Wrestling fans, brace yourselves for a plot twist worthy of a soap opera! Former AEW and Impact Wrestling star Ethan Page has jumped ship and made a stunning debut on “WWE NXT” last week, attacking NXT Champion Trick Williams and spilling the beans that he’s been the mastermind behind the mysterious attacks on Meta-Four earlier in May. But before the chaos ensued, there was a whole different script for Battleground, and Dave Meltzer is here to spill the tea.
On “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Meltzer confirmed that Noam Dar was originally set to challenge Williams at Battleground. “Noam was originally going to [challenge Williams at Battleground] and he’s out,” Meltzer dished. “They needed a new opponent for Trick. … Trick and Noam Dar was the scheduled main event for that Battleground.”
So, what caused this sudden rewrite? Meltzer isn’t completely sure whether Dar was sidelined due to injury or if the sudden availability of Ethan Page shook things up. Given that Dar was written off TV, Meltzer leans towards an injury being the culprit.
Ethan Page’s debut follows the expiration of his AEW contract, which he announced less than a month ago. His last AEW bout was a December showdown with Kenny Omega on “AEW Collision,” marking Omega’s final match before diverticulitis benched him indefinitely.
Despite swirling rumors, Page has denied inking a deal with WWE. But his dramatic entrance and the ensuing feud with Trick Williams tell a different story. Page taunted that he’s awaiting a call from “NXT” officials to give Williams a chance at revenge, setting the stage for a showdown at Battleground.
Mark your calendars, folks! This Sunday, June 9, Battleground will electrify the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, with Page vs. Williams promising to be the main event that’ll have everyone talking.