Today we’d like to introduce you to Ec 3
Hi ec, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
“It was my dream.” Like we all have as children, there is a dream “job” you want when you grow up. For some, it’s the logical. A fire-fighter, a policeman, a doctor, a teacher, etc. For some it’s the fantastical. A “dragon”, or a “tree”, maybe a “pirate.”
Mine was somewhere in between.
A “professional wrestler.”
It lies in the tangible, as it is a thing that people do do, and even do very well doing, but also in the abstract.
To grow up, train hard, find a way, catch a few breaks that bring you closer while narrowly avoiding a few traps that end it where it lies and become something you dreamed of as a child that persisted through your teens and left you hollow if you didn’t at least try as an adult is a fairly surreal, yet extremely grateful mindset that brought me to where I am.
While it’s a LONG STORY full of whimsical adventures, a slew of injuries, and the ups and down of life we all experience, you will find my full story in my book one day. Until then, here are the cliff-notes:
Grew up in Willoughby. Played sports, but never excelled in any one. Had (and still have) a wonderful parental support system. Adequate grades that would and should have been great if I tried. Made a commitment to pursue this, began to self-develop the skills I thought it would require. Found a local, small time facility to “train” for pro-wrestling. Wrestled on weekends in a tri-state area while unenthusiastically attempted college while I waited tables.
Was “scouted” by a major company. Received a small taste of the “big-time” getting beat up by a 500lb man in the undercard at a WWE Raw show in Cleveland. Found it as my purpose. Left home to self finance and train at a higher-level, began accumulating success, but suffered a career threatening knee injury. Came home, tail between legs for surgery and to heal. Lost my momentum, but never my passion.
Was invited to a try-out by the WWE (that also cost $1500 to attend.) Signed their version of a minor-league deal. Was in over my head at the scope of the situation and the level of competition. Suffered the same career threatening knee injury again. Was nearly done, but through the process grew as a man and a performer. Began achieving minor success’s via the biggest company in the world at a very low level. SUFFERED ANOTHER CAREER THREATENING KNEE INJURY and upon my return to competition was released from my contract.
At this bottom, I was able to rise to the top. Was gifted an opportunity with another major company (TNA.) Found my stride as a wrestler, myself as a performer, and my successes as a man when I became “EC3.” Through this change, fortune favored me and I was able to rise from the lowest point to becoming the World Heavyweight Champion defeating wrestling legend Kurt Angle.
Ran as a featured act in this company, till business became overwhelming on their end and the company saw multiple changes in ownership. With success and unfinished business, was resigned by the WWE, this time as a conquering hero who saw great success in their NXT brand, only to finally get the call to their major leagues, upon which the nature of the politics, the dwindle of passion, and the apathy of the boss put me in an unfavorable position of “financially great” and “spiritually drained.”
Another serious injury put me on the shelf. The world then began to burn as a “pandemic” took hold of us all, and society split. In cost cutting measures at an unsure time, I was again released from my contract, this time without clarity on if this business or life as we know it will even continue in our normal state.
Through this pandemic, drastically reevaluated myself as a person, and with that began creatively exploring the ideas of what life has become for this character (while living it within my life.) Creatively unique and introspective, due to rumors, lies, and innuendo was met with disdain. These things will happen as “art is supposed to be uncomfortable.”
Rekindled a relationship with Smashing Pumpkins lead singer William Patrick Corigan who also, for reasons only he knows, owned the oldest and most historic brand in wrestling lore, the National Wrestling Alliance. Joining the NWA and rapidly ascending to a top position, and another reinvention of self again became a. World Heavyweight Champion.
Through my year as Champion, I returned home and began Cleveland’s own Exodus Pro. WPC seeing the value in what I was building independently granted us a working relationship with the NWA becoming their first “Territory.” Think of Exodus as “The Charge” to the NWA as “The Cavs.” As the owner, operator, creator, and often featured attraction of NWA: Exodus we have seen immense growth not only locally, in Cleveland, but via recognition nation wide as a player in the wrestling world.
In addition to fighting my own battles in the ring, we at Exodus are now charged with providing the future of wrestling the highest level training and show production we can as a strictly, bare-bones, self-funded small business. Together with my team of Noah, Matthew, and Gary we have built an extremely attractive place for the very best up and comers in wrestling to learn their trade, while entertaining the Cleveland based fans with quality, family-friendly, and exciting professional wrestling.
We take great pride in not only training future wrestlers in this craft, but men and women to be future leaders of tomorrow.
I wrote a lot.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Many of my personal struggles were covered via the story page. I assure you there were PLENTY MORE.
No road worth taking is ever smooth, and the “Journey Home” to Cleveland to begin Exodus Pro was and certainly still isn’t smooth. But I assure you it’s worth it.
Challenges that resonate with us all, especially anyone that has started a small business or an entrepreneurial endeavor are the same in wrestling as they would be in a restaurant, a car-wash, a gym, etc.
Capable people. Trust in partners. People living up to their word, when rarely people do. Effort and passion in those around you, that you feel toward the purpose. Advertising, marketing, State agencies, while competing in a digital world via social media, creating content, being original in relevant in the extremely crowded field of getting people’s attention.
What I will say that isn’t “smooth” but absolutely crucial to us is the like-minded attack at our passion. The creation of a team, with duties and accountability. The building of rapport, the ability to have tough conversations, the thrills of victory and the agonies of defeat. What we have created amongst ourselves, and bring to those who both work with us, and watch us do what we love to do is one simple word.
“Culture.”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional wrestler, at an extremely high-level. What it takes to excel is a hybrid of traits.
You train and treat yourself like an athlete.
You have to develop, maintain, and perform as an actor.
You travel the world, and traveling is a full-time job.
As the head of NWA: Exodus, those duties expand.
You have to have and execute a vision like a director.
You have to craft stories and dialogue like a writer.
You have to see working parts are in order like a producer.
Oh and then I still have to wrestle.
On the business end, you have to budget.
You have to market. You have to seek sponsors and collaborations.
You have to develop relationships with business people and customers
You have to manage finances, which I am not good at, so you have to trust partners.
As a leader you have to manage.
Wrestlers as talents, and the people as humans that are behind them.
Accept the accountabilities of failure, while giving out the accolades to everyone upon success.
Inspire the employees with rousing speeches.
Answer the questions with confidence, even if you don’t know the answers.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
That beyond the grandiose perception and chiseled aesthetic and exuberant personality I show the public, my reality is and will always remain very secretive to only a select few.
Pricing:
- Tickets to Exodus Pro are as low as 20
- Children under 10 are half off
- Sponsorship packages begin as WHATEVER WE NEGOTIATE and DELIVER
- We are routinely sold out in our venue, and with our brief history streaming average 20k viewers for a show.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.exoprowrestling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exodusprowrestling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exoprowrestling/
- Twitter: https://x.com/exoprowrestling
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/nwa
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/therealec3/
