As of early 2026, the so-called “controversy” surrounding AEW wrestler Hangman Adam Page is not based on any real scandal or wrongdoing by Page himself. Within the wrestling community, it is widely understood to be the result of malicious social media trolling and misinformation, not an actual allegation or case involving him.
Over time, three separate and unrelated situations have been repeatedly confused or deliberately mixed together online, leading to misleading search results and false narratives.
1. The “Fan Photo” Social Media Trolling of Adam Page
The most common source of confusion comes from coordinated trolling on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), particularly between 2024 and 2025.
What happened:
Troll accounts targeted AEW wrestlers—including Adam Page—by sharing old photos of them posing with fans at airports, conventions, or meet-and-greets. These posts would then claim that the fan in the photo was later identified as a registered sex offender or someone with a criminal record.
The reality:
Professional wrestlers take hundreds of photos every year with complete strangers in public spaces. They do not know these people personally and cannot background-check fans who ask for a picture.
The intent:
These posts are designed to create guilt by association, falsely implying that the wrestler had knowledge of or a relationship with the individual. There has never been any evidence that Adam Page knew these fans or had any connection beyond a brief public photo.
2. Association With Joey Ryan During the Independent Era
Another situation often misrepresented online involves Joey Ryan, a former wrestler.
The context:
Before AEW existed, Adam Page was part of The Elite during their time in Ring of Honor and the independent wrestling scene. Joey Ryan appeared in content related to Being The Elite, a YouTube series filmed between 2017 and 2018.
The controversy:
In 2020, during the #SpeakingOut movement, Joey Ryan was accused by multiple women of sexual assault and harassment.
The aftermath:
Once the allegations became public, Adam Page and the rest of The Elite immediately cut all ties with Ryan. However, older photos and videos from years earlier still circulate online and are sometimes used to suggest that Page or others “should have known,” despite no evidence that they were aware of Ryan’s private behavior at the time.
3. Confusion With the Adam Walsh Act
Some search results linking “Adam Page” with criminal terms come from algorithmic confusion, not wrestling news.
Why this happens:
The Adam Walsh Act is named after Adam Walsh, a child murdered in 1981. His case is unrelated to wrestling, but shared first and last names can cause automated systems or casual searches to incorrectly associate unrelated topics.
Result:
This creates misleading keyword overlaps that have nothing to do with Adam Page, the wrestler.
Hangman Adam Page’s Actual Reputation
Within the wrestling industry, Adam Page is widely regarded as one of the more respected and socially conscious performers.
- He is a former high school graphic design and journalism teacher
- He has publicly supported charities and social justice causes
- His “controversies” are almost entirely kayfabe (storyline-based), including violent match types or scripted rivalries, such as his 2026 heel turn storyline involving Swerve Strickland
There have been no credible allegations, investigations, or scandals involving Adam Page in real life.
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