During the final WWE NXT episode in 2025, Ethan Page successfully defended his NXT North American Championship against Moose, a wrestler from TNA, by using his finishing move Twisted Grin to secure a clean pinfall. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray expressed that while losing to an NXT star like Page isn’t embarrassing for Moose, losing so decisively does have its repercussions.
Ray described the finish on the podcast “Busted Open After Dark,” noting how Page landed his version of the Diamond Cutter after a brief false finish, and the referee counted to three without any controversy. He questioned why Moose, arguably the physically largest competitor in TNA, would lose so convincingly to a crafty and sneaky heel like Ethan Page. Ray emphasized that with TNA airing live on AMC starting January 15th, they need to showcase their top talent strongly, and Moose losing in such a straightforward manner doesn’t help that cause.
Rather than a clean loss, Ray would have preferred to see Ethan Page cheat for the win, like putting his foot on the ropes, or perhaps attack Moose after the match to provoke some retaliation, which would have kept Moose looking strong despite the defeat. He stressed that even though Moose lost, he still stands tall as a notable TNA athlete.
Moose has a decorated history in TNA, having held both the TNA World and X Division Championships; the latter is currently held by Leon Slater, who is also the number one contender for the NXT Championship.
Fan Take: This result highlights the ongoing tension between WWE and other promotions like TNA, emphasizing the importance of strong storytelling in cross-promotional matches. For WWE fans, it raises questions about how inter-promotional dynamics are handled and if top stars outside WWE are given the respect needed to maintain their credibility in big matches.
