Ethan Page Talks About AEW Disorganization And How He Was Signed To WWE

Ethan Page has made a big mark on WWE’s NXT brand since he arrived a little over a month ago. It was shocking to see him show up because absolutely no one expected him to be on NXT one random Tuesday. Some even assumed he was still under contract with AEW. However, WWE seemed to be keeping track of when his deal was going to expire as they snatched him up well before he could re-sign with them or even sign with another company. Ethan took part in an interview recently where he discussed how the whole thing came to pass and even discussed the AEW environment.

On a recent episode of Talk’n Shop, he discussed how everything went down. He claimed that he was on his way to an independent show just after leaving another show and was pretty tired. He would then get a phone call he never expected. Page was shocked by all of this and did not believe it was a WWE representative on the other line for a minute. He realized he was legitimately speaking to the WWE when they gave him an offer. This is the entire way it went down, according to Ethan Page himself:

“I ended up being able to leave, thank you for that. After that, I got a random phone call on a layover and I was like, ‘This is not real.’ They’re like, ‘Yes it is, here’s the offer, does that sound good?’ I was like, ‘Yes’ and they hung up. Then someone else called me right after and they’re like, ‘Did you just speak to so and so?’ Yes. ‘Okay, we’re gonna need this, this, this, this, this, this, and then we’ll have everything sent over to you.’ I was like, wait a second, that was a real phone call that just happened?

It was me flying home from Winnipeg to go work for Sami Callihan in Dayton, Ohio. I had to like fly to Detroit and then pick up my car and drive three hours, and I was dreading it. Then I went to do a show, and I gotta keep it secret. I got to see all of the boys again before I took off, a bunch of the IMPACT guys were there that I got to see. It was cold and out of nowhere, crazy.”

THE AEW/ROH ENVIRONMENT

This type of call is not uncommon for many who sign with WWE. Many times, people wonder how WWE gets their number. Yet due to how many wrestlers know each other and former applications they may have sent, WWE usually knows how to get in touch. Page did not just speak about the way everything went down that led to his signing with WWE. He also discussed the AEW/ROH environment.

He was asked about his time working with AEW and ROH. Page has said in the past that he loved working for these places. Of course, that is to be expected. That is especially true when you’re actually working there. On top of that, Ethan Page himself would tell you that the environment in these places was normal. He had nothing better to compare them to, at least not until WWE signed him. Page claimed:

“Pretty crazy. I went from somewhere that was so chaotic and unorganized to a place that, I mean I’m still learning because I’m still so new here. But this is a machine and it’s incredible. It feels good to not feel like I have to do everything myself. To have people that want to see me succeed is kind of mind-blowing.”

Several wrestlers have claimed, in the past, that when they went to other companies, they hated the disorganization. They were so used to how things operated in WWE that it was a culture shock to experience something else. Several veterans, like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, have tried to change AEW’s culture and environment. Yet this did not go very well, and many want to leave when their contract expires.

The issue for some is, well, they likely won’t get a better contract outside of AEW unless WWE wants to bring them in. If there is anything AEW can be commended for, it is paying the wrestlers very well.

ETHAN PAGE CONSIDERS HIMSELF (SORT OF) GREEN

Ethan Page has been wrestling for just under two decades. That said, it might be surprising to learn that he feels like he was never properly taught. He also never could seem to get proper training or assistance elsewhere. This could be because everyone around him was likely still pretty young or green. Page told the Talk’n Shop crew:

“I’m seventeen years in, I still feel like — I don’t want to say the word green. But like, I’ve essentially had to do everything myself. I pretty much taught myself how to wrestle, and now I’m like, oh, there’s geniuses here all day that I can be like, ‘Does this suck? Okay, well tell me how to do it better,’ and they will.”

Page is not lying about the geniuses around him. NXT is run creatively by Shawn Michaels, perhaps the greatest in-ring performer of all time. On top of that, William Regal is back with the company as well. Regal’s mind for the business is seemingly endless. He is not only an amazing grappler, but he’s always been good on the mic. This is likely why he took over the promo class when Dusty Rhodes passed away several years ago.

In addition to them, Matt Bloom is the head trainer for the WWE Performance Center. Known as A-Train, Prince Albert, and several others, he was a successful performer in WWE and especially in Japan. Finally, Sara Amato (known as Sara Del Rey) is the Assistant Head Coach for the WWE PC. She was one of the best female wrestlers to ever live.

In addition to them, other coaches at the PC include Terry Taylor, Robbie Brookside, Steve Corino, Norman Smiley, Fit Finley, and Johnny Moss. There are also a ton of guest trainers and Superstars who are always there. CM Punk and Natalya Neidhart are two of the most prominent as of late.

That said, when Ethan Page claims to be surrounded by geniuses, he isn’t kidding. He’ll most certainly become even better than he is now. That is scary, considering he’s already fantastic.