Strickland was also quick to note that both he and Page exited the first chapter of their rivalry differently than how they entered, and in some ways were almost mirror images of each other by the end. This was something that Strickland, Page, and AEW made sure to make apparent not just in the actions of the performers, but in the little things, like how Page’s appearance changed throughout the program.

“We were so polar opposite from the first promo we did,” Strickland said. “He’s wearing a blue cowboy shirt with stars and he had his hair in a ponytail/man bun, stuff like that. By the time we got to the second promo where he dresses me down, he looks like me now. We’re more similar than ever. I’m wearing black leather and black pants, he’s wearing black leather and black pants, hair’s out. I was like ‘I pulled that out of you, so I won as the bad person anyway, whether I win or lose. I got the ‘Hangman’ I was asking for. I got ‘Cowboy s**t’ back.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Wrestling With Freddie” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription