AEW: Analyzing Hangman Page’s slow turn to the dark side

Hangman Page wins the AEW Tag Team Championship (Sonal)

Going into the championship match against SCU on the Jericho Cruise, there was a lot of talk from crowd on whether Kenny and Page could co-exist and go up against one of the strongest tag teams in the company.

In the past, we have seen the lack of tagging experience between Page and Omega on show whether it inadvertently catching their partner with offence or confusion with tags. SCU have been known for their amazing tag team chemistry and, even with the less experienced combination of Sky and Kazarian, they have been formidable opponents for any team put in their way.

However, apart from a few blips that may have been down to either miscommunication or the egos of two very skilled singles wrestlers, the two managed to perfectly mix their two styles. With Page’s brute strength and agility combined with Omega’s fearlessness and athleticism, they were the perfect combination to beat the team of Sky and Kazarian. With a brutal Buck Shot lariat to Kazarian and Sky on the outside of the ring, the Elite duo managed to pin SCU and become the new All Elite Wrestling Tag Team Champions.

However, at the end, although both stood tall with the titles, something felt off. As the Young Bucks flocked to the ring and started celebrating the victory with Omega, Page quickly retreated to the outside of the ring to celebrate with the fans. Although it may not have been seen as a huge gesture, there was something about it that seemed out of the ordinary. A quick glance from Nick, Matt and Kenny to Page made it clear that they were also not clear on why Hangman Page was not in the ring celebrating their victory.

The Post-title win (Josiah)

Later in the show, Page and Omega were interviewed, but Page was cut off more than once, showing clear annoyance as the interview went on. First, the interviewer cut Page off mid-sentence to ask Omega about PAC and how he was going to handle his threats and challenges. Omega, after discussing PAC for a bit, brought the attention back to the title win that he and Page just had, and as Page was going to talk again, the Young Bucks cut him off.

The Bucks congratulated them, with particular focus on talking with Omega, continuing to play up the idea of Page being a third wheel, so to speak. This was furthered again on the January 29th episode of AEW Dynamite where Hangman Page and Kenny Omega ran out to make the save for the Young Bucks when they were being attacked by Butcher and Blade. Page handed his beer to Matt and hit a Buckshot Lariat, destroying Butcher, and then taking the beer and chugging it and then leaving as the other 3 celebrated.

This shows that Page is conflicted, as he obviously counts the Young Bucks as his friends, but he has been showing an edge towards them, especially in promos where he lightly taunts them for winning the tag titles before they have. Omega is caught between the two, valuing his friendship with Page, but also being an EVP of the company and balancing his friendship with the Young Bucks too.