The AEW World Championship has changed hands in epic fashion after "Hangman" Adam Page defeated Jon Moxley in the main event of AEW All In 2025 by conquering the champion in their Texas Death Match.
This match was very reminiscent of WWE WrestleMania XL's main event, with loads of interference and feel-good moments, including the surprise returns of both Bryan Danielson and Darby Allin.
Let's break down everything that happened and what this might mean going forward!
How We Got Here:
Moxley's fourth title reign began by defeating his former Blackpool Combat Club stablemate Bryan Danielson at AEW WrestleDream on October 12, 2024. The BCC eventually turned into a brutal group called The Death Riders, with Moxley going on a crusade alongside PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Marina Shafir, and often their ally Gabe Kidd, sometimes aligned with The Young Bucks, to take over All Elite Wrestling and toughen up the roster.
Many have been tasked at restoring the balance to AEW, with an alliance forging (not without its own strife) between Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and "Hangman" Adam Page, who had beaten Ospreay to win the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament to earn this title shot. Page and Moxley have had a few matches over the years, including a Texas Death match at AEW Revolution 2023, wherein Page had walked out the victor.
Match Details:
As expected, Moxley and Page bloodied each other up and fought with forks, broken glass, barbed wire, and even a bed of nails. Whether being slammed through tables or hitting each other's finishers, nothing was enough for either man to put the other down, so an assortment of their allies had to step in to try to sway the momentum.
On The Death Riders side, that included Marina Shafir, Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, Gabe Kidd, and The Young Bucks. Thankfully, Page had backup in guys like Will Ospreay (who was taken out on a stretcher to up the ante of the danger going on), Prince Nana (who handcuffed Shafir and prevented her from interfering anymore by the end), Bryan Danielson (who returned in a luchador mask to hit his trademark kicks and a suicide dive), Darby Allin (who descended from the rafters to get some revenge on everyone), and Swerve Strickland, who was ultimately responsible for handing Page the chain that he would use to wrap up Moxley and force a submission.
Personal Reactions & What Happens Next?:
This was a great main event to a great show. As mentioned, it was very much like WrestleMania XL, and it should likely signal a reset of sorts in similar fashion. Personally, I'm a big fan of moving forward from this Death Riders storyline, as I wasn't a big fan of it. I like it when Page is the main character of AEW, too, and I like the idea that he's the champion who will have to watch over his shoulder with MJF as a looming threat now that he won the Casino Gauntlet. Very cool, all around the board, including the interferences. Major thumbs up.
Tell us what you think about this title change by leaving a comment below! Who do you think will be the next in line to challenge for the title, or possibly even win the belt next? Keep the discussion going!