AEW The First Dance Review
In one of the most anticipated nights in modern professional wrestling history, All Elite Wrestling drew their biggest crowd in the company’s two-year history at the United Center in Chicago, IL for their special episode of AEW Rampage, titled The First Dance. With the heavily-rumored return of CM Punk widely expected to happen at the show, the crowd was electric, hoping to see their hometown hero’s triumphant reemergence.
The fans in the audience, along with everyone watching at home, did not have to wait very long, as the show was kicked off by Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” to introduce CM Punk to one of pro wrestling’s loudest-ever crowd reactions. He took his time with his entrance, appearing emotional as he soaked in the adoration from the crowd. When he finally got in the ring and had a microphone in hand, he said that he was winging it tonight because he didn’t know what to say. After briefly explaining his seven-year hiatus from wrestling, Punk explained that when he left his home promotion Ring of Honor in 2005 to go to WWE, he left pro wrestling and that this was his true return. He said he was there for the fans, and also for himself, as he wanted to surround himself with young talent and to settle some scores in the locker room. He called out Darby Allin, who was seen watching from the rafters alongside Sting, and Punk announced his debut match in AEW will be against Allin at All Out next month.
CM Punk’s return to the ring marked the conclusion of a seven-year hiatus for one of pro wrestling’s most popular modern stars. (All Elite Wrestling)
This was one of the most emotional and impactful moments not only in AEW’s short history but in all of pro wrestling. One of the most influential wrestlers of the 21st century, Punk’s alleged arrival in AEW rightfully dominated headlines in the wrestling world for months and he has immediately turned any show he’ll appear on into must-see programming. The list of dream matches now possible is virtually endless and as Punk said in his promo, he has the time for it all.
Up next was a semifinal match in the tag team eliminator tournament for a shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championship at All Out. Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy of Jurassic Express, who unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for the titles on this week’s Dynamite, took on Private Party in the first match of the four-team tournament. This was a fairly standard match, with Private Party working over Jungle Boy for the first half of the bout until he was able to make the hot tag to Luchasaurus. Things picked up though, with Isiah Kassidy of Private Party pulling a wild Canadian Destroyer off of the top rope to Jungle Boy who was seated atop Luchasaurus’ shoulders. Kassidy’s partner Marq Quen followed that up with an impressive Shooting Star Press to the outside. Just as Private Party looked primed to pick up the win, Jungle Boy countered out of their Gin ‘n Juice finisher, and Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy planted Quen with their brutal backdrop/powerbomb combo for the win.
This was a great follow-up to Punk’s return, keeping fans tuned in with an exciting match between two of AEW’s youngest teams. Jurassic Express has more momentum now than they have ever had before, and they look like the best candidates to challenge, and possibly dethrone, the Young Bucks inside a steel cage at All Out.
Following the tag match, Jade Cargill looked dominant in a decisive victory over Kiera Hogan. The match lasted less than two minutes, with Hogan mostly defending in the loss. Cargill continues to impress in short bursts, and it’s only a matter of time before she finds herself in a meaningful storyline.
We then saw another split-screen interview that AEW introduced in last week’s Rampage premiere, with Jon Moxley on one side and the trio of Daniel Garcia and 2.0 on the other, moderated by Mark Henry. Garcia and 2.0 had some typical trash talk for Moxley, and Moxley responded intensely, itching to get his hands on Garcia in the show’s main event.
His wish was granted just minutes later, as Moxley and Garcia faced off to close the show. Moxley dominated with vicious strikes early, but Garcia was able to gain control with some slick grappling. Garcia targeted Moxley’s leg with strikes and submissions, but Moxley was able to land enough high-impact offense to hold off the new AEW signee. Garcia threatened to upset Moxley with a Sharpshooter, but Moxley was able to reach around Garcia’s neck and lock in a Bulldog Choke to submit Garcia. 2.0 attacked Moxley and Eddie Kingston after the match, but the save was made by Sting and Allin, who took turns landing finishers on the duo to close the show with the good guys standing tall.
Moxley and Garcia had a great match given the very brief time slot they had, and ending the episode on a positive note felt very appropriate, as Punk’s AEW debut made the entire show a feel-good moment. This show was everything fans could have wanted, as we heard from Punk and he didn’t waste any time announcing a time and place for his first match since 2014. The matches themselves were high-quality, and the show marched along at a solid pace following Punk’s segment. AEW surely won’t be able to top the magnitude of this episode in future editions of Rampage, but with this much pressure to deliver, their ability to do just that was outstanding.
