Matt Hardy comments on Ethan Page joining NXT.
Tuesday's NXT closed with Ethan Page making his debut on the brand, attacking NXT Champion Trick Williams. Before coming to NXT, Page was signed to AEW and had been part of the ROH brand. Page was featured on AEW television when he was aligned with The Firm (Stokely Hathaway, Lee Moriarty, and Big Bill) and feuding with Matt Hardy.
Speaking on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt commented on Ethan joining NXT.
“I’m a big fan of Ethan Page. MJF is the one who pitched the idea, after Jeff got in trouble and was gone for TV, MJF pitched the idea, he said, ‘Hey, I’m a big fan of this guy, Ethan Page. Do you know him?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t. I do enjoy what I’ve seen of him so far.’ He said, ‘Would you be up for working with him?’ We did one pre-tape, and that’s what started, we ended up working together for almost a year before it was all said and done. I grew to really like him as a talent and also as a friend, and I feel like we’re both very like-minded. The fact that even with that story we didn’t get pushed into a higher tier in some ways is a little frustrating because we worked really hard on trying to create some entertaining content, and I think, at the end of the day, Ethan Page is more of an entertainer than he is a wrestler, but he’s a great wrestler, he’s a great athlete, he’s very smart, very good promo. I feel like his entertainment value overshadowed his athleticism a little bit, and that’s why he didn’t get a bigger opportunity in AEW. That’s just my personal guess or my personal take. Him being in NXT, I think it’s the perfect spot for him. I think he could be in there, I think he could thrive. He is a great speaker, he’s a great entertainer, and it’s his to stop, how to make the look, how to connect with the audience if he’s a heel or if he’s a babyface, whatever it may be. He gets all of that, so I think he will do well there, and I’m super happy and stoked for my friend, who really didn’t want to waste away in his prime years, getting this opportunity at WWE and NXT, I’m excited for him to kill it," said Hardy.
Hardy is currently a free agent after his AEW contract expired, though he has been working with TNA after returning to the promotion at TNA Rebellion.
During the podcast, Matt revealed that Jeff Hardy's contract is coming up soon in AEW. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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