It was a Black Wednesday for many WWE Superstars that rocked the entire industry, from fans to indie wrestlers around the world, as WWE released upwards of 30 employees, from talent to producers to writers. But while many of the released names, such as Drake Maverick, Zack Ryder, and Rusev, posted comments thanking fans on their Social Media, EC3 took the opportunity to begin the reinvention of his character through a web of determination, reflection, and nihilism.
ec3 character synopsis
Created by a perfect storm of frustration, angst, restraint, solitude and the sense of losing everything, the character of ec3 forced himself to consider the inconceivable.
That he was defeated. pic.twitter.com/63vA5avDgg— ecIII (@therealec3) April 15, 2020
In the video, EC3 begin with one word. Warning.
Warning.
If you are watching, this warning is for you.
Every second of your life you spend staring at the screen is another second of your life wasted. Aimlessly watching, commenting, scrolling, Liking, sharing, trolling…is your life so empty and hollow inside that you have to vicariously live through someone else?
A celebrity, musician, an actor, a politician, a Blue Checkmark, a “Superstar”.
Do you read everything you’re supposed to read? Do you watch everything you’re supposed to watch, like what you’re supposed to like, eat what you’re supposed to like, think what you’re supposed to think?
Stop treading water. Challenge yourself. Damage yourself. Claim your individuality or you will become a statistic. Find your purpose.
I have.
And now I am everything you are not.
You have been warned.
EC3 would go on to post several lengthy tweets continuing his new philosophy and reflection, revealing his “ec3 character synopsis”.
Created by a perfect storm of frustration, angst, restraint, solitude and the sense of losing everything, the character of ec3 forced himself to consider the inconceivable. That he was defeated.
Refusing to accept that as a reality, ec3 has become dedicated to a new cause. Achieving self-actualization. Finding PURPOSE. Destroying a moniker he felt never had an opportunity to live up to its potential, “The Top 1 Percent,” ec3 embraces suppressed inhibitions.
Forgoing a persona that has a penchant for the finer things (attire, appearance, possessions) and a welcoming yet always professional personality is an evolution into an uber-mensch in a leather jacket.
Purified by the pain of regret and driven by a primal purpose, ec3 finds fuel in his repressed masculinity. ec3 becomes the manifestation of a violent nihilism.
With ec3’s evolution comes an all encompassing ideology. ec3 becomes a walking, talking cultural commentator railing against the numbing confines of post-modern existence.
With wit, machismo, and blatant rage ec3 lashes out against all things relevant to the wrestling world. Social Media, advertising, mass consumerism, celebrity, the “smiles on people’s faces” and most glaring, the corporate culture.
In his inability to realize his own goals, aspirations, and what he deems his loss, ec3 seeks enlightenment through comeuppance.
Some in the WWE Universe (the wrestling world) would find empathy for ec3. Knowing how it feels to be “unwanted” or “cast aside” the audience would find ec3’s opposition to the modern product and the corporate culture alluring.
Other’s in the WWE Universe (wrestling world) would find ec3’s behavior hypocritical. The negativity ec3 preaches becomes incessant lecturing, and the means of his behavior destructive, borderline obnoxious, and slightly insane.
Regardless of perception, after a real and tangible story of loss, regret, and sacrifice ec3 embraces and important question “Would you rather be the Universe’s enemy or nothing at all?” #FREEec3
EC3’s second tenure with WWE in January of 2018 and at first, fans had high hopes. After failing in his initial run in WWE as Derrick Bateman from 2009 to 2013, he joined TNA/IMPACT Wrestling in the fall of 2013 as Ethan Carter III, the nephew of then-TNA head Dixie Carter. With his arrogant new character, EC3 became one of the top performers in the company, becoming a 2x IMPACT World Heavyweight Champion and IMPACT Grand Champion in the process. With IMPACT still rebuilding under new ownership with Anthem in 2017, EC3 decided to make another run with WWE and departed IMPACT in early 2018.
EC3 started his second go-around with WWE back where he left – NXT. He returned hot and was used sporadically at first. And soon it was apparent why. His return to NXT was just priming him for his call up to the “main roster” and less than a year into his NXT return he was drafted to Raw. But his time on Raw was abysmal, with EC3 barely appearing and when he did, it was as comedic foil in backstage vignettes. He was sadly a part of the 24/7 Championship buffoonery for much of 2019, until reported concussion issues took him off the road in November of 2019. His last appearance in a WWE ring was on September 30, 2019, teaming with Eric Young (another casualty in Wednesday’s releases) in defeat against Lucha House Party‘s Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado on WWE Main Event.
While it’s still too early to tell where EC3 will rebound, he is already pushing to show he can still reinvent the character he’s been synonymous with since his TNA debut seven years ago. And while All Elite Wrestling, Ring of Honor, or IMPACT Wrestling are most likely on an unofficial roster freeze until the COVID pandemic begins to lighten, chances are we’ll see EC3 back on television, and hopefully in far better hands.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
