Why the Hangman/Cole program could be great

[Urethra Franklin]

You shouldn’t have to do homework to understand a wrestling show and I think AEW has been very good about that. In a lot of instances, there is subtext and backstory to matches and angles, but if you only watch AEW, you’re not going to be lost.

And that takes me to the upcoming “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Adam Cole program that will (presumably) main event Revolution.

If you only watch AEW, Adam Cole is undefeated (the Orange Cassidy loss was in a Lights Out match, so it doesn’t count), so his entering a title program makes sense. We also know that Cole is in The Elite, the faction that Page used to be a part of. So the issue between the two is liable to get personal quickly.

But if you’ve followed the careers of Adam Page and Adam Cole before AEW, then you understand how momentous this match is. It was Cole who brought Page into Bullet Club. It was Cole who helped Page become the Hangman. Cole got kicked out of the group, but Page stayed.

Page grew up, so to speak, in Bullet Club and then The Elite. He never had a falling out with Cole. That was all Kenny Omega, the same person he had a falling out with himself. In many ways, Cole’s departure from Bullet Club mirrored Page’s exit from The Elite.

This past week, we learned that Cole remains in contact with Bullet Club. He brought Jay White to AEW. White wasn’t in Bullet Club when Cole got kicked out. He wasn’t booted by Tama Tonga or Fale or any of the OGs. It was Kenny. As far as Cole is concerned, it’s “Bullet Club 4 Life.”

We already saw a fractured relationship between Hangman and the Bucks/Kenny. Cole and Kenny haven’t seen eye-to-eye since he’s been in AEW and now we have the Jacksons unsure if they can trust Cole. Cole also still has reDRagon lurking around and we’re not even sure if they trust Cole because he turned on them in WWE, something that’s been acknowledged on AEW. Nobody seems to know what Adam Cole is really up to.

So what we’ve got is a perfectly logical program that’s been built over the last couple of months if you only watch AEW, but underneath, we have this layered story that goes back six years that also ties in months’ worth of other AEW angles.

Not every storyline needs to be this deep, but goddamn, this has the potential to be amazing.

[Lizuka #BLM]

I dunno why but I just have like zero interest in this match personally. I think it boils down to a mix of being sick of Elite drama and just not being especially fond of Adam Cole.

[King Devitt]

I'm not into it because I personally can't wait til we're out of the "AEW Title is telegraphed from miles away" phase.

Like once Hangman loses it to MJF, I'll be way more interested in the programs since there will be an air of mystery as to who's going to be next.
I think either Cole should win, or not have the shot so soon since it's set in stone that MJF is the next champ.

Same reason I don't care about Britt's matches. It's all just fodder til she drops it to Rosa.

One of the many issues I have with Tony Khan's booking style.

Sure, the matches are good (see Hangman/Archer on Dynamite) but I can't get lost in the drama of it. Same thing with Cole. He's going to lose, let's just hope they do it in a way that furthers the Elite story. Like Omega comes back and costs him the match or something.

[Mozenrath]

I'm sure it will be good, but the bar is set high by Bryan and Lance. I guess Cole has the benefit of history with Page.

[Chiral]

I can't wait to see what hellish spot Cole is gonna put himself through for their match.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

It just feels too early to be going to Page/Cole, especially with only 4 weeks build. I don’t like this idea at all. I’d prefer they tease Revolution, have Page defend against someone else and build to DoN so you can really build up Cole/Page. That should be treated as a massive match, potentially a long term rivalry in AEW, shouldn’t do it on a months build.

[Instant Classic]

I’m cool with it, just wish Cole would have beaten more credible people to get his shot.

[Deleted]

I can't be the only one hoping Cole wins.

Hangman is simply a better character when he's down in the dumps and chasing things.

I also have to say, Coles physique has rapidly declined since joining AEW. Man needs to hit the gym ASAP. I would hate to see something like this ruin his chances of being a top player cause he's got everything else.

[CeilingFan]

If Kenny Omega isn't available for the Blood And Guts match between Team Cole and Team Hangman, then Hook should take his place!

[sunnytaker]

i remember one of cole's last RoH matches involved him losing to hangman so he has that sticking in his craw as well. i do think there might be some screwy finish with the elite and redragon getting involved though. that way cole loses but he's protected for a future title run (probably in like a year or so once all the bullet club/undeniable elite civil war concludes

technically they could do a MJF/cole #1 contender's match since MJF also called his shot, but he'll be tied up with punk still so he's probably more likely to be the next feud for hangman unless they do the wardlow split after the punk storyline.

[RKTaker]

Feb 11, 2022 21:48:23 GMT -5 King Devitt said:

I'm not into it because I personally can't wait til we're out of the "AEW Title is telegraphed from miles away" phase.

Like once Hangman loses it to MJF, I'll be way more interested in the programs since there will be an air of mystery as to who's going to be next.
I think either Cole should win, or not have the shot so soon since it's set in stone that MJF is the next champ.

Same reason I don't care about Britt's matches. It's all just fodder til she drops it to Rosa.

One of the many issues I have with Tony Khan's booking style.

Sure, the matches are good (see Hangman/Archer on Dynamite) but I can't get lost in the drama of it. Same thing with Cole. He's going to lose, let's just hope they do it in a way that furthers the Elite story. Like Omega comes back and costs him the match or something.

how do you know MJF will beat him and not someone like Miro. a few months ago people didn’t think MJF would win the championship until at least next year now suddenly people are pegging him as the one to dethrone Hangman

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Feb 12, 2022 5:04:59 GMT -5 @negan said:

I can't be the only one hoping Cole wins.

Hangman is simply a better character when he's down in the dumps and chasing things.

I also have to say, Coles physique has rapidly declined since joining AEW. Man needs to hit the gym ASAP. I would hate to see something like this ruin his chances of being a top player cause he's got everything else.

It is pretty noticeable. I don’t know the guy so I dunno if it’s a case of him being somewhere where his physique won’t be as scrutinized or if he’s cycling off stuff. I personally don’t care but people aren’t lying in this observation.



I love OP’s post and I hope they’re able to interweave a lot of those elements into the build to their match. I think they’re right at the crux of building up intrigue and the possibility that Cole takes it. Will he? Odds say no, but that’s the feud’s job at this point. I can see people’s point of thinking Cole has been built well and that there’s been some stumbling blocks. So this is do-or-die time as far as character and story goes.

As for the match, I have no doubt it’s going to rule. And if it does, as some have brought up, Hangman’s match quality track record will be pretty unbelievable.

[Mozenrath]

I am less inclined to think it's a cycling thing, since if anything, you'd figure he'd get more ripped if it was a steroids thing, since AEW doesn't have any kind of steroid ban that I am aware of. I do hope he isn't hurt and not working out as much due to that or anything like that. I do think he's less tanned, which isn't going to help muscle definition, but his arms do look less buff, so I don't think it's just being paler.

[Kalmia]

I may be in the minority here, but I'm not sold on Cole as world title material at all. I think he's great, but TNT title great, not world champ great. That's probably just me though.

[mrbananagrabber]

I’ve been critical of AEW’s presentation of Adam Cole in the past and, sadly, I still stand by it. When he was in NXT I thought he was the next Shawn Michaels, he was just a little on the small side.

This Adam Cole, though? The guy who’s been booked to feud with nothing but mid card guys, struggled to beat them and even lost to one of them? The whole “Budge” thing? And yeah, let’s face it, he doesn’t even look as good as he once did. This isn’t years ago, it’s months ago.

I honestly think Tony Khan has done a terrible job with Adam Cole and his entire run has been a disappointment. A filler feud and inevitable loss to Page isn’t going to change that either.

[clifford]

How Cole has been booked and presented in AEW so far, how his appearance has changed a bit for the worse, how he doesn't really feel like a big deal and this world title match is a little out left field are all valid concerns and arguements, to which I agree with a little in each sense.

HOWEVER
The dude is easily in the top 5 most over of the whole roster
His entrance and entrance schtik are probably the most over with the live crowd
His promo work is fantastic
His match quality hasn't suffered
His theme song broke all kinds of records and his videos on AEW's youtube channel are among the most watch, consistently, no matter who else is involved

Sometimes the shit just works. It's like WWE being the most morally and creatively bankrupt they've ever been yet are still making record profits. That Cole is one of the company's biggest stars in spite of some questionable booking and presentation is a testament to the star power that he has.