"4.5 star match. Extremely personal and violent match. Swerve and Hangman are perfect for each other. These two left it all in the ring. The staple gun is worth -0.5 star at least. Just hit him with it!"
[9.0] "A truly insane match full of brutal spots, insane creativity, and some of the best death match wrestling you'll ever see. While the promos and the first match were great, especially Swerve invading Hangman's house, this is the match that turned a good rivalry into a proper blood feud that you just have to see. If you don't like death matches, then this is absolutely not for you, but personally, I adore this style of wrestling. The creativity on display is mesmerizing, the spots make you want to look away, but you just can't. I'd never seen someone drink blood in a wrestling match before, but here it makes so much sense for Hangman's character. Hangman plays this unhinged face who wears his emotions on his sleeve and has fought personal demons to get to where he is today. A face in any other company wouldn't dare do the things Hangman does, but in AEW, you can go all out as long as what you're fighting for resonates with the audience. For this match, Swerve is fighting because he envies Hangman's accomplishments and his status in AEW, while Hangman fights for his family, for himself, and for the people. Interestingly, we would see a switch up in a later match between these two and Samoa Joe, where Hangman takes on more heel tactics, and Swerve actually becomes more of a face. The overall story between these two is the stuff of legends, and one of the best storylines AEW has ever ran. This feud was instrumental in making both who they are, and since then both have continued to put on great matches and win the World Title."
[10.0] "I don't give out many 10s for matches. But wow. Sometimes hard to watch, the level of violence here was insane. This match made Swerve and confirmed Page as an absolute badass. This was the most extreme Texas Death match I've seen, even Taz said it was one of the most violent matches he had seen! Very impressive."
[8.0] "Far from the best Texas death match that AEW have ever done (I have both the Mox/Page ones over this) but this is still undeniably great. It starts off hot with Hangman ambushing Swerve during his entrance and it doesn't take long for things to starts getting extremely violent and bloody thanks to one hell of an early blade job from Swerve. Hangman beats down Swerve for a while until he gets caught with a low blow which is when the match really starts to kick off. The hatred between the two is palpable here and they both make sure to absolutely lay in everything they do to eachother which make these already violent spots feel even more intense. This match is pretty famous for it's gnarly spots and while i do think some of them are dampened a bit on rewatch, there's still a few that make me recoil a bit, namely the brutal apron DVD onto the cinderblock and that unintentional moment when Hangman gets barbed wire wrapped over his face after Swerve hits him with a chair. As much as i do enjoy this match, there are a few flaws that do hold it back a bit. There are a couple of pacing issues which does lead to the match losing a bit of steam in places and then there's also the Brian Cage interference towards the end which is just completely unnecessary. Thankfully, Hangman and Swerve are able to get back on track and close out the match strong with a sick finish but i dont think anything would be lost if that entire section with him was just cut out entirely. While i do have my issues with this match, i think it's also just too sick to deny. It's as intense and heated as it should be throughout most of it's lengthy run time and most of the spots and visuals here are pretty fucking awesome as well. While they would go on to have an even more violent cage match two years later, i think this is easily their best and most consistent match together. ****1/4"
[10.0] "Maybe, for some people, the violence would be a bit much. Not for me though! It was a great match for a great feud! The chemistry is absolutely there. (I'll admit, the blood drinking and the staple gun was a BIT raw.......)"
[10.0] "4.75/5 - This match was absolutely ridiculous. If you don't like deathmatches it isn't going to change your mind, but if you do it doesn't get much better than this. I think the final result should've been different from a story perspective, but otherwise it was a damn near perfect match."
[9.0] "****.75 Would've been a perfect match if it were 5-10 minutes shorter, could've done without the pointless Brian Cage spot & the dumb "cinderblock" spot that was really chalk breaking over his back, besides those two spots this was incredible"
[10.0] "No other way to give this match a 10, due to the insane level of violence and punishment here was something that you'd never expect to see in a major American promotion. While the Brian Cage run-in was unnecessary, everything else was amazing, and the finish was brutal and fit the characters of both men, as Adam Page only went down after literally being choked out, and still almost got up. While this match is not for everyone (Jim Cornette), it is amazing nonetheless and is a testament to the levels pro wrestlers are willing to go to entertain. ****3/4"
[9.0] "A very brutal and violent match that was a meaningful chapter in this incredible storyline. Some moments of gratuity and dragging the overall pace were there, and this didn't work as masterfully as their even more violent finale, but the creativity of the spots and sheer carnage on display was a sight to behold. A spectacle of brutality that few deathmatches in AEW will ever top. [****.75]"
[10.0] "Nothing symbolizes 2023 AEW more than this masterpiece on one of their worst PPVs ever lmao. Texas Death Hangman is GOD. Swerve literally had to STRANGLE THE LIFE OUT OF HIM to defeat him and STILL he almost got up before 10. The Cage and Nana interferences don't really hurt the match for me. It taints Swerve's victory, but I don't think that's a bad thing. It's an interesting story beat than in both times he beat Hangman, he couldn't do it without outside assistance. I still think Swerve decisively got the job done though. It's a five for me because despite knowing what happens and most of the spots, I POPPED out of my seat multiple times because of how giddy all the beautiful, homoerotic violence got me. Hangman and Swerve are soulmates and this is their masterclass. *****"
[10.0] "I hate AEW but this was absolutely incredible. Adam Page and Swerve Strickland put on one of the most brutal, intense, and creative matches I've ever seen. The violence felt real, the storytelling was top-tier, and every single spot had meaning. The crowd was electric from start to finish, and both men delivered career defining performances."
"I'm not an AEW fan at all, but I wanted to see what this hype is all about and man... this was a great fight. Both men were focused on damaging his opponent as much as possible, a real slow paced carnage"
[8.0] "Bockstarkes Match, dass durch den Eingriff von Brian Cage leider enorm abgewertet wird. Kein Verständnis dafür, dass die großen Promotions es so selten hinkrigegen Eingriffe außen vor zu lassen. Schade..."
[10.0] "One of my favorite matches of all time. This felt like 2 guys trying to kill each other, which fit the story of Swerve and Hangman perfectly. Beautifully brutal is the best way to describe it. This was the match that launched Swerve to superstardom, while also starting an incredible character arc for Hangman. Not only is it a spectacle, it also helped every single person involved in creating this masterpiece."
[9.0] "What has to be said that hasnt been said yet ? This was brutal. This was a mess, but a bloody beautiful one. Swerve and Hangman has insane chemistry every time they cross each others paths, this was also during the time where Swerve was starting to get the crowds attention and rising to become the next world champion and this match, along with the win over a very credible challenger and ex world champ did wonders to sement him. If you dont like insanely violent spots, this might not be the match for you, but if like me you are open to giving it a chance, then 100% go and watch this. Absolutely brutal affair but absolute banger along with that. 9/10"
[10.0] "Easily one of the best matches of the 21st century, brutally violent between two man with a genuine hatred for each other. With brutal spots and both men taking some sick bumps, Hanger drinking Swerves blood and spitting it out is a 10/10 aura moments the same with Swerve brushing off the staple gun. Anyone who thinks this match was to violent is a bit of a wet wipe. Although its a 10/10 for me I'm not a fan of interference late into no DQ matches as it is like we did you not just come help your man out at the start. Normally I would dock a point for it but this match was already so far in the 10s I cant watching this live back in 2023 at like 4am was an experience ill never forgot and its is also the best feud in wrestling (*****1/4)"
[10.0] "For my money, the greatest AEW match of all time. Real deathmatch wrestling with the added flair of the AEW style. Just perfect. People may be critical of the Brian Cage interference but it was part of a greater story."
[10.0] "Swerve vs. Adam Page war ein absolutes Meisterwerk und glasklar mein MotN. Dieses Match war von der ersten bis zur letzten Sekunde Intensiv und gnadenlos brutal, weniger wäre für diese Fehde auch nicht angemessen gewesen. Beide Wrestler waren absolut irrsinnig. Dazu war die Matchstory einfach nur fantastisch."
[9.0] "Only thing I didn't like was the Cage interference, felt pretty unnecessary IMO. But other than that, great violent match, and Swerve came out looking like a megastar, and Hangman like a blood-drinking vampire."
[9.0] "I want to be abundantly clear, this is a great match. Taking off a single point does not mean that it's any less of a match. I just feel that people conflate the match with the story a bit much. The match, while fantastic, is not completely perfect. In my opinion, both wrestlers have had better pure matches. This is a situation in which I feel that being objective requires me to admit that I like the story more than the match."
[10.0] "(9.7) Easily one of the most gory matches in main stream wrestling history, the fact that they were able to cram in so much was insane. The match started off fast and got bloody real quick. The staple gun and barbed wire spots looked vile and the 450 onto Hangers back covered in glass was ridiculous. I wasn't personally a fan of the cinder block as it just looked a bit too fake and was the only gripe I had with the match. Easily my favourite Texas deathmatch oat. Swerve was bleeding buckets."
"man that was a nice match, i loved it. i have seen swerve's matches before but im kinda new to hangman matches and boy do i got impressed. this match had nice story, nice moves, violence, hardcore, blood this was an overall package. i would recommend this to any one reading this rn just watch it for 5 mins i promise you will not be able to stop it unless you are not into hardcore, violence, blood then it might not be for you if you hate this even i flinched a couple of times because it was very brutal but if you want some great action, fast pace and something new in general then you need to watch it. i think it should have been 5.75 stars by dave but idk what he thought but i really liked it."
[10.0] "Now this was a death match I can enjoy. Adam Page turned Swerve Strickland into a star with this match, I mean Swerve looked like a freaking killer here. Adam was going nuts as well with the staple gun and letting Strickland's blood enter his mouth, my god, I feel like that was uncalled for but I'm not in charge of AEW so I can't tell them don't do that. Swerve not giving a reaction to the 2nd round of staples was insane as well. This match was everything it needed to be, a brutal violent match between two men who absolutely hate each other"
[10.0] "what a bloody, violent masterpiece. hangman and swerve put on the greatest texas death match ever. the violence and in-ring storytelling blended so well and there are so many extremely memorable spots. absolute classic match from start to finish."
[10.0] "This is absolutely fucking perfect! Pure bloodshed, extreme violence, and the intense hatred between the two made this match an epic spectacle. The greatest Texas Deathmatch in history. *****1/2"
[10.0] "This surpasses Moxley vs. Hangman for best Texas Deathmatch in AEW history. There are so many amazing spots in this match. The staple gun with Hangman Jr.'s finger painting. Hangman drinking Swerve's blood (drinking an opponent's blood is one of the coolest things a professional wrestler can do). The Death Valley Driver onto the cinder block on the apron. The moonsault with the barbed wire chair. The Frog Splash onto broken glass. Swerve choking Hangman out with the chain. It's a masterpiece of violence that will go down in history."
[7.0] "I can see why some people really enjoy this match, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I felt there was a bit too much violence, relying heavily on shock value instead of actual wrestling. While there were some moments I liked, by the end, I felt more queasy than entertained. They seemed to overdo some of the extreme spots, though I did appreciate a few of them. I definitely preferred their first match, which felt more focused on the technical aspects of wrestling. Still, given that this is a blood feud and a personal rivalry, I understand why they opted for a Texas death match."
[10.0] "Just catching up out of curiosity and my god. I hope you all could've seen my face the first ten minutes of this match. It's incredible sick but yet you just couldn't stop watching and asking yourself what the hell is going on and what are they going to do next. They definitely set a new bar for this kind of matches in bigger promotions. Insane."
[9.0] "[4.5*] I think Pro Wrestling is about making people feel, and this is one of the matches I have felt most sentiments in my entire life. I was speechless, disgusted, amazed, happy, sad, angry, disgusted again and most of all I was impressed. This was so fucking unique, clearly the most insane Death Match ever, at least in AEW. Swerve looked like an all timer supervillain and I truly thinks he should beat Friedman for the title because he already overshadowed him. He is the face of AEW in 2023 and should be treated this way. Hangman finally found his killer-self after Mox put him over in March and I hope he keeps it up. Instant crazy classic. Will never be forgotten."
[10.0] "My God, this is the second time I've seen this match, but the experience was completely different from the first time I watched it! My opinion has completely changed. At first, I didn't like this match at all; I criticized it a lot and thought it wasn't wrestling at all, just a series of spots. (I should add that at that time, I was a big hater of AEW.) However, now that I've seen it again, my perspective has completely shifted. It was an excellent spot match with a storyline + beautiful storytelling that transformed this Texas Death Match from just a spot fest into an artistic match. The performances from both wrestlers were incredibly captivating for me, and I personally enjoyed both of their performances, especially Swerve Strickland, who worked remarkably well and made a significant mark on his career in All Elite Wrestling with this Death match. You might not agree, but this match was different from any other match in AEW and could be one of those matches that is unique to AEW, something we haven't seen elsewhere and probably won't see again. *****"
[10.0] "Absolutely incredible, probably the best deathwatch I've ever seen, with the story motivation to back it and the pacing being fast and incredible from the start. They both genuinely wanted to kill each other. Definitely better than the Mox one. Could do without the Bryan cage bit tho if im being nitpicky. Absolutely awesome."
[10.0] "Professional Wrestling is better when two guys fight each other with pure hatred and intentions of absolutely destroying each other. This was seen as the most violent and impossible to Top before their 3rd encounter"
[9.0] "Es ist schon kompletter Irrsinn, auf welchem Niveau ich hier aus meiner Sicht kritisieren muss. Das war wohl mit Abstand das beste Deathmatch oder generell Hardcore Match, dass ich je gesehen habe. Die Härte war der pure Wahnsinn und die Spots suchten seines gleichen. Mehrfach dachte ich, das Ende sei erreicht und es wurde immer noch einer drauf gelegt. Mein Abzug kommt leider leider durch den Eingriff von Brian Cage, der zwar abgefertigt wurde, aber den Matchfluss, wenn man es so nennen kann, gestört hat. Er hat ein echtes Ungleichgewicht in dieses Kunstwerk gebracht."
[10.0] "For me, the best wrestling matches are the ones that make you feel, and there arent many matches I feel more than this one. A complete emotional tour de force, and maybe the best deathmatch Ive ever seen. Perhaps the most brutal looking spots a major promotion has put on, but with character beats and story reasons justifying every single insane thing they put their bodies through. Paced perfectly, with the spots increasing in brutality and some great visuals."
[10.0] "An absolute brutal war between these to wrestlers, Hangman has never lost a Texas Death Match until this one and this was the match that defined Swerve Strickland and shot him into the main event scene. Hangman and Swerve are two of the most talented wrestlers in AEW and I don't see them slowing down at all. Overall an amazing showing of talent and a brutal Texas Death Match."
[7.0] "Absolutely brutal and satisfying feud closing death match. This is by far the best performance of Swerve's career and it might be Hangman's too. I would have preferred that Brian Cage have been left out of this, but after the emotional roller coaster this took us on it is hard to complain too much. In an alternate world where Tony didn't get trolled into hiring an awful creative team earlier this year, this would be the world title program, and maybe more than 2, 000 people would be showing up to the TV shows."
[10.0] "[5 Stars] What an incredible match for me it's the best of their rivalry it's that kind of match that reminds me how much I love hardcore wrestling. The match was so violent I was like a madman. It's simple their rivalry is one of my favorite All Time and this match is just perfect. (*****)"
[10.0] "I didn't expect this match to top the last Texas Death Match at Revolution, but here we are. This match elevated this rivalry from a good one to an all timer."
[10.0] "what a ridiculous match it was the most cringeworthy brutal and extreme match you'll ever see with both going extreme limits to win easily the best match they've had together and that's insane to think of how good all the others were"
[10.0] "This is the best death match/extreme rules fight I've ever seen live, and the best Texas Death Match I've ever seen. The brutality and violence was beautifully done and the rivalry grew more intense through the fight."
[2.0] "Violence for the sake of violence. Dave Meltzer went 5 stars (which used to be a big deal) and said this was the best Texas Death Match of all time even though PERSONALLY HE DIDN'T LIKE IT. RED FLAG! . This should tell you everything about the rating he gave for this match. If years from now, people are drinking blood the same way everyone fights out of teh submission bleeding a la Austin, then the plot has been missed. The storyline leading up to this has been engaging, the home invasion was preposterous, but Swerve and Nana are a great duo and it's been a lot of fun. But damn, they couldn't stick the landing. Maybe not every feud should be at the level of trying to actually murder your opponent, or light them on fire, etc. Can't go full zero because that's for the worst of the worst, but for this, 2/10 is the real number. Swerve will be doing much better soon."
[10.0] "This is the most batshit insane match I've ever seen. I've not seen much deathmatch wrestling but oh my god wtf. This is just absolutely brutal in the best possible way"
[10.0] "I love deathmatch wrestling but it can go too far sometimes. A lot of deathmatch wrestlers or promoters think that the most blood or weapons or most messed up moments are what makes for a good deathmatch. AEW seems to be a company that constantly understands deathmatch wrestling and consistently puts on good ones. This one is great because it has those messed up moments (drinking blood), the insane spots (the cinder block spots), all the weapons, and so much more. It also had a great story going in and so many character driven moments. Never would have expected it but Hangman Page may well be the deathmatch king in AEW."
[10.0] "I love this match with all of my life. The action, the storytelling and just the vibes of this match make it one of my all time favourite matches ever."
[8.0] "No pinfalls. Subs and KOs only. Texas Deathmatch rules. Hangman immediately comes into the ring and tackles Strickland, and then hits a Buckshot Lariat. Awesome start. Hangman goes under the ring and gets duct tape and binds Stricklands hands together. And Strickland is then helpless when Hangman starts stapling his chest and arms. Gross (awesome! ). Like Excalibur says, this is personal and Hangman is treating it that way. And in another incredible spot, he staples his sons finger painting on Swerves face and drinks the blood. Deranged Hangman Page is the way to go. And just as it seems like the end is nigh, Strickland hits a low blow to protect himself from a barbed wire chair. Nana frees Strickland and Strickland in a state of adrenaline, brushes off following staple shots. In another sick spot, he even does it to himself while smiling. Strickland digs barbed wire into Hangmans face and digs out a cinder block which is a call back to the Hangman vs Moxley feud. Although the detail is nice, I found the use of it to be too over the top and ridiculous, even in these conditions. If a cinder block is to be used, and it is when Strickland hits a death valley driver on to the block, it needs to be the finish, and this was maybe 10 minutes in. More on this later. Both are bleeding profusely now, like dangerous levels and the pace naturally slows into a slugfest. Hangman wraps Strickland in barbed wire and hits a fall away sleep (a third in a row, but first with the wire). And in a case of near suicide, Hangman hit a top rope moonsault to the floor with the same chair in mind. And Hangman sells the chair too. Damn. Nana distracts Hangman enough to allow Strickland to counter the Buckshot and Strickland attempts to piledrive him but Hangman reverses and does it on the chair. And in a cool camera coverage moment, Strickland is lying on the floor with his arms across each side and the barbed wire chair behind his head, adding some religious iconography to the mix. I dunno if thats accidental or not. Hangman attempts to hit a deadeye but Strickland slips out and hits a chair shot but in a great shocking moment, a loose wire goes around Hangmans face and hair and it gets stuck for a second. Strickland then escalates things again, bringing out glass which he pours over Hangmans back and hits a 450. Ouch. But like the cinder block, this is incidental and moved on from immediately. Gotta make these spots mean more given how damaging they can legitimately be. Then he hits Jay Driller. Hangman just gets up at the last second. Strickland gets a barbed wire board but Hangman makes him back with a moonsault bodyslam of sorts. And then he nails him with a buckshot lariat. Prince Nana saves Strickland again by pulling him out of the ring. Out of nowhere, Brian Cage comes down to the ring and attacks Hangman Page. Ughhh. Just unnecessary. Hangman gets rid of him and then focuses on Prince Nana, which was the spot they shouldve done instead of having Brian Cage come down. Prince Nana goes through a table after a Dead Eye. And finally, the cinder block comes back into play. Now, one of the things I liked about its use in AEW so far was it being an actual brick that didnt shatter like an unfinished cake. It was solid, it had weight to it. But when Strickland hit Hangman Page with it, it shattered like it would in WWE which makes it look fake. Im glad they used it for the finish but the execution is too silly. And Strickland gets the win again after hanging Hangman with a chain to choke him out. This has its excessiveness. The time isnt as bloated as I remember but it does linger on too long for my preferences and the type of match this actually is. But I concur with my original stance that this peaked in the first 10 minutes. But I think the two put together enough interesting and gnarly spots to sustain my interest when I have reservations about the two in the first place. Like the barbed wire getting stuck. A moment of magic. And they tried to escalate things into another level but I dont think they ever captured the same energy, although I still enjoyed this plenty. I also think it suited the strengths of both men. Strickland was born in the CZW environment and Hangman has always been better with a hook to him and there were plenty of them here. The interference sucked and I would remove it fully if I had a chance because I dont think it adds anything to the mix that Prince Nana or Strickland cant achieve and it probably leads to a tighter finishing stretch. ****"
[10.0] "One of the best matches I've ever seen in my entire life, simply amazing. This was so violent that it felt like a real fight, you literally could feel the pain and the agony in this one. I love hardcore and death matches and this one sets the bar very high... the death match gods are proud of these two guys. Every act of the match was interesting and important, the only avoidable thing is that Brian Cage interference that can lower the rating a little bit, but even with that it's undoubtedly an all-time classic. The build made us believe they hate each other more than anything else and the match transmitted that, amazing - {****3/4}"
[9.0] "That was a pretty damn sickening climax to a psychotic feud. Big props to the desk as they do a great job calling this just truly disgusting match (making up for what's honestly a bit of a lackluster crowd but I kinda get not knowing what to do in that situation), please get these men to a hospital and then also some therapy. The only things keeping it from the 10 are the somewhat poor pacing at the start, and my meh feeling about the Brian Cage appearance."
[5.0] "If you think the sicker the spot the better, the more dangerous the better, then this would be a 10. But this was just so excessive and about nothing other than violence, I didn't like it. A match, even a Texas death match, should have some more build up and in ring story telling throughout the match. But this came out of the gates with the staple guns and Hangman Page drinking Swerve's blood (which was disgusting). Where do you go from that? But the match lasted 25 minutes more involving... how many more staples? I mean by the 12th staple it just doesn't have the "OH MY GOD" effect any more, which is crazy because someone getting stapled should have that effect."
[9.0] "I am definitely not into gore matches - but this one was just brutal. To cut long story short, I believe that this is a match no one who watched it will ever forget. The storytelling, the ruthless agression, the passion, the bumps - everything. Notwithstading the unnecessarily grotesque spots (which perhaps one could agree that those are truly what elevates it), this one is for the history books."
[9.0] "Definitely a match of the year contender. The match was simply brutal and bloody, everything you needed it to be. My only complaint about this was the interference that Swerve needed to win, made him look really weak in my opinion, thats really the only thing holding this back from being a 10."
[10.0] "This match was very brutal. Probably the greatest death match ever. Lots of spots were good. The part when hangman drinks swerves blood was insane. The staple gun spot was crazy, swerve no sold it. The chair shot with barbed wire. The ending was absolutely viscous. They were crazy."
[10.0] "There is and likely never will be a hardcore match this good. The absolute brutality of it both in the spots and the nasty blade job from Swerve along with the hatred shown both in the build up with Swerve breaking into Hangman's house and tucking his kid in, and in the actual action it's self, you can't find a build up that heated with such an amazing blow off. This isn't just violence for no reason, this is pure hatred being shown in the best way possible. It didn't matter who won, it mattered that they beat the shit out of each other with the least regard. The wrestling moves themselves also always looked great. A super star making match for both of them which will likely never be topped by anyone. The interference felt unnecessary but it can't distract from what these men did."
[9.0] "Haven't rewatched it since December, but what a star making performance AGAIN from Swerve (who I was backing since before DoN 23). Love what they did and the violence was instant. No pussyfooting and doing nothing, just straight into the fight. Right person won, star made (as we see today) and the mental decent of Hangman starts here."
"Had the privilege of seeing this one live. Unforgettable. My wife came with me because she wanted to see what wrestling was like live. This is the only match she remembers."
[10.0] "This is my favorite match of all time. I had the fortune to watch this match live and man was it awesome. Brutal, violent, and I loved it. Hangman stappled a picture to Swerve's forehead, ripping it off, and dripped the blood into his mouth. Swerve killed Hangman in twenty different ways. I heavily doubt any match will come close to this violent masterpiece to be my favorite match of all time."
[10.0] "One of the most brutal matcher seen and I fuckin loved it. Too much awesome brutality to get into but the spot where Hangman let's Swerves blood pour into his mouth showed how personal the feud had become. The match proved Hangman is the protagonist of AEW and Swerve looked like a sick, twisted villain , stapling himself, stomping glass into Hangman's back and Hanging Hangman unconscious just like Hangman did to Jon Moxley. The match was a certain five stars. As I said it proved Hangman Adam Page is THE main character of AEW and cemented Swerve as a Main Event talent"
[7.0] "It was well-executed for what it was, but I'm not gonna pretend I loved it. It was pretty good, and a couple spots were hype, but as a whole it was overly-long and didn't have enough actually happening to justify its length. Really hoping for more of a match if/when they run this back."
[9.0] "A phenomenal bloody fight. A ton of matches nowadays feel like they just overuse weapons and blood, this one totally earned through the story it told. Just two minor complaints: 1. The drinking blood spot was just disgusting. Cool effect but neither of these has a sick enough character for that to be justified. 2. A little bit too over the top in the end. I feel like the brick should've been more than enough or just have Swerve stop the count and do the chain, but it just like like one "kick out" too many."
[10.0] "Taz said it perfectly "This was insane". This was probably the most brutal match I've seen so far and I've watched a decent amount of FMW and CZW stuff. It pretty much turned from a "Texas Death match" to a regular "Death match"."
[10.0] "I couldn't fucking imagine stapling my own fucking chest, repeatedly, and not even looking fazed. Seriously this match was breath taking, and unlike any other Texas Death Match I have seen so far. The previously mentioned staple gun spots, the drinking of Swerve's blood and spraying it all out, the cinder block, the chain hanging, this stunned me from the get go. One of the best of its kind, immediately put Swerve on the map."
"When I think about what seperates a 9/10 from a 10/10 in any medium, whether it be films, video games or indeed wrestling, it always comes down to whether or not it makes me feel something. In all of its brutal, masochistic glory, Hangman Page vs Swerve Strickland is still my favourite AEW match to date because it elicited such excitement from me. 10/10."
[7.0] "The advantage of All Elite Wrestling's PPV events is that the card is usually diluted with a wide variety of content for which there is a fan - overbooking stuff, technical masterclasses, spotfests and such brutal battles like texas death (although it's not exactly) match between Swerve and Page. Firstly, as personal as their rivalry was, the blood-drinking moment was unnecessary. While watching, I can't help but compare this match to Strickland's notoriously awesome match against Dante Fox, which also included a lot of hardcore spots, but that match had a faster pace, better structure, and arguably a more personal story. I don't consider this match bad, it's good enough, but with the not entirely logical, like Strickland's splash onto broken glass on his belly, and unnecessary, like the drinking of blood, moments, the sagging pace (though in the case of a match of this gimmick, it's more than forgivable) and the periodic terminator mode were questionable. Perhaps it's a matter of overly inflated expectations or the fact that I wasn't able to fully get into the story, but the match failed to impress me enough, although, again, I think it's quite good and definitely worthy of PPV level."
[10.0] "After seeing this thrilling texas death match at Revolution against Moxley, I would have never imagine that few months later, an even bigger masterpiece would be deliver. Great outcome for Swerve. And strangely it's not too bad for Page, 2024 will surely be a wonderful year for him !"
[10.0] "[5.25*] This is the most violent match I've ever watched in my life and without a doubt the best in AEW history (so far), we saw a CRAZY Hangman wanting to get revenge on Swerve and for that he used every possible weapon you can imagine (barbed wire, chairs, stapler), the most insane moment in Hangman and perhaps in the history of Wrestling was Page simply drinking Swerve's blood as if it were juice. This match had so many INSANE spots, Hangman's Piledriver on Swerve on the chair with barbed wire, Swerve getting revenge by doing the same spot but with a powerbomb followed by a Swerve Stomp, Hangman breaking Swerve on the table, the number of spots is incredible. I genuinely laughed when Hangman smashed Prince Nana onto the table. The ending was very dramatic and emotional, when I watched it live I was sure that Hangman would win, Swerve's victory surprised me a lot, it was an emotional moment to witness for anyone who saw Full Gear. This match is unprecedented in the history of Wrestling, in addition to the spots being brutal, violent, Hangman and Swerve having bloodied the entire match, the execution of the moves, the variety of how they used the weapons, everything was beyond perfect, it's an All Time Classic match, Swerve and Hangman definitely made history after this match."
[10.0] "In my top 10 matches of all time. This match is as insane as everyone says. I loved it from start to finish. So many iconic spots and I personally was a big fan of how dangerous and bloody it was. Best texas death match ever."
[10.0] "An absolute classic. One of the most violent matches that I have ever seen, yes, but also an unequivocal clinic in imagery. There were some of the most incredible visuals I have ever seen throughout this match, including the finish in which both men were left face down in a pool of their own blood. Throw in a tribute to the late great Bray Wyatt and this was everything I heard it was and then some. A star-making performance for Swerve Strickland and a bout that was simultaneously unfathomably good and one I hope to never see recreated. Five stars, 10 out of 10. Among the best No Disqualification style matches I have ever seen."
[10.0] "So many of the most memorable visuals you'll see in any deathmatch, Swerve getting paper stapled to his body, Page drinking the blood pouring from Swerve's face, Page being choked out with the chain. Swerve's selling in this is genuinely an all timer performance, crazy how unexpectedly amazing this match was. I get why some may call the overabundance of spots "overkill", but there's a time and place for matches like these and I felt it was justified considering the build and stipulation. Not my MOTY but the best AEW match ever."
[10.0] "What was really great about this match was the level of hatred that could be felt throughout. Some brutal spots that no one will forget anytime soon. Hangman drinking Swerve's blood, the staples, the barbwire chair, the 450 on the glass, you could name so many moments from this match but that's what's great about it. It wasn't about the moves or even the weapons. These boys were trying to MURDER each other. The ending was perfect and tbh kind of a surprise. A perfect, violent match"
[10.0] "A classic death match. Great storytelling pure cinema. The great championship level wrestler Hangman Page vs the very hungry young up and coming charismatic wrestler Swerve Strickland. A man willing to go through hell and back to get to his level. These men perform as if everything they believe in is on the line. Strickland will withstand any pain or any torture to achieve greatness. And Hangman is willing to give it out. One of the matches of the decade so far."
[9.0] "I'm not typically a fan of these types of matches. The match between Hangman and Moxley in the same year didn't do anything for me, but this match got me invested. I enjoyed the brutality for what it was and loved the finish. The interference was unnecessary and these kinds of match types are prone to overdoing some spots which I do think they did a bit. 9/10"
[10.0] "Perfektes Match.Das war ein übles Gemetzel, beide geben einfach alles, was man für brutale Sachen raushauen kann und für mich das bisher brutalste Match bei Aew und auch kein Leerlauf dabei, ich hab erwartet das noch Tische angezündet werden, aber das hat man sich gespart, war aber auch nicht nötig.Absolut passend für diese Fehde. *****"
[10.0] "An excellent match without any limits. Both wrestlers are great and Prince Nana is great in his role. I loved it from start to finish and I wasn't bored for a single moment. Several spots that will mark me in the future. The finish is borderline perfect. If I have to find a single downside to this match it's the intervention of Brian Cage but that didn't bother me that much. (5*)"
[10.0] "This match solidifided Swerve as future World champ and reminded everyone of how good Hangman can be. It was a war, one of the brutal matches I've ever seen. Sometimes it even made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Hangman drinking Swerve's blood gotta be the most insane thing I've ever seen in my life. The stapler's spots, the death valley driver on the concrete block, the barbed wire chair and table spots, crazy stuff. Nana going through the table with a dead eye was also fun. And the ending was absolutely brillant with Hangman getting hanged by a chain just like he hanged Moxley at Revolution. One of my favorite matches of all time. 10/10 - 5*/5*"
[10.0] "I typically don't care for hardcore matches, but this match is an anomaly to me. A star making performance for Swerve and it also elevated Hangman as well. Many memorable spots like the stapler and the blood drinking. Went through many emotions watching this and that's both hard for me to do a good thing. *****"
[9.0] "The only reason I'm not giving this a 10 is the Brian Cage interference. It was completely unnecessary and detracted from what was otherwise a perfect deathmatch."
[4.0] "Ich kann Death Matches mögen, wenn es trotzdem vom Wrestling her gutes Wrestling ist. Das Match ist eher brutal um brutal zu sein. Auch ist der Grund dass sich beide so sehr hassen für so ein Match für mich zumindest bei weitem nicht genug. Weiterhin ist es zu übertrieben wie viel beide einstecken besonders im Vergleich zu anderen Matches wo sie viel schneller mit weniger Moves verlieren. Hier können 3 harte Moves auf einen Stacheldraht hintereinander gezeigt werden und es geht trotzdem weiter. Deshalb ist es nicht wirklich meine Art Match, eher unnötig brutal ohne tieferen Sinn oder Logik."
[10.0] "The rivalry going into this match had the hottest momentum possible behind it, and I was half-expecting some level of disappointment in how far they might go but no. These two didn't hold anything back, it was deathmatch spots with a story to justify every single brutal thing that made me wince at times but enjoying every second of it. In an era where deathmatch wrestling is seen as an overplayed trope, or an oversaturated and often meaningless in it's spots, these two performers made a classic by telling a perfect story with the kids drawing and chain. This match was so perfect that it's catapulted Swerve into the main event scene in AEW permanently, and has put the spotlight back onto the neglected Hangman Page. The ending of Hangman being chained as a direct opposite to Moxley being hanged at the start of the year by Page was perfect in establishing Swerve as an absolute world champion soon, and also making Hangman not look weaker by losing this just instead fueling his fire. The aftermath of this match the entire company has vastly benefited from, and this match dominated Match of the Year conversations despite coming so late. This is my favorite match of all-time, and that's not recency bias anymore now that I've had months to think about it. This match will be remembered as the most important match in AEW history."
[5.0] "A totally fine gross death match. You can see some of this in trash promotions on fite tv. This just involves two stars. I don't get the MOTY hype with this one. Hangman is good at these major promotion deathmatches. Swerve is an indie deathmatch guy. This was pretty nasty and crossed a line for me. The blood drinking was stupid and unnecessary. Interference spots in no dq matches always take me out of the match because why didn't you just interfere from the beginning? The finish totally killed the babyface that had his home invaded. Everything about this match left me scratching my head."
[10.0] "This is exactly what 10 stars looks like. The storytelling, the callbacks to promos, swerve stapling himself, swerve pouring the water on his head only to dye it red with his blood, hangman stapling the drawings to swerves face, and the ending. The Hangman being hung. Perfect. Ill tell my kids about this match"
[6.0] "Ok first things first, this is just a last man standing match, its not a texas death, but i guess it sounds cooler to announce. Semantics aside, there's several issues I have with this match: pacing-wise it's all over the place, it gets sloppy at times when they work on the apron or on the ropes, some spots are a bit silly and pointless like the dive over fake glass, and the blood-drinking spot is really stupid and just cringe. Overall I just cannot bring myself to take Page seriously, especially as this crazy weird deathmatch cowboy (? ). His selling is inconsistent at best and his facial expressions are just silly. However. This match made me a Swerve fan. His body language is amazing, and I love how smooth he his in selling while he's on the offense. He shows purpose and urgency in the way he performs. And the visual of him completely soaked in his own blood is quite iconic. Overall, a messy match with maybe more lows than highs, but with one (possibly) career defining performance"
[10.0] "Jesus Christ on a stick this match was violent as hell. Swerve's super villain energy was fully met and surpassed by Hangman. Just listing all the horrific things they did to each other wouldn't even matter as there are too many to count. Hangman fired back up to his true main event star level and Swerve had one of the best star-making performances in recent years."
[10.0] "This type of match is not my cup of tea at all and never has been. But I was here for the star making performance of Swerve Strickland and Adam Page becoming a straight up AEW icon. As far as death matches having actual wrestling squeezed in between DRINKING YOUR OPPONENTS BLOOD, this was an absolute spectacle. You couldn't look away from it even if you wanted to. Magnetic brutality. Swerve hitting a 450 on Page while he was covered in BROKEN GLASS was next level violent athleticism. One of the most brutal matches I've ever seen."
[10.0] "So close to being my MOTY. A deathmatch that was so transformative that it made Moxley vs Hangman look tame in comparison. Haunting, brutal, graphic and memorable. Dont watch if you want to use office equipment again"
"Was in attendance for this match/PPV. It was truly one of the greatest wrestling experiences of my life. Was unbelievable what these guys put themselves thru."
[10.0] "The best singles match of both men's career's in my opinon absolute certified 5 stars. It was a terribly brutal and vile match and not something id usually be into but i loved every second of this war between two of the most profound characters in AEW."
[9.0] "Has there ever been such a display of beautifully depraved violence on a mainstream wrestling show? Truly unforgettable stuff and a star making performance for Swerve Strickland. Only real thing I can fault this match on is the interference, which was thankfully only brief. - ****3/4"
[10.0] "One of the craziest matches of all time, from the first minute to last minute I couldn't keep my eyes off the match, definitely a must watch match even if your a wwe fan."
[10.0] "This is everything wrestling is about. From the story of a desperate hero fighting for everything he knows and loves juxtaposed with the violence of a man fighting AGAINST that. And of course the hero willing to go JUST as far. Most graphic match I've seen and it was fitting of the crime committed against a man and his family."
"Ive rewatched this match multiple times and I still cant believe something like this happened in a match for a major promotion. I absolutely loved every minute of this."
[7.0] "Match hatte seine guten Momente. Am Ende blieb es aber hinter den Erwartungen zurück. Teilweise plätscherte dieses Match vor sich hin und dann hatte es auch Momenten wo es nur Schockmomente setzen wollte, dies aber nicht gelangt (da man dies alles schon seit Jahren kannte)."
[10.0] "The best death match I have ever seen, apart from POSSIBLY Funk vs Onita's no rope exploding barbed wire time bomb death match, and Page and Swerve reached that level without even needing a guitar solo."
[10.0] "My match of the year, and one of the best matches I've ever seen in person. In the building, the crowd was buzzing throughout. With each brutal escalation, it turned into ten thousand people having uncontrollable physical reactions to what they were seeing. If you closed your eyes it would sound like a riot. It introduced new sensations to mainstream deathmatch wrestling, the same way Ospreay & Ricochet raised the bar on high flying, or Zack Sabre Jr. brought a new look to technical wrestling. I didn't think Swerve would win because I didn't think Hangman could come back from two losses in a row after getting his home invaded. But it turns out they found the only way to protect his heat: extreme levels of insane violence. You cannot walk away from this match and think Hangman didn't do everything in his power to punish that man, and you cannot walk away thinking he was weak. It was a war and he just got caught."
[10.0] "THE MOST BRUTAL MATCH IVE SEEN IN THE LAST DECADE! Nothing even comes close to how on the edge of my seat I was the entire time watching this, I had my hands covering my face only letting my eyes peak through to watch the absolute carnage taking place but as hard as it was to watch I couldnt help but watch these 2 men, pissing blood all over the canvas, to see what twisted attack would come next and everytime I thought Id seen the nastiest blow of the match I was reminded quickly that of how wrong I could be. There are no words to describe this perfectly encapsulates how I feel about this match it is a must watch and is easily one of the best matches this year, if not this decade. 10/10"
[10.0] "A match of the year contender, the best death match I've ever seen, they kicked Muta Scale during this match (especially Swerve), plus there was Hangman drinking his opponent's blood in a repulsive scene (in a good way), in certain moments it looked like the cowboy would win, but Strickland still managed to win after a carnage that will certainly make him move up the card even further after a great victory on the former champion's favorite terrain (*****)"
[10.0] "This match had me hooked from start to finish. The ruthlessness and brutality that these two put on display was insane, and even some of my friends who don't really like deathmatch wrestling really enjoyed this match. This gave Swerve the huge push in AEW that he needed to become that megastar that I believe he can be!"
[10.0] "Basically the proof that Swerve has to be one of the tops in the years to come and Hangman proving once more that is an absolute beast. Masterpiece is a word that cant describe all that this match sweats. 10/10 all the day"
[10.0] "A horror show of a match; a hero that is willing to kill, against a villain who feels like he can't be. Going into the move to move moments just feels like it is doing the grander atmosphere and dark tone this story set a disservice. If I had to pick two moments though it would of course be Hangman busting Swerve open and drinking his blood, a spot that will be immigrated but never replicated and Swerve channeling a demented 2018 Hiroshi Tanahashi, advancing across the ring, stapling himself in the chest. Both have immense visual impact but also perfectly fit with where each character is at in their mind in the broader story. Hangman, unconcerned with winning and literally out for Swerve's blood and Swerve feeling completely untouchable after being buried at Wembley and having beaten Hangman in their first match. This match painted one of the darkest, most depraved stories of vengeance I've seen in wrestling and in my mind is a masterpiece."
[10.0] "This match is just excellent Swerve and Hangman have chemistry that's just unmatched. Everything from the story to spots was incredible this was the best match on the card by a mile."
[6.0] "I think all the hype surrounding the match absolutely ruined it for me. I mean, I love ultra-violent wrestling... I've watched a lot of ultra-violent matches from ECW, FMW, CZW, GCW and etc. Therefore, I have increased demands for every such fight in the mainstream. To the credit of this match, it was preceded by a rather personal story. And to be honest, I missed the actual wrestling in the match. Wrestlers relied too much on weapons and since I'm a jaded viewer, it wasn't that special to me, and at times I even got bored. To be honest, I watched most of the match with one expression on my face, I was too lacking in emotions for a match that lasted so long. I loved how Prince Nana pulled Swerve out of the ring at the last second to save him from defeat. I was hoping that now Swerve would get a second wind and we would finally be shown something epic in the final third. But instead, Brian Cage immediately interfered in the match... It's kind of like a "very personal feud", no? And then Nana intervened, and only after that Swerve came to his senses and finished off Hangman. This match was supposed to help take Swerve to the next level, but he needed so much outside help to do it... It didn't look like an epic point in the feud, in my eyes it looked like an unreasonably drawn out and violent filler."
[10.0] "A masterpiece, there are no other words to describe this UFO. The storyline was exceptional, this is the perfect example that AEW can tell amazing stories. Both went from having a classic feud in which Swerve wanted Hangman "undeserved", according to him, spot. But things became personal when Swerve cheated to win and then broke in Hangman's house to involve Page's son. This intense feud explain why Hangman doesn't need an entrance and just comes to kill Swerve, to put him in a grave. The whole fight has highly symbolic facts. One of them being Hangman stapling one of his son's drawings on Swerve's face, fucking brutal, but it may be the less violent thing in the whole damn match. Next spot, Page drinks Strickland's blood and spit it HHH style, that's a sick picture. The whole fight is a bloodbath where they just want to kill each other. Swerve's comeback unlocks another level of sadism in him that we've never seen before in AEW. Both protagonists unlocked another personality. The DVD on the concrete block followed by a Cactus Driver on the barriers just gave me chills. Swerve may have been the best Crimson mask for years. Swerve penultimate sick move is a damn 450 on the pieces of broken glass upon Hangman's back, hammering them in his flesh. During the whole fight, we can see fear mixed to hatred in their eyes, they don't know to what extent they'll need to beat the other down and the acting is flawless. Hangman's last uprising is a Fallaway Slam followed by a Powerbomb and a Dead Eye on a barbed wire table. Then, the ultimate spot comes, and it's just an execution, Swerve literally hangs the Hangman causing him to be knocked out, what a symbol ! I can't wait to see the aftermath. Swerve just became one of the hottest stars in the company and maybe the whole wrestling world. Hangman will be interesting to see, how does he react to this loss ? Can he cope with the fact that he didn't avenge his son ? What about his anxiety and his previous alcool problems ? Are they coming back ? So much questions. Overall, it is my MOTY in AEW and certainly the best Texas Deathmatch of all-time. This fight shows how wrestling can be close to cinema and how it is an art."
[10.0] "Perhaps the most disgusting match I have ever seen, brilliant, intense, the best deathmatch that I've ever seen, one of the best of the year, I can't re watch it though because of how horrifying it is."
[10.0] "I hated this match till I loved it. The beginning was a little too brutal for my tastes, but as it continued I was blown away by the brutality. Swerve became a superstar in this match IMO. One of the best(and grossest) matches of the year."
[10.0] "I didn't think Swerve would ever have a deathmatch that surpassed his match with AR Fox in Lucha Underground, but this did, by a long shot. Absolutely incredible, and keeping this stuff up for half an hour was amazing. Props to both of them"
[7.0] "Their last match was really good but definitely really overrated, and this was very much the same, except this one has now become one of the most overrated matches of all time, I feel comfortable saying. I wasn't a fan of how absurdly high the stakes had been raised in their feud with Swerve's ridiculous home invasion angle, but I appreciated how they at least stuck to that story as Page was totally unhinged by jumping Swerve before the bell. Him demolishing Swerve with big moves in that opening was very cool as a result, but issues soon arose. Firstly, Page actually hitting the Buckshot in that opening segment, only to then start proudly posturing to the crowd, immediately ruined his 'bloodthirsty' presentation. Not only did he waste his own finisher there, which made it less special when he would hit or tease hitting it later, but he looked stupid in immediately forgetting his main motivation to vengefully pummel Swerve into the ground. At least he continued to beat Swerve down really aggressively all over the place, but that one moment of him abandoning his motivation for the sake of appealing to the crowd felt really out-of-place and immediately undercut his character and the whole story of their feud. Their weapon attacks all looked pretty good, especially the staple-gun spots (even if Swerve's selling felt a bit over-the-top and comical instead of genuinely pained). Page literally drinking up the droplets of Swerve's flowing blood was, uh, really messed up. I've seen a lot of death matches, but *that* was kind of just disgusting. It didn't even have the appeal of being something that looked super painful in order to fit with the idea of this being a competitive fight it was just really sickening and made Page look like a genuine freak for doing such a weird stunt. Swerve purposefully no-selling the later staple-gun spots and defiantly staring Page down was weird for two reason: (1) that's a total babyface spot, yet the big villain heel did it instead, and (2) it felt illogical when Swerve was writhing in pain and rendered almost unconscious from all those staple-gun shots only a few minutes earlier. Did Swerve just suddenly decide to use "the power of the mind" to shut off his pain receptors? Lmao. At least the blood flowing from Swerve's head while he looked all stoically defiant and then looked crazy with his unhinged laughs made for some very cool visuals, though he totally overshadowed babyface Page here as a result, whereas Page just looked generally angsty and scowly like he always does. So, this really just got Swerve over at the expense of Page. Not that I'm complaining! But I thought maybe AEW wouldn't have wanted that to be as blatant as it was, and that did make Page's would-be exciting babyface moments feel undercooked. They did a few more cool spots on the outside, with Swerve again looking very impressive with how sadistic and creative his attacks were. Page's comeback featured some decently impactful attacks, and his displays of fire were likewise decent, but the crowd was already so enamoured with Swerve that they couldn't care at all for it. At least they were still buying into, and cringing in response, to his weapon spots. The match became unfortunately became heavily overkill with all the big moves and spots in the 2nd half, almost all of which utilised weapons in supposedly 'extra-damaging' ways despite never resulting in the win. Some more engaging 'filler work' in-between those big spots would've been nice, since that would've justified the match going on longer instead of forcing us to try buy into both these guys destroying each other back and forth with weapons, yet somehow never being able to put each other away. Still, at least each big spot looked really good (some of the weapon spots looked completely nasty, even) and were never remotely 'boring' or 'generic'. By the time that the 450 Splash onto the glass-bottle shards had failed to end the match, I knew the match had comfortably gone into "so overkill it's starting to lose me" territory. And then a minute later a barbed-wire table was introduced, as if that was somehow upping the ante even further after all the other, far more dangerous-looking spots they'd already gone through. We then got more overkill-ness with the second Buckshot Lariat while Swerve had barbed wire wrapped around his head, only for the tired trope of the manager saving him by helping him to his feet outside, and then for another tired trope of the blindside run-in as Cage jumped Page, and ANOTHER tired trope of the heel's manager being the taken out by the babyface while the heel himself then takes advantage. A concrete-block shot and a chain-choke spot later and the match was FINALLY over. A really good match for sure, but also one with some clear issues, really damn overkill, and ultimately overrated on an insane level. But hey, it's just another day on Cagematch in 2023, where basically ever new 'big' match is the greatest thing ever, or gets a 10/10 simply because they did at least one cool or unique thing. ***1/2"
"very very good match. a few spots didn't look as great as they should have but it does not take away from brutality and hatred these two had for each other. a texas death match was more than appropriate and the match type was used to perfection."
[10.0] "Von der Brutalität her gibt es im Main Stream Wrestling kaum ein Match, was dieses hier überschreitet. Stapler Spots, Blut wird getrunken, Glas und vieles mehr, sowas kriegt du sonst nur bei Indy Shows vor 100 Leuten. Dazu kommt noch, dass diese Gewalt nicht sinnlos war und eine tolle Story um die Fehde aufgebaut wurde, die das alles sehr glaubhaft wirken lässt. Swerve hat jedenfalls im Jahr 2023 viel an Star Power dazugewonnen und Hangman Page gehört einfach inzwischen schon zu den besten Wrestlern der Welt, da kann man nur so ein geniales Match erwarten."
[7.0] "Brutal and violent in every sense of the word, but not for me. I found the pacing to be off, with the only a few moments able to match the starting moments with the staple gun. There's some amazing visuals throughout the match, but there's too many moments I found dull, and to fill time between spots the cameras just cut to both guys bleeding. The 450 of the glass was another highlight, but Cage coming out to help didn't really fit the match, and they could've made due with just Nana getting involved. Then the blood. There wasn't too much, I just thought it happened too soon. It ruined some of the impact of the spots later in the match in my opinion. I have no real interest in seeing this one again, and I'm having a hard time rating this one. Don't let my low score deter you from what these guys were willing to do for our entertainment. Hats off to both. That said, 3.5 Stars."
[10.0] "Perfection. A masterclass in building Swerve into a top star, brutal from start to finish, very strong case for the best deathmatch we've ever seen."
[10.0] "Hangman Page has been hung to Death. I really wonder if this wasnt the most brutal and violent wrestling match Ive ever seen. Swerve Strickland once again defeated Page he became that freaking star I cannot wait for him to be world champ hes more than ready ! This was a destructive Death Match with blood as I can love namely the face of Strickland bleeding non-stop! The 450 to the piece of glasses on the back of Page was one of the deadliest thing I have ever seen in my life ! They transformed the site into a bloody massacre, big props to Swerve & Page for this insane performance !"
[10.0] "I was in the building for this both in the nosebleeds and slightly behind the one big screen in the building, so it was impossible to tell the specific weapon shots. Well, the screencaps I saw on Twitter made it look really good. And I can confirm - even without the specificity, I could tell that the pacing was absolutely perfect."
[10.0] "I understand why many people didn't like this match; it's not for everyone. But oh my lord, for me, it's one of the best matches of 2023. What a battle between these two awesome wrestlers. We had many excellent moments mixed with fun moments (mainly with Prince Nana). The only thing I didn't like was the appearance of Brian Cage, but this didn't significantly change the match, which is why it didn't affect my rating. The blood-drinking spot was one of the craziest I've ever seen in my life."
[10.0] "Considering the intensity of these men's rivalry, the head start by Hangman made sensible followed by his unhinged satanic sensibilities tapping in to create a heinous aura immediately. Swerve's reply felt more cathartic as if he's an untamed beast who's out for blood. Both men's viscous range of adding salt to their wounds was uncomfortably ruthless and that feeling could be one of the reasons for me to bill this war as one of the best bloodbaths AEW has ever done! Had that interference from Cage kept away as well as lack of credibility in a few spots, this could've been an all-timer for AEW. Nonetheless, mad respect to both lads for delivering a blistering battle which elevated Swerve definitely as the best pound-for-pound high investment in AEW's main event picture. 4.75 out of 5 stars!"
[9.0] "This is less a glorious celebration of wrestling violence, as you may get with something like Despy vs Kasai, but more a relentless battering, which I think is more appropriate for the feud. The only thing I didn't like was Brian Cage running in - it didn't affect the result, so maybe I am being harsh, but it does stop it being a full 10 for me personally. Blood drinking rules, though. 9.5/10"
[8.0] "This was very good for a death match and maybe the best of which I've seen. I don't like death matches but can usually find something to appreciate when the wrestlers are also very good outside of death matches, which is certainly the case here. I typically don't like bloody gimmicks like staple guns, but they made that stuff make sense here. I wasn't bothered by the blood-drinking spot and I think this was very good storytelling. Both Strickland and Page are stars, but I am especially hopeful that AEW builds on what Swerve is doing."
[10.0] "Boy howdy is Hangman becoming incredibly comfy in these Texas death matches and elevating the others he is with as he himself grows more and more creative with each outing. I enjoyed this match from start to finish and haven't felt the same amount of energy for such a deathmatch in AEW since Gage vs Jericho and the very early days of AEW with Joey, Mox, and Omega. Creative spots that didn't need your traditional independent death match weapons all while being innovative in many respects and having outside interference at a minimal not ruining the match flow during any point. By far match of the night that was seemingly all gas no breaks. Having the perfect amount of storytelling, pure wrestling, and violence at the same time. This match will be viewed for years to come no matter what happens in the future of AEW. Right man picked up the victory as well. Hangman is a beloved and established star to the AEW faithful where taking the L wont ruin his reputation or momentum the same cannot be said with Swerve who has been all over the map of ups and downs during his AEW run so far. This victory in such a match could be what he needs to catapult him into the main event title scene permanently if Tony choses to stick with the story/Swerve and not go to his patented start stop booking style he is becoming known so well for."
[10.0] "I haven't been following AEW very closely so i'm not sure why these guys hate each other so much, other than Hanger threatening to steal Nana's weed, but this match made one thing clear: They REALLY hate each other, holy sh*t. That 450 splash on the glass was the first time in a good while that i squeamed while watching a wrestling match (though looking back, i definitely was sugar glass, if it wasn't these two would be actually dead, but it was nice to believe for a few seconds), and Hangman drinking Swerve's blood is an all-timer spot. Enjoyable all the way through."
[10.0] "Sometimes it's not the wrestling espect of the match that makes it great, but the moments it presented. After an intense fued between Hangman and Swerve, it was the only way for them to end in up in a blood-filled fight. I heard from people that this type of match doesn't add to the story, but I disagree, as it was fully justified for Adam to go full sadist on Swerve after what games he's been playing with Hangman. The spots like Adam drinking Swerve's blood and Swerve getting staplled over and over was such a great addition. Swerve basically losing his mind and stampling himself just for the sake of showinf everyone that he doesn't give a damn just made me respect him even more. He was already viewed as a Main-Event level stat, but this match cemented it. The best desicion was to give him the win, and AEW did just that. Without a doubt this is the best Texas Deathmatch AEW produced so far."
[9.0] "Hangman was ruthless from the start of the match by drawing Swerve's blood with staples, and then drinking Swerve's blood what a sicko! Swerve was able to survive the early onslaught from Hangman in this, and was willing to get just as violent as Hangman got at the start of this, and this was showed strongly with him no-selling at the start and him also stapling himself. They continued to ramp up the violence by using things like cinderblocks, and barbed wire but the spot of the match was easily Swerve doing a 450 onto the glass that was insane. Unfortunately like most AEW matches, it didn't end there, and the match had to keep going but at least Swerve choking out Hangman was a good enough alternate ending.****1/2"
[8.0] "Swerve is one of the best heels on the roster and I think that has been the case since the split with Keith Lee. His momentum was fumbled with too many faction switches after that but he seems to have found his footing with this Prince Nana deal and this match cemented that. Hangman is also at his best when he has a reason to be fired up so these two really played well off of each other and for me, raised the standard on the Texas Deathmatch gimmick (which seems to change its rules every so often but whatever). I do have a few knocks against this match, though. First, the pacing was a bit off towards the end and it felt like there wasn't much room to explore a while before the finish, and second, with all of that barbed wire and glass, you'd expect to see more scratches on their backs etc. They probably looked more scratched up the day after but the lack of visible cuts after so many barbed wire spots made the wire come across as a bit gimmicky and overly safe (even if that's contrary to the truth). The same goes for smashing concrete over someone's head. Just a bit too much to believe. The spots themselves were well-executed, though. Usually you get a few missed boards and things like that in these matches but these guys were on target. Even accidental spots looked good, like the wire going over Page's face after the chairshot on the back."
"This was the first match I watched from Swerve and I'm 100% hooked on him. One of the best matches of the year by far, even though it's not my type of match."
[10.0] "Swerve's entrance was very cool, I liked that the match started with violence, something that I expected, hell, I didn't know that Adam Page had those vampire tastes, I even found it a little romantic to have the opponent's blood on his face, Many CZW and ECW legends would be proud of Swerve Strickland and his sadism, excellent balance when executing that piledriver on the edge of the barricade, a piledriver on barbed wire, what an outrage, that whistle blow mistake, accidentally making a piece of wire trapped Hagnman Page's face, it looked even better, how truly terrifying, the black glass thing puts me on another level, this is already NSFW content, well, let's go for the clearly bad, totally unnecessary I think Brian Cage's interference, Nana's was normal and satisfactory, how he was thrown headlong towards the table, although this match is not suitable for everyone, it is simply a work of art of violent wrestling, something that every wrestling fan wrestling and more hardcore wrestling, must see, very good match and a pleasant result for the moment."
[10.0] "An impressive fight, undoubtedly the best of the night and one of the best of the year. This Texas Death Match is very brutal, it looks too strong and gore in certain moments. The ending is impressive, they apply what the nicknamed Hangman uses to win, it's something quite psychological in this match, which makes it even better."
[10.0] "This was just amazing. I was lucky enough to be at this show and this is definitely one of the best matches Ive ever seen live. This is for sure the best AEW match Ive seen live. This was just pure, brutal violence and I loved every single second of it. In my opinion, there wasnt a second of this match that was wasted. Page looked great here, but Strickland is the standout. This feud with Page has really brought him to another level and I think hes destined for even bigger things in AEW. I think this is the end of the feud for now, and Im really looking forward to Stricklands rise, hopefully, continuing."
"Holy balls this match was insane. Some absolutely nasty spots start to finish and made 30 minutes fly by. Feel bad for the rest of the card following this. Swerve is one of my favourite wrestlers in AEW and he certainly has a massive future ahead of him, he just oozes talent. Future world champion in him for sure. Page is also great, I'm just more of a Swerve fan myself. I feel like these 2 could always put on a great match together anytime in the coming years and have a sort of on-off long-term rivalry, like Cena and Orton but good. There are too many spots to name but I personally loved the drinking of blood and the 450 on the glass. Only thing that wasn't really for me was the Brian Cage interference, that just hold back this match from the 5 stars for me. ****3/4"
"Not a massive deathmatch person honestly, but the story these two told leading up to and during the match was captivating. Throw in the fact that the violence was almost perfect for the storyline. These two dudes wanted to maim each other, it was gruesome yet I couldn't stop watching. Brilliant match, Swerve is a superstar and Hangman is even more of a certified badass. 10/10"
[10.0] "god, what else does a fan of hardcore matches like me want? I'm still in shock! many years of watching pro wrestling, but the feeling that I got from this match, well, rarely has happened to me! I couldn't believe my eyes! was it CZW? I've never seen this level of violence and brutality before. the extreme spots in this matches were too many, that I don't know which one to mention! I was totally flabbergasted during the match, and didn't want it to be finished. it's very hard to get a 10 from me, but in the middle of this match, I made my choice to give it a 10. Swerve proved that he deserves to be pushed to the moon. also we saw another fascinating and hardcore performance, by Vampire Adam Page LOL. hats off to both, for creating a historic and memorable match for us. (*****)"
[10.0] "Maybe the most violent match in America television ever. The match made me unconfortable at some points, and that's exactly what they aimed, a insanity disguised as a wrestling match. Swerve should be in the World Title picture before the end of the year, no one got more momentum than him right now. (*****)."
[10.0] "Ospreay - Omega was my match of the year going into this, and that might have changed here. This was insanity. The list of spots you could mention is endless, but both men brought the intensity the story deserved and the depravity fitting of a death match, and I love the symmetry of Swerve beating Hangman the same Hangman beat Moxley earlier in the year. Again, strap the rocket to Swerve, releasing him was the biggest fumble of recent WWE history."
[10.0] "Adam Page might be the best big match wrestler in the world. There is a genuine case that the two best matches in AEW history both feature him, and the two best AEW matches of 2023 feature him as well. Perfection and a fitting end (I think) to maybe the best feud of 2023."
[4.0] "I wasn't particularly high on this match. It replaced psychology with "high spots" for hardcore fans and the storytelling was very minimal from what I saw. It's a shame because I know this could have been better, but the modern indulgences in this match took away from what should have been a great encounter between these two. For example, drinking someone's blood should only be held back for the most extreme situations. I don't this match qualified for a spot like that. Also, the constant "sick bumps" felt like Tony was playing EWR here. **3/4"
[10.0] "I understand why people don't like it. However, I watch wrestling for the kind of emotion and storytelling this match delivered. You can't find it too often in wrestling these days. The profound hatred in Hangman's heart brought out his inner brutality. Swerve matched it in kind. Excellent, a classic."
[10.0] "Best texas death match of all time and best AEW match in my opinion. It is great seeing AEW succeed where WWE can't and having killer matches like this."
[10.0] "Simply incredible. A bloody horror spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. I understand Death matches are not everyone's tea & if it isn't don't watch it. This match keeps you on the edge and anxious. Hangman & Swerve need to commended for being able to hold the crows and the suspense of the outcome the whole match. Just when you thought they were done destroying each other they started it up again. The DDT on the guardrail was pulled off perfectly, it had to be. Of course the blood shed was full scale and not for the squeamish. Again this match must be seen to be understood but only if you can handle Death Matches."
[10.0] "Just incredible. Nothing else can be said. One of the most innovative hardcore match i've ever saw. This match made Swerve one of the biggest star of the american scene. A truly career-defining moment for both men."
[9.0] "Beautiful. I regret a little the Brian Cage intervention which impeaches me to give 5*, but the right guy won and the match was a bloody mess. What a performance from both."
[10.0] "2023 - Fucking bonkers, they just kept doing more and more wild shit, genuinely jawdropping at times. Hangman should be the ace of this company, Swerve not far behind him. Toying between 4.75 and the full 5. Set in stone top ten match of the year."
[10.0] "This match was many things, but above all else, it was cool. That's a testament to Hangman and Swerve being two of the most confident, talented, charismatic and stage-presence-fueled wrestlers on the planet, while also being really good actors. The blood drinking spot had me reeling, incredibly well done by Page. The highspots went off without a single hitch, insane given they had so much blood flying around. Definitely a top five MOTY."
[10.0] "Name a thing this match didn't do? One of the best American Deathmatches ever, let alone in a major national promotion and on PPV! Sure, it may have been too much for some people but it doesn't change the fact that this was a Texas Deathmatch that delivered on the DEATH in FULL! A match so good it was impossible to follow and should rewrite whatever TK has planned so he can make Swerve the next champ. There is a minimum of 7 oh shit moments in the match!"
[10.0] "WHAT IN THE F*CKING H*LL DID I JUST WATCH? ! ? ! This was not a wrestling match. It wasn't a technical masterpiece. It wasn't a Strong Style match. It wasn't an acrobatic spot-fest. This was war. This was brutality. It was sadistic, mind-numbing, and violent, but it was a match that was necessary for two men who hate each other with a passion. From staples to blood drinking to barbed wire to sugar glass to Strickland hanging the "Hangman", this was as brutal as it gets. The only thing I didn't like was the Cage interference, but it didn't drag on and Brian was taken out quickly after doing his thing. Overall, this is arguably the greatest DeathMatch I have ever seen and a 2023 MOTYC. *****/***** stars"
[10.0] "This might be my MOTY, complete hatred from both guys culminating in a BLOOD feud that felt vitriolic. the drinking blood spot was disgusting in all the right ways. swerve stapling himself was so fucking cool. could go on and on about the absurd spots in this match and how much it elevated both guys. swerve is THE GUY in this company theres no debate anymore. 5 full stars"
"Für mich persönlich das allerbeste AEW Deathmatch, was jemals seit Start der Company produziert wurde. Props an Hangman und Swerve, das war wirklich stark und hat mich emotional abgeholt!"
[7.0] "The heated start made sense, and they elevated the danger well, but there was really nothing in this that was unique. Nothing that hadn't already been done with Moxley, Danielson, or Omega The reason I love Hangman vs. Mox is because it was unique. Special. This felt like it was trying to replicate that instead of being it's own thing. The facial expressions of both men were sick, though."
[10.0] "Simply two of pro wrestlings greatest stars today completely breaking this feud down into primal, violent competition in AEWs most hardcore match to date. Not everyone will understand it, but there is incredible drama in how far two wrestlers will go to tell a story of transformation, to out-endure each other, and to move an audience."
[10.0] "Hangman Page spitting out a mist of Swerves blood was the modern equivalent of Jerry Lynn writing 'DIE' across his chest in blood. Never before has a Texas Deathmatch in AEW had this level of danger - and this match should not be a standard to be met, but rather an exception for two of the best wrestlers in the company, who are very familiar with doing dangerous matches as safely as possible. Easily the match of the night, maybe one of the matches of the year - but one I don't want to rewatch anytime soon."
[5.0] "I hated this, found almost the entirety of it blood curling and at every stage wished it would be over soon. Out of the many moments in it that were thoroughly sickening, that move on Prince Nana through the table could have broken his neck and probably nearly did. When two people go to these lengths to entertain people it seems unappreciative to give it a low rating but I don't want to encourage anything like this happening again (insofar as my vote has any power to affect anything). The worry for me is that with this now established as the benchmark for deathmatch savagery, it is only a matter of time before someone tries to top it."
[10.0] "Unfassbar brutales Death Match im Mainstream Wrestling, im Mainstream sicherlich das brutalste Match des Jahres. Ich hatte viele Szenen, die schon beim Anschauen weh taten aber wenn die beiden das machen wollen, sollen sie, denn das war schon ziemlich fantastisch. Brauche ich jetzt nicht jeden PPV aber vereinzelt geht das mal klar. Super intensiv von der ersten Sekunde an mit richtig harten Bumps und einem verdienten Sieger, der jetzt hoffentlich Jagd auf den World Title macht."
[9.0] "An incredibly violent and shocking death match which will undoubtedly go down in infamy as it ages. Hangman Page drinking Swerve's blood is probably the most disturbing thing I've ever seen in a ring in 25 years watching pro wrestling but it somehow befitted a feud where the other man went so far that he pushed his opponent to insanity. Swerve's facial expressions in this match were absolutely incredible and he did a great job in telling his story from being taken aback by Hangman's initial violence, including with the staple gun, to becoming determined to fight back and seemingly, even enjoying the pain. There were some risky spots in this match and none moreso than the piledriver on the barrier - I can see the point of people who say that part was unnecessary. At times this was a hard watch but equally, I could not take my eyes off it. Swerve will benefit massively from this win as a sick, twisted heel willing to go to any lengths to win. I'd love to see Swerve dethrone MJF in the new year."
[10.0] "Excellent match, Swerve is on his way to the top. Aggressive, physical match and at least we saw a lot of things we havent seen before, really creative and it felt like a real personal feud. They really elevated their feud and their characters with this bloody match."
[10.0] "this match was perfect , it surpassed the meaning of wrestling itself , the whole match i was like im watching two man really kill each other , didn't feel like a wrestling match , every second of had a purpose , the cage stuff was not needed but it didn't make my feeling go away so imo the match is like 9.98 so in here i will give it 10"
[10.0] "Words cannot express how beautiful this match was. Unlike other deathmatches that tend to lack story elements, this one had everything - it excelled in all areas and made me believe these men really wanted to beat the living sh*t out of each other, which they did. I didn't need the Brian Cage interference, but aside from that this is a match of the year contender and makes me proud to be a wrestling fan. Please do yourself a favor and watch this match, that wasn't just some Cowboy Sh*t, but that was some Outlaw Sh*t - and the Hangman activated Killshot during that match. I'm still replaying that match in my head."
[10.0] "This was the best hardcore match in AEW history, and - maybe - one of the best hardcore matches of all-time. When both wrestlers retire, this match will undoubtedly be mentioned as illustrative of their in-ring legacy and overall influence on the era. Inside the context of current AEW programming, it's also a star-marking performance for Swerve. I'd argue he's already a star, but I know there are skeptics out there. This is the kind of match that's so good (and filled with incredible, one-of-a-kind spots) that you can honestly say both wrestlers "won." The both were presented like absolute warriors, and they'll always have credibility/believability in the hardcore context because of this match (though I'd note that Hangman's previous hardcore matches against guys like Lance Archer and Mox were incredible too -- they just didn't hit this level). Like others, I didn't love the Brian Cage interference interlude, but it's something that only barely diminished my enjoyment of the match."
[10.0] "This was special. From two absolute megastars in AEW putting on one of (if not the most) brutal deathmatches Ive ever seen on television. AEW are fools if they dont put the belt on Swerve by summer next year, and finally Hangman is getting back to his old Anxious Millennial Cowboy that kicks so much ass. Hoping we get another epic Hangman singles run as hes probably one of my favourite wrestlers going today. Swerve is just on another level entirely, he can cut a scathing promo, has boatloads of charisma and is a fantastic wrestler. Hes just the total package."
[10.0] "The match was excessive and there are honestly a lot of things I could nitpick but sometimes you just have to give the guys their due. Unreal atmosphere, visuals and most importantly blood. Uncomfortable to watch at times but also entirely captivating. Went a bit too long and had a few too many twists but still the feeling of the match was never lost and this feud has quickly become one of the best in AEW history. Also bonus points for having the guts to give Swerve the W and have him go up 2-0, here's hoping the title is next"
[10.0] "Also very good. They cut all the bad things from their WrestleDream match and commited to the spectacle of the deathmatch, real feel of danger with unhinged use of wire, great visuals, great escalation of sadism and masochism as feelings and adrenaline got high, but eventually Swerve was the most strategic one and thus able to win. Hangman tried to hurt and torture Swerve, Swerve came to win a war by any means necessary. Of course, the gimmicked cinder block is ridiculous and was a mistake. Kept going way after its peak but still excellent. Third best match of the show somehow."
[10.0] "Another Hangman Page masterpiece. I literally jumped out of the sofa when I saw him drinking Swerve's blood. That's a spot that will be remembered for decades and it will be forever associated with AEW. Excellent match. The best Texas Death Match that AEW has produced."
[10.0] "This match was just nuts. It started at 100mph as Hangman couldn't wait to do his entrance. You really felt like these two men absolutely hate each other, which is how it should be for the feud that was shown. On top of all that, they did some really difficult spots with ease. The 450 was super smooth and the fallaway slam on the top rope through the barbed wire board was just perfect. Even the beautiful accident of Hangman getting a rogue barbed wire in the face whilst he was on the turnbuckle was a little cherry on top. Easy five stars minimum."
[10.0] "Had this just ended with Hangman victorious before the Nana interference, this would have arguably been the best match of the year. But the Brian Cage run-in was completely unnecessarily and superfluous, and it made the match drag four minutes longer than its peak, leading to a more underwhelming finish than the one they already had in the palm of their hands. All that said, this was still obviously a fantastic deathmatch, perhaps the best one ever on American soil. ****3/4"
[10.0] "They gave absolutely everything in his match. A real star-making performance for Swerve and it should push him right to the top and ready to challenge for any title he wants."
"These guys gave it 200%.. the audience was on their feet the entire time in shock and awe..Swerve being 2-0 in this feud just catapulted him into main event status, he cant be denied.. This was the real main event, you could honestly turn it off after this insane spectacle..A match you can actually show a non wrestling fan / casual .. 10/10"
[10.0] "The only thing on this show worth going out of your way to see. Instant classic for sure. Page is still The Guy and Swerve has raised his own stock in spite of some shitty booking."
[9.0] "This match is definitely up there for me in terms of absolute classics. Great build going in followed by a perfect match that fit the emotional feud. Swerve looked like a menace stapling himself and hangman drinking his blood then spitting it out those images are insane. My only downside from giving it a ten was Brian Cage running down I dont think the match needed that, but it was too bad."
[10.0] "Putain c'était génial ! Le seul problème c'est l'intervention de Brian Cage... Mais à part ça qu'est-ce que c'était bon, sans déconner le sang ça ajoute tellement au catch. Rien que la gueule de Swerve ensanglanté c'est 10 sur 10. J'aurais encore pu bouffer 1h de ça."
[10.0] "You can find other deathmatches with sicker spots. You can find other deathmatches with more dangerous feats. I know because I've seen them myself. Somehow though, this still FELT like the most violent match I've ever seen in my life. They almost lost me near the end with the interference, and Nana being a silly little goofball - but everything about this felt incredible. A true experience to watch live with so many. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to see a match between two people who just want to BEAT THE HELL out of each other."
[9.0] "Finally, a proper Texas Death match in AEW. This was bloody af, like a horror movie and intense as a wrecking car accident. Both man looked like absolute psychos in this match, Hangman drinking blood directly from Swerves face and Swerve stapling his chest just for the fun. I kinda hated how Cage just entered the match randomly but anyways, this was a blast"
[10.0] "This is what HATRED looks like. It is what WAR looks like. Swerve Strickland has become a STAR and Hangman Page is unequivocally HIM for AEW. These two men did things you could only dream of, moments that will never leave my brain. Hangman drinking another man's blood is so visceral and insane, and Swerve gushing blood the entire match is jaw dropping. Not to mention 450ing onto glass on another man's back. This is AEW's match of the year, and Hangman might just also have the second one against Moxley. *****"
"Both wrestlers came out of this extremely strong, and I absolutely cannot wait for the eventual 3rd match, a feeling I dont feel a lot these days. Tony has hit a Grand slam with this one."
[10.0] "while previous texas deathmatches have been violent, this one was the best one so far in AEW, possibly of all time. this was definitely match of the night, and I can't wait to see what swerve does after this. he should be challenging for the world championship after this brutal showing"
[10.0] "Swerve vs Hangman 2 is the epitome of a deathmatch; I just hope nobody ups the ante for the next decade or so. This bout is, by far, the most brutal, intense, gory, and uncomfortable match I have ever seen. And unlike a bad slicker flick, all of those characteristics are elevated to insane heights by the emotional story and top-notch psychology between the two wrestlers throughout. Straight away from the staple gun all the way to the hanging, the match was fast-paced with loads of different peaks with the slight knock for Nick Cage's negligent run-in. This is a match I will not soon forget, and likewise for Swerve and Hangman's bodies. I look forward to seeing how this elevates Swerve and how Hangman's character will deal with consecutive losses. Easy 10"
[9.0] "Ich habe gestern schon ein Match gesehen da gab es Blut und das war auch heftig aber das hier war klar heftiger. Das hier ist mein Match of the Night und eins der besten Texas Death Matches welche ich bis jetzt gesehen habe (****1/2)."
[10.0] "This is probably the best hardcore/deathmatch ever. It's matches like this that should be seen as examples, as benchmarks. Only nitpick I have was the Brian Cage interference, but it was still ELITE (no pun intended). *****1/4 (5.25)"
[10.0] "OH MY GAWD. This is my new favorite match, and its not even close. Swerve and Hangman painted on a canvas of beautiful violence here, and the result is a veritable Mona Lisa for the modern wrestling viewer. The staple spot with Swerve looking like Lesnar shrugging off the damage was among the first indicators that this match would be special. Its hard to believe that an elementary school teacher would (or could) be capable of dishing out this level of violent punishment, but when a family is on the line who knows? Hangman delivered and made Swerve look like a fully loaded bank vault, but Swerve sold very well for Hanger, truly class moves from each of them. Overall, easily my Match of the Year for 2023, and probably my new favorite match of all time. Everything was amazingly well executed and grounded in reason with pure hatred (even though Im sure they love each other backstage.)"
"This match was phenomenal. Adam Page and Swerve Strickland both did their thing. From Adam drinking Swerve's blood to Swerve wrapping barbed wire around Adam's face, it was all so brutal. This match had so many spots that made me cringe in pain, such as the 450 splash onto the broken glass; I felt that in my stomach. This legit felt like they were to trying to kill each other. The only nitpick I have with this match was the Cage interference, but that doesn't really change my opinion on this match. 10/10."
[10.0] "This is the best death match of all time. The utter carnage and disgusting nature of this beast immediately elevated this show from being an average show to a must-see event. They just about killed each other, which is exactly what you want from a (probable) end to a blood feud. A perfect example of a red hot story paid off in blood in the most exquisite way. 5.5 stars at minimum!"
"Best damn death match in AEW history, Before the match, I was hoping for Swerve to win and he won, I'm him perfomance by Swerve and he deserve AEW World Championship title shot in 2024"
[10.0] "It was the very best death match I've ever seen the intensity, brutality, storytelling, extreme moves all want from a death match was there definitely 10 out of 10 *****"
[10.0] "Hangman Page vs Swerve Strickland will go down as one of the best and most important matches in AEW and modern wrestling. Extreme ultraviolence in a manner that hadn't been seen in a major promotion since the Attitude Era. Hangman and Swerve bled like they were both Shawn Michaels and it was Survivor Series 2003. They brawled and battered each other in a manner that would put some of the most brutal and bloody classic wrestling matches to shame. While yes, the end did drag a bit with the interference, there is no doubt that you could feel the gravitas and importance of this bout. An all-timer, and a heavy MOTY candidate for me and I hope this propels Swerve to new heights."
[10.0] "AEW isn't done with producing MOTY contenders in 2023. The best deathmatch I've ever seen and the match of the year, period. I knew Swerve was capable of taking insane bumps after his match with Fox in LU, but he took things to a higher level. Page was also unbelievable. Beyond belief amazing match"
[10.0] "Probably the best death match on a major pro wrestling show ever. Swerve being a monster of a human and showing he is the supervillain of the company and Hangman refusing to give up and to fight for his family after the house visit by Swerve. Must watch but maybe dont watch while eating anything. Yikes."
[10.0] "For my money, this was the best match in AEW history from start to finish. Not only the best AEW match of all time, but among the best and most legendary matches in wrestling history quite honestly. This generations version of Taker/Foley in the cell, both men deserve to be remembered for decades to come for a match like this."
[10.0] "Hangman might just be AEW *king of Texas Death matchs. Swerve is a made man now & Hangman is the man! 5 stars *Hangman going full vampire mode is somthing I'll never forget. Moxley would be proud."
[10.0] "I know some spots will be divisive and wouldn't like them repeated, at least not for a good few years but as it stands as a one off, this was one of the few recent matches where it looked heat, a proper grudge match stemming from a hot feud between two elite workers. Following this I would absolutely have Swerve in the top spot (imagine Swerve vs Ospreay at All In 2024)."
[10.0] "Incredible match, they were trying the whole match to try and one up each other with savagery. They used a home invasion angle for this feud and for once it showed in the match, they genuinely looked like they wanted to kill each other. An incredible death match in America, arguably one of the best ever even with recency bias. This type of match isn't for everyone, but for the feud they built, this is the only believable match you could have after threatening another mans baby in his own house. 5* 10/10"
[10.0] "Wow, I mean just... wow. I think we all knew this match was going to rule but did we know it would rule THIS hard? This succeeded on an astounding level. Not for the faint of heart, to be sure, this was an exceptionally brutal match. It's hard to match the visceral feeling of Hangman literally drinking Strickland's blood then spitting it out in a reddish mist. These two truly fulfilled every possibility of a gritty, gutsy grudge match and achieved what I think may be the best match of the year and one of the best matches ever in AEW. I think more than ever that Strickland should be the one to unseat MJF as champion. WOW, what a match!"
[8.0] "This right here is exactly what I want from my big time feuds in American wrestling. Just an absolute fight, I suspect I would have gone higher if I did not know result. Only thing they did not land was the finish. It should have been the cinder block knock out."
[10.0] "One of the easiest 5*, 10/10, whatever you want to call it ratings Ive ever given a match. I will never forget the most brutal/bloody combat match (predetermined or not) I have ever seen. Both guys are absolute stars and should be the real pillars that AEW is built on."
[10.0] "Beautiful F'n Bloodbath - great and epic way to close out this personal feud. Best match of the whole damn night by a long shot. Time to give Swerve some gold, this man is ready and deserves it all"
[10.0] "Brutal. Primal. Unhinged. Hangman Page drank this mans blood about 2 minutes in and it somehow only escalated from there. One of the best deathmatches of the modern age. One of the best matches in AEW history. This match is instantly a classic."
[9.0] "Yes, Adam is definitely the king of this type of match. But how good Swerve was. It wasn't wrestling, you can forget about it here. It was good old-fashioned violence, and at times insane. And its not to say that there was some huge variety of objects and the like. They were given barbed wire and for about 15 minutes they showed how not to handle it. It was scary to look at Swerve literally 5 minutes after the gong, because he clearly went too far with blading. But how cool it looked. The spot with the glass was simply broken, and the level of danger here was more off the charts for Strickland himself than for his opponent. I was very upset by Cages intervention, which seems to make sense, but if he came out, then why didnt the rest of the group come out? As for me, none of the extra people were needed here. This is a personal story for these two guys that they had to finish themselves. But Rubilovo is still notable."
[9.0] "This was fucking great it was the most outlaw mudshow match possible and i loved every minute of it there were so many brutal spots but non of them come close to the barbed wire from the chair literally fish-hooking Hangmans face it was brutal. Hangman drinking Stricklands blood at the beginning of the match was also one of the most simple but disgusting things they could have done. Strickland was amazing in this match he got really great color at the start of the match and it stayed on his face till the end which added to the visual aspect of the match. A couple things that dragged down the match for me was Swerve stapling himself and not selling it i thought that was just a dumb spot after how much he sold the staple gun in the beginning of the match and the other thing that bothered me was Nana dancing before getting put through the table it was just an unnecessary thing that made it look phony. Other than that everything was great for me. Hangmans performance was great as always when hes in a big one on one match and i think this was slightly better than the Texas death match he had with Mox at Revolution this year. This will definitely be high on my MOTY list ****1/2 for me"
"This match was one of the best death matches I have ever seen. This match transcended wrestling and Swerve and Hangman just wanted to murder each other. Every moment in this match was an escalation with the exception of Brian Cage's interference which I did not mind, I just found it mildly unnecessary, in the first 5 minutes, Hangman blindsides Swerve, staples his daughters drawing onto Swerve, Hangman casually drinking Swerve Strickland's blood (which made me horrified but like in a good way) they started this match in third gear, and within 5 minutes it was on its fifth gear. They also presented Swerve as a demon, him starting no sell the stapling and then starting to staple himself was terrifying, Swerve was bleeding a whole hell of a lot 5 minutes in, which only added to his aura during the match and his aura heading into future programs. The hanging spot was godly and so shocking and sadistic and it was great, Swerve is THAT GUY, push him to the moon. I also was convinced this match would end like so many times, the spot of Hangman doing the buckshot with barbed wire around Swerve's head then Nana pulling him out and Swerve is still dead? Magnifique. This was match of the night and I loved it so much. Prince Nana outshining paid dancers made my year, Nana is so good at what he does, him and Swerve's dynamic is holy. So easily it can derail a serious guy with some goofball dancing around him, but Swerve and Nana made it work, and they compliment each other so well."
[10.0] "This match was one of my most anticipated, and, boy, did it deliver. a True fight between main eventers, and one that told an amazing story without over the top segments or mediocre promos, this instead gave me the feeling of many of the blood feuds I've read about, both from the territory era and from Japanese pro wrestling. Swerve and Hangman are destined to do this forever, but, in this moment, I just want to celebrate the greatness that was this match, in the moment. They captured lightning in a bottle, and I'd love to see this feud elevated to the world title, preferably with Swerve capturing his first major promotional world championship in his career."
[10.0] "Yeah this was violent, brutal, downright disgusting at times but i loved it. Swerve's a star give him a main event push. I'm also usually not one for these types of matches but i gotta say i thought this was the best death match in years."
[10.0] "Was für eine brutale Schlacht. Mehr Blut als im Schlachthof, Adam trank sogar davon. Die Aktion mit den Tacker war auch so krank! Aber auch sonst von der Promo im Kinderzimmer über Einzugsmusik mit Nanas Tanz bis zum eigentlichen Match was überragend war. Absolut sehenswert und für das MOTY."
[2.0] "AEW's idea of a no holds barred grudge match is just to hit each other with as many moves as possible without keeping any psychology present. There were dozens of moves that would have ended any other match, but who cares about the psychology when you have so many spots planned. It's supposed to be the feud ending culmination with the face having enough of the heel's bollocks with the crowd behind him, but instead every single spot gets a pop, no matter if the heel or the face does it. Then Brian Cage decides to chime in like he couldn't do that way earlier and the finish is obviously the least impressive spot out of all. I only give it 2 stars instead of 1 because Swerve is phenomenal with his facial expressions and body language, but unfortunately he has no idea how to use them properly."
"I don't get how people are rating this a 10. Hangman just isn't any good. Swerve totally pulled this from a good to great. No way it gets a 10 from me though."
[10.0] "I'm speechless here. I've never seen anything like this. It was disgusting, horrific, hyper violent, completely over the top, and it just kept going... Yet I couldn't look away. I can't believe the amount of abuse these two put themselves through here. Time to strap a rocket to Swerve and see how far he can go. Damn. *****"
[9.0] "I wish Cage hadn't got involved and Swerve could have gotten a slightly cleaner win, but this match was amazing. I know it's not for everybody, but I love the really absurd Lucha Underground style deathmatches, and both guys executed it perfectly"
[10.0] "The thing about bloody brutal messed up death matches... is that I can completely live without them. I dont need them, I dont look for them or want them really. But when they happen they are always profound and outstanding. Death matches dont happen to shock or scare people. Death matches dont exist to screw with your brain or emotions. They happen the same reason any kind of wrestling match happens. Wrestlers are psychotic thrill junkies and they want to put on a fucking hell of a SHOW for the people. They want you to go home with memories BURNED INTO YOUR BRAIN. Its not about shock or trauma. They want to do something crazy and memorable. and that is what any Hangman deathmatch is and Swerve Strickland just explained to people why he deserves to be a world champion by the end of 2024. If all the blood grosses you out thats fine, but there's not thing wrong with it, they want to do it, they put their bodies on the line for it and I will always respect people who do death matches even if they shouldnt exist, but they do, so just enjoy it."
[10.0] "This is the greatest texas deathmatch of all time. I had never seen anything like this. everything about this match was just brutal and there was so many times where i thought hangman would win and the match was over but it just kept going. Swerve really proved himself as a world title contender after this match and i hope hes gets the title in 2024.In the opening, page just stapling swerve over and over again was brutal and then drinking swerves blood. moty contender for sure and one of the best ever in aew."
[10.0] "I sat here trying to justify reasons why a death match couldnt be a 10, but theres no way this match could be anything but a 10. I dont love death matches, as I feel the wrestling in them can often be pretty lackluster, but this match achieved both. It was the perfect blend of gore, and legitimate wrestling. Hangman bumping on the cinder block was insane. The moonsault with the barbed wire chair was crazy, hangman hitting the buckshot with wire wrapped around Swerves neck was absolutely shocking, and best of all the imagery of Swerve literally hanging the hangman. This match was perfect, achieved exactly what it needed to achieve, and in my opinion is most likely the best American death match of all time."
[10.0] "If your into violent death match style matches, this has been by far the best one in quite some time. I can understand why people would absolutely hate this if it weren't their cup of tea. The sheer amount of blood and insanity was unreal for this match."
[10.0] "I wish CageMatch would allow you a certain number of votes per year where you can rate a match above a 10. Because, in my own personal ratings that I share on social media, out of a possible 5 stars I rated this match a 6. It will be a match I'll always remember."
[10.0] "The greatest Texas Deathmatch I've ever seen. This was so incredibly good, I can barely put it into words. Each spot was more brutal than the next. They really sold the pure hatred for each other. Could have done without the interference from Cage, but either way, easily one of the best matches of the year. Better than Hangman vs Mox and up there with both Will and Kenny matches, depending on your preference. I was convinced Hangman was winning, but Swerve just solidified himself as a future champ. Him taking the belt off MJF is a matter of when, not if."
[7.0] "I hate death match wrestling. It's not my cup of tea at all. Though I found it difficult to take my eyes off this match, and as much as I tried convincing myself that it was stupid, I actually started enjoying the match. It was gory. Violent. And probably the most I've ever been sucked into a wrestling match."
[10.0] "One of the most intense and violent matches I have ever seen. A great buildup to this grudge match too. Page was brutal in the first few minutes, constantly stapling Swerve and even drinking his blood. Cage interfering was a bit unnecessary. The feel of this match was unique and unlike anything I have seen before."
[10.0] "I don't think words I type can make this match justice. I'm truly astonished by what these men went out there and did. When I saw Swerve stapling himself and laughing while bloodied up I knew this was going to be other worldly. It's the best Deathmatch ever on American soil and could even be my MOTY, I'm still debating but it's atleast Top 3. Unbelievable, please do yourself a favor and watch this if you haven't. *****"
"10 - An ultraviolet spectacle that was one of the 5-10 best matches of 2023. Incredible intensity throughout with new and innovative spots. Swerve stepped up and made himself a main event player with this performance. One of the best matches of both Swerve and Hangman's careers."
[10.0] "THIS. WAS. A. WAR. Brutal in every sense of the world and perhaps the most AEW match even been near to be a legit Deathmatch. The beginning was literally perfect and every spot like the Sit Out Pilerdriver on the barricades, the Apron Death Valley Driver on the cinder block and all the Barbed wire bumps were violent as hell. The people that wrote "this is not for children/this is not wrestling and it's disgusting" or even that "this is a shame on the entire North American wresling " to justify 0/1/2 are... weird. *****"
[10.0] "This match is for the sickos, and something you show to people who doesn't watch wrestling to get visceral reactions out of them. The storytelling was on point, every aspect of this clicked and the brutality was unmatched. Nothing in AEW, or in a mainstream North American promotion has come close to the level of violence here on display. It was carnage, and at moments it genuinely felt like both men were trying to legitimately hurt each other. The blood drinking will go down in history as a shocking and memorable moment, and the winner was absolutely right. I hope this solidifies Swerve as a main eventer and next in line for the World Championship. After what MJF showed today, the vision is clear: he gave us all timers, but his time is up."
[10.0] "This Match solidified Swerve Strickland's destiny in All Elite Wrestling, definitely made him in front of everyone's eyes a Main Eventer. One of the absolute best Hardcore Matches ever made on TV, a battle between two people who hated each other from the bottom of their hearts and who wanted not only to win, but to destroy their opponent in everything. Candidate for MOTY and definitely MOTN."
[10.0] "This was not a match but a real battle. The battle for life. Best hardcore match in AEW. Perfect match. I am so happy for Swerve and his booking. Tony finally saw what a talent he was."
[0.0] "The garbagiest match of all garbage matches. The fact that it's happened in top 2 promotion of the world is ridiculous. The worst match I've ever seen. My opinion about Page was already bad, but after this match I lost a lot of respect for Strickland as a wrestler. 30 minutes of barbaric garbage deathmatch spotfest with the most disguising spots with constant no selling one after another. This 30 minutes felt like a one hour, the worst one hour I could remember of wrestling in my life. Everybody who associated with that match shouldn't be in pro-wrestling. The fact that TK let this match happen says a lot about him as a booker. In my opinion this match can damage not only reputation of AEW as a company, but whole american pro-wrestling. Back in the days I saw a lot of deathmatches, but this match is absolute embarrassment to wrestling. This match gave me more negative emotions even then Hardbody's dick spot, that's something worth thinking about. The cherry on the cake is the marks in the arena who chanted shit like a "this is awesome", "fight forever" and "we want fire". Even announcers sounded ashamed of this match. By the end of it i was kinda shocked that everybody survived that mess. This is my honest 0 points on this website. P.S. I don't have any personal problems with Strickland, Page or fans in the arena, I was writing only about what they brings to pro-wrestling show."
[9.0] "I can't help but compare this match to another sleeper, middle of the card MOTY candidate from 2023 - Starks vs Danielson at All Out. There were high expectations for both matches (though perhaps expectations were higher for Swerve/Hangman), but nobody could've predicted the masterpiece that was to come. Whereas Starks/Danielson was more psychologically brutal (focusing on the use of a sole weapon and mental endurance), Swerve/Hangman was an out and out bloodbath. I guess it depends what kind of wrestling you prefer as to which match you preferred. The jury is out for me - though I'm leaning towards the strap match for only one reason (which I'll get to later). Both matches were fantastic in different ways and I think both will rank high in my MOTY list once the year comes to an end. My only complaint was Brian Cage. The match didn't a run-in at all and I don't think it influenced the result enough to justify the interference. Personally, I thought it was overkill and ruined what would've been a PERFECT wrestling match otherwise - also the only reason I'm going 9/10 instead of the full 10/10. The visual of Hangman drinking Swerve's blood will live on forever. Unbelievable."
[10.0] "I was planning on watching some of the other stuff on this show, but after watching this? I can't do it. No way anything could compare to what these two crazy motherfuckers just did. Hangman & Swerve just kept on upping the violence levels as the match progressed - and by the end, it looked like a crime scene. Absolutely bonkers. Beautiful."
[10.0] "Without a doubt the most gory and violent match I've seen from a North American company. The storyline was brilliantly done beforehand and It gave the match the perfect reason for both guys to get their aggression out. The best Death Match I've ever seen."
[10.0] "I cant say a bad thing about this match. It was that good, simple as that. If you like wrestling there is a great chance that you are going to enjoy this match. Maybe can be too violent for some people and thats fair, because it was without a doubt one of the most violent and crazy matches in AEW short history, but everything on this match was fantastic. Both wrestlers are 2 of the best in the world and the future of the company. Carrer defining match if you ask me...just fantastic stuff."
[10.0] "One of the sickest death matches on big spotlight ever. Another incredible bout between these two - even if I'm not a fan of Hangman's persona, this kind of stipulations fits to him incredibly well. Hype on Swerve is underway, his all-rounder talent to truly entertain people is absolutely outstanding. Match of the night and probably in top 5 of AEW's bouts in 2023."
[10.0] "Unreal match. Man, what a hell of a year it has been for pro wrestling. So many MOTY contenders, and this is one of them. These guys seemed as if they were, quite literally, trying to kill each other. This match is one of the best examples of a blood feud. Anger, malice, pure brutality. If you give this match anything below 8, maybe you need to find another hobby. (*****)"
"[10.0]I was there and witnessed this murder live. It's a spectacular showing of who could bleed more and it was beautiful. Watching the prince going through a table was what we all wanted to see. They delivered a hella of a Texas Death match. 10/10. Blood. Every. Where. Swerves House all day."
[10.0] "This match had me the edge of my seat.this match was truly hard to watch at times and i personaly am not the biggest death match fan in the world but this type of feud realy justifies all the blood and violence here.page drinking the blood of swerve is an image i wont forget in wrestling.would have peefered the match with no inteference tho thats just nitpicking.swerve won and we established a new star in the process.swerve also won by hanging the hangman and beat hangman in his match speciality which surely should lead to swerve getting the world title next"
[10.0] "I was on the edge of my seat throughout this incredible match hands down, one of the most captivating experiences I've ever had watching wrestling. The dynamic storytelling between Adam and Swerve in this Extreme match was nothing short of mind-blowing. Words can't quite capture the intensity and surreal feeling I experienced witnessing it live on PPV. Swerve undeniably showcased main event caliber, and in my heart, this match embodied the true essence of AEW that's the spirit that keeps me hooked!"
[7.0] "An incredibly nasty match based primarily around inflicting puncture wounds on each other, which definitely won't be to everyone's taste. Call me old fashioned, but I would have liked to have seen more in the way of fired-up fisticuffs and down & dirty unhinged brawling. Crowd was there for the stunt show, though, and seemed to be rooting for the villain of the piece, which is something of a booking fail. They also wanted to see one of these guys risk getting seriously burned, which makes me fear for the dudes who try to top this ***1/2"
[10.0] "This match was so good that I'm tempted to completely ignore the elephant in the room that'd make me a hypocrite - I normally hate interference finishes, and I should by default be docking points for the Brian Cage interference - and just straight up call this a MOTD contender. Swerve looked absolutely 1000% ready for the main event, and I personally want to see him be THE guy to beat MJF for that title. He is ready. Hangman did everything in his power to make him look like a million bucks. Even though it had that potential to unravel due to the overbooked ending, I guess it was necessary to protect Page. If I completely ignore that, this is an easy 5 star match, one of the most brutal I've seen all year, and even stronger than the Mox match with Page. *****"
[10.0] "This match was so good that even though i despised the Cage interference spot I will still give this top marks. The pacing was methodical but relentless in its violence. Every time Hangman stapled Swerve it felt raw, and then culminated in first the drawing to the face, but eventually Swerve going full mental and repeatedly stapling himself. This was just the beginning to amazing uses of barbed wire, chairs, glass, and tables, all used flawlessly and with increasing violence. Interested to see where this goes, as the heel/face dynamic of this should be very clear, but becomes increasingly muddied as Swerve's star rises. Hangman again feels like the main character he should be, even in defeat. Imagine ever dimming this man's star power potential in favor of anyone else..."
[9.0] "a lot of bullsh*t and it's pretty fun. A little overbooked with that Brian Cage run-in at the end but it did set up the ending well. The right man won too. that 450 and JML driver on the glass give me kill-shot vibes. Swerve feel so much better than hangman and he really overcame the abversity, the plot armor of Hangman. I don't mind the blood but neither did the blood-drinking spot please me, it was screwed up. Really nothing more here, felt big time and delivered, match of the night by a mile."
[10.0] "A masterclass in how to effectively do hardcore/deathmatch wrestling. Swerve looked like a million bucks and Page did not come out of this looking weak at all. A match that elevated both with spots that just kept bringing the hits. I loved the violence. The crowd was hot throughout. The match was MAGIC from bell to bell. Its impossible to have a bad time watching this. Its a proper deathwatch epic and I didn't even know such a thing could even exist! This was Swerve's coming out party as a main event player."
[10.0] "I am still so disappointed in this company. At all levels I am just not enjoying it as much as I want or thought I would previously. Theres a new issue I or the IWC seems to have every week that makes this stuff less fun. The magic these two men can still make DESPITE all other issues and misgivings these shows have is great. Even their own program wasnt the hottest at times but when the bell rings, they make the best of what they got. The two singles matches these two have show the spark of what I loved about this promotion and while it isnt as prominent a feeling as we once had, it is still seemingly not dead. Dont let this distract from the fact Ric Flair has a contract in this company and should absolutely not have been given the opportunity. Let the old pest die at home. Fuck his energy drink. Return the feeling with stuff like this match."
[10.0] "The first 5-10 minutes of this match made me feel something I've never felt watching live wrestling. No matter what I think about how this had like 2 or 3 too many false finishes and didn't need Cage to be involved at all, there is something special about the first third of this match that no deathmatch of any kind has ever pulled off. Page drinking Swerve's blood as it dripped out of his skull, stapling his child's art to Swerve's face, Swerve's adrenaline kicking in and making him shrug off the staple gun, there is nothing like that. But yes, there were a couple of moments where I thought "this really needs to be the finish" and it wasn't, and Cage running in really killed the atmosphere of this being a grudge match for a moment when Nana getting Dead Eye'd was all they needed to do to get Hangman's focus diverted. But in the end, this match MADE Swerve Strickland (loved that he replicated the chain hanging finish but without getting a tap from it) and pulled out that hunger from Hangman that I think we all wanted to see again. I can't give this a full 5 stars for being too drawn out in the final act (ESPECIALLY Cage, his run-in risked completely ruining this), but holy shit, this is a match that needs to be seen (unless you're squeamish about blood, in which case avoid at all costs). ****3/4+"
[7.0] "The decision to have Brian Cage interfere in a grudge blood feud death match is SO STUPID it's unreal. I am NOT the only person that feels this way and I can't begin to think who believed that was a good idea. I immediately cringed and looked away from the screen because I knew they just ruined one of the best hardcore matches that has ever occurred on American television. Sadly, they did in fact do just that. Brian Cage runs in and lays out Hangman with a bunch of power moves and sucks the wind out of the arena (everyone in the building was standing the entire match). Hangman fights back and the match continues for another minute or so, ends with a worked brick shot to the back of the head and Swerve hangs Page with a chain around the corner post, but the damage of the cringe interference was done. Completely unnecessary decision, it doesn't protect Hangman, it doesn't help Swerve, it doesn't help Cage. It just hurts the spectacle and ultimately cheapens the impact of the finish immensely. Personally I do not understand the reasoning behind making Hangman Page lose his signature match after losing to Swerve at the previous PPV, there are some very interesting decisions going on in AEW in a time when they desperately need to turn business around. Swerve could have had his Stone Cold Steve Austin moment where he looks like the absolute toughest SOB in the world in defeat. Winning the match after interference is NOT the Stone Cold moment that Swerve was capturing."
[9.0] "This was absolutely outstanding. This should be the definition of a grudge match. This was some of the most sickening violence you're ever gonna see, but not just in a mindless deathmatch trope kind of way. It was in the frame of a great match. The only negative I can come up with is that it may have overstayed it's welcome a little bit and that the heel who broke into the babyface's child's room came up victorious and that I don't know where they could possibly go from here because topping this match will be close to impossible. But this can't be the closure of the story either. What can the babyface Hangman possibly do from here? That's a great problem to have though."
[10.0] "Violent as hell and a perfect chapter in the Swerve/Hangman saga, which is oddly enough, AEW's most believable and intriguing storyline. It's built off pure hatred and intensity, just like wrestling should be, and I think there isn't enough of that going around in the ring anymore. I'm not a fan of the cartoonified hardcore matches prevalent across both major companies, and treating this type of match like a brutal exihibition in violence wrapped up in traditional psychology is absolutely the way to go about it. Not Ibushi riding on a bike or Kevin Owens teleporting a hockey jersey onto his body. Loved every minute of this, and I didn't want it to end. Definitely a match that'll be remembered for a long time. The staplegun, the blood drinking, the chair wrapped in barbed wire, Hangman's constant comebacks and nearfalls. Only flaw was Cage's pointless interference, which didn't hurt the rating, but definitely was annoying. Just insanely brutal and nasty and the shot to the heart that wrestling needs. Run it back for a trilogy. Keep this going. TAKE LESSONS FROM IT."
[10.0] "Absolutely insane that the match with Jon Moxley at Revolution might not even be the best Hangman Page Texas Death Match of 2023. This might be the only wrestling match Ive ever seen that felt like the logical outcome of a stupid home invasion angle. I really thought these guys wanted to kill each other. Hangman Page has become the best brawler in pro wrestling, and Swerve Strickland proved tonight he isnt far behind. This match hit 5 stars about one minute in when Adam Page laid down on the mat to catch the blood dripping from Swerve Stricklands face in his mouth. In his mouth! I cant say that I enjoyed the Brian Cage interference, and I think a similar finish could have been achieved by skipping it and sticking with Hangman attacking Nana. But a minor flaw does not stop me from calling this an all time classic."
[10.0] "Legitimately one of the greatest and most violent matches to happen in the history of professional wrestling. I know some people arent fans of home invasion angles but if your going to go that far than you have to have a blowoff match that matches the energy and not did they. Drinking of blood and violence galore this match is everything I want in professional wrestling ."
[10.0] "By far the biggest highlight of a show I had a *LOT* of problems with. Two of AEW's brightest spots since they both respectively entered the company, duked it out in a geniunely brutal bout, that could quite honestly be filed under a lot of those old CZW deathmatches. Hey, maybe that's why Swerve wanted Texas Death with Hanger? So he could go back to his roots. Anyway, not only were the amount of crazy freaking spots in this match too numerous to count (god that was a LOT of staples), but it all fit for this seriously heated fued, that's been one of the best things in the company the last couple months. All in all, this was an absolute JOY of a bloody match, and an instant MOTY contender for me."
[9.0] "This was a great match, with a lot of heart and certainly a lot of violence. I can understand it being too much for some people but this really made the show and helped elevate it along with the TBS Title overdelivering. Plus considering the story and the great promo Page cut to set it up on the prior Dynamite it was violent but it MADE SENSE. I would have nixed the interference spot but other than that this was basically the exact type of match they needed to have and I can't agree with some of the low ratings dragging it down. It was awesome and well worth a watch, especially if you have followed the story of these two men."
[10.0] "Match of the year contender. Would possibly be my favourite of the year if it wasn't for the Brian Cage interference, which took away a bit of the intimacy of the violence between Swerve and Hangman. But otherwise, wow, a testament to the physicality and brutality of professional wrestling. Swerve had one of the greatest blade jobs of all time in this. It was built so clearly on relentless, seething hatred, every act of violence was these men pushing the other to the breaking point because they didn't care if their opponent survived the onslaught. Many gruesome moments but none of them felt pointless or just there for the sake of provocation, every drop of blood shed was there to convey the significance of their detest for one another. Hangman has the best collection of matches of any AEW wrestler, and this was a truly star making performance from Swerve. Both men should be proud of themselves and should get a couple weeks off to rest and recover."
[10.0] "An unbelievable match, utterly brutal, crazy, disgusting at parts, but truly something that has made Swerve Strickland into THE GUY in AEW, a fantastic brutal affair which both lads gave it their all, even Cage and Nana did some great shit in this match, just i cannot overstate how much I liked this match, and I thought Danielson/Ricky or Mox/Hangman couldn't be outdone, but fuck me it was, just aw man, love it, what a match, It's something i'm going to be rewatching over and over again, and showing friends."
[10.0] "The best deathmatch I've ever seen. One of the best matches I've ever seen, period. I don't even know what to say about it. The pure gore and brutality of this match is beyond belief. Hangman is one scary motherfucker, and Swerve is right there with him. The staples were the warning shot that this was gonna be nuts. I thought they were brutal, and the brick was brutal, and the piledriver on the rail was brutal, but then HANGMAN DRANK SWERVE'S BLOOD. Goddamn, I still can't believe that happened. That's when I knew I was watching the most disgusting all-time great match ever. It was all a swirl of blood and gore, and some of the most insanely brutal wrestling ever. Didn't want Hangman to lose, but after that match I can't be mad. Plus, the visual of Swerve hanging him was insane. If you don't like this type of wrestling, you might stop watching AEW because of this. If you do, just go watch this fucking match. *****+"
[10.0] "MOTHA FUCKING GAS! I should probably give more of an explanation. This feud is amazing. Hangman is making a solid case for 3rd best all year even rivaling MJF for that 2nd spot as his feuds have been so consistent and amazing and after the BCC feud he had Swerve and he lost at Wrestle Dream and then the logical answer is win here right? Nope. Wanna know why? Because Swerve don't give a damn about your fairytales. This match is brutal and I love it. They're consious of they're violence and every sell shows that as you can feel the damage. Love this match. 5* no question"
[10.0] "One of the craziest matches Ive ever seen. It was a brutal match, and it went on long, but it didnt seem like it at all. Im also so glad that Swerve Strickland won the match, I feel like he needed to win it more than Hangman, it really puts him over as a world title contender. I hope after this they go in a new character direction for Adam Page. The interference at towards the end of the match felt unneeded, but the match was so good that it didnt take anything from it i think. Excited to see whats next for both guys, assuming the fued is over"
[10.0] "This was one hell of a brutal war. Quite possibly one of the most brutal matches I have seen from a major wrestling company, like ever. It is the kind of match where you put your hands on your head in agony after watching what these guys are doing to their body. This program has elevated Swerve to a main event superstar, and has rehabilitated Page after months of middling tag matches with the Elite. These guys bled buckets, used every implement you can think of on each other, and Swerve had to literally nearly murder Hangman to win. A match for the ages."
[9.0] "One of the most brutal matches we may have ever seen from a major promotion, so many moments had me convinced that was the finish, Page sold some of the big moves like legit death. Anyone who's seen Swerve's amazing deathmatch from Lucha would know he had this in him and Page is a complete package in the ring with just about any style he needs to do. The cage interference was unneeded so they lost a point there from me for that, I enjoy the minimal amount of interence from Nana, just let the boys bang. ***** 9/10"
[10.0] "10/10It was definitely the MATCH of the night, Adam Page's Texas Death Match was as bloody and scary as a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, and I know some people will be uncomfortable with it and even hate to see it, but when you see two people in the ring and they can fight to the last bit of blood, absolutely respect them 100%. The plot of the game is also well done, which can be regarded as one of the highlights of Adam Page's career."
[10.0] "This match had everything. Incredible story. Fantastic pace. Some unforgettable omfg moments. Hangman misting Swerve's blood was insane. Only thing I could criticise is Brian Cage's appearance. It was unnecessary about felt over-booked in an otherwise 10/10 match. The Prince Nana interference was sufficient. This was an incredible match, with both Swerve and Hangman coming out looking fantastic. Glad Swerve went over and came out on top. Really feels like this was the match that made Swerve a 'made-man' and the next top heel in AEW."
[10.0] "hangman and swerve went to war and did not care about coming back alive, this match was almost hard to watch at times because of how brutal it was. It truly felt like these two were trying to kill each other. The best texas death match i have ever seen and a star making performance for swerve, if he even needed another one. This feud has been awesome and this only solidifies it more. The spot of hangman drinking the blood damn near got me out of my seat, and thats what good, compelling wrestling will do to you. It will make you feel something. This made me feel sick, thats just how awesome it was. Also fuck the moron who gave this match a 1."
[10.0] "10/10 MADNESS Exactly what should happen in a deathmatch. Love this for Swerve and he should prolly face MJF at World's End. MOTYC ***** Absolutely Sensationally Spectacular. Spots of the Match: Hangman fall away Slam/ Powerbomb/ Deadeye on barbed wire. Swerve 450 on the glass on Hangman's back. Prince Nana gets Deadeyed through a table. Death Valley Driver on a cinderblock. Hangman staples Swerve's face then drinks his blood. Hangman hits Buckshot with Barbed wire wrapped around Swerve. Tombstone Piledriver on a barbed wire chair by Hangman. Hangman moonsaults with the barbed wire chair onto Swerve. Hangman gets hung with a chain for Swerve to win."
[10.0] "Ive never felt so upset that someone lost before. Swerve invaded Hangmans home and taunted his infant son, and even though he went to his absolute worst part of his humanity, and he had righteous anger on his side, he still couldnt beat a true villain. This wasnt Jon Moxley who wanted to just beat him up, or Kenny Omega who betrayed him. Swerve just wanted to destabilize Hangman mind, body, and spirit. And he did. Hangman stopped wearing butterflies, he stopped being happy to be there. Swerve won on every level."
[9.0] "I loved this so much, after so many mid matches that felt like every other match we've seen in AEW, I was worried this would be the exact same match Hanger & Mox had this year. It was not. This was all about Swerve coming across as a supervillain without it being hokey. Every hardcore spot in this was wonderfully brutal; Swerve taking some many staples, The 450 on the Broken Glass, The Barbed Wire, That damn Death Valley Bomb on the Cinder Block was insane! The only thing keeping this from a 10 was Brian Cage's interference which felt overbooked, they could have just left it at Nana taking the Deadeye through the table, that interference would've been enough. But other than that, this match is fantastic. It's not as good as Hangman vs. Mox, but this made Swerve into a superstar and that's the best thing this match could have done."
[10.0] "This was a career defining match for both men. Absolutely amazing match. So many matches ending blood feuds fall into the trap of not feeling like they meet the animosity of the feud but these two really sold how much they hated each other. The match started unbelievably violent and only escalated from there and the whole thing had to be among the quickest thirty minutes I've spent watching wrestling. So many great spots to mention such as the staple gun, the DVD on the cinder block, the vampire stuff, the broken glass and all the barbed wire. Match was disgusting in the best way. Some great story telling on show here as well at the start of the match Hangman comes out for blood as a result of Swerve's actions only to find Swerve can take a lot more punishment than expected (demonstrated so well by Swerve stapling himself) and all this ties in with the finish when the theme of actions having consequences comes back to haunt Hangman when he's beaten the same way he beat Moxley in one of these matches."
[10.0] "A match of the year candidate, and a welcome outcome for what had been one of AEW's most disappointing in-ring shows in recent memory. This match made the $50 investment worth it, by itself. If you're going to tell stories like someone doing a home invasion, you HAVE to present it as a feud that extends far beyond the normal professional wrestling tussle, and that's exactly what AEW did tonight. This was as bloody a match as we've seen since ECW in its prime. And while I think sometimes death matches just feel like gory spotfests, this has an energy and underlying narrative to it that elevated the match to one of the best we've seen -- of any style -- in 2023."
"One of the greatest matches I've ever seen. Absolutely incredible violence, creativity (piledriver on the barricade? I've never seen that before), and storytelling rivaling the best slasher/revenge films. Excellent extreme match, with just the right amount of brutality and violence for the story that was told. Swerve is one of the most captivating villains in wrestling. Also Hangman drank blood."
[8.0] "Had some really cool moves and inovating ones, my personal favorite was the moonsault with the chair, never seen that and felt so brutal, a perfect feat with the match and the story that both wrestler tryed and acomplished to tell. You can during all the match the tension between Hangman and Swerve the hate was there and yiu can almost touch it, the first sequence with the barbared wair chair that ends with Hangman doing a piledriver at the chair was awesome and brutal, would be cool to see the meacht ending there, but the story wasnt told yet so I'm glad we saw more"
[3.0] "Overall I think it's a very good match with too much blood in my opinion. I do not need to see that kind of complete blood-shed on my wrestling shows. Families with children could be watching this, especially on a Saturday night. The finish was probably the right way to go in making Swerve look like a bigger deal, but I think he could have done some more wrestling moves than what he actually did. The WrestleDream match from October was a better bout for Strickland to become a star, and I think will be shown to be more historically significant in the rear view mirror."
[10.0] "Utterly disgusting in the best way possible. Very uncomfortable to watch, but in the best way possible. Countless spots and I popped countless times from my couch. Swerve Strickland HAS to be the next AEW World Champion because that guy is special. During the match I was afraid that the Brian Cage interference would ruin it but it didnt (thank god). Prince Nana keeps being absolutely hilarious and his spot was great as well. I hope that Hangman stays in singles competitions. He is just too good to get stuffed away in trios bouts. My AEW MOTY."
[10.0] "This is not in any way the type of match for the casuals and/or non-wrestling fans, but what a violent, disturbing, and fun match. The build up with Swerve invading Page's home and talking to his sleeping baby makes this match and the way how it got carried out much sense. You talk about what AEW can do in comparison to other companies, this match is one of them. Kudos to both guys, there is no way every spot was painless, and this became a match that many fans wish it didn't end as soon as it did."
[10.0] "This might be the best match I have ever seen in front of my eyes. god fucking dam. not a moment of rest and constant action, I'm on that fuck hangman train for putting my glourous king nana through a table but man what a match, there was blood like 2 minutes into the match, so many different weapons used in so many different ways that made every single thing happen unique. Only bad thing about this match was Brian cage interfering but it was for like 10 seconds and I forgot after 30 seconds. Swerve was acting like the main antagonist like he should, should've main evented. (******)"
[1.0] "Man I hate the staple gun. Whats next, light tubes? This match was simply disgusting. Drinking the other guys blood? This is depraved. Anyone who likes this is a sick fuck. And both of these guys are capable of some really impressive wrestling, too. What a shame. Leave this kind of horseshit to the mudshows where it belongs. This was incredibly bloody, Swerve cuts himself too deeply. Despite this, there are two impressive driver spots and a crazy moonsault with a chair. Just a reminder that these guys dont need to stoop to the level of staple guns, blood drinking, and glass."
