Ethan Page Says Past Promotions Tried to Push Him Aside Before His WWE Breakthrough

WWE Intercontinental Champion Ethan Page recently opened up about the challenges he faced earlier in his career, claiming that several wrestling companies he worked for attempted to force him out.

Speaking on Ringer Wrestling, Page explained that the promotions he passed through undervalued him, arguing that his abilities and upside made others in the business uneasy.

“Well, yes, because my locker room history is also very extensive. I have always reached a point of knowing my value is not being appreciated in the company that I am currently in. Not the one right now — I’m very appreciated,” he said.

“But I will say every company before did not appreciate who I was and what I brought to the table. And I actually think that my skill set and my potential made people very uncomfortable, and they didn’t think that they could hold up against me. I was a real threat,” Page added.

“So they essentially tried to push me out of everywhere that I was. And I happily watched them open the door and saw success on the other side. And I upgraded every company that I left from,” he continued.

“And now I am in the company and I started at the bottom and I have now upgraded in the only company left to be in. And I promise I will reach the top of the WWE and I will exit at the top. I am at this part of my career right near the end. We are about there. Not much more. Not much more to go in this last little climb. You are about to see the greatest stuff of all time,” he remarked in character.

Page also reflected on his early influences, noting that he paid too much attention to unsuccessful voices in the industry instead of its seasoned veterans.

“I listened to too many broke, unsuccessful people. I did. And the irony of them being the loudest people in my career is hilarious, because once I run into legends, always giving me my props. Anyone that’s had real success in wrestling, always giving me my flowers to my face,” he explained.

“These are the people that have always helped me or opened doors for me, or saw me struggling and told me to leave. The greats, the best of the best, the richest of the richest. These are the men telling me I’m doing great,” he said.

“You think I give a rat’s ass what everyone else thinks? No. That’s silly. I’ve never been given my flowers ever, especially by the actual industry. But you can’t take flowers to the bank. They get bad and they die,” Page concluded.

Before signing with WWE in 2024, the 37-year-old Page competed for Impact Wrestling, ROH, Evolve, PWG, and AEW. His move from AEW to WWE NXT in 2024 marked the start of a steady ascent that has since made him Intercontinental Champion.

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