AEW: 5 possible mystery partners for Hangman Page

1. Lance Archer

Hear me out.

Since Page is already wary of The Elite, it makes sense to pick Archer as his partner. Why? Well, Page already “left” the group once late last year (OK, I skimmed this episode of BTE for the purposes of this article). What if (kayfabe) Archer has been secretly conversing with Page and encouraging him to think leave The Elite and form a partnership with him?

Archer has his own reasons for wanting to do this, after all:

If someone is so blatantly wanting to destroy the group of your supposed closest friends, why partner with him?

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With Archer’s influence, Page could be turning against The Elite and just biding his time. With Omega injured, introducing Archer as his partner could be that time. He wouldn’t necessarily “turn” against them in the traditional sense, just that it took him all this time to find who he thinks is the right partner (with Archer grinning ominously and maliciously behind Page).

In subsequent interviews, Archer could explain that by “Killing The Elite” he simply meant their seeming “stranglehold” (and I envision him using language like that) on the top spots in the company. He wants to “kill” their mystique more than anything, opening up paths for other wrestlers.

Yeah, right.

His true aim is to build his name off of the battered adversaries he calls The Elite, all of this unbeknownst to Page. Archer, of course, also plans to add Page to his list of trophy victories.

Let’s say Page and Archer win the tag match. Once Omega returns, Archer could accompany Page to the ring and act as the Diesel to Page’s Shawn Michaels. Build to a tag title defense at Double or Nothing that Page and Omega lose, maybe to Trianglo de la Muerte (Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix) or Santana/Ortiz.

While Omega and Page argue in the ring after, Archer could lay out Omega with a huge boot and chokeslam under the guise of being a better partner for Page. However, in return, Page looks shocked and screams at Archer, “What are you doing?!” Archer looks at Page, smiles, and proceeds to utterly destroy Page.

Page is written off television until close to the next PPV to sell the injuries. In the meantime, Archer lays a path of destruction on AEW, winning matches against and then taking out The Bucks and a compromised Omega on his way to Cody. Cody wins the match, but is attacked brutally afterwards.

Archer can cut a promo in the ring the next week about his “accomplishments” only for a returning Page to head down the ramp and proceed to attack Archer, now an even bigger babyface than before. Book the match for the next PPV, and go from there.

Also, if you haven’t yet, go check out Archer’s performances in last year’s G1. They were revelatory, truly showing Archer’s skill and potential.

Each option presents a multitude of possibilities depending on the match outcome. Will Page select an up and comer like Allin or Jungle Boy, a fellow The Elite member, or someone completely unexpected like Archer?

Whomever he selects, “Hangman” Page’s saga has been one of the more gripping stories that I (and man fans) have experienced in recent memory, and this is sure to be another fun chapter.