AEW Rampage: Darby Allin advances and Samoa Joe retains

Swerve Strickland vs. Darby Allin w/ Sting

This is an Owen Hart Cup qualifier match. The duo circled before locking up briefly. Then, they exchanged holds. Allin got Swerve in the corner. Swerve went for a kick, but Allin ducked. Allin took him down with wrist lock. Allin used the ropes to jump over Swerve. Allin followed up with an arm drag into a rear chin lock. Allin reversed out a hammerlock. Allin hit a Stunner on the outside. Allin went for a tope suicida, but Swerve caught him with a knee strike. Swerve ran up on Allin and kicked him in the face.

During picture-in-picture, Swerve maintained the advantage. After the break, Swerve had Allin in the corner, but Allin put him in an ankle lock. Swerve fought back by kicking him in the back and hitting him in the face. Swerve with a vertical suplex. Swerve dragged Allin to the corner and went up for a senton, but Allin wasn’t there. That left an opening for a Code Red. Allin went for a Coffin Drop, but Swerve’s leg was up. Swerve kicked him in the head. Swerve picked Allin up by the head and suplexed him on to the ramp.

As Swerve took Allin back to the ring, Ricky Starks attempted a sneak attack on him. Sting stepped in before Starks could interfere. Allin rolled Swerve up for the win and to advance.

Allin wins via pinfall.

Jade Cargill, Kiera Hogan, and Red Velvet vs. Willow Nightingale, Trish Adora, and Skye Blue

Cargill and Blue started by circling one another, but Cargill tagged Red Velvet in. Blue pounded her down, but Red Velvet hit her with a big boot and slammed her into the turnbuckle. Red Velvet tagged in Hogan who did a running slide into Blue’s head. Blue finally made it to her corner.

Nightingale pounced Red Velvet. Blue and Red Velvet had each other’s leg and when they went to put them down, Red Velvet hit a roundhouse kick. Adora tagged in, as did Hogan. Hogan hit a guillotine leg drop. Cargill tagged in and hit Adora with a big boot. Cargill held Adora’s leg, Red Velvet hit a dropkick and Hogan nailed a spear. Cargill hit Adora with Jaded.

This match lasted less than three minutes.

Keith Lee vs. Colten Gunn w/ Austin

Lee forced Gunn into the corner and Gunn shoved him. Gunn hit him with forearms until he got him in the corner. This angered Gunn who hit him with body shots and followed with overhand chops. Lee celebrated with a shimmy.

During picture-in-picture, Lee put Gunn in another corner. Austin tried to get involved and Lee picked him up by the head. The brothers Gunn took turns beating him up. It took both of them to roll him back into the ring. Lee with another overhand chop, but Gunn slapped him and kicked him until he went down in the corner. The Gunn Club hugged to celebrate.

After the break, Lee chokeslammed Gunn to the mat and the pounced him. Lee tweeted Gunn into the corner. Lee ran at Gunn, but Austin pushed him out of the way. Colten went “suck it” and went for the Fame Asser. He set up for the Colt 45, but Lee flattened Gunn for the win.

Lee wins via pinfall.

Danhausen and HOOK face-to-face confrontation

Danhausen tried to get out of their confrontation when they were interrupted by “Smart” Mark Sterling. Tony Nese attacked them from behind. HOOK fought them off and Danhausen cursed Nese and Sterling.

The Acclaimed wants the Gunn Club to team up with them, but they have to ask their dad.

Trent Beretta w/ Chuckie T & Orange Cassidy vs. Samoa Joe (c)

Ian Riccaboni got to be on the call since it was for the Ring of Honor World Television Championship. Bobby Cruise was the ring announcer.

Joe quickly got Beretta in a wrist lock, but they exchanged holds. Joe shoulder tackled Beretta and then followed up with a series of right hands in the corner. Joe followed up with chops and a back elbow. Beretta on the outside, Joe went through the ropes. Beretta hit an Asai Moonsault. Beretta chopped Joe around the ring on the outside. Joe with him with a big boot.

In picture-in-picture, the champ continued to beat up his opponent. Beretta showed a little offense, but Joe quickly regained control.

After the break, Beretta could barely stand, but started to fight back. Joe was on the outside and Beretta kicked him through the ropes. He followed up with a diving crossbody. Beretta chopped Joe and they exchanged chops. Beretta dropped Joe to the mat.

Beretta with a tornado DDT. Joe powerbombed Beretta and transitioned into the STF. Joe had Beretta with a rear naked choke, but Beretta got to the ropes. Joe focused on Beretta’s neck. Beretta slapped Joe, but Joe hit him with a clothesline. Joe set up for a Muscle Buster, but Beretta reversed out. In the corner, Joe put him in an Uranage and followed up with a rear naked chokehold. Beretta tapped out.

Beretta shook his hand afterwards. Tony Schiavone interviewed the champion when he was interuppted by Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh. Orange Cassidy stepped to Singh and kicked him in the legs. Lethal went after Cassidy. Lethal and Joe went at it in the ring. They had to be pulled apart.

Samoa Joe wins via submission