EC3 is finally responding after a viral video from an independent wrestling event sparked widespread concern about his health and appearance.
The former TNA World Champion took to X/Twitter with a lengthy statement, pushing back on the speculation and explaining there was a lot more going on than a short clip showed.
According to EC3, the footage making the rounds came during his second match of the day after an exhausting travel schedule that began with a 4:00 a.m. wake-up call, multiple flights, a layover, and even a training session after landing. He also stressed that he was intentionally selling a legitimate leg injury during his entrance, something he says is part of professional wrestling.
“For actual context: The clip making the rounds is from my second match of the day, after a 4:00 a.m. wake-up, international travel, layover airport cardio, multiple flights, pull-day training upon landing, and an entrance where I’m intentionally selling an already tender leg. Selling. Professional wrestling is built on communicating consequence. If one is beat up, tired, or protecting a body part, the intent is to show it.”
EC3 also addressed the criticism surrounding his physique, explaining that travel, disrupted sleep, hydration and meal timing caused temporary changes to his body. He said maintaining an extremely lean physique means even normal changes can become noticeable from one day to the next.
“Travel, disrupted sleep, altered meal timing, hydration changes and hours of sitting also tend to throw your digestive system completely off schedule… Anyone who’s maintained very low body fat for years knows your physique can change noticeably from one day, even hour to hour, based on perfectly ordinary physiology.”
Rather than spending his time proving he’s still in shape to strangers online, EC3 said he’d rather focus on preparing the next generation of wrestlers to avoid many of the mistakes and hardships he experienced throughout his own career.
“I’m not particularly interested in spending my life proving I’m in shape… I’d rather spend that time figuring out how to keep the next generation physically capable, creatively fulfilled, mentally resilient, and confident in themselves than my generation was coached to be.”
He pointed to the philosophy behind Exodus Pro Wrestling, saying the promotion’s training system emphasizes smarter strength training, nutrition, recovery, movement quality and long-term health instead of simply pushing wrestlers to survive the grind.
“At Exodus Pro we’ve built our training around those lessons: smarter strength, better nutrition, recovery, movement quality, longevity, creative freedom, and positive belief… I don’t want the people coming after me paying the same physical, creative, or mental price I did just to discover what actually works.”
EC3 wrapped up the post by reminding fans that he was once again sitting in an airport preparing for another trip, joking that he’d be getting his steps in, working on his ankle and getting ready to do it all over again.
“As I write this, I’m sitting in another airport on another layover. If anyone needs me, I’ll be at the D Gates getting my steps in, voodoo flossing my ankle, wacky lymphatic movements, and getting ready to do it all over again. Building wrestlers. Building people. Trying to leave this business better than I found it… or until somebody finally kicks my ass.”
The statement comes after Rockstar Spud, also known as Drake Maverick, revealed he had spoken with EC3 privately and shared a similar explanation for the viral clip, saying his longtime friend was dealing with travel fatigue, an injured leg and was simply doing his job by selling the injury during the match.
Do you think EC3’s explanation puts the speculation to rest, or do you still have concerns after watching the original video? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
