Stick the Landing | AEWeekly #178

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 Abel [@loza3.bsky.social] covering Match of the Week, Sachin [@sachin0mac.bsky.social] talking Best Interview, Emiliana [@emilianartb.bsky.social] with the Moment of the Week, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] editing and organizing it all.

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

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AEW World Title Death Match: “Hangman” Adam Page vs Jon Moxley

"Hangman’s Red Dead Redemption."

by Abel.

 Where to start…

Very few times is the sequel better than the original. The Godfather Pt. 2, The Dark Knight, and The Empire Strikes Back are the first examples that come to mind. "Hangman" Adam Page vs Jon Moxley: Texas Death Match II can now be added to that list.  It appears everything AEW had done over the past six years had led to this match and this moment. The moment where a wrong was righted and the final boss was defeated, forever cementing the cowboy as the heart and soul of AEW. I was fortunate enough to be present for the monumental occasion in Arlington, Texas, and, along with over 27,000 of us at Globe Life, we witnessed pro-wrestling history.

The one thing Tony Khan and AEW had to do was land the plane, a plane that had been comfortably in the air for the last three months. The storytelling has been on point, and having the hero slay the dragon just had to be the conclusion. Not only was the dragon slain, but it created one of the most emotional, cathartic, and vindicating moments in AEW history.

The Death Rider story has been much maligned — especially during Moxley's feud with Cope — but the success of the payoff is undeniable. It might have been a slow and tedious burn at times, but the single climactic moment it birthed made the wait worthwhile. Moxley knew precisely what he had been building up for the last seven months — all of it for All In.

From the moment Hangman's old theme, Ghost Town Triumph, played, the energy at Globe Life Stadium was unmatched and palpable. To try to explain the atmosphere in Arlington that night is impossible. The hairs on the back of my neck, head, and legs all stood up when the crowd cheered for the Hangman. His entrance was otherworldly. From the live performance to the camera panning to the heel tunnel, then correcting themselves when they noticed Page walking through the face tunnel. AEW excels at subtle storytelling, and the payoff for these small details is fulfilling for those who pay attention.

In the other corner was Moxley and the Death Riders. The gang looked as terrifying as ever and sold it as they made their way through the crowd. As my eyes scanned Hangman during the entrance, his stoic expression reassured me that he was ready for the Herculean task at hand. Eerily, the crowd went silent as the match started, perhaps holding our collective breath for the start of what was set to be an out-of-body experience. Once that first kick from Moxley connected with Hangman's face, the crowd exhaled and did not sit down for 40 minutes.

For the match itself, it was brutal, bloody, and beautiful. Forks were introduced into the match minutes into the fight, and blood from both men was introduced shortly after that. The visceral reaction from everyone in the crowd when the fork prongs made contact with Moxley's forehead is something I will never forget. It was as real as wrestling could ever get. The crowd, my brother and I looked over the proceeding gladiator match and our eyes fixed on the action seemingly without blinking.

Every time I got up from my seat, it was almost involuntary. It was a genuine reflex from my emotional investment and nervousness. Every time a skull, spine, or limb made contact with an inanimate object — chair, table, glass, or bed of nails, because why not — the groans grew louder and filled with more concern. It was an experience unlike anything I have ever been a part of.

The way the match unfolded was the only way it could have gone. Hero gets his head caved in for the entire match, as the odds are too much to overcome. Then, with a little bit of help from his friends, he pulls off the unthinkable. While we all knew that Hangman was going to win — as the tempo of the match dictated as such — there was a smidge of doubt that crept up when Mox drove Page's head into the nails with a Death Rider. However, the ending — overbooked as it may have been, came to save the day — as we all had predicted.

Fortunately, the ending was well done, and everything made sense — all the interference had been foreshadowed. The stretcher had a busy night, as it claimed its second victim of the night in Will Osprey. Just like Samoa Joe had been earlier in the night, he was taken out by Claudio to try to eliminate all possible sources of help for the cowboy.

Hangman had been getting his ass kicked for about 30 minutes before the tide turned his way. The tide brought Darby Allin and the Blue Panther, err, Bryan Danielson. Allin, as if descending from Everest itself, came in for mop-up duty after Danielson had taken his much-anticipated lick back against the Death Riders.

So, of course, the cherry on top of this fucked up cake was Swerve coming out to give Hangman his chain back. A whole dissertation can be written about THAT moment between Swerve and Hangman. For this one, know that the only way it could have gone down for this match to be successful is exactly the way it happened. It gives us closure — for now — and offers Hangman and Swerve their redemption.

Swerve's help gave Page the final push to deliver his most important ever Buckshot Lariat to Moxley, which landed him on the bed of nails, and ultimately to meet the Hangman's chain-link noose, once again. The way Moxley sold his hanging — which is a WILD sentence to write — was immaculate. I rewatched the match after attending Globe Life, and there is also an added element to watching it on television from the crowd, namely the commentary. Tony Schiavone, yelping with a guttural, cracked voice, "HE TAPPED!" as soon as Moxley tapped his shoulder, gave the moment added impact and an "umph" for those watching at home.

Perhaps I am being hyperbolic and a prisoner of the moment, but the electricity that was in that building when Moxley finally tapped out could have powered Arlington for a year. Everyone, as if planned out before the start of All In, erupted like a volcano, but instead of lava, it was cheers and arms that exploded in the rainy Texas night.

The way Moxley looked so alone, helpless, and pathetic, after looking united, strong, and in charge for the better part of two years, was one of the greatest sells in his illustrious career. Those 10 agonizing seconds for the leader of the Death Riders validated everything that Moxley, Yuta, Claudio, Pac, Kidd, and Shafir had put us through over the seven months.  

The story could not have been complete without Hangman opening up that briefcase and reintroducing the world to that beautiful belt. The lasting image of AEW for 2025, for the Dynasty era, or perhaps for the first six years of the company, will be Hangman holding the beautiful gold AEW World Title high in the sky, after being locked away for 270+ days. The very real tears from a man who never thought he would reach the mountain top again, mixed with the blood and sweat, made for an emotional moment for all witnesses.

The balls to even THINK about having a Texas Death match as your main event stipulation at your biggest show ever is crazy enough. To not only do it, but also to pull it off, is one of the most significant pro-wrestling decisions of all time. Regardless of what happens to AEW after this — which in my opinion will only be to continue to chug along — the visual of Hangman holding up the title will live forever.

As of now, not only is this the best match for AEW's short existence, but it might also turn out to be the most significant. What was at stake, and how it was pulled off, this might be the moment when previous non-AEW fans start tuning in to HBO MAX to check out Dynamite. Never forget. AEW is the HOME of professional wrestling.

Jon Moxley (and Renee Paquette)

"Tastes like victory"

by Sachin.

This is how you hype up a Texas Deathmatch. A married couple of 8 years arguing in a car with the baby-seat in the back.

This was a unique and incredibly refreshing way to present Mox’s point of view before the Deathmatch. People tend to forget but it's important to remember that in mox’s head he is the good guy. He is making all the sacrifices, working tirelessly day in and day out to encourage the young guys to fulfill their potential. At least that's how he sees it.

So before I start talking about this interview. I’d like to say something about the Deathriders’ journey not just in the interest of providing a refresher of this entire saga but also because I have seen way too many posts on Bluesky and Twitter attempting to gaslight people into thinking it was actually good and it's actually the fans who were impatient, underappreciative and even ungrateful.

In my opinion it was something between bad to mediocre as a whole. It started off great. The group was given a lot of tv time, world and trios Championships, the world title itself got a briefcase to be held hostage in and Mox was fed some big names in Darby and Danielson up until they won the title. 

And then it all started to fall apart. It was blatantly obvious that this group was way too dominant and after a while one started asking themselves “why am I watching it? I know it will only piss me off.” And slowly the fan apathy grew. 

Though Mox's match with Orange Cassidy was good, watching the feud was a stultifying affair. Believe it or not but in order to make people believe that Orange Cassidy, the short-sized perennial midcarder, got beat up each week. Then Moxley beats him via cheating like a coward but then a few weeks later he calls for a fourway match himself undercutting the finish of the match. I'll ignore the COPE saga as an act of kindness but also of selfishness as I don’t want to ruin my mood by thinking about COPE.

But now we come to the good part. I believe the first few months of this reign left such a bad taste in people’s mouths that many of them don’t want to give any credit to Moxley and admit that after COPE the Deathriders got good. Mox delivered a great promo in the face to face segment with Swerve. The match sucked and the ending made me feel deflated but ultimately that’s what it was designed to do and I believe this is where the pivot from Darby to Hangman started.

One last thing I'll note before I start talking about the interview is that this whole thing got good only after Swerve, Bucks, Omega, Ospreay and Hangman got involved. So let’s not give too much credit to the Deathriders. But when all was said and done, it did get good.

We don’t need to call it a resounding success or a work of art but we should recognise that it’s definitely not a failure either. I think it's possible for a story to be good in some respects and bad in some. Actual reality tends to reside far away from exaggerations.

Now back to the interview.

Renee: “Why does it have to be this insane? Why do I have to sit there and watch you do this as if this doesn’t affect my day to day life? I mean I don’t get to just run away and pretend these things aren’t happening.”

Mox: “No you don’t. You are not afforded that luxury. It is a tough business.”

Renee, as any sensible spouse, intimates her frustration over Mox’s choice to partake in this match and Mox doesn't just brush it away. He agrees that it must be hard for her to watch him do this but ultimately he has to do what he has to do because that’s what this business is.

This whole setting and Renee’s concern as a wife reminds the audience that Mox is a family man too, just like Hangman and this isn’t easy for him either. But unlike hangman he is quite capable of shunning all the distractions aside by saying to himself - It is what it is.

“Failure doesn't exist. I just keep moving forward. He thinks he won two years ago and then he goes off celebrating, takes his foot off the pedal. Well here we are again and I'm gonna be right in his face AGAIN. We are still in the same game.”

A very telling paragraph about Mox's thought process about their (Hangman and Moxley) first encounter. He doesn’t care for the lost battle. That doesn’t even exist in his mind. He’s only concerned about moving forward. And according to him, Hangman slipped down the food chain after winning that match because he got comfortable and complacent after their first match and also because at a certain point (Swerve) instead of finding a way to move forward he got stuck in the past.

“This guy can’t do shit to me. These people supporting him, wearing his cowboy hats and shirts are so sure that he’s gonna pull this off but what about the last year has led you to believe that I'm gonna lose?”

Nothing like a barrage of cold hard reality to inject a strain of doubt in the minds of fans. Last year the reason the Hangman couldn't get to Swerve Strickland for the world title was because of Bryan Danielson. Moxley not only beat Bryan Danielson to win the title but also made him retire(-ish).

Mox: Frankly I don’t have anything personal against him. Shit, he didn’t burn my house down. But I just can not stand this guy.

Renee: Why?

Mox: He's got this…. Reliability in him. The fans see themselves in it. But I can not see myself in Hangman Page at all. This guy has got everything in front of him and doesn’t see it. That's why I'm not worried. This guy has already lost.

Mox talking about the house burning is his subtle attempt to ensure that Swerve doesn’t forget what Hangman did to him and hopefully aid in him retaining like Hangman helped Danielson last year. Then Moxley proceeds to talk about why he doesn’t like Hangman. Moxley has been firmly clear from the start of this story that he had to scratch and claw his way up to the top of the mountain and he did everything he could to get there and his issue, his disgust, emanates from the other wrestlers in the company not doing the same. He believes that Hangman is one of those wrestlers and hence he doesn’t like him.

This whole thing was great. Renee's facial reaction to every single thing Mox says is worth watching. Beautifully she does her job while in the background occasionally interfering to steer the conversation in the right direction. Mox of course is one of the best promos in the business and the level of believability he brings into his speech, his mannerisms and his character is just unmatched.

I'm sure my other fellow contributors have already talked about what happened in the match extensively and cathartically. And I hope when all is said and done some of you who read this hopefully appreciate the work Mox put in during this finishing stretch.

gif lovingly crafted by Emiliana

Hangman Adam Page

"Catharsis"

by Emiliana.

I do not know how to express in words how much the last weekend has meant to me as a person, but I will do my best. This past week was jam-packed with so many important moments, though many of them, for me, were off television. So let me try to pick one that was on television (or PPV) and hopefully it will make a little bit of sense.

I don’t think it’s surprising to say that my favorite match of the night was the Texas Death match in the main event. And yes, sorry - it was the sole main event. I love Kazu and Kenny, they put on a great match, I love Toni and Mercedes, that match was so overwhelmingly banger that I do hesitate, if only for a moment, with my choice. But everything, absolutely everything, pales in comparison to the feeling I felt watching my favorite wrestler in the entire world, Hangman Adam Page, submit the men’s world champion Jon Moxley with a chain and pull the most beautiful belt in pro wrestling out of the briefcase with tears in his eyes to an absolutely rabid Texas crowd. In my homestate, in front of my very own eyes, my hero rose and lifted the title and the entire company over his head, with a very pointed reminder to us all that all ships are raised when people work together to get shit done.

Three days later, and my diaphragm still hurts when I speak, and I physically can’t laugh. I’m sure there are at least three security guards that were present at All In Texas that can verify the proof of my words: I did not shut the fuck up. I am pretty sure I almost fainted five times during Texas Death due to a lack of oxygen. I wish with my whole heart that all of you could feel the way I felt that night as I shrieked my lungs out and bought into the magic of professional wrestling with every fiber of my being. I shouted obscenities at Mox, I pleaded to Hangman to get back up over and over, I rallied everyone I could behind Hangman with the ferocity of my soul.

We needed this. Hangman needed this. I think back to the promo that Hangman cut backstage with Renee present after his first Texas Death with Mox. She asks him how he’s doing, and though he admits he’s pretty banged up, “my mind, my heart, my soul - all is well.” That’s a pretty accurate description of me right now. And while a ‘send them home happy’ promo sounds altogether redundant on a night like this one, he made sure to let us know that, against all odds, despite everything he’d been through the last three years of his career - Hangman was happy, too.

I’ve never really understood sports fans when they refer to the team they root for as, “we.” But I think now I get it. From the moment Hangman won, I heard it repeated by so many of my friends: “We did it.” It doesn’t feel wrong to say here, it doesn’t feel weird. A whole lot of us spent a lot of time and effort expressing our views wherever we could to make sure we were heard, and I like to think that it helped in some way. In a joking manner, many of us have said something akin to, “Bullying works!” more than once in the last six months. But ya know, I guess it’s almost like a form of protest, in a way, and it only works when we all come together to make a change - and heck, maybe that’s what Hangman was trying to teach us all along. He did say the world title was ours, after all.

There’s an air of satisfaction to every bit of All In weekend that I hope continues for a very long time. From having a blast at karaoke, to the frenetic nerves of meeting my favorite wrestlers at Starrcast, to meeting SO MANY internet friends for the first time, to the absolute whirlwind of a show that I got to experience, to my favorite wrestler defeating the world champion in the main event - All In was a blast. I don’t think you can make a more perfect week than that, but I’d sure love life to prove me wrong. Let’s keep the party rolling!