10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (Apr 28)

2. Booking With Balls

Man, this was BALLSY.

AEW has spent the past few months establishing Hangman Page as the clear-cut number-one ranked wrestler in the company. Win after win has seen the former Tag Team Champion strengthen his position at the top of the list, as he fells wrestler after wrestler, putting him on a seemingly inevitable collision course with an old friend in Kenny Omega.

And then, in five short minutes, they tore it down. All of it. Brian Cage destroyed Page in Dynamite's opener, controlling the contender apparent in an extended squash match that saw Hangman restricted to hope spots and short comebacks after Team Taz beat him up on the ramp before the bell. The Dark Order ran out for the save, but Cage was still able to blast Hangman with a brutal Powerbomb on the ramp before the real damage commenced.

Reminiscent of Cody Rhodes vs. Brodie Lee I, this was short, sharp, and shocking, with the Drill Claw putting Page down and potentially tumbling him down the rankings.

It felt too early for AEW to pull the trigger on Page vs. Omega II prior to last night. Now, the company doesn't have to do that anymore. They have successfully blown the World Title hunt wide open in the most exciting way imaginable. Page loses no credibility in defeat, either: Cage is difficult enough to prepare for under normal circumstances, but when you're jumped before the bell? It's hopeless.

Let's see how this mental hit contributes to the most compelling character arc in modern wrestling.