In the build-up to All In: Texas, Hangman Adam Page was referred to on AEW programming as the promotion’s “main character.”
Beginning first as an online talking point, the main character hypothesis is the idea that Page is the one the company has been built around since its debut in 2019.
His status as “the chosen one” was firmly cemented at AEW’s first US stadium show when he was the one to finally relieve Jon Moxley of the AEW World Title.
It seems certain that Hangman will have a long run with the title that he did not get in his first reign in 2022 – but the question is, who could replace him, not just as champion but as the company’s main character? Here are five potential options.
5. MJF
It was MJF who first introduced the “main character” hypothesis into AEW programming.
MJF referred to Hangman in this way dismissively during their interactions, storyline jealousy that it was actually him who was the main character.
MJF does have a fair claim – the company’s history and storylines move intrinsically around both men.
MJF is AEW’s heel antagonist, the antithesis of Page as the babyface savior – maybe not a replacement, but certainly a main character of equal value.
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4. Kenny Omega
At the onset of AEW in 2019, it appeared that Kenny Omega would be the company’s main character.
It was the success of Omega and Chris Jericho in New Japan that led to AEW CEO Tony Khan’s initial interest in starting a rival wrestling promotion – at the time, Omega was wrestling’s hottest commodity.
However, while one of its top stars, Omega never ascended to the role of true main character, his key run coming as heel champion during the pandemic – and it now seems it is too late for that to ever happen.
Suffering from a bout of diverticulitis that nearly killed him, his days as a full-time competitor appear to be over – something the 41-year-old star himself noted in a recent appearance on Wrestling Observer Radio – moving forward, we’ll probably only get a handful of Omega matches each year.
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3. Nick Wayne
Nick Wayne recently turned 20.
His birthday coincided with the start of a clear push for the prodigious young talent, now leading his own heel faction.
Supremely talented in-ring and growing increasingly more confident on the microphone, Wayne is someone AEW has plans to build around.
Maybe not an immediate replacement for Hangman Adam Page, but with more time in the game, Wayne has the potential to become AEW’s main character.
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2. Swerve Strickland
The last 18 months have seen Swerve Strickland develop main character energy.
This wasn’t always the case, however.
Clearly super-talented and uniquely charismatic, it is his protracted, violent feud with Hangman Page that pushed the 34-year-old undeniably into AEW’s pantheon of top stars.
If Hangman were to be replaced as the company’s main character, there is, arguably, no one the fanbase would accept more willingly than his forever-rival Swerve.
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1. Will Ospreay
British star Will Ospreay has been in the conversation for best wrestler in the world for close to a decade at this point.
His in-ring genius has been indisputable to all but the most stubborn of detractors.
In AEW, he has developed his star power even further by developing main character energy – conveying the role of the everyman, the working-class family man, someone you want to see succeed and thrive.
Currently out with a neck injury, Ospreay has the ability and certainly the backing of large sections of the AEW fanbase to ascend to the role of main character in the company.
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