One Big Thing: Ethan Page’s Journey from AEW to WWE NXT Championship

One big thing: Ethan Page wins WWE NXT Championship just a month after leaving AEW

Ethan Page captured the WWE NXT Championship in a Fatal 4-Way match, dethroning Trick Williams without even pinning the champion. This quick ascent comes after Page felt his career had stagnated in AEW.

Why it matters:

Page’s rapid rise in WWE highlights the potential for wrestlers to reinvigorate their careers by changing promotions. It also underscores WWE’s willingness to push new talent quickly when they see potential.

By the numbers:

• Page debuted in WWE NXT on May 28, 2023
• He won the NXT Championship on July 2, 2023
• This is Page’s 4th match in WWE NXT

What they’re saying:

• “It was definitely time to leave…I could sit in catering for the next three years and my career would end or I try and do something before my career ends,” Page said on “Talkin’ Shop.”
• On receiving WWE’s offer: “I was like, ‘This is not real,’ and they were like, ‘Yes it is, here’s the offer,’ and I was like, ‘Yes,'”

Behind the scenes:

• Page received a call from WWE while on a layover to an independent show on May 17, just 11 days before his NXT debut.
• He cites WWE legends like The Rock, Macho Man, and Razor Ramon as childhood idols, making WWE a lifelong dream.

The bottom line:

Ethan Page’s swift transition from AEW to WWE NXT Champion demonstrates the dynamic nature of professional wrestling careers and the opportunities that can arise from taking risks.

What do you think about Ethan Page’s rapid rise in WWE NXT? Do you believe more wrestlers should consider switching promotions to revitalize their careers? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.