In May 2021, the Americanprofessional wrestling promotionAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) aired aspecial episode of their weekly program,Wednesday Night Dynamite, titledBlood & Guts;[2] it was originally scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3] The event took its name from theBlood and Guts match, which debuted at the event and is AEW's version of the WarGames match, but using the classic format fromJim Crockett Promotions and not the modern format used by rival company,WWE, which also owns the trademark to the "WarGames" name.[4] The name "Blood and Guts" itself was a reference to a 2019 quote made by WWE executive chairmanVince McMahon in an earnings call, who had said that although their product was going to become edgier, "we're not going to go back to theAttitude Era, and we're not going to doblood and guts and things of that nature such as being done on perhaps a new potential competitor".[5][6] The term "blood and guts" used by McMahon was perceived as a reference to rival promotion AEW.[7]
On June 1, 2022, AEW announced that Blood & Guts would return as the June 29 episode ofDynamite at theLittle Caesars Arena inDetroit, Michigan, which would airlive onTBS, thus establishingBlood & Guts as an annualtelevision special for the company—the prior year's special aired onTNT, butDynamite moved to TNT's sister channel TBS in January 2022.[8] Additionally, it was announced that the July 1 episode ofFriday Night Rampage would be taped immediately after the live broadcast of Blood & Guts and would air ontape delay on TNT as aspecial episode titled Royal Rampage.[9]
The Royal Rampage match is a two ring 20 man rumble rules battle royale. 10 wrestlers in each ring separately, in which it starts with two wrestlers on each ring, then another wrestler enters in alternating red or blue ring at time intervals every minute. Eliminations by over the top rope. The final two standing wrestlers on each ring will face off on any of the 2 rings under battle royal rules to declare a winner.
