AEW’s best story heading into Full Gear is the development of the Texas Death stipulation for the trios title bout. Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page know what Texas Death is all about. Swerve’s machinations roped in Bandido and Brody King to accept the stipulation. New Level were reluctantly on board, even though, they are scared of Texas Death. Kofi and Austin Creed aren’t afraid about the pain. It’s another reason altogether for their fear.
When Bandido attacked Kofi on Dynamite, that was a step too far. Kofi and Creed had been innocent from Swerve’s scheming up to this point.
Laying hands on Kofi like that pushed Creed over the edge. The New Level will get payback. Creed stressed not to mistake kindness for weakness as Swerve handed him a steel chain with a sinister smile.
On Collision (Nov. 7, 2026), New Level discussed their fear of Texas Death. They aren’t scared of Hangman, Bandido, and King. Kofi and Creed are afraid of what they must become to win this match. The duo wrapped their team name into the closing line. They are going to a new level.
This is a smart way to button up the story for New Level as characters. Now, every wrestler has their motivation for accepting Texas Death. There’s still an element of mystery for how far New Level and Brodido will go on each other. The champions hate Swerve, and Swerve hates them. The hate is brewing between New Level and Brodido enough for a hardcore fight, but Texas Death is a few steps past mere hardcore. It’s one thing to be violent trying to win the match. It’s another thing when Swerve and Hangman are trying to kill each other.
We’ll receive a taste of what’s to come when New Level wrestles Brodido in a standard tag team bout on Dynamite.
Share your thoughts about the development of the Texas Death stipulation for this trios title feud.
