‘Hangman’ Adam Page Opens Up About Facing Will Ospreay, Fans’ Support and His Wrestling Journey

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Over the last two years, “Hangman” Adam Page has been on a destructive path filled with self-disgust, but the anxious millennial cowboy of All Elite Wrestling is now ready to start a fresh storyline. As one of AEW’s initial roster members and a previous World Champion, Page isn’t new to holding championship belts; however, this year, his route to success in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament (ending in a main event match at Double or Nothing for a future title opportunity) is hindered by an unknown adversary he hasn’t faced one-on-one in the ring.

For the second consecutive year, I’ve reached the finals. This time around, I feel just as proud as I did last year. At Double or Nothing, I’ll be facing off against Will Ospreay, a match I’ve been eagerly anticipating. Many might think of Ospreay as the best wrestler out there today, and I can’t disagree with them. He’s truly exceptional, remarkable. Ever since he joined AEW, I’ve noticed his opponents pushing themselves harder than ever before, only to still fall short against him.

When it comes to wrestling, the title “Best Wrestler Alive” might appear as an exaggeration, but Will Ospreay’s impressive track record seems to support this claim. Known as “The Aerial Assassin,” this 32-year-old athlete has won all eight of his singles competitions in 2025. He was even honored with Sports Illustrated’s Match of the Year award in 2024, alongside Bryan Danielson, and he ranked third on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s latest annual “Top 500 Wrestlers” list.

He’s someone who the fans have developed a deep affection for, which is entirely understandable,” Page notes. “It seems like two crowd favorites are now squaring off against each other. The tension, beyond the fact that the victor will earn a chance at the World Championship itself, couldn’t be more intense. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but it also feels exhilarating.

Prior to their Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals clash, Page and Ospreay joined forces momentarily to take on Josh Alexander and Konosuke Takeshita in a tag team match on an episode of “AEW Dynamite”. Was Page observing or gathering information about Ospreay during the tag?

Indeed, I have,” he responds. “I’ve kept an eye on him since his arrival. It was only a matter of time before we faced off, given his exceptional wrestling skills. I’ve observed him not just as an individual but also as a professional wrestler. I’ve been following his matches, learning what he does best, which is quite a lot, and noting the minor weaknesses in his technique that occasionally surface. In a way, I’ve been preparing for this encounter unconsciously over time.

Page and Ospreay’s bout at Double or Nothing isn’t just a highly anticipated faceoff between two AEW heavyweights; it marks the conclusion of this year’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, an annual event that honors the memory of the beloved Canadian wrestler whose untimely death during a WWF pay-per-view in 1999 sent shockwaves through the wrestling community.

Page expresses great pride over the Owen Hart Foundation tournament and AEW, stating it’s one of the finest projects they’ve assembled. He values the annual tribute to Owen Hart, both as a wrestler and a person. This year’s finals at the pay-per-view event, with the winner headlining the year’s biggest show, adds significant importance and impact to the tournament’s purpose and timing. Page feels proud that AEW has been able to honor Owen Hart in such a meaningful way.

Despite All Elite Wrestling being a relatively new wrestling promotion, established in 2019, fans have been familiar with Hangman Page for decades thanks to “Being The Elite.” This web series was created by Nick and Matt Jackson, also known as The Young Bucks. “Being The Elite” documented the adventures of The Elite, a prominent faction of wrestlers that includes Page, the Bucks, and Kenny Omega, showcasing their journeys within the world of wrestling.

When discussing my career and experiences, I can’t help but bring up Being the Elite. It revolutionized wrestling and played a pivotal role in AEW’s existence. Essentially, it was the platform that forged a bond with fans and ignited a movement, cultivating a loyal fanbase.

To put it simply, ‘BTE’ stands out as the absolute best time I’ve ever had in wrestling for me. It’s challenging to think that any other professional wrestling experience could surpass this one, given that these individuals are not just colleagues, but my closest friends – people I spend almost as much time with weekly as I do with my own family.

We all share a common passion, our creative spirits. Collaborating on this project felt less like labor and more like enjoyment. It seemed more like fun than work, and we were genuinely enthusiastic about it. Often, we found ourselves working late into the night. For instance, during the making of the Halloween episode for the cruise, I didn’t sleep much for a couple of days, but it never felt like a chore.

As a die-hard film enthusiast, I found myself in a state of exhaustion, having skipped sleep and poured my heart into my work. Yet, the experience was nothing short of exhilarating – an honor beyond measure. The longer the journey unfolded, the more evident it became that our efforts were bearing fruit. We’d perform at Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro Wrestling events, and there were moments when it felt like the crowd was there to witness ‘BTE’ rather than just the wrestling matches.

As a passionate movie-goer might say about a groundbreaking film revolution:

“The turnout was enormous, the audience numbers skyrocketed, and in the end, it all boiled down to All Elite Wrestling. Yet, there was this palpable feeling that our playful antics, our joyous moments, were not just entertaining but transforming the wrestling world for the better. It’s an exhilarating experience to be a part of this change.

Although their shared camaraderie initially resulted in the establishment of AEW, “The Elite” (Page, Omega, and the Young Bucks) have experienced a dramatic fallout more recently. Regardless, all three parties will participate in the Anarchy in the Arena event, where the Young Bucks will team up with Jon Moxley’s wicked Death Riders faction against Kenny Omega and a star-studded team of AEW heroes in a 6-on-6 tag team match.

Indeed, the Milwaukee Bucks have been behaving rather differently recently, haven’t they? Let me tread carefully here. Over the years, I’ve always made an effort to be respectful in discussing them, given the significant role they’ve played in my career and continue to do so. However, I can’t help but sense a potential misinterpretation of my current perspective.

I’m unsure if their behavior towards Kenny was deliberate or unintentional rudeness, but they have certainly been disrespectful to him. I should probably check in with Kenny since he returned, though I haven’t done so yet. Perhaps it’s something I need to address, and I know that I should do it promptly rather than procrastinating. I can’t quite explain why I haven’t followed up with him.

Despite a potential win at Double or Nothing potentially rekindling Page’s journey towards the AEW World Championship, his last year with the company has been marked by turmoil. Rather than focusing on title challenges, it’s been more about settling personal scores against Swerve Strickland. Now that their bitter grudge match seems to have subsided, Page confesses he may have lost touch with who he truly is in his quest for revenge, and finds it hard to comprehend why fans continue to back him.

Page often ponders this thought: as our wrestling performances are displayed weekly, they offer a glimpse into our real lives. Though fans don’t personally know us, the experience can feel intimate. It’s an unusual yet significant connection.

Every week when they tune into AEW, they catch aspects of us that we might not notice ourselves, as they’re observing our journey play out. They have faith in parts of us that we may doubt, and this has been significant for me. In my recent years, the weekly viewers of AEW have believed in a better version of myself than I did. This isn’t something I usually discuss, but it carries great significance.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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2025-05-25 23:17