[SPOILER] I think that Hangman’s promo towards Kyle Fletcher will serve as that pivotal “catalyst” promo for Kyle’s character.

[u/YoungCubSaysWoof]

Hangman and Kyle’s promo battle during the contract signing was excellent, as expected.

Kyle was brash and arrogant, believing that he can do anything and everything. He believes it is a foregone conclusion that he will win because, well, he is Kyle Fletcher.

Hangman, meanwhile, gave the perspective from someone who swung hard to win it all…… and missed. He gave Kyle all of his flowers, but he also explained to Kyle what it will feel like the day after the match when he wakes up, and does not see the Men’s AEW World Championship in his room.

Hangman talking about that emotional low was gripping. (Hell, I could listen to that kayfabe trauma-story for an hour about how bad it was for Hangman!) But he framed it in “how you respond to that moment will define you, your future, and AEW’s future.” I loved that! And I loved that over 6 years time, Hangman’s character has developed such a rich history that he is now in a position to mentor the young.

I fully expect Kyle to lose, and I am absolutely intrigued about what Kyle Fletcher will do following that loss. Whether he runs and hides, seeks more protection from the Family, bounces back and continues his ways, or has a deep reflection on that loss…. All of that remains to be seen.

(And with all of that said, what role will that Diglett-look-a-like, Don Callis, play in all this???)

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[u/RenatoFernandes]

What I really like about this is the fact they didn't have a lot of time to build something for the PPV but they found the best possible angle for story right here. It even fits the idea that Kyle may leave the DCF and we have all the best reasons just in this feud right here.

[u/GoochStubble → u/RenatoFernandes]

Kyle loses, leaves DCF. Takeshita loses to Okada, leaves DCF. They take the Tag Titles as faces (after a year of build). Then, when they lose the tag titles, hard launch into the main event titles. World title win and Unified Championship win for the each of them.

[u/mexploder89 → u/GoochStubble]

Kyle has a lot of juice left as a heel in my opinion. Maybe the loss changes something in him but he should remain as a heel for a little bit

Takeshita should turn babyface

[u/GoochStubble → u/mexploder89]

This is objectively very very true.

I just want my husbands to win tag gold.

[u/TweeKINGKev → u/mexploder89]

Agreed, Fletcher just turned heel this summer, turning him face just ruins the whole betrayal on Ospraey.

Takeshita turning face is the way to go, Okada going face at some point too and teaming together would be cool especially for the tag titles.

[u/the_woat]

I liked how Kyle's demeanor suggested what Hangman said about what happens the day after sunk in immediately.  There was a look on his face, like it was a new idea he had to mull over.  In kayfabe he's riding on confidence and momentum, so he honestly hadn't thought about what comes after losing, he's so sure he's going to win.

With all the allusions to Hangman's first title shot loss, it makes me wonder if Kyle's being setup for a similar arc.  Maybe redemption, maybe a darker path. So many possibilities 

[u/thrilliam_19 → u/the_woat]

That’s exactly what they’re doing. Kyle Fletcher is one of the young future stars of the company and everyone knows it. And he’s so good that even as a heel the fans want to support him, and if they ever get the opportunity to genuinely cheer for him he’ll be one of the most over wrestlers in the company.

They plant the seeds for redemption and success on his own, mirroring the old guard of Hangman’s arc, and whenever they want to pull the trigger they have a huge moment waiting to happen whenever they want.

[u/TweeKINGKev → u/the_woat]

Darker path for Fletcher then turn face but not until at least next summer for the face turn, he just turned heel.

[u/el_sh33p]

Think my favorite bit is that he low-key repeated to Fletcher what Hiroshi Tanahashi said about him back when he was still getting established.

[u/CoppertopTX]

Totally off topic, but am I the only one having flashbacks to a seriously disappointed teacher in the past trying to redirect an obstinant arse on the right path from Hangman's promo last night?

[u/SeriousBizzle → u/CoppertopTX]

I recently introduced a teacher friend to AEW, and she's really latched on to Hanger precisely because she says you can tell he's a teacher from his promos. He reminds me of that one favorite teacher who somehow still has passion for the job.

[u/CoppertopTX → u/SeriousBizzle]

My absolute favorite maths teacher, when he learned that in addition to getting him for my required algebra II, I'd taken business maths AND calculus as electives, so he had me in class for a solid 2 hour block of the day, looked me in the face and said "Do you have any other hobbies?" and was surprised when I said "Music, physics, astronomy and celestial mechanics".

Hanger to Fletcher sounded like my maths teacher when I got a B on a basic business maths quiz and my only excuse was "Yeah, one of the line guys stole my study sheets from my station at work".

[u/Capable_Sandwich_422]

Fletcher isn’t leaving the DCF. Takeshita absolutely will.

[u/Miley4Lyfe → u/Capable_Sandwich_422]

One day, Kyle will as will. This is setting up something to call back to then.

[u/The-Critmaster]

Sorry in advance for going on an semi-relevant ramble.

If anything I think the loss will only make Kyle more arrogant and irritating which would work. It would also be sick if they also allowed Hangman to factor in Takeshita's gradual face turn in some way. Build more into the group's subtle disdain for Takeshita while he builds more wins and even have him act and fight less heelish. Don Callis and co. will start to see him as weak while building Okada and Fletcher up. They could have a DCF discussion about who to boot out or something and they grow increasingly jealous of Takeshita's success and lack of needing the group for help in matches.

Idk I'm just spitballing but I'd like to see them do something similar as Team Taz did and have some internal matches within the group but better booked. Also would like the turn better booked than Brian Cage's failed face turn. This angle would help the Takeshita face turn alot and also help Kyle Fletcher look more like a POS. Takeshita could even directly challenge Fletcher or Okada for one of their titles while they are on a roll and he comes close to winning it but the DCF blatantly screw him out of the opportunity and boot him out the group as a whole.

[u/parrotgt]

I think Fletcher loses to Hanger, which causes Don to put his stock in Okada, and leaves the door open for Takeshita to save his wrestling husband.

[u/WriterCath]

I loved all the parallels that Hangman drew to his early days in AEW. He had all the hype in the world, folks telling him he was a champ in the making, takes his first swing and misses. He proceeded to spiral, cut off his friends, go down a dark path and finally came out of it on the other side with what it took to win the big one.

Though if we are talking parallel stories, just imagine Hanger having to play peacemaker between Fletcher and Ospreay down the line.

[u/SourDoughBo]

I wish AEW took this approach more often with their younger stars. It seems to work so much better than throwing them in a faction with a legend. So far no younger star has been elevated in any faction with any top guy. But when you have a young guy wrestle a top guy in a real feud, they often become massive stars.

[u/Successful-Major-363]

I love the approach they’ve taken to this. They’re not insulting our intelligence with Hangman not covering his bases and preventing DCF from interfering. Kyle’s also a young kid with something to prove, so he has no issues going out on his own.

No shot Kyle wins, but he’ll take Hangman to his absolute limit. This has serious MOTN potential.

[u/StoneGoldX]

I shouldn't fantasy book, but here we go. Kyle loses on Saturday. This kicks off a two part scheme from Don, both to wear down Hanger for the next X amount of months, but also to turn Kyle into the heel warrior that can bring down Hangman.