How Hangman Page Will Change Everything About Pro Wrestling

Chris Jericho Hangman Page
AEW

At Fight For The Fallen, he narrowly got by Kip Sabian in an overlong and unfocused match, the shrugging reception to which layered, at least, what would become AEW's greatest long-term story - and, one day, the blueprint for pro wrestling narrative deeper into the 21st century. Page was a main event bust in the company that could not afford to fail.

This feeling became canon at All Out. Jericho pinned Page clean in the middle of the ring. Page wasn't screwed. He failed. On the post-PPV Being The Elite, Page cut a shattered figure. The Bucks attempted to console him, but he was inconsolable. That the Bucks had rejected his plea to second him at the show deepened his sadness. He no longer felt worthy of the Elite name, and as Dynamite launched, he quietly distanced himself from it.

This was handled so elegantly; as those early Elite Vs. Inner Circle brawls erupted, Page was either slow to make the save, or barely participated at all. In the meantime, he renewed hostilities with PAC, his snake-bitten rival. In yet more careful, subtle booking, he won a nuanced banger at Full Gear, but lost the trilogy. This was crucial; Page in storylines always remained a great wrestler, just one experiencing a dip in form and confidence. The balance was exquisite, in that fans were still allowed to believe in him, but he couldn't believe in himself.

Kenny Omega still believed in him, or at least, that's how the next, seminal chapter seemed to begin. Driven by their respective failures in the singles division, the two men at Omega's urging joined forces in the tag ranks.

CONT'D...(2 of 6)

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!