THIS Was The Most Genius Wrestling Angle In Modern History

by Michael Sidgwick
Hangman Page
AEW

This match had to drop a hook, and it did; the drunken Hangman Page, on commentary, was a slurring, aloof delight. He was piss funny in the role, and in the sort of infinitesimal comedic touch for which he has become known, he was introduced, in '90s sitcom intro fashion, "caught" off-guard with a big, dumb, beaming smile on his face. This was a lowkey crucial touch. It was designed to amuse the audience, and get Page over with them as a relatable figure. After the match, he was beckoned to ringside by the Elite, but he waved them away. He wasn't considered good enough for the match, so why bother?

The show went off the air with the Elite fraying the very second they had become whole. Instantly, the seed was planted for the civil war saga that enraptured fans ahead of and at Revolution - a brand new and textured conflict realised with a banger of a wrestling match and a meme-able still image. The finger was on the pulse, and the blood was pumping.

That title may read as hyperbolic, but it isn't. If anything, "effective" sells it short; on the strength of the reception of the Homecoming show, the anticipation it drove ahead of Revolution, and its big demo number, AEW and TNT struck a renegotiated deal. AEW secured its medium-term future via a very lucrative rights fee.

An artistic triumph and a huge, money-drawing angle, this proved that the future of professional wrestling need not look bleak, homogenised nor monopolised.

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!