It’s difficult to dispute how valuable “Hangman” Adam Page is to AEW.
While not part of the ‘pillar’ storyline, Page has been a stalwart since day one. He has wrestled in the first AEW World Championship match, headlined events with other top stars, become one of the brand’s most popular faces, and even held the title for a time.
The last four years raised Page from known quantity to wrestling star. When it’s time for a wrestling company to retain those types, it will cost a penny or two. That’s the stage AEW is at with Page.
According to Fightful Select (subscription required but recommended), Page and AEW are working towards a new contract. Negotiations started “fairly recently,” but there’s no timetable for when the two sides will finalize a deal.
AEW faces a critical juncture as Fightful Select also notes that Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks are negotiating new deals. These four, who were among the original AEW signings, still hold key positions on the roster, so losing any of them would be detrimental. Like Page, Omega and the Young Bucks have headlined shows and been involved in some of AEW’s biggest moments.
Plus, with CM Punk’s likely return, it can’t hurt to keep the talent who had the biggest squabbles with him happy. Punk, Omega and the Young Bucks infamously fought after All Out 2022, so there’s no telling what animosity remains between both parties.
Meanwhile, Page most recently reunited with Omega and the Young Bucks for a feud with the Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, and Wheeler Yuta). It seems logical for a match to happen at AEW’s next pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, on Sunday, May 28. Perhaps the contract finalizes ahead of time so it doesn’t loom at one of AEW’s biggest shows of the year.