12 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Full Gear

5. Page Finally Conquers PAC

Simple brutality defined PAC vs. Hangman Page: a straightforward bout that showed great wrestling need not be complicated, and likely settled the recent beef between the two warring stars.

PAC and Page worked like they hated each other. Their offense was sharp, snug, and stiff. When Hangman threw PAC into the barricades, he did so to cripple, and when PAC booted his opponent in the face, it was like he was trying to concuss him. They beat the absolute p*ss out of each other without a single plunder spot. Page was hossy, PAC was nasty, and in the end, they crafted one of Full Gear's most effective matches.

'The Bastard' got cocky during his control sequences, going after Page with a series of covers so arrogant in their execution that they were designed to humiliate rather than pin. Once this unfolded, it was back to popping and snapping, and the match succeeded on the back of effective stiffness, impact, and selling.

A nice piece of storytelling saw Page block the low blow that felled him the last time they met, hitting his Deadeye finisher at the second attempt (PAC brilliantly countered the first into a Brutaliser). Redemption for the rising star, who feels more like his old self with every passing appearance.

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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.