Ethan Page successfully defended his NXT North American Championship against Santino Marella (and his infamous Cobra) in this week’s main event on WWE NXT. Marella made a surprise return to challenge for the title, showing early dominance with arm drags and quick rollups, but Page responded firmly with powerful boots and headlocks, ultimately twisting through Marella’s attacks. In the match’s final moments, Marella used the Cobra move, but the referee intervened before it could hit Page, allowing the champion to retain with a confident smile.
The rivalry stems from Page unveiling a redesigned NXT North American Championship belt, replacing the traditional maroon strap with one bearing the Canadian flag, which sparked a national pride debate. Marella, also Canadian and a respected figure in wrestling, challenged Page’s right to carry the title, questioning his respect and honor. Now 51, Marella continues to wrestle part-time, recently competing in a non-title bout at AAA alongside NXT talent Laura Vice.
Fan Take: This storyline brings an interesting cultural angle to NXT programming, giving fans a fresh narrative intertwined with national pride and legacy. For WWE fans, it highlights how championship prestige can be elevated by personal stakes and past legends returning, potentially leading to more cross-generational clashes in the future.
