At the AEW Full Gear 2025 pay-per-view, Samoa Joe shocked the audience by defeating Hangman Page to claim the AEW Men’s World Championship for the second time. This outcome angered many fans, as Page had recently won the title from Jon Moxley at AEW All In Texas. Despite the backlash, Brian Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio revealed that the title change was not a last-minute decision but rather a plan that had been in place for some time. Alvarez emphasized that this wasn’t a sudden change like those sometimes orchestrated by Vince McMahon in WWE, but a carefully planned move. This mirrors the surprise when Joe initially captured the AEW Men’s World Championship from MJF at the World’s End pay-per-view in December 2023, a result that had similarly been pre-planned. With this victory, Samoa Joe becomes the fourth wrestler in AEW history to hold the Men’s World Championship multiple times, joining Hangman Page, CM Punk, and Jon Moxley—the latter holding the record with four reigns.
Fan Take: This title change is significant for AEW fans because it signals a long-term vision behind their storytelling and championship reigns, rather than impulsive decisions. It also opens fresh narrative possibilities and rivalries, keeping the sport dynamic and unpredictable.
