Cody Rhodes has built close relationships with several wrestlers, including NXT stars Ethan Page and Ricky Saints. Their connection has become well-known, especially after Rhodes openly acknowledged their friendship on his podcast. Despite this, Saints harbors a surprising personal gripe against Page, revealing tension in their ongoing rivalry as they prepare for a high-profile match.
Rhodes, known as the American Nightmare, previously shared AEW locker rooms with both Page, nicknamed All Ego, and Ricky Saints, formerly known as Ricky Starks. Today, they all perform in WWE NXT alongside other former AEW talents like Jade Cargill and Shawn Spears, with Page and Saints continuing a heated rivalry culminating in their upcoming Falls Count Anywhere match for the NXT North American Championship at The Great American Bash on Saturday in Atlanta.
Inside the Dynamic: Cody Rhodes Discusses His Connections and Upcoming NXT Clash
During a recent episode of Rhodes’
What Do You Wanna Talk About?
podcast, Saints and Rhodes explored various topics about NXT and their careers. Rhodes praised multiple NXT talents, including Oba Femi, the NXT Champion, as well as Trick Williams, the TNA World Champion. He highlighted his friendship with Ethan Page amidst this conversation.
“Oba’s phenomenal, Trick’s phenomenal, Ethan Page, who I love. That might be one of my few friends in the business, Ethan Page,”
Rhodes declared, reinforcing his close bond with Page despite the ongoing storyline rivalry.
Ricky Saints’ Surprising Dislike for Ethan Page Before The Great American Bash
In a later segment on Rhodes’ podcast, the former AEW Executive Vice President opened up about his interactions with the WWE NXT roster during WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas. Rhodes expressed astonishment learning that Ricky Saints had become a locker-room leader in NXT. This led Rhodes to playfully challenge Saints on why he dislikes Ethan Page, a wrestler he once teamed with for a lengthy reign as Alpha-1 Wrestling Tag Team Champions in 2017 under the team name 2-Stars.
“Tell me something you don’t like about Ethan Page. We’re putting him over way too much. What do you not like about him?,”
Rhodes asked with a teasing tone.
Saints’ response was unconventional and laced with humor, as he focused on an unusual aspect of Page’s appearance rather than any in-ring or personal grievance. He compared Page’s glasses to those of the infamous American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, known as The Milwaukee Cannibal. Though jokingly delivered, this comparison underscored Saints’ unique reason for disfavoring Page.
“I don’t like them weird Jeffrey Dahmer glasses he wears. [Cody: just the glasses?] Yeah, they’re too… I don’t like that. That’s… who has those? [Cody: nobody. you don’t like the glasses?] Is that too much? [smiles] Yeah, I don’t like his glasses. I understand some people have astigmatisms, I’m a person who does,”
Saints explained.
Rivalry Built on History and Titles Leading Into the Bash
The Great American Bash will mark the sixth encounter between Ricky Saints and Ethan Page, a series shaped by hard-fought matches and title exchanges. Saints secured victories in their initial meetings at independent promotions in 2019, including a notable win during a Sabotage Royal Grounds pay-per-view event.
More recently, Saints triumphed over Page during their only AEW match in November 2022 and successfully defended his NXT North American Championship against him at NXT’s Stand & Deliver event in 2025. However, Page dethroned Saints in late May on NXT television, intensifying their rivalry ahead of this weekend’s match in Atlanta.
As a backstage presence, Cody Rhodes is expected to witness the Falls Count Anywhere battle, reflecting his continuing connection to both athletes involved in this high-stakes championship contest.
What Lies Ahead Post-Great American Bash
The rivalry between Saints and Page exemplifies the tense competitive spirit fueling NXT’s landscape and Cody Rhodes’ influence behind the scenes. Beyond their animosity, these wrestlers’ ongoing clashes attract attention to the North American Championship’s prestige and NXT’s growing talent pool.
With the match taking place at The Great American Bash, fans can anticipate a physically intense confrontation marked by the wrestlers’ contrasting personalities and history. The outcome could shift momentum for both competitors and impact future storylines involving Rhodes and other WWE wrestlers close to the pair.
