EC3 says Vince McMahon indirectly played a part in shaping his TNA persona.
The Top One Percenter made his return to TNA last month, confronting Eric Young at the company’s Rebellion pay-per-view. EC3 has changed a great deal in the years since his last TNA appearance, including a physical change and switching his character up a bit.
During a new interview with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, EC3 explained how one subtle change was replacing his billed hometown. EC3 was originally advertised as being from Boca Raton, Florida, but now hails from Cleveland, which is his actual hometown. According to EC3, Boca Raton was given to him for a trivial reason—because Vince McMahon had a condominium there.
“EC3’s origin, hailing from Boca Raton, Florida. Which, the idea—I believe that was Dave Lagana when I was first there [in TNA]. ‘Oh, you’re going to be from Boca.’ Like, all right. Why? ‘Vince McMahon has a condo there.’ I’m like, okay, cool. That works for me,” EC3 said.
That link now serves as an awkward reference of sorts, as McMahon was accused of sexual harassment by a Boca Raton tanning salon employee in 2006. No charges were filed after an investigation, but it’s still not something a wrestler would want to be connected to.
EC3 has grown quite a bit since he was Dixie Carter’s ‘snobby nephew’
However, EC3 says they actually changed his hometown now because it allowed him to play a more grounded character, as his return promo highlighted.
“The biggest difference, entitled snobby nephew in Cleveland, I got to throw away the Boca line, ‘cause how’d I finish that promo? I’m from Cleveland, b***h. So, right off the jump, this is kind of who I really am,” he explained. “This is where I’m really from. And a lot remains the same, but the differences are kind of weighed in, creating what I’m calling the top 1% standard.
“But whatever that will be, the accumulated years of victories, defeats, wins, losses, same thing but different, injuries, relationships, friendships, everything we go through in life kind of collaborating to create who I am now, the growth that has taken place.”
EC3 compares his TNA return to Alexander the Great
EC3 used history to explain how he views his character’s return, noting that he’s been changed by battle across the world. He recalled how Alexander the Great faced adversity and won battle after battle, which shaped who he’d become. Similar to history, EC3 says he is a different person, and he’s coming back to solidify his legacy in pro wrestling and TNA.
“The biggest difference would be this guy has now been through it in ways that you know and in ways that you don’t. And what does that mean for him as he comes into TNA for this third act? His ‘Last Dance’ season is what I’m calling it. Jordanesque, coming back with intention, coming back with a reason, coming back to solidify a legacy.”
EC3 believes two important things about legacy are what you do with it, and who you bring up with you along the way.
“Your legacy now trickles down to them, where they are then creating their own. So, like the Belichick coaching tree, the EC3 legacy tree, that’s a big change in a lot of the talents I’ve invested time and effort in, and who have believed in me and I believe in them, going and being successful, whether it’s in NWA, where I put I think 10 talents into NWA’s roster, to now TNA,” EC3 said. “That’s the biggest change. Roundabout way, Alexander the Great reference excluded, biggest change: this top 1% standard. That’s the biggest change.”
Read More: WWE Star Shares Photo From Hospital Bed After Major Surgery
