Current NXT Champion Ethan Page looks back on moving over from AEW and debuting in NXT. He also reveals the big names he hopes to face in WWE someday.
Ethan Page is a new name for WWE and NXT fans, but not a new name for wrestling fans. Page made a name for himself in WWE’s rival AEW and was a part of the promotion from 2021 until he left in 2024. He never won a championship in AEW or reached the top of the card, but he had notable matches and feuds. Perhaps the most notable feud was his feud with Chris Jericho and his faction while Page and Scorpio Sky teamed up with American Top Team.
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In 2024 Ethan Page decided it was time for him to leave AEW. WWE took the opportunity to snatch up yet another former AEW wrestler. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet on his podcast, Insight, Page was asked how quickly he debuted after getting an offer from WWE.
“My debut was like two weeks later, maybe less because I had to come down here to do like a physical, meet with everyone and then the following week I debuted … I don’t know if I’m like revealing how self-conscious I am as a human being, but obviously that’s like on the back of your mind like is anyone going to even care … people were very excited, and it’s cool that we got to keep the momentum going cause that’s like very hard in wrestling.” H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Page made his debut in NXT at the end of May by attacking Trick Williams. Upon his debut he made a huge revelation. NXT wrestlers like Noam Dar and Oro Mensah were being attacked, but no one knew by whom. It was Page, it was Page the whole time.
Page was immediately thrust into the NXT Championship picture when he attacked then champion Trick Williams. The two men went back and forth with Page losing a title match with Williams. They eventually met again in a Fatal-4-Way match and this time Page won. He became the champion just 40 days after debuting.
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WWE has a unique way of doing things when wrestlers debut. No matter how much experience a wrestler has on the indies or in other promotions they will go to NXT first 99 percent of the time. Page was no different. It causes experienced wrestlers in their 30s sharing the ring and training with 20-year-old wrestlers who haven’t wrestled a day in their life.
Page discussed what it is like sharing the ring and training with people so much younger than himself. He admitted that it makes him feel old,
“Dude, I feel old. I’m training with 20-year-old college athletes that are freaks of nature. That’s what this place is, breeding freaks of nature. And then here’s my broken down, 34-year-old ass in training and working out with these guys looking around, like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m the old guy now.’” H/T Wrestling Inc.
Page has defended his NXT Championship a few times since winning it in July. One of those defenses was against one of the most popular wrestlers on the internet, Joe Hendry. He has used his experience to give himself the edge over many of his opponents and he will have that edge over almost everyone in NXT.
However, Page was asked who his dream WWE opponent is. His answer was two wrestlers he will not have the edge over and one is one of the most dangerous men in WWE. An opponent who can strike out of nowhere and win a match with just one move and the other is the Final Boss.
“It’s probably Randy Orton. Yeah, I would say that is the [dream]. I mean, one of the best ever [over the] past 20 years here. How many more does he have? I don’t know. I mean, if I look at him, I’m gonna think a lot looks like a million dollars. He’s the guy. I mean, he’s the bar as far as how you want to be as a wrestler, he’s great. The Rock is obviously numero uno. I don’t know how many more matches he plans on having. I don’t know how many Egos Edges he has left in his career.” H/T Wrestling Inc.
Page has a long way to go before he faces off with Orton and even further before facing The Rock. He hasn’t even faced a main roster guy yet. However, next week Orton will be down in NXT to face Je’von Evans. That makes it the perfect time to challenge Orton to a match or get involved so Orton challenges him.
What did you think of Ethan Page’s NXT debut? Is the NXT version of Page better, worse or the same as the AEW version? Do you think it was too early to give him the NXT Championship? Would you like to see him face Orton? Let us know on social media what other dream matches you would like to see from Page.
Sources: Insight, Wrestling Inc., Wrestling Inc., Wrestling Inc.
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