlette Renegade and Robyn Renegade, Preston Vance in action

By Colin McGuire, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@McGMondays)

AEW Rampage (Episode 74)
Live from Portland, Oregon at Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Aired January 6, 2023 on TNT

The commentary team of Jim Ross, Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone was introduced via Jim Ross. The camera cut to Moxley walking through the crowd, but Top Flight jumpstarted the match with a bunch of dives.

1. Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson vs. “Top Flight” Darius Martin and Dante Martin. Top Flight had control early in ether match against Moxley, but Danielson tagged in and kicked Dante a bunch. Danielson then slapped him. We then got the kicks again. Dante dropkicked Danielson in the legs and tagged in Darius. Moxley tagged in and before long, the four started to brawl in the ring. That action spilled to the outside and Moxley set up a chair. Moxley put Dante on it and kicked his head.

Danielson and Moxley worked over Darius in a corner on the outside. We then got back inside the ring and Danielson worked a Surfboard on Dante. Danielson then grabbed Dante’s face and that went into the Dragon Sleeper. Eventually, Danielson chopped the hell out of Dante and tagged in Moxley, who kicked the hell out of Dante. Moxley hit a super-plex on Dante and worked an arm-bar before tagging in Danielson, who worked Dante’s arm. From there, we got our first PIP [c].

Back from break, Moxley and Danielson kicked each other and Darius received the hot tag from Dante. Darius cleaned house. Darius and Danielson had a stand-off. Darius then hit a Spanish Fly and things slowed down. Dante and Moxley tagged in and before long, Top Flight hit a pair of moves on Moxley and Danielson, resulting in a pin attempt from Dante, but Moxley rolled through a Frog Splash and started the elbows on Dante.

Moxley hit a hell of a lariat on Darius, but Dante kicked out at 2.99. The crowd loved it. Dante slapped Moxley and Moxley tried the Death Rider, but Dante jumped out of it. Things broke down and Danielson hit a Psycho Knee on Darius for another 2.99 count. Danielson kicked Darius in the head and Moxley jumped from the top onto Dante on the outside. Danielson stomped on Darius. Danielson then worked a submission on Darius and Darius tapped out for the win.

Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson defeated “Top Flight” Darius and Dante Martin via submission in 13:30.

McGuire’s Musings: Welp. That crowd has yet to cool down and it makes for an incredible AEW viewing experience. This was great and Jericho was 100 percent right when he kind of predicted that Top Flight would come out of that looking a million times better, even in a loss. This was way, way, way more action than I anticipated, but maybe that was only because Danielson and Moxley was in it, and they typically don’t work that style, but my God, they played into all the Top Flight strengths and because of as much, it worked so well. Kudos to everyone involved. This was unexpectedly fantastic.

Back from break, Hangman Page was cutting a promo with papers in his hand. Page said this isn’t the sad, mopey Hangman and instead, it’s the one that hands Moxley his ass. Page made fun of the “Whitepool Combat Club” watching MMA. Page said he will wipe Moxley’s blood off his hands. Page pushed the camera away. We went back to the ring.

2. Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker vs. Charlette Renegade and Robyn Renegade. Hayter and Baker jumpstarted the match. The crowd chanted “Jamie Hayter!” Robin hit a hell of a dropkick on Hayter and went for a pin to get the two-count. The twins chopped Hayter’s chest but Hayter tried to work her way out. Even so, she was cut off by Charlette. The twins tried a double-suplex, but Hayter countered it and ultimately tagged in Baker. Baker was on the bad end of forearms before Baker hit a Slingblade for a two-count. We then got out second PIP [c].

Back from break, Hayter and Baker were working over the twins. Robin fought back and tried to make a tag, but first hit a kick to land the hot tag to Charlette, who came in and took control. Charlette hit a Fisherman’s Suplex on Baker for a two-count. Baker and Charlette traded blows before Baker landed a weird DDT. Hayter hit a Hate Breaker, but Charlette tried to fight back. Eventually Baker hit the stomp for the win.

Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker defeated Charlette Renegade and Robyn Renegade via pinfall in 8:50.

House of Black cut a pre-tape promo. Malakai spoke about a man who asks him why he didn’t play by the rules. That man, it turned out, was Eddie Kingston. Black said Kingston is a violent bastard, but he’s not that anymore. Brody King spoke and said the sound of coming after Eddie is sickening. Julia and Buddy spoke and perhaps they are recruiting Eddie for the House. Back to the ring, we went.

3. Preston Vance vs. Sonico. Sonico tried to chop Vance and in the meantime, stole the blue tongue thing from Luchasaurus. Vance then hit a a Discus Lariat for the win.

Preston Vance defeated Sonico via pinfall in 41 seconds.

After the match, Vance tore the match of Sonico and dragged him to the back. After that, we got an interview with Darby Allin. It was interrupted by Mike Bennett. Bennett said he’s only been in AEW a little amount of time and he’s worked everywhere in pro wrestling. Bennett said he wants a fight. Darby responded by saying he’s the face of TNT again and Bennett can get some.

McGuire’s Musings: I understand you have to have something to carry the middle-of-the-show PIP, but there isn’t a single good god damn reason I can think anyone would have Britt and Jamie work almost nine minutes against the Renegade Twins. And that’s no disrespect to the Renegade Twins, either. I think they’re pretty good and when I pull up the YouTube show and see them, I’m happy to see a good match. But, come on, friends. Britt is the most noticeable AEW women’s star ever and Hayter is the current world champ. That’s nonsense. Meanwhile, the Vance thing is working well … in the sense that he just takes people’s masks. From there, where do we go?

Back from break, we got the Mark Henry segment. Mike Bennett spoke first and mocked Darby for being a daredevil. Bennett said Darby is cos-play and Mike has actually been through darkness. Allin came back and said how nobody said he would amount to anything in this business. Darby told Henry to hit his line and he did just that.

4. Darby Allin vs. Mike Bennett for the TNT Title. The crowd chanted “Darby” to begin the match. Darby worked a headlock. Darby was on the second rope and the two traded slaps until Bennett kicked Darby’s leg. We went outside and Bennett threw Allin into the guardrail. Multiple times. Bennett hit an elbow on Darby’s jaw and Darby went back into the ring before running straight into Matt Taven on the outside. Then, from the apron, Bennett hit a Russian Leg Sweep on Darby to the floor on the outside.

We got back from our final PIP and the two traded blows in the ring. Bennett landed a Death Valley Driver for a good near-fall. Bennett worked an arm-lock and Darby made to the ropes for a break. Things went to the outside and Taven got involved again. Darby set up a chair and put Bennett in it before going to the top and then hitting a dropkick on Bennett. Both wrestlers were down as the crowd chanted “Holy shit.”

Back in the ring, Darby went for a Coffin Drop, but Maria laid on Bennett to stop it all. As a result, Bennett hit a piledriver for another good near-fall. Darby was placed on the top, but Darby then hit a Code Red from the top. From there, Darby landed the Coffin Drop for the win.

Darby Allin defeated Mike Bennett via pinfall in 12:08.

McGuire’s Musings: This was pretty good and I hope this positions Bennett in a good light for what’s next when it comes to whatever happens between him and ROH/AEW. Both guys worked very hard and some of those bumps, I don’t even know how Darby takes them after that match Wednesday. I have to turn over to BOB now, but rest assured that was a deserving main event. I’ll have more to say in my audio review tomorrow morning.