Roderick Strong intends to do what Adam Cole couldn’t, and take the AEW World Championship from MJF. Despite his neck not being 100% – Strong will hit the ring tonight to join the Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament.
His first opponent will be Trent Beretta of Best Friends, who is quietly one of the hardest hitting men on the AEW roster. Combine that with Strong’s stiff reputation, and it won’t be easy to either man to make the next round.
Roderick Strong Breaks His First Back On The Way To Championship Glory
Strong would quickly take Trent to the mat with a side headlock takedown, before trying to apply the Strong Hold. Trent was able to swing his legs and get free before the jumping knee strike.
Targeting the neck, Trent would hit the swinging DDT – targeting the neck of Strong. He’d sell the injury on the floor, luring Trent to the apron – before dropping him spine first on the edge of the ring.
In the ring, Strong would keep the pressure on with a half nelson backbreaker, before a stiff knee strike to the midsection. A slingshot into the bottom rope kept the attack on the neck of Trent, before he’d be tied up with a submission on the floor. The Double Knee Gutbuster would be blocked with a series of German Suplexes, before the spinning Death Valley Driver.
Strong would regain his footing, and nailed the Sick Kick for a near fall. The Super Backdrop would be the intended follow up – only for Trent to get the Hurricanrana as a counter.
Strong would try to roll into the Strong Hold, but was rolled up for a two count. Trent hit the Half & Half Suplex before a piledriver – and Strong got his foot on the bottom rope.
Another Half & Half Suplex would be blocked, before Strong hit the End of Heartache for the win. The Rampage side of the tournament bracket would be revealed, showing Samoa Joe vs. Jeff Hardy & Jay Lethal vs. Penta El Zero Miedo set for this Friday on AEW Rampage. Trent will face the winner of Darby Allin vs. Nick Wayne for his spot in the finals.
Page Gave 50K To Charity
Hangman Page is done being ignored and placed off to the side in AEW. His biggest detractor is gone, and Page would win the Over The Budget Charity Battle Royale in Chicago – donating the $50,000 dollars to the Chicago Public Education Fund. This makes sense, given Page is a former teacher. Tonight, we hear from Hangman Page – and he’s got a lot to say.
Page had a hell of a weekend, and won that Battle Royale after joining at the last minute. He’d hype up the cause saying that teachers are underfunded, underpaid, and under appreciated. Page will never turn down a chance to whip some ass and help some kids.
However, he’s focused on the future – and intends to make the most of his time left in 2023. Before he could share his plans, Swerve Strickland hit the ring with Prince Nana by his side. Swerve has not been seen since his loss to Sting & Darby Allin at All In – saying that loss gave him some perspective.
Does Hangman Page Want To Do This Anymore?
He had a lot of time to think- being stuck in a coffin for two weeks, and Page was on his mind. Page is doing charity now in the pre-show instead of battling for World Championships.
Swerve sees Page has no shame for himself, so Swerve has it for him. When AEW started, Page was the franchise player – but now he’s the mascot. The foundation of AEW was built around Page, who might just not want it anymore.
Page hasn’t gotten new gear in a year, new merch in a year, and a new contract – which sees Page sit at home getting lazy. He doesn’t get title matches, he doesn’t get promo time, he doesn’t get single matches. Page has been put in the backseat of The Elite, and is comfortable there.
If Swerve got the chances Page had – he’d be the first Black AEW World Champion. Swerve is telling Page to step off into the sunset, and give him that spot. That’s option one. Option two?
Find that confidence, show he deserves the spot – and show everyone what Cowboy Shit really is. If he chooses that path, Swerve will try to end his career – so either way, he’s coming for the spot Page hasn’t wanted in 2023.
Page would try to walk away, not wanting more drama – but Swerve would take aim at Page’s family. Finally get the anger he wanted, Swerve would call Brian Cage to drop Page – and Page was dropped with the Drillclaw.
Is Swerve Strickland going to take the spot of Hangman Page? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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