EC3 is done playing defense over his health, and now he’s turning the whole mess back on wrestling fans. After one viral clip sparked concern over the former TNA World Champion’s condition, EC3 says the bigger problem is that wrestling has handed too much power to people online — and younger talent are now scared to be themselves because they’re constantly worried about what fans will say.
The concern started after footage from an independent wrestling show showed EC3 moving slowly during his entrance. Fans quickly started questioning whether something was wrong with him, but EC3 later explained that he was working his second match of the day after international travel and was deliberately selling an injured leg. Rockstar Spud also backed that up after speaking with him privately.
EC3 then mocked the entire situation by posting shirtless photos showing himself looking jacked while sarcastically checking in on everyone else’s health and wellness journey.
“8/8: Just checking in on everybody’s health and wellness journey!!! Reminder: comparison is the thief of joy…(unless posting shirtless photographs on the internet specifically so other people can compare themselves to you. Together, through accountability, positive affirmations, hydration, believing in ourselves, and proper digestion undeterred by international travel, disrupted circadian rhythms, and the gastrointestinal betrayal of prolonged air pressure…We can defeat today’s Lion’s Gate Portal #lionsgateportal and the general concept of ‘selling injury’ in professional wrestling. Blessed. #Journey #Selling #Accountability.”
While speaking with Vince Russo, EC3 explained that the main reason he even bothered responding was business. Russo pointed out that promoters could see the clip, believe something was seriously wrong with EC3 and think twice about booking him. EC3 agreed, saying that was “actually the majority of the reason” he spoke up because he was now having to explain the situation to people he might work with.
“Yeah, 100%. That was actually the majority of the reason. And I do have talks that now I’m like, ‘I have to go address this to people I may be talking to.’ Like, this is just a waste of my time. I would imagine they’re smart enough and hopefully know me enough to get it.”
EC3 also admitted there is only so much anyone can do once a story takes off online. He said attacking people would only feed the situation, while the original claim will usually reach more people than the correction anyway.
“You just have to say what’s true and then let it — if I harped on it or I went into attack mode, then I think I’m playing into their game. Nobody’s going to see the retort or the truth. Everyone’s going to see that. Also, wrestling Twitter lives and dies in two- or three-day increments. So what are we really talking about?”
That led EC3 into a much bigger issue with wrestling culture. He said the business has given away too much power to online fans because talent have started letting outside opinions control how they see themselves, their characters and their careers.
“The problem is, they are, because people listen to these people. People listen to them. Our business has given away that power. They are, at the end of the day, the fans, and you are, at the end of the day, you — in control of your brand, creative, your narrative. The creator is always in control, and we as creators and wrestlers have stopped.”
EC3 says he sees the damage firsthand while working with younger wrestlers. According to him, too many talents are listening to every fan reaction and losing confidence because they’re afraid of what people online might say about them.
“As I’m guiding and training and helping younger talent, they are giving into people that are not in control. Like, ‘Oh, well, this person said this,’ or, ‘This fan’s saying this, and they’re saying this.’ I’m like, ‘You have to believe in yourself.’ They have no belief in themselves. They have no freedom or want or need to go out there with confidence and courage and perform as who they are because they fear what will be said about them by people that don’t matter. And I think that is why the business is in the state it is in, because everybody is in this constant state of fear over the opinions of people that should not matter.”
The conversation got even hotter when Russo brought up the online reaction to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon’s daughter after she sang “America the Beautiful” at SummerSlam. EC3 said fans absolutely have the right to criticize WWE creative, but he believes they lose all credibility when they turn around and attack someone who has nothing to do with the booking.
“Social media has broken people’s brains. Maybe you should write a better show. Maybe fans’ opinions do matter. But then they turn around and go react like that to an innocent young girl, and so you lose the narrative. You’re not worth listening to. Your opinions aren’t validated.”
EC3 then pushed it even further, pointing out what that kind of abuse looks like from the perspective of a father.
“You don’t even know what you want, but you’re not going to make any headway in the stream of consciousness. Especially to that man who sees that about his daughter, dude. A father’s love for their daughter is unquestionable and forever honored. Like, so fuck you, man. Fuck — how dare — the nerve.”
What started as one clip of EC3 walking slowly has now turned into a much bigger argument about wrestling and social media. EC3 says the health panic was overblown, the explanation was simple, and the real issue is a business where online noise can affect bookings, confidence and the way younger wrestlers carry themselves.
Do you think EC3 is right that wrestling has handed too much power to fans online, or should wrestlers expect that level of scrutiny in today’s business? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
