Ethan Page is the new WWE Intercontinental Champion, having defeated Chad Gable on the November 2 edition of Monday Night Raw at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The win marks the first title Page has held on WWE’s main roster, following previous reigns with the NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship.
Despite reaching what he has described as his ultimate goal, Page did not react the way many would expect from a first-time main roster champion. Speaking with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant on WWE Now immediately after the match, Page said he felt “weird” and explained why he felt “nothing” following the victory. He indicated that something about the experience left him unable to fully enjoy the moment, despite the Intercontinental Championship representing a goal he had long pursued.
The remarks were made in character, according to Slam Wrestling, leaving open the question of how much of Page’s stated ambivalence reflects a storyline angle as opposed to genuine sentiment about the win. Regardless of the framing, the comments have become the headline takeaway from the title change, overshadowing straightforward celebration of a new champion.
For Gable, the loss ends his hold on the Intercontinental Championship and shifts the title picture heading into Raw’s next chapters. Gable had been a prominent presence on the brand, and dropping the belt to Page opens the door for new programs built around the title, including the possibility of Gable pursuing a rematch given the personal stakes the Intercontinental Championship has carried throughout his WWE run.
For Page, the win caps a notable rise since his arrival on the main roster, adding a significant singles accolade to a resume that already included championship success during his time in NXT. How Page’s “feels nothing” comments play into his characterization and upcoming title defenses remains to be seen, but the unusual public reaction has already drawn attention from wrestling media covering the Intercontinental Championship change.
