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It was, quite possibly, the best story that AEW has told in its brief existence. The journey of Adam Page, from background player in the Bullet Club/Elite to AEW World Champion, is the stuff of legend. It’s the kind of story that reminds us why we love professional wrestling so much. There were highs and lows, twists and turns, setups and setbacks.
When Adam Page came out a few weeks before challenging then-champion Kenny Omega and talked about ‘Cowboy shit,’ it felt like his coronation was inevitable.
It was.
The Hangman finally defeated The Cleaner, winning his first world championship. It was the culmination of, to that point, AEW’s best story. It was the happy ending he deserved; the one we all wanted.
RELATED: Tony Khan's Biggest Decision in AEW History Lies Ahead of CM Punk vs Adam Page
Adam Page's Chase Was Better Than His Reign
And then?
Well…
He’s kind of just…existed. Adam Page had two phenomenal matches with Bryan Danielson. He had two other phenomenal matches with Adam Cole. He fought Lance Archer in a match that left him looking like Carrie White by the end of prom. His matches have been excellent. But his story has been nonexistent.
And his AEW World Championship reign was disappointing.
That’s not to say he hasn’t worked hard. He has. But his stories have come off as paint-by-the-numbers, and that includes what could have been an epic clash with CM Punk.
It should have been so easy.
Page’s first feud (outside of his couple week feud with Lance Archer) was with the newly-signed Bryan Danielson. The matches the two had were perfect. But the story was lacking. They turned Danielson heel almost immediately after he came to the company as the conquering babyface. But they backed themselves into a corner because if they didn’t turn Danielson heel, they risked fans cheering him over their newly-crowned champion. So Bryan turned heel and started cutting promos on Page. And Page just kind of…took them. He lacked the fired that propelled him to the AEW Championship. He could have taken exception to Bryan Danielson coming into this company, his company, and thinking he could immediately challenge for the title, his title. After all, Adam Page worked his ass off for three years. He scratched, clawed, even lost friendships in his quest for the AEW Championship. So, who did Bryan Danielson think he is to think he’s even in Hangman’s league?
That’s what the story could have been. It’s what the story should have been.
Adam Page's Feuds Fell Short Of Their Potential
The story between the two Adams had years’ worth of backstory that the two could have drawn upon. Instead, Adam Cole stole the AEW Championship in a very ‘sports entertainment like scenario. Then, Adam Page beat him twice.
If done well, Adam Page vs Adam Cole could have meant just as much as Adam Page vs Kenny Omega. Instead, it got a pay-per-view main event, and then a Rampage match, and then it was over.
Finally, Page had one last story as champion with CM Punk and that's yet another story that could have been compelling. There were even hints of it, with Page accusing Punk of succumbing to his dark side the moment he becomes champion. Adam Page as the martyr, defending the company, his company, against a manipulative Punk could have been a completely different, fresh, bold story taking us through the summer. Alas, Punk got injured after winning the championship and Page immediately became an afterthought, lost in the headlines after Punk's injury and the MJF drama.
RELATED: AEW Making Adam Page Play The Heel Vs CM Punk Is Brilliant Storytelling
Some Wrestlers Are Better Chasing A Belt Than Holding It
But maybe, that's how it was always destined to be. Some champions are just better in the chase. Wrestlers like Bryan Danielson were like that. Crowds invest in them because they see a part of themselves and then, once they reach the mountaintop, once they prove that they could achieve their dream, there's nowhere left to go.
Maybe Adam Page is just, at this point in his career, better as the underdog. Maybe he's better at pursuing the champion instead of actually being the champion. Maybe, when CM Punk comes back from his injury, he can finally turn heel and fulfill Page's prophecy. And maybe Page will be the only man who can stand up to Punk's reign of terror.
That's a lot of maybes. It's a lot of 'could happens.' There is a lot of potential for Adam Page to tell great stories as a challenger. And maybe his next reign as AEW Champion (and there will be one) will be eons better than his first one. It shouldn't be hard. Because, as great as Adam Page is, his first reign as AEW Champion was a disappointment.
