Exclusive interview with former WWE star and current TNA World Champion EC3, Ethan Carter the 3rd

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – recently had the chance to speak with former WWE star and current TNA World Champion, Ethan Carter the 3^rd – also known as EC3. Having won the title from Olympic gold medalist and wrestling legend Kurt Angle, EC3 has been a dominant force in TNA. EC3 defends his title against Drew Galloway in the main event of Bound for Glory and you can hear his opinion on his opponent, the current state of TNA as well as its future in the YouTube link below or continue past to read the entire interview here!

Ring Rust Radio: It was just announced that you will be defending the world title against Drew Galloway in the main event of Bound for Glory on October 4. How are you approaching a match of this magnitude and what does it mean to you to be main eventing the company’s biggest PPV?

Ethan Carter III: Well I just mentioned how my sports car is European, and that is the extent of how I like Europeans, is in my cars.  Professional wrestlers that are European I don’t care for.  Drew Galloway hails from Scotland, he is six foot 5, weighs 260, and is one of the toughest guys in wrestling. For me to have the chance to main event Bound for Glory with him is a huge opportunity and I couldn’t be more excited for it.  It is the biggest show of the year for TNA and I am the biggest thing in TNA, seeing it as I am the world heavyweight champion, I am unbendable, unbreakable, unbeatable, undefeated, and undisputed it only makes sense.  It’s only fitting that I main event Bound for Glory but it is still a great honor and responsibility to deliver.

Ring Rust Radio: Many fans felt yourself and Drew Galloway didn't get a fair shot in WWE, so heading into the Bound for Glory main event, so have you two spoken about the faith and support you've received from TNA to give you two the chance many feel you deserve?

ECIII: Yes, I would say that.  You caught me off guard with a serious question of that nature.  This has been an opportunity for us and we have proved our detractors wrong since we stepped foot in TNA.  It’s just another opportunity to exploit that chip on your shoulder that helps make you great in this business.  I think you need the angst and energy to motivate your performance.  Not that that would motivate me more than I was previously motivated, but it’s there and real and we are ready for that chance.

Ring Rust Radio: You still haven’t lost a televised singles match in TNA by pinfall or submission. Long undefeated streaks can lead to some backlash from fans from time to time, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing for you as a heel, but how do you go about keeping things fresh and ensuring that the streak doesn’t become a detriment?

ECIII: Man, this is a championship caliber question!  There has not been a pinfall or submission on me since my debut with TNA as a singles wrestler.  It was kind of happenstance and also unique what we have going on.  As an antagonist, it’s a great boasting point for me to constantly refer to me as being undefeated while most of my wins come at dastardly deeds.  As far as a detriment, I could see that more so if I was being portrayed as an unconquerable world beater like a Bill Goldberg when he was undefeated.  As far as me, I think there is an opportunity for when that time does come; they must absolutely create a brand new star out of that.

Ring Rust Radio: During your run with TNA, you have worked against Kurt Angle, Bobby Lashley and some of the top talents in the business. Who have you enjoyed working with the most and how has the talent around you helped elevate your game?

ECIII: You mentioned three names that are pretty significant in the industry.  Kurt Angle definitely, that title match with him and being able to defeat him was a dream match come true to me.  One guy you didn’t mention is Matt Hardy.  Matt came over to TNA and he was the first credible challenger for my title.  He helped bring the best out of me in different way from working a full metal mayhem match to other natures.  Being able to be in the ring with those guys and TNA giving me the chance has helped in making me great.

Ring Rust Radio: I say it on this show all the time, but I consider you a top talent in the wrestling industry due to your mic skills and ability to generate heat. Why do you think WWE never gave you the proper chance to shine and what has TNA done to help you become a top star in the business?

ECIII: As far as what happened in the past, there is an old saying, “I heard from someone over there” and it is what it is.  Why didn’t I get the chance?  Maybe I did something wrong, maybe I didn’t hold up my end, or maybe I held in a little too much as opposed to being more who I am.  TNA has given me the opportunity to creatively express myself and the freedom to go out there and try something whether it fails or succeeds.  I’m the first one to know if I did something good or bad out there.  Having the ability to go out there and do that, coming to the back and it’s not something you’re being modest about. That’s where constructive criticism helps.  Basically I feel you get better in wrestling through having more confidence and TNA has done everything to give me great confidence by giving me a great opportunity and the best opponents.  Everything they have given to me has been so good, pure, pristine, and awesome to where if it didn’t succeed it would be because I suck, and clearly I don’t.

Ring Rust Radio: There’s been a lot written and said about TNA regarding its future, specifically with Destination America. As the world champion and top guy in the company right now, how do the rumors and speculation impact you, and what are your overall thoughts on them?

ECIII: They are just rumors and speculation, my only problem is when people portray those as facts.  I do not know our future besides Aunt Dixie telling me we are on Destination America through the end of the year, I have full confidence in the higher ups and the office and my sweet Aunt D that we will be well taken care of and somewhere on television.

Exclusive Ring Rust Radio interview with the newest TNA Impact wrestling star Drew Galloway

The hosts of Ring Rust Radio – Donald Wood, Mike Chiari and Brandon Galvin – were recently able to interview the newest star on TNA Impact, Drew Galloway. The Scottish wrestler has made a huge splash on the independent wrestling scene and is one of the biggest acquisitions for TNA since he left WWE in 2014. Check out the interview below to read about Galloway’s thoughts on the professional wrestling industry, his hopes for his future in TNA, the new stable he’s leading and more.

Donald Wood: Arguably the biggest move TNA has made over the last year besides the jump to Destination America every Friday night at 9 p.m. was signing you. What was the decision process like signing with Impact Wrestling and what are your long-term goals with the company?

Drew Galloway: The process involved obviously talking with the bosses over there.  I was over in Scotland for a show, for a Scottish company ICW.  I spoke with them and initially I was a little apprehensive.  I wasn’t looking to get back on American TV so quickly to be honest.  I spoke with the bosses there and they told me the plan and I got excited about.  With Destination America deal and the opportunity to be a part of something on the ground floor and try to build it up, and the opportunity to just be myself.  Anything you see on TNA is me, that’s Drew Galloway 100 percent.  I’m talking as Drew Galloway, I’m wrestling as Drew Galloway, and it’s no gimmicks.  I get to just be a wrestler and be myself.  I’m getting the opportunity to do that with TNA and I couldn’t be any happier right now.

Mike Chiari: You worked almost exclusively as a heel during your time in WWE, but you’ve quickly become one of the most popular baby faces in TNA. What has that transition been like for you, and what is your preference between the two?

Drew Galloway: Honestly I don’t have a preference, I just kind of do my thing.  If you notice the way I wrestle, I do wrestle more like a heel even when I’m a face.  I just have a particular style like I’m a hybrid European/American with a little bit of strong style in there.  Honestly I don’t have a preference.  I legit wrestle how I wrestle.  If the fans are on board, they’re going to cheer, and if they aren’t digging it they are going to boo.  Either way I am having fun.  It’s weird to be cheered to be honest, I’m just used to being the bad guy.  The fans are digging what I am saying because everything I say is me, it’s not scripted.  It’s Drew Galloway speaking his mind and they feel the same way if they are getting behind it.  I want to say thank you to them for loving wrestling as much as I do. 

Brandon Galvin: You recently formed a stable known as The Rising with Eli Drake and Myka to go up against the Beat Down Clan. You’ve been part of stables before, but as the clear-cut leader of this one what are you hoping to accomplish and why do you feel like the three of you will have success as a unit in TNA?

Drew Galloway: Well the guys I joined up with are guys that feel the same way I do about wrestling.  They are really young, eager, and hungry.  Obviously Haku’s son is a great part of the group.  He’s got that family tradition and he loves wrestling more than anything.  Shaun Ricker is my third man there. He is a young kid that’s being trying hard to get a break and just hasn’t gotten the opportunity yet.  He has a great look and great passion.  These are a couple of guys I’m excited to be running with me.  Over the next couple of weeks, especially this Friday, you’re going to learn a little more about the group.  We are going to be tweeting out the live tweets during the show.  So if you are a fan out there, tweet what you’re thinking, tweet what you want, say anything in the world, and I have a hands on approach and I’ll make sure it gets on the show. It’s going to be an exciting few weeks coming up and you’re going to find out a lot about the Rising.

Donald Wood: After your departure from the WWE, you spent a lot of time getting back to your roots on the independent scene. How did working the indies influence your style now and did it help your confidence after being underutilized for so long?

Drew Galloway: Absolutely.  It was fun to do those lengthy matches once again.  When I got into wrestling, I wanted to, you know, wrestle.  I’m 29 years old, everyone seems to think I’m in my mid to late thirties just because I have been around for so long.  I started when I was 15, wrestled the indies for six years, I signed with the WWE when I was 21 and stayed there for eight years.  All I ever wanted to do was wrestle whenever I had the opportunity.  I did make a few bold statements initially when I was cut from the WWE on Chris Jericho’s podcast.  I told the world they never got to see the real me.  A lot of people believed in me and gave me opportunities and I was very lucky with the places I have been and the titles I’ve won.  I am currently holding five titles over three continents.  Luckily I am making a name for myself and people are believing in me and giving me that opportunity.  Places like TNA just giving Drew Galloway the chance to be Drew Galloway.

Mike Chiari: I think most fans expected you to become world champion in WWE because of your early success and because of the “Chosen One” moniker. It didn’t come to fruition, but what do you think you learned from that situation that might help you have success as a main event guy now and in the future?

Drew Galloway: Well obviously you can’t help but learn getting thrust into that position and that kind of opportunity.  Unfortunately, being so young and the circumstances and stories and whatever else, you think those work out but I obviously learned a great deal.  I have been wrestling for fourteen years now and I’ve had those big opportunities and had opportunities to show that side of my personality.  I even got to show the funnier side of my personality, so you know it was fun and I got the exposure from it.  Without the WWE and the exposure I never would have gotten my chance to get my name out there in the indies, get myself to where I got to, and get myself into TNA and show the world the real Drew.  I can’t be anything but thankful for that and now I am in my prime:  I am 29 and I am ready to rock and the main event is the only place I’m going to be.    

Brandon Galvin: You've played several types of characters during your career. Do you enjoy the challenge of trying to adjust to a new role, or do you prefer to stick to one character and see it through?

Drew Galloway: I would say the real answer is I prefer to be myself, I think that’s the most successful character.  It’s a challenge but it can be fun playing a character.  I played two completely different characters in the WWE and they were both night and day.  Some of that is fun doing it on such a big stage, but honestly to be myself is the ultimate for me.  The most successful characters were just extensions of people’s personalities.  In this case it’s not an extension of my personality, it’s loud and it’s passionate but that’s just me.  You hear me right now, I literally just finished a match.  I’m all amped up, I’m starting to fire off, my accent comes out, I probably talk too quick, but I can’t help it I just love this so much.  That’s not a character, that’s Drew Galloway, and he is a wrestling geek, and the ultimate smart mark.   

Donald Wood: You talk about TNA and how they utilize you, and so far you have been utilized very well.  Talking about the World title, is winning the World title your ultimate goal in TNA and how long do you think it’s going to be until you’re in contention for it?

Drew Galloway: Well, if you’re not hoping to win the World title than you’re out of your mind.  That is the prize and that is the goal.  Kurt Angle currently has it and I’m very excited for the chance and opportunity to wrestle Kurt.  That’s somebody I grew up watching and every time he came on the TV I was very, very excited to watch.  The idea and the possibility to wrestle Kurt Angle for the World title, I mean, holy crap.  Would you guys think if you were in a position to potentially get that opportunity would it be the dream right now?  I’m going to keep working my arse off until I get there.  I would be the busiest wrestler in the world.  I was in Australia ten days ago, then I was in Tampa, San Jose, Scotland, London yesterday, and Belfast tonight.  I am the world’s busiest wrestler and I’m going to keep busting my arse till I get my hands on that TNA World title.

Mike Chiari: Since coming to TNA your message has been that you’re representing the wrestling fans and what they want to see rather than promotions pushing what they think is best onto the fans. Having experienced so much in the wrestling business, what do you think are some of the fundamental problems that you’d like to help change moving forward?

Drew Galloway: Like I said, I would like there to be wrestling on the wrestling shows.  When fans react to somebody and they obviously like somebody, that person should get the opportunity.  In the end, it’s the fans that paid to come and see, to turn on the TV show, and if you don’t give them what they want they’re going to turn the other direction.  Right now, there are so many companies offering so many alternatives for fans to watch.  TNA just has such an incredible roster and guys I cannot wait to wrestle.  Just getting the wrestling on the wrestling shows is fundamental.  It’s like watching wrestling for any other reason than to see wrestling.  Fans get invested in the people through the wrestling and just give the fans what they want. 

Brandon Galvin: You are just getting started with TNA and you haven’t had the opportunity to work with a vast majority of the Impact Wrestling roster. Who are some of the top names you are looking forward to steeping in the ring against and why?

Drew Galloway: There are so many guys I don’t want to leave anyone out backstage.  Austin Aries, I have wrestled him once before at the ECW arena and that was a lot of fun.  I’d love to wrestle Jeff Hardy, another guy I watched growing up.  Matt Hardy and I could tangle again.  There’s so many guys, I don’t want to be rude.  Lashley is up there.  Bram and I are going to beat the crap out of each other and I hope he is listening right now.   I know soon enough Bram and I are going to tangle.  We are buddies and go way back, but watch out for that because it’s going to be an absolute war.  If I am missing anyone out, you pretty much know who they are if you watch the show.  The guys that are awesome are the ones I want to wrestle.  As much as Bram and I are going to be a way, Low Ki and I are going to be the war of wars.  I can’t stress that enough.  A big part of The Rising’s success is the heat between Low Ki and I and the animosity between us.  It’s real, it’s very real, and when that match comes you better put the kids to bed early.  It’s going to be more than a war.