The backstage area at ACW Aftershock was full of focused athletes preparing for battle. Then there was EC3. The self-proclaimed “Top 1%” brought his signature blend of undeniable confidence and unpredictable humor to Poughkeepsie. The Stunner’s correspondent Josh Bernstein caught up with the star for a talk that covered everything from ancient Roman betrayals to the greatest wrestling matches of all time.
Putting the “Awesome” in ACW
The Mid-Hudson Civic Center holds a massive amount of professional wrestling history. It is the building where Andre the Giant had his hair cut and where Macho Man selected Miss Elizabeth as his manager. EC3 was quick to add his own name to that prestigious list of historical milestones.
“You know what else happened?” EC3 asked. “I beat Dewey Barnes.”
When asked if lightning could strike again for another historic moment, he did not hesitate to guarantee a spectacle. “I think Lightning’s prone to strike anytime EC3, aka the top 1% aka full reinvigorated, reimagined, ridiculously dialed in and tanned steps into a ring,” he explained. “Who’s to say I’m not a meteorologist.”
Superior Genetics and Sunning Advice
The topic naturally shifted to his incredibly bronzed appearance. Bernstein asked for tanning advice for those lacking a similar glow. EC3 set the record straight on the source of his color, completely dismissing the idea of artificial sprays.
“People think this is some sort of obscure spray tan or the hot dog skin Hogan I have heard,” he said. “No, this is natural. This is the sun. This is my superior genetics and DNA that have blessed me with such a fine maroon hue. Like I come from the Basque region. Do you know where that is? It’s in between France and Spain. So it’s this little region of just like tan jacked hunks. But I would say the sun is your friend and I would say the sun is a friend for your entire body. So don’t be afraid to sun your balls.”
Apple Pie and the Ides of March
Since the event fell on March 14th, the conversation briefly touched on International Pi Day. EC3 kept his answer simple and effective, declaring “Apple” as his absolute favorite. The calendar date also prompted a deep dive into the Ides of March and the assassination of Julius Caesar. EC3 offered a uniquely wrestling-centric breakdown of Roman history.
“Caesar, Julius Caesar, but also he was a real person who existed in about 34 BC or AD, depending on what we’re talking about. Anyways, he got stabbed 37 times by a bunch of his buddies,” he recounted. When asked if Brutus was the original heel of history, EC3 weighed the options carefully.
“Depending on your views of history, I would consider him a heel, but some would consider him a savior, but I would say that what did we get now? We got Augustus then came in and then Augustus part Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate killed Jesus, the other original awesome JC. Yeah, Brutus blew it. I guess could be seen more as a cool guy heel in this day and age, but might have been more of a traditional heel back then.”
He even jokingly credited Julius Caesar with inventing the infamous “Memphis handshake” used by wrestlers backstage. Fans can look forward to more of these profound historical insights in his upcoming book. The project currently sits at an intimidating 250,000 words. EC3 teased that a high-end $128 edition might even feature a cover made of leather to match his own skin hue.
The Greatest Match of All Time
To close things out, the talk pivoted to the upcoming WrestleMania season. When asked to name his favorite match in the history of the legendary event, EC3 pointed directly to the main event of WrestleMania 17.
“Oh, Rock Austin 17 is greatest match ever with the worst finish, but I mean that match is so good,” he declared. “Think about like you got one A and one B. Like two of the biggest stars in history colliding the buildup, Limp Bizkit. I mean, and if you watch that match, watch those guys go and they are just going at it and they can feel it. It’s like two freaking stallions swinging D’s battling each other with this psychotic physical art we do. It’s just it’s beautiful really guys. And the gimmick battle royal was really good.”
