The Tenderness | AEWeekly #169

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 Lauren [@sithwitch.bsky.social] exploring a key Story Beat, Emiliana [@emilianartb.bsky.social] with the Moment of the Week and MVP, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] editing and organizing it all.

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Hangman Adam Page

"I don't know that I've ever understood after everything I’ve done why even one of you would cheer for me, but I just want to let you know that it does make a difference, so thank you..."

by Lauren.

Hangman Adam Page opened last week's Dynamite, not with a fight, but with a confession. He's not quite in a good place yet, but he's getting there. He acknowledged that the past few years have not been great ones for him, emotionally or professionally. Since 2023, he has lost his title, his friends, and his peace. Despite all of that, the crowd is still behind him. He thanked them for that, even if he can't see why, and put his feud with Swerve to a rest for the sake of his own mental health.

His upcoming opponent for the Owen Hart cup, Will Ospreay, interrupted him, acknowledging their long but separate history–how could it be that they have found themselves in the same places so many times but never fought each other one-on-one?--and most importantly, setting the stakes for the Owen finals.

Ospreay and Hangman are not dissimilar. Both of them are beloved by AEW crowds, both are phenomenal athletes, and both have lost some of their closest friends. But where Hangman has been stuck in his own misery, Ospreay has been moving on, making friends wherever he goes--including Hangman's worst enemy, Swerve Strickland. Ospreay's major problem with Hangman is exactly this. Hangman did nothing while the new Elite, Don Callis Family, and Death Riders screwed with AEW. It was left to others to try and rally, with Hangman's lone attempt to win back the men's World Title being mostly to keep Swerve from having it. Ospreay has been shaking hands, hugging babies, and building alliances. Hangman has nobody.

When Don Callis and his Family came out to confront Ospreay, Hangman seemed ashamed when Callis said, “Do you even know what is standing in the ring with you? Do you even know what that is next to you? I'll tell you: that is a violent, mentally unstable sociopath.” Discussing Hangman like he's not a person, like he's some sort of unpredictable animal, hurt not only him, but his supporters in the crowd. When Hangman lunged toward Callis, it felt like more of the usual: Hangman hurt and lashing back, despite his earlier admission that he needs to find peace for his own sake.

But Ospreay, instead of letting Hangman charge forward alone, held him back. As he has been doing, Ospreay tried to make friends, challenging any two of the Don Callis Family to a tag match against himself and Hangman.

Hangman isn't ready yet. He removed Ospreay's hand from his chest, glaring, as Callis crowed that the two of them could never work together. The two of them conversed quietly in the ring through gritted teeth, unheard by the microphones over the deafening “F– Don Callis!” chants of the audience. Despite no clear consensus being reached between them, they are scheduled to tag together against Konosuke Takeshita and Josh Alexander at Beach Break.

Hangman may not be ready to open his heart again, but the crowd is begging for it. Forgiveness is difficult, and forgiving oneself, even moreso. But when the time comes for Hangman to make friends again, and win the title again, and finally accept himself again, the audience will be ready and waiting to embrace the Main Character of AEW and his healing journey with open arms.

Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness

"In Case Of Emergency: Old Man Yaoi"

by Emiliana.

Over the past few weeks, there have been a few changes to FTR. After turning heel at Dynasty, they’ve since recruited Stokely Hathaway as their agent and overall mouthpiece. They’ve also reimagined themselves as Living Legend Killers.

But probably the best part of all of this is that they’ve taken a particular interest in the commentary team of late, starting with Tony Schiavone, who condemned their betrayal of Adam Copeland at Dynasty and has since expressed his displeasure with their newfound behaviors.

After once again prodding and poking at Tony Schiavone at Dynamite this past week - where his protector and now kayfabe husband (“kayfabe, Emi, really?” YES I HAVE EYES) Nigel McGuinness was nowhere to be found, FTR once again found themselves instigating a fight with Nigel on Collision the very next night, for seemingly no reason, during Dax’s singles match against Daniel Garcia.

For me, it is less the badassery of seeing the retired wrestler stand up to bullies and more the emotional connection that Tony and Nigel seem to have cultivated as a commentary team. Under no circumstances did I ever expect Nigel to tug at my heartstrings - this is a man whose commentary I’ve not been a fan of since his NXT days, because I just really have a distaste for a heel commentator. I find them annoying. But this subplot is really doing it for me. From a couple weeks ago when Nigel told Tony, “if you ever do that again, I’ll kill you,” to Collision this past week when you could hear Tony pleading with Nigel to just put his headset back on and not give Dax the time of day, these two are a treasure I did not expect to find. There is something very enjoyable about seeing the heel commentator, a man without a heart, stand up to defend his colleague (and husband).

Someone a while back on my skyline said that Nigel is doing this because he was unable to stop the Death Riders from hurting Danielson. And I kind of like the idea that Nigel, while not outright showing it, may be dealing with the memory of being able to do nothing. It’s a nice little layer to whatever is going on here. All the same, I love when non-wrestler characters on this show have fun stuff going on, things that make them come alive, that remind me that they are people. It makes the world of All Elite Wrestling feel lived in and real.

I don’t expect Nigel to come back out of retirement to fight off two tag team wrestlers, nor do I expect Tony Schiavone to get in the ring, so I almost wonder what the payoff to this will be. Perhaps Nigel comes back for one night only and tags with Daniel Garcia? Only time will tell. For now, I’m just happy to watch two old men care for each other on my tv screen.

Harley Cameron

"The Giver"

by Emiliana.

Ever since Anna Jay’s time off, she’s been seemingly paired up with Harley Cameron. They are great together, but I have to give MVP to Harley because of how comfortable Anna Jay looks around her. Perhaps this is something that Anna has been growing into, but there’s no doubt that Harley has a history of making the people who share the frame with her an even better speaker and more fleshed out character.

Before Harley, Mercedes wasn’t much in the way of a character apart from being arrogant and rich. After she was paired with Harley, Mercedes was able to explore more facets of her character, and we saw her become silly. Despite herself, Mercedes could not help but let Harley in, even if just for a little while.

The same goes for this budding relationship between Anna Jay and Harley. They’ve taken a throwaway line on a piece of merch from over a year ago and made it part of their little gimmick. T&A: Tits & Ass. What I love the most about this is that, unlike in other places, this feels like the women’s idea. It’s not meant for sex appeal (though these women are stunningly beautiful and attractive); this gimmick is to pop the girls. It is to make them laugh and to poke fun at themselves a little. But over recent weeks, it’s so great to see Anna Jay look and feel like she’s carved out her spot in the women’s division, especially now that she’s paired with Harley and not stuck in a faction with a bunch of men.

Much like a Hangman, or a Swerve, it feels like Harley has a way of pushing the wrestlers around her to newer heights when it comes to their own identities. She may not have the same accomplishments or resume like Hangman or Swerve, but the proof can be seen all over the women’s division. Hell, even when she first started out with Saraya on Rampage, she made Saraya that much more bearable to watch.

I just think she deserves some flowers. She’s a giver, and she gets the job done.