It’s Friday night and you know what that means?
Yeah, I’m actually doing AEW Rampage, especially since the Continental Classic will have in the Main Event Bryan Danielson facing Daniel Garcia, who has yet to earn points in the Blue League. As for the rest of the show, enjoy the pictures and my pithy commentary.
We come to you (taped) from the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC. Ian Riccobani, “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard, and Tony Schiavone have the call, and your First Match of the night is for the…
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy(c) (with Danhausen) vs. Angelico (with Serpentico)
Riccobani mentions what happened on a recent ROH show on Honor Club Angelico clipped Cassidy in the back of the leg, which led to this match.
This is your typical Cassidy match, but Angelico chops his bad leg, and then he twists him in a pretzel with his deathlock variation. Angelico keeps control throughout the match, and once he’s thrown out of the ring, even Serpentico helps to hobble him further. But if you’ve watched his matches (and lord knows I have), Cassidy counters with a Stun Dog Millionaire into the Beach Break to cover for a two count. Serpentico continues to interfere on behalf of Angelico, but so does Danhausen and he curses Angelico. Cassidy has had enough of Serpentico and he kicks him from the outside and sends him out to Danhausen to curse him some more.
One Orange Punch later, and Cassidy triumphs.
Your Winner via Pinfall, and Still AEW International Champion: Orange Cassidy
Forget Rusty Staub. Cassidy made his case in Montreal that he is “Le Grande Orange.”
Now for women’s action with…
Abadon vs. Trish Adora
It’s been a while, but let’s cue the Haiku In Review™:
Living Dead Girl proves
Adora cannot match her.
Black Dahlia. Done.
Your Winner via Pinfall: Abadon
Once again, the lights flicker and Julia Hart appears, drops the TBS title in front of the Living Dead Girl, and Abadon holds it for a minute. She gives her banshee wail and then the lights go out again, and she disappears with the title.
Julia Hart considers Abadon at AEW Rampage, taped at Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, and airing on Friday, December 8, 2023. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis, www.photography514.coI’m more puzzled by what’s happening here. Hart is a heel, and Abadon has yet to present any babyface tendencies in her character or by proxy from the fans. Maybe I’m overthinking things, too, but I hope things clear up before a title match occurs.
We get a preview of what to expect on Saturday on AEW Collision between Mercedes Martinez and Willow Nightingale.
TOMORROW NIGHT
Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Martinez face off on Collision! Who will be victorious in the latest chapter of their storied rivalry?Find out TOMORROW on #AEWCollision at 8pm ET/7pm CT on TNT!@willowwrestles | @RealMMartinezpic.twitter.com/bM7V3SpJUC
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 9, 2023
I want more of this, and I am jealous I’m not covering it, but glad my man Boris Roberto Aguilar is.
Speaking of things I wish I didn’t cover, here’s…
For Part Two of AEW Rampage: Danhausen goes Orange in Montreal, and Danielson and Garcia deliver a Classic click on the link below:
The Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita, with Don Callis) vs Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal
Callis joins at commentary, and after giving Daddy Magic the business of being in a society that appreciated Chris Jericho, he says that his Family is going to be sending a message to The Golden Jets.
Early on, Daniels chops Hobbs to no avail, then he baits him for a chop[. Hobbs swings and misses and Daniels fires away before the Powerhouse of the Don Callis Family gets the drop on the Fallen Angel. Now Takeshita tags in and gives him a running elbow followed by a senton drop from the second rope. There’s a Tag to Sydal and he kicks at Takeshita’s legs. During Picture in Picture, Takeshita and Hobbs regain control, and then…
Ads (I’d be more annoyed if I didn’t know what happened in this match. Oh, and if you guessed it, too, keep it to yourself.)
We come back and Sydal gives a huracanrana to Takeshita, followed by a high knee lift. He finally gets the hot tag to Daniels and he is an Angel en Fuego. He manages to get a lot of offense in, but Hobbs gets in the mix and stops the momentum with a spinebuster and a front slam earns him and Takeshita the pin and the win.
Your Winners via Pinfall: Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs
Renee Paquette is backstage and she interviews Darius and a fully healed Dante Martin of Top Flight and Action Andretti. After Dante sustained a gruesome ankle injury by Penta El Zero Miedo at Supercard of Honor, he is back at one hundred percent and they challenge him for a trios match.
How will Dante Martin, Darius Martin and Action Andretti respond to Penta's challenge for a Trios Match?
Watch #AEWRampage on TNT!@Lucha_Angel1 | @DariusMartin612 | @ActionAndretti | @PENTAELZEROMpic.twitter.com/kxHguq4lCj
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 9, 2023
Now we go back to ringside, and it is time for the Main Event in the Blue League of the Continental Classic featuring…
“The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia
Garcia is back to his old look with the black towel and trunks, and he wants to make a statement since he has yet to score any points. They have a staredown and you can cut the tension with a knife.
Once the bell rings, Danielson with a wrestling clinic, but Garcia is no slouch and matches him hold for hold. The Montreal fans are solidly behind the American Dragon as they chant, “Oui! Oui! Oui!” Danielson plays a psychological game plan, and it’s clear he’s living rent-free In Garcia’s head. As they jockey for position, Danielson lands with kicks to his left hamstring. That finally wakes up Garcia and he battles him into the corner and nails a facewash to the eye patch side of Danielson’s head. He then drapes his legs in the corner to the Tree of Woe and gives a delayed dropkick to his sternum to cover for a two count. Garcia goes for a waistlock, but Danielson reverses to a German suplex.
During Picture in Picture, Danielson is on fire with a running dropkick and lights up his chest before doing another dropkick. Garcia fires back with a running clothesline, but Danielson comes back with a roundhouse kick and follows with the RegalPlex for a two count, and transitions to the Cattle Mutilation. He can’t quite get the submission in and therefore he switches to a pin, and Garcia kicks out at two. Danielson kicks at his chest and then switches to stomps on his head, but Garcia reverses to elbows to the side of his head. Danielson reverses to show how it’s done, and Garcia reverses again and shows how he’s learned
Both men are exhausted, but Danielson gets up and starts taunting, “Dance for me!” at Garcia as he kicks his chest some more. A Saito suplex by Garcia allows him to cover for a close two, and he follows with the Gotch-style Piledriver, but Danielson counters into a triangle choke. Garcia is just about done and that prompts Danielson to hit the Busaiku knee, but Garcia collapses in a heap. As Danielson tries to prop him up, it’s apparent he’s playing possum and rolls him up for two, and Garcia quickly goes to the Dragon Tamer and sinks it in deep.
As he leans back, Danielson pulls at his face to force him to release the submission. Garcia stays on task and plants him with a piledriver and covers for one, two…no such luck
Garica gives boots to his head, along with stomps. He starts to dance and rushes at him, but Danielson comes flying out of the corner with the Busaiku Knee that finds its mark and he covers for a close two count and transitions into trapping his arm while giving crossface punches across the bridge of his nose. Danielson cinches The LeBelle Lock, and he fades away and the ref calls it.
Your Winner via Referee Stoppage: Bryan Danielson
After the match, Danielson celebrates with the rest of Montreal as Garcia sits on the apron edge contemplating how it all went wrong, as the show fades to black.
TOP PHOTO: Orange Cassidy and Danhausen at AEW Rampage, taped at Centre Bell in Montreal, Quebec, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, and airing on Friday, December 8, 2023. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis, www.photography514.com
