Will Fans Turn on Hangman Page?

Hangman Page did the impossible and beat Jon Moxley to become the new AEW World Champion. He had a tough challenge going up against Mox and The Death Riders, but had help from Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and a returning Darby Allin.

Page’s win is the perfect ending to his redemption arc. The cowboy’s been on a downward spiral since losing the championship in 2022. But he fought his way back to the top and is now a 2x champion.

Momentum has been on Page’s side the past few months. After he won the Owen Cup at Double or Nothing to his title shot, fans threw their support behind him.

As Hangman’s second championship reign begins, one has to wonder if the fan support will continue.

Better The Second Time Around

Hangman's first title reign wasn't the best. He had a lot of momentum heading into the 2021 Full Gear PPV, where he successfully defeated Kenny Omega. But afterwards his momentum started to fizzle.

Although he had great matches with Bryan Danielson, Lance Archer, and Adam Cole; the storylines didn't do him justice. Page's reign ended at Double or Nothing 2022 where he was beat by CM Punk.

Hangman's first championship loss paved way for his current storyline. Now that his redemption arc is complete and he's at the top of the world.

It's only been two weeks since Page's title win, and it seems his feud with Moxley, and the Death Riders isn't over. He and Mox will face off again for the AEW World Championship on the July 30th edition of Dynamite.

Chances are Page will retain, but what's next afterward?

He has plenty of challengers lined up, including Ospreay, Strickland, and Allin. Also, MJF has a championship contract he's waiting to cash in.

If AEW plays their cards right with the storytelling, Hangman will be having a successful second championship reign.

Fickle Fans

Although fans are still behind Hangman and cheer him on, that could change in the coming weeks and months.

Wrestling fans are known to be fickle.

That was evident during Moxley's most recent championship run. Fans were in agreement they wanted the title off of Mox. But they kept changing their mind over who to dethrone him.

First it was Jay White, then Kenny Omega, Adam Copeland, and Samoa Joe. Yet, once Page got red-hot and won the Owen Cup, everyone threw their support behind him.

Fans got their wish of Page winning the title from Mox, but now that he's champion, their support may diminish.

The story of Hangman chasing another championship made for compelling storytelling. The good guy seeking redemption and trying to take down AEW's top heel faction had everyone in excitement and suspense. Although odds were stacked against him, Hangman celebrating his win at All In was a historic moment.

Yet, if history has taught us anything, it's that fans might lose interest now that Hangman is champion.

The thrill of the chase is gone, and Page accomplished his goal. Now, fans will be asking what's next and who's next?

Hangman is in line to have a better championship reign than his first one. There will still be plenty of fans who root for him, but most will abandon him once a new challenger arrives.

MJF is eager to get back into the championship picture and become a 2x champion. Since he's one of AEW's popular babyfaces, many fans may want to see him dethrone Page.

Then let's not forget Ospreay, who came close to winning the Owen Cup. Even though he suffered a setback, The Aerial Assassin isn't giving up on his championship dream.

Also, there's Darby, who lost out on his championship opportunity at Grand Slam 2024. Darby was reportedly the one who was supposed to defeat Moxley for the championship. But since the storyline pivoted, he's back in the shuffle.

If MJF, Ospreay, or Darby gain momentum in their championship pursuit; support will shift from Hangman to his opponents. Fans will be eager for Page to drop the title to someone more deserving and give AEW something fresh.