EC3 had a career breakout in TNA, but found himself back in familiar territory in WWE.
In 2018, EC3 finished up more than a three-year run with the now-IMPACT Wrestling. At the peak of his career, he reveals that he asked for his release from the company
"My contract was still taking place. I decided to leave early because of the transitions going and I just thought it was a good time for other people to step up and a good time for me to challenge myself somewhere else at the moment. I had to do something different. Especially where my personal life was at that time. [?] I needed a big change," he said.
He wasn't there alone. Drake Maverick, formerly known as Rockstar Spud, had just joined WWE and the two were close friends. However, EC3 says that didn't influence his decision to move on to WWE whatsoever.
Fightful had reported at the time that EC3 had conversations with the NWA, something he would also confirm.
"I would say out of the decisions and the positive / negative board I created myself—positive at the very, very bottom, underneath like traveling way too much would have been like, “Yeah, Spud’s there. Cool.” I had talks with multiple things," EC3 added. "But, there was something I felt I needed to accomplish at that time and that’s why I chose WWE."
Now, Maverick appears alongside EC3 weekly on the Magic City Live program on K5Network, as they gear up for their Magic City Mania show in Tampa on April 2.
These defections happened prior to the talent war that we see today, and EC3 has some insight as to why he was allowed out of his deal as one of the top players.
"At that time I think they were experiencing so many changes. They inherited a mess. They’re doing great with it now, so I’m so happy for them. But, at the time I was pretty well compensated so I think they were okay with taking me off the books and helping me out, and being okay with it because they also wanted to build new and fresh people. So, yeah, they were okay with it," he said.
Check out Magic City Mania, Thursday April 2 at the Orpheum, featuring EC3, Braun Strowman, Drake Maverick, R-Truth and more. Proceeds go to benefit the Apple A Day foundation. You can learn more at K5Network.com. You can see our full interview with EC3 at the top of the page.
