Tag: Ethan Page

AEW Collision results 12/9/23: Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson in action

AEW Collision also saw Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston renew their heated rivalry in the Continental Classic.

AEW Collision has been a little up and down this fall after a certain you know who got bounced from the company. Some shows have been pretty star-studded, while others have felt like Dynamite-lite (hey, that rhymes). Happily, this feels like one of the former even though it’s a pre-recorded show that went down earlier this week in Montreal.

For starters, there’s a tremendous grudge match between Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston, with some high stakes as it’s part of the Continental Classic. Bryan Danielson and Andrade El Idolo will also face off in a tournament match of their own.

And hey, why go to Canada without a match between two guys trying to prove they are the best from the North? Kenny Omega and Ethan Page will do that tonight as well.

We’re assuming you haven’t read any spoilers if you’re reading this, and we haven’t either, so let’s see what this night holds on TNT.

AEW Collision results from Montreal:

  • Eddie Kingston def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, staying mathematically alive to advance from the group with his first three points
  • We hear from Jon Moxley after his tournament victory over Rush, and he ponders whether Swerve Strickland is willing to do what it takes to stay at the top of the business
  • Hook’s interview with Renee Paquette is crashed by Wheeler Yuta, who Hook dismisses as someone who “kicked Shibata in the balls,” and the two men agree to fight under FTW rules
  • Willow Nightingale def. Mercedes Martinez by pinfall, then gets attacked by Martinez and Diamante after the bell until
  • Jake Hager is upset that Danhausen stick his beloved hat down his pants, but Matt Menard and Angelo Parker are fired up by being in Montreal; meanwhile, Saraya and Menard are still trying to keep Ruby Soho apart from Parker
  • Swerve Strickland cuts his Continental Classic promo and calls himself the leader of the whole company
  • Wardlow def. Willie Mack by referee stoppage in a match that included one ridiculous show of strength with Wardlow catching Mack in midair and powerbombing him
  • Malakai Black and the House repeat their assertion that FTR should have joined them
  • Kenny Omega def. Ethan Page by pinfall; the two wrestlers show each other respect after the match, but Big Bill lays Omega out with a big boot and Page is too beaten up to hustle over to retaliate
  • CJ Perry talks up Andrade’s resume and his chances of winning tonight, but she’s not thrilled about Miro’s attempt to force her into a traditional wife role
  • Julia Hart says she can see behind masks but can’t quite figure out Abadon
  • Penta El Zero Miedo and Komander def. Cool Hand Ang and Daddy Magic despite the fans being very behind the hometown duo
  • Keith Lee and Shane Taylor have a face to face exchange of pleasantries ahead of their meeting at Final Battle
  • Another Continental Classic promo shows everyone who wrestled this week on Dynamite
  • Andrade El Idolo def. Bryan Danielson by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, then joins the medical personnel in checking on a bloody Danielson afterward only to be run off by Castagnoli and Yuta

AEW Collision results 12/2/23: Bryan Danielson leaves Eddie Kingston down bad

Some intriguing matches also got set up for Dynamite and Final Battle on AEW Collision this week.

Saturday night’s alright for fighting, and tonight, it’s more than alright for fighting in a tournament. The Blue League of the Continental Classic takes center stage tonight on AEW Collision from Erie, Penn.

Most notably, Bryan Danielson makes his debut in the Classic as he’s only recently been cleared to compete. He’s back now, and he can compound the misery of one Eddie Kingston by beating the Mad King tonight.

Maybe Eddie is having some remorse over putting both of his championships up for grabs in this tourney, eh?

Get ready, Erie. Here we go.

AEW Collision results from Erie:

  • Brody King def. Claudio Castagnoli by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, going to six points after his first two matches
  • Jon Moxley’s passionate promo from earlier this week is shown
  • Abadon def. Kiera Hogan by pinfall; after the bell, the lights go out and come back on to reveal TBS Champion Julia Hart standing in the corner, then disappearing when the lights go off and on again
  • Samoa Joe is interrupted backstage by Roderick Strong, who insists MJF is the Devil and tries to convince him that the tag team match MJF agreed to on Dynamite is a setup; Joe simply laughs and walks away

  • Andrade El Idolo def. Daniel Garcia by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, sending Andrade to three points and dismaying Matt Menard, who was sitting in with the commentators
  • Willie Mack throws out a challenge to Wardlow for next week after seeing what Wardlow did to his friend, AR Fox

  • Strong dedicates The Kingdom’s match to his best friend, Adam Cole
  • The Kingdom def. Iron Savages by pinfall, with Strong getting in a shot after the bell before stumbling back to his wheelchair
  • Ethan Page says he’s refocused himself and wants to check off a bucket list item, challenging Kenny Omega to a match next week to determine who is the true King of Canada

  • Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Martinez exchange words in recorded promos
  • Buddy Matthews and Malakai Black def. Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal by pinfall; afterward, FTR hits the ring and violently declines Black’s invitation to join the House of Black, though it ends badly for the top guys and Black mocks them for having no one to come to their aid
  • Earlier this week, Toni Storm is upset Renee Paquette is interviewing her instead of RJ City, and Storm warns Skye Blue before throwing Renee’s own shoe at her

  • Blue taunts Storm for her “midlife crisis” and says she’ll shove Toni’s shoe right up her ass
  • A hype video promotes next week’s Dynamite showdown between Adam Copeland and Christian Cage
  • El Hijo del Vikingo def. Kip Sabian by pinfall, then extends his hand but we don’t see if Kip accepts it
  • Shane Taylor barges in and challenges Keith Lee to a match at Final Battle, which Lee accepts

  • Miro tries to barge in and attack Andrade, but CJ Perry gets him to promise not to lay a hand on her client
  • Bryan Danielson def. Eddie Kingston by pinfall in a Continental Classic Blue League match, keeping Eddie at zero points

AEW Rampage results 08/18/23: Fight for the Fallen ends with 4-way brawl

The women in the 4-way title match at All In ended AEW Rampage Fight for the Fallen with a huge brawl.

We’re less than two weeks away from what’s shaping up to be a historic AEW All In at London’s Wembley Stadium. And while today’s news hasn’t exactly been great for the company, one thing that can take some of the bad vibes away would be a great hour of Rampage.

This one looks like it could be exactly that, with two of AEW’s best high-fliers going at it, plus a big women’s tag team match and the ROH tag team champs in action as well.

So yes, it’ll be nice to just concentrate on the actual wrestling for a bit, plus the fact that all of AEW’s shows this week benefit the Maui Food Bank. Let’s do it together.

AEW Rampage Fight for the Fallen results:

  • Rey Fenix def. Komander by pinfall with Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley shown watching closely on a backstage monitor
  • Dr. Britt Baker tells Renee Paquette that it would be the best full circle moment to win the women’s world championship at All In
  • Johnny TV congratulates
  • Aussie Open def. Ethan Page and Brother Zay by pinfall to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship; afterward, they get on the mic to warn Adam Cole and MJF they will show them who’s the best at Wembley
  • A video package hypes up The Righteous, which includes a face longtime AEW fans will know in Stu Grayson
  • The Hardys say that Aussie Open are on their radar and want to try to take the titles from them right before All In
  • Sammy Guevara def. Jon Cruz by pinfall in a brief squash match
  • Nyla Rose cuts a brief promo saying she needs to remind everyone who she is and that she’s been here from the beginning
  •  Hikaru Shida and Skye Blue def. The Outcasts (Toni Storm and Ruby Soho) by pinfall
  • After the main event, The Outcasts beat up the victorious Shida and Blue, but Baker sprints to the ring to even the odds, and the show ends with referees trying to separate the four women who will fight for the title in London

AEW Rampage results 06/09/23: Skye Blue soars to title opportunity

See who emerged as the No. 1 contender for the AEW Women’s World Championship on AEW Rampage.

It’s time to find out who’s going to be next to challenge Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship.

There are a handful of wrestlers with their eyes on Storm’s title, so the easiest way to settle the pecking order among them is to throw them into one match. Naturally.

That happens tonight on AEW Rampage, with Britt Baker, Skye Blue, Mercedes Martinez and Nyla Rose all vying for the title shot. Logic would dictate that Baker will win, both because she’s the highest profile competitor and is part of an ongoing narrative with Storm and The Outcasts, but you never know.

This episode of Rampage will also have a couple of intriguing trios matches (any night where Rey Fenix and The Acclaimed are all competing is a good one) and Powerhouse Hobbs will be in action as well.

So even though I’m personally invested in and distracted by Game 4 of the NBA Finals (#BringItIn), I’m looking forward to this Rampage as well. Let’s see what we’ve got.

AEW Rampage results:

  • Lucha Bros. and Bandido def. Ethan Page, Big Bill and Lee Moriarty by pinfall after Matt and Jeff Hardy and insist that Page pull up Jeff Hardy-like arm sleeves, after which he is quickly pinned by Bandido
  • QTV is back in effect, with QT Marshall saying they need to be edgier, but despite one funny joke about “making an announcement about an announcement,” they settle on just sending Powerhouse Hobbs out to show people what Collision will be about
  • Powerhouse Hobbs def. Caleb Crush in a squash
  • Arn Anderson gives Renee Paquette an update on his son Brock and warns Christian Cage and Luchasaurus that what goes around, comes around; Wardlow says he’ll make them pay but needs to take care of Jake Hager first
  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. Spanish Announce Project by pinfall
  • Paquette attempts to interview Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett and company but Karen Jarrett wants to use the time to handle her beef with Aubrey Edwards; the referee arrives with Mark Briscoe in tow, and Edwards says she’s going to kick Karen’s ass despite AEW not sanctioning a match between them; Briscoe says AEW will sanction a mixed trios match, which will be Lethal and the Jarretts against Edwards, Mark … and Papa Briscoe!
  • Skye Blue def. Nyla Rose, Mercedes Martinez and Britt Baker to earn an AEW Women’s World Championship match on the next episode of Dynamite

AEW Rampage results 05/26/23: Tag teams, trios take the pre-Double or Nothing stage

Check out the action from the final AEW Rampage before Double or Nothing in Las Vegas.

Maybe because AEW PPVs are several months apart, it sometimes feels like the stretch run to each one is longer than it should be. But that’s behind us now as Double or Nothing is Sunday night, meaning tonight’s episode of AEW Rampage is legitimately the last stop before the big event.

Unlike previous years, AEW chose not to do a live Rampage for Double or Nothing week this time out, meaning there are spoilers out there for what’s going to happen. Nevertheless, just like we did for the other wrestling show on TV tonight, we’re going to happily live blog this like it’s unfolding in real time. You can indulge us that, yes?

What we know is that this is going to be a tag team-heavy hour of action. The Acclaimed, who went from being the hottest duo in the sport to a bit of an afterthought as of late as a trio, will face a trio from Le Faccion Ingobernable. A big battle in the women’s division will see Britt Baker and Hikaru Shida join forces to battle Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir. And Best Friends will go up against a tag team that used to be part of The Firm but seems to be sticking together anyway, Big Bill and Lee Moriarty.

AEW Rampage results from Las Vegas:

  • Max Caster gets in a Fight Forever mention in his entrance rap and says Rush’s hair looks like pubes

  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. La Faccion Ingobernable by pinfall
  • After the bell, Anthony Bowens says they’ve been running through the trios division all month long so they’re looking to challenge House of Black on Sunday
  • Ethan Page and The Gunns def. Frescomatic, Watson and Jeaux Braxton by pinfall
  • Page says he hopes the Hardys were watching as they just showed the world what a real trio can do, boasting about taking out Brother Zay and implying their match will be three on two … but Matt and Jeff say they’ll delete those egos Sunday, but even though Brother Zay isn’t cleared for Double or Nothing, he’s found a replacement: Hook; the heels want no part of them for now

  • Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes are told that Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage will be in the Blackjack Battle Royal, and Lee’s response is simple: Can’t wait
  • Britt Baker and Hikaru Shida def. Marina Shafir and Nyla Rose by submission as Baker taps out Shafir with the Lockjaw, but …
  • … The Outcasts are shown on the big screen beating up on Jamie Hayter backstage, probably calling her participation in Double or Nothing even more into question

  • Big Bill and Lee Moriarty def. Best Friends by pinfall, then all heck breaks loose as the participants from the Blackjack Battle Royal start brawling; Orange Cassidy comes out to check on his friends, followed by Brian Cage, Keith Lee, Dustin Rhodes and Swerve Strickland, who taunts Lee as the show goes off the air

AEW Rampage results 05/19/23: Cole, Jericho headed for unsanctioned match, bay bay

Get the details for an AEW Rampage that saw hostilities between Adam Cole and Chris Jericho ramp up even more.

Playoff basketball waits for no one. Yes, even AEW Rampage.

So because there’s another playoff game tonight (go Himmy Butler!), Rampage has to slide out of its normal 10 p.m. ET timeslot.

But you know what? That’s not actually a bad thing, at least for those of us in the east, because it means a little pro wrestling earlier in the evening.

This show looks like it’ll be a fun hour, with some fun trios matches that include Blackpool Combat Club and The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass — not against each other, but maybe someday.

Let’s get to it.

AEW Rampage results for May 19, 2023:

  • Blackpool Combat Club def. Best Amigos and Bandido by pinfall
  • Kyle Fletcher explains why he targeted Orange Cassidy and plans on becoming the new AEW International Champion
  • Jade Cargill wins a quick squash match with a pump kick to go to 58-0, so Mark Starling brings out a second enhancement talent; Jade squashes her as well to go to 59-0, but instead of a third match, Taya Valkyrie comes out, hits the Road to Valhalla and says she’ll see Cargill at Double or Nothing
  • The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass def. Varsity Athletes by pinfall
  • The QTV crew is fired up, with QT Marshall giving himself credit for getting Powerhouse Hobbs on the graphic for AEW: Collision and acting like he’s going to be a major player on the new show
  • The Hardys and Brother Zay don’t trust Ethan Page, and they’re correct to feel that way, as his attempts to make amends are really just a cover for a sneak attack by The Gunns, who help him hurt Zay’s neck with help from a steel chair … and yep, they’ll face off at Double or Nothing
  • Chris Jericho doubles down on calling Adam Cole a coward, who is shown backstage and hears Jericho challenge him to an unsanctioned match at Double or Nothing and rip up the document barring him from the building; Cole then enters the arena, inspiring a look of concern on Jericho’s face
  • Sure enough, Cole makes his way to the main part of the arena, where he and Jericho need to be kept apart by a bunch of security guards and officials
  • Dustin Rhodes def. Bishop Kaun by pinfall (despite being busted open after being thrown into the TV cameras), but gets jumped afterward by the Mogul Embassy, leading to a showdown with Keith Lee — that Lee loses thanks to the numbers game and a steel chair, with Swerve Strickland delivering a Swerve Stomp as Lee is helpless in said chair

AEW Rampage results: Jay Lethal and company too much for Cash Wheeler

Full AEW Rampage results for the April 28, 2023 episode, including a showdown between Cash Wheeler and Jay Lethal.

It’s not 10 p.m., but nevertheless it’s time for AEW Rampage. The NHL playoffs have forced the action earlier in the night, though of course the show was taped Wednesday and could literally air at just about any time TNT has room between action movies and sports.

Semi-forgotten man Ricky Starks is in action alongside recently returned and suddenly turned face Shawn Spears, as they go up against the Bullet Club Gold duo of Jay White and Juice Robinson. Can you have a Bullet Club with just two people? These two seem determined to find out.

Also, FTR’s Cash Wheeler, who doesn’t take part in too many singles matches, will take on Jay Lethal as part of the ongoing struggle for the heart and mind of Jay Briscoe.

Let’s get to this and then get to the hockey.

AEW Rampage results:

  • Jay White and Juice Robinson def. Ricky Starks and Shawn Spears by pinfall with White pinning Spears with a Blade Runner
  • The Hardys are looking for Isiah Kassidy, and they find him … getting beaten up by The Firm; Ethan Page demands that their match against Matt and Jeff at the Hardy Compound take place next week, but Kassidy still gets chokeslammed off some scaffolding
  • Dustin Rhodes and Keith Lee def. Brady Pierce and Charlie James by pinfall, then has a staredown with Swerve Strickland and his Affiliates
  • Tay Melo crashes a Sammy Guevara interview to give him the business about potentially laying down for MJF
  • Anna Jay def. Ashley D’Amboise but gets attacked by Julia Hart right after the bell and they have a short fight that essentially ends in a stalemate
  • The Outcasts say Saraya will win her match on Dynamite against Willow Nightingale, because they wouldn’t say she’d lose it
  • The Acclaimed and DaddyAss def. Three jobbers by pinfall in a squash match that was shorter than Max Caster’s entrance rap
  • Jay Lethal def. Cash Wheeler by pinfall as Sonjay Dutt’s hijinks prove too much for even Dax Harwood and Mark Briscoe to counter

AEW Dynamite results: Swerve settles a score, The Elite stands strong

Live AEW Dynamite results for April 12, 2023 in Milwaukee, with Orange Cassidy defending his International Championship vs. Buddy Matthews.

If it’s Wednesday, and both the calendar and our boss assures us it is, it must be time for AEW Dynamite. Tonight’s show originates from Milwaukee, and a familiar formula for the card promises some good action.

For starters, we’ve got championship matches, as in plural. Orange Cassidy, a working man’s champion in every way but demeanor, is set to defend his AEW International Championship yet again. The challenger is someone who already has one title, Buddy Matthews of the House of Black, who would be a surprising yet not undeserving double champ if he wins.

Powerhouse Hobbs is another titleholder who isn’t about to back down from any challenge, even the open variety. Milwaukee will bear witness to Silas Young trying his best to wrest the TNT Championship from Hobbs, though that will be no easy task.

A pair of tag team matches have also been promoted. Riho and Skye Blue are among the women brave enough to stand up to The Outcasts so far. They’ll have to do it again tonight when they face Ruby Soho and Toni Storm. On the men’s side, the BCC has run through pretty much everyone its faced the last few weeks, and will try to do so again when Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli face … (checks notes) … Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa? Oh dear.

Two former partners whose paths have diverged wildly will also be in action on Dynamite. Keith Lee will take on Chris Jericho, while Swerve Strickland will face off with Darby Allin.

Finally, while AEW World Champion MJF made it clear he didn’t want to go to Milwaukee, he’s contractually obligated to be there. So yeah, that’ll be happening too.

AEW Dynamite results in 60 seconds:

  • Darby Allin def. Swerve Strickland by pinfall
  • MJF has to be here so he might as well insult Darby Allin, but he didn’t figure on Sting joining the party
  • Powerhouse Hobbs def. Silas Young by pinfall to retain the AEW TNT Championship …
  • … but then Wardlow destroys Hobbs’ car and poor Aaron solo
  • Jay White and Juice Robinson say this will be the greatest era of the Bullet Club ever
  • Orange Cassidy def. Buddy Matthews by pinfall to retain the AEW International Championship
  • Christian Cage and Luchasaurus say some things have changes; well, just Cage, really
  • Renee Paquette tries to get a medical update on Cassidy’s hand, while Best Friends want to fight Aussie Open on Rampage
  • Ethan Page thinks he has one up on Matt Hardy and Private Party, but The Firm didn’t plan on the arrival of Hook … and Jeff Hardy
  • A sullen Kenny Omega says hurting Don Callis crossed the line, and what happens next time he sees the Blackpool Combat Club will be “much, much worse” that blood for blood
  • Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli def. Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa by referee stoppage but end up retreating once Omega and the Young Bucks all hit the ring
  • Swerve says the Mogul Embassy is going to leave there with something
  • Ruby Soho and Toni Storm def. Riho and Skye Blue by pinfall, but Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker chase off The Outcasts after the match
  • Chris Jericho def. Keith Lee by pinfall after Swerve hits Lee with a foreign object; Adam Cole comes out to ensure no one attacks Lee after the match

Please scroll down for more details on every match and major non-match segment.

Opening Bell: Survivor Series WarGames beckons, AEW finds a contender for MJF

Get set for the week in WWE and AEW with Opening Bell: quick previews of Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.

Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week we’ve just begun.

WWE Raw preview – Monday, November 21, MVP Arena, Albany, NY

Before you dig into your turkey and stuffing or other foods of choice this week, there’s business to take care of on Raw. The women’s WarGames teams are set for Survivor Series, but which side will have the advantage is up for grabs on Monday in Albany.

To settle that important question, Asuka will take on Rhea Ripley. The winner will get a numerical advantage every few minutes during WarGames, so both Team Bianca Belair and Team Damage CTRL will be watching anxiously (and perhaps even intervening) to see who comes out on top.

And that’s all WWE has officially revealed for this week’s show so far. Considering Survivor Series WarGames only has four matches announced and the women’s match still has one participant yet to be revealed, smart money suggests we’ll get some answers on Monday night.

AEW Dynamite preview – Wednesday, November 23, Wintrust Arena, Chicago

AEW is headed back to one of its homes away from home, the Windy City, for the pre-Thanksgiving episode of Dynamite. The biggest thing on the card is determining a No. 1 contender for MJF, who you may have heard is now the AEW World Champion following Full Gear. Ethan Page and Ricky Starks will wrestle for that honor in the final of a tournament that’s been going for a few weeks.

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But the show is pretty loaded beyond that. The Elite and Death Triangle tore it down at Full Gear, where it was revealed they’re going to do it again … and again and again, in a best-of-7 series for the AEW World Trios Championship. Match two takes place Wednesday on Dynamite.

Chris Jericho is still The Ocho, but he’ll get a formidable challenge for his ROH World Championship from Tomohiro Ishii of NJPW. And Orange Cassidy, who’s been putting his All-Atlantic Championship on the line regularly, will face perhaps his physically biggest test as champ in the form of Jake Hager (and his purple bucket hat).

A good night of wrestling before turkey? It sounds like it.

AEW Rampage preview – Friday, November 25, Wintrust Arena, Chicago (recorded on November 23)

We still don’t know much about what AEW has planned for Rampage this holiday week, but we do know one thing: It’s not going to be on at 10 p.m. ET like usual.

Nope, Rampage is moving earlier, much earlier, for this pre-taped show from the Chi. It will air at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on TNT. So … just be thankful for some afternoon wrestling, we suppose.

WWE SmackDown preview – Friday, November 25, Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI

We’re bummed this venue is no longer the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, even though we’re sure the folks at Amica Mutual are lovely. It’s unusual to know much more about the SmackDown card than the Raw card on a Monday, but that’s exactly the case here for this big show on the night before Survivor Series.

The men’s WarGames advantage will be up for grabs in a tag team match between the undisputed champs, The Usos, and the brothers from another mother, Sheamus and Drew McIntyre. It would certainly help the Brawling Brutes and company if they can gain an edge over the Bloodline.

Speaking of the Brutes, another one of their own, Butch, is still alive in the SmackDown World Cup, and will take on Santos Escobar Friday in one semifinal. The other semifinal will also take place in Providence, when Ricochet goes up against Braun Strowman.

Last but certainly not least, Shotzi and Ronda Rousey continue to circle each other ahead of their title match at Survivor Series WarGames. They’ll meet in a tag team match Friday, with Shotzi teaming with Raquel Rodriguez while Rousey calls upon her BFF, Shayna Baszler.

You’ll be all shopped out by Black Friday night anyway, so this is the best possible way to end Thanksgiving week.

Ethan Page is done being your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestler

Page calls tourney “my opportunity to elevate myself to the ranks of the people that I just beat the crap out of.”

When your nickname is “All Ego,” people aren’t going to ask a lot of questions about your self-confidence. But for Ethan Page, it’s not just born of him thinking he’s good.

His peers know it too. Iconic names like Chris Jericho and Jim Ross have mentioned on AEW television this year that he’s one of the company’s most underutilized talents. The general consensus among fans and observers is that the 33-year-old Canadian is underrated, someone who could blossom into a bigger star if given the right situation.

Now he might be getting it. Page is one of the participants in the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament leading up to Full Gear, where the final match will be held. He’s already advanced to the semifinals by defeating Eddie Kingston, and will face Bandido on Dynamite on Nov. 16.

Page is no stranger to tournaments, having been in the mix for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship when he was unceremoniously bounced in his first match this summer. But this is different, as he explained to Wrestling Junkie in a recent phone interview.

“I was in the All-Atlantic tournament, and the first round was a big ask: I had to face Miro,” Page said. “These are all kind of things I was thrown into last minute. This one I had weeks to prepare for, like I announced my entry two weeks before I even had my first match, so it’s a little bit of a different situation for me.”

The circumstances are different too. Not only are the stakes larger, with an AEW World Championship title shot next month going to the tournament winner, but Page himself is more of the focus than when he was essentially the sidekick to Scorpio Sky as part of Men of the Year.

“I would say pretty much until three weeks ago, I was a secondary character to Scorpio Sky, and I was a background actor for Dan Lambert,” Page said. “Now, I’ve been pushed to the forefront, I’m getting the spotlight that I feel like I deserve, and I’m actually prepared for it mentally, physically. It’s just the perfect opportunity at the perfect time.”

He also has the backing of The Firm, a group assembled by Stokely Hathaway with the original intent of supporting the returning MJF in his quest to become world champion — and intervening directly at All Out to help him get the poker chip that secured his title shot against Jon Moxley at Full Gear.

Since then, however, MJF has made it clear he didn’t want any help from The Firm, and expressed his desire to beat Moxley on his own. This being pro wrestling, that difference in philosophies led to the group turning on MJF in dramatic fashion, with Page delivering a superkick to start off a beatdown that also included his finisher, the Ego’s Edge.

Does that mean Page’s success is now The Firm’s top priority? He stops short of saying that, suggesting that he’s simply “going with the flow” as the group’s motivations are now obviously different.

“The guy that was paying our bills is no longer the one calling the shots,” Page said. “The Firm is going to back Ethan Page. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to support The Gunns on becoming AEW tag team champions. That should still be the goal. I still want to see Lee Moriarty go after the Ring of Honor Pure Championship. We still have things in our sights, it’s just that we kind of changed the direction and see more opportunities as well.

“I’ve already put the champ on his ass, and the number one wrestler in the company, MJF, on his ass. So now it’s my opportunity to elevate myself to the ranks of the people that I just beat the crap out of.”

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He’s got more work to do first. A victory over Bandido would mean Page is in the final at Full Gear, where he’d be up against either Brian Cage or the winner of the Lance Archer–Ricky Starks match. It’s not hard to imagine any of those men as someone AEW would put up against Moxley or MJF — particularly Starks, who is in the same category as Page when it comes to unrealized potential.

But even if this push continues for Page, it doesn’t mean his outlook or drive will change. If the underrated label starts to fade from the mouths and keyboards of the wrestling world, he still plans on using it to motivate himself to prove he’s as good as he says and that others think he can be.

“I can be AEW World Champion and be on television for 20 minutes every week, and I personally will still feel like I’m underrated,” he said. “I’m going to have to entertain people for the entire two hours of Dynamite. So for me, I’ll never be satisfied and I’ll never be happy, and I think I’ll be underrated for the rest of my career.

“There’s always going to be something more that I could bring to the table that they’re just not letting me. I show that with every sliver that I’ve been given. You put me on commentary, I’ll knock it out of the park. You ask me to be a producer, I’ll knock it out of the park. Promo? No problem. I’ll get it done in under a minute, and it will be the best one on the show. This is the golden opportunity, I feel, to change my position and the weight of my name when it’s said backstage at AEW.”