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Fans haven't seen Hangman Page on AEW programming since the Homecoming edition of Dynamite, which saw The Anxious Millennial Cowboy take a massive beatdown at the hands of The Elite.
Reports at the time suggested that Page needed an indefinite hiatus so that he could be with his wife, who was due to give birth to their first child. The angle that transpired in his last appearance was an appropriate way to write him off television. It was similar to when Jon Moxley took some time off, citing the same reason.
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The company hasn't provided any updates on his return. However, The Cowboy himself took to Twitter to comment on his hiatus while hinting at coming for the AEW World Championship whenever he makes his return.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five possible ways Hangman Page can return to AEW.
#5 Appearing as the 'Joker' in the Casino ladder match on AEW Dynamite tonight
This Wednesday, on AEW Dynamite's second-anniversary premiere, a seven-man Casino ladder match will go down to crown the #1 contender for Kenny Omega's world title.
So far, the company has unveiled six participants except for the Joker, which will be revealed right before the match. Fans on social media have been in a frenzy ever since the announcement, speculating that Hangman Page might turn out to be The Joker.
It makes sense to bring the fan-favorite star back ahead of the Full Gear pay-per-view. Imagine Hangman Page winning the entire bout to reignite his rivalry with Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship. The company might make this decision, given Page's redemption story has been brewing since forever now.
#4 Hangman Page kickstarts a rivalry with CM Punk ahead of Full Gear pay-per-view
After defeating Darby Allin and Powerhouse Hobbs, CM Punk doesn't seem to have an opponent moving forward. However, this could change in the coming weeks if Hangman Page returns to confront the former WWE Superstar, thus giving us a dream match.
Fans aren't thrilled to see Punk facing AEW's rising talents. But if The Straight Edge Superstar gets engaged in a rivalry with The Cowboy, one would hardly complain, given both men's charismatic personas. It could become Punk's best storyline since arriving at All Elite Wrestling.
Meanwhile, Page will get a massive spotlight just by being in the ring with Punk. This feud might even elevate Page's status from being a star to megastar. With Full Gear on the horizon, the company might pull the trigger on this money feud.
#3 AEW star Hangman Page returns as a heel to feud with the Dark Order
Hangman Page turning on the Dark Order will be one of the biggest swerves ever on AEW programming. Before taking a hiatus, Page broke his alliance with the fan-favorite faction.
The Cowboy held himself responsible for costing the Dark Order their opportunity at tag team titles. Throughout his entire AEW career, Hangman page has been dealing with self-esteem issues. But a heel turn could be a way to intensify his character and bring back confidence.
Page doesn't necessarily have to kickstart a full-blown rivalry with the Dark Order. It could be a stepping stone for him to climb to the top. Page could also dethrone Sammy Guevara to become the TNT Champion moving forward. There are endless booking options with this negative persona.
#2 Hangman Page joins The Elite
As the saying goes, if you can't beat them, join them. The equation perfectly applies to Hangman Page, considering his recent failures against Kenny Omega and The Elite.
Although fans may not like the move, Page could join forces with The Elite moving forward. It would be similar to when Randy Orton shook hands with Bray Wyatt only to rip him and his family apart leading up to their match at WrestleMania 33.
The company could have Hangman Page become a prominent part of The Elite, and when the time is right, he could turn on each of them, thus getting a rubber bout with Kenny Omega at the end.
It could be the perfect culmination of the long-running rivalry ending with Page dethroning Omega for the AEW World Championship.
#1 Hangman Page helps the Dark Order reunite on AEW Dynamite
The Dark Order recently mended their differences on last week's episode of AEW Dynamite, which was dedicated to the memory of the late Brodie Lee.
However, it could be a one-time thing to show respect to their former leader. The beef within the Dark Order might continue moving forward. If we turn back the clock, the faction started disagreeing on things when Hangman Page left the group to go on a hiatus.
Considering where the storyline playoff started, The Cowboy should be the one to return and reunite the group. He could help them become the AEW World Tag Team Champions. The faction could then reignite their rivalry with The Elite.
However, AEW must book the Dark Order and Hangman Page to get the upper hand over The Elite. Their feud might continue until the end of this year, with their blowoff match being between the leaders of the respective factions.
Either way, Hangman Page vs. Kenny Omega is bound to happen down the road. It's just a matter of when and where.
