New Year's Smash - Rampage recap for December 30, 2022

In memory of Don West, 1963 - 2022.

Kip Sabian guests on commentary for the next match.

Orange Cassidy retains the AEW All-Atlantic Championship against Trent Beretta after Penelope Ford shows up and distracts Trent Beretta.

In backstage footage from after this week's Dynamite, Tony Schiavone interviews Darby Allin and Sting. Darby Allin says that when he wanted to become a professional wrestling, everyone doubted him and he listened to them. He then says he only listened to himself, then became TNT Champion only to lose it all. Allin then says that nobody believes in him, and asks Sting if he believes in him. Sting says that if he says no, he will be the man who doubted Allin, and that if he says yes, Allin will lose the chip on his shoulder. Sting tells Allin that he cannot lose the chip on his shoulder, for Samoa Joe is a killer, and that he needs to go out there and win his title back.

Kip Sabian beats Atiba with a mocking Orange Punch.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Preston Vance - who wants to be known as "Perro Peligroso" - and Jose the Assistant. Vance says he has no remorse from turning on The Dark Order, and says that if he knew it would have given the spotlight, he would have done it three years ago.

Tony Schiavone interviews Jon Moxley in the ring. Moxley says that in the first three years of AEW, two men stood up above everyone else and beat everyone except each other: himself and "Hangman" Adam Page. He says that he knew that a showdown was inevitable and that there was only be one top guy and one last man standing, and that it would be him. Moxley says he hit Page so hard he woke up in another dimension, and that Page woke up in a hospital while he slept like a baby, because The Blackpool Combat Club goes harder than anyone else. Moxley then says that Page is hurt, then says he has been hurt for ten years and that he has gotten over it because AEW is "the major leagues." He then says that if Page wants a match, then he can go see his doctors and that he will be there waiting for him. Moxley then says this is a tough business, and if Page makes it to January 11th, he will remind him and everyone how tough he is. Moxley then tells Page "Keep your hands up, bitch," then leaves.

We hear from Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett and Satnam Singh. Sonjay Dutt says they are tired of The Acclaimed's ("Platinum" Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) games, and Jay Lethal says they have been waiting for championship gold and that the time to wait is over. He says that The Acclaimed has pissed them off and that they are now fighting. Jarrett says he has been in the business for 36 years, and that there have been things he has said and done that he regrets. He then says Max Caster will regret that rap, and that he and Jay Lethal will not only end The Acclaimed's tag team title reign, but also their careers.

Jade Cargill retains the TBS Championship against Kiera Hogan despite Red Velvet working against Jade Cargill during the match.

We hear from Jamie Hayter, who says that her match with Hikaru Shida was a war and will dictate the pace of her matches going forward, then says that it does not matter who Saraya brings with her because she and Britt Baker are willing to go to war and she hits hard.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews "Smart" Mark Sterling, "The Premier Athlete" Tony Nese and "The Technical Beast" Josh Woods. Sterling says Bryan Danielson has gotten in his business for far too long. Nese then says that next week on Dynamite, he will challenge Danielson to a match and beat him in his hometown.

Mark Henry interviews Swerve Strickland, Parker Boudreaux, the tattooed associate, Wheeler Yuta, Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli. Moxley says there will be no fear or pain in Wheeler Yuta's head and that he will destroy, then says there is nothing Swerve can dish out that already has been dished out. Swerve says that he wants to get gritty and violent just like Moxley and Yuta, and that in 2023, he and his associates will be the definition of violent. Wheeler Yuta says that he does not need two big tattooed men to back him up, and that they can go violent one-on-one.

Swerve Strickland beats Wheeler Yuta after Swerve traps the referee briefly in the corner after Yuta blocks the JML Driver, allowing Swerve to hit Yuta with a low blow before hitting the JML Driver for the win.