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What's the story?
NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia had as many ringside reveals as it had fantastic matches, but they perhaps saved the best, and most surprising one until last with a suited-up EC3 being spotted in the audience for the show.
In case you didn't know...
EC3 recently left Impact Wrestling after wrapping up his obligations with the company at the most recent set of tapings. He was granted an early release from his contract and has been associated with the WWE ever since, with Rumble rumors, Performance Center sightings, and NXT Twitter following him.
The heart of the matter
After sightings of Candice LeRae, War Machine and Ricochet earlier on in the night it seemed that WWE had played all of their new signing cards, but they still had one up their sleeve when they went back to the audience shot after the brutal Aleister Black Vs. Adam Cole match.
Really interestingly, the former Derrick Bateman and current Ethan Carter III was referenced on WWE television as EC3. This is significant because Ethan Carter was Dixie Carter's kayfabe nephew on Impact Wrestling, which means that WWE are sort of inadvertently acknowledging the former head of one of their biggest rivals.
What's next?
Even though this could be a red herring, this should put an end to rumors that EC3 will be appearing in the Royal Rumble match, with it instead looking like he's going to do a 'Drew McIntyre' and re-establish himself down on the yellow brand.
It's unclear at this point whether or not EC3 will remain Ethan Carter III or if the WWE will change his surname or first name, or give him an entirely different name entirely, or leave him simply as 'EC3'. So many possibilites
Author's take
Well color me as surprised as EC3's suit was purple. I did not see this coming and I was genuinely shocked. Well done WWE, well done.
