AEW Rampage, a staple of Tony Khan’s promotion for over three years, is going off the air, at least for the time being. During the December 22 AEW Dynamite tapings at the Hammerstein Ballroom, Tony Khan announced that AEW would be recording the final episode of Rampage “for the foreseeable future” and that this final episode is scheduled to air on December 27.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a show that debuted on August 13, 2021, as AEW’s second weekly program on TNT. Rampage made an immediate impact with its premiere, where Christian Cage defeated Kenny Omega to capture the TNA/IMPACT Championship.
A week later, Rampage delivered one of wrestling’s most iconic moments—CM Punk’s highly anticipated return to professional wrestling. This episode drew 1.126 million viewers, making it the highest-rated installment in the show’s history.
Despite its explosive start, Rampage would struggle to win over fans, wth a major factor being its challenging 10 p.m. ET time slot. The show was frequently preempted by NBA, NHL, and March Madness broadcasts, which impacted its viewership. Once Collision launched in June 2023, Rampage quickly became AEW’s ‘C-Show’ with important developments being kept for Collision or Dynamite.
What Else Happened During the AEW Dynamite Taping?
Suspicions arose about Rampage’s fate when it was reported that AEW’s new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery covered AEW Dynamite and Collision, but not the Friday show. Fans are now wondering whether this is merely a temporary hiatus as Khan alluded to, or if we’ve seen the last of AEW Rampage.