15 Exact Moments Wrestlers Died Inside
1. Hangman Page Tells A Story
"Fans don't have the patience for long-term storytelling." This is a major misconception about AEW.
Lastly, a kayfabe diversion that illustrates the power of AEW's deft long-term storytelling - the first layer of a very dense, nuanced and rewarding character arc.
At All Out 2019, Hangman Page lost the opportunity to become the inaugural AEW World Champion. On the subsequent Being The Elite, as captured above, he was despondent. The Young Bucks tried to console him. He received it as an obligation on their part, something they felt they had to say to ease the tension. This was the first exploration of AEW's "wins and losses matter" framework, and it has rarely been bettered on actual television.
Page tried to play the role of top breakout babyface on Dynamite, but he failed. He lost a trilogy to PAC. (The first match underwhelmed, but the second two were great). Page, struggling, still held potential as a top star, and to realise it, he left the Elite.
The grand emotional heft of the story was that Page is Elite - but he never felt like it. This story, a resonant take on the 21st century mental health crisis, was fantastic. From a nuts-and-bolts booking perspective, this lack of confidence gave Page an "out" when he lost, allowing Tony Khan to prolong the most moving title chase in years. Emotionally, it was even better: the people recognised themselves in Hangman, whose dorky but endearing adventure with the Dark Order was crucial. It wasn't too heavy. The story didn't portray Page as a morose loser.
The best story arc in modern wrestling? What beats it?