Predicting The First 10 AEW World Champions
7. Hangman Page
Here's where the prince that was promised finally comes into his own.
Hangman Page, at the time of writing, is way too frigid to strap at All Out. He should be temporarily removed from the conversation after 31 August. Page needs more time if he's to become the Kazuchika Okada to Kenny Omega's Hiroshi Tanahashi, and AEW will have their own Roman Reigns situation on their hand if he's pushed too hard, too fast, despite his popularity.
A tremendous fiery babyface, Page is best suited to treading the underdog's path. This is his natural route to the top because he's far from the finished article at 28 years old and isn't a star on Chris Jericho or Omega's level. He can afford to lose to headliners on the road to becoming one himself, and this year-plus journey begins as he sets off to overcome those early disappointments, with Page growing, developing, and finding himself as a main event-level performer and personality as he goes.
Pinning Omega in a legacy-defining pay-per-view main event is the final step. Page's celebration should be one of confetti, tears, and complete elation.