Ethan Page Says WWE NXT Debut Came Out Of ‘Necessity’: ‘My Availability Came Up & I Filled A Role That Was Vacant’

Published: Apr 10, 2026 by Connel Rumsey | Last Updated: Apr 10, 2026 by Connel Rumsey

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Ethan Page Says WWE NXT Debut Came Out Of ‘Necessity’: ‘My Availability Came Up & I Filled A Role That Was Vacant’

WWE NXT star Ethan Page has opened up on how his relationship with Shawn Michaels grew after his debut came ‘out of necessity’.

Ethan Page made his WWE debut on the May 28, 2024 episode of WWE NXT, where he jumped NXT Champion Trick Williams on his arrival.

Page would go on to become the fastest NXT Champion in history, picking up the title at NXT Heatwave that July.

Ethan Page’s Growing Relationship With Shawn Michaels

Speaking to TMZ’s Inside The Ring, Ethan Page opened up on how his relationship with Shawn Michaels since joining NXT, after his debut came ‘out of necessity’.

He said:

“I will say it started out of necessity. It was kind of like they needed someone quick, my availability came up, and I filled a role that was vacant.

“Through that the relationship grew through like ‘ok, this guy kind of knows what he’s doing so maybe I can lean on him more’, and dude he’s the smartest, one of the best, arguably the greatest in-ring performer, so to me I’m like this is someone I can pick the brain of on a regular basis, so then I’m obviously gonna lean on him as much as I can.

“At this stage of my career, and age, and life, I’m not really here to waste time. So for this to open itself up to me and to have the chance to learn from one of the greatest of all time was, I mean I’m still pestering the man to give me advice and tips and help or whatever, and I probably will as long as his willing to offer it to me.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Shawn Michaels Messed With Ethan Page On His First Night

Page would follow up with a story of how Shawn Michaels messed with him ahead of his first segment on NXT television.

He added:

“Yes (Shawn messes with people backstage). He’s the worst.

“So legitimately in my debut, which I found out maybe he wasn’t joking because we ended up changing how I look, but right before I went out to do my first promo where I signed my first contract with Ava in the middle of the ring, he looked at me and he goes ‘dude are you really gonna wear that?’

“I don’t know this guy at all, and I’m about to move my family to Florida, my whole life is getting uprooted. I’m like meticulous about everything, psychotic at times, and I’m like ‘okay I think I got the perfect look’. Like we don’t really know what Ethan Page is in NXT yet, but this is a safe outfit, okay here we go, first day grabbing the mic, live television; ‘are you really gonna wear that?’ I’m like ‘brother’.

“So yes he definitely messes with us.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

Ethan Page Leaving WWE NXT Following Stand & Deliver?

With Ethan Page coming up short in the main event of NXT Stand & Deliver, speculation has emerged about him potentially finishing up with NXT and moving up to the main roster.

Page captured almost immediate success upon his arrival to NXT, with him becoming the fastest NXT Champion in history, and also the longest reigning North American Champion in history.

With such success already in the company, Ethan Page will immediately carve out an important role on the WWE main roster, with his charisma sure to put him in roles similar to The Miz in the past.

Page is challenging for the Tony D’Angelo’s NXT Championship this Tuesday at NXT Revenge, which should be his final match with the brand.