AEW Rampage: Keith Lee returns and comes for Swerve

AEW Rampage: Slam Dunk returned on Friday. The main event saw Dustin Rhodes take on Swerve Strickland.

Prior to the match, when they were trading barbs backstage, Strickland noted that Trench was missing and he hadn’t been able to reach him all week. He accused Rhodes of having something to do with it.

Before the match began, Strickland’s other Mogul Affiliate, Parker Bordeaux came for Rhodes. “The Natural” was ready for him, though, and hit Bordeaux in the gut with a turnbuckle.

Strickland sent Rhodes into the barricade and busted him open. The two went toe-to-toe and Rhodes shows no signs of slowing down after announcing his plans to retire from the ring when his contract is up in July. There was a Dustin Destroyer, Swerve biting his opponent’s forehead, and a Death Valley Driver on the apron.

Rhodes was in prime position for a victory when Bordeaux pulled him out of the ring and drove him into the steel steps. The match ended in a disqualification. After the match was over, two-thirds of the Mogul Affiliates attacked Rhodes. Bordeaux handed his chain to Strickland, who used it to further bloody the face of Rhodes.

They placed Rhodes onto a cinderblock as they did with Strickland’s former tag team partner, Keith Lee. As Strickland was on the top turnbuckle, Lee’s music hit. Strickland and Bordeaux faced the ramp, waiting for Lee. They fell for the distraction, which allowed Lee to get in the ring. As it dawned on them where Lee was, they slowly turned around. Lee grabbed Strickland by the throat. Bordeaux tried to stop him and paid for it. Lee attacked them both before helping Rhodes to his feet.

It’s nice to see Lee back in AEW. He’s back just in time to reignite his feud with Strickland and set up for a match at Revolution. They are both main event talents. It’ll be interesting to see if JD Griffey comes back to assist Lee. There’s no clear answer to where Trench is. Perhaps Lee is holding him hostage somewhere like Strickland did to Billy Gunn.