Summary

Ethan Page said one of his first lessons in NXT came when he was handed a script with more than 1,000 words on either his first or second day with the brand.

Page, who debuted in NXT in May 2024 by attacking Trick Williams, said the moment was jarring because the language and structure were far removed from the freer style he had been used to before arriving. He said the adjustment was made easier after a conversation with Shawn Michaels, who told him not to get overwhelmed by trying to recite every line exactly and instead focus on hitting the important points of the promo.

That approach has shown up elsewhere in Page's recent comments about his run, including when he discussed how Shawn Michaels gave him opportunity and clarity in NXT.

Quote from Ethan Page

"Yeah, I mean right off the rip, I think my first day or second day there, I was handed a script and there was over a thousand words. It was a bunch of words that I had never used in my vocabulary before and it was very jarring."

Page continued by explaining what Michaels told him in that moment:

"I had a quick chat with Shawn about it and he reassured me like, 'Dude, don't break some of these hard fast rules and if it's the worst promo ever, the sun will rise again tomorrow and you'll get another chance.' He kind of just took the edge off and I realized like, 'Okay, I don't have to memorize every word, we just have to make sure that we really drive home all the key points that he wants for his show and just making sure it's as good as possible. But yeah, it was definitely a culture shock to go from kind of a free flowing, 'Ah, you have 60 seconds to say whatever you want' to 'Hey, you're talking for 8 minutes straight and you have to say all of this.' So yeah, a lot different but I welcome a challenge and I think the most exciting part about this job is to actually get nervous. I'm missing parts of that now. I miss how stressed out I was before doing that stuff, makes you feel alive."

Shawn Michaels' guidance helped Ethan Page settle into NXT

Shawn Michaels' advice appears to have given Ethan Page a quicker path into NXT's television structure, because Page said it immediately reframed the assignment from memorizing every line to delivering the points the show needed.

For NXT viewers, that matters because it helps explain how Page adapted so quickly after arriving in May 2024. It also fits with the way he has spoken about the brand as a place where he has been pushed while still being given room to find his footing.

Sources

Ethan Page while speaking with The Knockturnal