The First Dance - Rampage recap for August 20, 2021

CM Punk shows up and heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Like in WWE, Cult of Personality by Living Colour is his entrance theme. After the commercial break and some embraces with front row fans, CM Punk says the fans know how to make a man feel "like Britt Baker in Pittsburgh," and says he has no idea what to say because he had no idea how he would feel and needed to feel it. Punk says that he feels and hears the fans, and that he has heard them for the last seven years. He says there is a lot of news to cover, and while he cannot cover it all right now, he has the time and he is not going anywhere. Punk then tells the fans that if any of his personal choices made them feel disappointed or let down, he understands, and says he would never get healthy on any level staying in the same place that got him sick in the first place. He then sits in the middle of the ring and tells the story of felt that he had to leave, but he had to leave, back when he was in Ring of Honor. He talks about how he talks about coming to his last ROH match with tears in his eyes. He then realizes he cried because he came to a place where people could get in the ring, learn their craft and enjoy professional wrestling, and he was leaving a place that he loved for another place where it would not be easy for a guy like him. Punk says that when he left ROH, he left professional wrestling, and today, he is back, and back for himself and for the fans because there is a lot of young talent that he wishes he was surrounded by ten years ago. Punk says he is back to work with the same young talent that had the passion he once had as well as to settle some old scores in the locker room. He namedrops men like Darby Allin, who he sees in the rafters with Sting and admits is good, saying that Darby is tough like every person in Chicago, Illinois and that he can do nothing more dangerous than wrestle CM Punk, except wrestling CM Punk in Chicago. Punk then says he will see Darby, Sting and the fans at All Out, then says he is back. Punk then says that seven years is a long time to wait for somebody, then asks the fans to get a free ice cream bar on their way out on him.

Back at the announce table, Taz, Excalibur, Jim Ross (filling in for Chris Jericho) and Mark Henry are shown with the free ice cream bars.

We hear from Christian Cage, who tells Jurassic Express to beat Private Party and win the tag team title eliminator tournament before telling The Young Bucks that they can use their corporate status and their friends all they want, for it won't help them in a steel cage. He also says that he is in Kenny Omega's head and has his number. He also says that he is in Kenny Omega's head and has his number, and at All Out, he will beat him for the AEW World Championship.

The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) and Brandon Cutler watch the next match from the stage, while The Lucha Bros. (Penta el Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix) and The Varsity Blonds (Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr.) are seen watching from the front row.

Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus) beat Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy) to advance to the finals of the AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Tournament.

Backstage, we hear from Kenny Omega and Don Callis. Callis calls Jurassic Express' win a fluke, and he and Omega say that Christian will not win the AEW World Championship, with Omega saying this week was made for him and that he will not take the title.

Jade Cargill quickly beats Kiera Hogan.

Mark Henry interviews Jon Moxley and Daniel Garcia. Garcia says he has to beat Jon Moxley to become the biggest name in AEW, and 2.0 (Jeff Parker and Matt Lee) says the fans in Chicago, Illinois have waited for a main event like and to see Garcia beat Moxley. Meanwhile, Moxley is still sore about being attacked earlier in the week and that he is ready to inflict a lot of pain on Garcia.

Jon Moxley beats Daniel Garcia with the Bulldog Choke. After the match, Daniel Garcia and 2.0 (Jeff Parker and Matt Lee) attack Moxley and Eddie Kingston, then Darby Allin and Sting show up and make the save. Garcia gets the Paradigm Shift, and 2.0 get a Stinger Splash before they both get tossed out of the ring.