Adam Page

Adam Page is officially back in All Elite Wrestling after making the save and stopping The Demand from crushing The Conglomeration and Brody King. This was not his first appearance since losing to MJF; it came in his promo on the July 8th edition of Dynamite, where Hangman laid out the AEW World Championship-less roadmap for his return. However, this is the first time he has been woven back into the show and is officially part of weekly television again. It also looks like he is teaming up with Brodido to become The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, a trio name clearly tributed to one of the greatest westerns of all-time.This marks his official return to AEW and the start of a new chapter in his career.

Clearly, there is a lot of work to do before Hangman can compete for any AEW championship again, let alone the world championship. Page needs to rebuild his credibility with the locker room and the fans. That will be the foundation of Hangman’s story. How can Hangman redeem himself in his own eyes and come to terms with his new reality?

If he's not going to challenge for the World Championship, what will be his ultimate goal in his new era in All Elite Wrestling? Where does he start, and what titles should he try to win? Do we see partnerships with old friends and rivalries against some of his old Rogue’s Gallery? This new era of the Cowboy could be the most significant of his career, cementing his legacy even if he never wins again. However, let's look at how “Hangman” Adam Page can get back in the saddle and maybe, someday, get back to the mountaintop.

Reckoning Day for the Cowboy

Hangman has been out of action since his loss to MJF at Revolution earlier this year. The match, at least how it finished, was one of the most shocking moments in AEW history. The Hangman being hung was jaw-dropping, and truly one of the most unexpected finishes to a match we've ever seen. It won't be an easy psychological bounce-back, so that will be the foundation of Hangman's story. Page has become the patron saint of resilience and perseverance, but at the same time, has been the personification of hate and struggle—the duality of a Cowboy. However, that story can only be told a certain number of times before the magic runs out.

So there needs to be an easy, simple jumping-in point not only for Hangman but also for the audience. Right now, teaming up with Brodido seems like an easy layup to get us started down his new journey. The Don Callis family is always a great punching bag, so it makes sense that Page is starting there. Maybe that is where we see his opponent for All In come in.

Where does Hangman Start?

A great way to kickstart his momentum again would be to revisit some of Hangman’s biggest rivalries, like Jon Moxley, Jay White, and Kazuda Okada; Kyle Fletcher would be a fantastic rival, with or without belts. Eventually, it would be nice if these were for some of the titles, but to start, I don't think that is essential.

Something I think would really catapult Hangman back into the spotlight is a reunion with his old tag team partner, Kenny Omega. Obviously, this depends on what happens with Omega post-All In, but if Will Ospreay is officially crowned, Omega could also use a landing spot. Either way, these are two great ways for Hangman to get his bearings and get back into the ring, from a storytelling perspective.

Hangman Immediately Brings Legitimacy To Any Title

AEW has dozens of titles. Trust me, if you've been on the wrestling side of the internet for even 30 seconds, AEW naysayers will remind you about this. With so many titles in rotation for AEW, a hierarchy has developed regarding the importance of some belts over others. Having a legitimate former AEW World Champion compete for other titles, making them feel like the most important championship, can increase the value of any title in need of a push. Adam Page is a 2x AEW World Champion. The Cowboy winning and mid-card title would immediately bring prestige to any title.

I think all titles are on the table for the Hangman, well, except for the World Championship, obviously. Whether he goes on a tear, winning titles left and right, or concentrates on just one, this will ultimately be up to Page and Tony Khan: which direction they want to go. However, I think it would be much smarter to make a concerted effort to determine which belts Page wins.

What Title Makes Sense for Adam Page?

Out of all the singles titles that AEW boasts, I think the one title that could use the biggest boost in prestige and cache is the TNT title. The de facto AEW TV title has fallen behind other titles—the International and Continental—in prestige. Whether this was by design or not, the TNT title has fallen behind. Kevin Knight has been a worthy titleholder; however, he seems too busy trying to win the AEW World Title rather than defending his TNT Title. If Hangman concentrates just on the title, that would immediately prop up the title.

A juicy story AEW can tell is Hangman for the Ring of Honor title. Whether that's his new partner Bandido or a new contender, Hangman winning the ROH World Championship could be a full-circle moment for the cowboy. Honestly, Page doesn't have to win a singles title right away. He can be a vagabond for a while, telling a meaty story. Nobody tells a story like the Cowboy, so Page can hit the ground running to tell some laid-out stories, even without any of the AEW titles at stake. This can set a good foundation for this return and avoid having him challenge for a belt just for the sake of it.

A Cowboy’s Odyssey

This next chapter in the story of the Hangman will be twofold: 1) reckoning with the fact he can't compete for the AEW World Championship again and 2) finding a new purpose. Since day one, Adam Page has had one mission: to win the AEW World Championship. And that is exactly what he did, from battling Chris Jericho in the first-ever AEW World Championship match all the way to winning the title for the second time at All In: Texas. That has been basically his entire character arc in AEW: chase the biggest prize in the sport. It is time to add another layer to this character, one not in the World Championship picture. The Hangman has been broken down differently than when he turned heel.

When he turned heel, he at least had a direction. His direction was making sure his boot connected with Swerve’s ass. This time he is directionless and doesn't know where to start, or where the rest of his career will go. The Odyssey recently returned to the popular zeitgeist, and Tony Khan and Adam Page could tell the wrestling version of that story. Why not have Hangman go on his own odyssey to the World Title? I'm not saying Hangman should take 20 years to win the title. Still, making Page go through his own trials and tribulations, his own siren call and Island of Ogygia, could bring another sophisticated story to wrestling.

The suitors for his belt, which he lost so egregiously to Samoa Joe because of Hook, could be reunited with the king.

But he can't get there right away, obviously. He needs to get his sea legs again. Page already started with a new persona, establishing himself as a wise, grizzled veteran and savior for those in need. That is where his partnership with Brodido makes sense. For the immediate future, I think he will be presented as a savior, the guardian angel of AEW and those who need it, but throughout this journey, who is going to save the savior?

The Million-dollar Question Is: Does Hangman Ever Compete For The AEW World Championship Again?

Yes, I think he does—but this should be years from now, five to seven years plus. That is the real question: can the entire saga be worth the ride if they don't pull the trigger anytime soon? I know TK gets some criticism online for slow burning stories, but that is exactly the route he needs to take with Adam Page. The journey has to be the real story here and not necessarily the destination. I think Hangman's character and the crowd have to earn it. As fans, we have to live and die by the results, and that makes us care.

I think what will eventually set up Page for his title shot is this: like Odysseus breaking into Troy destroying Zeus’s Law to end the war, will keeping his word do more harm than good if he doesn't challenge for the World Championship again?

As always, the ‘Hangman’ Adam Page character has many layers that make him incredibly interesting, and I think his upcoming journey might be his most ambitious to date. There is so much for the cowboy to do outside the AEW World Championship scene that it will not only benefit the company but also build his legacy in wrestling.

If done correctly, this era of the Hangman can be his magnum opus.