It took 40 minutes, some blood, and some sweat to get there but “Hangman” Adam Page overcame the challenge posed to him by TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher at All Out, ensuring he will continue as the World Champion with three defenses logged against Fletcher, former champion Jon Moxley, and MJF. So naturally the question arises: Who’s next?

For starters, MJF still holds a contract for a World Championship opportunity, and can thus declare his intent to challenge for the title as and when he feels the time is right. However, MJF was on the losing end of things not only against Page at Forbidden Door, but last Friday losing his CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship to Mistico, and then on Saturday he lost to Mark Briscoe in their Tables & Tacks grudge match. So, while in theory he could be Page’s next challenger, with WrestleDream the next pay-per-view on the schedule next month, one would expect him to try and get to winning ways beforehand. 

Given that he pushed the champion hard, and still remains a champion himself, one could also make the argument that Fletcher should or will get a rematch for the title. Once again, it feels too fresh after losing, and he also has a title of his own to defend. 

It feels inevitable that at some stage sooner or later, there will be another installment in the saga of Swerve Strickland and “Hangman,” and considering their first battle came at the inaugural WrestleDream in 2023, it could be said that it’s a perfect setting to run things back on a more respectful, competitive basis for the top prize in the company. Strickland ensured that he could still challenge for the World title when he and Will Ospreay beat the Young Bucks at All In, and hasn’t been seen since losing to Kazuchika Okada in his attempt at the Unified title at Forbidden Door. But he is a former World Champion in his own right with a built-in story with the reigning champion. 

Names that you could also make an argument for in the World title picture right now are Moxley, who did get a win back against Darby Allin in Saturday’s Coffin Match – though Allin would get his own fiery revenge later and their issue seems far from over – as well as the likes of Chris Jericho, absent since April and naturally surrounded by WWE speculation, but still remains with the company beyond the next few months and is always a dark horse in these conversations, and Kazuchika Okada; Okada is the defending Unified Champion, but that in itself is a result of him adding the International title to his Continental Crown, he is Fletcher’s stablemate and another would-be champion of the Don Callis Family, and has all but wiped his own field of competitors. 

Ultimately, time will tell and “AEW Dynamite” will likely draw things into clarity, although it could be said that a lack of credible challengers is an issue.

Written by Max Everett