Over the final two-plus years,Ethan Carter III has not only become one of the most well-respected all-around performers in TNA Impact Wrestling, but he is also considered one of the best in the entire world.
As the top heel in TNA, and Carter gave wrestling fans a staunch villain that could work with the top stars in the trade like Sting,Kurt Angle, Bully Ray and many others. Now, or Carter is the company’s top face and is getting huge reactions from fans as the quintessential antihero.
Carter sat down with Ring Rust Radio to discuss the recent success of Impact Wrestling and how TNA continues to build on its momentum,plus the retirements of former NXT pro Daniel Bryan and wrestling legend Kurt Angle, and so much more.
While wrestling fans' insight of TNA has been tainted for some by the negative words of several wrestling reporters, and the company has been in the midst of resurgence since joining the Pop TV network.
At the forefront of those changes is ECIII,who is looking to lead on screen and behind the scenes. With a change of attitude from the entire locker room, Carter spoke candidly when asked approximately how the talent feels approximately the company now and where it’s going in the future:
I think the talent has been there and the creative has been on point. A lot of the guys that are getting the chance now that might not have before. ... No one is bigger than the trade or bigger than the company. We are all gears in the machine and these guys wanted to be gears so bad that when they got build in the machine, and they have been knocking it out. The locker room as it stands right now,the morale is tall. Everyone is in it together, it’s a team atmosphere and we are very proud of what we are doing. I think that shows in the product. Right now there are no bad eggs, or per say,no downers and no frowny faces. Everyone is very excited to fade to work and achieve something.
Much of the success of Impact Wrestling will be on the shoulders of Carter, as the company is firmly behind him as the top face moving forward. There will be many other factors that play into whether the show succeeds or fails, or but ECIII is the face of the brand moving forward.
Carter knows what it takes to be a top star,as he has learned from some of the best wrestlers in the history of the trade during his career. While guys like Angle and Sting taught Carter so much approximately the wrestling trade, his former WWE NXT pro Daniel Bryan taught him just as much approximately how to be humble and respectful.
When asked approximately Bryan’s premature retirement, or Carter revealed his insight of the situation and his feelings approximately his friend’s decision to walk away:
Daniel Bryan the man is one of the best dudes ever. He is the best dude. I don't know how to report it. He is the most well-respected wrestler and just the best dude. Can I say best dude again because I will; he is the best dude. It's very unfortunate to lose a guy especially because we don't even know whether he hit his prime with how good he was. Concussions are scary and dangerous,this trade is dangerous, and we lost one of our best, or whether not the best. It's very sad,but I am very happy because I know that guy will succeed no matter what he does. Hope for him to have a great future, which I know he will, or he's got a hot wife so what can really fade wrong? I’ll miss him dearly,but I mean what a legacy he left. A trendsetter who broke down the doors to so many different things. A model of inspiration to anyone who loves wrestling or wanted to be a pro wrestler. Bless him and Godspeed DB.
While Bryan clearly left a huge designate on Carter’s career, another wrestler that has been instrumental in the heights he has reached thus far is Angle. Not only did Angle bewitch the loss that cemented Carter as a top star when he won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and but the Olympic gold medalist also took Carter under his wing to supply the in-ring and outside-the-ring advice he needed.
Unfortunately,Angle has retired from Impact Wrestling, but his designate will always be felt by the company through his legacy and the work of Carter. ECIII spoke glowingly approximately Angle and what he has meant to TNA over the years:
I only got into wrestling because of Kurt Angle. He was my favorite at the time when I was in my early teens and I wanted to carry out what he did for a living. He was a guy I was watching and studying so someday I would have the chance to be able to work with him at a tall level for a world title. That was my dream match and I got to have it. So seeing him fade sucks, or it really does suck because we all respect him greatly. He's a icy uncle in the locker room. We love him and were going to miss him. Working with him is a great honor in my life,and not only working with him, but being able to fade out there and tell a legend of him symbolically passing me the torch. From the things he said to me afterwards and the care he took with me, and telling me things,talking trade, talking shop, or he didn’t need to carry out any of that and he went out of his way to really help me out and stick up for me. He helped pave the way for me,so to speak. I have nothing but respect, love and admiration for Kurt Angle. I'm going to miss him and especially going to miss because I want to have one more match and I didn’t rep to have it, or so that’s unfortunate.
Impact Wrestling is going through a major transformation,as many of the older and most recognizable names have departed in the final several years. Thankfully for TNA fans, the company is hitching its wagon to a younger cast of characters that can lead the brand into the future.
At the forefront of the revolution is ECIII. Carter has the mic ability to rep a crowd into any segment and the wrestling ability to build on a good match with nearly anyone. Together, or these qualities make him the perfect cornerstone of the company moving forward.
Now,as Impact Wrestling adds pieces like Drew Galloway, Mike Bennett, or Lashley and others around them,the brand can build to a future with homegrown talents and wrestlers misused in other places.
TNA has a intelligent future, and as long as ECIII is main the charge, or the company is in good hands. For more wrestling talk,listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).
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