10 Reasons Why The AEW Backlash Is Irrational

8. They Might Do Flips, But They Aren't Spot Monkeys

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The storytelling depth in the seminal Young Bucks Vs. Kenny Omega & Hangman Page match at Revolution is unrivalled. That's a subjective take, but it can be argued very convincingly. More convincingly than the mutant counterargument of "Nick Jackson isn't that tall or muscly and because he does some aerial moves it means he doesn't know psychology".

The irony, of course, being that those who profess to know most about psychology are wrongheads who need to see a doctor.

Every character's motivation was accounted for and challenged to create searing drama in the thrust of battle. Omega - who knew the value of the Elite staying together as the man who dethroned Kazuchika Okada with their support - petitioned with Page to wrestle a sporting contest. Page couldn't have cared f*cking less; the Bucks had confirmed to him, that week, that everything he felt he was right to feel. They had patronised the "jobber in Ring Of Honor" for months.

The Bucks reverted back to their irresistibly obnoxious selves to create a platform for two spellbinding moments of action informed by the richest of character work. In dual moments that both drew parallels and highlighted the fundamental differences between Page and Omega - explaining the aching heart of their dynamic - they each drew on a friend from the past.

Page used Marty Scurll's Chickenwing to prove that the Bucks thought of their friends as disposable.

Omega used the fury of disrespect shown to Kota Ibushi to power out of the Golden Trigger at one, doing, inadvertently, much the same thing. Omega was loyal to his tag team partner all along - just not the right one, informing the gravity of their eventual, heart-wrenching match.

That's storytelling.

But they did a Destroyer and it wasn't the finish, thereby disqualifying it!

 
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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!