WWE NXT Superstar Ethan Page has reflected on his journey to WWE, admitting that he spent too much time listening to criticism from people he now believes had little meaningful success in the wrestling industry.
During a recent appearance on The Mask Man Show, Page was asked whether he felt it had taken him longer than expected to reach WWE or whether he had received the recognition he deserved throughout his career.
Rather than blaming the wrestling industry for his journey, Page acknowledged that he had allowed the opinions of certain individuals to influence him more than they should have. “No. 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.”
Page explained that some of the most accomplished figures in professional wrestling had consistently supported him, offering encouragement and advice during difficult periods of his career.
According to the former NXT Champion, those individuals were often the ones who recognized his potential, encouraged him to pursue better opportunities, and helped open doors when he needed guidance. “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. You think I give a rat’s ass what everyone else thinks? That’s silly.”
Page’s wrestling career has included notable runs with TNA Wrestling and AEW before he made his WWE debut in May 2024.
After arriving in NXT, Page quickly established himself as a prominent figure on the brand, capturing the NXT Championship and further developing the confident, outspoken personality that has become a defining part of his presentation.
Despite his accomplishments, Page admitted that he has rarely felt properly recognized by the wrestling industry as a whole. However, he also made it clear that public praise is no longer something he considers particularly valuable. “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’s comments suggest that his priorities have shifted as his career has progressed. Rather than seeking validation from critics or waiting for the industry to acknowledge his accomplishments, he appears more focused on tangible success and the respect of those who have already achieved it.
For Page, the encouragement he has received from established wrestling veterans carries considerably more weight than criticism from those he believes have never reached the same level of success.
