Ethan Carter III

Ethan Carter III
Ethan Carter III in June 2014
Birth name	Michael Hutter
Born	(1983-03-18) March 18, 1983 Willoughby, Ohio, United States
Residence	Tampa, Florida, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Agent B. Agent D. Derrick Bateman Ethan Carter III Michael Hutter Mike Hutter
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight	246 lb (112 kg)
Billed from	Cleveland, Ohio Boca Raton, Florida
Trained by	Florida Championship Wrestling
Debut	2002

Michael Hutter (born March 18, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, Former Commentator currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Ethan Carter III (often shortened to "EC3"), the kayfabe nephew of TNA President Dixie Carter. He is a former two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion.

Hutter began his professional wrestling career in 2002, and wrestled for several promotions beginning in 2006. In July 2006, Hutter signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he wrestled as Derrick Bateman. He was assigned to WWE's developmental territories Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship with Johnny Curtis. During his time with WWE, he competed in the fourth and fifth seasons of NXT. Hutter also competes in several independent promotions, winning the AIW Absolute Championship and the Firestorm Pro Heavyweight Championship.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2002–2006)

Hutter began his career in Cleveland, after wrestling regularly for several promotions in the Ohio region after making his debut. He wrestled Vincent Nothing to a no contest at an Absolute Intense Wrestling show on October 12, 2006. He also wrestled for Pro Wrestling Ohio, making his debut on episode nine of the television show, as an ally of M-Dogg 20, under the name the "Deviant" Michael Hutter. He immediately began feuding with Josh Prohibition and Johnny Gargano and in the main event on episode 13 he teamed with Jason Bane to defeat Prohibition and Gargano. He made his final appearance for the promotion on episode 16, losing to Prohibition in a match to determine the participants in a match for the PWO Heavyweight Championship.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2007–2008)

Hutter made his Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) debut on the March 27, 2007 television tapings, where he lost to Tony Braddock in a dark match using his real name. The following week, he lost to Mike Mondo in a dark match, before changing his ring name to Mike Hutter. He competed in several more dark matches before the television tapings, teaming with Nick Nemeth and Chris Cage in a loss to Mike Kruel, Vladimir Kozlov and Boris Alexiev in a six-man tag team match, before losing to Mondo again. On the April 25 television tapings, Hutter teamed with TJ Dalton and Jamin Olivencia in defeat to Pat Buck, Johnny Punch and Braddock, before losing to Del Electrico in a dark match on the May 2 tapings. Throughout May, he went on to lose to Anthony Polaski (a renamed Tony Braddock) in a dark match and Dan Rodman, and on the May 23 tapings, he was attacked by Kruel, Kozlov, and Mr. Strongo. In his final OVW appearance in June, Hutter competed in a gauntlet match to earn a match against then United States Champion, Montel Vontavious Porter, but the match was won by Chet The Jet.

On June 27, 2007, Hutter appeared at a Derby City Wrestling show in Louisville, Kentucky, where he teamed with Osiris to defeat The Belgian Brawler and Apocalypse in a dark match. On December 9, 2007, Firestorm Pro Wrestling held its inaugural show Destroy Erase Improve, which saw the start of a six-man round robin tournament, in which Hutter competed. The tournament lasted nine months, before ending on September 12, 2008 at Something to Die For. That same show, Hutter won a six-man elimination match to become the inaugural Firestorm Pro Heavyweight Champion. Hutter made his last appearance with Firestorm Pro Wrestling on December 13, 2008, when he vacated the Firestorm Pro Heavyweight Championship, which he later awarded to John McChesney when McChesney won a four-way match for the vacant championship.

World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE

On July 24, 2006 Hutter appeared at the Heat tapings prior to Raw, where he teamed with Chris Cronus in a loss to Viscera and Charlie Haas. He also appeared on Raw in August 2006, as a police officer with Shane McMahon who were to arrest D-Generation X.

Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2012)

Hutter (then known as Derrick Bateman) in 2010 wrestling in FCW

Hutter made his Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) debut on February 9, 2009, as Mike Hutter, when he lost to Drew McIntyre. On February 19, he changed his ring name to Derrick Bateman, and gained Abraham Washington as a manager as he teamed with Lennox McEnroe in a loss to Scotty Goldman and DJ Gabriel. On the February 26 television tapings, Hutter, Washington, and Tristan Delta lost a dark match to Brett DiBiase, Maverick Darsow, and Tank Mulligan. In March, he and Dylan Klein lost to Kafu and Sweet Papi Sanchez. In April, he became known as Agent D., as part of Washington's Secret Service stable alongside Agent T. and Agent C. He reverted to his Derrick Bateman name in June, in a loss to DJ Gabriel.

After a hiatus, Bateman returned to FCW in 2010, teaming with Adam Henderson in a loss to The Rotundo Brothers (Bo and Duke). In March, he lost to Richie Steamboat and Joe Hennig in singles competition, and to Johnny Prime, Orlando Colón, and Incognito as part of a six-man tag team match, before defeating Rudy Parker. He went on to lose to Skip Sheffield, Percy Watson, Mason Ryan, Wes Brisco, and Eli Cottonwood over the next several months. In mid-2010, he formed a tag team known as The Handsome Man's Express with Leo Kruger, and the pair unsuccessfully challenged Los Aviadores (Hunico and Epico) for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on July 2. The Handsome Man's Express disbanded as a team shortly afterward, with Kruger defeating Bateman in a singles match on July 29. On August 12, 2010, Hutter teamed with Johnny Curtis to win the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship by defeating the team of Donny Marlow and Brodus Clay and the defending champions, Los Aviadores in a three-way tag team match. They went on to successfully defend the championship against Los Aviadores, Clay and Marlow, and The Dude Busters (Caylen Croft and Trent Barreta). After a near three-month reign, Bateman and Curtis lost the championship to Wes Brisco and Xavier Woods on November 4.

NXT (2010–2013)

During the finale of season three of NXT, it was announced that Bateman would be part of the fourth season, with Season 1 alumnus Daniel Bryan as his mentor. He made his in-ring debut on the December 7 episode of NXT, teaming with Daniel Bryan in a loss to Conor O'Brian and his Pro Alberto Del Rio. He had his first singles competition on the December 14 episode of NXT, but lost to Alberto Del Rio via submission. For the next months, he participated in various challenges. Bateman made it to the final three competitors, but was eliminated on the February 22 episode of NXT. He then returned on the March 1 episode of NXT, competing in a tag team match with Conor O' Brian defeating the team of Byron Saxton and Jacob Novak. While competing on NXT, Bateman appeared in pre-taped vignette on Raw as a scientist with the "Bateman Institute" advertising a fictional Mark Henry cologne. He also made his SmackDown debut with Damien Sandow, who refused to fight him. Bateman got his debut match against Ryback and lost.

After a period of absence from WWE programming, Bateman was inserted into the fifth season of NXT as a rookie midway into the competition, returning on the June 28, 2011 episode of NXT Redemption and bringing back his Pro Daniel Bryan in the process. Meanwhile, Bateman's character began to show more villainous traits, eventually causing Bryan to abandon him after declaring that Bateman was making a fool out of himself. In July, Bateman started a long feud with Titus O'Neil that lasted until November, as both of them frequently traded wins and losses in a series of matches. In August, Maxine made her return to NXT as Bateman's girlfriend, and she started a concurrent feud with O'Neil's friend AJ. Bateman and Maxine lost to O'Neil and AJ on the September 6 episode of NXT Redemption. On the October 26 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman proposed to Maxine, who accepted the proposal after slapping and kissing him. On the November 2 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman and Maxine became known as "Beta-Max", and they participated in a six-person tag match along with JTG in a loss to O'Neil, AJ and Percy Watson.

On the November 9 episode of NXT Redemption, Maxine revealed to Bateman that she and his former friend Johnny Curtis went on a date, and they later tag teamed together in a winning effort against the team of Titus O' Neil and Percy Watson. On the December 7 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman defeated Johnny Curtis in singles competition, turning face once again, and was afterwards broken up with by Maxine thinking he flirted with her mother. After Bateman again defeated Johnny Curtis in a singles match on the December 28 episode of NXT Redemption, Maxine again turned on Bateman, thinking he was trying to ruin her career, kissing Curtis and leaving with him. The next week on the January 4 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman lost in singles competition to Darren Young after a distraction from Johnny Curtis and Maxine announcing that they're getting married in Las Vegas. On the 100th episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman interrupted Johnny Curtis and Maxine's wedding ceremony by showing a security camera video clip in his locker room of Johnny Curtis stealing Bateman's iPad and sending an email to Theodore Long about getting rid of Maxine and going to SmackDown, and was later reunited with Maxine.

On the February 15 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman teamed with Justin Gabriel to defeat the team of Heath Slater and Johnny Curtis, and afterwards saved his friend Kaitlyn from Maxine. Two weeks later, Kaitlyn confessed her love for Bateman, kissing him during an intervention also involving Justin Gabriel and Alicia Fox, until Maxine came out and again attacked Kaitlyn. On the March 7 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman was backstage with Johnny Curtis and Maxine, who revealed to Bateman that they are no longer dating after Kaitlyn kissed Bateman, leading to Bateman and Kaitlyn defeating Curtis and Maxine in a mixed tag team match. On the March 14 episode of NXT Redemption, he confessed his love for Kaitlyn and kissed her, solidifying their relationship. On the March 21 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman and Kaitlyn were backstage with Tamina talking about he and Kaitlyn's new found relationship, and later encountered Maxine and Johnny Curtis, who accused them of being involved with Matt Striker's disappearance. Bateman was accompanied by Kaitlyn in singles competition on the March 28 episode of NXT Redemption, losing to Hunico. Bateman and Kaitlyn discovered Matt Striker in a janitor's closet hidden by Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks on the April 11 episode of NXT Redemption. On the April 25 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman was attacked by JTG, but later went on to defeat him in singles competition. Bateman made his televised return on the May 4 episode of SmackDown where he once again faced Ryback, but was defeated. On the May 9 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman was attacked backstage by an unknown person. On the May 30 episode of NXT Redemption, Bateman competed in a tag team match with Percy Watson and Justin Gabriel in a winning effort against Johnny Curtis, Michael McGillicutty, and JTG. Bateman competed on the June 8 episode of SmackDown against Brodus Clay in a losing effort. On the final episode of the fifth season of NXT on June 13, Bateman teamed with Percy Watson in a losing effort against Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks.

After the conclusion of NXT Redemption, NXT transitioned into the renamed FCW developmental territory. Bateman then continued to appear on NXT, where he defeated rival Johnny Curtis on the June 27 episode of NXT. On the October 27 episode of Saturday Morning Slam, Bateman lost to United States Champion Antonio Cesaro in a non-title match. In January 2013, Bateman entered the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament along with Alex Riley, but they were eliminated in the first round after a loss to Kassius Ohno and Leo Kruger. Bateman's final match was a non-title loss against NXT Champion Big E Langston, which was taped before his release. On May 17, 2013, Hutter was released from his contract.

Independent circuit (2013–present)

Soon after his release, Hutter was announced to wrestle at Absolute Intense Wrestling's Absolution VIII in his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio under his real name. He made his debut for the promotion on June 30, when he defeated Tim Donst. He also worked for Florida Underground Wrestling in May 2013.

Hutter made his return for the promotion Absolute Intense Wrestling under his TNA ring name Ethan Carter III and he teamed with fellow TNA wrestler DJ Z and Raymond Rowe, collectively known as Dudes on TV, and defeated Alex Daniels, Johnny Gargano and Josh Prohibition. Hutter made his debut with Championship Wrestling Entertainment on April 10, 2015 in Port St. Lucie, FL.

In May 2016, Hutter made his debut for Evolve Wrestling again under his TNA ring name Ethan Carter III attacking Johnny Gargano during the main event of Evolve 61 forming an alliance with TNA World Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway. He and Galloway then proceded to attack members of the Evolve roster and proceded to cut a worked shoot promo on WWE about how he and Galloway were treated by WWE and how they found success in TNA and various other companies despite WWE.

Hutter also wrestles for House of Glory which is owned by Amazing Red, where once again he wrestles under his EC3 name. He is the current House of Glory champion.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Team Dixie (2013–2015)

Main article: Team Dixie

Hutter worked a dark match on August 29, 2013 before the Impact Wrestling television tapings in Cleveland, Ohio, losing to Jay Bradley. On September 26, TNA aired a vignette about a new talent, Ethan. The following week, another vignette aired as it was later reported that Hutter had signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and would be debuting with the new character as Dixie Carter's spoiled nephew. The following week, another vignette aired revealing Hutter's new ring name as Ethan Carter III (EC3).

Ethan Carter III teaming with Magnus against Gunner and James Storm in a tag team ladder match

On October 20, Carter made his TNA debut at Bound for Glory as a heel, defeating jobber Norv Fernum. Carter defeated another jobber Dewey Barnes on the October 24 episode of Impact Wrestling. On November 21 at the Impact Wrestling: Turning Point special episode, Carter took a step up in competition defeating TNA original Shark Boy. Since then, Carter had matches with other jobbers, billed as TNA Legends, like Curry Man or referee Earl Hebner. On the December 12 episode of Impact Wrestling, Carter was confronted by Sting and was issued an option; either face Sting immediately, or enter the Feast or Fired match. Carter entered the Feast or Fired match and grabbed one of the briefcases, which was revealed to contain a future TNA World Tag Team Championship match. On the December 26 episode of Impact Wrestling, Carter teamed with The BroMans (Jessie and Robbie E) and Rockstar Spud in a four-on-two handicap match against Sting and Jeff Hardy, where Carter pinned Sting. On the January 2 episode of Impact Wrestling, Carter was challenged by Sting for a match at the Impact Wrestling: Genesis episode, a match which Carter would win after help from the special guest referees Magnus and Rockstar Spud. On the February 6 episode of Impact Wrestling, Carter attacked Kurt Angle to save Magnus from losing by submission against him, then launched a vicious assault targeting Angle's surgically repaired left knee, resulting in serious injuries. The following week, Carter teamed with Magnus losing to Gunner and James Storm in a tag team ladder match where Carter's and Gunner's Feast or Fired briefcases were on the line.

Hutter debuted in TNA as Ethan Carter III, and he aligned himself with Chief of Staff Rockstar Spud (left) in April 2014

On February 6, 2014, Kurt Angle had a match against Magnus, which Angle won by disqualification, when EC3 attacked him, performing a leglock, which injured his knee. On February 27, 2014, Angle officially accepted his induction into the TNA Hall of Fame, but the ceremony was interrupted by EC3, who said he tore Angle's knee ligaments and therefore must retire. However, Angle attacked him and challenged him to a match at Lockdown. On March 7, 2014, Angle was attacked again by EC3. It was announced after that night's Impact Wrestling that Kurt Angle, due to EC3's attack, would be pulled from the Lockdown card due to a torn MCL. On March 9, 2014 at Lockdown, Bobby Lashley answered Carter's open challenge after his scheduled opponent (Kurt Angle) couldn't wrestle due to injury the match ended in a no contest. The following week on Impact Wrestling, Lashley and Carter had a rematch which Carter won via disqualification after an assault by Willow on Carter. This started a feud between the two, as EC3 and Rockstar Spud attempted to search for Willow in the woods. However, they were both attacked by Willow. At Sacrifice, they were defeated by Willow and a returning Kurt Angle. On the May 8, 2014 episode of Impact Wrestling, EC3 faced Kurt Angle, where EC3 won. During the match, Angle re-injured his knee, which allowed EC3 to capitalize on the victory and tear Angle's ACL.

After his feud with Kurt Angle, he started a feud with Bully Ray, who threatened to put his aunt, Dixie Carter, through a table after the match. This resulted in a Texas Death match at Slammiversary XII, which EC3 won with help from Dixie Carter and Rockstar Spud. Through TNA's relationship with Wrestle-1, Carter made his debut for the Japanese promotion in Tokyo on July 6, teaming with Rockstar Spud in a tag team match, where they were defeated by Tajiri and Yusuke Kodama. On July 3, EC3 defeated Bully Ray in a tables match, following interference from Rhino on Carter's behalf. This prompted Ray to challenge EC3, Rhino, and Spud to a six-man hardcore match with Devon and Tommy Dreamer as his partners, which EC3's team won following interference from Gene Snitsky and Rycklon. On the August 7 episode of Impact Wrestling, EC3, Rycklon, Gene Snitsky and Rhino were defeated in an eight-man Hardcore War against Team 3D, Al Snow and Tommy Dreamer. Afterwards, Bully Ray fulfilled his four-month promise by putting Dixie Carter through a table. EC3 would then blame Rhino for Dixie Carter being put through a table, resulting in EC3 attacking him, thus turning Rhino babyface again. The following week, he got himself disqualified by repeatedly hitting Rhino with a chair. Spud tried to stop EC3 from the beat down on Rhino, but EC3 threatened to hit him with a chair, thus teasing tension between the two.

On the October 8 episode of Impact Wrestling, Rockstar Spud snapped and slapped EC3, resulting in Carter firing him as his Chief of Staff. On October 12, 2014, at Bound for Glory 2014 in Tokyo, Japan, EC3 defeated sumo wrestler Ryota Hama. On the October 15 episode of Impact Wrestling, Carter introduced his new bodyguard Tyrus. Together they entered the TNA World Tag Team Championship number one contenders tournament defeating Eric Young and Rockstar Spud in the quarterfinals only to lose to The Hardys on the October 29 episode of Impact Wrestling in the semifinals, when Tyrus was pinned by Matt Hardy. On December 31, Hutter re-signed with TNA for a multi-year contract. On the March 14 episode of Impact Wrestling, EC3's feud with Rockstar Spud came to a conclusion in a Hair vs. Hair match which Carter won. After the match, EC3 teased a face turn showing respect and admiration for Spud's fortitude throughout the match and even shook his hand only to then attack Spud from behind and shave his head.

TNA World Heavyweight Champion (2015–present)

After defeating Mr. Anderson to become the number one contender, Carter defeated Kurt Angle on June 25, 2015 (which aired on tape delay on the July 1 episode of Impact Wrestling) to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in his career. Three days later, on June 28, at Slammiversary XIII, Carter and Tyrus defeated Anderson and Bobby Lashley in the co–main event. After retaining the TNA World Heavyweight Championship three times in one night against Norv Fernum, Shark Boy and Kurt Angle, Carter continued to fend off title contenders like Drew Galloway, Matt Hardy and PJ Black throughout the summer, before dropping the championship to Matt Hardy, who pinned Drew Galloway in a three-way match on October 4, at Bound For Glory, officially ending Carter's reign at 102 days.

Carter then filed an injunction (kayfabe) that banned Hardy from appearing on Impact Wrestling for a month, which forced Hardy to relinquish the title in order to stay on the show. Throughout the rest of the year (taped in July), Carter began competing in the TNA World Title Series for an opportunity to regain the vacant championship, in which he continued his winning streak by defeating the likes of Lashley, Mr. Anderson, DJ Z and Davey Richards.

On the January 5, 2016 live episode of Impact Wrestling, during its premiere on Pop TV, Carter defeated Lashley in the semi–finals and Matt Hardy in the finals, to win the tournament and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a second time. Three days later, during the tapings of Impact Wrestling, which aired on January 19, Carter lost the title to Hardy in a Last Man Standing match, after Tyrus turned on Carter and attacked him, turning Carter into a babyface. In February, Carter started an alliance with his former rival Rockstar Spud in order to even things with Hardy and Tyrus, only for Spud to attack Carter and cost him his rematch against Hardy during a six sides of steel match.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • As Ethan Carter III
    • One Percenter (Headlock driver)
  • As Derrick Bateman
    • Deviant (Airplane spin) – independent circuit
    • Man-Tastic/Sweet Meat Sizzler (Headlock driver)
• Signature moves
  • Belly to back suplex
  • Double high knee to a cornered opponent's chest
  • Dropkick, sometimes from the top rope or to a cornered opponent
  • EC3 Splash (Stinger splash) – adopted from Sting
  • Flapjack
  • Front facelock STO
  • Running corkscrew neckbreaker
  • Running crossbody
  • Running forearm smash
  • Russian legsweep
  • Suicide dive
  • TK3 (Fireman's carry cutter)
• Managers
  • Daniel Bryan
  • Dixie Carter
  • Kaitlyn
  • Maxine
  • Rhino
  • Rockstar Spud
  • Tyrus
• Wrestlers managed
  • Darren Young
  • Kaitlyn
• Nicknames
  • "The Ass-kicking Machine"
  • "BetaMax" (used while teaming with Maxine)
  • "The Deviant"
  • "EC3"
  • "The Hardcore American Icon"
  • "KaitMan" (used while teaming with Kaitlyn)

• Entrance themes
  • "Gasoline Upcharge" by Chris Weerts and Daniel Holter (WWE; July 26, 2011 – May 17, 2013)
  • "Trouble" by Dale Oliver (TNA; October 10, 2013–present)

Championships and accomplishments

Carter is a Two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion.

• Absolute Intense Wrestling
  • AIW Absolute Championship (1 time)
• Firestorm Pro Wrestling
  • Firestorm Pro Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Florida Championship Wrestling
  • FCW Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Johnny Curtis
• House of Glory
  • HOG World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #30 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2015
• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • Feast or Fired (2013 – World Tag Team Championship contract)
  • TNA Joker's Wild (2014)
  • TNA World Title Series (2015)

Luchas de Apuestas record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas

Winner (wager)	Loser (wager)	Location	Event	Date	Notes
Ethan Carter III (hair)	Rockstar Spud (hair)	London, England	Impact Wrestling	January 31, 2015
Matt Hardy (contract)	Ethan Carter III (championship)	Bethlehem, Pennsylvania	Impact Wrestling	January 8, 2016	Aired January 19, 2016. This was a last man standing match.

External links

• TNA Profile
• Michael Hutter at the Internet Movie Database