Jealous Guy... | AEWeekly #203

Welcome to the #AEWeekly review discussion where PWM contributors reflect on the highlights of the last week in AEW. The eligibility week always includes the most recent episode of Dynamite and Collision, plus any social-media exclusives up until publication.

This week’s contributors are Emiliana [@emilianartb.bsky.social] giving us the MVP of the Week, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social]with a few words on Moment as well as editing and organizing it all.

 A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly

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THIS Look ^

"Really, Kenneth? You HAD your shot!..."

by Sergei.

We all knew Kenny was going to come out and talk sometime, and that it would be relevant to his stated goal of getting into contention for the AEW Men's World Heavyweight title. So coming out in the middle of a segment with two other guys chasing that belt makes perfect sense. But it was still sort of surprising, since everyone involved is firmly babyface. But nobody seemed more surprised AND displeased than Swerve Strickland.

Someone on Bsky (I forget who, my bad) called this the look of "hey, Kenny, keep you two's toxic Yaoi out of OUR toxic Yaoi!" Now, I'm not going to say that a canon romance is likely between Swerve and Hangman (though AEW hasn't been shy about turning gay ships canon, so you never know) but I will say that their relationship is so fraught and intense as it may as well BE romantic. And Kenny Omega had a fraught and intense relationship with Hangman first, making him "the exbf" in this formulation.

The storyline implications of Swerve giving Hagman's "ex" the stinkeye is something Lauren may speak on when she's feeling better. But for now: wasn't that just a cool moment of fanservice?

Kevin Knight

"Knight Moves..."

by Emiliana.

I am back after extended absence to remind everyone that AEW can be and was probably Good while I was gone, actually.

In an interesting turn of events, this week we got to see Hangman Adam Page and JetSpeed win the AEW World Trios Championships. But our MVP of the week is not Hangman, or Speedball, but rather Kevin Knight, for once again proving all the people wrong that he is not the future, but the Here and the Now of the men’s division.

On Wednesday, he and Speedball lost their chance at tag team gold in 2v2s to Mark Davis and Jake something or other – genuinely could not tell you who this guy is as he showed up while I was on my trip to Japan. Good for them, I guess. But the fun part is that Swerve Strickland, newly injected with green envy by none other than Kenny Omega for interrupting his and Hangman’s promo (marriage vows – in which Swerve declared his love for Hangman and intention to still vie for the AEW men’s World Championship), decided to walk up to JetSpeed later in a backstage segment to stir up some trouble. You know, like when your boyfriend is talking to a girl for no good reason and you decide to mirror him by going to talk to some hot guy because yes, it bothers you? That’s what this backstage segment felt like. Just stirring the pot to cause some chaos. The funniest part is that Hangman would come up immediately after and tell JetSpeed that they have a match against the Opps later on Collision, giving JetSpeed a chance to make up for their loss quickly. Hangman, of course, was totally oblivious to whatever interaction just occurred with the Jet and Swerve, because he’s the one with all the power in this relationship at the moment. (He was too busy shooting goo goo eyes at Kenny for not wearing laundry day clothes – it’s the bare minimum, Hangman, jesus christ.)

Anyway, on Collision later in the week (or night, if you were there), the Jet would walk into the frame and give Swerve the ol’ What For on how he felt about being called the ‘future’, reminding Swerve that he’s gotten pinfalls on some of the best of the best in the past few months in the C2, against people like Darby Allin and Kazuchika Okada. If that isn’t the here and the now, I don’t know what is. Swerve said he would be watching. Kevin Knight had a lot to prove in this trios match, and he came out the victor, getting the pinfall on Powerhouse Hobbs for his team to win the AEW World Trios Championships. In an unsurprising turn of events, Swerve Strickland would come out to the ramp, watching his partner look sooooo happy with the Jet and Speedball, even going so far as to clap for Kevin Knight as Knight showed off his brand new proof that he is the now, and not the future.

What does this mean for their match next week? I’m not really sure, but the strange dynamics bubbling to the surface here are extremely compelling to me. I’m honestly glad I took some time off to reset and recharge so that I could put the main event scene in the rearview mirror and enjoy whatever the hell Swerve and Hangman got goin’ on over here with their new thirds, Speedball and Kevin Knight.