In an interview with Kevin Eck, TNA World Heavyweight Champion Ethan Carter III discussed his time in the WWE, the future of TNA Wrestling and more.

Highlights of the interview are below:

You were categorized as a comedy guy when you were Derrick Bateman in WWE/NXT. Is that the way you saw yourself or did you think you could be more of a serious character?: I never saw myself as a “comedy guy” and it was a conversation that fell on deaf ears often. At the time WWE NXT was not the concept that it is today. My sole intent was to be “entertaining,” “stand out,” and just maybe “put smiles on people’s faces.” If you’re putting me in the position to do an off-the-wall game show/wrestling show, or run an hour of TV where we are in the midst of wacky soap opera, I am going to do everything I can to make it entertaining, but it is an insult to viewers and the performers to expect them to “take it seriously.” The work we put in to make it what it was, that was serious, but it was a throwaway show that they couldn’t care less about at the time. I tried to make the most of it. I fully knew what I was capable of being, it just wasn’t an opportunity granted.

There has been a lot of speculation as of late regarding TNA’s future and the current the state of the company, so I have to ask what your take is on the situation: I’ve never been a part of such unwarranted negativity as some heap on TNA, even if those same ones praise me. Most of the time it is speculation, but the only thing I can do is the best work I possibly can. I can’t and won’t be distracted by any noise. I’ll let the chips fall where they may. Rock and roll, deal with it. Having said that, I do feel fully confident in what we as a company are doing and going.

The interview is available in full at this link.