⚡️✊ 8/20 AEW Rampage thread: THE FIRST DANCE

[Bang Bang Bart]

The time has arrived. The moment you’ve been all waiting for is here. After weeks of vague hints and winks, will the rumors be true and will we see the arrival of one CM Punk to All Elite Wrestling?

Live from a sold-out United Center in Chicago, the second-ever episode of Rampage brings us The First Dance, and aside from the most-anticipated debut ever in AEW history, we have a packed card:

- Jade Cargill takes on Kiera Hogan

- Jurassic Express versus the HFO-affiliated Private Party in the first of two Semifinal AEW Tag Title Eliminator matches

- Jon Moxley looks to avenge an attack by Daniel Garcia on Wednesday’s Dynamite by taking on “Red Death” in singles action

- Plus: will we see CM Punk in an AEW ring? Darby Allin is sure hoping we do.

That’s going down tonight at 10/9c on TNT (and on an hour delay at 11 on TSN 2).

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

This has potential to be one of the biggest moments in wrestling in the last few decades without hyperbole. The reaction might be deafening.

I can't wait to see this unfold! Little sidebar I'm very curious how much they stack the two hours of DARK beforehand too... given it's The United Center? We might see bigger than usual matches

[Bang Bang Bart]

I know the show thread is way early, but given the magnitude of this week’s Rampage, I thought it deserved the treatment.

[mc74]

I'm so hyped for this, and I imagine the atmosphere is going to be electric. It could very well go down as one of the biggest moments in wrestling today.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

This show has the potential to out-trend Smackdown before it even begins by the way. Possibly even before Smackdown starts.

[Starshine]

*Looks at name of show*

So, we're all super excited and on the same page of who's debuting, right?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{Spoiler}

[Lizuka #BLM]

I'm really curious how the hell this show is going to be structured. There are a lot of ways to take it depending on when and how they bring Punk in, especially given of three matches two of them are probably going to be basically squashes.

[Fake Jesus]

How are they going to fit three matches into this show? Unless Moxley just drops that boy on his head in ten seconds

[RKTaker]

in 23 hours people are either gonna be extremely happy or we'll lose Chicago to a riot

[Lizuka #BLM]

Aug 19, 2021 23:24:11 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

How are they going to fit three matches into this show? Unless Moxley just drops that boy on his head in ten seconds

They had three matches last week and still had some promos and stuff in between, and those were all fairly competitive title matches while it's pretty easy to see both Moxley / Garcia and Jade / Kiera being a lot more one-sided.

[RKTaker]

Aug 19, 2021 23:24:11 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

How are they going to fit three matches into this show? Unless Moxley just drops that boy on his head in ten seconds

the same way they fit 3 matches onto the show last week..........

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

I literally remembered earlier I had a Punk shirt somewhere…I have a buncha t-shirts that have disappeared into the ether since my divorce…and spent some time this evening digging it up.

And thus I had my Friday work attire ready to go. Punk shirt has been found.

Anyway…I’m f***ing ready. I rescheduled plans I originally had for tonight because f*** a DVR.

I will be watching, in my recliner, with my laptop and in this thread.

I’m ready.

IT’S CM PUNK DAY, Y’ALL!

[Fake Jesus]

Aug 19, 2021 23:26:06 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

Aug 19, 2021 23:24:11 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

How are they going to fit three matches into this show? Unless Moxley just drops that boy on his head in ten seconds

the same way they fit 3 matches onto the show last week..........

Last week didn't have an obligatory ten minutes (at least) for CM Punk's return

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Aug 19, 2021 23:29:25 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

Aug 19, 2021 23:26:06 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

the same way they fit 3 matches onto the show last week..........

Last week didn't have an obligatory ten minutes (at least) for CM Punk's return

It did have a segment dedicated to Fuego's contract singing and an interview segment with Baker and Velvet. Remove those, run Jade/Kiera at about the length of Miro/Fuego, and run Garcia/Mox shorter than Baker/Velvet. Plenty of time opened up.

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

Aug 19, 2021 23:29:25 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

Aug 19, 2021 23:26:06 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

the same way they fit 3 matches onto the show last week..........

Last week didn't have an obligatory ten minutes (at least) for CM Punk's return

I have absolute faith that The Forbidden Door only did half an 8-Ball before he blocked out time for this particular show. He’s focused. He’s ready. He knows what he’s doing.

(The Forbidden Door alternate ego being a dirt bag and a Coke fiend might literally only be Head Kayfabe in MY head…but by gawd I WILL stick to that Kayfabe, damnit!)

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aug 19, 2021 23:29:25 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

Aug 19, 2021 23:26:06 GMT -5 RKTaker said:

the same way they fit 3 matches onto the show last week..........

Last week didn't have an obligatory ten minutes (at least) for CM Punk's return

Omega/Christian also went 20 minutes. 30 with the celebration afterward almost. None of these are gonna come close to that. The structure to the show will be much different.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aug 19, 2021 23:26:05 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Aug 19, 2021 23:24:11 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

How are they going to fit three matches into this show? Unless Moxley just drops that boy on his head in ten seconds

They had three matches last week and still had some promos and stuff in between, and those were all fairly competitive title matches while it's pretty easy to see both Moxley / Garcia and Jade / Kiera being a lot more one-sided.

I do think Hogan and Garcia are gonna get stuff in. Mox/Garcia might get like 7 minutes. Jade/Hogan maybe five? Express/Private Party about 12?

Factoring in entrances and potential other promos and such that leaves you a half hour to twenty minutes to do what you gotta do. People forget that Omega/Christian was a PPV quality match and length.

[ASYLUMHAUSEN]

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Aug 19, 2021 23:24:11 GMT -5 Fake Jesus said:

How are they going to fit three matches into this show? Unless Moxley just drops that boy on his head in ten seconds

Unless you're expecting Express vs Private Party to go 20 minutes like Omega/Christian complete with the like 10 minute celebration and promo they also had... they're gonna fit all three of these matches in just fine imo. 

[Malibu Albino]

Holy shit I am so excited! I can’t recall a moment in recent memory that has gotten me this hyped. Punk was the guy who brought me back into wrestling and now he is returning with the promotion that I think will use him the best. I cannot wait to see this moment.