5 Reasons why Hangman Adam Page could be the next Steve Austin

Hangman Adam Page has seemed marked for greatness since his early days in the industry, but could he be the next major breakthrough star in pro wrestling, just as Austin was twenty years ago?

There are many parallels to be made between Hangman Page and Stone Cold Steve Austin. While some may jokingly point out the similarity in their ring attire (namely black boots, black trunks, and a black leather vest worn while making an entrance) the similarities go much deeper than that.

Adam Page first showed up on the pro wrestling radar by making appearances in Ring of Honor. There, he served as part of the Decade faction's 'youngboys,' meaning he would carry jackets to the back, wipe down the ring ropes, and many other menial tasks.

But over time Page moved into the upper echelons, joining first Bullet Club and then its splinter faction, the Elite. Of course, he famously turned down a WWE contract to join his friends The Young Bucks and Cody in All Elite Wrestling.

Now he's heavily featured on AEW programming as well as wrestling extensively on the independent scene. Page seems poised to take that next step and become the flagship performer for AEW, which would put him in the same position Austin was during the Attitude Era.

Without further ado, let's look at five reasons why Page reminds us of Stone Cold Steve Austin so much.

#5. The southern attitude

Adam Page doesn't smile very often.

As anyone who has visited them will tell you, people from the southern states of the USA are just a little different.

On one hand, they can have good manners and treat you to that famous southern hospitality. But on the other, they can be surly, proud, aggressive, and obnoxious.

Stone Cold Steve Austin certainly fulfilled the latter requirements, and so does Hangman Adam Page. He's the type of person who goes looking for a fight, and the tougher the opposition the more he likes it.

#4. The shared love of beverages

Hangman Adam Page enjoys a cold one with some AEW fans at ringside.

This one is a tad obvious, but it's still important enough to be worth mentioning. Hangman Page and Stone Cold Steve Austin both really love their beer.

Despite the many changes brought on by the ever shifting geopolitical landscape, evolving changes in how women are perceived by society at large, and the advent of streaming services, one thing that many Americans share is a love of drinking sudsy, fermented hops, the colder the better.

Because Adam Page shares this love of beer with the fans--not to mention Stone Cold Steve Austin himself--it provides a way for him to connect with the audience. If Americans will vote for a president who they feel they can have a beer with, then they will certainly cheer for a wrestler who seems of a similar bent.

Austin's love of swilling beer is part of what made him iconic in his era, and it's part of what could prove to do the same for Hangman Adam Page.

🍺 @theAdamPage taking "Hold My Beer" to a whole new level!! #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/yx4iPnkgA7

— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) January 30, 2020

#3. Both men were part of famous stables

These five men (not you, Paul Heyman) have over one hundred title reigns between them

These days, every pro wrestling fan knows that Adam Page is part of the Elite Stable--although the story line he's embroiled in at the moment seems to be nudging him toward being a solo act.

Many famous pro wrestlers either got their start or became more famous as a result of being in a stable. Roman Reigns began as one third of the Shield, and Sting was once a member of the Blade Runners and Power Team USA.

Steve Austin, in his WCW days, was part of the Dangerous Alliance stable led by Paul E Dangerously (Heyman.) Much like the Elite, the Alliance was comprised of some of the most gifted and decorated pro wrestlers on the planet.

Eventually Austin moved beyond the Alliance, just as it seems Adam Page will move beyond the Elite and become a solo star in his own right.

#2. Both men are brawlers with technical skill

Adam Page's shotgun lariat takes down an unwary foe.

Stone Cold Steve Austin often boasted of 'stomping mudholes' in people and then 'walking them dry.'

While it's true that Stone Cold Steve Austin could brawl with the best of them, many people overlook his technical wrestling acumen. During his early career, pre-WWE, Steve Austin was known for being a ring technician.

He had just the right combination of size, speed, power, and agility. This combined with his grit and tutelage under the wing of some of the most legendary figures in pro wrestling combined to make him a seriously underrated technical wrestler.

The same can be said of Adam Page. He has a deep moveset, one of the largest and most diverse in pro wrestling today. Page can brawl, obviously, but he can also bust off shooting star presses and moonsaults like a man half his size. He's also capable of using complicated submissions and pinning techniques, making him one of the most well rounded stars of his generation.

It's just another way that Page reminds us of a young, eager Austin.

#1. They both worked their way up to the big leagues of pro wrestling

Before he was the Hangman, he was just Adam Page, a pro wrestling rookie.

Once upon a time, a man named Steve Williams desperately wanted to enter the pro wrestling industry but had little money for his training. That man ate raw potatoes for months while he scrimped and saved every penny to pay for his in ring training. Eventually, he would use a different last name; Austin.

That's right, Stone Cold Steve Austin began his career on the very bottom rung of the pro wrestling industry. Often he was only paid fifty dollars per night, if he was paid at all.

Likewise, Adam Page cut his teeth on the indie scene. His athleticism and eager attitude made him a standout, and he was selected for a coveted spot in the Ring of Honor Dojo.

From there, Adam Page expanded his presence into the Japanese wrestling scene, and became a coveted property before signing with AEW.

Both men worked their way up form the bottom to the upper echelons of pro wrestling, which is part of what makes them so compelling.

There you have it; five reasons Adam Page reminds us of Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article,and as always thanks for reading.