The Idea vs. The Man
None of us knows Stephen Woltz. We think we do. We know the ideal. Our collective idea of him is an image that fans are emotionally invested in, because it feels real.
In a world of bravado, bombastic, over-the-top characters, played by wrestlers pretending to be superhuman or idealised archetypes, Page in AEW has felt real. Zagging rather than zigging to the traditional rhythms of getting over, the Hangman’s approach to becoming a fan-favourite involved patience and nuance. A willingness to appear weak and unguarded, to play an imposter.
There’s a phrase some old-school wrestling personalities like Bruce Prichard use about guys who play-act, pretending to be a wrestler. They try to walk the walk. They try to be the role, but they come across as fake and inauthentic. Acting. Page subverted that by committing to something few wrestlers do without either humour or irony: look weak. It flies in the face of wrestling’s tradition of being myths rather than men.
Alongside Page’s progressiveness, Page represents for many a light in the shady and still warped morality of wrestling. For some, reconciling that a feminist hero who openly supports women’s rights and equity remains friends with someone accused of irreparably harming a woman’s body and power, doesn’t/can’t mesh.
That clash between the public persona advocating and representing victims’ rights for some will feel undermined and hollow. Especially given Page’s private choice to support, in some capacity, an accused victimiser. Page cannot control his perception of himself or the ideals he represents to fans. We, as fans, have the power to decide and judge for ourselves the more important line: the one between the idea of who we think/want Page to be and the real-life man.
Hangman Adam Page continued his quest for payback against The Opps when he faced @K_Shibata2022 on last night's Collision!
Watch the #AEWCollision replay RIGHT NOW on @SportsOnMAX! pic.twitter.com/NSjaXau3m8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 25, 2026
Not as Simple as Hero Worship is Flawed
We and our culture construct heroes based on our shared beliefs and morals. Collectively, we turn people into ideas. Those ideas become simplified. Heroes become monomyths, placed on pedestals and idealised. This isn’t about suggesting fault or blame. Rather, it’s an aspect of human nature and storytelling. Humans streamline and simplify complexity. The problem with this simplification is that complexity is reduced from grey to black & white. Binaries: good and bad guys.
Yet, reality isn’t so simple. It’s not as simple as saying: don’t meet your heroes. Don’t put them on pedestals. Don’t have high standards. We can choose how we judge those in the public eye. Human beings are flawed, but what you do with that information is a personal choice.
Otto English’s history book, Fake Heroes, explores how beloved figures for some, like John F. Kennedy or Mother Teresa, have been airbrushed and inflated legacies, pushing aside darker, uncomfortable moral or character failings. Figures like Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi have been reevaluated for their racist beliefs. Does this change their historical significance and roles? No.
Nuance doesn’t have to be excusatory in the pursuit of truth. You must first acknowledge that truth has more than two sides; balance isn’t inherent. Different forms of hurt and harm aren’t equal. Page isn’t comparable to Scrull due to their private friendship. Yet, for those deeply connected with Page’s ideas, the hurt can be real and deep.
In wrestling, I’ve argued elsewhere that retribution and restoration are possible, but require immense effort and hard work. Regardless, forgiveness is out of the wrongdoer’s power. Ultimately and individually, with Page or any other controversial figure, we judge based on our ethics and moral lines. Whether you consider their humanity or capacity for errors is complex. It’s not a one-size-fits-all model. It’s personal.
Hangman Adam Page makes the case to his former tag team @KennyOmegamanX that he will be the NEXT AEW World Champion!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/E4BdupYbkh
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 29, 2026
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on Hangman Adam Page, AEW, and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8 pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content is available on their YouTube channel.
