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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: Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] talking Best Interview, Emiliana [@emilianartb.bsky.social] with the Moment of the Week, and Peter [@peteredge7.bsky.social] giving us the week's Most Valuable.
We are still short two writers, and would love for you (yes, YOU, reading this now!) to join our team! Our friend Greyson [@greysonpeltier.bsky.social] was kind enough to cover Story Beat this week, but due to our ongoing shorthandedness, while an awardee for Match was selected, no real write-up this week.
A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly
Hangman × Orange Cassidy
"Please, come write for us!!..."
by Sergei.
My other writers have a lot to say about the big shows in Japan this weekend, but I don't have a writer for Match of the Week, and I only watch AEW, myself, so I'm just picking the match I personally enjoyed the most from the actual AEW-brand programming.
This was an absolute delight of a first-time matchup between two AEW originals who are both masters at wrestling their character. However!... I can use the fact that I don't have a writer to cover this section to justify not justifying what makes it the very best match this week!
Seriously, DM me if you wanna write this!
Hangman Adam Page
"Blatant disrespect..."
by Sergei.
My favorite bit of mic-work this week wasn't from an "interview" exactly, but from an interviewer taking us behind the scenes to observe a frank exchange of views between Adam Page and Christopher Daniels. Although there were multiple performers involved in the segment, (three if you count Marvez!) my "Best" goes to Hanger specifically for transitioning the segment from a typical sniping argument to a shocking put down: starting when he says "matter of fact…" to his attempt to walk away. ICYMI:
I know that a lot of Hanger mega-fans (including on my team here at AEWeekly!) are displeased at him being "stuck" in another feud with some "irrelevant old man". But, to me, this was a perfect example of how one of the all-time storytellers of pro wrestling remains one of the most entertaining parts of the show even in the in-between times when it isn't his turn for the main-event spotlight. He gets some amazing heat here by going even further than even those fans who question Daniels as a worthy dance partner for Page would go: a case could be made that our Christopher is past his prime or no longer relevant… but, to question what the Fallen Angel — one of the true pioneers of his generation of grapplers — has ever done for AEW or for pro wrestling as a whole? Come on, Hangman!
But, I believe that the correct interpretation here is not that Page is deluded enough to actually believe what he's saying here. Rather, this shockingly blatant disrespect was chosen specifically as just the right falsehood to enrage the semi-retired legend. And to what purpose? Why would Hangman want to provoke the bloody attack that followed? Much like with Jarrett, I think that the Page character is mightily sick of veterans trying to mentor him uninvited, and by provoking Daniels, he was able to change their relationship from an unwelcome attempt at alliance to one he's more comfortable with: hate.
The segment ends with a bloodied Hangman ominously muttering towards Daniels's back as he stalks away: "Is that what you want? You'll get it!" What he's replying to is less clear: the Fallen Angel had just said something not quite intelligible as he stomped Page on the backstage floor, something along the lines of "you WILL respect me!" Why ominously claim he'll get that respect, as though Daniels won't like it as much as he expects?
I think it's interesting that both Hangman and his beloved-enemy-for-life unrelatedly each get a headbutting bloody beatdown from someone (who clearly do NOT know what they're getting into) in this episode. In both cases, their respective enemy-of-the-moment seems to be riding high, but it feels like folks should maybe know better than to try to take either man to that place. Earning the respect of the Hangman will likely be an unpleasant, dangerous and lifespan-shortening prospect.
Welcome to the Hangman's world, Fallen Angel! Hope you survive the experience!
Kenny Omega
"Is Kenny Omega our answer to Jon Moxley?..."
by Greyson.
In prior AEWeekly installments, I have discussed how The Elite’s conceptualization of pro wrestling is the counterpoint to Moxley and the Death Riders’ views and how some of Moxley’s opponents have conceded to Moxley’s framing of the situation in AEW, which in a way gives him the victory he wants. I specifically mentioned a few lines from Kenny Omega during The Elite’s feud with the then Blackpool Combat Club that sum up The Elite’s ideals: “it’s more than about fighting… heart, passion, soul, friendship, love.” Further, Omega sets the ultimate example, contrary to Moxley’s ideas, that a wrestler can engage in plenty of fun, do skits, play video games, and still be a formidable threat in the ring.
There are now many challengers who have risen up to face Moxley and the Death Riders and it has been abundantly clear for some time that the most likely challenger to win the World Championship is Darby Allin, an excellent choice to serve as the ambassador of AEW for many reasons. It has gotten to the point where Adam Copeland, who along with FTR as Rated FTR appear to likely be the Death Riders’ next challenger for the trios titles, has rightly pointed out that he now senses fear in Moxley. However, this weekend Kenny Omega showed that he could very well be one more opponent for Moxley to fear.
The match this weekend at Wrestle Dynasty was far beyond what we would expect from an athlete returning from a long period of time off, much less coming back from as severe of a health situation as Omega faced. If we assume that the first match after one’s return is part of the preparation for the next opponent, out of the whole AEW roster, this match most closely aligns with current AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
Even though from Kenny’s return at Worlds End we have some indication that he wants to pursue the Continental Championship against Okada, what we saw in this match against Gabe Kidd does not look much like preparation for a match against Okada. A lengthy bout replete with action on the outside, against barricades, table spots, and more, pushing Omega to his limits, with plenty of hard-hitting brawling action in the ring too seems tailor-made as a warm-up to face Jon Moxley. Even the storyline around this match of who is more representative of NJPW, and also the aesthetic of Kidd bear resemblance to Moxley and the current story in AEW with the Death Riders.
On tonight's episode of Dynamite, we will most likely get a better idea of where Omega's intentions lie. If he decides to pursue the World Championship, it would be very meaningful, telling a story of the triumph of the true authentic culture of AEW and based on how he showed this weekend that he’s still got just as much athleticism and grit as we’ve come to expect from Omega, as well as his experience successfully defeating Moxley and then BCC along with The Elite, a battle between him and Moxley will also certainly deliver a high-quality, intense match in the ring. This combination of a strong challenger with a personal story of triumph over a very serious, life-threatening illness, a long-term narrative between the opponents, and placing one of the people who helped build AEW from day-one, someone who is a strong, highly skilled fighter and also has a great sense of humor, on top again would be the kind of masterpiece that embodies “the feeling” of AEW.
Swerve × Ricochet
"American Psycho"
by Emiliana.
When last we saw Ricochet at World’s End, he was absolutely vibrating with anger over Swerve and Nana’s toilet paper shenanigans. I thought to myself, “I wish he’d cried,” like in that one episode of the canceled Starz show Heels. But although I expected Ricochet to come out of this looking more pathetic, we instead find ourselves looking down the spirit barrel of an absolute psychopath.
Swerve, you’ve done it again. In the span of about 14 months, Strickland has dogwalked two men into insanity, and frankly - I thank him for it. Whatever wasn’t working when Ricochet first appeared on AEW television seems to have been shed off like an aged snakeskin, and underneath we find a man capable of so much more than we’ve seen him do in the past eight years. This may have been more seamless than the Hangman turn, to be quite honest, which spanned a much longer length of time than this one.
As the very entertaining 3-way for first position in the coming gauntlet went on, Ricochet appeared out of nowhere from the crowd holding a pair of golden scissors. Whether or not the golden scissors will be a part of Ricochet’s character going forward remains to be seen, but it was the object by which he busted Swerve open to enact his revenge on Wednesday night’s "Fight For The Fallen". With this distraction, Roddy Strong sought to take advantage of a Switchblade who, throughout the match, was getting the better part of both Roddy and Swerve’s beatings, but Jay White was able to pull a fast one on Strong, pulling him into a Bladerunner for the pin and the win. By the time Swerve was back in frame, he was wearing a full crimson mask, and it was so horrifyingly beautiful how well he bleeds.
Ricochet — who had come in wearing a baby blue suit, white dress shirt, and eighties-dad oversized glasses took off his suit jacket — grabbed Swerve, and with the golden scissors began to dig at Swerve’s hairline in front of a disgusted audience and commentary table.
What struck me, then, were the Ospreay-esque billy goat headbutts to Swerve’s forehead. At some point, Ricochet chased off Nana with the threat of a chair to the stomach, and then he pulled a weak and bloody Swerve into the ring to inflict more damage. There was a moment where Ricochet placed Swerve’s limp (but still beautiful) body onto the steel chair, and the camera pulled in close as Ricochet pulled back on Swerve’s locks. Stunning visual! Just gorgeous.
A spirit gun to the neck later, and Swerve fell in a heap. There were high pitched screams heard in this segment that remind me of the ones aimed at Hangman post-All Out last year, and that’s how I knew this segment had done its job. Confusingly, Roddy Strong came back out “for the save” with the rest of Undisputed in tow, and Ricochet slid out of the ring, with one last maniacal laugh.
I have no idea what the hell the Undisputed Kingdom think they’re doing here, but it is nice to see them pulled entirely away from MJF. Whether or not I consider them allies to Swerve in the long run is arguable… though I wouldn’t mind seeing a jealous Hangman wondering why his ex-rivals have joined forces.
Ricochet, Swerve: you’re doing great work. This is something people can sink their teeth into, and I wouldn’t mind a bigger spotlight on it. Despite all the horror we’ve seen in the AEW since All Out in the main event scene, this already feels leagues more refreshing. Swerve is a master of the horror genre, and Ricochet seems a willing student.
Konosuke Takeshita
"Two-Titles Takeshita"
by Peter.
For us sickos, Jan 4th isn't the 11th of Christmas. 4/1 is one of the major days of professional wrestling and it's not because of anything AEW related.
Wrestle Kingdom is the day of all days for New Japan Pro Wrestling and its fans. The fourth day of the year is the day when everything that has happened in the calendar year before comes to a head. So you're probably asking why I'm picking something from a different company to AEW? Well, because on this particular day and weekend in this particular case, an AEW wrestler stamped his mark on the title he owns and stamped his name on a title division in NJPW that is notorious for great wrestlers having great matches.
Konosuke Takeshita has had a 2024 that is a certainty to place him in the Top 10 in the Most Outstanding Wrestler list. His five-star match with Will Ospreay will make a few people's Top 10 lists in MOTY lists but a lot of great matches in Takeshita's CV in the last 12 months have been in NJPW and the G1 Climax. It was a month from Konosuke that gave him the momentum to win the International Title two months later and with a weekend that saw NJPW hold their annual Tokyo Dome event and an event in addition that saw AEW wrestlers invited to face the best NJPW have to offer, Konosuke Takeshita was an obvious name to be invited.
But it's telling that on a day that the theme was of young stars get the chance to prove their worth on big occasions, only one AEW wrestler was given a chance to prove he could compete with the best in NJPW on Jan 4th and Takeshita was given a chance to win a title that is synonymous with bangers.
The NEVER Openweight title is a title division where big meaty men do big meaty things. The strikes hit harder, the big moves feel bigger in Openweight Title matches and Takeshita fits nicely into that mould. While a match between Takeshita and one of my all-time favourites didn't live up to my very high expectations (just ****1/4) the next night at Dynasty when AEW wrestlers were allowed to join the party, Konosuke Takeshita would have had the match of the night if it wasn't for that pesky Kenny Omega.
Takeshita and Tomohoro Ishii hit each other as hard as possible, they threw each other around and they hit each other as hard as possible again. Takeshita on back-to-back nights showed why he's one of the best in the world and with two victories, Konosuke added another belt to his name but it's what happened after that turned heads
Under-noticed due to that Omega × Kidd match and Chris Charlton's commentary, it was revealed that Konosuke Takeshita had signed a one-year deal with NJPW. This means that Konosuke has three contracts with three separate companies, something unprecedented in pro wrestling. It means we'll see less of Konosuke this year in AEW if the wording of the statement of the contract signing by New Japan is to be believed which sets interesting questions about the future of the International Title.
But with two performances on one of the biggest weekends in wrestling this year and the rewards of last year coming to fruition, Konosuke Takeshita has put himself out front as one of the most interesting men to follow in 2025 and maybe started to set his case to be all of pro wrestling's MVP for 2025.