Wrestling on the independent circuit since 2006, Ethan Page gained notoriety until he reached the big leagues in 2014 in Ring of Honor. Following a three-year stint here, he moved on to Impact Wrestling and finally to Tony Khan‘s AEW. Here, he didn’t soar to greater heights despite feuding with Matt Hardy in 2022. However, his abrupt release from the company left fans puzzled.

Despite joining AEW in 2021, he didn’t win a single championship. This could have been a reason for his exit.

Did Tony Khan’s animosity toward Ethan Page lead to his exit?

Page’s last match was on an episode of AEW Collision. He lost to Kenny Omega, who would soon hit the bench due to his health issues with Diverticulitis. While not recording a fruitful run in AEW, his stint in ROH was a different story. Since December, he had garnered a winning streak in Khan’s other promotion. However, he soon disappeared from there as well. His last appearance was in February, which made many fans believe he was out with an injury. But, his handful of appearances on the indies in March and April proved otherwise.

It was recently reported that his name from the Official AEW and ROH roster was removed. Fightful Select reported that Page had signed a three-year contract with AEW in 2021. This would make 2024 the year his contract would expire. While there is no official word from Khan or the company, there were no reports of any backstage heat. Despite not finding his footing in AEW, he was still given a shot at MJF’s AEW World title. While he never won, he would be seen wrestling on ROH more than AEW. Still, there have been no reports of any beef between Khan and him. Nevertheless, his exit seems to be part of a larger strategy by Tony Khan as a slew of releases were recorded in AEW in April.

Page was not the only star to be released from AEW

April 2024 saw several AEW stars and personnel being released. The names included Anthony Henry, Stu Grayson, Gravity, Slim J, Parker Bordeaux, Jora Johl, and ring announcer Dasha Fuentes, among others. PWInsider reported that the release was after a careful evaluation of the talents and roster. Sources inside said this would be beneficial for both the company and the talents.

Another big name to be leaving AEW is Matt Hardy. While the WWE awaits Uncle Howdy’s return to the company, Hardy has been hinting at a potential team-up. This has fans excited for the upcoming PLE Backlash in France on May 4. What are your thoughts on Page’s sudden release? Tell us in the comments.