Everybody Hates Cleveland has recently interviewed Ethan Carter III. Here are a few highlights:
Now, your last year has been kind of crazy. You debuted last October in TNA, and just look at you now. You’re definitely a main event player here, and it’s kind of a turnaround because I believe you were released back in May 2013 from WWE. Can you talk about your past year? How has this been for you to be in a position like this?
“The only thing that’s changed with me is that an opportunity was given as opposed to not given. I’m very thankful for it, and I plan on running with it because this is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I’m not shocked with the amount of success I have had personally, I’m just shocked at the amount of opportunity and leeway this company has granted me and given me the ball to run with. I can’t be anything more than thankful because it’s been an awesome ride. I really look forward to continuing our success. I feel very good about the future. It’s proven in the numbers, we’re going up, and everyone seems to really be bringing their ‘A’ game on the entire roster from the newer talent we’re using to the veterans. This is like family, and it’s awesome.”
Are there wrestlers that you model yourself and your style around?
“A great coach I once had, Dr. Tom Prichard, when I was in developmental said to pick five of your favorite guys and pick and choose a little elements from them, incorporate them and use these five things that are unique and different, put your twist on it and there you go. You look at a lot of different guys. To play favorites is hard now because growing up, I loved the entertainment aspect as much as I loved the wrestling aspect. I try to incorporate entertainment in every facet and be multi-versed. As a kid, I would look at Warrior. Then in the 90s, it was Stone Cold and the Rock. In the 2000s, from being in the WWE, I got to learn from John Cena and see his work ethic and how he handles himself as a professional. Then over here, I got to wrestle Kurt Angle, who was a guy in the 90s and 2000s who made me want to become a wrestler. So you take all these elements, roll them up into one, put your twist on it and there you go.”
One of the things you’ve done since debuting in TNA is work some high-profile programs. Sting worked his last program in TNA with you. You worked with Kurt Angle until he got hurt. You came in right away, and worked with these high-profile guys. How was that for you, and what did you gain from that? How cool is it to say, ‘Sting’s last TNA match, I took him out.’ ‘Angle, possibly his last TNA match, I took him out.’ How’s that been for you?
“It’s a great opportunity that they trusted me and were like, ‘Here’s an opportunity? Can you hang?’ The thing with Sting is it was awesome because wow, it’s Sting. Holy smokes. The matches were short and meh but to be able to work the vocabulary and the talking angles, that was so important to me. That changed me and even in the middle of doing it, I could feel myself improving standing with him as we talked. I felt it for real. I felt, ‘Here’s a guy, and this is what ‘being over’ is like.’ I could feel a different reception from the crowd towards him. It’s different when you’re in the ring with a guy like that, so that was awesome. Again, I thank TNA for having faith in me. Kurt, same thing, and I just wish we had more time. I wish his knee wasn’t injured, but he’ll be back, and I’ll be waiting. I don’t think he’s done by a long shot.”
