When Ethan Page emerged from a cloak of darkness to lay out NXT Champion Trick Williams less than two weeks before Battleground, it felt like the stars were aligning for one heck of a match in no small part to the clever booking call of the “Heartbreak Kid,” Shawn Michaels.
On paper, this felt like a perfect challenge for Williams, much like when Carmelo Hayes went to war with Ricochet and Bron Breakker had his program with Dolph Ziggler before him, but how did the match come together? Well, in an interview with Adrian Hernandez, HBK peeled back the curtain, letting fans know that even he isn't 100 percent sure how it all came together.
“We're talking about big stuff. Of course, ‘All Ego' Ethan Page,” Shawn Michaels explained via Fightful. “A lot of questions still that I have to get answered on that one because that was kind of a last minute thing.”
On paper, Michaels' comments make sense, as Page noted on social media that he isn't currently signed with WWE and theoretically could land wherever he'd like if someone comes in with a better offer. Still, no matter how things shake up with Page, HBK is proud of his current NXT booking philosophy, noting that he's proud of WWE's commitment to getting him the best talent around to build a strong core into the future.
“For us at NXT, it's always been about finding the best performers and best wrestlers we can find, but also cultivating our own. No different than, even though it put me at odds with people when I was younger, this business is a little something for everybody,” Michaels explained. “People always want to narrow everything down to one way of doing things. I've never done this job that way. What you like might not be something the person next to you likes. What I like is not the same as what others like. It's about having variety. It's certainly the philosophy that I've had and Hunter [Triple H] has. We just want to bring the best sports entertainment we can for everybody watching it. We want to put on banger after banger, fantastic wrestling matches. If we can have one that is entertaining in one way or a different way. The more open you are on different ideas and different creative possibilities, for us, putting ourselves in the seat of the fans. Hunter and I, at our core, are wrestling fans. That's certainly all we're trying to do”
With NXT set to become WWE's lone offering on The CW this fall after being tied to RAW on the USA Network since it initially came to television, it makes sense that the promotion is looking to add a few higher-end veteran talents to diversify its roster, shaking things up from just being 25-year-old former college athletes. Assuming Page does sign on the dotted line, he could be a core part of NXT moving forward, especially if he's booked to do something special against Trick Willie at NXT Battleground.
Shawn Michaels is excited to bring NXT to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Speaking of bringing NXT to Las Vegas for Battleground, Shawn Michaels explained to Busted Open Radio how he feels about taking his show to the UFC Apex, noting that it creates a new, interesting opportunity that many of his in-ring performers are very excited about.
“I know that we are very excited about going out there, and that is one of the big ‘to do' lists, to physically get to see it. We have talked a little bit with their folks out there. For someone who came from being a wrestling fan and then went through the territories, that's how I learned; it is very different now,” Shawn Michaels explained on Busted Open Radio via Fightful. “The science that goes behind theirs and ours, and how all that has changed, is truly fascinating. Theirs is different from ours and probably has multi-faceted of science that wouldn't vie in our line of work, but still fascinating. Our team is definitely looking forward to going out there and seeing what we can glean from what it is they do and if there is anything they can get from what we do. Everyone is looking advantages in this day and age to make their fighters and performers the best they possibly can. Whatever it is you can do to enhance that, we're always looking out for the latest and greatest on that.”
With WrestleMania 41 set to come to Las Vegas on Easter weekend next year, it's safe to say WWE is going to be spending a lot of time in Nevada over the next year for promotional opportunities, build-up shows, and other interesting ways to get fans excited. If NXT can kick things off with a bang this weekend, well, that could only spell good things for the promotion in the future.
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