AEW Sets Texas Death Match for Trios Titles at Full Gear

Bandido and Swerve Strickland Set for Texas Death Match at Full Gear

Bandido attacked Kofi backstage during the episode of AEW Dynamite, sparking a chaotic brawl that spilled into the arena and set up a Texas Death Match between The New Level and Swerve Strickland’s faction for the upcoming AEW Full Gear. The violent segment capped weeks of mounting tension stemming from AEW WrestleDream 2026. While the Blood and Guts edition of AEW Dynamite is consistently one of the most violent nights of the year for All Elite Wrestling, observers noted the non-wrestling segments were particularly filled with venom and hate.

The animosity traces back to the fallout from WrestleDream, where Hangman Page, Bandido, and Brody King recaptured the AEW World Trios Championships. Strickland, harboring deep resentment that Page repeatedly outmaneuvered him, went rogue and dragged allies Kofi and Austin Creed into a bitter personal vendetta. Kofi and Creed realized partnering with Strickland diverged sharply from their original intentions as his behavior escalated. While Bandido and King generally prefer to pursue good matches based on mutual respect, the rivalry has crossed a line for Bandido.

Retaliating after Strickland battered and bloodied him the previous week, Bandido ambushed Kofi behind the scenes. The ensuing melee carried into the crowd, nearly resulting in a severe accident when Bandido dropped a heavy steel truss that grazed the back of Strickland’s head after a spear from Creed.

High Stakes Set for Trios Title Defense

Despite initial hesitation from Page and other members of The New Level—who preferred a traditional path and opposed adding a brutal stipulation—Bandido ultimately urged Page to accept the challenge. Citing Bandido’s extensive background in Texas Death Matches, Page agreed to the terms. Though Page originally told his partners the Texas Death Match was not a good idea, he eventually agreed after Bandido pleaded with him to accept the challenge.

At Full Gear, Page, King, and Bandido will defend the AEW World Trios Championships against Strickland, Creed, and Kofi inside one of the most violent stipulations in all of wrestling. The heated confrontation on Dynamite resulted in what shapes up as one of the most anticipated trios title bouts in AEW history.

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