On tonight’s CW Network debut of “WWE NXT,” Ethan Page will defend the NXT Championship against Trick Williams, with CM Punk acting as the special guest referee. Before the “NXT” talents hit the ring, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels provided a preview of the title match, while also assessing Page’s rise through “NXT” since debuting there in May.

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“I’m not sure if anybody has had a quicker and bigger ascension to the NXT Championship than Ethan Page,” Michaels told “Busted Open Radio.” “He’s somebody who came in, obviously with a great deal of experience, and clearly, that experience served him well. He’s been the NXT champion. The way he went about winning that title, maybe questionable in the eyes of some people, but he’s been a fantastic champion from that point on. He obviously wants to prove that he’s worthy of that championship by defending against Trick Williams, arguably the most popular, charismatic star in NXT history.”

According to Michaels, while Williams may not be as experienced as Page, an 18-year veteran, he does possess an undeniable charisma that has previously led him to the top of the “NXT” brand. And since losing the NXT Championship to Page under unique circumstances at “NXT” Heatwave, Williams has hungered for retribution. With all of this in mind, Michaels is excited to see Williams and Page, as well as the entire “NXT” roster, spotlighted on a premiere platform, emanating from the city of Chicago.

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Elsewhere on “NXT,” Roxanne Perez will defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Giulia, with Stephanie Vaquer waiting in the wings.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

In addition to his tutelage, Kelani Jordan shared her excitement at seeing CM Punk officiate the NXT title match between champion Ethan Page and Trick Williams: “And what better way to start it off with Punk being there right in Chicago? 

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As for the premiere episode itself, Jordan says she’s “pumped” at the opportunity: “I’m pumped, because not only did I get to make history with the Women’s North American Championship, but I’m able to be part of history as a company in NXT,’ as a brand, moving to CW because it’s the first time in history that we’re going to go to a broadcast channel. But also it’s a chance for us to appeal to an even bigger audience, an even younger audience. And ‘NXT’ is so diverse in all ways, shapes and forms, and we have so many incredible people. And I think being able to showcase that talent on an even bigger scale is amazing, and I couldn’t be happier.”

This weekend, wrestling fans noted that the programming guide for the “WWE NXT” premiere on the CW has the show listed as rated TV-14, a seeming change from the previous PG rating it had while on the USA Network. Was this a mistake or a sign of changes on the horizon for WWE’s developmental program?

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Per a report from Fightful Select, journalist Corey Brennan talked to “several” NXT sources, including talent and production personnel, and none mentioned any kind of change in the product with regard to an age rating change; no one mentioned being told the show would have the TV-14 rating. One Fightful source in WWE production said that it would be “strange” for “WWE NXT” to get a change in the age rating without one for “WWE Raw” or “WWE SmackDown”; they also noted that, with “WWE NXT” being on broadcast television, a change in the show’s age rating could be a means of avoiding the need to censor any crowd chants with curse words on the program.

Fightful Select’s sources fell short of ruling out a change in “WWE NXT’s age rating, but were said to be “skeptical” of the likelihood of such a change. In much the same manner, WWE star CM Punk recently cautioned fans to temper their expectations regarding potential changes to “WWE Raw” with it’s upcoming move to Netflix in 2025.

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All Elite Wrestling’s festivities at Arthur Ashe Stadium continued this past weekend as the company presented the first-ever Grand Slam edition of “AEW Collision” on September 28. In what was the biggest “Collision” episode of the year so far, fans in Queens, New York, got to witness an AEW World Trios Championship match, grudge matches like Jamie Hayter versus Saraya and Hangman Page versus Jeff Jarrett. THey also got to see Kazuchika Okada go one-on-one with Sammy Guevara in an AEW Continental Championship Eliminator match, but how many tuned in to TNT on Saturday to witness all of the action?

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According to Wrestlenomics, the September 28 episode of “Collision” averaged a total of 435,000 viewers, a big increase of 25% from the previous week’s 347,000 viewers. This figure also marks “Collision’s” highest average viewership since the August 24 episode, which acted as AEW’s go-home show before All In London. The 435,000 figure is also a huge increase of 44% on the trailing four week average that stood at 301,000, although the trailing four weeks did include the episode that went head-to-head with “WWE SmackDown” on September 6.

There was also big movement in the key 18-49 demographic, as the September 28 show earned 0.13, up 8% from the 0.12 earned on September 21, and up 30% from the trailing four week average that came to a 0.10. This was also the highest number in the 18-49 demographic that “Collision” has earned since the August 24 episode in Cardiff, Wales, and led to “Collision” finishing in third place for all cable originals that aired in the prime time hours of Saturday night. Wrestlenomics confirmed that College Football dominated the ratings on cable for Saturday night, while the season 50 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” earned one of its highest ratings in years on September 28.

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