For Ethan Page, the backstage segment with The Rock on the January 7 episode of WWE NXT was the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. The current NXT North American Champion recently appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet and detailed the private conversation he had with one of his idols.
Page explained that he seized the opportunity to express his gratitude to The Rock for the moment, which led to an extended, one-on-one interaction.
“To me, doing anything with him was always the dream. I was very fortunate enough to be given the chance to pull him to the side and tell him what it meant to see something that I created on my own and envisioned my whole life would be on screen with my favorites. To do it with my actual number one, and in the position that he’s in, and what he’s been doing for the last couple of years,” Page said.
The conversation went beyond a simple exchange of pleasantries, with The Rock offering guidance that Page says has directly influenced his on-screen character.
“The amount of things that needed to fall into place for this to happen, pretty crazy. But I was very glad that I was able to express that to him and to get some one-on-one time, and then it just kept extending, he gave me great advice, and he’s turned me into an absolute menace. Because, I mean, when the person you look up to the most, pretty much tells you to not hold back. Yeah, you ain’t gonna hold back. I’m sorry Ricky Saints about your throat,” Page stated.
Page also elaborated on the specific qualities he has tried to emulate from The Rock’s performances, pointing to his confidence and charisma as major sources of inspiration.
“Quite a bit (of inspiration), honestly. Mostly, I would say just in the confidence to say and do whatever you feel like out there, like on a microphone or in front of an audience,” Page explained. “He’s someone that’s completely comfortable in doing some ridiculous things, or what he finds entertaining, or what he finds funny, but he’s always, I feel like just at that perfect level of charisma, and I tried to keep the energy the same and give people their money’s worth when I’m entertaining them.”
To conclude, Page noted that The Rock isn’t the only WWE legend who has offered him encouragement. He revealed that he has also spoken with The Undertaker, who has complimented his work on multiple occasions, though Page chose not to disclose the specifics of those conversations.