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What's the story?
NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia was an extremely noteworthy event due to the quality of the matches. However, the biggest news of the night was a former Impact Wrestling superstar who was spotted at ringside.
EC3 was interviewed backstage by Kayla Braxton who asked him his initial thoughts upon signing with the company. The storyline nephew of Dixie Carter replied by saying that after all those years, he knew who he was, at last.
In case you didn't know...
EC3 once wrestled for NXT under the name, Derrick Bateman. He was released from his contract in 2013, and went on to have a successful career outside the company.
He is perhaps best known for his work in Impact Wrestling, where he played the spoiled nephew of Dixie Carter. He was the Impact Wrestling Grand Champion until recently, when he dropped his prized belt to Matt Sydal at Impact: Genesis.
The heart of the matter
When he was asked what we can expect from him at NXT, EC3 had this to say, pointing at the WWE logo:
See this logo? This logo behind me? It's been one thousand seven hundred fourteen days since I've been affiliated with this logo. But who's counting really? I am here. I am signed to NXT.
He went on to detail the changes between the man he was during his previous run, and his current gimmick:
After all those years, I know who I am now and there's a victory in that. I look very much forward to the future.
What's next?
EC3 seemed a little heelish in his first promo. Perhaps he'll be the top heel in the company going forward, presumably when the post WrestleMania call-ups happen, depriving the NXT roster of top stars. We'll have to wait and watch to gauge what his role in the company is, in coming weeks.
Author's take
Trouble has arrived in NXT. And his name is Ethan Carter, the IIIrd.
I cannot wait to find out how he fits into the overall NXT landscape.
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