EC3 is opening up about one of the lowest points in his career, revealing there was a moment when he seriously considered walking away from wrestling after being released from WWE.
While speaking with Jasmine St. Claire on the Crazy Train Podcast, EC3 reflected on his early WWE developmental years and how injuries, company restructuring, and his eventual release pushed him to question whether wrestling was worth continuing. He explained that the timing of everything made the situation even harder, especially since WWE was changing how its developmental system operated while he was trying to recover and prove himself.
“2013 when I was in developmental for four years and got called up to WWE, but I was in NXT before NXT was cool… it was the shitty internet version. And then I got injured. I got injured and I came back and they were kind of restructuring the business or the developmental system and changing the people within it. And it was just like you’re, you know, a major corporation’s making changes. Your time is limited if you’re not doing something productive.”
After being released, EC3 admitted he started thinking about leaving wrestling entirely and pursuing a more traditional life. He said the uncertainty of the business made him wonder whether a normal path might have brought more stability.
“So then getting fired through that, I was just like, ‘Why am I doing this? Like I’m still young. I could finish school. I could marry this girl. I could live a normal life and probably be happy.’ And I did it, you know, I made it to some extent. So that’s cool.”
Despite feeling ready to walk away, EC3 said a key piece of advice from longtime wrestling trainer Dr. Tom Prichard completely shifted his mindset. Instead of quitting, he decided to push forward and prove that his release wouldn’t define his future.
“I remember this advice I got from Dr. Tom Prichard… his advice was ‘Never take yourself out the game.’ Then I kind of got mad about it. I’m like, ‘F** these people… firing me?’ I said, ‘I will do everything I can to prove them wrong. I will go to the ends of the earth to tell them to f*** off. I will do whatever it takes to make them call me back.’”*
That moment ultimately became a turning point in his career, helping fuel his eventual success in TNA and beyond. Looking back now, EC3’s comments show just how close he came to stepping away from wrestling altogether before choosing to keep fighting for his place in the business.
Walking away is something many wrestlers consider at some point, but EC3’s story shows how one moment — or one piece of advice — can completely change the direction of a career.
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