“F**k These People… Firing Me?” – Former Champion Addresses WWE Release

When EC3 signed with WWE, he looked destined for greatness.

He was first introduced in Season 4 of NXT in 2010 as the mentee of Daniel Bryan. He returned for Season 5, experiencing mixed outcomes in the matches that he competed in, during which time he transitioned between a babyface and a heel.

After a 4-year tenure with the promotion, he was released from his contract on May 17, 2013.

He later joined TNA, where he became the TNA World Heavyweight Champion twice. EC3 returned to WWE for a second stint between 2018 and 2020.

He was released again in 2020 as part of the budget cuts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

EC3 Discusses WWE Development Release & Life-Altering Advice

EC3 recently spoke on the Crazy Train Podcast with Jasmine St. Claire. The TNA star looked back on his time with WWE’s developmental brand, NXT, and his release.

Calling the release one of the lowest points in his career, the 43-year-old claimed that he was ready to step away from the business to lead a more traditional lifestyle.

2013 when I was in developmental for four years and got called up to WWE, but I was in NXT before NXT was cool… it was the shitty internet version. And then I got injured. I got injured and I came back and they were kind of restructuring the business or the developmental system and changing the people within it. And it was just like you’re, you know, a major corporation’s making changes. Your time is limited if you’re not doing something productive.

So then getting fired through that, I was just like, ‘Why am I doing this? Like I’m still young. I could finish school. I could marry this girl. I could live a normal life and probably be happy.’ And I did it, you know, I made it to some extent. So that’s cool.

He then recalled a life-changing piece of advice from his long-time trainer, Dr. Tom Prichard, who urged him to push forward and not give up.

I remember this advice I got from Dr. Tom Prichard… his advice was ‘Never take yourself out the game.’ Then I kind of got mad about it. I’m like, ‘F**k these people… firing me?’ I said, ‘I will do everything I can to prove them wrong. I will go to the ends of the earth to tell them to f**k off. I will do whatever it takes to make them call me back.’

Following his WWE return in 2018, EC3 became a 4-time 24/7 Champion before being released again.

H/T: Ringside News