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What’s the story?
There was a time when being called up to the main roster was a really big deal. However, in the current setup, NXT is recognized to be a better place for talents as a majority of them get buried after joining either Raw or SmackDown. Lars Sullivan will soon be making his Raw debut and there is a predictable air of uncertainty.
It seems former TNA World Champion Ethan Carter III could have also made his much-anticipated main roster appearance in the aftermath of SummerSlam before something unfortunate happened.
In case you didn’t know…
EC3 confirmed his return to WWE in January 2018 when he was spotted at NXT Takeover: Philadelphia. Carter was previously part of the WWE from 2009-2013 when he wrestled for FCW, the old iteration of NXT along with occasional appearances on SmackDown as an enhancement talent before being released. He went back to the Indies and eventually joined TNA in 2013. He went on to make a name for himself at the troubled promotion by capturing the World title twice while also being a 1-time Grand Champion.
Carter deserved his return to WWE and settled in well as a heel before turning face in WWE’s thriving developmental territory. Everything was going smoothly until in August 2018, he suffered an untimely concussion at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 4 in a losing effort against the Velveteen Dream.
The heart of the matter
On the latest edition of the audio edition of PWInsider Elite, Mike Johnson said that EC3 could have been a part of SmackDown or Raw by now had it not been for the concussion he suffered.
Owing to his experience in different promotions and expertise on the mic as well as being a solid in-ring performer, EC3 was always deemed ready for the main roster and it would have surely happened on one of the two noteworthy nights after SummerSlam. According to Johnson, the concussion laid a dent in those plans and the WWE Creative team now has to wait until they find him a suitable spot and storyline for him on the main roster.
Johnson’s speculation makes complete sense as EC3 is indeed seasoned enough to hang in the big leagues but needs a proper reintroduction to the main roster fans. Johnson also predicted that NXT could undergo some major changes in the new year and stated that the final word regarding the call-up of talents to the main roster comes from Vince McMahon with obvious inputs from Triple H.
“It all has to do with when Vince is ready for somebody and whether Triple H is ready to let them go or not. So you can’t rush everyone up at once. I really think the entire makeup of NXT is going to change in the upcoming year as there is more talk of international satellite versions of that company showing up,” Johnson said.
What’s next?
Now that Lars Sullivan has received the promotion, WWE could save EC3’s inevitable call-up for the Royal Rumble or the night after WrestleMania. All that the former TNA standout has to do is avoiding getting injured and continue to impress down at NXT.
How should WWE get EC3 on the main roster and who would you like to see him face in his first feud? Sound off in the comments section below.
