July 18, 2025 • 9 mins
WWE's NXT North American Champion All Ego Ethan Page joins the show for one of his most revealing interviews yet. He breaks down his wild win over Ricky Starks at Great American Bash, shares what Shawn Michaels told him that changed everything, reflects on surprising backstage advice from The Rock, and responds to that viral “mid-wrestler energy” quote. Plus—could Ethan be making a return to TNA with AJ Styles at Slammiversary?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. You'll play for all things
pro and exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Stope it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Wean'll tell you. Guys, Welcome back into iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast,
The Battleground Podcast. It is Battle and uh Man. Today
is a fun time because why our guests All Ego,
Ethan Page joint show, Ethan, What's up? Man?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Not a whole lot, just you know, chatting about myself
and how awesome NXT is.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, and I got to talk to you real quick
about how awesome NXT was over the weekend. You held
onto your North American title at Great American Batch, and
I gotta say I didn't know Ricky Starks could fly
like that after watching it. But what did that win
mean to you personally? And how far do you think
All Ego can take this run?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Well? The win man so much to me that I
will be celebrating my win in Houston. So if anyone
wants to celebrate with me, please join me at seven
one three music Call. I believe, am I right? God?
I'm a fantastic professional. I would say it was a
(01:20):
very big win. I'm going to celebrate the heck out
of it in Houston, and how far can I take
this championship. I think I've already announced publicly, whether people
think this is a mistake or not, that this is
the championship in NXT, the most prestigious title in NXT,
and I'm here to prove it. So I think I
can take this as far as I want to and
make it as big as I want to. I've already
(01:41):
made the title more prestigious than it ever has been before.
But the sky's the limit. Yeah, absolutely for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Now you've described wrestling rookies as requiring an oceans amount
of patients after, you know, helping develop some fresh talent
and NXT, how do you balance nurturing new stars while
staying ego First.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Oh, what a fantastic question. I would say, it's not
so much that I'm nurturing anything other than my lower back,
neck and knees. For me, carrying this entire brand has
been exhausting but absolutely rewarding. And I would say just
leaving NXT a better place than when I arrived will
(02:27):
be the ultimate pad on the back. And I think
that's my main focus, is kind of just surviving mentally
with children.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I completely understand that. I definitely understand that even Page
is our guest right now.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Now.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Recently during interview, you talked about when Shawn Michaels first
pulled you aside and said you've never been given a
fair shot, and you said, you literally hit in the
back room. Can you walk us through that surreal moment again,
like somebody like Sean Michael's coming to you and and
talking to you in that sort of way.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, I mean, to me, I would say the most
eye opening thing. I said this to my wife this week. Actually,
it's insane to me that throughout the entire course of
my career I've been trying to convince essentially failed wrestlers
or failed promoters or failed everything, never done anything in
(03:24):
their wrestling careers. Yet they're telling me that I'm just
not the right guy for the job, or that I
have an overinflated opinion of myself, or I see myself
for a position that they just don't agree with. And
yet here we are with the greatest wrestler of all time.
And this is a unanimous with many wrestling fans telling
(03:45):
all ego Ethan Page that he is exactly what he
thinks he is. How ironic that a bunch of nobodies
told me I wasn't the guy for eighteen years, and
then the guy says, man, you've been write all along,
and now look at what we have. We have arguably
(04:07):
one of the biggest future stars of professional wrestling. And
I will boldly say with the utmost confidence, the best
wrestler currently signed under a WW contract at every facet
of what we do as professional wrestlers.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, for sure, absolutely, even Page all ego, even Page
is our guest today. Now, you once said, do do
you think I give a crap morally?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
No?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I like winning. Fans love that quote. Some of the
you know, keyboard warriors, you know, some of the trolls
on the IWC called it mid wrestler energy. What do
you have to say about that?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What was the quote? Again? I don't want to talk
about myself, but I don't remember all the crap I say.
I just say what I feel. Give me the quote again.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
The quote was, do you think I I give a
crap morally?
Speaker 1 (05:01):
No?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I like winning.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So this is my issue with people judging, I mean
pretty much in any walk of life. I've done interviews
with people that work for the CW network and they
have asked me how I feel morally about the things
that I do, and I ask them how do they
feel morally about getting paid by the company that airs
(05:26):
the things that I do on television? Everyone on earth
gets to benefit from my actions, whether it's entertainment, whether
it's giving someone an avenue to hate me, because truthfully,
they're not happy with their life, but they can focus
their negative energy on me because I genuinely don't care
what people think. So as far as this quote goes,
(05:48):
I don't know. Man. I was just honestly feeling it.
That's what I said. I don't take it back. I
don't take back any dumb thing that I've ever said
in my life because I'm just living and I live
honest and true life, and I tell people my intentions
with a smile on my face, whether they're good or bad,
and everyone else is just fake and phony. They say
(06:10):
things they don't mean, they make promises they'll never keep,
and they have these beliefs that they don't actually follow
through with. So whatever anyone said about me, I'm sure
they can't look themselves in the mirror honestly and tell
themselves the truth. So you know what, sure enjoy calling
me mid or whatever thing you thought was gonna hurt
(06:32):
my feelings.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
We are hanging out with the greatest NXT North American
Champion of all time, Ethan Page. All Ego, Ethan Page
now another one of the goats and wrestling. You've also
spent some time with your backstage time with The Rock
has been described as a turning point. What's the most
unexpected advice he gave you?
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Ooh, So there was an instance where I felt I
was in the position to suggest something to everybody in
the room, and I suggested it in the most Canadian
way possible, which is very out of character for me,
(07:17):
and I was a little bit more polite than I
should have been. The Rock told me that if I
ever feel that I'm right, to never second guess myself,
no matter who's in the room, himself included, and to
just speak my truth and stand on what I believe,
because he said, if you feel it you're right, just
(07:38):
know you're right. So ever since then, I've never doubted
myself in any scenario, and I've just become just a
disruptor and kind of went with my gut on any
situation possible. And I don't think my career has slowed
down since that moment. So people say it's pivotal as
far as perception, and you know, it's like, oh wow,
(08:00):
they let Ethan Page on screen with The Rock. No, no, no,
they put all ego on screen with the Final Boss
because they knew that was best for the WWE. And
The Rock told me that whatever I feel and whatever
I think is best for me, and that's how I
have lived and that's how I've handled my career ever since,
and things have gone fantastic. Yeah, absolutely, for sure. Last
(08:25):
question before we let you go.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
You know with ww in this partnership with with TNA,
Slammiversary is coming up this weekend. They just announced AJ
Styles is going to be showing up at Slammiversary. You've
got your own history with the company. Any chance we'll
see you showing up to Slammiversary this weekend?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Wait? Hold on, AJ Styles is going to be at Slammiversary.
He is?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
That was just announced today by TNA.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Damn, that's very cool. I just found that out. I'm
a big TNA fan. I'm excited for TNA. I'm excited
for their locker room and the success that the company
has been having. But heck, no, I will not be
appearing as Slamnniversary. I am flying out at the end
of these interviews to Dover to be the Grand Marshal
for NASCAR thanks to the CW network. So I will
(09:11):
be schmoozing with some network executives and making the relationship
with NXT and CW even stronger than it already is,
and I'll be telling people to start their engines and
all that stuff too.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Absolutely well, all Ego Ethan Page. It's an honor we'repevieus
to have you on the show Man. Thanks for stopping by,
and we look forward to seeing you back on here
very soon.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Thank you. Happy to be here.
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. You'll play for all things
pro and exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Stope it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Wean'll tell you. Guys, Welcome back into iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast,
The Battleground Podcast. It is Battle and uh Man. Today
is a fun time because why our guests All Ego,
Ethan Page joint show, Ethan, What's up? Man?
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Not a whole lot, just you know, chatting about myself
and how awesome NXT is.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Yeah, and I got to talk to you real quick
about how awesome NXT was over the weekend. You held
onto your North American title at Great American Batch, and
I gotta say I didn't know Ricky Starks could fly
like that after watching it. But what did that win
mean to you personally? And how far do you think
All Ego can take this run?
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Well? The win man so much to me that I
will be celebrating my win in Houston. So if anyone
wants to celebrate with me, please join me at seven
one three music Call. I believe, am I right? God?
I'm a fantastic professional. I would say it was a
(01:20):
very big win. I'm going to celebrate the heck out
of it in Houston, and how far can I take
this championship. I think I've already announced publicly, whether people
think this is a mistake or not, that this is
the championship in NXT, the most prestigious title in NXT,
and I'm here to prove it. So I think I
can take this as far as I want to and
make it as big as I want to. I've already
(01:41):
made the title more prestigious than it ever has been before.
But the sky's the limit. Yeah, absolutely for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Now you've described wrestling rookies as requiring an oceans amount
of patients after, you know, helping develop some fresh talent
and NXT, how do you balance nurturing new stars while
staying ego First.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Oh, what a fantastic question. I would say, it's not
so much that I'm nurturing anything other than my lower back,
neck and knees. For me, carrying this entire brand has
been exhausting but absolutely rewarding. And I would say just
leaving NXT a better place than when I arrived will
(02:27):
be the ultimate pad on the back. And I think
that's my main focus, is kind of just surviving mentally
with children.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I completely understand that. I definitely understand that even Page
is our guest right now.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Now.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Recently during interview, you talked about when Shawn Michaels first
pulled you aside and said you've never been given a
fair shot, and you said, you literally hit in the
back room. Can you walk us through that surreal moment again,
like somebody like Sean Michael's coming to you and and
talking to you in that sort of way.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
Yeah, I mean, to me, I would say the most
eye opening thing. I said this to my wife this week. Actually,
it's insane to me that throughout the entire course of
my career I've been trying to convince essentially failed wrestlers
or failed promoters or failed everything, never done anything in
(03:24):
their wrestling careers. Yet they're telling me that I'm just
not the right guy for the job, or that I
have an overinflated opinion of myself, or I see myself
for a position that they just don't agree with. And
yet here we are with the greatest wrestler of all time.
And this is a unanimous with many wrestling fans telling
(03:45):
all ego Ethan Page that he is exactly what he
thinks he is. How ironic that a bunch of nobodies
told me I wasn't the guy for eighteen years, and
then the guy says, man, you've been write all along,
and now look at what we have. We have arguably
(04:07):
one of the biggest future stars of professional wrestling. And
I will boldly say with the utmost confidence, the best
wrestler currently signed under a WW contract at every facet
of what we do as professional wrestlers.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Yeah, for sure, absolutely, even Page all ego, even Page
is our guest today. Now, you once said, do do
you think I give a crap morally?
Speaker 1 (04:34):
No?
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I like winning. Fans love that quote. Some of the
you know, keyboard warriors, you know, some of the trolls
on the IWC called it mid wrestler energy. What do
you have to say about that?
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What was the quote? Again? I don't want to talk
about myself, but I don't remember all the crap I say.
I just say what I feel. Give me the quote again.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
The quote was, do you think I I give a
crap morally?
Speaker 1 (05:01):
No?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I like winning.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
So this is my issue with people judging, I mean
pretty much in any walk of life. I've done interviews
with people that work for the CW network and they
have asked me how I feel morally about the things
that I do, and I ask them how do they
feel morally about getting paid by the company that airs
(05:26):
the things that I do on television? Everyone on earth
gets to benefit from my actions, whether it's entertainment, whether
it's giving someone an avenue to hate me, because truthfully,
they're not happy with their life, but they can focus
their negative energy on me because I genuinely don't care
what people think. So as far as this quote goes,
(05:48):
I don't know. Man. I was just honestly feeling it.
That's what I said. I don't take it back. I
don't take back any dumb thing that I've ever said
in my life because I'm just living and I live
honest and true life, and I tell people my intentions
with a smile on my face, whether they're good or bad,
and everyone else is just fake and phony. They say
(06:10):
things they don't mean, they make promises they'll never keep,
and they have these beliefs that they don't actually follow
through with. So whatever anyone said about me, I'm sure
they can't look themselves in the mirror honestly and tell
themselves the truth. So you know what, sure enjoy calling
me mid or whatever thing you thought was gonna hurt
(06:32):
my feelings.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
We are hanging out with the greatest NXT North American
Champion of all time, Ethan Page. All Ego, Ethan Page
now another one of the goats and wrestling. You've also
spent some time with your backstage time with The Rock
has been described as a turning point. What's the most
unexpected advice he gave you?
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Ooh, So there was an instance where I felt I
was in the position to suggest something to everybody in
the room, and I suggested it in the most Canadian
way possible, which is very out of character for me,
(07:17):
and I was a little bit more polite than I
should have been. The Rock told me that if I
ever feel that I'm right, to never second guess myself,
no matter who's in the room, himself included, and to
just speak my truth and stand on what I believe,
because he said, if you feel it you're right, just
(07:38):
know you're right. So ever since then, I've never doubted
myself in any scenario, and I've just become just a
disruptor and kind of went with my gut on any
situation possible. And I don't think my career has slowed
down since that moment. So people say it's pivotal as
far as perception, and you know, it's like, oh wow,
(08:00):
they let Ethan Page on screen with The Rock. No, no, no,
they put all ego on screen with the Final Boss
because they knew that was best for the WWE. And
The Rock told me that whatever I feel and whatever
I think is best for me, and that's how I
have lived and that's how I've handled my career ever since,
and things have gone fantastic. Yeah, absolutely, for sure. Last
(08:25):
question before we let you go.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
You know with ww in this partnership with with TNA,
Slammiversary is coming up this weekend. They just announced AJ
Styles is going to be showing up at Slammiversary. You've
got your own history with the company. Any chance we'll
see you showing up to Slammiversary this weekend?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
Wait? Hold on, AJ Styles is going to be at Slammiversary.
He is?
Speaker 2 (08:45):
That was just announced today by TNA.
Speaker 1 (08:47):
Damn, that's very cool. I just found that out. I'm
a big TNA fan. I'm excited for TNA. I'm excited
for their locker room and the success that the company
has been having. But heck, no, I will not be
appearing as Slamnniversary. I am flying out at the end
of these interviews to Dover to be the Grand Marshal
for NASCAR thanks to the CW network. So I will
(09:11):
be schmoozing with some network executives and making the relationship
with NXT and CW even stronger than it already is,
and I'll be telling people to start their engines and
all that stuff too.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Absolutely well, all Ego Ethan Page. It's an honor we'repevieus
to have you on the show Man. Thanks for stopping by,
and we look forward to seeing you back on here
very soon.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
Thank you. Happy to be here.
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