By Carlos Silva Jr.
Ethan Page can be seen as brash.
But the 36-year-old performer has backed up that brazenness since debuting with World Wrestling Entertainment the day after WrestleMania, widely considered the company’s Super Bowl.
He has showcased the microphone skills and professional polish that make him one of the top sports entertainers in the industry.
That is one reason he was a strong voice to include, along with PBR’s Moria Novakoski and UFC middleweight fighter Kyle Daukaus, on the Associated Press Sports Editors Summer Conference panel entitled “Sports Entertainment, and how we cover it,” moderated by Tommy Deas – Sports Director/Senior Sports Strategist for the Center for Community Journalism in the USA Today Co.
“I just really like attention and that’s professional wrestling – it’s built for sociopaths,” said Page, whose moniker is “All Ego” in WWE, when asked about what made him decide to choose professional wrestling as his career. “I’m literally in a room full of people who are going to write about me and tell the world how awesome I am. This is what I’ve worked my whole life for.”
A few moments after letting the chuckles and laughs subside, Page – whose real name is Julian Micevski – provided deeper insight while keeping true to his on-screen persona.
“I just like being in front of people,” he said, letting the audience know he started wrestling at the age of 16, beginning in the backyard before moving to a garage, industrial buildings and arenas. “Like, right now, just winging it. It’s the best. …
“I’ve been doing this for 20 years, but it all just started with the need and desire for being in front of people. That’s it.”
The Hamilton, Ontario, native saw a dream come true when he moved to Monday Night RAW, one of WWE’s two televised main roster shows along with SmackDown.
Before joining WWE, he worked for several promotions, including Ring of Honor, Impact, Evolve, PWG and AEW, WWE’s main competitor in the sports entertainment space. He signed with WWE in 2024 and debuted in NXT, the company’s developmental brand.
He joined the RAW roster in April after a victory over Je’Von Evans, a popular and athletic talent who was also called up from NXT in short order.
His focus is on his childhood prize, the Intercontinental Championship. But those dreams were squashed, for a bit, after taking a loss to Chad Gable in a No. 1 contender’s match on July 13.
That scripted part of his character is one of many ups and downs Page has faced throughout his career. But the storytelling, along with how journalism finds a way to provide those on-screen characters a voice, including those in MMA and PBR, was a core focus during the more than one-hour session.
Daukaus wanted journalists to know that many UFC fighters are not competing in a barbaric sport, nor are they egotistical, stubborn people. Those are narratives he’s seen painted about the sport by the media and not journalists.
“Just treat us like we’re human beings, that’s what we are,” Daukaus said. “Interview us as if we’re just regular people. If the UFC is not there, find a regional scene, find local fighters – local stars that are around the MMA community. Start interviewing them, and that’ll get you some recognition among the local fighters, and that way you can build up and get to interviewing the UFC guys, as well.
Page said he and his WWE coworkers are in an interesting spot, because they need to stay in character while promoting the next show or appearance.
“I don’t really think about it because I want the interviewer to bring whatever they want to the table, and it’s my job – as a performer in wrestling – to react to what’s presented to me,” Page said. “I should be able to react the best way possible that either my character, or whatever TKO or WWE wants.”
Novakoski, a 15-year-old who is attempting to build her personal brand, finds great value in journalists not only telling her story – but those of the people behind the scenes, not just the ones riding bulls.
“You’re the people who’s letting people find our websites, Instagrams, Facebooks or whatever,” said Novakoski, who is looking to become the first woman to compete in PBR.
Page echoed those sentiments and put how he felt matter-of-factly, when it comes to coverage of himself or his WWE, UFC and PBR coworkers.
“I’m the white knight, I’m the one slaying the dragon,” Page said. “You guys need me to write a story, and I need you guys to tell that story. It’s a great relationship as old as time.”
