“Hangman” Adam Page may not have much time to recover from his latest war. The AEW World Champion is now squarely in the sights of a new potential challenger, former ROH World Champion Rush.
The challenge was issued subtly on X (formerly Twitter). In response to a post from All Elite Wrestling showcasing Page with his title after Forbidden Door, Rush replied simply with an emoji of two eyes, making his intentions clear.
This development comes right after Page’s successful, hard-fought title defense against MJF on August 24. Their match at Forbidden Door was a bloody and intense affair, capping off a rivalry defined by unique and challenging circumstances for the champion.
In the build-up to the title bout, MJF leveraged a pre-match attack on Mark Briscoe to force special stipulations. Under these rules, the AEW World Championship could change hands on a disqualification or count-out, giving the challenger a significant advantage and ensuring he did not have to use his guaranteed world title contract for the opportunity.
Despite MJF’s attempts to win by count-out early on, the match escalated into a violent brawl. Page delivered a Deadeye through the timekeeper’s table, but MJF later retaliated with a piledriver onto the table’s wreckage. Both men were bleeding by the end of the contest.
The finish was chaotic. MJF used referee Bryce Remsburg as a human shield before hitting a low blow and a Heatseeker. However, Mark Briscoe intervened, pointing out Page’s foot was on the bottom rope to break the pin. After the official caught MJF trying to use his Dynamite Diamond Ring, Page capitalized on the opening. He struck MJF with a clipboard, followed by a third Deadeye and a final Buckshot Lariat to secure the victory.
Now, with Rush entering the picture, the second reign of Hangman Page, which began at All In: Texas with a victory over Jon Moxley, is already being tested on multiple fronts.