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AEW Rampage Cancelled: What’s Next For Friday Nights
AEW Rampage, the Friday night show, is ending after three years. Explore the reasons behind its cancellation and what the future holds for All Elite Wrestling.
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All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is closing the chapter on one of its most intriguing projects. After three years of airtime, its Friday night show, Rampage, appears to be bowing out. Once brimming with promise and star power, the show struggled to maintain its shine over time. The result? A bittersweet farewell.
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The question is: What happened? And what’s next for AEW? Let’s dive in.
A Dazzling Debut: Rampage in 2021
When Rampage premiered in August 2021, it was electric. Fans were buzzing. The debut episode aired live from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, delivering fireworks:
Christian Cage vs. Kenny Omega: Cage claimed the IMPACT World Championship, a jaw-dropping moment.
CM Punk’s Arrival: The second episode, “The First Dance,” made wrestling history with CM Punk’s much-anticipated debut. Over 1.1 million viewers tuned in, and more than 15,000 fans packed the United Center.
The energy was palpable. Everyone believed Rampage was destined to be AEW’s next big thing.
Iconic Matches and Moments
Over its run, Rampage delivered some unforgettable highlights:
- CM Punk vs. Eddie Kingston: Their fiery exchanges in 2021 had fans hooked.
- TayJay vs. The Bunny & Penelope Ford: A brutal Street Fight that proved AEW’s women’s division could shine.
- Wheeler Yuta vs. Jon Moxley: This match in 2022 cemented Yuta as a rising star.
Moments like these kept fans coming back. For a while, it seemed like Rampage was unstoppable.
The Challenges?
But the shine didn’t last forever. By 2023, Rampage struggled to keep its momentum. Ratings dipped below 200,000 viewers at times. What went wrong?
- Too Similar to Dynamite: Fans often said it felt like an extension of AEW’s flagship show rather than something unique.
- A Crowded Schedule: The introduction of Collision in 2023 stretched AEW’s programming thin. It became harder for Rampage to stand out.
- Booking Woes: Inconsistent storytelling and a lack of must-see moments made it tough to keep viewers engaged.
The good news? AEW has always been a company that learns from its mistakes.
What’s Next for AEW?
Earlier in 2024, AEW inked a fresh media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This secured the futures of Dynamite and Collision, but Rampage didn’t make the cut. During the 2024 New Year’s Smash edition of the show, AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and his faction, the Death Riders, dropped a heavy hint: Rampage was nearing its end.
Rumors are swirling about a replacement show, tentatively called Shockwave. But for now, plans are reportedly on pause.
A New Chapter for AEW
The end of Rampage isn’t just an ending—it’s a fresh start. AEW has proven its ability to adapt and thrive in the ever-competitive world of pro wrestling. The lessons learned here? They’ll be invaluable for what comes next.
Because anytime a company stumbles, it also grows. And AEW? It’s just getting started.
What’s the big picture? Rampage may be stepping aside, but AEW’s journey is far from over. Fans can expect bigger, better, and bolder moves in the future. The end of Rampage isn’t a failure—it’s a stepping stone to something greater.
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