Top WWE Superstar says Ethan Page does not belong in NXT
Ethan Page arrived in WWE NXT last month and immediately began chasing the NXT Championship, not too long after leaving AEW and ROH. The 18-year veteran continues to work the main event of the brand but a top superstar has just made harsh comments about the Canadian grappler. This was NXT Champion Trick Williams.
The Motion Picture made his in-ring debut for the company at the NXT Battleground Premium Live Event on June 9, coming up short against NXT Champion Trick Williams in the 12-minute main event. Page tried to participate in tonight's #1 contender's Battle Royal, as the final entrant, but he and debuting TNA star Joe Hendry argued before the match could even begin. Oro Mensah then attacked Page and they brawled to the back as the Battle Royal began.
Je'Von Evans won the Battle Royal to earn a Heatwave shot at the NXT Championship. Evans and Page later exchanged words in Ava's office, which led to the General Manager booking the two in the main event of tonight's NXT episode. Page later spoke to Kelly Kincaid and cut a promo on Mensah, while also claiming he was never eliminated from the Battle Royal, and claiming Trick didn't beat him at his best.
All Ego promised to take care of Evans in the main event, then come for Trick's title, and to take out Mensah the next time they cross paths. Trick said Page is a bad guy who hustled his way into a title match, then declared that Page does not belong in WWE NXT, and will always be an outsider.
Page and The Young OG went at each other in the main event tonight, with The Anointed One on commentary. The two-time TNA Tag Team Champion ended up dropping Evans into the turnbuckles, then finishing him off with Ego's Edge for the pin to win in just over 10 minutes.
Potential WWE NXT Heatwave main event change
The WWE NXT Heatwave main event was originally announced as Je'Von Evans challenging Trick Williams for the NXT Championship. Evans won a 25-Man Battle Royal to become the new #1 contender on tonight's live episode.
Ethan Page was never eliminated from the Battle Royal however, and after defeating Evans in tonight's main event, Booker T noted to Williams on commentary that it looks like he has a new #1 contender. This indicates towards plans for a Triple Threat bout at Heatwave, but that quickly changed as Shawn Spears hit the ring.
Spears attacked Evans while The Anointed One and All Ego argued. Trick tried to make the save for Evans, but the heels beat him down. Evans then saved Trick, but the show ended with all four superstars down in the ring with the NXT Championship in the middle. The belief now is that Williams will defend in a Fatal Four-Way at NXT Heatwave, against Spears, Evans, and Page.
The 2024 WWE NXT Heatwave PLE is scheduled for Sunday, July 7. The big event will air live on Peacock from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.