12 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Feb 26)

4. Fractures In The Elite

Hangman Page Kenny Omega
AEW

Jim Ross' sitdown interview with The Young Bucks and Hangman Page/Kenny Omega was just classic pro-wrestling fodder.

A tremendous segment saw Matt Jackson low-key diss his Elite stablemates by saying that he could never have imagined them as Tag Team Champions a year ago. 'The Best Bout Machine' responded to this by stating that yes, the Bucks are the best, and he and Page just caught lightning in a bottle. Hangman rejected that all this was a happy accident. Kenny tried (and failed) to talk himself out of the hole as the Bucks asked why Page brought a drink to the interview, with the Jacksons assertive as they reiterated that they're the real elite tag team and that they'd take the gold at Revolution.

The tension felt so, so real throughout, and it culminated in Hangman walking out after claiming Matt and Nick wanted to take the biggest achievement of his career away from him. This story remains excellent. It's one of the most nuanced, careful, and interesting things AEW has done since launch and while everything pointed to a Page turn early on, recent weeks make you wonder how they'll ever convince anyone to boo this guy. That creates all kinds of interesting storytelling possibilities beyond the obvious at Revolution.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.