Interview: Ethan Page Talks Impact Wrestling on Twitch, Representing Canada, and More!

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 02: Twitch logo is displayed during the 'Paris Games Week' on November 02, 2017 in Paris, France. Twitch is a streaming service and VOD of video game and electronic sport 'Paris Games Week' is an international trade fair for video games and runs from November 01 to November 5, 2017. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 02: Twitch logo is displayed during the 'Paris Games Week' on November 02, 2017 in Paris, France. Twitch is a streaming service and VOD of video game and electronic sport 'Paris Games Week' is an international trade fair for video games and runs from November 01 to November 5, 2017. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images) /
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Impact Wrestling has continued to lock down their talent with multi-year contracts, and the latest name to do that is “All Ego” Ethan Page. We got to speak to Ethan Page earlier this week about his new contract, and much more.

Impact Wrestling is barreling towards United We Stand on April 4, 2019, but they’ve also been consistently signing talent to long-term contracts. Just in the last few weeks, we’ve seen new contracts signed by Sami Callihan, Rosemary, Fallah Bahh, Madison Rayne, Moose, Eddie Edwards, and the newly acquired Josh Alexander.

We also know that “All Ego” Ethan Page has signed a new contract with Impact Wrestling. When we spoke to him earlier this week, Page talked about his new contract, has passion about the Hamilton independent wrestling scene, his love of comic books, and more!

Patches Chance: First off, let’s jump right to the big news about your new contract with Impact Wrestling. Do you want to elaborate on any details on it, and how excited are you to have this more permanent deal after working a more show-by-show basis on the independent scene?

Ethan Page: Well it was announced as two years. That’s the length of my work visa as well, so I’m very excited to have something more permanent [and] to be able to continue to work in America and provide a living for my family.

PC: Impact Wrestling hosts United We Stand in just three weeks. Is that a show we can expect to see Ethan Page at, or will you be repping Impact Wrestling somewhere else that weekend?

EP: I will actually be wrestling for AIW that day in the same area. It was just a “they booked me first” kind of thing, and I asked Impact nicely if I could still honor the date, and they said it was no problem. I definitely respect Impact for allowing me to honor it and not bail on them. There’s a lot of people being pulled off shows and missing shows, and I’m glad I’m not one of those.

PC: It always feels like an unprofessional move. I know stuff happens, but it’s best to be able to honor it if you can.

EP: Yeah, exactly. And like, I’m gonna be doing their TV tapings and stuff and pay-per-views, and one show won’t hurt. [Impact Wrestling’s] show is definitely stacked enough, so now they don’t have to try and find a spot for me.

PC: You got to compete in Ultimate X at Impact Wrestling Homecoming back in January. What was that experience like, and would you want to be in that kind of match again?

EP: It was an amazing experience. A scary experience. I would want to be in it again, but not for a while.

PC: You’ve had some great matches lately in Impact Wrestling against Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, Willie Mack, and even X-Division Champion Rich Swann. Unfortunately, you didn’t walk out with wins though. What do you think you need to do differently to change that?

EP: Well, I don’t write the show so I can’t really say that. [laughing] But I’ve been improving my body, I’ve been doing my best to create as much buzz outside of Impact for Ethan Page as possible so that when my name comes up in the writing room, it’s not an afterthought. That’s the way it’s felt, at least, for a little while.

PC: I know related to that, you had some issues a while back where there was some promotional stuff that came out and you got overlooked on the posters. Do you feel with this new contract that you have the attention of Impact Wrestling now?

EP: I would hope so, and I think our next tapings are in Canada for March and April. So they’ll be able to see a crowd that grew up watching me and supports me. I think with that [and] with Josh Alexander being signed. You know, having another friend in the locker room, and someone to have my back kind of thing. I think with us there together, we should be able to show our value, possibly even as a team, which would be great.

PC: At the end of April, Impact Wrestling returns to pay-per-view for Rebellion in Toronto. Are you excited to be back in Canada for that event?

EP: Oh yeah, for sure. And to be on pay-per-view, near my hometown, is amazing. That was a big reason why I ended up giving those tickets away to the TV tapings. Just because we’re so close to home, and I would love to see my fans that have watched me grow up the last couple of years actually be there for me live.

PC: Kind of like a payoff to them for sticking to it.

EP: Yeah, and for supporting me for as long as they have.

PC: Impact Wrestling started going live on Twitch earlier this year. How important do you think that move was for the company and getting the product out there?

EP: I thought it was genius. This is a little tidbit, the actual slogan they’ve been saying, “If you have internet, you have Impact,” was my idea. We were having kind of like a group meeting discussing the new channel Pursuit and how, even though it doesn’t have the greatest viewership, we were gonna be on the internet. And I thought right away that’s amazing because literally, everybody has the internet. So technically anyone in the world could be watching at any time. So I think it’s very cool.

PC: With the legacy of great Canadian wrestlers that have come before you, how does that lineage affect you knowing that you’re also representing the country?

EP: I always think of that, and I think too like when I first started traveling to America, a lot of people just automatically started saying Toronto because it’s the biggest city they know. And I’ve been like a huge pusher of making sure people know that I’m from Hamilton, Ontario. And it’s like a pride of my hometown, but also country. Like, I want people to know there’s more cities than our big cities, and not everyone comes from [a big city]. That’s like everyone saying they’re from New York City, but really they’re from Buffalo.

PC: I know you’re passionate about the Hamilton, Ontario independent scene. What do you think sets them apart from other indies across North America?

EP: Umm, that I’m the promoter? [laughing] Yeah, like I thought of the way to answer that and I was like, well, I guess I’m the only big show in the town, so I guess the only difference is that I’m running the show.

PC: Speaking of Hamilton, you’ll be there for Alpha-1 Wrestling next month to take on MJF in a Dog Collar Match.

EP: Yes, which I’m very excited for. Yeah, this past weekend was a big one for us to really propel that event and get people excited about it. And we had a hundred people standing, and there was no room, so I don’t know how we’re gonna do better than that next show, but I’m gonna try.

PC: Make the building bigger, somehow?

EP: Yeah, right. Somehow is the key.

PC: Is there a name or two in the Hamilton independent scene you think people should watch out for this year?

EP: Space Monkey’s from Hamilton even though he wants you to think he’s from space. Yeah, he’s definitely a guy I would keep an eye on. And there’s a guy named BMD, Brett Michael David. I know he’s originally from Hamilton, but he’s living just outside of it right now. But I would say him as well.

PC: You mentioned the possibility of teaming with Josh Alexander, but if you had to pick someone else from the Hamilton independent scene to come to Impact Wrestling and form a tag team with, who would you choose?

EP: Is this anyone that works for Alpha-1 or someone that actually lives in Hamilton?

PC: Either one.

EP: If I was to pick someone that works for Alpha-1, my choice would be Ricky Shane Page. We’ve tagged in Progress Wrestling before as the Page brothers. We have good chemistry, he’s a big guy, [and] we get along well so traveling wouldn’t be an issue or rooming up wouldn’t be an issue. So yeah, I’d just pick someone I have natural chemistry with in conversation and in the ring.

PC: I wanna step back to something you did in 2015. In a short documentary, you were asked where you saw yourself in five years. Back then, you said you’d be in WWE. Now we’re four years later and you’re in Impact Wrestling, how do you feel about the way things changed, and what does your five-year plan look like now?

EP: Yeah, well that kinda stings a bit. I can say that I still feel as if those five years were a big success. I think the biggest thing was, back then, the landscape of wrestling was a little different. Where, if you wanted to make a living in wrestling, WWE was at the time the only option. Now that’s not even close to being the case. But [now] wrestling is my full-time living. So I feel as if I made the goal I wanted to achieve, just a different way. Which has kind of been the story of my life.

PC: Yeah, I mean you take the path that you can.

EP: Yeah, but I don’t know. The next five years, honestly, if I’m still doing what I’m doing I would be happy. Obviously, more money is great, more fame is great, more success is great, more shows is great. That’s kind of just the goal right now is building on what I’ve already created.

PC: Something else you mentioned back then is that you were a huge Kanye West fan. Are you still a fan of his?

EP: Yes, but I’m a fan of what I liked back then. There isn’t really much that’s come out that I’ve been like “I really need to seek this out or listen to it,” or that’s really blown me away.

PC: I think that’s fair, he kind of took a dip after Yeezus.

EP: [laughing] A little bit.

PC: What’s your favorite Kanye West album and favorite song?

EP: Graduation, and my favorite song is Homecoming.

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PC: On a different topic you’re passionate about, I know you’re a big comic book fan. Have you seen Captain Marvel yet?

EP: I haven’t. As I’m feeding my child her snack, I have a different lifestyle and schedule now. My wife and I don’t really get out the movies too much. And when I’m traveling, I might see a movie or two, but the list of movies I’m allowed to see without my wife are very few and far between. I am very excited to see it.

PC: What’s your favorite comic book movie?

EP: Guardians of the Galaxy, just the first one. I feel like there’s nothing that you can pick apart from the movie. It’s perfect start to finish, all the characters are unique, and it’s entertaining a million times.

PC: Some wrestlers who are comic book fans will have gear inspired by a specific character for big events. If you were to do that, which character would inspire your gear?

EP: Oh, I’ve done it multiple times. I’ve done Spider-Man, Carnage, Mr. Freeze, Shocker, Two-Face.

PC: Okay, so how about for Rebellion. Who would be in your choices for Rebellion then?

EP: If I could, for Rebellion, man that’s tough. You know, I’d probably do Wolverine or Deadpool because they are technically Canadian. The same theme geographically, while still getting to be a superhero.

PC: I know you’re a big collector, what’s your latest big collector’s item?

EP: Oh, I’m buying every week. That’s a tough one. I did get the new Professor Xavier that just came out. It’s like his floating chair and it’s the ’90s cartoon version, and I love that. It’s just they’re getting so expensive now, that’s been the toughest part.

PC: Well now you’ve got that big money contract, so you’ll be able to get more.

EP: Yeah, exactly!

PC: Lastly, do you have any shoutouts for fans?

EP: I’d love anyone that’s reading this to check out my VLOG on YouTube. I upload every Wednesday. They’re all under fifteen minutes. It’s just me traveling or doing things I’m passionate about and kind of getting to see the real side of me in and outside of the ring.

You can find Ethan Page at his YouTube channel, on Twitter, on Instagram, and you can watch him be a part of Impact Wrestling which airs live on Twitch tonight at 10p.m. ET.