How AEW's Biggest Strength Is Also Its Biggest Weakness

Kenny Omega Hangman Page
AEW

His tag team with Hangman Page is in a constant, dramatically rich cycle of tension and triumph.

FTR have now tugged, mischievously, at the uneasy thread tethering them together; Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler either see something in Page, or want Page to think that they see him as a kindred spirit. It's a genius new chapter of the ongoing saga in that the hard-drinking, smash-mouth FTR and Hangman Page seem to belong together. If it's a ruse, Page isn't dumb for falling for it, particularly since Omega is pushing him in their direction. But FTR may have bargained for too much; they appear, on this week's evidence, to have evoked the old Cleaner within. This is a tremendous storyline. Nobody knows where it is going. But the layers that have built towards it will reconcile any destination.

The AEW tag team division is incredible. This is proven each week. Its grand, intricate, long-term booking heft was again on show this week; the symbolic beer that damaged Page's relationship with the Elite is now a storyline thread, and, after Omega gently joshed or ridiculed Page all the way back on June 24 - "I can count the amount of drinking buddies you have on one hand" - two drinking buddies arrived by his side as Omega selfishly played BTE with his friends for no discernible career purpose. This is heavily detailed, deeply inspired and very deft long-term storytelling depicting, by pro wrestling standards, very complex adult relationships that aim to split the loyalty and sentiment of the audience.

CONT'D...(2 of 6)

Advertisement
In this post: 
Kenny Omega
 
Posted On: 
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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!