The top one per cent of professional wrestling is set to make his British Columbia debut at Abbotsford Agrifair.
Former TNA and NWA world heavyweight champion Ethan Carter III will appear for All Star Wrestling during the annual event on Aug. 1 and 2.
TNA star Eric Young was initially slated to appear at Agrifair, but ASW stated that due to contractual obligations he is now unable to perform. It has been reported that Young has signed a deal with WWE and will be used for a role as both an in-ring performer and coach.
Carter has spent the summer travelling through much of the country with the Canadian Wrestling’s Elite promotion and competed for that brand in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. He has also been a regular in the Juggalo Championship Wrestling organization and is currently under contract to TNA.
The Ohio product made his debut in 2002 and signed with WWE in 2009. He competed under the name Derrick Bateman and wrestled in the developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. Bateman appeared on two seasons of NXT and was paired with Daniel Bryan as his pro.
Bateman was released from his contract in 2013 and then joined TNA where he adopted the Carter name and played the role of the rich nephew of TNA owner Dixie Carter.
He excelled in the role and scored victories over legends like Kurt Angle and Sting before eventually defeating Angle for the TNA world heavyweight title on the July 1, 2015 edition of TNA Impact. Carter would carry that belt until he dropped it to Matt Hardy at the 2015 Bound For Glory pay-per-view.
Carter then captured the TNA Grand title by defeating Moose on July 5, 2017, but then dropped that title to Matt Sydal about four months later. Carter finished up with TNA in 2018 and signed with WWE to join the NXT brand.
He spent about a year and a half in NXT before being called up to WWE in 2019. One of his highlights on the main roster was competing at the Andre the Giant Memorial 2019 Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 35 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey. Carter was released in April 2020 and competed on the independents for several months before joining Ring of Honor.
After about a year in ROH that company closed and he joined the NWA in 2022. He captured the NWA national title on April 7, 2023 and never lost that belt. Carter eventually defeated Tyrus to win the NWA world heavyweight crown on Aug. 28, 2023 and carried that belt until Aug. 31, 2024. Carter left the NWA in January and returned to TNA in April.
Abbotsford Agrifair will have wrestling inside the Cadets Building on all three days (July 31 to Aug. 2). Carter will appear on Aug. 1 and 2 and will also have a meet and greet opportunity.
For more on the event, visit agrifair.ca.