Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Ethan Page on his AEW debut, leaving Impact Wrestling, weight loss, Karate Man

Episode Date: March 30, 2021

Ethan Page is a professional wrestler and YouTuber currently signed to All Elite Wrestling. Ethan joins Chris Van Vliet from his home in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He talks about what it meant to debu...t at AEW Revolution, being a huge fan of The Rock, his goals in pro wrestling, how he came up with his gimmick, his alter ego "The Karate Man", his former tag team partner Josh Alexander, how AEW is different from Impact Wrestling and much more! If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests. For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to https://chrisvanvliet.com  Follow CVV on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter:twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook:facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube:youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:45 Welcome to the show, my friends. And oh my gosh, speaking of friends, I love when we can bring my friends on the show here. So excited for this conversation with a man who I've been friends with for more than 10 years. Ethan Page just made his AEW debut at Revolution, and I couldn't be happier for him. He works so insanely hard, and I just love seeing these kinds of stories of good things happening to good people. So thanks again for being with us on another audio adventure.
Starting point is 00:01:17 Snap a screenshot. Let us know that you're on this ride with us. Tag me, I'm at Chris Van Fleet. Tag Ethan. He is at official ego, because of course he is all. ego Ethan Page. While we're talking about
Starting point is 00:01:30 usernames, I just joined TikTok. So Chris Van Fleet was taken on there by another guy named Chris Van Fleet apparently this is a common, I don't know,
Starting point is 00:01:39 there's at least a handful of us in the world. So if you're on TikTok, I'm on TikTok at Chris Famfleet one. So all ego, Ethan Page is his gimmick. But Julian, that's his real name.
Starting point is 00:01:52 And Julian is quite a nice, kind, humble guy. And he has one of the most entertaining YouTube channels out there. So if you subscribe to my channel, make sure to subscribe to Ethan Page as well. And I'm hoping that you're already a subscriber here on Insight. But if you're not, take a second. And let's write that wrong right now by following or subscribing wherever you're listening to this. Joppo 5,000 left this review that says podcast greater than YouTube. I've watched several of Chris's YouTube interviews, but it wasn't in
Starting point is 00:02:27 the major wrestling figure podcast mentioned Chris's podcast that I even knew he had one. I like it better than the YouTube interviews, and I highly recommend it to any wrestling fan. Well, my goodness. That is very kind. Thank you for that. Glad you found the podcast. I think there's a lot of people who have watched the videos on YouTube, but don't know that I have a podcast. So thank you.
Starting point is 00:02:49 Thanks for being with us on this. You know, I started my broadcasting career in radio. So I really have this affinity for audio. I just love doing these podcasts. I mean, I also love YouTube. I also love TV, of course, but there's something so intimate about the fact that you're most likely wearing headphones right now and I'm speaking directly into your ears.
Starting point is 00:03:14 It's just something that I love about audio. All right, enough about me in this broadcasting tangent that I've gone off on here. My guest today is one of the newest members of the AEW Rosting. ladies and gentlemen, my friend, all ego, Ethan Page. Welcome back to the show, man. I am so excited for you. I am so proud of you. Congratulations.
Starting point is 00:03:45 Thanks. I'm so happy to do this again. How many people have done multiple? Just me and the Rock, right? Sure. Yeah, yeah, that's it. Yeah, just you and the Rock and maybe Cody Rhodes and maybe some other people you work.
Starting point is 00:04:02 Yeah, sure, sure, sure. It's good company, though. This, congratulations, man. How does this feel? I, so I was trying to, like, explain it to my wife because I've still, like, it's been, I've known for a while, but now that it's like, you know, out,
Starting point is 00:04:20 I've debuted on a pay-per-view and then dynamite, I'm still on this, like, weird high of not even being able to comprehend that I finally like achieved my dream. Because it's like you one step closer, one step closer, one step closer. I've never actually, you know, made it to the point that I've envisioned from when I was a kid. So it's like I don't even know how to like digest it or like comprehend that it's happened. So like it's great.
Starting point is 00:04:54 Obviously you can see the smile on my face just talking about it. But like, I can't explain it because I don't even know how, like, yeah, I don't know. Yeah. We're both from around the same area just outside of Toronto. We're both Canadian. When you get that opportunity to work in the U.S., that's a big thing. So why does this feel so different from when you signed with impact? So the exposure is like nothing else.
Starting point is 00:05:24 The reach that AEW has around the world. like nothing else. Yeah, again, like, I'm going to bring up my wife a lot because she's been on this, like, crazy journey to get to this point and has just trusted blindly that I would find a way to make it happen. But I talked to her about this all the time. And even she was blown away with the fact that, like, locally in my hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, I made the cover of the sports section in our newspaper, family members who have kind of,
Starting point is 00:05:55 like, you know, mildly scoffed at the fact that I'm a professional wrestler and now like, wow, congratulations. I'm so proud of you. I've been bragging about you. I think there's just a undeniable amount of, I guess, yeah, reach and exposure and importance of AEW in the sports entertainment world. And it's crazy. You came in as part of pay-per-view. You came in as like this mystery guy that was mystery participant in the revolution ladder match like that also i think speaks a lot to this too yeah and it was like a perfect storm kind of yeah but especially for me someone that's so um active and vocal on social media and using all the tools that we had uh at our kind of like disposal it was so hard to be silent for so long but i think uh i think it was worth the
Starting point is 00:06:53 wait and I hope fans can agree. Did you have people, so you were silent for a while. Like you basically, you got rid of your profile picture. You didn't post for a long time. Did you have fans reaching out being like, hey man, is everything all right? On a regular basis, fans, family, friends. People thought I was like, like sad or disappearing from the world. And it was like a really big like eye-opener with, I guess, like, the power of perception and the power of people assuming that everything that's on social media is either the truth or your real life. But I was at home with my wife and kid, kind of like enjoying the first real time off that I've had in professional wrestling in like 15 years.
Starting point is 00:07:43 It was the longest period I've ever gone without having a wrestling match. So I was actually having to go in and get some ring time before the pay-per-view debut. So, yeah, it was awesome. I think there might be a lot of people who weren't impact wrestling fans or maybe aren't indie wrestling fans who saw you debut and they went, huh, who's Ethan Page? So how do you answer that question? Who is Ethan Page? Oh, I always send the YouTube link because there's like a doc you. It's like a weekly documentary kind of explaining who I am, where I was, where I went, and where I'm going.
Starting point is 00:08:21 But for people watching this, I am a Canadian-born professional wrestler. I've been doing this for 14 years. I pride myself on being more of an entertainer than an athlete, but when it comes to it in the ring, I'm always willing to go the extra mile and deliver as best as I can. But like I said, I lean more into the entertainment, and I love to talk trash. Did I mention I was Canadian? You are incredibly Thank you, Chris.
Starting point is 00:08:49 But I think that this path that you've been on the last few years where you're saying I play this character named Ethan Page, but my name is Julian and I have this website played by Julian. I think that's rubbed some
Starting point is 00:09:03 traditionalists, some purists the wrong way. You're probably right, which is the craziest part because I consider myself to be a pro wrestling traditional traditionalists and purists when it comes to like how I perform and how I execute my matches or my promos or my character. But at the end of the day, I want to be credited for the work that I put into this and the effort that I put into this. And my career is reaching 15, 16 years. I think I
Starting point is 00:09:34 started in 2006. There's been so many instances where I did not have a say in my name in my character in the way I was represented or presented. And it's amazing now being in AEW, the creative freedom and I guess trust that they give their talent to kind of let them do what they want and play the characters that they want. So I can fully now be the Ethan Page, the all-ego Ethan page that I've always wanted to be. So it's cool. So I've kind of pushed the play by Julian a little out of the way and kind of dedicated my social media catering to playing Ethan Page, giving the AEW fans a better experience with social media
Starting point is 00:10:21 being integrated into their television show. This has been a long time coming. And I don't know how much you want to talk about this, but you were supposed to be part of AEW when AEW was first announced two years ago. I know there was definitely interest. but at the time I was under contract with Impact so it was not really a possibility but yes
Starting point is 00:10:49 I was I guess spoken to to see what my situation was but me personally I'm very glad with the way everything kind of played out and getting to have those years with Impact Wrestling it was an experience that I needed to kind of grow personally and professionally and it's like
Starting point is 00:11:09 to get those reps in, to get comfortable in the ring, to get comfortable being on television, timing, cues, all that stuff. Like, it made me a better performer in the end. And I think AEW will benefit from that now that I did have those experiences. Well, now you're back to being a single star. Like, so all ego Ethan Page can be all Ethan Page all the time. Yeah. Are you excited to be a single star again?
Starting point is 00:11:35 I mean, Josh Alexander is incredible and supremely talented. but now you've got a chance to shine on your own. Yeah, and like I'm very proud of what we accomplished as a team. And obviously, if the potential is there for down the road for the North to do a tag team, obviously, I'm in. There's like too much chemistry there. And we are and we're one of the best tag teams in the world. And I think now, especially, I mean, both of us, to kind of get our shot to do our own thing,
Starting point is 00:12:08 and venture off into singles, I've always loved having the spotlight shine solely on me. So this is a natural fit for all ego Ethan Page. And I had my singles run with Evolve wrestling prior to impact wrestling. So I've dabbled in both and I'm comfortable with both. So I'm excited to see what happens going forward with AEW. Anybody who has been following your career can see like the physical change that Ethan pages had over the last year like you went from it no offense to you your dad but you went from a dude that kind of had a dad bod to like a jack dude now yes hon if you'll pay extra i'll give you one of
Starting point is 00:12:50 oh wow i don't know if we can fit this in the screen uh it was crazy and it was essentially i knew that my contract was coming up with uh impact wrestling at the time my current employer and my situation at home. We wanted our family to grow. We wanted our home to grow. And it was kind of just riding on the amount of effort I was willing to put in. And I had to have like talk with myself in the mirror and kind of let myself know like, hey, you really aren't giving this 110%. Like, could you imagine if you actually tried harder? And I did. And I've committed to it. It hasn't even been a full year, which is the craziest part to me. It'll be June. of this year will be a full year of me being quote unquote in shape or healthy.
Starting point is 00:13:44 So it's been a wild ride and now it's almost so routine that if I don't have like a daily workout, I feel really weird and like not good. So it's it's so normal now that it's something that I don't even have to think about, which thank goodness because to go back into the mindset of when I was in a lot worse shape. It was a tough task to get myself off the couch and into the gym. I think I was I was really surprised and impressed with how quickly your body transformed. And there's going to be a lot of people that are watching this going, man, I could, I really could use to lose 15, 20, 50 pounds, 100 pounds, whatever it is.
Starting point is 00:14:29 Yeah. What shifted for you? Oh, man. I don't want to like praise the pandemic because it's such a, like, it's done. It's a silver leg. It's been a very tough time for a lot of people, but it allowed me to have the amount of free time that somebody who has lots of weight to shed needs. And it was multiple hours in not even a gym because the gyms were closed. So I got on the internet, started looking around and I got myself a bike. and from there it kind of slowly started growing and now I have dumbbells, a skipping rope,
Starting point is 00:15:14 you know, a bowflex, some other, a bench to do sit-ups and my home gym slowly grew and my body slowly got smaller. Didn't you get the bowflex kind of by accident? Yeah. So I am, okay, listen, everybody, I am the obnoxious man in your neighborhood. who works out in his garage with the garage door open. So there may or may not be elderly ladies who loop the block multiple times. Now, one of those said ladies had a bullflex in her basement that she wanted to get rid of anyways.
Starting point is 00:15:56 So I helped her. And me and my father picked it up and brought it to my place. And yeah, it was like insane luck. And thank you, Jenny, from three blocks over, for helping me because it, like, really helped my workouts. And it helped me not go crazy with kind of having repetitive lifts and repetitive workouts on a daily basis. Because, again, I am doing this in my garage. And in Canada, it can get as low as, like, negative 20. I'm not sure what that is in Fahrenheit.
Starting point is 00:16:29 I think it's close to, like, once you get into the negatives, I think it starts to cross over at some point. So, like, negative 20 is probably like five. Fahrenheit? Yeah, there you go. So to everyone who knows what 5 Fahrenheit is, yes. I am crazy. You're going to have to start to get used to this.
Starting point is 00:16:45 I know. Are you thinking of moving to the U.S.? Yes. More so my wife, she's Colombian, so she's like been sick of the cold since she moved to Canada, so she's dying
Starting point is 00:16:58 to go somewhere warm and tropical. And Florida is definitely on the high-end option, especially for me, because I love Disney World. So if I can do that with my daughter at a regular basis, count me in. Well, I mean, right now, Florida is obviously
Starting point is 00:17:13 the home base for AEW where all the shows are at Daley's Place. I'm imagining, you know, things will start to open up eventually, but that's a good, that's a good home base for wrestlers. A lot of wrestlers live in Florida. Yeah, and like I said, like, I'm cool with keeping my garage gym going.
Starting point is 00:17:32 And if I know it's going to be, you know, relatively warm all year around. It's a thumbs up for me. It's more than relatively warm in Florida. Oh, perfect. I lived there for five years. Like, if I can walk into my garage, sweat before I lift a weight,
Starting point is 00:17:50 I don't even have to work out. I'll already feel great. You open up the door to your garage, and it will feel like you're walking into a sauna. That's what life in Florida is going to be like for you. All right. I'm already in. to it. You know, the last interview that we did, I think it was like a year and a half ago.
Starting point is 00:18:09 Yeah. And maybe a little bit, actually a little bit, almost coming up on two years. I think it was you guys were doing the tapings in Hollywood, California. Yeah. Yeah, in Los Angeles. You were kind of like, you were doing your YouTube channel. You were super consistent with it, but you were like, man, this is a lot of work. Yes. Does it still feel like a lot of work? Yes. But because I took those four months off. It's exciting to be back at it. And the way my brain works and the way I just operate on a daily basis, I need projects.
Starting point is 00:18:45 I need work. I need something to like put out into the world and be like, hey, I created this. I made this. So right now it doesn't feel like work at all. Like I'm already three weeks ahead for editing just because of how excited I am to kind of just piece all these.
Starting point is 00:19:02 brand new vlogs together from AEW. So yeah, it is a lot of work and it takes a lot of time to like kind of, I don't know, get used to how everything works
Starting point is 00:19:14 and to like, I don't know, repetition is key with everything. You get better with reps, but yeah, right now it doesn't feel like work at all, but it is a lot of work. Well,
Starting point is 00:19:24 I'm going to link it below so everybody can subscribe. Please do so. I want that, see that plaque behind Chris there? Oh, this old thing. Yeah. Obviously, championships in AEW is number one. I would say number two is getting that plaque, though.
Starting point is 00:19:41 What are you at right? As we record this right now, how many subscribers do you have? I think 17,600. Okay. So you have 82,000 to go. Yeah. I mean, it's not impossible. I mean, you're on national television, international television every week. I think it's not a difficult thing here. Let's make it happen. Let's make it happen. So I know a lot of podcasters and aspiring podcasters listen to the show. And you've heard me talk about it before, but I'm back to talk to you again about hosting your very own podcast here at Blue Wire.
Starting point is 00:20:18 Blue Wire Hustle is a new program created to give everybody that opportunity to take your podcast to that next level. Or if you've always wanted to host a podcast, but you're like, man, where do I start? Where do I start with this thing? Well, hustle is the perfect place for you. As part of the program, you'll receive personal cover art, Q&As with Blue Wire's top podcasters, an e-learning course full of tips and tricks, and so much more. And on top of that,
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Starting point is 00:23:20 slash insight. Where did the idea of Karate Man come from over the last year? Oh man, it was almost out of necessity because there was so little going on with the pandemic, especially when it first started. No one really knew what was going on. There was very limited amount of independent events. And then even at the time, I don't even think I was able to cross the border
Starting point is 00:23:54 to go film for impact. We were doing shoots in Canada to send to put on the TV show there. So this is like right at the beginning of everything. I needed to create something that I could do with myself and kind of tell like a little story on my YouTube channel and make merch. It was essentially like a thing that I could create to entertain my fans and kind of offer new merch and a way for me to kind of help my family. cover our bills during a really tough time. And it stemmed from a joke in a promo backstage that through my feud with Ken Shamrock, who is an MMA legend, I thought it would be hilarious if I was the karate man,
Starting point is 00:24:41 because it's like the most insulting thing you could say to somebody. And it just kind of, once it caught on online, I was like, oh, there's something here and is organic and then I just slowly started, you know, monetizing it as best as I could. But the fact that Ethan Page was fighting karate man was so good. Like the special effects you were doing from your own house were like they're amazing. Thank you. It's all self-taught. And if you could see how lame the wrinkled green screen is that I was using, there was no lighting. It was all just like very meticulously done. And, I would do like little, I guess, shot sheets so that I knew like what, like how I would have to shoot it so that, okay, I know I only have essentially like a five foot by five foot green screen. So I can't be doing full body. But if I zoom the guy out and but something's in front of him like a bush, he could look like he's farther away. So like I had to like think of all that kind of stuff and like special effects and setting up the shot so it looked like a real movie.
Starting point is 00:25:51 without actually having like a full scene to shoot. So yeah. Well, whatever you're doing, like you guys are punching each other. You're literally fighting each other. It's amazing. Thank you. It took a long time and a lot of work. And I have to say this because I get a lot of comments of people being like,
Starting point is 00:26:11 professional wrestling in 2021, this is not it. You are right. That is not professional wrestling. It's my YouTube channel. where I'm making entertaining movies or skits or whatever. I'm pretty sure the general public knows I'm playing both characters, which Jean-Claude Van Damme, a hero of mine, did in a movie of his. So, you know, like I'm just replicating the legends of the past.
Starting point is 00:26:42 That's all I'm doing. Well, we see Karate Man in AEW. If it's up to me, no. But obviously, never say never. can't deny people my entertainment. You don't like karate man? Like I said, it was out of necessity. And I think, I really think it has its place in a very specific, like I liked doing it
Starting point is 00:27:09 on the independence because it was tongue and cheek and the fans were in on it. They knew it was really fun for them. And I would even stay in character when I would do merchandise, kids loved it. and like they're like dying laughing and they're asking me when Ethan Page is coming out. So like it's fun. But I think when it comes to television, I have the ability to really convince people
Starting point is 00:27:32 that I'm a terrible human being and I hate my opponent. And I don't think the karate man fits in that kind of world, especially a sports-based world and the way that AEW presents is wrestling with its wins, loss records, and how serious they take title shots and the way they present their chance,
Starting point is 00:27:49 championships. I don't think karate man would fit too well on that. But Ethan Page, yes. How much pressure did you feel or did you put on yourself? You're the breadwinner, right? You're a husband, but you're also a father and wrestling is paying the bills. Obviously, you know, it's been a tough year for everybody, but it's been definitely a tough year in the world of sports and entertainment. How much pressure were you putting on yourself to make this happen? How long we got. I would say that was the number one motivation. But a pressure like nothing else,
Starting point is 00:28:36 especially during, like you were saying, such a tough time to be trying to get hired during all of this, to prove my value during a time where companies probably aren't hiring the most people right now. Yeah, it was super, super stressful. Like, super stressful. Knowing where I'm at now and where I'll be for the next couple of years took off so much weight off my shoulders
Starting point is 00:29:07 and gave me the most amazing feeling. And I'll be forever grateful to AEW for the opportunity. They have afforded me, but not only me, my family, to be able to kind of chase this dream. And even just to joke around with you about potentially moving to Florida, that was not a topic of discussion in November of 2020. So yeah, it's incredible. And it was the scariest few months and unsure months of my life.
Starting point is 00:29:38 I mean, it's a big leap. It's a big leap to take, you know, you had made a name for yourself in Impact Wrestling. They'd been very good to you. It's a big leap for you to go, you know what I'm going to bet on myself and I'm going to see if I can go work elsewhere. Yeah, that was the scary part because it's not just like, it's not just me. Everything I say, everything I do that has a ripple effect for everyone that lives under this roof.
Starting point is 00:30:05 So if I didn't land where I was hoping, well, one, we probably wouldn't be doing this interview right now. And I would be stressing out on finding ways to kind of make ends meet. Yeah. So, oh, man, like, I'm just so happy. The weight has been lifted on your shoulders. Your guy is the rock, right? Like, he's your guy. Number one, numero, uno.
Starting point is 00:30:33 So I posted a clip from an old interview I did with The Rock where he talked about his favorite promo of all time. And then you sent me a message and said, there's no way that's the Rock's favorite promo. It can't be. It can't be. What? Okay. I feel like that promo, by the way, anyone listening to this? Just go check it out on this page so you can. The promo is basically, you know, that rocks a lot of things, but sucks ain't one of them, that promo. When Rocky Maya Villa became the rock. Well, I thought it was the Jennifer Flowers one. That was the birth of, you said that one. And then also Smell with the Rock's cooking, which is obviously. Yeah, that's the first time he said that.
Starting point is 00:31:12 Yeah. Those are two pretty iconic promos. Yes, I know. But if you're going to say it's your, that's like me saying my favorite match is my first one that I was all ego. I for sure sucked. But I think like once he got into the rock character and he became the most electrifying man in sports entertainment, then you start busting out these promos where he's probably
Starting point is 00:31:35 not even thinking about it. It's just so good and so natural. You're like, oh, that's got to be one of the best ones. Like when he is roasting Billy Gunn and talking to God, it's like that's like pure entertainment or anything for, uh, with Mick Foley. Yes. Rock and stock connection. It's all great stuff. So yes.
Starting point is 00:31:56 I'm sorry, Rock. I disagree with you. That's those are not your best. Would you say a lot of who you are now is because of who the rock was in the attitude era? Yeah, 100% except I can't say half the stuff he said or I'd be canceled. So people seem to forget that. Yeah. Hey,
Starting point is 00:32:15 you're looking at a PG, Dwayne Jansson right now. That's okay. It's nothing wrong with that. Yeah, that's okay. What is your best match? If it's not the first match,
Starting point is 00:32:27 as Oliago, what is your best match? Oh, man, I, that's really tough. I really liked my very last the singles match with Impact Wrestling, which was against Carl Anderson.
Starting point is 00:32:40 I, like, felt like I got into such a comfort where it was, like, just, you know, go out there, do my job, and that was it. And I was really proud at, I guess, yeah, just how comfortable I was in my position. But I will say, there's a match coming up where it might already be out. Check it out on Dark Elevation. Can't tell you who my opponent is, but I'm very proud of finally getting it. getting a little comfortable because my first weekend with AEW, the pressure was so immense. Like this is my dream come true scenario. It took a couple days to kind of get comfortable and relax. And I'm really excited for people to see what's to come for all Egoitha page in AEW.
Starting point is 00:33:28 Well, when you look at the entire roster, who are you most excited to have a match with? Oh man. Every time I watch Ray Phoenix wrestle, I want to burn my wrestling boots and retire. He is so good. And like, I, like, I would love to test myself. We've wrestled before in England many years ago. But again, that was pre-workout Ethan Page. So, you know, my cardio would be much better. And I think my mind, too, having all those years to be on television kind of, you know,
Starting point is 00:34:03 chip away at what I really wanted all ego Ethan Page to be. I would love to have that match with Ray Phoenix. I think anyone on the roster would love to wrestle Ray Phoenix. He just elevates everyone he's in the ring with. Ray Phoenix and Ethan Page. That's a great match. Yeah. Are you healed up from being from that ladder match?
Starting point is 00:34:23 You were pretty welted and bruised up. Yeah. It took a while. Thanks, Cody. Are you cutting a promo on me? No, not you. I'm looking deep into Cody's soul right now. Thank you so much for well.
Starting point is 00:34:38 welcoming me to the locker. Wow. It's got intense here. Man, I mean, again, circling back to what we talked about at the start of this conversation, a ladder match when you're the surprise entrant, it's a heck of a way to make a debut.
Starting point is 00:34:56 It is. It's also a heck of a way to have your first match back after not wrestling for four months. So let's... Jake the snake Roberts is involved. Oh, oh, oh, oh, listen, if we're going to be a lot of,
Starting point is 00:35:09 little fans right now. That was probably because I, so nobody knew that I was debuting other than my parents. So my parents and siblings knew they kind of grabbed the pay-per-view at their house. They threw a little
Starting point is 00:35:25 pizza party. My daughter's there. My wife is there. They made a AEW cake with the world title on it. They all wore my t-shirts. And that in itself is an amazing moment. But I think for my dad to see Jake the Snake, clothesline me on a pay-per-view, is like the most full-circle life moment.
Starting point is 00:35:50 Because he's the one, my dad's the one that introduced me to wrestling. So we would use it to watch, like, you know, in the early 90s. And, you know, Jake the Snake, steamboat, Savage, Hogan, Razor. So my finisher being a variation of the Razor's Edge, taking that line from Jake the Snake is like, It's cool for me, but I can only imagine how cool it is for my father to see his son, like achieve his dream and get to work with people that we both kind of enjoyed watching together. At what point during that week, maybe it's that day, did you find out that Jake the Snake
Starting point is 00:36:25 would be involved in the match? When he pulled me off a letter and clothes lined me out of my boots. This wasn't part of the plan? Listen, man, I can't pull the curtain back too much. Thought we were being fans here. Listen, you know, when I threw his client, Lance Archer, across the ring, by the way, not to brag too much, the man is just twice my size. I mean, Jake Stink, he got a little upset. I don't blame him.
Starting point is 00:36:57 I'd be mad at me too. It's so good to catch up with you, man. Dude, this is great. I love having you on the show. I can't wait to see you in person again. I can't wait to see just people in anyone. But I want to be super respectful of your time. But as I wrap this up, I can tell how grateful you are for this opportunity.
Starting point is 00:37:19 But I end every interview talking about gratitude. You can see it right here, be great, be grateful. What are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now? Oh, man, this job. I know you said it already, but I cannot overstate the fact that this is not an opportunity that me or my family take lightly, it is the biggest door that's ever been open for me. So I'm going to do everything in my power to work my ass off
Starting point is 00:37:50 and make them not regret the decision to have Ethan Page in 80-dub long term. I'm very grateful for my family. I know that encompasses a lot of people, but it takes a village, as they say, and it truly has. It's been a family effort to get me to this point in my life, in my career, and I know it's going to take even more work to keep this going. And I guess the third thing that I'm grateful for, man, the Snyder cut.
Starting point is 00:38:22 I watched it last night. It was awesome. Is that why you got a little Superman thing with your hair here? No, no. Hey, listen, you haven't seen the Ethan Page Curl Twitter account? Now it's like a full-on thing. this is a it's my look you know i like it man i am so excited again so proud congratulations i can't see what i can't wait to see what's next for you in ae w me too man me too and i'm
Starting point is 00:38:47 even more pumped to kind of bring my version of vlogging and uh video editing to an already very popular online brand of a e w with uh being the elite and sammy's vlog so it's something completely different. Check it out. If you're looking for some behind the scenes, I'm the guy to check out. Wow. All right. Thanks again, man. Thank you. Well, thank you so much for being with us on this audio adventure.
Starting point is 00:39:22 Super pumped for what the next six to 12 to 18 months look like for Ethan Page and his career. He is the epitome of hard work paying off and whether or not you like his character. and actually you're not supposed to like his character. That's what makes him so good at his job. But whether or not you like Ethan Page, it's hard not to respect what Julian has built.
Starting point is 00:39:47 Share this with a fellow ego maniac. Take a screenshot, tag us on social media. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. He is at official ego. And if you've been listening to the show for a while, you know that I love someone who bets on himself. Hell, that's what I've been doing my entire career. And this quote from Thomas Jefferson
Starting point is 00:40:08 sums it up best. Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. And nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Be great. Be grateful, my friends. We'll see you on the next one for some more insight.
Starting point is 00:40:28 Woo. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do. With rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air.
Starting point is 00:40:43 It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of it, but get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast. What's your beef? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.

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