10 Best AEW Matches Ever (According To The Internet)

8. Kenny Omega Vs. Hangman Page - Full Gear 2021 (9.29)

MJF goat
AEW

This was the perfect conclusion to the first chapter of Kenny Omega and Hangman Page's AEW story.

It was as good for what it wasn't as much for what it was. It wasn't an hour-long epic that trawled through the entire story told on television. It was the fist-pumping climax of the action movie. It wasn't patronising. Everybody knew what they were getting, and what they wanted, and without undermining the drama, they got it: Omega Vs. Page was lung-bursting fan service in which Page was undeniable. It wouldn't be a surprise, were it to be revealed that the structure of the match was inspired by Randy Savage Vs. Ultimate Warrior from WrestleMania VII. Like Savage, Omega had ran out of road.

Omega was on unreal form, given that he entered the match, his last before a long injury-enforced hiatus, a physical wreck. His springboard power bomb, something he has rarely used, was a crucial beat that underscored that he wasn't entirely out of ideas.

The main thrust of the story told was articulated in a great, great spot that underlined the moment at which both characters had arrived. This was Page's night; Omega had taken so many desperate shortcuts that he'd forgotten who he once was. Omega, drained, tried to treat Page with disdain. He tried, using Toshiaki Kawada's insulting kicks, to make Page feel like he wasn't Elite.

Page roared "Is that all you got, motherf*cker?" in defiance, and proved that he was.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!