Rampage recap and reactions: Manitoba Massacre

AEW Rampage (May 1, 2024) emanated from Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The show featured a Manitoba Massacre between Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue, Chris Jericho accepting Big Bill Morrissey into his vortex, the Outcasts calling out Mariah May, and more.

AEW plowed a double-header of Dynamite and Rampage. Catch up on all the details from both shows with excellent play-by-play from Claire Elizabeth. This recap will cover the Rampage episode. For the Dynamite recap, click here.

Let’s jump right in with a recap followed by reactions.

Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Daddy Magic were on commentary. Justin Roberts handled ring announcer duties.

The Elite ambushed Kenny Omega on a stretcher backstage. It was only business. This scene followed the Elite’s violent attack on Omega during Dynamite.

Jay White vs. Dante Martin

Solo duel with all seconds sent to the back. Martins styled with agility until White pulled him off the ropes. Martin banged his head on the way down. White went to work on Martin’s legs to slow the speedster. Martin rallied for the double springboard Nose Dive, however, White kicked out on the cover. Martin went for his suplex finisher. White created a window of opportunity by countering for a snap suplex. Switchblade quickly transitioned for a Blade Runner to win. Afterward, White added another suplex for good measure.

Jay White defeated Dante Martin.

Deonna Purrazzo has had enough of Thunder Rosa. The Virtuosa is a five-time world champion (in Impact). She’s starting to feel like her old self. If Thunder wants to make this personal, then Purrazzo will oblige.

Rush wants respect put on his name.

Big Bill Morrissey believes he has all the tools to reach the top, but he lack proper guidance. Bill thinks Chris Jericho can lead him to the promised land. Jericho schmoozed the charm to accept Bill under his Learning Tree.

Swerve Strickland will chat with Christian Cage next week with payback in mind for the beatdown on Dynamite. Swerve won’t be alone next time.

Kyle O’Reilly vs. Rocky Romero

O’Reilly targeted Romero’s arm with force. Romero repaid the favor. In a battle of one-armed men, furious kicks were unleashed. The best shot at a pinfall came from Romero on an avalanche Sliced Bread. O’Reilly kicked out on the cover. Back to working arm submissions. Slick mat work led to O’Reilly surprising Romero with a roll-up to win.

Kyle O’Reilly defeated Rocky Romero.

The Outcasts ridiculed Mariah May. Harley Cameron issued a challenge for next week.

Roderick Strong cautioned Will Ospreay against retiring the Tiger Driver ‘91. The Assassin will need every bullet in his chamber not to fall to the Messiah of the Backbreaker.

Enough talk. It’s time for the main event.

TBS Championship: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Skye Blue

This title fight was contested under Manitoba Massacre rules, which meant anything goes and falls count anywhere. Plunder was aplenty. Primarily chairs until Blue dumped out a sack of tacks. Willow executed an avalanche cradle suplex onto the tacks.

The finish came down to a barbed wire board atop a table outside. Blue constructed the pallet of pain, and she was once again victim to her own evil machinations. Willow maneuvered for a Doctor Bomb off the apron onto the barbed wire for the winning pin.

Willow Nightingale defeated Skye Blue.

---

Grade: B

This was a better than average episode of Rampage with the benefit of cohesion from Dynamite. The promos paid immediately for events from earlier in the evening.

Damn. Daaaaamn. Damn! The finish to the Manitoba Massacre lived up to the moniker. That was a violent climax with a barbed wire board. Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue earned their lumps throughout with all the chairs and the tacks. This should be an emphatic finale to the feud. (If your feed was cut off early on TrillerTV, AEW has the end of the match posted on YouTube.)

The two men’s matches were slick. Jay White undercut Dante Martin’s wheels to slow the pace. Switchblade showed grit to kick out of the Nose Dive, and he had a trick up his sleeve to push for the Blade Runner. That was the type of solid win to showcase White as a higher player. Kyle O’Reilly and Rocky Romero had an engaging technical duel over arm grappling. A win is a win for O’Reilly, but I was a little disappointed in a roll-up victory after so much build over submissions. I feel a little robbed of not seeing which man would triumph with an armbar.

Lots of engaging promos. I’m giving the nod to the Undisputed Kingdom and the Outcasts as the cream of the crop. Wacky humor was on full display. As for Deonna Purrazzo, I’m curious if this is the start of a heel turn. AEW squeezed the juice of her babyface run into a failed title shot. The Virtuosa is naturally confident borderlining on arrogance. Purrazzo knows how to make that character shine as a heel.

Share your thoughts about Rampage. How do you rate it? What were your favorite moments from the show?