Starr: The Critical AEW Feud No One is Discussing

Is a full-fledged Cody Rhodes vs. Hangman Page program the perfect feud for AEW moving forward? Tommy Starr digs in!

Fantasy and speculatory booking for professional wrestling can be enjoyable, especially during times of uncertainty and endless possibilities.  In addition to AEW having a stacked roster, they also have depth.  That depth is particularly noticeable with the upper-division and main event level wrestlers that, despite how you may feel otherwise, is a case you truly can not make for WWE on any rational level at the moment.

However, amidst these conversations of AEW dream feuds and programs, one particular program that does not get thrown around in forum discussions, podcasts, or news websites is a babyface “Hangman” Adam Page vs. heel Cody Rhodes feud.  And this is interesting in the sense that, with surface-level analysis, this is an Elite-based story that practically writes itself.  Yet, why does it get glossed over?

When you factor in the current booking circumstances, the probability of Bryan Danielson eventually becoming AEW World Champion down the pike, the high probability of “Hangman” Adam Page’s eventual return to television, and the even higher probability of Cody Rhodes’ inevitable heel turn, it seems like the cards are falling right into place to run with a Page vs. Rhodes feud in 2022.

While there are a number of ways to potentially book the program, much of this stems from the assumption that they do not immediately launch back into Page’s feud with Kenny Omega and the Elite.  Yes, from a “storyline perspective,” Page immediately targeting The Elite makes the most predictable sense, and going one step further, Page beating Omega for the AEW World Title is probably the end goal.  However, given Bryan Danielson’s popularity and wave of momentum, perhaps it would be in AEW’s best interest to run with Danielson as the champion while Page pursues other avenues in the meantime.  And what better upper-card grudge feud could you ask for than Page working with a heel Cody Rhodes?

Due to Page’s high admiration from the fans, he would be the perfect dance partner for Cody, as Page’s babyface reactions will help establish and facilitate Cody’s heel run.  It will be a true old-school “babyface vs. heel” rivalry where the hardcore fans won’t have the split reaction, because the fans naturally want to boo Cody at every possible turn.  And because there is a real, genuine back-story to Page and Cody’s relationship that dates years back, this can be a long-term upper division program in 2022 that does not involve championships.

If they wanted to go the traditional route of a “three-match series” with Page getting the better of Cody in the end, you would establish that as the launching point to send Page back into the title hunt.  By that point, Danielson would be long enough into his world title run where he would drop the strap to Page in some kind of “babyface vs. babyface” title program.  Another option is to have a shorter Danielson world title reign where he drops the title back to Omega, and at that point, Page would be primed and ready to jump back into his feud with Omega to win the title.

And if AEW really wanted to milk the drama out of a “blow-off” match with Page vs. Cody, they would add some kind of stipulation where Cody only gives Page the final match if he willingly puts his eventual world title shot on the line.  This would spark a tremendous amount of heat at the mere possibility of Cody, not only going back on a past stipulation from his loss to Chris Jericho two years ago, but even teasing the notion that he could come within arms reach of the world title.  Page would be the unanimous babyface, no question.

Clearly, this idea is something way out of the realm of anything Tony Khan is possibly conceiving at the moment.  However, if AEW really wants the perfect program to solidify Cody’s heel turn, forget CM Punk!  AEW can really pull at some heartstrings by shoehorning Cody into that main event picture and instituting the narrative that he would be willing and ready to do anything and everything to stop Adam Page from becoming AEW World Champion.  Now that, folks… that is heat!