The latest episode of AEW Rampage packed a punch with thrilling matches and intense face-offs. From Darby Allin’s explosive showdown with Lee Moriarty to TBS Champion Jade Cargill’s confrontation with Taya Valkyrie, fans were left on the edge of their seats. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the highlights of the 4/7 AEW Rampage results and dive into McGuire’s review of each match. Plus, we’ll explore Swerve Strickland’s major announcement and what it means for the future of AEW. So, let’s not waste any more time and jump right in.
AEW Rampage Episode 87 was an episode that featured many exciting matches and interesting storylines that kept the audience engaged throughout the show. The episode was held live from Kingston, Rhode Island at the Ryan Center and was aired on April 7, 2023, on TNT. Jim Ross welcomed everyone into the show and was joined by commentators Tony Schiavone and Excalibur.
The first match of the night featured Hook and Ethan Page for the FTW title under FTW rules. Hook made his way to the ring while Ethan Page was already inside. Hook pulled out a table from under the ring, which was legal under FTW rules, and used it to beat Page on the outside of the ring. The two brawled into the crowd, and Hook threw a drink in Page’s face, riling the crowd up. Page then took control and told the audience to kiss his ass. However, Hook laid in some strikes as Page sat on a chair in the crowd.
After the commercial break, Page kicked Hook over the guardrail and back to ringside. Hook responded by suplexing Page on the floor. Hook grabbed a pair of chairs from under the ring, and Page went for an Ego’s Edge on a table, but Hook fought out and went for a T-Bone suplex onto a table. Page ultimately landed a powerslam through the table, which resulted in a “Holy s—” chant in the audience. Page went for a cover on the outside and got a two-count out of it. Meanwhile, Hook set up a table in a corner and went for a Red Rum, to which Page instantly tapped out. Hook had defeated Ethan Page via submission in 9:13. After the match, Hook pointed to the table and hit a T-bone suplex on Page through the table, which got a massive reaction from the crowd.
The second match of the night featured The Acclaimed, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker against The Infantry, LSG, and Bobby Somebody. The Acclaimed made their entrance with Caster’s rap taking a shot at Marjorie Taylor Green as well as Twitter Blue Checks. Bowens began the match, but both Parker and Menard quickly started taking control over the job guys. The Acclaimed tagged in and hit Scissor Me Timbers. Eventually, Caster tagged in and landed the Mic Drop for the win.
After the match, everyone celebrated, but Jake Hager suplexed Billy Gunn, and the JAS brawled with The Acclaimed, which ended the fun storyline. Menard and Parker, along with Hager, had the upper hand over The Acclaimed and posed for the cameras. From there, Swerve made an announcement that he had merged with someone, which he would reveal later in the show.
The third match of the night featured Darby Allin against Lee Moriarty. The two locked up, and Allin took control early with a side head-lock. Allin rolled up Moriarty for a two-count, and the crowd chanted, “Let’s go Darby!” The two had a test of strength, and Moriarty got the best of it. Moriarty stomped on Allin’s chest, and the action spilled outside. Moriarty ran Allin into the guardrail, and Allin and Moriarty went back and forth.
However, Moriarty distracted the ref, and Big Bill hit Darby hard, resulting in a PIP [c]. After the commercial break, Darby hit a shotgun dropkick, and Moriarty ran into the ropes to push Darby off the top. Moriarty got a two-count for his efforts, and Moriarty worked a full-nelson. He eventually landed a snap-dragon suplex for a two-count. Moriarty draped Darby over the top rope and kicked his head. From there, Moriarty landed a super-plex from the second rope, but Darby came right back, fired up, and went for a Scorpion Death Drop.
Moriarty countered, and the two countered each other several times. Darby finally landed a Code Red and hit a splash onto Big Bill. From there, Darby hit the Coffin Drop for the win. After the match, Darby backed his way up the ramp, but Swerve’s music hit. Swerve came out and shared a stare down with Darby. Out of nowhere, Brian Cage attacked Darby, revealing that Swerve’s merger was with The Embassy.
Finally, the fourth match of the night featured Anna Jay against Julia Hart. Jay jump-started the match and attacked Hart, but Hart came right back and ran Jay into the guardrail. The two continued to go back and forth, and the match ended with Jay winning.
Overall, AEW Rampage Episode 87 was a highly entertaining show that featured many exciting matches and interesting storylines that kept the audience engaged throughout the show. The Hook vs. Ethan Page match was a standout, with Hook making a strong impression in his first real brawl on AEW TV. The Darby Allin vs. Lee Moriarty match was also impressive, with Darby showing why he is considered one of the top performers in the company. The episode also set up several exciting storylines for future episodes, which is sure to keep fans eager to tune in.
Overall, AEW Rampage delivered another action-packed night of wrestling with some unexpected twists and turns. Darby Allin and Lee Moriarty put on a thrilling match, while Hook proved he was worthy of the FTW Title against Ethan Page. Anna Jay vs. Julia Hart showcased the young talent in AEW’s women’s division, and the face-to-face between TBS Champion Jade Cargill and Taya Valkyrie only heightened anticipation for their upcoming match. The Acclaimed, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker also put on a great show in their eight-man tag match. And of course, Swerve Strickland’s announcement has fans buzzing about what’s next for the talented wrestler. AEW Rampage continues to be must-watch programming for all wrestling fans, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next.
