AEW Lambasted As ‘Inmates Running Asylum’ After Brutal All Out Conclusion

During the 2024 All Out PPV event, Swerve Strickland faced off against “Hangman” Adam Page in an unsanctioned “lights out” cage match that pushed the boundaries of brutality. The match took place after the main event, which saw Jon Moxley suffocating Bryan Danielson with a plastic bag, setting the tone for the violence to come. This was not a big winner with a lot of people.

The conclusion of the match saw Strickland losing not by pinfall, but after the referee called off the action following a brutal chair shot to the head and a gruesome spot where Hangman punctured Strickland’s face with a hypodermic needle.

The controversial finish led to strong reactions online, with former WWE personality Jonathan Coachman sharing his thoughts on Twitter, criticizing the extreme nature of the match.

“DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB. Have we learned nothing the last 20 years. Someone needs to talk to Swerve and let him know that this is unnecessary. So many spots last night that screamed ‘watch me please’ ‘we do crazy sh**’. Just so unnecessary to put your long term health in danger. I don’t care if you are trying to score a TV deal, or increase viewership. Damn Tony Khan protect your people from themselves.”

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Former WWE referee Jimmy Korderas echoed Coachman’s concerns, replying to fire back at Coachman. He inserted the idea that AEW has nobody running it backstage with any ability to protect talents from themselves.

“A real boss would do just that Coach, protect the talent from themselves. Also what a locker room leader would do. Someone needs to step up and stop the inmates from running the asylum.”

The concerns voiced by both Coachman and Korderas highlight the ongoing conversation within the wrestling industry about the physical risks performers take in the ring. The match between Strickland and Page was a testament to the lengths wrestlers are willing to go to entertain the crowd, but it also raised questions about long-term health and safety.

In the aftermath of the match, it was revealed that Swerve Strickland would be taking time off to recover from the brutal chair shot to the head and the hypodermic needle spot. Despite not being pinned, the match was called off by the referee, indicating just how far the violence escalated.

Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page took things to another level at All Out, delivering a match that will be remembered for its intensity and physicality. However, with Strickland now sidelined, the conversation about wrestler safety continues, and it remains to be seen how these types of matches will be handled moving forward. The extreme nature of the contest certainly left an impact, but it also highlighted the fine line between entertainment and the potential dangers that come with it.

The ending of All Out also caused an unconventional press conference after the show as well, one where Tony Khan came out and didn’t really say much before leaving. It certainly cast a dark shadow over the entire night in Chicago. Only time will tell where they go from here.

What’s your take on the brutal All Out match? Do you think it will help Tony Khan land a new television deal with WBD faster? Let us know what you think in the comments section!