12 Most INSANE Things Wrestlers Have EVER Said On AEW TV
6. Hangman Page Goes Off Script
The term “scripted promo” is something of a misnomer, in that all promos are to some extent scripted. The wrestlers who aren’t under the direction of a creative writer nonetheless set out a plan for what they are going to say. They need to clear it or collaborate with their rival to avoid crossing any lines and to ensure, in the event of a face-to-face, that the responses make sense.
(When a wrestler does walk out there with no clear plan, even the best talkers ever get exposed. See: The Rock’s bizarre cameo appearance on NXT in January 2025).
According to CM Punk, Hangman Page did not do this during their company-defining feud of spring 2022. Page was under the impression that Punk enemy Colt Cobana’s demotion from his duties as a producer - and Punk friend Ace Steel’s new job as a producer - was no coincidence.
Even before the infamous “worker’s rights” line, Page’s demeanour was noticeably weird. With no context of the very real backstage problems that had yet to be reported, Page seemed inexplicably angry towards Punk, who was actually respectful in his generic “may the better man win”-style promos. In a promo cut before the face-to-face, Page said of his fellow babyface: “I’m going to destroy CM Punk!”
Why?
In the parameters of the story, Page’s fury scanned as insane. In their Double Or Nothing go-home face-to-face, Page said - to Punk’s bemusement and unshakeable anger - that while Punk talks a good game about worker’s rights, he’s shown the exact opposite since he’s been in AEW. Page said he wanted to save AEW from Punk; Punk could only quietly seethe in response.
At least until August…