- published: 03 Oct 2012
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- author: TeamShawnMichaels
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Birmingham
Birmingham (
i/ˈbɜrmɪŋəm/ BUR-ming-əm, locally /ˈbɜrmɪŋɡəm/ BUR-ming-gəm) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 (2010 estimate), and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a population of 2,284,093 (2001 census). Birmingham's metropolitan area is also the United Kingdom's second most populous with a population of 3,683,000.
A medium-sized market town during the medieval period, Birmingham grew to international prominence in the 18th century at the heart of the Midlands Enlightenment and subsequent Industrial Revolution, which saw the town at the forefront of worldwide developments in science, technology and economic organisation, producing a series of innovations that laid many of the foundations of modern industrial society. By 1791 it was being hailed as "the first manufacturing town in the world". Birmingham's distinctive economic profile, with thousands of small workshops practising a wide variety of specialised and highly-skilled trades, encouraged exceptional levels of creativity and innovation and provided a diverse and resilient economic base for industrial prosperity that was to last into the final quarter of the 20th century. Its resulting high level of social mobility also fostered a culture of broad-based political radicalism, that under leaders from Thomas Attwood to Joseph Chamberlain was to give it a political influence unparalleled in Britain outside London and a pivotal role in the development of British democracy.
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Chandler, Arizona
Chandler is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and is a prominent suburb of the Phoenix, Arizona, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It is bordered to the north and west by Tempe, to the north by Mesa, to the west by Phoenix, to the south by the Gila River Indian Community, and to the east by Gilbert. The population was 236,123 according to the Census Bureau 2010. It also has satellite locations for many technology companies, including Intel and Orbital Sciences Corporation.
In 1891, Dr. Alexander John Chandler, the first veterinary surgeon in Arizona Territory, settled on a ranch south of Mesa, studying irrigation engineering. By 1900, he had acquired 18,000 acres (73 km2) of land, and began drawing up plans for a townsite on what was then known as the Chandler Ranch. The townsite office opened on May 17, 1912, the same year that Chandler High School was established. By 1913, a town center had become established, featuring the luxurious Hotel San Marcos, the first golf resort in the state.
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Dallas
Dallas (
/ˈdæləs/) is the third-largest city in the state of Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Divided between Collin, Dallas, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties, the city had a population of 1,197,816 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau.
The city is the largest economic center of the 12-county Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area (the DFW MSA) that according to the March 2010 U.S. Census Bureau release, had a population of 6,371,773. The metroplex economy is the sixth largest in the United States, with a 2010 gross metropolitan product of $374 billion.
Dallas was founded in 1841 and was formally incorporated as a city in February 1856. The city's economy is primarily based on banking, commerce, telecommunications, computer technology, energy, healthcare and medical research, transportation and logistics. The city is home to the third largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the nation. Located in North Texas and a major city in the American South, Dallas is the main core of the largest inland metropolitan area in the United States that lacks any navigable link to the sea.
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Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas (/lɑːs ˈveɪɡəs/) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous for its consolidated casino–hotels and associated entertainment. A growing retirement and family city, Las Vegas is the 28th-most populous city in the United States, with a population at the 2010 census of 583,756. The 2010 population of the Las Vegas metropolitan area was 1,951,269.
Established in 1905, Las Vegas was incorporated as a city in 1911. At the close of the 20th century, Las Vegas was the most populous American city founded in that century (a distinction held by Chicago in the 19th century). The city's tolerance for various forms of adult entertainment earned it the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs. There are numerous outdoor lighting displays on Fremont Street, as well as elsewhere in the city.
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Reading, Berkshire
Reading (i/ˈrɛdɪŋ/ RED-ing) is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some 40 miles (64 km) west of London.
The Borough of Reading has a population of 145,700 (2008 estimate) and the town formed the largest part of the Reading/Wokingham Urban Area which had a population of 369,804 (2001 census). The town is currently represented in the UK parliament by two members, and has been continuously represented there since 1295. For ceremonial purposes the town is in the county of Berkshire and has served as its county town since 1867, previously sharing this status with Abingdon.
The first evidence for Reading as a settlement dates from the 8th century. Reading was an important centre in the medieval period, as the site of Reading Abbey, a monastery with strong royal connections. The town was seriously impacted by the Civil War, with a major siege and loss of trade, and played a pivotal role in the Revolution of 1688, with that revolution's only significant military action fought on the streets of the town. The 19th century saw the coming of the Great Western Railway and the development of the town's brewing, baking and seed growing businesses.
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San Antonio
San Antonio ( /ˌsænænˈtoʊni.oʊ/) is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.3 million. It was the fastest growing of the top 10 largest cities in the United States from 2000-2010, and the second from 1990-2000. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. San Antonio has characteristics of other western urban centers in which there are sparsely populated areas and a low density rate outside of the city limits. The city is one of the two principal municipalities of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area, the other being New Braunfels. Commonly referred to as Greater San Antonio, the metropolitan area has a population of 2.2 million based on the 2011 U.S. Census estimate, making it the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States and third-largest in the state of Texas.
The city was named for San Antonio de Padua, whose feast day is on June 13, when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. Famous for Spanish missions, the Alamo, the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, the Alamo Bowl, Marriage Island and host to SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, the city is visited by approximately 26 million tourists per year according to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city is home to the four-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the largest in the country.
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San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio ( /ˌsænænˈtoʊni.oʊ/) is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.3 million. It was the fastest growing of the top 10 largest cities in the United States from 2000-2010, and the second from 1990-2000. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. San Antonio has characteristics of other western urban centers in which there are sparsely populated areas and a low density rate outside of the city limits. The city is one of the two principal municipalities of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan area, the other being New Braunfels. Commonly referred to as Greater San Antonio, the metropolitan area has a population of 2.2 million based on the 2011 U.S. Census estimate, making it the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States and third-largest in the state of Texas.
The city was named for San Antonio de Padua, whose feast day is on June 13, when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. Famous for Spanish missions, the Alamo, the River Walk, the Tower of the Americas, the Alamo Bowl, Marriage Island and host to SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, the city is visited by approximately 26 million tourists per year according to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city is home to the four-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and the annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, one of the largest in the country.
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San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio.
Founded on the banks of the San Marcos River, the area is considered to be among the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the Northern Hemisphere. San Marcos is home to Texas State University–San Marcos, and the Aquarena Center. The population was 50,371 in 2008. San Marcos was listed in the 2010 Business Week's fourth annual survey of the "Best Places to Raise your Kids."
Archeologists have found evidence at the San Marcos River associated with the Clovis culture, which suggests that the river has been the site of human habitation for more than 10,000 years. The headwaters of the cool, clear river are the San Marcos Springs, fed by the Edwards Aquifer. The San Marcos Springs are the thirty largest collection of springs in Texas. Never in recorded history has the river run dry.
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Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( /ˈsɪrəkjuːs/ or local /ˈsɛrəkjuːs/) is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, It is the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and is the fifth most populous city in the state of New York. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, (making it the 167th largest city in the country) and its metropolitan area had a population of 662,577. It is the economic and educational hub of Central New York, a region with over a million inhabitants. Syracuse is also well-provided with convention sites, with a downtown convention complex and, directly west of the city, the Empire Expo Center, which hosts the annual Great New York State Fair. The city derives its name from Siracusa, a city on the eastern coast of the Italian island of Sicily.
The city has functioned as a major crossroads over the last two centuries, first between the Erie Canal and its branch canals, then of the railway network. Today, Syracuse is located at the intersection of Interstates 81 and 90, and its airport is the largest in the region. Syracuse is home to Syracuse University, a major research university; the Upstate Medical University and Hospital, the city's largest employer; and several smaller colleges and professional schools. In 2010 Forbes rated Syracuse 4th in the top 10 places to raise a family.
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USA
The United States of America (commonly abbreviated to the United States, the U.S., the USA, America, and the States) is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to the east and Russia to the west, across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
At 3.79 million square miles (9.83 million km2) and with over 312 million people, the United States is the third or fourth largest country by total area, and the third largest by both land area and population. It is one of the world's most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large-scale immigration from many countries. The U.S. economy is the world's largest national economy, with an estimated 2011 GDP of $15.1 trillion (22% of nominal global GDP and over 19% of global GDP at purchasing-power parity). Per capita income is the world's sixth-highest.
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A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones (born June 2, 1977), better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He, James Storm, Jeff Jarrett and Abyss (who wrestled under the name Justice) are the only wrestlers to perform on the inaugural NWA-TNA pay-per-view event on June 19, 2002, and still be employed by the company in a wrestling role today. Since he joined TNA, Styles has been a four-time World Heavyweight Champion, having held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship three times and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship once, the very first TNA X Division Champion, while also sharing the record for most reigns (six) with Jay Lethal, a five-time World Tag Team Champion (4 NWA and 1 TNA), and a two-time Television Champion. With having won the TNA X Division, NWA World Tag Team, and NWA World Heavyweight Championships, Styles was the first to complete the TNA Triple Crown Championship. Styles would later complete the Triple Crown three more times, making him the only man to complete it more than once. His victory over Booker T for the TNA Legends (now Television) Championship made him the first man to have ever won the TNA Grand Slam Championship, which he has done twice. Also, he is the only wrestler in TNA to have held every male championship owned and sanctioned by TNA at any point during the company's history. All totaled, he has won 17 championships in TNA. In 2010 he became the first TNA contracted wrestler to rank in at #1 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated annual PWI 500 list.
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Abdullah the Butcher
Lawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve (born on January 11, 1941) best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times The Madman from the Sudan, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler known as one of the most brutal or "hardcore" professional wrestlers of all-time.
The scars on his forehead are the result of frequent blading. According to Mick Foley, Shreve used to put gambling chips into the deep divots in his head to entertain (or scare) people at casinos. However, New Jack claimed in his RF Video shoot interview that the grooves in Shreve's head were surgically implemented.
An amateur martial artist, Shreve also has knowledge of judo and karate, often including this knowledge in his professional wrestling matches. This knowledge was mainly displayed by him using judo style throws, and karate chops.
Shreve grew up in Windsor, Ontario, Canada as part of a family of ten people in a deeply impoverished household. He learned karate and judo as a youth and, teaching fellow children in the backyard, claims to have eventually earned the title of seventh-degree grandmaster.
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Abraham Washington
Brian Bary Jossie (born July 4, 1977) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on its Raw brand and its developmental territory FCW as A. W..
Jossie signed a WWE developmental contract, and began working in their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). In February 2009, he made his FCW debut working under real name, Brian Jossie with no real personality or character. However, he was soon repackaged with a presidential gimmick, and he had acted as the FCW General Manager, first under the name Abraham Saddam Washington, before switching to the name Abraham Obama Washington. In March 2010, Washington returned to FCW, with his show and is also occasional color commentator. On the November 14, 2010, edition of FCW TV Jossie made his in–ring return, wrestling his first match in one and a half years, and has wrestled regularly ever since.
Jossie made his ECW debut on June 30, 2009, using the ring name Abraham Washington, with an in-ring interview segment called the Abraham Washington Show. He interviewed The Bella Twins, causing a fight between the two after they argued over the questions. He went on to interview the likes of Christian, Matt Hardy, Tommy Dreamer, Sheamus, Gregory Helms, John Morrison, Zack Ryder, Goldust, Trent Barreta, Caylen Croft, and Maria. Hall of Famer Tony Atlas acted as his sidekick and announcer, with the segment taking place from the stage. After the ECW program was cancelled, Jossie became a free agent along with all the other ECW talents, though he never signed with Raw or SmackDown, but returned exclusively to FCW, where he soon became a regular in-ring competitor.[citation needed]
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Abyss (wrestler)
Christopher J. "Chris" Parks (born October 4, 1973), better known by his ring name "The Monster" Abyss, is an American professional wrestler signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Through TNA's working relationship with Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), Abyss also works regularly for the Mexican promotion, where he one half of the reigning AAA World Tag Team Champions with partner Chessman. He is a former NWA World Heavyweight champion, being the first of only two men to hold the title while competing under a mask. In TNA, he was the fourth man to complete the Triple Crown Championship and the second to complete the Grand Slam Championship.
Chris Parks was born in Washington, D.C. He attended high school in Cleveland, Ohio, where he played American football. He attended Ohio University.
Chris Parks was trained by Roger Ruffin of the Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF). He won his debut match by disqualification. For the first few years of his career, Parks worked in the NWF as the Original Terminator, Chris Justice, and then Prince Justice.
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Adam Copeland
Adam Copeland (born October 30, 1973) is a Canadian retiredprofessional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is best known for his time with WWE.
Copeland was trained by former professional wrestlers Sweet Daddy Siki and Ron Hutchinson. Throughout the 1990s, he wrestled in North American independent promotions early in his career. During his time in these promotions, he competed in singles and tag team competition, the latter with Christian, his storyline brother. In 1997, Copeland signed a developmental deal with the WWF and began competing for the company later that year; he made his televised debut the following June under the ring name Edge. In June 1999, he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship, making it his first title reign with the company. He and Christian went on to win the WWF Tag Team Championship on seven different occasions. During this time, they gained notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches.
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Adrian Adonis
Keith A. Franke (September 12, 1954–July 4, 1988) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis.
Franke trained under Fred Atkins and debuted in 1974, wrestling under his own name. In the late 1970s, Franke adopted the ring name Adrian Adonis and the character of a brawling, leather jacket-clad biker.
In the late 1970s, Adonis joined the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association. In 1979, he formed a tag team with Jesse Ventura. The team was known as the East-West Connection on the basis that Adonis was from New York (in the East), while Ventura was billed as being from California (in the West). Adonis and Ventura were awarded the AWA World Tag Team Championship on July 20, 1980, when Verne Gagne, one half of the tag champions with Mad Dog Vachon, was unable to defend the title because he was vacationing in Europe. Adonis and Ventura held the belts until June 14, 1981, when they were defeated by Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell.
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Afa Anoa'i
Arthur "Afa" Anoa'i, Sr. (born November 21, 1942) is a Samoan American retired professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager. Since retiring in the 1990s, he has operated the World Xtreme Wrestling promotion and trained wrestlers at the Wild Samoan Training Facility.
Anoa'i was born in Samoa, and his family relocated to San Francisco, California in the United States of America when he was young. At the age of 17, Anoa'i enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
Upon leaving the Marine Corps, Anoa'i began training as a wrestler under family friends Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia. He later received supplementary training from Kurt Von Steiger. He wrestled his first match in 1971, in Phoenix, Arizona. He then trained his brother Sika, and the siblings formed a tag team known as The Wild Samoans.
Throughout the 1970s, The Wild Samoans wrestled for the Canadian Stampede Wrestling promotion (where they received further training from Stu Hart) and for numerous National Wrestling Alliance affiliates. In 1978, The Wild Samoans traveled to Japan to wrestle for the International Wrestling Alliance, winning the IWA Tag Team Championship.
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AJ Lee
April Jeanette Mendez (born March 19, 1987) is an American professional wrestler. She is signed to WWE, where she wrestles as part of the SmackDown brand under the ring name AJ.
Mendez enrolled in a wrestling school in March 2007, and debuted six months later. In the following years, she performed for several Northeast-based independent promotions including Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) as Miss April. In WSU, she was part of the AC Express alongside Brooke Carter and the duo held the WSU Tag Team Championship once. In May 2009, she signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental promotion, using the ring name AJ Lee. In FCW, she was Queen of FCW and FCW Divas Champion, and was the first person to have held both titles. In 2010, she was part of the third season of NXT, having dropped her last name, and became part of WWE's SmackDown brand in May 2011, forming a tag team with Kaitlyn known as The Chickbusters.
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Al Snow
Allen Ray Sarven (born July 18, 1963) is an American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name of Al Snow. He is best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. Since 2010, Snow has worked as a road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and with its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, as a trainer and show producer.
Sarven attended a professional wrestling tryout camp held by Ole and Gene Anderson. There he met Jim Lancaster, promoter of Ohio's Midwest Championship Wrestling, who agreed to train him. Lancaster later described Sarven as "a leader in the ring" who "had drive and natural ability". He made his debut on May 22, 1982. Sarven defeated Lancaster on May 5, 1985 for the Midwest Championship Wrestling title.
Sarven wrestled in various independent promotions throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, capturing both tag team and singles titles, but failed to make any big breaks. He gained a reputation as "the best-kept secret in wrestling". Sarven helped train future Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Fame member and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Severn. During this time he would sometimes wrestle as Shinobi, a ninja-style masked gimmick. He wrestled in the November 19, 1994 tournament for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but he lost to Chris Candido, the eventual winner of the tournament.
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Alberto Del Rio
Alberto Rodríguez (born May 25, 1977) is a Mexican professional wrestler signed to WWE, performing under the ring name Alberto Del Rio and appearing on the SmackDown brand. He is a former two-time WWE Champion, while also being the 2011 Royal Rumble winner, outlasting 39 other participants to win the largest Royal Rumble match ever, and 2011 Mr. Money in the Bank (Raw). Before working for WWE, Rodriguez used the name Dos Caras, Jr. as both a mixed martial artist and luchador in mostly Mexico and Japan. He worked in both of Mexico's main wrestling promotions and achieved success in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where he is a former CMLL World Heavyweight Champion.
Son of noted luchador Dos Caras, nephew of Mil Máscaras and Sicodelico, and cousin to Sicodelico, Jr. and Hijo de Sicodelico, Rodríguez is part of one of the most well known Mexican wrestling families. The name Dos Caras translates to Two Faces, referring to the symbol of a double headed eagle on his mask.
Born in San Luis Potosí as the son of luchador Dos Caras. Rodríguez graduated from Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí where he earned a degree in architecture. Growing up in a family of wrestlers Rodríguez decided to take up Greco-Roman wrestling, training under Leonel Kolesni and Juan Fernández. He earned a place on the Mexican national team in Greco-Roman wrestling and while competing on the national team obtained several accomplishments.[unreliable source?] In 1997, he placed third at the World Junior Championships, in the Czech Republic.[unreliable source?] He also won the Central American and Caribbean Games in his weight division three times and won a medal at the Pan American Games. Rodríguez was on track to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but due to a lack of funding and support, Mexico did not send a wrestling team that year.
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Alex Riley
Kevin Robert Kiley, Jr. (born April 28, 1981) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Alex Riley. He is signed to WWE and he was a part of the second season of NXT.
In 2007, Kiley signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). On October 30, 2007, he debuted in a losing effort to Shawn Osbourne under his real name Kevin Kiley, and later faced off with wrestlers like Sebastian Slater and Jack Gabriel.
In September 2008, he changed his ring name to Carson Oakley. As Oakley he began teaming with Scotty Goldman, and the pairing unsuccessfully challenged TJ Wilson and David Hart Smith for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship in November. In early, he underwent another name change, calling himself Alex Riley and developing the gimmick of a university jock, wearing a Letterman's jacket to the ring. He gained Beverly Mullins as a manager, and to fit with his jock gimmick, Mullins adopted the gimmick of a prom queen.
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Alicia Fox
Victoria Elizabeth Crawford (born June 30, 1986) is an American model and professional wrestler best known by her ring name Alicia Fox. She is signed to WWE where she performs on the SmackDown brand.
Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Crawford was a model. She signed a contract with WWE in 2006, and debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a WWE developmental territory in July. That same year, on October 20, she won the OVW Women's Championship, but lost it the following day. Her reign is not officially recognized by OVW. The following year, she moved to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), another WWE developmental territory, where she competed regularly until 2009.
Crawford debuted on SmackDown in June 2008, using the name 'Alicia Fox' and the gimmick of a wedding planner. In November, she moved to the ECW brand, where she managed DJ Gabriel. As part of the Supplemental Draft, she moved back to SmackDown in April 2009, before being traded to the Raw brand two months later. Throughout the rest of 2009, Fox began unsuccessfully challenging for the WWE Divas Championship. She briefly managed Zack Ryder in May 2010, and the following month she won the Divas Championship for the first time. Fox held the championship until August 15. In late 2010, Fox appeared as a 'Pro' on the third season of NXT. She returned to the SmackDown brand in April 2011, as part of the 2011 supplemental draft.
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Andrew Martin
Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin (March 17, 1975 – March 13, 2009) was a Canadian professional wrestler. Under the ring name Test, Martin wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE) from 1998–2004, and 2006–2007. He last worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name "The Punisher" Andrew Martin.
While under contract with WWF/WWE, Martin enjoyed success as a singles competitor, becoming an Intercontinental Champion, European Champion and Hardcore Champion. Martin was also successful in the tag team division, becoming a WWF and WCW Tag Team Champion with Booker T.
In the mid 1990s, Martin met professional wrestler Bret Hart in a restaurant. After Hart offered to train him to wrestle, Martin spent eight months training under the teachings of Bret and Leo Burke. Martin debuted in 1997, wrestling on the Canadian independent circuit under the ring name "Martin Kane" and "T.J. Thunder". Martin continued his training with Dory Funk, Jr. at Funk's Funkin' Dojo, a training center.
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André the Giant
André René Roussimoff (19 May 1946 – 27 January 1993), best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride. His size was a result of acromegaly, and led to him being called "The Eighth Wonder of the World".
In the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE), Roussimoff was a one-time WWF Champion and a one-time WWF World Tag Team Champion. In 1993, he was the first inductee into the WWF Hall of Fame.
André Roussimoff was born in Grenoble, France to parents of Bulgarian and Polish ancestry. As a child, he very early displayed symptoms of his gigantism, reaching a height of 6'3" (190.5 cm) and weight of 240 pounds (110 kg) by age 12. Unable to fit on the school bus, he was driven to school by playwright Samuel Beckett, a friend of his father. Roussimoff was a good student, but he dropped out after the 8th grade since he did not think having a high school education was necessary for a farm laborer. He then worked on a farm, completed an apprenticeship in woodworking, and next worked in a factory that manufactured engines for hay balers. None of these brought him any satisfaction.
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Anthony Garcia
Anthony "Tony" Garcia (born September 20, 1946) is a retired New Zealand professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tony Garea, who wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), spending thirty-two of his thirty-five year career in the promotion. After his in-ring retirement, he was signed by WWE as a road agent.
The son of Croatian-born Ivan Gareljich, Anthony Gareljich was born in Auckland, New Zealand to parents of Yugoslavian and Irish descent. He was originally an accomplished sprinter and a rugby player.
Garea was trained by Wild Don Scott. He made his professional wrestling debut in his native New Zealand. He worked in NWA San Francisco territory where he and Pat Patterson defeated Don Muraco and Invader I for the NWA San Francisco Tag Team Championship in May 1976.
Garea left New Zealand in 1972 and went to United States where he signed a contract with Vince McMahon, Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). He made his WWWF debut at a TV taping in the Philadelphia Arena on September 20, 1972 as a babyface, defeating Davey O'Hannon. On May 30, 1973, he teamed with Haystacks Calhoun and defeated Mr. Fuji and Professor Toru Tanaka to win his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship. Garea and Calhoun feuded with Fuji and Tanaka for the rest of the summer before losing the titles back to Fuji and Tanaka on September 11.
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Antonino Rocca
Antonino Rocca (born Antonino Biasetton, April 13, 1927 – March 15, 1977) was an Italian professional wrestler. Rocca was a popular face and in some cities with both Italian-American and especially Hispanic audiences, his following was exceptionally large and loyal. He also possessed Argentinian citizenship.
He had a love for opera and was apparently described as having an excellent - if untrained - singing voice. Maestro Arturo Toscanini, a wrestling fan, was good friends with Rocca.
As a soccer and rugby-player when he moved to Argentina, before World War II, and an overall athlete, Rocca was known for his unique, acrobatic, off-the-ground, flying wrestling style, which he probably invented, wowing audiences with his dazzling aerial maneuvers. He was responsible for the revival of the New York City Metropolitan-Area territory in the late 1940s, which would eventually become part of the modern day World Wrestling Entertainment. Rocca became one of the most well-known wrestlers in America during the golden age of television. He also had a successful tag team career, forming a popular tandem with Miguel Pérez. The two, along with their heel (villain) opponents, drew large crowds to Madison Square Garden on a regular basis. Rocca had an uninterrupted seven-year run of headlining or co-headlining every main-event at the Garden.
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Antonio Inoki
Antonio Inoki (アントニオ猪木?) (born Kanji Inoki (猪木寛至, Inoki Kanji?) on February 20, 1943) is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes. He fashioned his name after the wrestler Antonino Rocca as an homage to him.
Inoki was born in an affluent family in Yokohama in 1943. He was the sixth son and the second youngest of the seven boys and four girls. His father, Sajiro Inoki, a businessman and politician, died when Kanji was five years old. Inoki entered the Higashidai Grade School. Inoki was taught karate by an older brother while in 6th grade. By the time he was in 7th grade at Terao Junior High School, he was 180 centimeters tall and joined the basketball team. He later quit and joined a track and field club as a shot putter. He eventually won the championship at the Yokohama Junior High School track and field competition.
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Antonio Pugliese
Antonio Pugliese (1941–August 19, 2000), born in Cosenza, Italy, was a professional wrestler. He is better known by his ring name Tony Parisi. Pugliese was primarily a tag team wrestler, and he won tag team titles in several organizations, including the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). He held the WWWF World Tag Team Championship from 1975 to 1976. As a singles wrestler, he also won the WWF International Heavyweight Championship. After retiring from wrestling, Pugliese continued to work in the industry and also operated a hotel and restaurant. He died in 2000 after suffering a heart attack.
Pugliese made his professional wrestling debut in Detroit, Michigan in 1961. He soon began competing in Canada, where he was a popular babyface (fan favorite) wrestler. In one of his first matches, he faced Gino Brito, who later became his long-time tag team partner. Pugliese and Brito moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1962 to wrestle in a promotion operated by Nick Gulas; they won the promotion's tag team title within two weeks of their arrival. Throughout his career, Pugliese formed many tag teams in various promotions with other wrestlers of Italian descent, including Dominic DeNucci, Tony Marino, and David Sammartino (who competed as Bruno Sammartino, Jr.).
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APOC (wrestler)
Eric Thompson (born in 1980), better known under his ring name Rick Victor is a Canadian professional wrestler currently working for Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), the farm territory of WWE under the ring name Rick Victor. He has also worked as APOC for Ohio Valley Wrestling, as well as WFX Wrestling. He has also worked for Stampede Wrestling in Canada.
Apoc began his career in the Hart Dungeon, under the teachings of Bruce and Ross Hart. He also received training under Tokyo Joe. He started working for Stampede Wrestling in 2001 as Bishop, later to be renamed "Apocalypse" which he continued to work as until the company shut down in 2007. In Stampede Wrestling, he won the North American Heavyweight Championship. He also held the International Tag Team Championship twice with partner Dave Swift.
He did a tour with New Japan Pro Wrestling as "The Shadow" in November–December 2003. In his first match, he teamed with Scott Norton against Josh Barnett and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. He also had matches with Manabu Nakanishi and Tenzan. In addition, he teamed with Norton frequently on the tour.
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Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde (born September 20, 1958) better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW. He currently serves as the senior producer for WWE's Raw brand. On March 31, 2012, Anderson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen.
Lunde began his career in early 1982, spending much of the year wrestling in various independent wrestling companies across the United States. By the middle of 1983, he made his way to Southeastern Championship Wrestling, an NWA affiliated promotion operating out of Tennessee and Alabama. Taking the name of "Super Olympia", Lunde soon became a member of Ron Fuller's Stud Stable before the year was out. Lunde saw success in the tag team ranks by winning the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship three times with Mr. Olympia and once with Buddy Rose throughout 1984. By the end of the year, however, Lunde left the company and joined Mid South Wrestling based out of Shreveport. Lunde's time in Mid South was coming to an end and during a TV taping the Junk Yard Dog mentioned to Bill Watts, the owner of Mid South Wrestling, that Lunde looked like an Anderson. Watts called Jim Crockett and convinced him to book Lunde.
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Averno (wrestler)
Renato Ruíz Cortes (born May 9, 1977), is a Mexican professional wrestler better known by the ring name Averno (Hell). He is currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He is also signed to WWE, but will finish his dates with CMLL, before completing the move to the promotion.
Ruíz originally debuted for CMLL as Rencor Latino in 1995, but did not achieve any significant success until he adopted the ring name Averno in June 2001. Under his new ring name, Ruíz went on to become a one–time CMLL World Middleweight and CMLL World Trios Champion and a three–time CMLL World Tag Team Champion. His ring name was the Spanish rendering of Avernus, the crater where Aeneas descended into the underworld in Virgil's Aeneid and is most commonly translated as "Hell" in English.
For many years Averno's real name was not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans. However, after signing with WWE in May 2011, Averno was booked in a Lucha de Apuesta, where he lost his mask and was forced to reveal his true identity.
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Barry Windham
Barry Clinton Windham (born July 4, 1960) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
In NWA/WCW, he was a one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a one-time United States Heavyweight Champion, a one-time Television Champion, a one-time Western States Heritage Champion, a four-time NWA (Mid Atlantic)/WCW World Tag Team Champion and a one-time NWA United States Tag Team Champion with Ron Garvin. In WWF, he was a two-time World Tag Team Champion with his brother-in-law, Mike Rotunda. On March 31, 2012, Windham was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen.
Windham was trained by his father Blackjack Mulligan and popular world champion Harley Race. He debuted on November 27, 1979 against J.J. Dillion in Odessa, Texas when he was 19 years old. Much of his early career was in the NWA's Championship Wrestling from Florida territory where Gordon Solie was the head announcer. He was a fan favorite for most of the early and middle periods of his career, having great success in singles and tag action. Windham had notable feuds with Kevin Sullivan and his army. With his brother-in-law Mike Rotunda, Windham formed a tag team in 1984. The duo captured the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship three times between March and May 1984.
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Big John Studd
John William Minton (February 19, 1948 – March 20, 1995) was an American professional wrestler and actor who was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, better known by his ring name, Big John Studd.
Big John Studd stood 6'6" and weighed around 295 - 300 pounds. He was trained by wrestling legend Killer Kowalski. Together, Studd and Kowalski won the WWF Tag Team Championship in 1976 as the Masked Executioners.
After leaving the WWF, Studd became known as Chuck O'Connor, Captain USA, and The Masked Superstar II at certain points in the Mid-Atlantic territory. In 1978, Studd teamed with Ken Patera to win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team titles. Studd was actually in the WWWF before his stint as Executioner #2 in 1976. He was then known as Chuck O'Connor and he feuded with El Olympico.
Studd also made occasional trips to Canada to wrestle in Emile Duprée's Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling.
On May 25, 1980, Masked Superstar II was unmasked after a match with Blackjack Mulligan in Toronto. After this, Studd was brought into Florida by J.J. Dillon and feuded with Dusty Rhodes, Barry Windham (the son of Blackjack Mulligan), and Sweet Brown Sugar.
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Bill Goldberg
William Scott "Bill" Goldberg (born December 27, 1966) is a former professional wrestler best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is famous for his lengthy undefeated streak in singles competition) The official count is listed as 173-0, although some have disputed the legitimacy of that total.
Goldberg is recognized by WWE as a two-time world champion: a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time World Heavyweight Champion, with both reigns represented by the Big Gold Belt. He was the first of four men to hold a version of the Big Gold Belt in both WCW and WWE, later followed by Chris Benoit, Booker T and Big Show. He is also recognized by WWE as a two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion (with Bret Hart).
Before he was a professional wrestler, Goldberg was a football player. After retiring from wrestling, he began working as a commentator for the mixed martial arts promotion EliteXC until its closure. He is currently hosting the television show Garage Mahal on the DIY Network.
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Bill Watts
William F. "Bill" Watts (born May 5, 1939) is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, no-nonsense promoter in the Mid-South area of the United States, which grew to become the UWF.
In 1992, he was the Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling but after clashes with management over a number of issues as well as feeling pressure from Hank Aaron over a racially sensitive piece of correspondence, he resigned. He was subsequently replaced by Ole Anderson who was then succeeded by Eric Bischoff.
As a professional wrestler, he famously feuded with WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino, but was unable to win away the belt. In the 1960s, he wrestled in many areas, such as San Francisco, Chicago, St. Louis, and even Japan, for All Japan Pro Wrestling. During these periods, Watts challenged for both the National Wrestling Alliance and American Wrestling Association versions of the World Title.
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Billy Kidman
Peter Alan Gruner, Jr. (born May 11, 1974) is an American professional wrestler, trainer, and wrestling producer, better known by his ring name Billy Kidman. Kidman is best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and his current workplace of the WWE throughout the late 1990s, early to late 2000s, and now into the early 2010s. He trained the likes of Wade Barrett in Florida Championship Wrestling.
He joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and ultimately gained fame as a key member of several strong wrestling factions. In addition to being a member of Raven's Flock, he also was a member of the Filthy Animals and later New Blood. As a member of these factions, Gruner participated in memorable rivalries with top WCW names, including Hulk Hogan, Jeff Jarrett, and Rey Mysterio. Kidman wrestled for WCW for many years and won tag team gold with partner and real life friend Mysterio. After leaving the group, he won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship three times. Gruner also met his now ex-wife Torrie Wilson while the two were working in WCW.
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Bob Armstrong
Joseph Melton James (born October 3, 1939) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championships throughout the Southeastern United States. Armstrong is also the patriarch of the Armstrong wrestling family; he has four sons (Scott, Brad, Steve and Brian), all of whom became wrestlers.
When he was a child, Joseph James's father took him to see Gorgeous George wrestle. The young James was impressed and intrigued by the flamboyant performer. As a young man, James served in the Marine Corps of the United States armed forces and was stationed in Korea. During his recruit training in Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on Parris Island, South Carolina, James was named Honor Man. After leaving the military, he began working for the Marietta Fire Department as a firefighter in 1962.
He debuted as a wrestler in the same year, adopting the ring name "Bob Armstrong". By 1966, Armstrong had become a popular face in the Savannah, Georgia area, and in 1969 he ceased working as a firefighter and began focusing on his wrestling career.
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Bob Backlund
Robert Lee "Bob" Backlund (born August 14, 1949) is an American professional wrestler with an in-ring career that spanned over 30 years. Over that time, he was a two-time WWWF/WWF Champion. Backlund holds the records for the second longest reign as WWE Champion in history, behind Bruno Sammartino.
Backlund was also an accomplished amateur wrestler wrestling for the North Dakota State University Bison in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Backlund continues to work in the pro wrestling business in various capacities. In 2000, Backlund unsuccessfully ran for a Connecticut seat in Congress on a Republican ticket.
In 1969 during his freshman year, Backlund was an All American in both football and wrestling (191 lbs finishing 3rd) while at Waldorf Junior College in Forest City, IA. During his sophomore campaign, Backlund focused on wrestling and once again earned All American Honors (190 lbs and National Runner Up). Backlund was an amateur wrestler at North Dakota State University, winning the Division II NCAA Championship at 190 pounds in 1971. In 1972 Backlund moved up to the Heavyweight class and finished 5th at the NCAA DII Nationals. Graduate of Princeton, MN High School where he was a state finalist in wrestling. He graduated from North Dakota State University with a degree in physical education.
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Bob Holly
Robert "Bob" Howard (born January 29, 1963) better known by his ring name Bob "Hardcore" Holly, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his 15-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
After debuting in 1990, Holly worked for Smoky Mountain Wrestling and other independent promotions, before joining WWE full-time in 1994. Initially portraying the character of a NASCAR driver, Thurman "Sparky" Plugg, his name was soon changed to Bob "Spark Plug" Holly, before forming a team with "Bodacious Bart", known as The New Midnight Express in 1998. After becoming known simply as "Hardcore Holly" in 1999, he was joined by on-screen cousins, Crash and Molly. In 2002, he suffered a broken neck, which sidelined him for over a year. Upon his return, he engaged in minor feuds with wrestlers such as Mr. Kennedy and Rob Van Dam, before forming a tag team with Cody Rhodes in 2007. Holly was released from WWE in 2009.
During his career, Holly has held the WWF/E Hardcore Championship seven times, the WWF/E Tag Team Championship three times (with 1-2-3 Kid, Crash Holly and Cody Rhodes), and the NWA World Tag Team Championship once with Bart Gunn.
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Bob Orton, Jr.
Robert Keith Orton (born November 10, 1950) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Cowboy" Bob Orton. He is the father of wrestler Randy Orton, who is signed to WWE. Orton's father, Bob Orton, Sr., and brother, Barry O, were also professional wrestlers.
Orton started wrestling in 1972 in the Florida and Georgia territories, sometimes performing under a mask and using the name "Young Mr. Wrestling". He often teamed with his father, Bob Orton. He made a name for himself in the early to mid-1980s in the National Wrestling Alliance, where he formed a tag team with Don Kernodle and won the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Orton was also involved in an angle where he and Dick Slater accepted a $25,000 offer by then NWA World Champion Harley Race to end the career of Ric Flair in 1983. Orton, Slater, and Race attacked Flair and delivered a spike piledriver, "injuring" Flair's neck. Flair subsequently "retired" then returned and assaulted Slater and Orton with a baseball bat.
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Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan (born November 1, 1944), better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was known for his skill in drawing heel heat for himself and his wrestlers, and for his on-screen repartee with Gorilla Monsoon as a color commentator. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE, formerly WWF) has described Heenan as "one of sports-entertainment's best loved legends".
Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 by Blackjack Lanza.
Always a fan of wrestling growing up in Chicago and Indianapolis, Heenan started in the wrestling profession early on, carrying bags and jackets for the wrestlers, and selling refreshments at the events. Dropping out of school in the eighth grade to support his mother and grandmother, Heenan's first break in the wrestling business was as a heel manager and wrestler in 1965 when he was known as "Pretty Boy" Bobby Heenan. His gimmick over the years has more or less remained the same, a tough talking big mouth who cowered in fear when being physically confronted. At the time, heels were often given managers to speak for them in interviews, rile up the crowd during matches, and cheat on their behalf. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan went on to manage some of the most successful wrestlers in the world, creating "The Heenan Family", a stable that existed in several different incarnations and wrestling promotions for over 20 years. Heenan did not like the term "stable", stating that it should only refer to a place to keep horses.[citation needed]
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Bobo Brazil
Houston Harris (July 10, 1923 — January 20, 1998) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bobo Brazil. Even though he is "Bobo", a promoter mispronounced it and it stuck .He is credited with breaking down barriers of racial segregation in professional wrestling. Harris is considered one of the first successful African American professional wrestlers, and is often referred to as "the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling".
Houston Harris was born in Little Rock, Arkansas but later lived in East St. Louis, Illinois, and Benton Harbor, Michigan. He played baseball and worked in a steel mill.
Harris was trained by Joe Savoldi after meeting him at matches at the Naval Armory. Originally, Harris was to be known as "Boo-Boo Brazil", but a promoter misprinted his first name as "Bobo" in an advertisement and it stuck.
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Booker T (wrestler)
Robert Booker Tio Huffman (born March 1, 1965), better known by his ring name Booker T, is an American professional wrestler and wrestling commentator, currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand.
Booker is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)/WWE, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), holding 35 major titles between those organizations. He is the most decorated wrestler in WCW history, having held 20 titles in the organization, including a record six WCW World Television Championships, and a record ten WCW World Tag Team Championships as one half of Harlem Heat with his brother, Lane "Stevie Ray" Huffman (he claimed an eleventh reign in the WWF with Test).
Between WCW and the WWF/WWE, Booker is a six-time world champion: a five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion (his fifth reign occurred in the WWF) and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion. He is the only black man to become a world champion in both WCW and the WWF/WWE. He was the winner of the WWE King of the Ring tournament in 2006, the sixteenth WWE Triple Crown Champion and the eighth WWE Grand Slam Champion. Also the ninth, and final, WCW Triple Crown Champion, he is the most recent of four men in history to achieve both the WWE and WCW Triple Crown Championships.
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Bret Hart
Bret Hart (born July 2, 1957) is a Canadian American writer, actor and retired professional wrestler currently signed with WWE under a Legends contract. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College. Along with his famed "Hit Man" nickname, Hart was known by the monikers "The Excellence of Execution", "The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be" and "The Pink and Black Attack"—the latter being in reference to his ring attire, as well as his signature mirrored sunglasses, which he routinely gave away to a young audience member before matches.
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Brian Gerard James
Brian Gerard James (born May 20, 1969) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he works as an agent, producer and occasional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as "The Road Dogg" Jesse James or simply Road Dogg. He is a former member of D-Generation X and the tag team partner of Billy Gunn, with who he joined with the New Age Outlaws in the WWF and The James Gang and Voodoo Kin Mafia in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
In WWE, James is a one time Intercontinental Champion, a one time Hardcore Champion, and a five time Tag Team Champion with Gunn. The company also described him as "one of the most popular Superstars of WWE's "Attitude Era". In TNA, he became a two time NWA World Tag Team Champion with Konnan and Ron Killings. James is also a one time world champion after becoming the first-ever WWA World Heavyweight Champion in 2001.
James is the son of retired professional wrestler Bob Armstrong, and one of the Armstrong brothers.
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Britani Knight
Saraya-Jade Bevis is an English professional wrestler better known by her ring name Britani Knight. She is signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) under the ring name Paige.
Bevis is part of a professional wrestling family. Both her father and mother, known as Ricky Knight and Sweet Saraya respectively, are professional wrestlers, as is her older brother Zak.
Bevis was trained at the WAW Academy by her family and Jason Cross, and has also trained with Johnny Saint, Danny Boy Collins, Steve Grey, and Brian Maxine. She made her debut in 2005, and has wrestled throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.
Bevis, using the ring name Britani Knight, made her debut for the European all-female promotion on 8 May 2010, along with her mother Saraya Knight. She did not start well for the promotion; although she appeared in the main event at the first taping, she lost to Greek wrestler Blue Nikita. She also lost to Jetta in what was purportedly her opponent's last tour of wrestling. On 16 October 2010 she had her first win against Shanna. On 8 April 2011 she participated in a two-night tournament to crown the first ever Pro-Wrestling: EVE Champion. In the first night, she won a Last Chance Battle Royal, then defeated Jenny Sjödin in the quarter final match. The next day, she defeated Jetta in the semi-final match, and later in the finals defeated Nikki Storm to win the Pro Wrestling EVE Championship. On 4 June 2011 at the XWA War On The Shore 7 show, she lost the Pro Wrestling EVE Championship to Sjödin.
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Brock Lesnar
Brock Edward Lesnar (/ˈlɛznər/; born July 12, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, actor, former mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler, signed with WWE and appearing on its Raw brand. He is also a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and former #1 ranked mixed martial arts (MMA) Heavyweight by Sherdog; he was ranked #5 before he announced his retirement at the end of 2011. Lesnar is an accomplished amateur wrestler, winning the 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship and placing second in 1999, losing in the finals to 1999 world freestyle wrestling champion and future New England Patriots offensive lineman Stephen Neal.
He gained prominence in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2002 to 2004, where he is a former three-time WWE Champion, becoming the youngest WWE Champion at age 25 with his first reign. Lesnar was the 2002 King of the Ring and the winner of the 2003 Royal Rumble. After leaving WWE, Lesnar pursued a career in the NFL. He played during the preseason for the Minnesota Vikings, but ended up being a late cut. Lesnar returned to professional wrestling at the end of 2005, and joined New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first match. He was officially stripped of the title by NJPW in July 2006, and took the physical belt with him to Inoki Genome Federation (IGF), where he was still recognized as IWGP Champion until June 2007.
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Brodie Lee
Jon Huber (born 1979) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Brodie Lee. He is currently signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) under the ring name Luke Harper. He is best known for his work on the North American independent circuit, working for promotions such as Alpha-1 Wrestling, Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Dragon Gate USA, Jersey All Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
After being trained by Kirby Marcos and Rik Matrix in Rochester, New York, and Tony Mamaluke in Schenectady, New York, Huber made his professional wrestling debut for NWA Upstate on October 7, 2003, adopting the ring name Brodie Lee, which he got from the movie Mallrats by combining the names of actor Jason Lee and his character Brodie Bruce. Huber names Rick Rude, Jake Roberts and Big Show as his influences. He would go on to win multiple championships with NWA Upstate, including the Heavyweight Championship on two separate occasions and the No Limits Television Championship, which he would go on to unify with the Kayfabe Dojo Championship.
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Brodus Clay
George Murdoch (born February 21, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Brodus Clay. He is signed to WWE and its Raw brand. He was the runner-up on the fourth season of NXT.
Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Murdoch worked as a bodyguard for Snoop Dogg.
After signing a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Murdoch was assigned to Deep South Wrestling (DSW), a WWE developmental territory. He debuted in September 2006, and began using the ring name G-Rilla along with adopting the gimmick of a gangsta thug. In his first match for the promotion, he defeated Big Bully Douglas in a dark match on September 7. The following month, he became the enforcer for Urban Assault, a tag team composed of Eric Pérez and Sonny Siaki. On December 14, Urban Assault was joined by Afa Jr., and the following week, Perez, Siaki, and Afa Jr. attacked Murdoch, throwing him out of the group. The same month, Murdoch wrestled in two dark matches against Scotty 2 Hotty at SmackDown! house shows while using his real name, winning the first but losing the second. In early January 2007, G-Rilla feuded with Urban Assault, attacking the members during matches. He then formed a tag team with the Freakin' Deacon, with the pair defeating Urban Assault in their first match together. They went on to defeat teams including Frankie Coverdale and Bob Hoskins, the Samoan Fight Club of Siaki and Afa Jr., Shawn Osborne and Jon Bolen, and Robert Anthony and Johnny Curtis. In March, they faced and defeated the DSW Tag Team Champions, Team Elite (Mike Knox and Derrick Neikirk) in two successive non-title matches.
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Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino (born October 6, 1935) is an Italian-American former professional wrestler, best known for being the longest-running champion of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), holding the title across two reigns for over 11 years in total, as well as the longest single WWE Championship reign in professional wrestling history.
Sammartino's wrestling style was more mat-oriented which was typical of wrestlers from his era. His brawling, power moves, and personal charisma helped him become the most popular American wrestler in the 1960s and 1970s.
Born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy on October 6, 1935, Sammartino was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters. Four older siblings died during his time in Italy. During his childhood, Sammartino's family hid from German soldiers in a mountain called Valla Rocca, during the latter stages of World War II. During this time, Sammartino's mother, Emilia, would sneak into their German-occupied town for food and supplies. She once was captured and another time shot in the shoulder during such trips. Eventually, Sammartino caught rheumatic fever but was nursed back to health by his mother with hot blankets and leeches. In 1950, he moved to the United States and settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his father had already lived for several years.
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Buddy Rose
Paul Perschmann (November 27, 1952 – April 28, 2009) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Playboy" Buddy Rose.
Paul Perschmann was trained by Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson in the early 1970s. Under his own name, he made his debut on December 3, 1973 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin in a 10-minute draw with fellow camp mate Bob Remus, the future Sergeant Slaughter. He wrestled primarily for the AWA, WWF, and for promoter Don Owen in Pacific Northwest Wrestling.
One of the most legendary feuds in the Pacific Northwest pitted Rose against "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. According to Piper in his autobiography, this was the feud that really made him a name in the business, and it cemented Rose's status as an icon of the region. Rose also had a long feud with "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. His long-time tag team partner, Edward Wiskoski, stood by his side for three decades.
Wrestling for the WWF during 1982-83, he would often work 90 days in a row. When he had a rare day off, he would fly back to the West Coast and headline cards there. At the peak of his WWF run, he was main eventing at Madison Square Garden against Bob Backlund for the WWF World Heavyweight title. Rose, who also had some bouts with Pedro Morales during this period, was managed by the Grand Wizard.
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Byron Saxton
Bryan Jesus Kelly (born August 20, 1981) is an American professional wrestler, manager, color commentator and former journalist. He is currently signed to WWE, working in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) under the ring name Byron Saxton. He was a competitor in the fourth season of NXT, and was competing in the show's fifth season, NXT Redemption. until his elimination on May 31, 2011.
Kelly was raised in Burke, Virginia and Orlando, Florida. He studied at the University of Florida, where he worked as a producer and a reporter for WRUF-AM, WUFT-FM and WUFT-TV. He graduated in 2003. Kelly worked for WJXT Channel 4 News in Jacksonville, Florida as an associate producer and was then promoted to work on camera as a traffic reporter.
He signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). Kelly, at first using his real name, made his FCW debut on October 13, 2007, losing to Hade Vansen. His next appearance was just over a week later on October 23, when he lost to "The Carnival Freak" Sinn Bowdee. Kelly competed sporadically in FCW over the next few months, winning a six-man tag team match against Vansen, Sheamus O'Shaunessy and Bowdee with Rycklon Stephens and Chet Douglas as his partners, but losing a singles match to Afa Jr. a few weeks later. He finished off 2007 with a win against Tommy Taylor on December 18.
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Camille Tourville
Camille Tourville (1927-December 24, 1985) was a professional wrestler and manager better known as Tarzan Tyler. He was one-half of the first WWF Tag Team Champions, along with Luke Graham. He died December 24, 1985 at the age of 58.
Tarzan Tyler began competing in the United States during the 1960s after having spent nearly 10 years wrestling in Canada. Tyler competed for World Championships against such stars as Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, and Dory Funk, Jr. His greatest success came as a tag team competitor, as he and Crazy Luke Graham defeated the team of Dick the Bruiser and The Shiek in 1971 to become the first WWF World Tag Team Champions.
Tarzan Tyler died, along with fellow wrestler Pierre 'Mad Dog' Lefebvre and referee Adrien Desbois, in Laurentides Provincial Park upon returning from a wrestling event in Chicoutimi, Quebec on December 24, 1985, in a car crash.
He was a 3-time heavyweight champion for Grand Prix Wrestling in Montreal in the 1970s.
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Carlos Cabrera
Carlos Rodrigo Cabrera (born October 18, 1959) is a former newsman and currently employed with WWE, where he is one half of the company's Spanish announce team in which he is the play-by-play announcer. His longtime broadcast partner was the former Ecuadorian professional wrestler Hugo Savinovich, who was the color commentator on the announce team until October 2011. Currently, his partner is Marcelo Rodríguez.
Cabrera was born in Bogota, Colombia. During his career as a newsman and radio personality, Cabrera has obtained many coveted awards, including the ACE Awards both in Radio and TV categories. Cabrera has one of the most recognizable voices in both Spanish radio and TV in the United States and is constantly used as a voiceover announcer for many important corporations and brand names that wish to advertise their products nationally.
Cabrera has worked for WWE since 1993 and, alongside Hugo Savinovich and presently Marcelo Rodríguez, has been the Spanish announcer on Spanish language versions of Raw, SmackDown, Superstars, NXT, and pay-per-view (PPV) events. Their audio can be accessed in the United States via the SAP feature on most TV sets. Cabrera and Savinovich have a show on WWE.com called WWE En Español (WWE in Spanish), a thirty-minute program that serves as a recap of RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and pay-per-view events. The duo taped their one-hundredth episode in April 2006. Rodríguez was a frequent substitute host of the program until October 2011, when he became permanent co-host following the departure of Savinovich from the company. For a brief period, Cabrera and Savinovich starred in a Spanglish mini-show called 28 Segundos.
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Carly Colón
Carlos Edwin "Carly" Colón, Jr. (born on February 21, 1979) is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler better known internationally by his ring name Carlito. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), but was released from his contract on May 21, 2010. In his native Puerto Rico, he is known as both Carly Colón and Carlito. Colón occasionally still performs in the World Wrestling Council (WWC). He is a 13-time WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion.
In 2003, Colón signed a developmental contract with WWE. He worked in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) for sixteen months, mostly wrestling in tag team matches while making appearances in WWC. On October 7, 2004, Colón made his debut performing on the main event of SmackDown! as Carlito Caribbean Cool. Colón is a former United States Champion and Intercontinental Champion and has been part of both the Raw and SmackDown brands. He is the only wrestler to win a championship on two separate debuts in WWE and the second Puerto Rican to become Intercontinental Champion after Pedro Morales. At WrestleMania XXV, Colón and his brother, Eddie Colón, became the only tag team to unify the WWE Tag Team Championship and World Tag Team Championship.
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Charles Kalani, Jr.
Charles "Charlie" J. Kalani, Jr. (January 6, 1930 – August 22, 2000) was an American professional wrestler, professional boxer,college football player, soldier, actor, and Martial Artist who, in fighting rings, was also known as Professor Toru Tanaka, or simply, Professor Tanaka.
He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of Charles J. Kalani and Christina Leong Kalani (who was part Chinese). Charlie began studying judo at age nine. At Iolani School (class of 1949), he was a natural at many sports, and Doris Kalani credited his time on the football team with keeping him away from trouble. "He was a street kid getting into trouble and would have ended up in reform school if Father Kenneth A. Bray hadn't helped him out by bringing him to Iolani. He felt Iolani saved him," she told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
He left Hawaii for Utah's Weber Junior College (now Weber State University). On December 6, 1951, the Associated Press reported he received honorable mention for playing football at the University of Utah. It was at the University of Utah that he also met his wife Doris in 1952. On December 3, 1952 the Associated Press reported Kalani would become a professional boxer. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1955, Kalani rose to the rank of sergeant and excelled on the pistol team. For four years, the couple were stationed at a base in Nuremberg, Germany.
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Charlie Haas
Charles Doyle "Charlie" Haas II (born March 27, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor (ROH). He is best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Haas was an amateur wrestler in high school, and attended Seton Hall University on a wrestling scholarship, before becoming a stockbroker. He became a professional wrestler in 1996, and teamed regularly with his brother, Russ, with the two winning numerous championships on the independent circuit, including the CZW World Tag Team Championship and the JAPW Tag Team Championship. After signing contracts with WWE, The Haas Brothers were assigned to WWE's developmental territories, where they won the MCW Southern Tag Team Championship on three occasions. After Russ' death in 2001 due to a heart attack, Haas began wrestling in singles competition, winning the HWA Heavyweight Championship once.
Haas formed a team with Shelton Benjamin and the two debuted on SmackDown in December 2002. They won the WWE Tag Team Championship twice, and dubbed themselves The World's Greatest Tag Team before they split in 2004. Haas won the WWE Tag Team Championship once more with Rico, and gained Miss Jackie as a valet. Haas then transferred into singles competition before being released from WWE in 2005. After a short stint in Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) and other independent promotions, Haas was re-signed to WWE in April 2006. He formed a short-lived team with Viscera, before reforming the World's Greatest Tag Team with Benjamin. After Benjamin transferred to the ECW brand, Haas began wrestling with a comical luchador persona, before developing a character where he imitated other wrestlers and WWE Hall of Famers.
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Chavo Guerrero, Sr.
Salvador Guerrero III (born January 7, 1949), better known as Chavo Guerrero or Chavo Guerrero, Sr., is a former professional wrestler. He is known for his work in Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and for being the father of third generation wrestler Chavo Guerrero, Jr. He is the oldest son of Salvador "Gory" Guerrero, and part of the Guerrero wrestling family. He is the oldest WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Earlier in his career, Guerrero feuded with Atsushi Onita in Japan over lighter-weight titles.
In the 1970s, Guerrero moved his family to California so he could compete in Los Angeles's World Wrestling Association (WWA). He also feuded with Roddy Piper for the NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship. Guerrero held the title 15 times between 1975 and 1980.
He usually teamed with his brothers, Mando and Hector wherever he wrestled. In the late 1980s wrestling in the AWA on ESPN. He was teaming with his brother Mando to go after the AWA World Tag Team Championship held by Diamond Dallas Page's team of Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka).
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Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit (French pronunciation: [bəˈnwɑ]) (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide. During his professional wrestling career, Benoit worked for such major promotions as Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF/WWE).
Among other accolades, Benoit is a two-time world champion: a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, one-time World Heavyweight Champion (tied for third longest reign in history). Both of his world title reigns were represented by the Big Gold Belt: Benoit is one of four men to have held the Big Gold Belt in both WCW and WWE, alongside Bill Goldberg, Booker T and Big Show. He is also a record-tying five-time WCW/WWE United States Champion, having held the championship twice in WCW, and three times in WWE. The twelfth WWE Triple Crown Champion and seventh WCW Triple Crown Champion, he is the second of four men in history to achieve both the WWF and WCW Triple Crown Championships.
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Chris Hero
Chris Spradlin (born December 24, 1979) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Hero. He is signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) under the ring name Kassius Ohno. Hero was previously a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Ring of Honor as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan. He is also known from his time in Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, Combat Zone Wrestling and Chikara, where he was the co-head trainer of the Chikara Wrestle Factory. Hero is also a former three-time world champion having held the CZW World Heavyweight Championship, the PWG World Championship and the wXw World Heavyweight Championship.
After graduating from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio, Spradlin decided to train as a professional wrestler in the summer of 1998. After undergoing some initial training in Middletown, Ohio, Spradlin debuted on September 12, 1998 in Xenia, Ohio wrestling Shawn "HeartThrob" Halsey in the Unified Championship Wrestling promotion. Spradlin's initial training in Middletown was under the supervision of a small time promoter named Gary Goffinet. Spradlin trained for a little while alongside his friend, Adam Ghazee, under a wrestler by the name of Bo Dacious. Bo had trained previously under Charlie Fulton at the Monster Factory. At the suggestion of Matt Stryker, Spradlin underwent further training at Les Thatcher's Cincinnati-based HWA Main Event Wrestling Camp between May 1999 and November 1999. In December 1999, he traveled to Ocala, Florida to train under Dory Funk, Jr. at the Funkin' Conservatory professional wrestling school.
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Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), known professionally as Chris Jericho, is an American-born Canadian professional wrestler, musician, media personality, actor, author and businessman. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its Raw brand in addition to being the lead singer of heavy metal band Fozzy. He is also well known for his time in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and internationally in Canadian, Mexican and Japanese promotions.
Jericho has won 30 championships between WWF/E, WCW, and ECW - the three most prominent American promotions in the 1990s and early 2000s. He is credited as being the first Undisputed WWF Champion, having unified the WWE Championship and World Championship (formerly the WCW Championship) in 2001.
In WWE Jericho is a six-time world champion, having won the Undisputed WWF Championship once, the WCW/World Championship twice and the World Heavyweight Championship thrice. He is also a record nine-time Intercontinental Champion, and the fourth WWE Grand Slam Champion.
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Chris Kanyon
Christopher Klucsarits (January 4, 1970 – April 2, 2010) was an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, under the ring names Chris Kanyon (or simply Kanyon) and Mortis.
After college, he began training under Pete McKay Gonzalez, Ismael Gerena and Bobby Bold Eagle at the Lower East Side Wrestling Gym in Manhattan at some point between December 1991 and January 1992. He wrestled his first match on April 5, 1992 in Levittown, New York at the Island Trees Junior High School, and wrestled one match as Chris Morgan before adopting the ring name Chris Canyon and later changed it to Chris Kanyon. Kanyon worked as a physical therapist for the next three years, wrestling on weekends and in the evenings, before finally deciding to become a full-time professional wrestler in 1995. Early in his career, Kanyon formed a tag team with Billy Kidman which saw both men wrestle in the uniform of hockey players.
In late 1994, he made several appearances with the World Wrestling Federation as a jobber, facing wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Tatanka and Bob Holly. His friend and future manager James Mitchell saw potential in him and sent him for training with The Fabulous Moolah in South Carolina and with Afa at the Wild Samoan wrestling School.
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Chris Mordetzky
Christopher Mordetzky (born January 8, 1983) is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Chris Masters. He is best known for his tenure with WWE.
Mordetzky began training for a wrestling career at the age of 16 in Ultimate Pro Wrestling. He trained there for one year and suffered an injury, leaving him out of action for three months. During this time, Mordetzky learned that WWE was recruiting talent from UPW, and he took time off from wrestling for nearly three years to pursue a powerful physique that would interest World Wrestling Entertainment. His work paid off, as WWE offered him a developmental contract in 2003, training him at its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). At OVW, he developed his wrestling skills and refined his character, achieving success in both the singles and tag team divisions. When Mordetzky was called up to the main roster, WWE showed vignettes outlining him as The Masterpiece, touting him as having a body so perfect, it would appear he was sculpted out of stone. Mordetzky credits Matt Morgan for creating the "Masterpiece" gimmick, and said Vince McMahon encouraged him to emulate former wrestler Paul Orndorff.
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Chris Von Erich
Chris Barton Adkisson (September 30, 1969 – September 12, 1991) was an American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Chris Von Erich of the Von Erich family.
The smallest and youngest of the Von Erich family, all Chris wanted to be was a wrestler. He was the youngest son of wrestler Fritz Von Erich. His brothers, Mike, David, Kerry and Kevin all had success as wrestlers. He grew up working cameras and doing other odd jobs backstage for WCCW.
He became a wrestler in 1990, but faced numerous issues. Aside from drug problems similar to his much older brothers, his asthma held him back and his bones were so brittle that he would often break them while performing simple wrestling maneuvers. He stayed with it as much as he could, and even had a small feud with Percy Pringle in the USWA. Chris tagged with both his brother Kevin and longtime ally Chris Adams in several tag team matches against Pringle and "Stunning" Steve Austin (later "Stone Cold" Steve Austin); however, he would face only Pringle whenever he was in the ring, and allow his more-experienced partner (Kevin or Adams) to battle Austin.
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Christian (wrestler)
William Jason Reso (born November 30, 1973) is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring names Christian and Christian Cage, who is signed to WWE and appearing on its SmackDown brand, where he is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Reso was trained by former professional wrestlers Ron Hutchinson, Dory Funk, Jr., and Tom Prichard, and made his wrestling debut in June 1995. Reso wrestled in Canadian independent promotions early in his career. During his time in these promotions, he competed in singles and tag team competition, the latter with Edge, his storyline brother. In 1998, Reso signed a developmental deal with the WWF and began competing for the company the following year. After signing with the WWF, Reso made his debut and captured his first title with the company, the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. He and Edge went on to win the WWF Tag Team Championship on seven different occasions. During this time, they gained notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches. In 2001 the team parted ways and Reso signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2005.
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Chyna
Chyna (born Joan Marie Laurer; December 27, 1970) is a former American professional wrestler, actress, pornographic actress and former bodybuilder. She is best known for her career with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1997 to 2001, where she was billed as "Chyna: 'The Ninth Wonder of the World'" (André the Giant was already billed as the eighth). She began her WWF career as Paul "Triple H" Levesque's on-screen bodyguard, and the duo also dated in real-life. They were both members of the popular D-Generation X stable, a storyline alliance of several wrestlers, until 1999.
Chyna holds the distinction of being the only Diva in WWE history to compete, full time, in the men's division. She was the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble, qualify for the King of the Ring tournament, and be the number one contender for the WWF Championship. In 1999, she became the first and only woman to hold the WWF Intercontinental Championship, which she held twice. She also held the WWF Women's Championship once, before leaving the company in 2001. She claims that Levesque's affair with Stephanie McMahon, daughter of WWF owner Vince McMahon, was a factor in her departure. After originally retiring from professional wrestling in 2004, Chyna made a return in May 2011 by joining Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
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Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli (born December 27, 1980) is a Swiss professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, working in its SmackDown brand under the ring name Antonio Cesaro. He is best known for his work, under his real name, on the American independent circuit in promotions such as Chikara, Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and in Japan for Pro Wrestling Noah.
Castagnoli is an accomplished tag team wrestler, having won many championships with his partner Chris Hero as the Kings of Wrestling, as well as with his compatriot Ares as Swiss Money Holding. He has held Chikara's Campeonatos de Parejas with each partner once. With Ares, he is an eight-time Tag Team Champion having held the titles of Chikara, German Stampede Wrestling, International Pro Wrestling: UK, the Swiss Wrestling Federation and Westside Xtreme Wrestling. With Hero he is a six-time Tag Team Champion, having held the titles of Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Juggalo Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor, where their 364-day reign is the longest. They were also voted as the 2010 Tag Team of the Year by Wrestling Observer Newsletter readers.
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CM Punk
Phillip Jack Brooks (born October 26, 1978), better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE and appearing on its Raw brand as the reigning WWE Champion.
In professional wrestling, Brooks is a seven time World Champion, having held the ROH World Championship and ECW Championship once, the World Heavyweight Championship three times and the WWE Championship twice.
In addition to these championships Punk has also won the World Tag Team Championship (with Kofi Kingston), and the WWE Intercontinental Championship making him the nineteenth WWE Triple Crown Champion and the man to achieve this honor fastest at 203 days. Between WWE and Ring of Honor (where he is also a two-time World Tag Team Champion), Punk has won a total of eleven championships. He was also the winner of the 2008 and 2009 Money in the Bank ladder matches (the only wrestler to win the match twice in a row), and was the 2011 Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner.
Punk initially came to prominence through his career on the professional wrestling independent circuit, primarily as a member of the ROH roster, where he was the first head trainer of the ROH wrestling school as well as winning both of their championships. In 2005, Punk signed a contract with WWE and was sent to its developmental promotion, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he won every championship available in the promotion. Throughout his career, Punk has consistently used the gimmick of being straight edge, a lifestyle he follows in his actual day-to-day life. Depending on Punk's alignment as a crowd favorite or villain, he emphasizes different aspects of the culture to encourage the desired audience reaction.
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Cody Rhodes
Cody Runnels (born June 30, 1985) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Cody Rhodes. Runnels is signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand.
Runnels is the half-brother of Goldust as well as the son of Dusty Rhodes, and worked as a referee in his father's promotion during high school. Runnels started wrestling professionally in 2006, using his real name, wrestling for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). While situated at OVW, he won various championships, both in tag team and singles competition, including the OVW Heavyweight Championship. He made his WWE television debut on July 16, 2007, under the ring name Cody Rhodes. In December 2007, Rhodes captured his first title with the company, the World Tag Team Championship with Hardcore Holly, and the two held it for six months.
Rhodes formed a secret alliance with Ted DiBiase during 2008. In the course of a match held on June 29 he turned on Holly by switching sides to join DiBiase, with whom he became World Tag Team champion. The new champions dropped their titles in August, only to win them back a week later. Rhodes and DiBiase were joined by Manu shortly afterwards, forming a faction of multi-generation wrestlers, although this alliance was to be short-lived. In January 2009, Rhodes and DiBiase formed a new alliance, The Legacy, with Randy Orton. Rhodes was moved to the SmackDown brand in April 2010, as part of the Supplemental Draft, and won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Drew McIntyre in September of the same year. In August 2011, Rhodes won the WWE Intercontinental Championship, his first singles championship in WWE, holding it for over seven months until he lost it at WrestleMania 28. He won the title back one month later at Extreme Rules (2012).
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Conor O'Brian
Ryan Parmeter (born February 6, 1980) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed by WWE and competes in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) as Conor O'Brian. He was part of the fourth season of NXT, and earned third place on the show's fifth season, NXT Redemption.
After spending four years wrestling on the independent circuit as Ryan Payne O'Reilly, Parmeter signed a WWE contract in 2005, and was assigned to Deep South Wrestling (DSW), a developmental territory, where he wrestled as Rough House O'Reilly. He won the DSW Heavyweight Championship twice, before briefly appearing in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He also appeared in several dark matches prior to Raw and SmackDown, and at several ECW house shows. In October 2007, both Parmeter and his girlfriend, Krissy Vaine, requested to be released from their WWE contracts for personal reasons.
Following his release, Parmeter took time off from wrestling, before debuting for NWA Charlotte in February 2009. In July 2010, he was re-signed by WWE, and returned to FCW where he began wrestling as Conor O'Brian. In November 2010, he was announced as a participant in the fourth season of NXT.
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Consequences Creed
Austin Watson (born September 4, 1986) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Consequences Creed. He is signed to WWE, and works in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Xavier Woods. He was formerly one-half of the FCW Florida Tag Team Champions with Wes Brisco.
He previously worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he was a two-time World Tag Team Champion--once with Adam "Pacman" Jones and Ron "The Truth" Killings as Team Pacman, and once with Jay Lethal as Lethal Consequences. He has also worked for NWA Anarchy and other independent promotions under the ring name Austin Creed. His wrestling persona is based on Apollo Creed from the Rocky movie series.
Watson was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1986 and graduated from Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia in 2004. That same year he began studying psychology and philosophy at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Watson graduated from Furman University with two degrees a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and philosophy on May 29, 2008. At his time at Furman University, Watson had a brief stint as an accomplished cheerleader.
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Curt Hawkins
Brandon Dennis Myers (born April 20, 1985) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Curt Hawkins. He is currently signed to WWE working on its Raw brand and on NXT as the tag team partner of Tyler Reks. For the majority of his career, Hawkins teamed with Zack Ryder, and they won several tag team championships together, including the WWE Tag Team Championship.
After being trained by Mikey Whipwreck, Myers made his debut in 2004, using his real name. He wrestled for the New York Wrestling Connection (NYWC) promotion. By 2005 he began regularly teaming with Brett Matthews and the duo of Myers and Matthews went on to defeat the NYWC Tag Team Champions Dickie Rodz and Mason Raige by disqualification, for which titles do not change hands. At the next event on June 4 they won a rematch decisively to become Tag Team Champions. Later that month they were attacked by The Dead Presidents (Lo Lincoln and Boog Washington) to set up a feud where they eventually lost their titles against them in July. on August 27. On September 23 they were entered into a three way match with the champions but Team Tremendous (Dan Barry and Ken Scampi) ended up with the belts. After continuing to win matches they re-earned a match against Team Tremendous and won the titles for the second time on January 25, 2006. They held the titles until they faced the B.S. Xpress (Tony Burma & Mike Spinelli), who defeated them for the gold on March 26.
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Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig (March 28, 1958 – February 10, 2003) was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who performed under his real name for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). In the WWF, he found his greatest success as Mr. Perfect, a nickname introduced in his second run with the company which gradually became his official ring name as use of his real name was phased out; Hennig used the same ring name in his third and final run, however his real name was widely acknowledged. He was the son of wrestler Larry "The Axe" Hennig, and father to current WWE (formerly the WWF) superstar Michael McGillicutty.
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D'Lo Brown
Accie Julius Connor (born October 22, 1970) better known by his ring name D'Lo Brown (also written D-Lo Brown), is an American professional wrestler. Well known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment, he works as an agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Connor has held forty-eight championships in various promotions during his career. Among other accolades, he is a four-time WWF European Champion,one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion.
Connor began his wrestling career in New Jersey as Ace the Animal. He then wrestled Earthquake in the WWF in 1993 under his given name as a jobber. This led to his first widely known accomplishment in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, becoming the head of security for The Gangstas. When the Gangstas left SMW in 1995, he signed a deal with the WWF and was sent to the Heartland Wrestling Association for more training while making more appearances as a jobber on WWF television.
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Davey Boy Smith
David "Davey" Boy Smith (November 27, 1962 – May 18, 2002) was a British professional wrestler, also known as (The) British Bulldog, who was born in Golborne in North West England, United Kingdom. Smith is known for his appearances with Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Described by WWE (previously the WWF) as "one of the most physically impressive individuals in WWE history", Smith found success as both a singles and tag competitor, holding every major title in the organization except the WWF Championship. Smith competed in multiple pay-per-view main events in the WWF and WCW, and challenged for the top titles of both promotions.
Smith was trained by Ted Betley in Winwick, England before relocating to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to further his training under Stu Hart. While training with Hart, Smith met Stu and Helen Hart's youngest daughter Diana, whom he married in 1984. They had two children, Harry (born on August 2, 1985) and Georgia (born on September 26, 1987). He and Diana were divorced in 2000.
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David Otunga
David Daniel Otunga, Sr. (born April 7, 1980) is an American lawyer, professional wrestler, and former reality television actor. He is signed to WWE, appearing on the Raw brand under his real name. He's a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, having one reign each with Michael McGillicutty and John Cena. He was the runner-up on the first season of NXT. Otunga was also the last original member of The Nexus and The New Nexus.
David Otunga is the son of a Kenyan father, Moses, and white American mother, Billie, both of whom were educators. He is the youngest of three children. Otunga graduated from Larkin High School in 1998, with mostly A-grades. Otunga holds a Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois. Following his graduation, he moved to New York City, where he worked at Columbia University as a lab manager in a cognitive neuroscience center. He later attended Harvard Law School, and passed the bar exam in Illinois . Following his graduation, he worked for the Sidley Austin LLP law firm.
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David Von Erich
David Alan Adkisson (July 22, 1958 – February 10, 1984) was an American professional wrestler who competed as "The Yellow Rose of Texas" David Von Erich (of the Von Erich Family). He was the son of Fritz Von Erich and the brother of Jack Jr., Kerry, Kevin, Mike and Chris.
David was named after his mother Doris' brother David, who had died only months before David Von Erich was born in 1958. Doris' brother David had died of a brain tumor.
David, along with brothers Kevin and Kerry, loved to hunt and fish with their father; Fritz. Hunting on the Von Erich ranch was quite an event. Many of their relatives and friends would join in and sometimes the hunting group would be 20 or more. WCCW Referee David Manning and WCCW Announcer Bill Mercer were quite often among the group. David's first love in life was raising horses, which turned out to be very profitable for him. He raised and sold quarter horses and horses for show and made his own fortune that way, apart from the family business of wrestling.
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Dean Higuchi
Dean Higuchi is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Dean Ho, who competed in North American regional promotions including Pacific Northwest Wrestling, the World Wide Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance, specifically the Hawaii-based Big Time Wrestling during the 1960s and 1970s. A longtime veteran of the Vancouver's NWA All-Star Wrestling, he feuded with Terry Adonis, The Brute and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski.
After graduating from President Theodore Roosevelt High School, Higuchi was one of Hawaii's prominent bodybuilders during the 1950s winning the title "Mr. Hawaiian Islands" competition in 1956 and finishing sixth place in the "Mr. America" competition in Philadelphia.
He opened his gym on Kalakaua Avenue in 1957, and it was a popular training center for both bodybuilders and professional wrestlers. Many of the areas top bodybuilders such as Mike Brown and professional wrestlers trained for decades including Don Muraco, Beauregarde,Rene Goulet and Karl Gotch.
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Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page (born Page Joseph Falkinburg, Jr.; April 5, 1956), better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page (DDP), is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor, signed to WWE in a Legends contract[citation needed]. In the course of his wrestling career, which spanned two decades, Page has wrestled for mainstream wrestling promotions World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Page first broke into the wrestling business in 1988, as a manager in the American Wrestling Association, where he worked for nine months before signing with WCW in 1991. There, he continued as a manager until late 1991, when he became a wrestler. Over a decade in WCW, Page became a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, two-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, four-time WCW World Tag Team Champion and one-time WCW World Television Champion. He is the fourth WCW Triple Crown Champion.
After WCW was sold in 2001, Page signed with the WWF, where he became a one-time WWF European Champion and one-time WWF World Tag Team Champion. Due to a series of injuries, he allowed his contract with the company to expire in 2002. He worked for TNA from 2004 to 2005. Page is now an actor in small-budget films, as well as a fitness guru and motivational speaker.
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Dino Bravo
Adolfo Bresciano (August 6, 1948 – March 10, 1993) was an Italian-born Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his work as Dino Bravo, self-proclaimed as "Canada's Strongest Man".
Bresciano began wrestling in 1970, taking the "Dino Bravo" moniker from a wrestler from the early 1960s who had teamed with Dominic DeNucci as the Bravo brothers, Dino and Dominic. He was trained by Gino Brito and often worked in a tag team with his mentor, billed as Brito's cousin. Bravo worked in a number of other tag teams, partnering with, among others, "Mr. Wrestling" Tim Woods and DeNucci.
Bravo held the Jim Crockett Promotions version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Woods, winning the title from Gene and Ole Anderson and eventually losing the title to the Andersons. Bravo also had a major program with Blackjack Mulligan, pinning Mulligan twice in a televised non-title match to set up a series of matches for Mulligan's United States title. Bravo did not win the U.S. title from Mulligan, but did receive several shots at NWA World Champion Harley Race during his tenure with Crockett.
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Dolph Ziggler
Nicholas Theodore "Nick" Nemeth (born July 27, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, who is contracted to WWE. He wrestles on the Raw brand under the name Dolph Ziggler. He is also known for his performances with WWE as Spirit Squad member Nicky in 2006.
Nemeth signed a development contract with WWE in 2004, and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He was brought up to the Raw brand in 2005 as Kerwin White's sidekick. He was, however, sent back to OVW shortly afterwards, where he joined the Spirit Squad. They debuted on Raw in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship once before returning to OVW that November.
In September 2007, Nemeth was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he formed a tag team with Brad Allen. The pair won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship once, and Nemeth later won the championship for the second time with Gavin Spears as his partner. He returned to Raw as Ziggler in September 2008, and was drafted to the SmackDown brand in April 2009. At the SmackDown tapings on July 28, Ziggler won the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time. He held the championship for five months, until January 2011. He was awarded, and lost, his first World Heavyweight Championship on February 15, 2011. That March he returned to the Raw roster, and won the WWE United States Championship for the first time three months later.
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Dominic DeNucci
Dominic DeNucci is an Italian-American professional wrestler. He is also an accomplished trainer, counting former World Heavyweight champions Mick Foley and Shane Douglas, as well as referee Brian Hildebrand, among his students.
Teamed with the original Dino Bravo as Dominic Bravo forming a kayfabe brother tag team with him.
On June 18, 1971, DeNucci won his first WWWF title, the WWWF International Tag Team Championship, with Bruno Sammartino by defeating The Mongols. They lost the title back to The Mongols three days later.
On May 13, 1975, DeNucci and Victor Rivera won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship from Jimmy and Johnny Valiant. In June, however, Rivera left the WWF, and Pat Barrett became DeNucci's replacement partner. They lost the title approximately three months later to The Blackjacks on August 26.
DeNucci became a second time WWWF World Tag Team Champion when he and his partner Dino Bravo defeated Professor Tanaka and Mr. Fuji on March 14, 1978. They held the title until June 26 when they dropped it to The Yukon Lumberjacks.
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Don Muraco
Donald Muraco (born September 10, 1949), better known by his ring names "The Magnificent Muraco" and "The Rock" Don Muraco, is a retired American professional wrestler. Wrestling from the 1970s to the 1990s, Muraco is a former two time WWF Intercontinental Champion, a former two time ECW Heavyweight Champion, one Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship, and was the 1985 King of the Ring, the first-ever in WWF/WWE history.
A former state champion in amateur wrestling in Hawaii in 1967, Muraco chose professional wrestling over football and spent the first year of his career learning the ropes in Vancouver, Portland, Florida and Los Angeles before he got his first break, accepting an offer from Verne Gagne to work in the American Wrestling Association (AWA). A fan favorite at this early stage of his career, Muraco formed a tag team with Jimmy Snuka and squared off many times with the likes of Larry Hennig, Ivan Koloff and Dusty Rhodes. In 1973 Muraco left the AWA for the San Francisco territory, having become tired of life in Minneapolis.
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Dos Caras, Jr.
Alberto Rodríguez (born May 25, 1977) is a Mexican professional wrestler signed to WWE, performing under the ring name Alberto Del Rio and appearing on the SmackDown brand. He is a former two-time WWE Champion, while also being the 2011 Royal Rumble winner, outlasting 39 other participants to win the largest Royal Rumble match ever, and 2011 Mr. Money in the Bank (Raw). Before working for WWE, Rodriguez used the name Dos Caras, Jr. as both a mixed martial artist and luchador in mostly Mexico and Japan. He worked in both of Mexico's main wrestling promotions and achieved success in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where he is a former CMLL World Heavyweight Champion.
Son of noted luchador Dos Caras, nephew of Mil Máscaras and Sicodelico, and cousin to Sicodelico, Jr. and Hijo de Sicodelico, Rodríguez is part of one of the most well known Mexican wrestling families. The name Dos Caras translates to Two Faces, referring to the symbol of a double headed eagle on his mask.
Born in San Luis Potosí as the son of luchador Dos Caras. Rodríguez graduated from Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí where he earned a degree in architecture. Growing up in a family of wrestlers Rodríguez decided to take up Greco-Roman wrestling, training under Leonel Kolesni and Juan Fernández. He earned a place on the Mexican national team in Greco-Roman wrestling and while competing on the national team obtained several accomplishments.[unreliable source?] In 1997, he placed third at the World Junior Championships, in the Czech Republic.[unreliable source?] He also won the Central American and Caribbean Games in his weight division three times and won a medal at the Pan American Games. Rodríguez was on track to compete at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but due to a lack of funding and support, Mexico did not send a wrestling team that year.
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Doug Somers
Doug Somers (real name Douglas Duane Somerson) is an American retired professional wrestler known by his ring name "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers. He worked in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the mid 1980s as part of a tag team with "Playboy" Buddy Rose, managed by Sherri Martell.
Douglas Duane Somerson born September 22, 1951 in the heart of South Minneapolis, Minnesota is the youngest of seven children by Carl and Dorthy Somerson.
In Minneapolis in 1986 as part of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) Somers teamed up with "Playboy" Buddy Rose and manager Sherri Martel. The duo captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Curt Hennig and Scott Hall via countout on May 17, 1986. They went on to feud with The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) over the belts for the remainder of 1986, culminating with Michaels and Jannetty winning the title on January 17, 1987.
Somers would continue to wrestle for the AWA as both a singles wrestler and tag team wrestler (with both Buddy Wolfe and Kevin Kelly) throughout 1987. He would also be a last minute replacement for Boris Zukhov (who jumped to the World Wrestling Federation) as Soldat Ustinov's tag team partner in a title defense against Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee.
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Drew Carey
Drew Allison Carey (born May 23, 1958) is an American actor, comedian, sports executive, and game show host. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and making a name for himself in stand-up comedy, Carey eventually gained popularity starring on his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show, and serving as host of the U.S. version of the improv comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, both of which aired on ABC.
Carey has appeared in several films, television series, music videos, a made-for-television film, and a computer game. As of 2012, he hosts the television game show The Price Is Right. He is interested in a variety of sports, has worked as a photographer at U.S. National Team soccer games, is a minority owner of the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC and a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Carey has written an autobiography, Dirty Jokes And Beer: Stories Of The Unrefined, detailing his early life and television career.
Carey was the youngest of Lewis and Beulah Carey's three sons and raised in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. When he was eight years old, his father died from a brain tumor. According to his autobiography, he was born with six toes on his right foot and he played the cornet and trumpet in the marching band of James Ford Rhodes High School, from which he graduated in 1975. Drew is of Scottish heritage from both parents.[citation needed]
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Drew Hankinson
Andrew "Drew" Hankinson (born December 22, 1983) is an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he appeared under the ring names Festus and Luke Gallows. Drew Hankinson currently wrestles on the Independent Circuit as Keith Hanson.
Hankinson was also known for his appearances as an impostor of the wrestler Kane, before his role as Festus, the tag team partner of Jesse, while they were part of the tag team Jesse and Festus on the SmackDown brand, from June 2007 until the WWE's annual draft saw the team separated during the spring of 2009. After a few months, he reappeared as the enforcer and "disciple" of CM Punk, sporting a cleaner, militant look, with the Festus character's "real identity" revealed as Luke Gallows.
Hankinson began his career in West Virginia with Mason Dixon Wrestling and in Pennsylvania with the World Star Wrestling Federation (AWA/World Star Wrestling), Summit Wrestling Association of Southern Pennsylvania, and Maryland-based promotions National Wrestling League and the Eastern Wrestling Alliance, wrestling as Dorian Deville, and for West Virginia's Championship Pro Wrestling as the masked wrestler, Dargon. In April 2005, despite failing to make it as one of the final ten contestants on the $1,000,000 Tough Enough, he was signed to a contract by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to the Deep South Wrestling (DSW) developmental territory where he formed a partnership with Palmer Cannon. Hankinson wrestled in DSW as Deacon Deville before changing his ring name to The Freakin' Deacon.
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Drew McIntyre
Andrew "Drew" Galloway (born June 6, 1985) is a Scottish professional wrestler signed with WWE, where he wrestles on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Drew McIntyre.
He began training from the age of 15 in England, before moving back to Scotland to begin his career. Before long he became a regular in British Championship Wrestling (BCW) using the gimmick "Thee" Drew Galloway, winning their Heavyweight Championship twice along with the Heavyweight Championship of Insane Championship Wrestling. He also found success abroad in Irish Whip Wrestling, winning their top title. During this time he completed an undergraduate degree in criminology.
After touring the independent circuit around the British Isles, Galloway moved to the United States in 2007 to sign with WWE. Along with a brief stint on the SmackDown brand, he spent time in developmental territories Ohio Valley Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, winning the Heavyweight and Tag Team Championships later, before returning to SmackDown and quickly winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship. In 2010, he held the WWE Tag Team Championship with Cody Rhodes.
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Dustin Rhodes
Dustin Patrick Runnels (born April 11, 1969) is an American professional wrestler. Runnels is best known for performing as Goldust in WWE and is also known for performing in various companies such as World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Dustin Rhodes. Among the other names Runnels has performed under are Black Reign and Seven.
Runnels is the son of "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes and the half brother of Cody Rhodes.
Between WWF/E and WCW, Rhodes won 17 total championships. In World Championship Wrestling, he was a two-time United States Champion, a one-time Six-Man Tag Team Champion, a two-time World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion. In World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment, he is a three-time Intercontinental Champion, a seven-time Hardcore Champion, and a one-time World Tag Team Champion.
Rhodes debuted as a fan favorite in the World Wrestling Federation in late 1990, wrestling as Dustin Rhodes. In December 1990, Rhodes defeated Ted DiBiase in a televised ten-minute challenge match. On January 19, 1991 at the Royal Rumble, Rhodes and his father Dusty lost to Ted DiBiase and Virgil in a tag team bout, and left immediately after.
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Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and professional wrestler who is signed to WWE, appearing on the Raw brand. He is often credited as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Johnson was a college football player. In 1991, he was part of the University of Miami's national championship team. He later played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League, and was cut two months into the 1995 season. This led to his decision to become a professional wrestler like his grandfather, Peter Maivia, and his father, Rocky Johnson. He gained mainstream fame as a wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1996 to 2004, and was the first third-generation superstar in the company's history. Johnson was quickly given a push as a heroic character in the WWF, originally billed as "Rocky Maivia", and then as "The Rock". He would subsequently turn into a villain as a member of the Nation of Domination in 1997. Two years after he joined the WWF, Johnson won the WWF Championship, and became one of the most popular wrestlers within the company's history for his engaging interviews and promos. Johnson is regarded by many as one of the greatest talkers in professional wrestling history, Rock was voted third by the fans for his microphone ability behind Roddy Piper and Stone Cold Steve Austin who were second and first respectively.
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Dylan Postl
Dylan Postl (born May 29, 1986) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Hornswoggle. He is employed by WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand. In WWE, he was the last Cruiserweight Champion before the belt was retired.
Prior to joining World Wrestling Entertainment, Dylan appeared with NWA Wisconsin in 2005 as "The World's Sexiest Midget" $hortstack, where he won the NWA Wisconsin X Division Championship.
He also would go on to capture the SSW Tag Team Championship with Devin Diamond from "The Pretty Hott Thangs" Ryan Kross and Josh Maxim on May 19, 2006 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, but relinquished the belt due to having signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.
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Ed Farhat
Edward George Farhat (June 9, 1924 - January 18, 2003) was an American professional wrestler best known as by his ring name The Sheik (or The Original Sheik to distinguish him from The Iron Sheik, a wrestler from the 1980s). He is also one of the originators of what became the hardcore wrestling style, and the uncle of ECW legend Sabu.
He started out wrestling in the Midwest and later in Texas but his biggest match was one he didn't wrestle in. He was set to face NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz in Chicago for his title but Thesz had a reputation for embarrassing "gimmick" wrestlers so The Sheik bailed from the ring and hid under a bus. The publicity from the event helped push the Sheik character to a more prominent level. He went to New York for Vincent J. McMahon where he teamed with Johnny Valentine and Bull Curry in feuds against Mark Lewin and Don Curtis as well as the team of Antonino Rocca and Miguel Pérez in Madison Square Garden. He returned when McMahon formed the World Wide Wrestling Federation to feud with Bruno Sammartino in the WWF's major markets in the late 1960s.
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Eddie Graham
Edward F. Gossett (January 15, 1930 – January 21, 1985), better known as Eddie Graham, was an American professional wrestler. He was also the promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida and President of the NWA in the 1970s. His son, Mike Graham, was also a professional wrestler. Eddie Graham was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Gossett started wrestling in 1947 in Texas at the age of 17 after being trained by Cowboy Luttrell. He was sometimes billed as the brother of "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers under the name of Roy Rogers. He lost a loser-leaves-town match to Pepper Gomez in May 1958.
In June 1958, he changed his ring name to Eddie Graham and was billed as the brother of Dr. Jerry Graham and "Crazy" Luke Graham. Jerry and Eddie were a very successful heel tag team on the east coast of the United States. They had popular feuds with teams such as the Fabulous Kangaroos, the Bastien Brothers, Mark Lewin and Don Curtis, and Antonino Rocca and Miguel Pérez. They held the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) together in Capitol Wrestling (the forerunner of World Wrestling Entertainment) four times, winning the belts three times in victories over Miguel Perez and Don Curtis, and once against Red and Lou Bastien.
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Eddie Guerrero
Eduardo Gory "Eddie" Guerrero Llanes (October 9, 1967 – November 13, 2005) was a Mexican-American professional wrestler born into the Guerrero wrestling family. He wrestled in Mexico and Japan for several major professional wrestling promotions. In the United States, Guerrero wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Guerrero's gimmick was that of "Latino Heat", a crafty, resourceful wrestler who would do anything to win a match. His catchphrase became "I Lie! I Cheat! I Steal!," which was used in one of his entrance themes. Guerrero partly used this phrase in his autobiography Cheating Death, Stealing Life.
Despite being a villain for most of his career, he got over in and outside the ring being the youngest, yet most popular and successful of the Guerrero brothers. Guerrero was widely regarded as one of the most respected and gifted technical wrestlers in history. Throughout his career, Guerrero encountered various substance abuse problems outside of wrestling, including alcoholism and an addiction to painkillers. His real-life problems were sometimes integrated into his storylines. Notwithstanding these issues, Guerrero won 23 titles during his career, including the WWE Grand Slam Championship.
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Edge (wrestler)
Adam Copeland (born October 30, 1973) is a Canadian retiredprofessional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is best known for his time with WWE.
Copeland was trained by former professional wrestlers Sweet Daddy Siki and Ron Hutchinson. Throughout the 1990s, he wrestled in North American independent promotions early in his career. During his time in these promotions, he competed in singles and tag team competition, the latter with Christian, his storyline brother. In 1997, Copeland signed a developmental deal with the WWF and began competing for the company later that year; he made his televised debut the following June under the ring name Edge. In June 1999, he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship, making it his first title reign with the company. He and Christian went on to win the WWF Tag Team Championship on seven different occasions. During this time, they gained notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches.
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Edward Leslie
Edward Harrison "Ed" Leslie (born April 21, 1957) is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Brutus The Barber Beefcake. He later worked for World Championship Wrestling under a variety of names, mainly as "The Disciple" of real-life best friend Hulk Hogan. He is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion.
Edward Leslie began his career at the side of Hulk Hogan in the 1976-1977 time frame. At the time, the two were billed as brothers; Ed was known as either Ed Boulder or Dizzy Hogan, to match Terry's Terry Boulder and Hulk Hogan.
Leslie wrestled briefly in Bill Watts's Mid-South territory and also wrestled sporadically between 1980 and 1982 in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) before he became known as Brutus Beefcake. According to a shoot interview conducted in 2000, his first match was with Ron Slinker against Ox Baker and Eric the Red.
Leslie entered the WWF as a heel under the ring name Brutus Beefcake in late 1984 with manager "Luscious" Johnny Valiant. Beefcake debuted as a vain individual who dressed in outlandish outfits. As a singles competitor, he feuded with David Sammartino and Hulk Hogan, the latter who sought revenge on Beefcake after he and Valiant injured Hogan's protege Hillbilly Jim. Brutus got some "cheap heat" when he would come uninvited to ringside during Tony Atlas's matches.
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Eli Cottonwood
Kipp Christianson (born September 30, 1974) is an American professional wrestler and former basketball player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he works in their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and was part of the second season of NXT under his ring name Eli Cottonwood. The Soup awarded him for the "Best Description of a Mustache By Somebody Who Really, Really Wants To Be a WWE Superstar" award in 2011 which he accepted in-person.
Christianson attended River Falls High School and later St. John's University in Minnesota. While attending St. John's, he averaged 20 points and eight rebounds, and in his junior season there, he led the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in field goal percentage. During his basketball career, Christianson played in several countries, including Lithuania and China. He played in the International Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association, for both Quad City Thunder, Yakama Sun Kings, and Sioux Falls Skyforce. He attended a camp for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998, and played for the Dallas Mavericks team in the NBA Summer League. On March 16, 2004, he signed a contract with the Charleston Lowgators.
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Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, Presley moved to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at the age of 13. He began his career there in 1954, working with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was the most important popularizer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for over two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", released in January 1956, was a number one hit. He became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll with a series of network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs, many from African American sources, and his uninhibited performance style made him enormously popular—and controversial. In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender.
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Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff (born May 27, 1955) is an American entrepreneur, professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He is best known for serving as Executive Producer and later President of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and later, the General Manager of World Wrestling Entertainment's Raw brand.
With an amateur background in Tae Kwon Do, Bischoff also sporadically performed as an in-ring competitor, and is a former WCW Hardcore Champion. He wrote an autobiography, titled Controversy Creates Cash, that was released in 2006 under WWE Books.
Bischoff started in wrestling working for the American Wrestling Association under owner Verne Gagne and would eventually become an on-air interviewer and host until the AWA folded in 1991. Bischoff at first worked in the sales department on the AWA's syndicated programming, and became an on-air personality virtually by accident and at the last minute. Larry Nelson, whom at the time was employed by the AWA as an announcer, was arrested under suspicion of a DUI. Because of Nelson's sudden unavailability, Verne Gagne and his son, Greg, opted to recruit Bischoff (who initially had no desire to be in front of the camera) to fill-in on the interviews. Bischoff believed that the Gagnes thought that he would be a good replacement due to his immediate availability in the television studio, and the fact that he was already wearing a suit and tie.
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Ernie Ladd
Ernest "Ernie" Ladd (November 28, 1938 – March 10, 2007), nicknamed "The Big Cat" was an American collegiate and professional football player and a professional wrestler.
The American Football League's San Diego Chargers selected the Grambling State University standout with their 15th pick in the 1961 draft. At 6'9" and 315 pounds, Ladd was arguably the biggest and strongest man in professional football during his era: 52-inch chest, 39-inch waist, 20-inch biceps, 19-inch neck, 20-inch calf, and size 18D shoes. (According to different sources, the tallest player in NFL history was Morris Stroud (1970 Chiefs) at 6'10", or Richard Sligh (1967 Raiders) at 7'0". The heaviest player in history was Aaron Gibson, at 410 pounds.) Ladd played in three AFL championship games, helping the Chargers win the American Football League title in 1963 with teammate Earl Faison, both members of the original Fearsome Foursome.
Ladd spent the 1966 season playing for the Houston Oilers before moving in 1967 to the Kansas City Chiefs. There, with former Grambling teammate Buck Buchanan, he filled out what was probably the biggest defensive tackle tandem in history. Both Ladd and Buchanan are members of the Grambling State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
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Ernie Roth
Ernie Roth (June 7, 1929 – October 12, 1983), best known as The Grand Wizard of Wrestling, also well known as Abdullah Farouk, was a professional wrestling manager of many infamous heels. Not a wrestler himself due to his small stature, he was noted for his flamboyant outfit of sequined jackets, wraparound sunglasses, and a brightly-colored turban decorated with jewels and feathers.
Ernie Roth got his start in the entertainment business as a disc jockey, and became involved in professional wrestling as a manager in the 1960s in Detroit-based territories. Roth first worked under the names "Mr. Clean" and "J. Wellington Radcliffe", but more famously, he also portrayed "Abdullah Farouk", a man from the Middle East who was sent by The Sheik's wealthy "family" to handle their son's affairs in the US.
Roth on many occasions (when out of character and greasepaint mustache) co-hosted the sydnicated "Big Time Wrestling" with fellow announcer Bob Finnegan until 1969 when the hosting chores went to Lord Athol Layton. For some of the Ohio Markets, Les Edwards would do the ring announcing for non TV shows.
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Evan Bourne
Matthew Joseph Korklan (born March 19, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, also known as Matt Sydal and Evan Bourne. He is signed with WWE and wrestles on its Raw brand under the ring name Evan Bourne.
Before signing with WWE, Korklan wrestled on the independent circuit for promotions such as IWA-Mid South, Ring of Honor and the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate under the ring name Matt Sydal. Korklan also had a tenure in the short-lived Wrestling Society X promotion and was featured on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's early pay-per-view events. Korklan is known for his high flying, lucha libre-inspired style of wrestling.
Korklan was on his high school's wrestling team. While he was a senior in high school, Korklan began training with the St. Louis, Missouri-based Gateway Championship Wrestling (GCW) promotion. After three months of training, Korklan began wrestling for GCW on October 20, 2000, becoming the first person under the age of 18 to receive a wrestler's license in Missouri. Prior to this, Korklan had briefly performed under the ring name Lance Sydal in the Saint Peters Wrestling Organization.
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Eve Torres
Eve Marie Torres (born August 21, 1984) is an American dancer, model, and professional wrestler. She works for WWE on its Raw brand as Eve Torres, or simply Eve.
Torres began her career as a model and dancer. She danced for The Southern California Summer Pro League and went on to become a member of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers Spirit Dance Team for the 2006–2007 season. She has also appeared on several television shows, including Show Me the Money, Sunset Tan, and Deal or No Deal.
In 2007, she won the 2007 Diva Search, earning a contract with WWE. She first appeared on WWE programming as a backstage interviewer in 2008, and also appeared in non-wrestling contests such as bikini contests and dance competitions. She later became a full-time wrestler in 2009, and was involved in feuds with Michelle McCool, Layla and Natalya. She also managed the tag team of Cryme Tyme. After being traded to the Raw brand in late 2009, she managed Chris Masters before winning the WWE Divas Championship in April 2010. She held the championship for 69 days, before losing it in June. After acting as the valet for R-Truth in late 2010, she won the Divas Championship for the second time at the 2011 Royal Rumble in January. Her second reign lasted until April 2011. In April 2012, she was appointed as Executive Administrator of Raw and SmackDown by General Manager John Laurinaitis.
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Ezekiel Jackson
Rycklon Stephens (born April 22, 1978) is an American bodybuilder and professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, working on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Ezekiel Jackson. He is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion. He is also a former one-time world champion, having won the ECW Championship in February 2010, and is recognized by WWE as the final ECW Champion.
Stephens signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in March 2007 and debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in late June. In his debut match on June 27, he teamed with Keith Walker to defeat Kofi Kingston and Eric Pérez. He continued to compete in the promotion in both tag team and singles matches. On February 8, 2008 he competed in a match with tag partner Bryan Kelly in a losing effort against Steve Lewington and Heath Miller in a mini-tournament to face WWE Tag Team Champions John Morrison and The Miz. On May 6, 2008, Stephens wrestled his final match in FCW before being called up to WWE's main roster.
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Freddie Blassie
Frederick Kenneth Blassie (February 8, 1918 – June 2, 2003), better known as "Classy" Freddie Blassie, was an American professional wrestling villain and manager born in St. Louis, Missouri. Renowned as "The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling", He was also a one-time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion (later known as the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship), and a one-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion.
Blassie's parents, Jacob and Anna (née Sind), immigrated to the United States from Germany prior to the start of World War I, settling in St. Louis. Fred was an only child, which he claimed was because he weighed 15 pounds when he was born and his mother didn't want to go through childbirth again. His father was abusive and an alcoholic, and Fred often had to take refuge with his grandparents whenever Jacob would beat his mother. His parents continually separated, then reunited. At the age of 13, after his father hit his mother again, Fred threatened to attack his father with a baseball bat, but didn't do it and stayed with his aunt for six months until his mother asked him to return home. Throughout his life, Fred didn't touch alcohol after seeing what kind of person it turned his father into.
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George Steele
William James Myers (born April 16, 1937), better known by his ring name George "The Animal" Steele is a former American professional wrestler and actor. Steele's career lasted from 1967 until 1989, though he made occasional wrestling appearances into the 1990s and 2000s.
He also portrayed Swedish wrestler/actor Tor Johnson in Ed Wood, directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp.
Myers was raised in Madison Heights, Michigan. During high school, he found success in track running, baseball, basketball and football. In 1956, Myers entered Michigan State University as a football player for the Michigan State Spartans, but his career as a football player was immediately cut short as a result of knee problems.
After gaining a bachelor of science degree from Michigan State University and a master's degree from Central Michigan University, Myers became a teacher, amateur wrestling coach, and football coach at Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan. There he would eventually become a member of the Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame.
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George Wagner
George Raymond Wagner (March 24, 1915 – December 26, 1963) was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Gorgeous George. In the United States, during the First Golden Age of Professional Wrestling in the 1940s-1950s, Gorgeous George gained mainstream popularity and became one of the biggest stars of this period, gaining media attention for his outrageous character, which was described as flamboyant and charismatic. He was inducted into Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 and the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2010.
George Raymond Wagner was born March 24, 1915 in Butte, Nebraska. For a time, he and his parents lived on a farm near the village of Phoenix in Holt County and probably in Seward County before they moved to Waterloo, Iowa and later Sioux City. When George was age seven, his family moved to Houston, Texas, where he associated with kids from a tough neighborhood. As a child, he trained at the local YMCA and often staged matches against his friends. In 1929, Wagner dropped out of Milby High School at age 14, and worked odd jobs to help support his family. At this time, he competed at carnivals, where he could earn 35 cents for a win. By age 17, he was getting booked by the region’s top promoter, Morris Siegel, and in 1938, he won his first title by defeating Buck Lipscomb for Northwest Middleweight crown. Moreover, on May 19, 1939, he captured the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship.
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Gino Brito
Louis Gino Acocella (born May 18, 1941), better known by his ring name Gino Brito is a Canadian professional wrestler. He was a popular wrestler in Montreal, and was one of the promoters in the city in the 1980s. As Louis Cerdan, he was a WWWF Tag Team Champion, teaming with fellow Canadian-Italian wrestler Tony Parisi.
Brito was the son of wrestler Jack Britton, who was organized a central booking office for midget wrestlers in the 1950s. Brito had a job for the promotion shuttling the wrestlers from city to city. Before becoming a professional wrestler at the age of seventeen, Brito was an amateur wrestler. At age seventeen, he was trained by George Cannon. He began working with Detroit promoters Bert Ruby and Harry Light over a year later.
He first teamed with Tony Parisi in Tennessee, where the duo won the tag titles in Nick Gulas's promotion within two weeks. The two also won the WWWF Tag Team Championship in 1975 from Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza. They later lost the title to The Executioners. Brito continued to wrestle through the mid-80s.
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Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James "Gino" Marella (June 4, 1937 – October 6, 1999), better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play announcer, and booker. He is famous for his run as one of the great super-heavyweights, and later as the voice of the World Wrestling Federation as announcer and as backstage manager during the 1980s and 1990s, and added on-screen President to his duties in the latter decade. In professional wrestling, the staging area just behind the entrance curtain at an event, a position which Marella established and where he could often be found during WWF shows late in his career, is named the Gorilla Position in his honor.
Marella attended Jefferson High School in Rochester, New York, becoming a standout athlete in football, amateur wrestling, and track and field. At the time, he weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg), and was affectionately called "Tiny" by his teammates.
Marella was also a standout athlete after high school at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. He continued to wrestle, now weighing over 350 pounds, and took second in the 1959 NCAA Wrestling Championships. He also held several school athletic records, including an 18-second wrestling pin, and several track-and-field distinctions. He was inducted into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973. During the summers he was at Ithaca College, he was a construction worker in Rochester. One of the buildings he helped construct was the Rochester War Memorial. He was inducted into the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 along with longtime childhood friend Frank Marotta who gave a speech on his behalf.
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Grady Johnson
James Grady Johnson (February 5, 1940 – June 23, 2006) better known as professional wrestler Crazy Luke Graham, was a member of the Graham family, a storyline family of wrestlers.
He began his career as the storyline brother of Dr. Jerry Graham after fellow wrestler Freddie Cain (The Great Mephisto)suggested they resembled each other. They began wrestling together in 1963 in Stampede Wrestling. Later that summer, Johnson wrestled a series of matches against Chief Big Heart.
He wrestled in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) with Jerry Graham beginning in 1964. They won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship from Don McClarity and Argentina Apollo, holding it for eight months, before losing the belts to another heel tagteam, Gene Kiniski & Waldo Von Erich. It was during this time that he became known as "Crazy" Luke Graham.
Graham enjoyed most of his success for the Los Angeles territory in the mid to late 1960s. He held the WWA World Title for that office in 1965. He dropped the belt to Pedro Morales. In the late 60s, he was a mid card performer for Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) out of Minneapolis.
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Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. (born September 20, 1951) is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.
Born in Seattle, Washington, Valentine traveled around Texas in his teens with his father. During a summer vacation, he decided to drop out of college and become a wrestler. His father initially tried to deter him, but eventually ceded to his wishes and sent him to Canada in 1970 to train under Stu Hart in Calgary. Wisniski remained in Canada for a year, wrestling his debut match in July 1970 against Angelo "King Kong" Mosca (he lost in around five minutes). Six months later, Wisniski relocated to Detroit to complete his training under The Sheik.
Initially reluctant to take his father's ring name, Wisniski wrestled as Baby Face Nelson before becoming Johnny Fargo, one half of The Fargo Brothers with Don Fargo between 1971 and 1974. The Fargo Brothers initially competed in the Buffalo and Cleveland based National Wrestling Federation before moving on to Texas. They split in 1974 and Wisniski went to Florida, where he began performing as Johnny Valentine, Jr., hopeful that he could live up to his father's legacy. He later changed his ring name to Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, and was billed as Johnny Valentine's brother, not his son, because of fears that the elder Valentine would be thought of as too old to be a legitimate threat. Valentine remained in Florida for a year while also working in Los Angeles and in Japan under Antonio Inoki in 1975 and early 1976.
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Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms (born July 12, 1974) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms.
Helms first began wrestling in 1991 at the age of 16, and wrestled in numerous independent promotions, including the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts, winning numerous light heavyweight and tag team championships. In 1999, he signed with WCW, and gained fame as "Sugar" Shane Helms, a member of 3 Count. During his time there he won both the WCW Hardcore Championship and the WCW Cruiserweight title. When WCW was bought by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) (now WWE), Helms' contract was kept by WWF. Helms renamed himself "The Hurricane" and won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. He later picked up a sidekick, Rosey, and they won the World Tag Team Championship together.
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Harley Race
Harley Leland Race (born April 11, 1943) is a retired American professional wrestler and is a current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 8 times. He worked for all of the major wrestling promotions, including the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was the first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion. Race is one of six men inducted into each of the WWE Hall of Fame, the WCW Hall of Fame, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Race was an early fan of professional wrestling, watching programming from the nearby Chicago territory on the DuMont Network. After overcoming polio as a child, he began training as a professional wrestler as a teen under former world champions Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko, who operated a farm in his native Missouri. While in high school, an altercation with another classmate led to the principal kneeing Race in the back of the head as he tried to break up the fight. Enraged, Race attacked him, resulting in his expulsion. Already 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and 225 lb (102 kg), Race decided to get his start in professional wrestling.
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Heath Slater
THE CHICK FROM WENDY'S (born July 15, 1983) is an American professional wrestler working for WWE. He performs on the SmackDown brand under the name Heath Slater. He was a contestant in the first season of WWE NXT, where he finished fourth. He is a former FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion and three-time WWE Tag Team Champion, with Justin Gabriel.
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Hillbilly Jim
Jim Morris (born July 5, 1952), best known to fans as Hillbilly Jim, is an American professional wrestler and disc jockey. He was one of the World Wrestling Federation's most popular wrestlers of the mid-to-late 1980s.
Before appearing in the WWF (now WWE) as Hillbilly Jim, Morris wrestled with the Continental Wrestling Association in the Memphis area under the name Harley Davidson, a biker gimmick. While there, Morris formed a popular tag team with Roger Smith, who went by the ring name "Dirty Rhodes" because of his resemblance to Dusty Rhodes.
In late-1984, Morris first appeared in the WWF as a wrestling fan who routinely sat in the front row of live events and who eventually decided to try his hand at wrestling himself. A series of vignettes were aired on WWF's TV programming in the early weeks of 1985, showing Hulk Hogan training Jim and providing him with his first set of wrestling boots. This introduced the character of Hillbilly Jim; a simple-minded, shaggy-bearded Appalachian hillbilly clad in bib overalls, and hailing from Mudlick, Kentucky. Hillbilly Jim appeared in a few tag team matches with friend Hulk Hogan, and had his first high-profile singles match at The War to Settle the Score event on February 18, 1985 in which he defeated Rene Goulet. Unfortunately, Morris was sidelined by an injury a few days later. At a show in San Diego, he appeared in Hogan's corner in a match between Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. While chasing Beefcake's manager Johnny V around ringside, Morris slipped on a wet spot and (legitimately) broke his leg. To help fill in the seven months during his recovery, similarly-dressed "family" members Uncle Elmer, Cousin Luke, and Cousin Junior were introduced for Morris to accompany to ringside as a manager.
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Hornswoggle
Dylan Postl (born May 29, 1986) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Hornswoggle. He is employed by WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand. In WWE, he was the last Cruiserweight Champion before the belt was retired.
Prior to joining World Wrestling Entertainment, Dylan appeared with NWA Wisconsin in 2005 as "The World's Sexiest Midget" $hortstack, where he won the NWA Wisconsin X Division Championship.
He also would go on to capture the SSW Tag Team Championship with Devin Diamond from "The Pretty Hott Thangs" Ryan Kross and Josh Maxim on May 19, 2006 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, but relinquished the belt due to having signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.
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Howard Finkel
Howard Finkel (born June 7, 1950) is a professional wrestling ring announcer working with WWE in a variety of roles. Hired in 1975 by Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation, "The Fink" was the first person brought in to Vincent K. McMahon's nascent World Wrestling Federation and is widely credited as WWE's first and longest lasting employee.
Finkel, a native of Newark, New Jersey, began announcing wrestling shows at Madison Square Garden in 1977. By 1979, he was hired as the first employee of WWE (formerly WWF), and he was made lead ring announcer for the WWF's biggest events. Across three decades, Finkel's distinctive voice was one of the trademarks of WWF programming, and was sometimes used in the packaged intros for the company's weekly programming. Finkel's signature call was his announcement of a new champion following a change in titles, in which he would place increased emphasis while stretching out the word "New" in order to draw the greatest reaction from the crowd. Finkel also suggested the well-known pay-per-view name "WrestleMania," (he got it from The Beatles' theme in the 1960s BeatleMania) which owner Vince McMahon immediately accepted. Finkel also came up with Ricky Steamboat's "Dragon" nickname.
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Hulk Hogan
Terry Gene Bollea (born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Hogan enjoyed mainstream popularity in the mid 1980s through the early 1990s as the all-American character Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF—now WWE), and was notable in the mid-to-late 1990s as Hollywood Hogan, the villainous nWo leader, in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Following the closure of WCW, he made a brief return to WWE in the early 2000s before revising his heroic character by combining elements of his two most famous personas.
Hogan was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He is a 12-time world champion being a six-time WWF/WWE Champion, six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a former WWE World Tag Team Champion with Edge. He won the Royal Rumble in 1990 and 1991, making him the first to win two consecutive Royal Rumbles. He was also the first WWE wrestler to win the WWE Championship three times. In his first reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Hogan held the title for 469 days from July 17, 1994 to October 29, 1995—the longest ever reign for this championship.
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Husky Harris
Windham Lawrence Rotunda (born May 23, 1987) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE and works in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental territory, as Bray Wyatt. Alongside his younger brother Bo Rotundo, he has held the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on two occasions.
Rotunda debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in April 2009 with a victory, using the name "Alex Rotundo". He later changed his name to "Duke Rotundo". In early 2009, he formed a semi-regular tag team with Vic Adams.
In June 2009, Rotundo began teaming with his brother, Bo. At the FCW television tapings on July 23, The Rotundo Brothers defeated The Dude Busters (Caylen Croft and Trent Barretta) to become the number one contenders to the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship. That same night, they defeated Justin Angel and Kris Logan for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship. They went on to successfully defend the championship against Dylan Klein and Vance Archer and the team of Curt Hawkins and Heath Slater. At the FCW television tapings on November 19, the Rotundos lost the championship to The Dude Busters (Hawkins and Croft). In early 2010, the Rotundos began feuding with The Usos (Jimmy and Jules), and their manager, Sarona Snuka. They lost to The Usos on January 14, but defeated The Usos and Donny Marlow in a six-man tag team match, with Wes Brisco as their partner. In a straight rematch on March 11, the Rotundos defeated The Usos. In April, they moved into a feud with Jackson Andrews and Curt Hawkins, which began when Bo faced Andrews in a singles match and won by disqualification when Hawkins interfered. At the television tapings the following week, the Rotundos teamed up with Eli Cottonwood in a loss to Hawkins, Andrews, and Leo Kruger.
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Iron Sheik
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (Persian:حسین خسرو علی وزیری) (born March 15, 1943) is a semi-retired Iranian professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name The Iron Sheik. He is known for ending the near six-year World Wrestling Federation Championship reign of Bob Backlund, and for being the man Hulk Hogan defeated for his first WWF Championship.
A heel throughout the 1980s, he later gained popularity on Opie and Anthony, Kidd Chris, The Howard Stern Show, and on the internet due to his shoot interviews and outbursts on the wrestling industry and the hatred he expressed for various wrestlers.
Khosrow was born in Tehran, Iran. He made a name for himself as an amateur wrestler, and also worked as a bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family for several years.
Khosrow competed to become part of the Iranian Olympic Greco Roman team for the 1968 Summer Olympics held in Mexico.
After this, he moved to the United States and became the assistant coach of two US Olympic squads in the 1970s. In 1971, he was the Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman wrestling champion at 183.5 pounds. He was assistant coach to the USA team for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
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Ivan Koloff
"The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff (born Oreal Perras on August 25, 1942, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is a former Canadian professional wrestler who once held the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
Perras was raised on a dairy farm in rural Ontario along with his six brothers and three sisters.
Since first watching professional wrestling on TV at the age of eight, he wanted to become a wrestler, and would often wrestle with his brothers growing up. At age 18, he left high school and joined Jack Wentworth's wrestling school in Hamilton, Ontario, where he would lift weights and learn wrestling holds. Ivan stood 5' 7 1/2" tall, and weighed approximately 270 pounds. Towards the end of his career he dropped a considerable amount of weight and was tipping the scale at 205 pounds.
Perras debuted as an Irish rogue heel character named Red McNulty, billed from Dublin, Ireland and wrestling with an eyepatch. For the next three years, he wrestled around the Toronto area, eventually quitting his regular job to wrestle in the north-western area of Canada. There, Perras acquired much wrestling experience, and from there he made his first trip to Japan.
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Ivan Putski
Józef Bednarski (born January 21, 1941), is a Polish former professional wrestler and bodybuilder. He is known by the ring name Ivan Putski and was given the nicknames "The Polish Hammer" and "Polish Power".
Putski is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion with Tito Santana. Ivan was known to have an ongoing feud with another professional at the time, "Superstar" Billy Graham over the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, who also had an incredible physique and strength, which led to many pose-downs, arm wrestling bouts, and long, physical matches between the two. Other rivals included Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who when commentating for the WWF would refer to Putski as "Puduski" in much the same way he would later refer to Tito Santana as "Chico".
Putski was born in Poland and migrated to the United States at a young age. He and his family arrived in Texas, where Putski began his professional wrestling career. Ivan stood 5'6" and weighed around 225 pounds. In his earlier days he was weighed in at the 250 pound mark.
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Jack Brisco
Freddie Joe "Jack" Brisco (September 21, 1941 – February 1, 2010) was an American professional wrestler. He performed for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), becoming a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerald Brisco. Brisco was considered one of the top wrestlers of his era; in 2005, Don Leo Jonathan called him "probably the greatest champion of the 20th century."
In the late 1970s, the Brisco brothers also discovered Terry Bollea, the future wrestling legend best known as Hulk Hogan, who they introduced to Hiro Matsuda for training.
Brisco grew up in Blackwell, Oklahoma with five siblings. He grew up as a fan of professional wrestling, and particularly a fan of NWA World Champion Lou Thesz He was followed by his younger brother, Gerald Brisco, into sport wrestling and turned down a football scholarship at University of Oklahoma to go to Oklahoma State. He was the first Native American to win an NCAA Wrestling National Championship in 1965. His winning the NCAA title was even more profound in that Brisco won it during his junior year, and didn't get taken down once during the entire season.
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Jack Doan
John Michael "Jack" Doan (born June 12, 1972) is a veteran professional wrestling referee currently signed with WWE.
Doan joined WWE in October 1991 as a truck driver. From there, he took robes from Superstars at ringside, played music at shows, worked as part of the ring crew, and continued to drive the company's trucks from town to town. After a while, he became a part time referee, immediately taking advantage of several opportunities to fill in whenever he could. Shortly after, Doan's referee status changed to full time.
One of the more notable incidents in Doan's career came when he participated in an angle on the January 22, 1996 episode of Raw, where Vader made his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) television debut following his debut at the Royal Rumble the prior night. Vader punched Doan twice in the face, picked him up and power-bombed him to the mat. When on-screen WWF president Gorilla Monsoon intervened, Monsoon picked Doan up off the mat and placed him in the corner. While Monsoon tended to the wounded official, Vader avalanched both of them, kayfabe knocking Doan into unconsciousness. He was out of action for several weeks, selling the injuries he received at the hands of Vader, but, eventually reappeared at WrestleMania XII, in, coincidentally enough, a Vader match.
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Jack Lanza
John "Jack" Lanza (born October 14, 1935) is a retired professional wrestler. He was one half of The Blackjacks with Blackjack Mulligan in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). He is currently a producer in WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.
Lanza started his career in 1962. In the American Wrestling Association (AWA), he teamed with Bobby Duncum and was managed by Bobby Heenan. During his time in the company, his gimmick was that of a Western cowboy. The duo won the AWA World Tag Team Championship on July 23, 1976.
In the 1970s, Lanza and Mulligan teamed up to form The Blackjacks. Lanza was a main-eventer when the duo began teaming together. They were managed by Bobby Heenan.
In 1975, they joined the WWWF. On August 26, 1975, The Blackjacks defeated Dominic DeNucci and Pat Barrett for the WWWF World Tag Team Championship. The match was a two-out-of-three falls match, and the Blackjacks won the match by winning the first and third falls. As part of his tenure in WWWF, Vince McMahon promised Lanza that he would receive one World singles title shot a month.
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Jacques Rougeau
Jacques Rougeau Jr. (born June 13, 1960) is a retired French-Canadian professional wrestler from Saint-Sulpice, Quebec, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s with the World Wrestling Federation under his own name, and as The Mountie. Rougeau has held fifteen championships during his career. Among other accolades, he is a former Intercontinental Champion and three-time World Tag Team Champion (with Carl Ouellet) in the WWF.
The Rougeau family as a whole has been very involved in professional wrestling; Jacques is the younger brother of Raymond Rougeau, the son of Jacques Rougeau, Sr., and the nephew of Jean "Johnny" Rougeau, all of whom have worked as professional wrestlers and promoters of wrestling matches. Jacques' sister Johanne also promoted wrestling matches in Montreal, and brother Armand wrestled for smaller federations.
Jacques Rougeau began his career in 1977, working in Stu Hart's Calgary, Alberta based Stampede Wrestling promotion. In the 1980s he began wrestling in the United States, achieving success in Alabama and Tennessee, and in 1985 he and Ray were signed by the World Wrestling Federation.
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James Dudley
James Dudley (May 12, 1910 – June 1, 2004) was an American baseball player, professional wrestling manager, and professional wrestling executive. He played Negro league baseball for nine years but is best known for his time with World Wide Wrestling Federation. Dudley was the first African-American to run a major United States arena (Turner's Arena in Washington, D.C.). He worked with four generations of wrestling's McMahon family and was particularly close with Vincent J. McMahon. At age 74, he was put back on the company's payroll to show appreciation for his work for the McMahons. He also managed several wrestlers in the WWWF and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994.
Dudley was considered an "excellent athlete" and ran the 100 yard dash in under ten seconds on multiple occasions. Although he showed up for the trials for the 1924 United States Olympic team, he was not allowed to participate because African Americans were not permitted on the team. After playing semi-professional baseball in Baltimore, Maryland, Dudley signed with the Baltimore Elite Giants at age 27. Nicknamed "Big Train", he played catcher but started out helping pitchers warm up in the bullpen. Playing alongside two other talented catchers, Roy Campanella and Eggie Clarke, Dudley's playing time was limited. He remained with the Elite Giants until leaving professional baseball in 1945. In total, he played about 60 games in the Negro leagues.
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James J. Dillon
James J. "J.J." Dillon (born James Morrison on June 26, 1942) is a retired American professional wrestler and manager.
He is best known for being the strategic leader of the original Four Horsemen that consisted of Nature Boy Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn and Ole Anderson. He is most remembered as a manager in pro wrestling. He guided many wrestlers to singles and tag titles in the NWA. From 1989 until 1997 Dillon served as a front office executive for the WWF before returning to a similar, albeit on-camera role with WCW.
In 2009, he made a one-night appearance at Deaf Wrestlefest 2009 to team with "Beef Stew" Lou Marconi and "Handsome" Frank Staletto in a six-man tag team match against "Franchise" Shane Douglas, Dominic Denucci and Cody Michaels.
On March 31, 2012 he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen.
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Jason Reso
William Jason Reso (born November 30, 1973) is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring names Christian and Christian Cage, who is signed to WWE and appearing on its SmackDown brand, where he is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Reso was trained by former professional wrestlers Ron Hutchinson, Dory Funk, Jr., and Tom Prichard, and made his wrestling debut in June 1995. Reso wrestled in Canadian independent promotions early in his career. During his time in these promotions, he competed in singles and tag team competition, the latter with Edge, his storyline brother. In 1998, Reso signed a developmental deal with the WWF and began competing for the company the following year. After signing with the WWF, Reso made his debut and captured his first title with the company, the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. He and Edge went on to win the WWF Tag Team Championship on seven different occasions. During this time, they gained notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches. In 2001 the team parted ways and Reso signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2005.
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Jeff Hardy
Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy (born August 31, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, painter, poet, singer-songwriter and musician who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He is also known for his stint with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWE).
Before gaining prominence in WWE, Hardy performed for the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts (OMEGA), a promotion he ran with his brother Matt. After being signed by WWE, the brothers worked as jobbers, before gaining notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches. With the addition of Lita, the team became known as Team Xtreme and continued to rise in popularity. As a tag team wrestler, Hardy is a six-time World Tag Team Champion and a one-time WCW Tag Team Champion. Noted for his seemingly fearless airborne moves, Hardy's offensive toolbox more resembles a stunt man's than a pro wrestler's.
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Jeff Jarrett
Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett (born April 14, 1967) is an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), an organization he co-founded along with his father, Jerry. He is currently heading TNA's off-shoot promotion Ring Ka King in India. He is well-known from his multiple runs in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1990s.
A third-generation wrestler, Jarrett has held seventy championships in various promotions throughout his career. Within TNA, he is currently recognized as an eleven-time world champion, having been a six-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time AAA World Heavyweight Champion. He has also accumulated five additional world title reigns, being a three-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion and two-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion. He achieved notable championship success in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), becoming a six-time Intercontinental Champion (a record from 1999–2004), and one of three men to hold both the Intercontinental and European Championships simultaneously. While he never captured the WWF Championship, Jarrett challenged for the title and is recognized by the promotion as a four-time world champion, given his four reigns with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, which is now a WWE (formerly WWF) trademark. He is the first wrestler to be a two-time King of the Mountain, and also won Mexican promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración's (AAA) Rey de Reyes tournament in 2004. Between the WWF, WCW, and TNA, Jarrett has held twenty-two total championships as well as other numerous regional titles.
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Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler (born November 29, 1949) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional wrestler. He also wrestles and occasionally commentates for the Memphis Wrestling promotion.
Lawler has held 168 championships throughout his career. Overall, Lawler has held more championships than any other current WWE performer, though he has never won any WWE championships since joining the company.
While working in Memphis, Tennessee as a disc jockey, Lawler's artistic ability attracted the attention of local wrestling promoter Aubrey Griffith. The two made an agreement in which Lawler would give Griffith free publicity in exchange for free wrestling training. Lawler debuted as a wrestler in 1970 and won his first championship in September 1971 by winning a battle royal. He soon won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship under the managerial service of Sam Bass with partner Jim White. In 1974, Lawler began feuding with Jackie Fargo, who had been his trainer and mentor. This led to a match for the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. On July 24, 1974, Lawler was booked to win the belt and the title of "King of Wrestling." While Lawler began his career as a heel, he became a face after splitting from Bass at the end of 1974. On November 12, 1979, while working in the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), Lawler defeated Billy Graham to become the CWA World Champion. In 1980, his career was put on hold due to a broken leg, but he returned to the ring after several months.
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Jesse Ventura
James George Janos (born July 15, 1951), better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American statesman, actor, author, and former professional wrestler who served as the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003.
Ventura served as a Navy UDT during the Vietnam War. He later embarked on an 11-year professional wrestling career from 1975 to 1986, taking up the stage name Jesse "The Body" Ventura. He had a long tenure in the World Wrestling Federation as a performer and color commentator, and was inducted into the company's Hall of Fame in 2004. After leaving wrestling, Ventura began a successful film career, appearing in films such as 1987's Predator.
Ventura first entered politics as Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota from 1991 to 1995. He ran as the Reform Party candidate in the Minnesota gubernatorial election of 1998, running a campaign centered on grassroots events and unusual ads that implored citizens not to "vote for politics as usual". The campaign was successful, and Ventura served from January 4, 1999, to January 6, 2003, without running for a second term.
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Jim Duggan
James Edward Duggan (born January 14, 1954), better known by his ring name "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s, when it was known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). His best known character is that of an American patriot, which sees him use a 2x4 length of wood as a weapon, the battle cry "Hooo!" and the U-S-A! cheer.
Duggan is a survivor of kidney cancer, an illness he was diagnosed with during his time with WCW. Duggan has claimed to have wrestled in all 50 States in America as well as in the countries/territories of Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guam, the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, England and Wales (In The United Kingdom.)
In the WWF, Duggan was the winner of the first-ever Royal Rumble match in 1988 and in WCW, he was a one time United States Heavyweight Champion and a one time (and the final) World Television Champion.
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Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart (born February 8, 1955) is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya. Among other accolades, he is a two-time WWF Tag Team Champion with Bret Hart as part of the original Hart Foundation.
Neidhart holds dual citizenship with Canada and the United States.
Neidhart had an athletic career prior to his entrance into the world of professional wrestling. He first gained acclaim during high school for his success in many strength-oriented track and field events. A talented shot putter, Neidhart held the California high school record in the event from 1973–1985 for Newport Harbor High School (a school which was later made famous for its central role in the hit television show The O.C.). After graduating high school, Neidhart pursued a career in the National Football League, where he may have played briefly for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in practices and preseason games. Although some biographies state that he played in the NFL for those teams, DatabaseFootball.com contains no evidence that Neidhart ever recorded actual playing time in an NFL regular season game. In a shoot interview, Neidhart said that he spent some time in jail and actually saw Charles Manson during this period, as well.
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Jim Ross
James William "Jim" Ross (born January 3, 1952) is a professional wrestling commentator, referee, restaurateur, occasional wrestler, and former company executive of WWE, where he currently works as a talent relations consultant and on WWE NXT as a Play-by-Play announcer. Ross was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest commentators in wrestling history. He is known affectionately by wrestling fans as Good Ol' JR. In recent years, he has developed his own brand of barbecue sauces and cookbooks.
While attending Westville High School, Ross was the first baseman on the Westville baseball team. Ross was a two-time all-conference football player for the Westville Yellowjackets in 1968–69. His maternal grandparents owned a general store in Westville, Oklahoma and his paternal grandfather Dee Ross owned an off-sale beer store and was a carpenter. Ross was also President of the Student Body, a 4 year letterman in basketball, and State Vice President of the Future Farmers of America where he was State Speech Champion in 1968. Ross was also named Honorable Mention on the 1969 High School All State Football team by the Tulsa World as a center.
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Jimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart (born January 1, 1944) is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Ted DiBiase, and The Honky Tonk Man. He is a one-time AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion.
Before becoming involved with professional wrestling, Hart was a member of rock band The Gentrys, best known for their 1965 top five Billboard Hot 100 hit, "Keep on Dancing".
Jimmy Hart was brought into wrestling by Jerry "The King" Lawler, with whom he had attended Memphis Treadwell High School. Having been asked to sing back-up with Lawler, Hart later became Lawler's manager.
After splitting from Lawler, Hart created a stable known as Hart's First Family of Wrestling to attack Lawler, which among others included King Kong Bundy, "Ravishing" Rick Rude, Lanny Poffo, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, Ox Baker, Kamala, Randy Savage, "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, The Iron Sheik and Kevin Sullivan.
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Jimmy Snuka
James William "Jimmy" Reiher (born May 18, 1943) is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka was the first ECW Heavyweight Champion and held the title on two occasions. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the early to mid-1980s and is credited with introducing the high-flyer style of wrestling to the WWF. His children Jimmy Reiher, Jr. and Sarona Reiher are also wrestlers.
Reiher was active in amateur bodybuilding in Hawaii in the 1960s. He also enjoyed some success as a professional bodybuilder, earning the titles of Mr. Hawaii, Mr. Waikiki and Mr. North Shore. Reiher opted to go into the more lucrative career of professional wrestling due to his uncertainty of making a living in bodybuilding. While working at Dean Ho's gym in Hawaii, Snuka met many of the wrestlers who worked in the South Pacific region and decided to try the sport. Snuka made his debut as Jimmy Kealoha fighting Maxwell "Bunny" Butler in Hawaii in 1970. He later moved to the mainland and wrestled for Don Owen’s NWA Pacific Northwest territory where he held the belt as Heavyweight Champion six times. He first won the title by pinning Bull Ramos on November 16, 1973. It was in this territory, that Reiher transformed himself into Jimmy Snuka. Snuka also held the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship six times with partner Dutch Savage. Snuka also had a two year feud with another rookie, Jesse "The Body" Ventura.
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Jinder Mahal
Yuvraj "Raj" Dhesi (born July 19, 1986), better known by his ring name Tiger Raj Singh, is an Indian-Canadian professional wrestler signed to WWE, competing on their SmackDown brand under the ring name Jinder Mahal.
While most Calgary wrestlers train at the infamous Dungeon, Dhesi began his wrestling career at the Martial Arts Fitness Center in Calgary, Alberta training with former WWE superstar "Razor" Rick Titan and Premier Martial Arts Wrestling (PMW) working as Raj "The Future" Dhesi. He then went on to train with "Champagne" Jerry Morrow and Bad News Allen at the New Japan Pro Wrestling dojo. In Canada's Stampede Wrestling, After working for a time with Hybrid Wrestling Coalition (HWC), Dhesi teamed with his cousin Gama Singh, Jr., as The Karachi Vice, and Sikh n' Destroy. In March 2005, the team won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship, holding it for eight months. They won the title for a second time in December of that year, holding it until November of the following year. He also worked for the Prairie Wrestling Alliance, where he was the PWA Champion from 2008 until January 2010, and also a three time tag team champion. Dhesi also competed for Great North Wrestling (GNW), where he feuded with such wrestlers as Samoa Joe and Hannibal. Dhesi wrestled his final match for GNW, a victory over McCully, on February 27.
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Joe Anoa'i
Leati Joseph "Joe" Anoa'i (born May 25, 1985) is a professional wrestler and former Canadian football defensive tackle. He is signed to WWE and wrestles in Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory, under the ring name Leakee.
Anoa'i is a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, and was named first-team All-ACC his senior year. After going undrafted in the 2007 NFL Draft, he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Upon being waived by the Vikings, he was added to the Jacksonville Jaguars roster to provide depth at defensive tackle. In 2008, Anoa'i was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos and accepted a spot on the team's practice roster.
In July 2010, Anoa'i signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was later assigned to their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He debuted on September 9, 2010, using the ring name Roman Leakee, in a loss to Richie Steamboat in a singles match. Further losses to Idol Stevens and Wes Brisco ensued, before he gained his first win on September 21 over Fahd Rakman. He continued competing in FCW throughout the remainder of the year, wrestling mainly in tag team matches. On the January 16, 2011 episode of FCW television, Leakee was a competitor in a 30-man Grand Royal, but was eliminated. Later in 2011, Leakee formed an alliance with Donny Marlow and the pair unsuccessfully challenged Calvin Raines and Big E. Langston for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on July 8.
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Joe Scarpa
Joseph Luke Scarpa (October 4, 1928 – April 3, 2012) was an American professional wrestler who was best known by the ring name Chief Jay Strongbow. Scarpa portrayed a Native American wrestler, who wore a traditional headdress to the ring and would "go on the warpath" when the fans started cheering him against an opponent.
Strongbow's career started in 1947, using his given name Joe Scarpa. Scarpa was a standout in the Georgia and Florida territories of the National Wrestling Alliance throughout the 1950s and 1960s, winning several championships and becoming a fan favorite.
By 1970, Scarpa was working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation and was now known as Chief Jay Strongbow. He feuded with the likes of "The Golden Greek" Spiros Arion, "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant, and "Superstar" Billy Graham, nearly winning the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. A memorable match against "Iron" Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold. But Lou Albano, McCord's manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief's forehead. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. McCord was disqualified, but Strongbow was cut wide open by Albano's blows. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly.
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John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena (/ˈsiːnə/; born April 23, 1977) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its Raw brand.
In WWE, Cena has won 19 championships in total, including 12 world titles (having won the WWE Championship a record 10 times and the World Heavyweight Championship twice). In addition, Cena has also won the WWE United States Championship three times, and is a four-time Tag Team Champion, having held the World Tag Team Championship twice (once each with Shawn Michaels and Batista), and the WWE Tag Team Championship twice (once each with David Otunga and The Miz). Cena also won the 2008 Royal Rumble match, and is a two-time Superstar of the Year Slammy Award winner (2009 and 2010). He also has the fourth highest number of combined days as WWE Champion behind Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan and Bruno Sammartino.
Cena started his professional wrestling career in 2000, wrestling for Ultimate Pro Wrestling, where he held the UPW Heavyweight Championship. In 2001, Cena signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) where he held the OVW Heavyweight Championship and the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (with Rico Constantino).
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John Hagee
John Charles Hagee (born April 12, 1940) is an American founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a non-denominational charismatic megachurch with more than 19,000 active members.
Hagee is also the chief executive officer (CEO) of his non-profit corporation, Global Evangelism Television (GETV).
Hagee is the President and CEO of John Hagee Ministries, which telecasts his national radio and television ministry carried in the United States on 160 TV stations, 50 radio stations, and eight networks, including The Inspiration Network (INSP), Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), and Inspiration Now TV. The ministries can be seen and heard weekly in 99 million homes. John Hagee Ministries is in Canada on the Miracle Channel and CTS and can be seen in Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and in most Third World nations.
Hagee is the founder and National Chairman of the Christian-Zionist organization Christians United for Israel, incorporated on February 7, 2006.
Hagee has incurred controversy for his religious beliefs and comments regarding Nazism, Catholicism, Islam, homosexuality, Jews, and Hurricane Katrina.
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John Hill (wrestler)
John Steele Hill (July 8, 1941 – March 11, 2010) was a Canadian professional wrestler best known under the ring names Guy Mitchell, The Stomper, and "Gentleman" Jerry Valiant. During his career, he held the top singles titles in Australia and Vancouver, and competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) where he won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship.
Hill became a professional wrestler in 1959 after working out for a year at both Al Spittles's and Jack Wentworth's gyms in Canada. He traveled to the United States in 1960 in the hopes of making more money. At the beginning of his career, Hill wrestled under the ring name Guy Hill. While wrestling for Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1961, however, a news reporter accidentally referred to him as Guy Mitchell, and Hill was forced to take on the new name. Under his new identity, Mitchell held the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship for one week. Shortly thereafter, he teamed with Bob Rasmussen to win the Georgia version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship.
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John Layfield
John Charles Layfield (born November 29, 1966) is an American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News. Layfield is best known by his ring names, Bradshaw, John "Bradshaw" Layfield or JBL while working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he was the longest reigning WWE Champion in SmackDown history with a reign lasting 280 days.
Layfield's main gimmick as John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) – a wealthy, gladhanding, big-mouthed, fiery-tempered businessman – was based on Layfield's real-life accomplishments as a stock market investor. Layfield is a regular panelist on Fox News Channel's The Cost of Freedom, has appeared on CNBC, and has written a best-selling book on financial planning called Have More Money Now. (ISBN 0-7434-6633-0). Layfield also hosts a weekend talk radio program, syndicated nationally by Talk Radio Network, in which he discusses his conservative political views. Layfield is also employed by Northeast Securities as its Senior Vice President.
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Johnny Rodz
Johnny Rodriguez (born May 16, 1938) is a retired American professional wrestler. He has previously worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Rodz.
He was part of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) from its early years, appearing on WWWF cards as far back as 1965. He wrestled Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden while working for the WWWF at the time. He was dubbed "the fire brand from the Bronx" by TV announcer Ray Morgan. For much of the next two decades through mid-1985, Rodz was a mainstay of the federation, though largely used as a jobber. In 1980's Showdown at Shea, he was defeated by Ivan Putski.
For a time, he also worked with Mike and Gene LeBell's NWA Hollywood Wrestling in the '70s. He won a greater share of matches wrestling as 'Arabian Wildman' Java Ruuk and even won the promotion's battle royal in 1976.
In 1996, Rodz was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame by Arnold Skaaland.
On the March 1, 2007 episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact showed The Latin American Xchange (LAX) attacking Rodz as part of their feud with Team 3D. Ten days later at Destination X, he accompanied Team 3D to the ring for their Ghettobrawl match with LAX at a Destination X pay-per-view.
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Jon Moxley
Jonathan Good (born December 7, 1985) is an American professional wrestler known by his ring name Jon Moxley. He is signed to WWE, wrestling in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), under the ring name Dean Ambrose. Moxley is best known for his work in Heartland Wrestling Association, CHIKARA, International Wrestling Association, Combat Zone Wrestling, EVOLVE, Dragon Gate USA, and Insanity Pro Wrestling. Moxley is also a five time World Champion as he has held the CZW World Heavyweight Championship twice, the IPW World Heavyweight Championship twice, and has held the FIP World Heavyweight Championship once. In April 2011, Moxley signed with WWE.
Moxley got his start in Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) in 2004. He started training under the tutelage of Cody Hawk and Les Thatcher. In June 2004, Moxley made his debut. Not even a year into his career, Moxley teamed up with Jimmy Turner as Necessary Roughness, and on May 11, 2005, they defeated the team of Mike Desire and Tack to win the HWA Tag Team Championship. After Quinten Lee and Ala Hussein, who made up the team Foreign Intelligence, beat Necessary Roughness for the HWA Tag Team Championship, Moxley started teaming with Ric Byrne in a team known as Heartland Foundation. They beat Foreign Intelligence for the title on August 19, 2005. On the same day, Heartland Foundation was stripped of the title for unknown reasons. Brock Guffman awarded the title back to Foreign Intelligence, and this was Moxley last stint in the tag team division for a period of time.
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Jose Lothario
Guadalupe Robledo (born December 12, 1934) is a Mexican professional wrestler, best known by the ring name of Jose Lothario.
Jose Lothario was born Guadalupe Robledo in Monterrey, Mexico.
Lothario competed in the National Wrestling Alliance for most of his career. He once had a winning streak of over 50 matches.
On Christmas Day 1970, Lothario teamed up with Danny Miller to defeat The Infernos and win the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. In storyline, the previous champions, Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch, had been stripped of the titles.
Lothario trained Shawn Michaels, and appeared on-screen with Michaels when he won the WWF Championship and managed him for several months before leaving the WWF after the 1997 Royal Rumble.
His son Pete was also a professional wrestler in the Texas area, and has appeared on WWE television. His wife, Jean Lothario also wrestled with Joe Blanchard's Southwest Wrestling Alliance. They also have a daughter, Gina, who did not go into the wrestling business.[citation needed]
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Josh Mathews
Josh Matthew Lomberger (born November 25, 1980) is an American presenter, announcer, and former pro wrestler, better known by the ring name Josh Mathews. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment as a commentator/interviewer on all major programming (Raw, SmackDown, WWE Superstars, and PPV).
Lomberger was a runner-up to Maven and Nidia in the first WWE Tough Enough in 2001. After Tough Enough, Lomberger gained some in-ring experience on the independent circuit and in the X Wrestling Federation, which was run by WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart.
Lomberger was eventually hired by World Wrestling Entertainment, and began using the name "Josh Mathews". In December 2002, he began appearing as the backstage interviewer for the SmackDown! brand and as an announcer on WWE Velocity. He also hosted the WWE webcast Byte This! after Kevin Kelly was released. He later hosted several shows on WWE's official website including Weekly Top 5, The WWE Experience, and WWE After Burn, the latter two of which are televised internationally.
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JTG
Jayson Anthony Paul (born December 10, 1984) is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name JTG (Just That Gangsta). He is currently signed to WWE wrestling on its Raw brand.
Paul began his career in 2006, working in the WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) under the ring name "The Neighborhoodie". While there he was placed into a tag team with Shad Gaspard, and, calling themselves "The Gang Stars", they held the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on two occasions.
In 2006 the team was promoted from OVW to the Raw brand under the name "Cryme Tyme", with Paul changing his name to JTG (Jayson That Gangster). On September 4, 2006, a series of vignettes start airing on Raw, hyping the debut of Cryme Tyme. On the October 16, 2006 edition of Raw, Cryme Tyme debuted and defeated two members of the then World Tag Team Champions, the Spirit Squad (Mikey and Johnny), in a non-title match. In November 2006, at Cyber Sunday, Cryme Tyme defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, Charlie Haas and Viscera and The Highlanders in a Texas Tornado match (as voted by the fans). As part of their gimmick, Cryme Tyme regularly stole items belonging to other wrestlers and on-air personalities, and sold them to fans. and sold false entry numbers at the Royal Rumble. A few months later at the New Year's Revolution pay-per-view, Cryme Tyme won a Tag Team Turmoil Match against The Highlanders, The World's Greatest Tag Team, Cade and Murdoch, and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Super Crazy, earning them a shot at the World Tag Team Championships. They then competed mainly on Heat for the next few months, although they made a backstage appearance at WrestleMania 23. They also took part in the tag team battle royal on April 2.
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Jules Strongbow
Frank Hill is a former professional wrestler, who is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he used to wrestle as Chief Jules Strongbow or simply Jules Strongbow, the brother of Chief Jay Strongbow.
Jules made his wrestling debut in the 1970s using his real name. In 1982, he entered the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and teamed with Chief Jay Strongbow, assuming his most famous ring name and billing himself as Chief Jay's brother. They formed a noted tag team, known as The Strongbows. On June 28, 1982, Strongbows defeated the team of Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito for their first WWF Tag Team Championship. On July 13 edition of Championship Wrestling, Strongbows lost the belts back to Fuji and Saito. On October 26 edition of Championship Wrestling, Strongbows defeated Fuji and Saito for their second tag title reign. They were defeated for the belts in Allentown, Pennsylvania on March 8, 1983 edition of Championship Wrestling by The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). Shortly after losing the titles, Jules left the WWF.
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Junkyard Dog
Sylvester Ritter (December 13, 1952 – June 2, 1998) was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog (or JYD for short). Entering the ring with his trademark chain attached to a dog collar, to the music of Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust," JYD regularly headlined cards that sold out the Louisiana Superdome and other major venues. JYD was one of the most electrifying and charismatic wrestlers in the country, particularly during his peak in the early 1980s. JYD was most known for his head butt and upper-body strength, the latter of which saw him regularly body slam such large wrestlers as the One Man Gang, Kamala, and King Kong Bundy. The word "thump," which referred to JYD's power slam, was prominently displayed on his wrestling trunks.
Ritter played football at Fayetteville State University, twice earning honorable mention All-American status, and is a member of The Sports Hall Of Fame. He graduated with a political science degree and was selected by the Green Bay Packers organization, but knee and back surgery ended his football career. Also a member of Groove Phi Groove and All CIAA member Chet Grimsley who authored a book on their travels The White Golden Bull.
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Justin Gabriel
Paul Lloyd, Jr. (born March 3, 1981) is a second-generation South African professional wrestler. He is signed with WWE, and performs on the SmackDown brand under the name Justin Gabriel. He was a contestant in the first season of WWE NXT, where he finished third, before joining The Nexus stable on Raw. He has held the WWE Tag Team Championship alongside Heath Slater on three occasions. He is also a former FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.
Lloyd made his professional wrestling debut at the age of 16 and was originally trained by his father Paul Lloyd, Sr., a promoter and wrestler in South Africa who also went by the ring name "The Pink Panther". His grandfather was a professional boxer and amateur wrestler. Lloyd grew up watching his father wrestle and in the early part of his training he used to practice in the backyard of his home, in which two rings were positioned. Lloyd went by the ring name PJ Black. He formed a regular tag team with Ray Leppan (who went by the name Presley Jackson, now known as Dameon Duke) called Pure Juice. During Lloyd's final year in high school, his father died, and a year later, he moved to the United Kingdom for five years.
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Justin Roberts
Justin Jason Roberts (born December 29, 1979) is an American professional wrestling ring announcer, currently working for WWE appearing on its Raw brand.
Roberts began watching wrestling, after he saw an episode of Saturday Night's Main Event and met Kerry Von Erich and The Ultimate Warrior at a hotel in Wisconsin. The combined events inspired Roberts to become a fan of professional wrestling. He also briefly trained as a referee so he could be in the same ring as Curt Hennig, of whom he was a big fan.
Roberts began ring announcing at age 16 for local professional wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling International, and announced his first match in November 1996. While studying Media Arts and Communications at the University of Arizona from 1998 to 2002, Roberts worked for other independent promotions such as the American Wrestling Alliance, All Pro Wrestling, and Impact Zone Wrestling. During this time, he also announced for the Toughman Contest.
In 2002, Roberts was hired by World Wrestling Entertainment as a backup announcer for SmackDown, followed later by a move to the Raw brand. He also worked on Velocity and Heat shows while touring as the full time Raw live event announcer. In 2005, he announced part of Vengeance 2005, including the main event. Most notably, Roberts announced the ECW show each week on the Sci Fi Network until September 2007, before swapping with SmackDown's Tony Chimel. Roberts reached the peak of his profession when he announced the main event of WrestleMania XXIV between Edge and The Undertaker on March 30, 2008. In addition to announcing SmackDown and pay-per-view matches, Roberts would also announce on WWE Superstars, including its inaugural episode on April 16, 2009.
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Kane (wrestler)
Glenn Thomas Jacobs (born April 26, 1967) better known by his ring name, Kane, is an American professional wrestler and actor signed to WWE and appearing on its Raw brand.
Born in Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain, Jacobs began his wrestling career in 1992 working in independent circuits. He wrestled in Smoky Mountain Wrestling as Unabomb where he won the SMW Tag Team Championship as a member of The Dynamic Duo, and in the United States Wrestling Association where he won the USWA Heavyweight Championship as Doomsday. He later joined the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1995, where he wrestled under various gimmicks before debuting as Kane, in 1997. The character's half-brother is The Undertaker, with whom Kane has teamed up as the Brothers of Destruction.
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Karl Istaz
Karl Istaz (August 3, 1924 - July 28, 2007) was a professional wrestler and trainer born in Antwerp, Belgium, best known by his ring name Karl Gotch. The German suplex is named after Gotch.[citation needed]
In Japan, Gotch was known as "God of Pro Wrestling" due to his influence in shaping the Japanese professional wrestling style.
Gotch was born in Antwerp.He grew up with his family, who were the well known "Istaz family". He learned Greco-Roman wrestling in his early years and from the beginning he was a very well known sportsman. He wrestled in "The Hippodroom", a notable sports center in Antwerp, where amateur fights like boxing matches and wrestling matches were fought.
Karl Gotch excelled in amateur wrestling and experienced a major breakthrough in his career by competing as Charles Istaz for Belgium in the 1948 Olympics in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Gotch also trained in the Indian martial art of Pehlwani. This training led to Gotch's regime of calisthenic bodyweight exercise, which were used by Indian wrestlers and other athletes to build leg endurance and strength. He also adopted other Indian exercises, such as the bridge, Hindu squats, and Hindu press ups in his wrestling. Gotch's philosophy was later passed on to several of his students.
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Kelly Kelly
Barbara Jean "Barbie" Blank (born January 15, 1987) is an American model, professional wrestler, and professional wrestling valet better known by her ring name Kelly Kelly. She is working for WWE on its Raw brand.
Blank has a background in gymnastics and cheerleading. She studied broadcast journalism, hoping to become a television anchor, and worked as a model for Venus Swimwear and Hawaiian Tropic. In 2006, Blank was signed to a contract by WWE and sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory. She debuted on the ECW brand in June 2006 as 'Kelly Kelly', with the character of an exhibitionist and performing a striptease. She continued her stripteases, in a segment known as Kelly's Exposé, weekly on ECW, and also became the valet of her on-screen boyfriend Mike Knox. The following year, she formed Extreme Exposé with Layla and Brooke Adams, and the trio performed a regular dance segment on ECW. They later became involved in a storyline with The Miz, which led to the dissolution of the group.
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Ken Patera
Ken Patera (born November 6, 1942 in Portland, Oregon) is a former professional wrestler, Olympic weightlifter, and Strongman competitor.
Patera is a former Olympic weightlifter and American powerlifter. He competed at Brigham Young University and won several medals at the Pan American Games (including gold), and finished second in the 1971 World Weightlifting Championships. He was the first American to clean and jerk 500(503½) lbs (227 kg), which he accomplished at the 1972 Senior Nationals in Detroit. He was also Mr. USA in weightlifting. He is also the only American to clean and press 500 lb (230 kg), and was arguably the last American to excel at weightlifting on an international level. He was a serious competitor to the Soviet legend Vasily Alexeev at the 1972 Summer Olympics, but he failed to total and was not among the medal recipients. After the press (a lift in which Patera was disproportionately talented) was eliminated from competition, Patera retired from weightlifting. He also competed in the Shot Put, finishing 6th in the 1968 Olympic Trials.
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Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock (born Kenneth Wayne Kilpatrick; February 11, 1964) is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler. Shamrock emerged as one of the biggest stars in the history of mixed martial arts, headlining over 15 main events and co-main events in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships during the course of his career and set numerous pay per view records with his drawing power. Shamrock is widely considered to be a legendary figure and icon in the sport of mixed martial arts. Shamrock was named The World's Most Dangerous Man by ABC News in a special entitled "The World's Most Dangerous Things" in the early part of his UFC career, a moniker which has become synonymous as his nickname.
Shamrock became known early on in the UFC for his rivalry with Royce Gracie. After fighting to a draw with Gracie in the inaugural Superfight, he became the first UFC Superfight Champion after defeating Dan Severn at UFC 6; the title was eventually renamed the UFC Heavyweight Championship when weight categories were introduced to the UFC. He was also the first foreign MMA Champion in Japan, winning the title of King of Pancrase. During his reign as the UFC Superfight Champion, he was widely considered the #1 mixed martial artist in the world. Shamrock was also ranked by Inside MMA as one of the top 10 greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time.
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Kenny Dykstra
Kenneth George Doane (born March 16, 1986) is an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where he wrestled on its Raw and SmackDown brands under the ring names Kenny and Kenny Dykstra.
Doane was trained by former professional wrestler Killer Kowalski, and made his wrestling debut at the age of fifteen in 2001. He began working for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), per WWE request. In May 2003, Doane made his WWE television debut as "Ken Phoenix". During his time in OVW, he won the Television Championship once. After losing the title, Doane became part of the Spirit Squad faction. The team debuted on Raw in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship three months later.
Following the split of the Spirit Squad, Doane was the only member to remain on WWE television. He debuted to a new ring name "Kenny Dykstra". In June 2007, he was drafted to the SmackDown! brand, but was released from his WWE contract in November 2008. He later began working on the independent circuit, wrestling for promotions including Dragon Gate USA and Evolve.
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Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Gene Adkisson (February 3, 1960 – February 18, 1993) was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich, The Modern Day Warrior, and The Texas Tornado and was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers. He is best known for his time with his father's promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he spent eleven years of his career, and his time in World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Adkisson held forty championships in various promotions during his career. Among other accolades, he was a five-time world champion: a four-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion and one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and a one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion.
Kerry was the son of wrestler Fritz Von Erich. His brothers, David, Kevin, Mike, and Chris, were also wrestlers. Kerry was also a standout in high school track and field and possessed a record-breaking discus throw. He debuted in his father's promotion, NWA Texas/Big Time Wrestling on June 17, 1979 against Gary Hart. In Big Time Wrestling, he held many Texas Tag Team and American Tag Team titles.
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Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program. Nash has wrestled under several ring names, but is most notably known by his real name in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)/World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE, where he has also been billed as Diesel.
Between WWE, WCW, and TNA, Nash has won a total of 21 championships. He is a six-time world champion: a five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time WWF Champion. He was the longest-reigning WWF Champion of the 1990s, having held the title for 358 days. He has achieved notable success in the tag team division as well, being a twelve-time world tag team champion: a nine-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, two-time WWF World Tag Team Champion and one-time TNA World Tag Team Champion. He is also a one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion and a two-time TNA Legends Champion. In addition to championships, he won the 1998 WCW World War 3. Nash was a member of The Kliq, a group which included Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman. He is also one of the three founding members of the New World Order (nWo), along with Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall.
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Kia Stevens
Kia Michelle Stevens (born September 4, 1977), better known by her ring names Amazing Kong, Awesome Kong and Kharma, is an American professional wrestler who is signed with WWE. She is a five time World Champion, having won the WWWA World Championship, NWA World Women's Championship and AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Women's Championship and a two-time TNA Knockout Champion. Her success is not limited to singles wrestling, as she frequently teamed with Aja Kong to form the tag team Double Kong who held tag team championships in four different promotions, along with winning the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship with Hamada. She was also ranked first in the inaugural list of Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 50 Females.
She began her professional wrestling career in 2002 after appearing on a reality television show. She primarily wrestled in Japan for the first five years of her career, holding numerous championships there. In 2006 she began wrestling in her native United States again, appearing on the independent circuit before appearing on national television with TNA Wrestling where she was a driving force in the foundation of their Knockout division.
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King Curtis Iaukea
Curtis Piehau Iaukea, III (September 15, 1937 – December 4, 2010) was a professional wrestler better known as King Curtis Iaukea. Iaukea won championships in several of the major regional US promotions, both as a single and in various tag team combinations, during the 1960s. He then competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he won the WWF Tag Team Championship. He was also later The Master of the Dungeon of Doom in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Under the name "Iau Kea" he appeared in the film The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze with Moe Howard declaring "That's not a man! That's a committee!".
He was the great grandson of Colonel Curtis Iaukea, a vice chamberlain and diplomat to the court of King Kalākaua and Queen Liliuokalani and later Sheriff of Honolulu and son of a Honolulu Police Department Inspector also named Curtis Iaukea. He attended Punahou School and the University of California Berkeley as an economics major where he lettered as a lineman until he dropped out. He played as a tackle for the BC Lions from 1958-1959.
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Kofi Kingston
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah (born August 14, 1981), is a Ghanaian American professional wrestler signed to WWE and appearing on its Raw brand under the ring name, Kofi Kingston. He and R-Truth are the current WWE Tag Team Champions. Since debuting with WWE, he has won the Intercontinental Championship three times, the United States Championship twice, the World Tag Team Championship once with CM Punk and the WWE Tag Team Championship twice, once with Evan Bourne and once with R-Truth.
He made his official wrestling debut in 2006, when he faced Tony Omega at Chaotic Wrestling on February 24th. He faced Evan Siks on June 4 for the PWF Mayhem Heavyweight Championship. He competed primarily in the New England area, including stints in National Wrestling Alliance – New England, Millennium Wrestling Federation, New England Championship Wrestling, the Eastern Wrestling Alliance, and Chaotic Wrestling.
In September 2006, he signed a developmental contract with WWE and was assigned to Deep South Wrestling (DSW), a Georgia based developmental federation. He debuted in the new company, as Kofi Nahaje Kingston, in a dark match loss to Montel Vontavious Porter on September 21. For the rest of 2006 and the beginning of 2007, he appeared in DSW, as well as its Kentucky based sister promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he was in a tag team dubbed the "Commonwealth Connection" with Harry Smith. In 2007, under the ring name "Kofi Nahaje Kingson", he had his first exposure to the main WWE roster, when he worked dark matches on March 5 and 26 before episodes of Raw against Charlie Haas and Trevor Murdoch, respectively. When he returned to the developmental federations, he shortened his original ring name to "Kofi Kingston" and continued to use both ring names throughout his duration there. He also worked live events, defeating Shelton Benjamin on May 5, and Val Venis on May 6.
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Koko B. Ware
James Ware (born June 20, 1957), better known by his ring name Koko B. Ware, is a retired American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 1978. He gained most of his popularity in the World Wrestling Federation when he was known as the Birdman. Ware came to the ring with a blue-and-yellow macaw parrot named Frankie, and would flap his arms like a bird while dancing before and after his matches. Before joining the WWF, Ware worked as a part of several tag teams, first with Bobby Eaton in Memphis and then later on with Norvell Austin as one half of the The P.Y.T. Express in several promotions.
Koko spent his early days in the sport in the Mid-South, Georgia and other NWA territories where he impressed fans enough to vote him the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Rookie of the Year in 1979. Early in his career, Koko Ware (as he was then known) did not find great success, learning the ropes and paying his dues both in Jerry Jarrett’s Continental Wrestling Association and Nick Gulas’ territory in the south.
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Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968 in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler and actor. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a former five-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion. He is also known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (WWF/E), and for being the only Olympic gold medalist in the history of professional wrestling.
Angle was involved in amateur wrestling during both high school and college. In college at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, he won numerous accolades, including being a two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I champion. After graduating, he won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1995 World Wrestling Championships. Angle then competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he won a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling. Kurt Angle is also one of only four people to complete a Grand Slam in amateur wrestling which is the junior nationals, the NCAAs, the World Championships and the Olympics. He was named the greatest shoot wrestler and one of the top 15 college wrestlers of all time by USA Wrestling.
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Lance Storm
Lance Evers (born April 3, 1969) known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler, currently appearing in the Ring of Honor promotion. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling. He runs a pro wrestling school the, Storm Wrestling Academy, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Lance Storm was trained by Ed Langley and Brad Young of the Hart Brothers Wrestling Camp at the Silver Dollar Action Centre in Calgary where he became friends with fellow student Chris Jericho. Jericho has stated that despite the name of the school, the only involvement any of the Hart brothers had in their training was a "thirty-minute cameo" by Keith Hart to collect the student's fees. Lance would later debut against Jericho in 1990 as Lance T. Storm. Early on, he mainly wrestled in Calgary but also spent time in Japan in Wrestling Association "R". Along with Jericho, Storm debuted in Smoky Mountain Wrestling in 1994, forming a tag team known as the Thrillseekers. After Jericho was injured, Storm continued to compete in singles competition for a few months, even winning the "Beat the Champ" TV Title. He then left SMW and moved on to a Winnipeg-based West Four Wrestling Alliance, where he teamed once again with Jericho.
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Layla El
Layla El (born 25 June 1978) is an English dancer, model and professional wrestler of Moroccan descent. She is signed to WWE as a WWE Diva and appears on the SmackDown brand as Layla. She is the reigning WWE Divas Champion.
After attending a performing arts college, El was a dancer for Carnival Cruise Lines, the Miami Heat franchise of the National Basketball Association, and also danced for Kanye West at the MTV Video Music Awards. In 2006, she was a contestant in the 2006 WWE Diva Search, which she won to earn a contract with the company.
Initially appearing on the SmackDown brand, she was moved to the ECW brand in January 2007, where she formed the Extreme Exposé dance troupe with Kelly Kelly and Brooke Adams. In 2008, she was drafted to the Raw brand, where she began managing William Regal. The following year she returned to the SmackDown brand, where she formed an alliance with Michelle McCool known as Team Lay-Cool. In May 2010, Layla won the WWE Women's Championship for the first time, making her the first British woman to hold the championship. She is also the first Diva Search winner to have won the championship, and the final recognized WWE Women's Champion as the title was retired in 2010. In April 2012, Layla won the WWE Divas Championship upon her return from a year-long absence due to injury.
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Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl (born June 2, 1958), better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy. He is best known for his work with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
Among other accolades in professional wrestling, Luger is a three-time world champion, having held the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice and the WWA World Heavyweight Championship once; a record-tying five-time NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Champion who owns the record for consecutive days and most total days spent as champion; and the 1994 WWF Royal Rumble winner (with Bret Hart). Readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated voted Luger the Most Popular Wrestler of the Year 1993.
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Lilian Garcia
Lilian Annette García (born August 19, 1966), is a Spanish-American singer and ring announcer. She is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where she performs on the SmackDown brand as ring announcer. During her first stint in WWE, she became the first WWE Diva to remain with the promotion for ten years.
García was born on August 19, 1966, in Madrid, Spain. She spent the first eight years of her life in the country due to her father's employment with the American Embassy, and was educated on an American military base, leading her to describe herself as a "military brat". Upon returning to the United States, Garcia graduated from Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She went on to attend the University of South Carolina, graduating cum laude. Lilian's family comes from Spain and Puerto Rico.
García was a top ten finalist in the Miss South Carolina beauty pageant. Garcia was also one half of a popular morning show on radio station WYYS,"YES 97" in Columbia with Chuck Finley in the early '90s. She was a VJ in Atlanta, Georgia, where she also had a drive-time afternoon radio show. She also served as karaoke host at the Nitelites nightclub in the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia, South Carolina, and later at the West Columbia Ramada.
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Lou Albano
Louis Vincent "Captain Lou" Albano (July 29, 1933 – October 14, 2009) was an Italian-American professional wrestler, manager and actor. He was active as a professional wrestler from 1953 until 1969, then he became a manager, until 1995.
Throughout his 42-year career, Albano guided 15 different tag teams and four singles competitors to championship gold. Albano was part of the "Triumvirate of Terror," a threesome of nefarious WWF managers that also included The Grand Wizard of Wrestling and Fred Blassie. The trio would be fixtures in the company for a decade, until the Grand Wizard's death in 1983.
A unique showman, with an elongated beard, rubber band facial piercings, and loud outfits, Albano was the forefather of the 1980s Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection. Collaborating with Cyndi Lauper, Albano helped usher in wrestling's crossover success with a mainstream audience. Capitalizing on his success, he later ventured into Hollywood with various television, film, and music projects.
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Mae Young
Johnnie Mae Young (born March 12, 1923) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and currently WWE Ambassador.
Young was an influential pioneer in women's wrestling, helping to increase its popularity during World War II and training many generations of wrestlers. She wrestled throughout the United States and Canada, and won multiple titles in the National Wrestling Alliance.
Beginning in 1999, Young had a high-profile "second career" in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Young was part of a recurring comedic duo with best friend The Fabulous Moolah in appearances on WWE televised events. She is a member of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the WWE Hall of Fame. Young holds the distinction of being the only professional wrestler to wrestle documented matches in nine different decades, having her first in 1939 and her latest match in 2010.
Johnnie Mae Young was an amateur wrestler on her high school's boys' wrestling team at the age of fifteen. Her brothers Fred, Eugen, Lawarence, and Everett taught her to wrestle and helped her join the team. She was the youngest of eight children (one died at birth). Her mother Lilly Mae Young was a single mother (her partner left to find work and never returned) living during the Great Depression. Young's oldest sister Inie was severely disabled by whooping cough at a very young age. Young also played softball with Tulsa's national championship team. While still in high school, Young went to a professional wrestling show and challenged then-champion Mildred Burke when she visited Tulsa to wrestle Gladys Gillem. Because the promoters told her she could not wrestle the champion, she wrestled Gillem in a shoot fight, beating her within seconds. After the fight, promoter Billy Wolfe wanted Young to become a professional wrestler. She left home two years later to wrestle professionally.
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Marc Mero
Marc Mero (born July 9, 1963) is an American retired amateur boxer and professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation as Marc Mero and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Johnny B. Badd. In 2007 he founded the non-profit organization Champion of Choices.
Mero was born in Buffalo, New York. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, with his mother supporting him and his three siblings by working two jobs. At the age of 12, Mero began playing hockey, eventually becoming his league's Most Valuable Player. In 1973, Mero's family relocated to Liverpool, New York, where Mero played for the Mid State Youth Hockey League. At age 15, Mero began playing for the Syracuse Stars Junior Hockey Team.
Mero began playing football in his senior year, with his high school team winning the New York State Title under the tutelage of future University of Central Florida coach George O'Leary. In the same year, Mero began training as a boxer under Golden Gloves coach Ray Rinaldi. Mero went on to win four New York State titles, including the New York Golden Gloves tournament. Mero intended to become a professional boxer, but his career was sidelined after his nose was broken in an accident. He briefly pursued a bodybuilding career, placing third in the Mr. New York State bodybuilding contest.
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Marcelo Rodríguez
Marcelo Antonio Rodríguez Laprea is a Venezuelan actor and professional wrestling announcer currently working for the international Spanish versions of WWE shows Raw, SmackDown, NXT, Superstars, and pay-per-view (PPV) events alongside Carlos Cabrera as color commentator.[1] .Rodríguez started working for WWE by the end of 2000 and appeared only occasionally at that time, filling in for Cabrera or former color commentator Hugo Savinovich. He commentated in every international version of RAW and SmackDown, while both Cabrera and Savinovich alternately broadcasted alongside him. In October 2011, Savinovich left WWE and Rodríguez became a full-time Spanish commentator for all programs and PPV events. In October 2011, Rodríguez and Cabrera were at ringside for the tapings of Raw and SmackDown in Mexico City, Mexico.
Rodríguez was also frequent substitute co-host of WWE en Español until October 2011, when he became permanent co-host with Carlos Cabrera following the departure of Hugo Savinovich from the company. He had not made any appearance on PPV since working for WWE until SummerSlam 2011. Rodríguez hosts The WWE Experience for Latin America introducing clips and recaps from the previous week's episodes of Raw, SmackDown and NXT.
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Mark Henry
Mark Jerrold Henry (born June 12, 1971) is an American powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter, strongman, and a professional wrestler with WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand. He is a 1992 Olympian, and winner of the 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic. Since joining the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in 1996, he has become a one-time WWF European Champion and a two-time world champion, having held the ECW Championship in 2008, and the World Heavyweight Championship in 2011.
Henry was a weightlifter, and competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where he placed tenth in the super heavyweight division. Three years later, at the 1995 Pan American Games, Henry won a silver medal in the super heavyweight division. The following year, he became a North America, Central America, Caribbean Islands (NACACI) champion. In 1996, Henry signed a ten-year contract with the WWF. Henry was trained by former Canadian professional wrestlers Stu and Bret Hart and Leo Burke. He made his television wrestling debut in September 1996. In January 1998, Henry joined the stable Nation of Domination. After the disbanding of the group, he acquired the moniker "Sexual Chocolate", which led him to participate in controversial angles.
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Marty Jannetty
Frederick Marty Jannetty is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as part of tag team The Rockers with partner Shawn Michaels, and later as a singles competitor. While in the WWF, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion and a one time Tag Team Champion with the 1-2-3 Kid. With Michaels, The Rockers became two time World Tag Team Champions in the American Wrestling Association.
Jannetty began his wrestling career in April 1984, wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance's Central States division. He wrestled in singles and tag team competition with various partners, including "Bulldog" Bob Brown and Dave Peterson and with Tommy Rogers as the Uptown Boys, until joining forces with fellow rookie Shawn Michaels in late 1985. The two teamed as The Midnight Rockers and quickly won the Central States Tag Team Championship from The Batten Twins.
In 1986, the duo left the NWA for the American Wrestling Association. In the AWA, Jannetty and Michaels quickly built a reputation as a talented tag team, performing many acrobatic moves in tandem and electrifying crowds with their athleticism. The two won the World Tag Team Championship twice, first defeating Buddy Rose and Doug Somers and then Original Midnight Express for their second and final reign. They also won the Southern Tag Team Championship twice after defeating the Rock 'n' Roll RPMs on two separate occasions before jumping to the World Wrestling Federation in 1988.
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Masa Saito
Masanori Saito (斎藤 昌典, Saitō Masanori?) (born February 1, 1942) is a former Japanese professional wrestler better known as Mr. Saito or Masa Saito (マサ 斉藤?). He wrestled for several years in various promotions operated by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He later joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he teamed with Mr. Fuji to hold the World Tag Team Championship twice. He also won the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1990. In Japan, Saito wrestled for both All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Saito gained notoriety for his arrest after throwing a boulder through the window of a McDonald's restaurant in Waukesha Wisconsin and for a match wrestled against Antonio Inoki on a deserted island in Japan.
Saito competed in freestyle wrestling for Japan in the 1964 Olympic Games, placing seventh, making him one of the Top 10 Olympic wrestlers that year.
He began his pro wrestling career in 1965 and quickly established himself in both Japan and the United States. Nicknamed "Mr. Torture" for his punishing and sadistic style, Saito held numerous titles while wrestling in North America and Japan.
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Matt Bloom
Matthew Jason "Matt" Bloom (born November 14, 1972) is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand under the ring name Tensai. Between 1997 and 2004, Bloom wrestled for World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment under the ring names Prince Albert, Albert, and A-Train. During his time in the promotion, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion. After leaving WWE, Bloom, adopting the ring name Giant Bernard, began working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he became a two time IWGP Tag Team Champion, holding the record for both the longest reign and the most title defenses alongside Karl Anderson as Bad Intentions. Bernard and Anderson are also one time GHC Tag Team Champions in Pro Wrestling Noah. He holds notable wins over current WWE Champion CM Punk and 12 time World Champion John Cena.
Bloom attended Peabody High School, where he earned three letters in football and basketball, two in track and field, and one in baseball. He went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh, where he played American football as an offensive tackle and an offensive guard.
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Matt Hardy
Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy (born September 23, 1974) is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Before signing with WWE, Hardy, with his brother Jeff, founded a wrestling organization called Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts (OMEGA). While there, Hardy held many championships including the Heavyweight and Tag Team Championship, which he held with Jeff. The promotion folded in October 1999 when they signed contracts with WWE. The Hardys gained notoriety in WWE's tag team division due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches. As a tag team wrestler, Hardy is a six-time World Tag Team Champion, a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a one-time WCW Tag Team Champion.
Apart from his success as a tag team wrestler, Hardy is a one-time world heavyweight champion, having won the ECW Championship in 2008. He also has won other singles championships, having held the Hardcore, European, Cruiserweight, and United States Championship on one occasion each. All totaled, Hardy has won 13 championships in WWE.
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Matt Striker
Matthew Kaye (born June 26, 1974) is an American actor, wrestling commentator and semi-retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Matt Striker. He is signed to WWE, where he serves as the Host of WWE NXT.
After obtaining a Master's degree in educational psychology, Kaye began working as a high-school teacher. He also began a career in professional wrestling, and made his debut in 2000 after being trained by Johnny Rodz. In his first year as a wrestler he won 10 different championships, and went on to become a mainstay on the independent circuit in the New York region. He toured Japan with the Pro Wrestling Zero1 promotion in late 2004 and early 2005. In early 2005, Kaye quit his full-time teaching job at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, when the school board found out that he had been using sick days as a way to pursue his wrestling career.
Kaye signed a contract with WWE in mid-2005, calling himself Matt Striker, and quickly developed a persona of a heel (villainous) teacher. He started out on the Raw brand, where he hosted a segment known as Matt Striker's Classroom, before moving to the ECW brand in 2006. There he joined the New Breed alliance and was involved in a scripted rivalry with the ECW Originals. After this, he began managing wrestler Big Daddy V until 2008. In August 2008, Striker began working as the color commentator on ECW and, alongside his commentary partner Todd Grisham, won the 2008 Slammy Award for Announce Team of the Year. Striker was then moved to the SmackDown brand where he commentated from October 2009 to January 2011.
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Maurice Vachon
Maurice Vachon (born September 14, 1929) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Mad Dog" Vachon. He is the brother of wrestlers Paul and Vivian Vachon, and the uncle of wrestler Luna Vachon. He was among the AWA's all-time great heels with a career spanning four decades, while also serving as the leader of one of the sport’s most accomplished families.
Born on September 14, 1929, Maurice Vachon was one of 13 children of Montreal policeman Ferdinand Vachon. He grew up in the district of Ville-Émard, a working-class borough southwest of Montreal. As a child, he regularly attended wrestling shows at the nearby Montreal Forum, where he grew up idolizing local ring legend Yvon Robert; and at just 12 years old, he had already begun grappling at the area's YMCA. He entered a wrestling course advertised at the back of a comic book, and he began training under Chief Jim Crowley. He trained hard and even worked in the docks and on the canal to build up his muscle. By age 14, Vachon eventually established himself among Canada’s premier amateur grapplers.
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Michael Cole
Michael Sean Coulthard (born December 8, 1968) better known by his ring name Michael Cole, is an American professional wrestling commentator and occasional wrestler currently signed to WWE where he serves as a commentator. He is also a former news journalist.
Coulthard began his career in the media as a journalist, working for CBS Radio. His first high-profile assignment was to cover the failed 1988 US presidential campaign of Democratic Party nominee Michael Dukakis. In 1992, he reported on the presidential campaign of Bill Clinton. Coulthard covered the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993. The following year, he spent nine months covering the Yugoslavian civil war. In 1995 he was also selected to cover the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing. He returned to the presidential campaign trail in 1996 to cover the failed campaigns of Steve Forbes and Sen. Bob Dole.
Cole came to the World Wrestling Federation in mid-1997 and started using the stage name "Michael Cole." He provided voice-overs for promotional videos and later became the host of LiveWire show alongside Jim Cornette. Coulthard first appeared on screen at SummerSlam, and replaced Todd Pettengill as a backstage interviewer, who left the WWF after the event. In late 1997, Cole became one of the three announcers for the first hour of Monday Night Raw, alongside Jim Ross and Kevin Kelly. Eventually Cole was permanently replaced by Jerry Lawler later in the year. In 1999, Cole became the regular play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Raw subbing for Jim Ross when Ross was devastated by Bell's palsy.
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Michael McGillicutty
Joseph Hambert "Joe" Hennig (born October 1, 1979) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment and working on the Raw brand, under the ring name Michael McGillicutty. He previously wrestled at their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He was part of the second season of WWE NXT.
Hennig made his professional debut on July 13, 2007 in Waterloo, Iowa for World League Wrestling (WLW), teaming with Ted DiBiase, Jr. to defeat Dinn T. Moore and Branden Tatum by disqualification. Hennig later went on a nine-month winning streak in WLW before suffering his first singles loss to "Wild" Wade Chism.
On March 31, 2007, Hennig along with his mother, siblings, and his grandfather represented his father "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig at the 2007 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony by accepting the award on his behalf. On the October 26, 2007 episode of SmackDown, Hennig teamed with Steve Fender in a loss to Jesse and Festus.
Hennig signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and was assigned to its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). On September 11, 2008, Hennig and Sebastian Slater defeated Nic Nemeth and Gavin Spears to win the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship. On October 30, Hennig and Slater lost the Tag Team Championship to The New Hart Foundation (DH Smith and TJ Wilson).
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Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. (born June 7, 1965) is a American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he shares with Terry Funk. He is currently signed to a Legends contract with WWE, where he makes special guest appearances and serves as an ambassador.
Throughout his wrestling career, Foley has wrestled both under his real name and under various personas (most notably Dude Love, Cactus Jack and Mankind). He is a four-time World Champion (three WWF Championships, and one TNA World Heavyweight Championship). He is an 11-time Tag Team Champion (eight WWF Tag Team Titles, two ECW World Tag Team Titles, and one WCW World Tag Team Championship). He was also the first WWF Hardcore Champion, and held the TNA Legends Championship (now known as the Television Championship) once. Following his retirement from wrestling full-time, Foley appeared occasionally with WWE as a special guest referee and later as a color commentator for the SmackDown brand. Upon his departure from WWE in 2008, he signed with TNA, where he was a storyline stock holder of the company. All totaled, Foley has won 17 championships between WCW, ECW, WWF/E, and TNA.
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Mike Chioda
Michael Joseph "Mike" Chioda (born August 1, 1964) is a senior referee who is currently signed to WWE. While not refereeing, Chioda, as well as the other referees in WWE, help set up the arena before shows, constructing the ring and stage areas.[citation needed]
As a young man, Chioda lived close to the Marellas (Gorilla Monsoon and his son Joey), who helped him break into the wrestling business. Being trained as a referee, Chioda first began to appear in WWE in 1989, when it was known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), most notably at Survivor Series 1989. After taking a hiatus from refereeing following WrestleMania VII, he began to reappear on camera around 1993.
Chioda has also competed in an actual wrestling match, teaming with Chris Jericho and The Rock to take on the team of The Dudley Boyz and referee Nick Patrick on an episode of SmackDown! in 2001. Chioda actually scored the pinfall victory after delivering his version of "The People's Elbow" to Nick Patrick.
During the WWF tenure, he officiated matches such as Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV, Triple H vs. Vince McMahon at Armageddon 1999, The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania X8.
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Mike Lockwood
Michael John "Mike" Lockwood (August 25, 1971 – November 6, 2003) was an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E) under the ring name Crash Holly or simply Crash.
Lockwood wrestled on the independent circuit, and briefly for Extreme Championship Wrestling, before he signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation in 1999. He debuted as Hardcore Holly's on-screen cousin, "Crash Holly". Lockwood earned his greatest success in WWE's hardcore division, winning the title 22 times, leading to him being nicknamed "The Houdini Of Hardcore". In June 2003, he was released from WWE and joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as "Mad Mikey", but died in November 2003, just four months later.
In WWF/E, he was a one-time European Champion, a one-time Light Heavyweight Champion, and a 22-time Hardcore Champion. He was also a one-time Tag Team Champion with Hardcore Holly as part of the tag team The Holly Cousins.
Lockwood made his wrestling debut in 1989, as "Johnny Pearson" in Bay Area Wrestling, where he competed until 1994. He dislocated his shoulder about five times, and ended up having to take a year and a half out to recover. He then competed on the independent circuit as "Irish Erin O'Grady", and in 1996, moved to All Pro Wrestling (APW), where he became known as "The Leprechaun Erin O'Grady". Lockwood became especially famous for his matches with Vic Grimes.
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Mike Mizanin
Michael "Mike" Gregory Mizanin (born October 8, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, reality television star, media personality, and actor better known by his nickname and ring name The Miz. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its Raw brand. Mizanin first gained fame as a cast member on MTV's The Real World: Back to New York, which first aired in 2001, and its spinoff series, Real World/Road Rules Challenge. He later entered the fourth season of Tough Enough, a televised competition that would award the winner a WWE contract, and became the first runner-up. Mizanin has also made appearances on television shows including Battle of the Network Reality Stars, Fear Factor, Identity, Ghost Hunters, Dinner Impossible, Psych and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.
Mizanin trained and wrestled with Ultimate Pro Wrestling and Deep South Wrestling, where he became the first Deep South Heavyweight Champion. Mizanin was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), working in tag team matches and winning the tag team title, the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, on one occasion.
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Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is a retired American professional boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles at 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old. Tyson won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, with 12 of them occurring in the first round. He won the WBC title in 1986 after defeating Trevor Berbick by a TKO in the second round. In 1987, Tyson added the WBA and IBF titles after defeating James Smith and Tony Tucker. He was the first heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, and the only heavyweight to individually unify them.
In 1988, Tyson became the lineal champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks in the first 91 seconds of the fight. Tyson successfully defended the world heavyweight championship nine times, including victories over Larry Holmes and Frank Bruno. Tyson lost his titles to 42-to-1 underdog James "Buster" Douglas on February 11, 1990, in Tokyo, Japan, by a knockout in round 10. Tyson continued in his quest to regain the titles, defeating Donovan Ruddock twice in 1991. Tyson was then scheduled to take on the undisputed heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield but pulled out due to injury.
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Mikel Scicluna
"Baron" Mikel Scicluna (July 29, 1929 – March 20, 2010) was a Maltese-born professional wrestler who gained his fame during the 1960s and 1970s.
Scicluna started wrestling during the 1950s, and used the name Mike Valentino early in his career. Scicluna worked primarily in Canada until 1965, when he ventured to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), now known as WWE, using his most famous moniker "Baron" Mikel Scicluna.
Scicluna was famous for entering the ring with a royal blue cape over his shoulders, indicating that he was of Maltese royal descent. Scicluna was also known for being a master of the "foreign object", mainly utilizing a roll of coins to bash opponents out of sight of the referee. He enjoyed success as a tag team wrestler, winning the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship with Smasher Sloan on September 22, 1966 in Washington, D.C. (though they eventually lost the belts in the same city to Spiros Arion and Antonio Pugliese), then the WWWF World Tag Team Championship with King Curtis Iaukea on February 1, 1972 in Philadelphia.
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Mil Máscaras
Aaron Rodríguez (born July 15, 1942), best known as Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks), is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores. He is a member of one of Mexico's most prominent wrestling families—his brothers José and Pablo respectively wrestle as Dos Caras and Sicodélico, José's son Alberto wrestles as Alberto Del Rio, and Pablo's son Aaron is better known as Sicodélico, Jr.
Mil Máscaras made his professional wrestling debut in April 1965 in Guadalajara. Máscaras became popular in Mexico for being one of the best conditioned luchadores in the heavyweight division, which was dominated by foreigners at the time. It was also his size which permitted him to wrestle in the US and Japan under the heavyweight division. Máscaras was one of the first masked luchadores outside of Mexico to play a non-heel role. He rarely resorted to rule breaking, instead relying on his repertoire of moves and counter-moves. Máscaras was also one of the first wrestlers to introduce the high-flying moves of lucha libre, such as the plancha and tope suicida, to Japanese fans. This brought him international fame as one of the first high-flyers, something he was not considered in Mexico where he fell under the mat-power category.
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Monty Sopp
Monty Kip Sopp (born November 11, 1963) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Billy Gunn and for his eleven year long tenure in the World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment. He has also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James. In WWE, Sopp was a one time Intercontinental Champion, a two time Hardcore Champion, and the 1999 King of the Ring, but found his greatest success as a tag team wrestler, becoming a ten time World Tag Team Champion.
When Sopp first arrived in the World Wrestling Federation, he used the name Billy Gunn and teamed with his on-screen brother, Bart Gunn, as The Smoking Gunns. In early 1995, they won their first Tag Team Championship by defeating the makeshift team of Bob Holly and The 1-2-3 Kid. They held the titles until WrestleMania XI when they were defeated by the team of Owen Hart and Yokozuna. They won the titles again in September 1995.
On February 15, 1996, the Gunns vacated the title because Billy was in need of neck surgery. After Billy returned from hiatus, The Smoking Gunns won the Tag Title for the third time by defeating The Godwinns in May. After the match, The Godwinns' manager Sunny turned on her team in favor of the Gunns. On September 22 at In Your House: Mind Games, the Gunns lost the Tag Team Title to Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. After the match, Sunny abandoned The Gunns, saying that she would only manage title holders. Billy, frustrated with losing both the championship and Sunny, walked out on Bart, breaking up The Smoking Gunns.
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Mr. Fuji
Harry Fujiwara (born May 4, 1935) is an American former professional wrestler and manager, best known by his ring name Mr. Fuji. He was infamous for often throwing salt in the eyes of face wrestlers. Although he was billed as Japanese, he is a Japanese-American born in Hawaii.
Fujiwara made his professional wrestling debut on December 15, 1965 in his native Hawaii under the ring name Mr. Fujiwara. He won his first championship, the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship, with Curtis Iaukea on January 7, 1966. He shortened his ring name to Mr. Fuji and toured many territories, including Don Owen's Portland, Oregon based NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling where he won many championships.
Fuji debuted in Vince McMahon, Sr.'s World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1972 as a heel. He formed a tag team with Professor Toru Tanaka and the duo were managed by Grand Wizard. Tanaka provided his physical massive strength and Fuji brought his devious ring psychology to the team, which earned him the nickname "The Devious One". Fuji used to throw salt in his opponent's eyes, which earned him victories. They defeated Sonny King and Chief Jay Strongbow on June 27, 1972 for their first World Tag Team Championship. They quickly ascended to the main event status, defending the titles against WWWF World Heavyweight Champion Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino on several occasions, throughout the year. During the feud, Fuji earned a shot at the WWWF title against Morales on August 22 but lost by count-out. They reigned for eleven months, making them the third longest WWWF World Tag Team Champions in history. They would lose the titles to Tony Garea and Haystacks Calhoun on May 30, 1973.
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Místico
Luis Ignascio Urive Alvirde (born December 22, 1982) is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE, working on its SmackDown brand under the name Sin Cara (Spanish for "Faceless"). He is best known for his time in the lucha libre promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) under the ringname Místico, where since 2006 he was the main técnico (face/storyline hero) in CMLL and the biggest box office draw in all of Mexico. Místico is Spanish for "Mystic", a religious ring character who is the storyline protégé of the wrestling priest Fray Tormenta. Upon signing with WWE in January 2011, Urive was repackaged as Sin Cara.
Urive is the son of Manuel Almanza, who wrestled under the ring name "Dr. Karonte", the brother of wrestlers Astro Boy, Argos, Argenis and an unspecified member of Los Mini Psycho Circus, the cousin of wrestler Magnus and the nephew of CMLL booker Tony Salazar.
Urive was trained for his professional wrestling debut by his father and his uncle Tony Salazar who is a retired wrestler that works as a booker for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, Mexico's oldest and largest wrestling promotion. Místico made his debut on April 30, 1998 working as "Dr. Karonte, Jr." at the age of 15. In 2000 he changed his ring name to "Astro Boy" in honor of his older brother who had died months earlier, who had worked as the original Astro Boy. Later on he was joined by another brother who worked as "Astro Boy II" to form a tag team. In 2003 Místico travelled to Japan to work for Michinoku Pro where he was billed as "Komachi", a ring persona he took over from fellow luchador Volador, Jr. who had played the part for about a year.
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Nick Bockwinkel
Nicholas Warren Francis "Nick" Bockwinkel (born December 6, 1934) is a retired American professional wrestler. He mainly competed in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the United States. He is a former multi-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion and co-holder of the AWA World Tag Team Championship.
Bockwinkel was considered by his peers and many industry experts to be an excellent wrestler, known for his exceptional technical ability and ring psychology. He was also known for his calm, charismatic, articulate promos, which distinguished him from many of his contemporaries.
Bockwinkel began his career in 1955, after a knee injury forced the University of Oklahoma to withdraw his football scholarship. After training to become a wrestler by his father Warren, a regional star in the 1940s, and Lou Thesz, he spent the early years of his career teaming with his father. At the age of 16, he had his debut match against Thesz. He won his first major singles title in 1963, defeating Tony Borne for the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship.
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Nick Dinsmore
Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore (born December 17, 1975), better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler. Best known for his work for World Wrestling Entertainment, Dinsmore is currently working on the independent circuit for promotions such as Juggalo Championship Wrestling and Ohio Valley Wrestling.
Dinsmore debuted in 1997, and soon began wrestling in the United States Wrestling Association.
In Ohio Valley Wrestling, he formed a successful tag team with Rob Conway, called The Lords of The Ring. The team had a record ten reigns as Southern Tag Team Champions. Dinsmore also held the OVW Heavyweight Championship a record ten times. While still in OVW, Dinsmore also made some appearances as a jobber in the World Wrestling Federation, first on an episode of Shotgun Saturday Night in 1999. He wrestled in the WWF as Doink the Clown on two later occasions, and as one half of Los Conquistadores (with Rob Conway). Dinsmore also appeared in World Championship Wrestling, wrestling on two episodes of Thunder (losing to Ernest Miller and Kanyon), and on two episodes of Nitro (first teaming with Lenny Lane to lose a handicap match to Scott Steiner, then losing a singles match to Wrath).
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Nick Kiniski
Nick Kiniski (born August 25, 1961) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his work with WCCW, PNW and AWA and for being one half of the tag team American Breed with Paul Diamond in Texas All-Star Wrestling.
Nick Kiniski started wrestling in 1980. He was trained by his father, the legendary "Canada's Greatest Athlete" Gene Kiniski. He wrestled four years on the Canadian National Team and he was a member of the 1984 Canadian Olympic Team. His pro debut took place in the Oklahoma area on January 22, 1985, when he lost to Buck Zumhofe by disqualification when Nick's brother, Kelly Kiniski, interfered.
He first rose to fame in Fred Barend's Texas All-Star Wrestling. He formed a tag team with Paul Diamond called American Breed. Neither Diamond nor Kiniski were actually American; Diamond was Croatian/Canadian and Kiniski was Canadian, so the team name is quite ironic. The team won the TASW Tag Team Championship from the Maoris (Tudui & Wakahi) on May 25, 1985 and held them until Al Madril and Chavo Guerrero took the titles from them on June 5, 1985. The TASW Tag Team title was vacated later that same month when Chavo Guerrero refused to wrestle in a rematch against Diamond and Kiniski because Chavo’s father Gory Guerrero was the special referee chosen for the match. Madril teamed up with Black Gorman instead but lost the match. After the match Madril attacked Chavo Guerrero, splitting the team and forcing the titles to be held up. When Chavo later won the rights to name a new championship partner after defeating Madril in a singles match, he chose to give the titles to the American Breed instead, only now the American Breed consisted of Paul Diamond and a rookie named Shawn Michaels. After the formation of the Diamond/Michaels version of American Force, Kiniski left the company in 1986.
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Nick Mitchell
Nicholas Cole "Nick" Mitchell (born November 9, 1982) is an American professional wrestler who is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as Mitch of the Spirit Squad on the Raw brand. Before starting a wrestling career, Mitchell played football for the Beaumont Drillers while at Blinn College. After not being accepted for a National Football League combine, Mitchell focused on a career in wrestling.
Mitchell took part of the fourth season of the reality series Tough Enough, a televised competition that would award the winner a WWE contract. Despite not winning, he signed a developmental contract with WWE, and was assigned to their developmental territory, Deep South Wrestling, where he wrestled as "Big Time" Nick Mitchell. He was later moved Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) where he joined the Spirit Squad faction.
After the Spirit Squad were called up to the Raw roster, they debuted in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship three months later. Following the split of the team, Mitchell was released from his WWE contract in May 2007. Following his release, Mitchell began a career in mixed martial arts.
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Nick Nemeth
Nicholas Theodore "Nick" Nemeth (born July 27, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, who is contracted to WWE. He wrestles on the Raw brand under the name Dolph Ziggler. He is also known for his performances with WWE as Spirit Squad member Nicky in 2006.
Nemeth signed a development contract with WWE in 2004, and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). He was brought up to the Raw brand in 2005 as Kerwin White's sidekick. He was, however, sent back to OVW shortly afterwards, where he joined the Spirit Squad. They debuted on Raw in January 2006, and won the World Tag Team Championship once before returning to OVW that November.
In September 2007, Nemeth was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he formed a tag team with Brad Allen. The pair won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship once, and Nemeth later won the championship for the second time with Gavin Spears as his partner. He returned to Raw as Ziggler in September 2008, and was drafted to the SmackDown brand in April 2009. At the SmackDown tapings on July 28, Ziggler won the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time. He held the championship for five months, until January 2011. He was awarded, and lost, his first World Heavyweight Championship on February 15, 2011. That March he returned to the Raw roster, and won the WWE United States Championship for the first time three months later.
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Nikolai Volkoff
Josip Nikolai Peruzović (born October 14, 1947), better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation. Although the Volkoff character is portrayed as Russian, Peruzović actually originated from Croatia and had a mixed background that was not entirely Russian.
Peruzović grew up in the Socialist Republic of Croatia, which was then part of the Yugoslavia, a Communist country. His mother is Italian and his father was Croatian. He was on the Yugoslavian weightlifting team until 1967, when he defected to Canada while at a weightlifting tournament in Vienna, Austria. He received training in Calgary from the legendary Stu Hart, followed by his arrival in the United States in 1970.
As soon as he arrived, he began wrestling in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) (currently known as WWE). Wrestling as Bepo Mongol, managed by "Captain" Lou Albano and partnered with Geto Mongol, he captured the WWF International Tag Team Titles from Tony Marino and Victor Rivera on June 15, 1970. After losing the titles to Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler in a match that unified the WWF International and WWF World Tag Team Titles, Peruzovic went on to singles competition under the name Nikolai Volkoff.
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Oleg Prudius
Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius (Russian: Олег Александрович Прудиус; Ukrainian: Олег Олександрович Прудіус, Oleh Oleksandrovych Prudius; born on April 27, 1969) is an Ukrainian American professional wrestler currently signed to Inoki Genome Federation, a Wrestling Promotion in Japan. He was also known by his ring name Vladimir Kozlov (Russian: Владимир Козлов). When competing for WWE, he won the Tag Team Championship once with Santino Marella. He is trained in freestyle wrestling, rugby, football, sambo, kickboxing, judo, and mixed martial arts.
Prudius has also worked as a stage and screen actor, notably having a small role in Spike Lee's 25th Hour., and a walk-on role in the second season of the HBO hit series The Wire. Prudius also had a role in Grindhouse, appearing in the "Werewolf Women of the SS" trailer; he was credited under his real name and his WWE persona for the appearance. He is a former Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
Prudius has won numerous achievements, becoming the 2005 USA Open Heavyweight Sambo Champion and a United States Kick-Boxing Association (USKBA) International Heavyweight Grappling Champion. He has also played American football for the Ukrainian National Team as well as Santa Barbara City College..
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Orlando Colón
Orlando Colón (born March 24, 1982) is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He began working in Hybrid Pro Wrestling, an independent circuit in Schoolcraft, Michigan. In 2006, Colón debuted in the World Wrestling Council, a promotion owned by his uncle, Carlos Colón. His cousins are Primo and former WWE wrestler, Carlito. While working with WWC, he had a brief participation in Pro Wrestling Zero1. In January 2010, Colón left the WWC after signing a development contract with WWE where he appears as Epico on their Raw brand, where he was one-half of the WWE Tag Team Champions with his real-life cousin Primo.
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Owen Hart
Owen James Hart (May 7, 1965 – May 23, 1999) was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The Blue Blazer. A member of the Hart wrestling family, Hart was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada the youngest of 12 children to Stampede Wrestling promoter and WWE Hall of Famer Stu Hart and Helen Hart.
Among other accolades, Hart was a one-time world champion: a one-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion; a two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion; one-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion; one-time WWF European Champion and four-time WWF World Tag Team Champion. He was also the winner of the 1994 WWF King of the Ring. Hart has been cited by a number of peers as one of the WWF's greatest professional wrestlers.
Hart died on May 23, 1999 when an equipment malfunction occurred during his entrance from the rafters of Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., at the WWF's Over the Edge pay-per-view event.
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Pat Barrett
Patrick "Pat" Barrett (born: 4 September 1941) is a former Irish professional wrestler who is best known for his time with NWA and WWWF. He has wrestled in many areas which include Ireland, Pacific Islands, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and United States of America.
The Irish wrestler Pat Barrett started wrestling in 1960 as Paddy Barrett. He was a successful Irish wrestler. He started his early years wrestling in Ireland and in 1963, he joined National Wrestling Alliance where he had a successful career. During this time he also appeared as the voice of doctor octopus in the animated series spider man returns again.
In 1963, he sailed from Ireland to the United States where he joined the sanctioned body of promotions in the U.S., National Wrestling Alliance. He was an international wrestler. He first toured Canada where he created a successful tag team with Tim Geoghegan.
Barrett and Geoghegan defeated Art Nelson and Ivan Kameroff on 8 November 1965 to win the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship. They lost their titles to John Tolos and Black Terror on 4 January 1966 but defeated them back for the titles on 28 February 1966.
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Paul Diamond
Thomas "Tom" Boric (born May 11, 1961) is a retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Paul Diamond. He is best known for being one half of the tag team Badd Company with Pat Tanaka and for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as Kato, one half of The Orient Express also with Pat Tanaka. Before he was a professional wrestler, Boric was a professional soccer player.
Boric was born in Yugoslavia (the region now known as Croatia) in 1961 and grew up wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a soccer player. When Boric was 13 years old the family emigrated from Croatia to Canada, settling down in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Tom got a full soccer scholarship to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
After only three semesters at college, Tom got drafted to play goalkeeper for the recently formed Calgary Boomers of the North American Soccer League. After the Boomers folded in 1981, Boric moved on to the Tampa Bay Rowdies whom he played for until the NASL closed in 1984.
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Paul London
Paul Michael London (born April 16, 1980) is an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
After being trained at the Texas Wrestling Academy, London began competing for Ring of Honor where his high risk offensive moves contributed to his popularity with the fans. He later competed for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Zero-One, and various independent promotions, winning numerous championships and won the ECWA Super 8 Tournament in 2003.
London made his debut in WWE in late 2003 and immediately began teaming with fellow cruiserweight Brian Kendrick, known as Spanky at the time. After Kendrick left WWE, London formed a tag team with Billy Kidman with whom he won the WWE Tag Team Championship. After their split, London began competing in the cruiserweight division and won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. In late 2006, Kendrick returned and the two reformed as a team. London and Kendrick were managed by Ashley Massaro. London and Kendrick won the WWE Tag Team Championship, becoming the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions since the title's creation and the World Tag Team Championship. The team split when Kendrick was drafted to the SmackDown brand in June 2008 and London was released later that year. In 2009, he returned to the independent circuit, competing for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he is one half of the former PWG World Tag Team Champions with partner El Generico under the team name ¡Peligro Abejas!.
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Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. (born October 29, 1949) is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff. After retiring, Orndorff worked as a wrestling trainer.
After earning notoriety as a running back at the University of Tampa where he scored 21 career touchdowns and gained over 2000 all-purpose yards in his playing career, Orndorff was a 12th round selection (289th overall pick) in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints but failed to pass the physical for the NFL with both the Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a teammate of the #1 pick notorious bad boy John Matuszak. However, he did play for the Jacksonville Sharks of the World Football League in 1975. After one season in the WFL, he began training as a professional wrestler.
Paul Orndorff started wrestling in 1976 in Mid-Southern Wrestling where he feuded with a young Jerry Lawler. Orndorff won his first wrestling title when he pinned Lawler for the Mid-Southern Heavyweight Title on June 7, 1977. Orndorff lost the title back to Lawler before he left the Memphis territory. Orndorff began working for the NWA Tri-State promotion where he got involved in a feud with Ernie Ladd. The feud with Ladd saw Orndorff win the NWA Tri-State North American Heavyweight Title from Ernie Ladd on two occasions (on May 29, 1978 and again in June). Both times, Orndorff’s reigns were short and were ended by Ladd.
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Pedro Morales
Pedro Morales (born October 22, 1942) is a retired Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He began his wrestling career as a teenager in 1959 and continued through to the late 1980s. Morales was the first man in wrestling history to win all three major men's titles in the World Wrestling Federation: the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF World Tag Team Championship. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995. Morales was also the first Latin American and Hispanic wrestler to win the WWWF Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship and to enter the WWF Hall of Fame.
Morales debuted in 1959 at the Sunnyside Gardens, beating Buddy Gilbert. He wrestled on the West Coast during the 1960s, taking on regional stars of the day such as Fred Blassie and The Destroyer, the latter from whom he took the World Wrestling Association's World Heavyweight Championship on March 12, 1965. Morales lost the title on July 23 to "Crazy" Luke Graham, but took it back from him on October 17. He held the title for nine months before being defeated by Buddy Austin on August 5, 1966. Morales then concentrated on tag team wrestling, co-holding the WWA tag belts four times during 1966-68, with four different partners: Luis Hernandez, Mark Lewin, Victor Rivera, and Ricky Romero. During a stint in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Morales held the Hawaiian U.S. title for two months in 1969.
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Perry Saturn
Perry Arthur Satullo (born October 25, 1966) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Perry Saturn. Since debuting in 1990, Saturn wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and Total Nonstop Action (TNA).
Satullo enlisted in the United States Army for four years at the age of seventeen, becoming an Army Airborne Ranger before eventually embarking on a career in professional wrestling.
Satullo began training at Killer Kowalski's school in Malden, Massachusetts around 1988, taking the ring name Saturn from the Roman god of the same name before later tweaking it to Perry Saturn. He debuted on October 27, 1990 in Waltham, Massachusetts, wrestling for the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). Satullo also wrestled in Kowalski's International Wrestling Federation as The Iron Horseman, a cowboy complete with black leather stetson and chaps. Satullo eventually won the IWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Satullo began wrestling for independent promotions throughout New England, as well as touring Japan with New Japan Pro Wrestling in 1993. In 1992 he worked as a jobber in WWF.
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Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose (born April 14, 1941), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989.
Rose, a switch hitter, is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and outs (10,328). He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions (2B, LF, RF, 3B & 1B).
In August 1989, three years after he retired as an active player, Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds, including claims that he bet on his own team. In 1991, the Baseball Hall of Fame formally voted to ban those on the "permanently ineligible" list from induction, after previously excluding such players by informal agreement among voters. In 2004, after years of public denial, Rose admitted to betting on baseball and on, but not against, the Reds. The issue of Rose's possible re-instatement, and election, to the Hall of Fame remains a contentious one throughout baseball.
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Peter Maivia
Fanene Leifi Pita Maivia (April 6, 1937–June 12, 1982) was an American Samoan professional wrestler better known as "High Chief" Peter Maivia. He was head of the famous Samoan wrestling family. He is the grandfather of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and was also the promoter for the National Wrestling Alliance in Hawaii.
Maivia, also known as the Flying Hawaiian, was of the Alii lineage of Malietoa. Maivia's tribal tattoos, which covered his abdomen and legs, were a symbol of his High Chief status. According to Superstar Billy Graham, they were completed in three days. Maivia's grandson Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson revealed that they were done with traditional Samoan instrumentation: a small hammer, a needle, and ink.[citation needed]
Maivia disapproved of his daughter's relationship with Rocky Johnson because he was a professional wrestler. The duo married despite Maivia's objections. His son, Peter Jr, also wrestled in Hawaii and the west coast after the passing of Peter Sr. sometimes under the name "Prince Peter Maivia".
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Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton (born April 1, 1980) is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand. Orton is a third-generation professional wrestler; his grandfather Bob Orton, Sr., father "Cowboy" Bob Orton, and uncle Barry O all competed in the professional wrestling industry.
Before being promoted to the main World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) roster, Orton trained in and wrestled for Mid-Missouri Wrestling Association-Southern Illinois Conference Wrestling for a month. He was then sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where Orton held the OVW Hardcore Championship on two separate occasions.
After signing with WWF, Orton became a member of the stable Evolution, which quickly led to a WWE Intercontinental Championship reign, his first title with the company. Orton also acquired the moniker "The Legend Killer" during a storyline where he began disrespecting Hall of Famers and physically attacking veterans of the industry outside of appropriate restrictions. At age 24, Orton became the youngest person ever to hold the World Heavyweight Championship. With this win, Orton departed from Evolution and a feud with his former stablemates began. In 2006, Orton joined forces with Edge in a tag team known as Rated-RKO. Together, Orton and Edge held the World Tag Team Championship. After the team disbanded, during mid-2007, Orton gained two WWE Championship reigns in one night. Orton formed the group The Legacy with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase in 2008, however, they would disband in 2010 with Orton returning to singles competition. Overall, Orton has won eleven total championships in WWE, including being a nine-time world champion, having won the World Heavyweight Championship three times and the WWE Championship six times. He is also the winner of the 2009 Royal Rumble match.
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René Goguen
René Goguen (born December 15, 1983) is a French Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name René Duprée. Goguen is best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he is a one-time World Tag Team Champion with Sylvain Grenier as the tag team La Résistance and a one time WWE Tag Team Champion with Kenzo Suzuki. Upon winning both titles, Goguen became the youngest wrestler in WWE history to win the World Tag Team Championship (at age 19) and the WWE Tag Team Championship (at age 20). His World Tag Team Championship win also made him the youngest man in WWE history to win any title. He is also the son of celebrated Canadian Maritimes wrestling promoter Emile Duprée.
As his father Emile was a wrestling promoter, Goguen was exposed and encouraged into wrestling at a young age. Goguen became a professional wrestler in 1997 at age 14, and began working for his father's Grand Prix Wrestling promotion. A few years later, he signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to further develop his skills.
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Rey Mysterio
Rey Gutierrez Mysterio Jr. (born December 11, 1974) is a Mexican American professional wrestler in World Wrestling Entertainment currently wrestling on the RAW Brand. In WWE, Gutierrez was trained by his uncle Rey Misterio, Sr. and wrestled early on in Mexico where he learned the Lucha Libre high flying style that has been his trademark.
Gutierrez originally worked for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) in Mexico, from 1992 to 1995. He wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1995 to 1996 and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1996 to 2001, as Rey Misterio, Jr./Rey Mysterio, Jr. but dropped the "Junior" from his name when he began working for WWE in 2002.
Mysterio is known for having a high flying style, which helped kick-start the cruiserweight wrestling revolution in the United States in the late 1990s during his time in WCW. In WCW he won the WCW World Tag Team Championship three times, and the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship once with Billy Kidman as part of the Filthy Animals. In WWE, Mysterio is a three time world champion having held the World Heavyweight Championship twice, the WWE Championship once and is currently listed as the lightest world champion in WWE history. He has also held the WWE Tag Team Championship a record-tying four times, and the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice. He also held the WCW/WWE Cruiserweight Championship a record eight times (five times in WCW, three in WWE). All totaled, he has won 21 titles between WWE and WCW. Mysterio was the 21st person to win the WWE Triple Crown Championship, and was the winner of the 2006 Royal Rumble.
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Rey Mysterio, Jr.
Rey Gutierrez Mysterio Jr. (born December 11, 1974) is a Mexican American professional wrestler in World Wrestling Entertainment currently wrestling on the RAW Brand. In WWE, Gutierrez was trained by his uncle Rey Misterio, Sr. and wrestled early on in Mexico where he learned the Lucha Libre high flying style that has been his trademark.
Gutierrez originally worked for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) in Mexico, from 1992 to 1995. He wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1995 to 1996 and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1996 to 2001, as Rey Misterio, Jr./Rey Mysterio, Jr. but dropped the "Junior" from his name when he began working for WWE in 2002.
Mysterio is known for having a high flying style, which helped kick-start the cruiserweight wrestling revolution in the United States in the late 1990s during his time in WCW. In WCW he won the WCW World Tag Team Championship three times, and the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship once with Billy Kidman as part of the Filthy Animals. In WWE, Mysterio is a three time world champion having held the World Heavyweight Championship twice, the WWE Championship once and is currently listed as the lightest world champion in WWE history. He has also held the WWE Tag Team Championship a record-tying four times, and the WWE Intercontinental Championship twice. He also held the WCW/WWE Cruiserweight Championship a record eight times (five times in WCW, three in WWE). All totaled, he has won 21 titles between WWE and WCW. Mysterio was the 21st person to win the WWE Triple Crown Championship, and was the winner of the 2006 Royal Rumble.
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Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr (born February 25, 1949) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time with a professional career that spans 40 years. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and is noted for his lengthy and highly decorated tenures with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (now known as WWE). Flair is officially recognized by WWE, TNA and PWI as a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion (seven-time NWA Champion, seven-time WCW Champion and two-time WWF Champion) although his actual tally of World Championship reigns varies by source—Flair considers himself a 21-time world champion.
In World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he also had two stints as a booker—in 1989–1990 and 1994. Flair also became the first and only man to have won the WWF Championship in a Royal Rumble match, when he accomplished this in the 1992 edition of the event. In 2012, Flair became the first ever double inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame, first inducted in 2008 for his individual career, and for a second time in 2012 as a member of the Four Horsemen. He is also an NWA Hall of Famer (class of 2008). Flair's hair styles and mannerisms are based on those of Buddy Rogers, who previously and famously used the "Nature Boy" gimmick in the 1950s and '60s. Coincidentally, Flair also followed Rogers in becoming the second man to win both the WWF and the NWA World Heavyweight Championships.
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Rick Martel
Richard Vigneault (born March 18, 1956) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel. He is also known for his two-year long reign as AWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Martel is from a family of wrestlers, and made his professional debut at age sixteen when his brother Michel, a wrestler, asked him to replace an injured wrestler. Martel was already a skilled amateur wrestler, and quickly adapted to professional wrestling.
Martel wrestled throughout the world, winning titles in Canada (in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling and Vancouver-based NWA All Star Wrestling), New Zealand and Puerto Rico. His first real success in America came in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Portland affiliate, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, where he became a top talent, holding the Canadian and PNW tag team titles simultaneously. He left PNW on August 16, 1980, when he lost a Loser Leaves Town match to Buddy Rose. Martel also served a stint as a booker for a wrestling territory in Hawaii.[clarification needed]
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Rick Rude
Richard Erwin Rood (December 7, 1958 – April 20, 1999), better known by his ring name "Ravishing" Rick Rude, was an American professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, including World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), in the 1980s and 1990s.
Among other accolades, Rude was a four-time world champion (three-time WCW International World Heavyweight Champion, and one-time WCWA World Heavyweight Champion), one-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, and one-time WCW United States Champion.
The self-proclaimed "Sexiest Man Alive", Rude was noted for his chiseled physique as well as being one of the greatest talkers in the history of professional wrestling. He is also notable for being a member of the original incarnation of D-Generation X, alongside Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna.
Born in St. Peter, Minnesota, Rood attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota with Tom Zenk, Brady Boone, Nikita Koloff, Curt Hennig, John Nord, Joseph Laurinaitis and Barry Darsow, all of whom later became professional wrestlers.
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Ricky Steamboat
Richard Henry Blood (born February 28, 1953), better known by his ring name Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, is a retired American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He was one of the few wrestlers who stayed a babyface throughout his career.[citation needed] He is best known for his work with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
In the NWA and WCW, he was a one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a four-time United States Heavyweight Champion, a four-time World Television Champion, a twelve-time World Tag Team Champion (eight-time under the WCW banner,one-time (though unofficial) under the NWA banner, and three-time under the Mid-Atlantic banner), and a two-time Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion. In the WWF/E, Steamboat was a one-time Intercontinental Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
While little is known about Steamboat's personal life, it is a known fact that he went to high school in New York. He was a two time New York State Wrestling qualifier.
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Ricky Steamboat, Jr.
Richard Blood, Jr. (born July 7, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names Ricky Steamboat, Jr. and Richie Steamboat. He is signed to WWE, and wrestles in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's developmental territory as Richie Steamboat. He is the reigning FCW 15 Champion, and has previously held the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship with Seth Rollins.
Blood trained with George South in Charlotte, North Carolina for several months. He later trained with Harley Race for approximately four months.
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Rico Constantino
Americo Sebastiano Costantino (born October 1, 1961) is a retired Italian American professional wrestler and wrestling manager. He is best known by his ring names Rico Costantino and Rico in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2001 to 2004. He is currently an Officer for the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority.
Prior to embarking on his wrestling career, Costantino entered Northwestern Military & Naval Academy. He graduated near the top of his class and at one point considered enrollment at West Point. Instead, Costantino returned to Las Vegas and settled into a career as a paramedic. This led to enrollment in the police academy, from which he graduated first in the entire state of Nevada. Costantino was also on the SWAT team at one point, paving the way for his next career as a bodyguard.
Costantino was a contestant on American Gladiators. He was challenged by Gemini (Michael Horton) to find out if "he had what it took" to be a contestant for the show. He would end up defeating Gemini in his best event, the Joust, one of the few contenders to do so (Horton lost only 8 of his 50 Jousts on his three seasons of AG).
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Rikishi (wrestler)
Solofa F. Fatu, Jr. (born October 11, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Rikishi.
Solofa Fatu, Jr. first got the fans attention in 1985 as he worked for Gino Brito and Dino Bravo’s “International Wrestling" territory based in Montreal. While in Montreal, Fatu worked as Prince Alofa, a high flying babyface often working as a team with the territory’s top faces. While working in Montreal, Solofa hung out with his cousin Samula Anoa'i who was working in the area as the heel "The Great Samu". When the Montreal territory closed up, the two cousins signed with the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico and became The Samoan Swat Team (Samu & Fatu). The team adopted the “Samoan savage" gimmick that had made their fathers so well known and feared throughout the wrestling world, working barefoot and never speaking English on camera. The team became the first ever WWC Caribbean Tag Team Champions on November 7, 1987 when they beat Invader I and Invader III. The duo held the title for just over a month before dropping them to Mark and Chris Youngblood before leaving the promotion.
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Road Warrior Animal
Joseph Aaron "Joe" Laurinaitis (born January 26, 1960) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names, Road Warrior Animal and Road Warrior. He is the brother to John Laurinaitis, who is the WWE's Executive Vice President of Talent Relations and the current general manager of both Raw and Smackdown brands of the WWE. Along with Road Warrior Hawk, Laurinaitis was one-half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or also dubbed as Legion Of Doom.
While living in Chicago, Laurinatis met Michael Hegstrand, later known as Road Warrior Hawk, and the two became close friends. When Laurinaitis was around eight years old, he and Hegstrand both moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota Joe Laurinaitis grew up in Minnesota, having to work for a living from a very early age. He attended Irondale High School. Because of his size and love of power lifting, Joe was an imposing figure and thus a very effective bouncer. He worked as a bouncer at Grandma B's in the Twin Cities where he caught the eye of Eddie Sharkey, a well known wrestling trainer. Sharkey thought that Joe along with Mike Hegstrand, Richard Rood, and Barry Darsow could make it big in professional wrestling. He believed in them so much that he trained all four of them personally.
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Road Warrior Hawk
Michael James Hegstrand (January 26, 1957 – October 19, 2003) was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors (WCW) or The Legion of Doom (WWF), with Road Warrior Animal.
While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later known as Road Warrior Animal, and the two became close friends. When Lauranaitis was about eight years old, he and Hegstrand both moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. While living in Minneapolis, Hegstrand attended Patrick Henry High School where he graduated in 1976. After high school, he had various odd jobs to make ends meet. Due to his size and love of power lifting, he was an imposing figure and thus a very effective bouncer. He would work as a bouncer at Grandma B's in the Twin Cities where he caught the eye of Eddie Sharkey, a well known wrestling trainer. Sharkey thought that Hegstrand, along with Joe Laurinaitis, and Barry Darsow could make it big in professional wrestling.
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Rob Conway
Robert Thomas Conway (November 28, 1972), better known as Rob Conway, is an American professional wrestler best known for his seven year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently employed by Juggalo Championship Wrestling.
Rob Conway began his career in Memphis Championship Wrestling (MCW) and Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), teaming with Nick Dinsmore under the names Limited Edition (MCW), the Borkcin Brothers, and the Lords of the Ring (OVW). While in OVW, he and Dinsmore were also members of Kenny Bolin's Bolin Services along with The Prototype, Bull Buchanan, and Mark Henry. As the Lords of the Ring, Conway and Dinsmore won the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on 10 occasions and captured the MCW North American Tag Team Championship once. On April 28, 1999 Rob Conway defeated his partner Nick Dinsmore to win the OVW Heavyweight Championship, but lost it back to him the next week. Conway won the OVW Heavyweight Championship a second time on August 17, 1999, pinning Damaja. He lost the title to Rico Constantino on November 10, regaining it on September 6, 2000, with another victory over Dinsmore.
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Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander Szatowski (born December 18, 1970), better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam (RVD), is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment, and Extreme Championship Wrestling.
Szatkowski has held 22 championships between ECW, WWE and TNA, as well as several regional titles in various promotions during his career. He is a former WWE champion, ECW champion and the TNA World Heavyweight champion once each. On the independent scene he has also won the World Heavyweight Championships for both American Wrestling Rampage and World Stars of Wrestling once each. He is the only man to achieve both WWE and ECW's version of the Triple Crown. Part of ECW's Triple Crown included the ECW World Television Championship, of which RVD's 700 day reign was the longest.
Szatkowski grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan and graduated from Pennfield High School. Rob made his first appearance on WWF television in 1987 in a skit with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. At the time, DiBiase was selecting plants from the audience and offering to pay them to perform degrading acts and offered the 16 year old Szatkowski $100 to enter the ring and kiss his foot, which he did. This early appearance was later included as a bonus feature on WWE's Before They Were Superstars DVD and on WWE's Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind DVD.
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Rocky Johnson
Rocky Johnson (born Wayde Douglas Bowles; August 24, 1944) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. Quite popular in his own right in the 1970s and 1980s, he is also known for being the father of actor and professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. During his wrestling career he became a 1-time National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Georgia Champion and also became a 1-time NWA Southern Heavyweight Memphis Champion as well as winning many other championships. Along with his partner Tony Atlas, Johnson was a part of the first black tag team to win the World Tag Team championship in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
Rocky Johnson was born Wayde Douglas Bowles in Amherst, Nova Scotia, where he was raised, the fourth of five sons of Lillian and James Henry Bowles. A Black Nova Scotian, he is descended from slaves who escaped from the American South. At the age of 16, Johnson moved to Toronto, Ontario, where he began wrestling and worked as a truck driver. Initially, he trained to be a boxer and eventually sparred with greats such as Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, but he was always fascinated by wrestling.
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Roddy Piper
Roderick "Roddy" George Toombs (born April 17, 1954), better known by his ring name "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler and film actor who is currently signed to WWE. In professional wrestling, he is best known for his work with WWE. Although he is Canadian, due to his Scottish heritage, he was billed as coming from Glasgow in Scotland and was known for his signature kilt and bagpipe entrance music. He earned the nickname "Rowdy" by displaying his trademark "Scottish" rage, spontaneity and quick wit. Despite being a crowd favorite for his rockstar-like persona, he often played the villain. He was also nicknamed "Hot Rod". Never a world champion, he accumulated 34 championships in various promotions during his career. Piper was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Toombs was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He attended Windsor Park Collegiate. His father was an officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police while they lived in The Pas, Manitoba. After being expelled from junior high[citation needed] and having a falling out with his father, Piper hit the road and stayed in youth hostels wherever he could find them.
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Roderick Strong
Chris Lindsey (born July 26, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Roderick Strong. Strong currently competes in several independent promotions, most notably Ring of Honor (ROH), Full Impact Pro (FIP), and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).
He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian independent circuit, before quickly changing his name to Roderick Strong. He worked for IPW Hardcore and NWA Florida, before debuting for ROH in September 2003. In mid-2004, Strong joined forces with Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, and Jack Evans, collectively known as Generation Next. As part of Generation Next, Strong won the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Aries. Strong later turned on Aries, forming a new faction, the No Remorse Corps with Davey Richards and Rocky Romero. During this time, he was also competing for ROH's sister promotion, FIP, and debuted for PWG. Strong also toured Japan with Dragon Gate and had a brief stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2005.
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Ron Killings
Ronnie Aaron "Ron" Killings (born January 19, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on its Raw brand and is one half of the Tag Team Champions alongside Kofi Kingston. Since working for the company, he has also been a one time United States Champion under the ring name R-Truth and a two time Hardcore Champion under the ring name K-Kwik. Killings has also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as K-Krush and later as Ron "The Truth" Killings, where he became the first African-American NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a title he held on two occasions, in addition to becoming a two time NWA World Tag Team Champion and a one time TNA World Tag Team Champion.
Jackie Crockett of the National Wrestling Alliance first tried to convince Killings to become a professional wrestler, but he was determined to focus on his music career. Killings spent two years working on his music career and then contacted Crockett once more and expressed an interest in becoming a wrestler. Crockett, by now the senior cameraman for World Championship Wrestling, took Killings to several WCW and Pro Wrestling Federation events, introducing him to wrestling personalities.
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Ron Simmons
Ronald "Ron" Simmons (born May 15, 1958) is an American former professional wrestler and American Football player. He performed for World Championship Wrestling under his real name and in the World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF/E) under both his real name and the ring names Faarooq Asaad (sometimes spelled Asad) and Faarooq (sometimes spelled Farooq).
In WCW, he was a one time World Heavyweight Champion; as the first of two African Americans to win the title, he is recognized by WWE as the first Black world champion in professional wrestling history, followed by Booker T. He was also a one time World Tag Team Champion with Butch Reed and a one time United States Tag Team Champion with Big Josh. In the WWF, he was a three time Tag Team Champion with Bradshaw as one half of the Acolytes Protection Agency. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Simmons was an American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL) and United States Football League (USFL) for four seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for Florida State University, and was recognized as an All-American. He played professionally for the NFL's Cleveland Browns, the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders and the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits.
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Rosa Mendes
Milena Leticia Roucka (born October 25, 1979) is a Canadian professional wrestler, valet, and former model of Czech and Costa Rican descent. She is signed to WWE, and works as Rosa Mendes on the SmackDown brand. Her last name is pronounced roh-tskah.
Roucka studied business at the University of British Columbia, but left to pursue a modeling career. She won several competitions, including the 2004 Piel Dorada, and also acted in commercials.
In mid-2006, Roucka participated in the 2006 edition WWE Diva Search. Despite finishing fourth, she was hired by WWE, and assigned to train in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) using the ring name 'Roucka'. On September 19, 2007, Roucka won the OVW Women's Championship, which she held for five months until February 20, 2008. The following month, Roucka transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE's new developmental territory.
In November 2008, Roucka began appearing on Raw, where she became associated with Beth Phoenix and Santino Marella. The following October, she was moved to the ECW brand and started an on-screen relationship with Zack Ryder, who she began to manage. The pair returned to the Raw brand in February 2010, and Mendes was drafted to SmackDown in April. In November, Mendes won the Queen of FCW title in FCW, and held it until February 2011.
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Sabu (wrestler)
Terry Michael Brunk (born December 12, 1964) is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Sabu. He is well known for his extreme wrestling style. Throughout his wrestling career, Brunk has most notably competed in Extreme Championship Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment's ECW brand. He is currently the X-LAW International Champion and is employed by Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Brunk is a three-time world heavyweight champion, having won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship twice and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once.
Brunk was trained by his uncle, Ed Farhat (The Sheik), and was initially trained to be a technical wrestler. He began his wrestling career in 1985 in the Sheik's promotion, Big Time Wrestling, and was billed as being from Saudi Arabia under the ring name "Sabu the Elephant Boy" (use of "The Elephant Boy" was dropped in his later days), as well as Terry S.R (the S.R. standing for Sheik's Revenge). During the 80's he would wrestle for various independent promotions in Michigan, Ohio, Canada and Hawaii. He was not billed as Terry Brunk, since it could confuse him with Terry Funk.
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Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa (born March 17, 1979) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Before debuting in TNA in June 2005, Seanoa competed in the Ring of Honor (ROH) independent promotion, where he held the ROH World Championship for a record 21 months. Upon joining TNA, Seanoa embarked upon an 18 month-long undefeated streak, in which he never lost a match by pinfall or submission. That streak came to an end at the Genesis event in 2006, when he tapped out to Kurt Angle's ankle lock submission hold.
Throughout his career, Seanoa has won numerous championships, including the Ring of Honor World championship and the Pure championship. Within TNA, he is a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion, a four-time TNA X Division Champion, and a two-time TNA World Tag Team Champion. He has also won the 2005 Super X Cup Tournament, the 2008 King of the Mountain match (the only one to retain the world championship in the match), and the TNA Triple Crown.
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Santino Marella
Anthony Carelli (born March 14, 1979) is an Italian-Canadian professional wrestler,mixed martial artist and judoka, better known by his ring name Santino Marella. He is currently signed to WWE, competing on its Raw Brand, where he is the reigning United States Champion. He is a two-time Intercontinental Champion and former Tag Team Champion with Vladimir Kozlov.
In the United States, Carelli took wrestling classes at and worked for the Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) a developmental territory for the national World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Upon joining OVW, Carelli was given the ring name Johnny Geo Basco. While there, he was involved in an infamous incident with Jim Cornette, the company's head booker and part-owner. After a storyline where he was supposed to act afraid of the Boogeyman but instead laughed, Cornette yelled at and slapped Carelli, leading to Cornette being removed from his position as booker of OVW by WWE.
Paul Heyman was appointed OVW booker to replace Cornette and changed Carelli's ring name from Johnny Geo Basco to Boris Alexiev, giving him a Russian shoot fighter gimmick. As Alexiev he made his debut on April 12, 2006 along with his manager and "comrade", Mr. Strongko. With his new gimmick he was booked to dominate opponents with stiff strikes and submission style wrestling, including a 10-second win over a wrestler named Dewey. He signed a developmental deal with WWE on August 11, 2006, and continued working in OVW.
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Sarona Reiher
Sarona Reiher (born January 10, 1978) is a professional wrestler who is currently signed to WWE, where she is performing on the SmackDown brand, using the ring name Tamina Snuka. She is the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka and the younger sister of former WWE performer, Sim Snuka.
Sarona first began in wrestling after she received the first Lia Maivia Scholarship to train in professional wrestling career at the Wild Samoan Training Center.
On December 26, 2009 it was reported through WXW's official twitter account that WWE signed Reiher to a developmental contract and would report to their farm territory Florida Championship Wrestling for further training. Reiher would then report to FCW on March 19th competing in a six diva tag team match at a house show. Reiher would then transition to managing the Uso brothers even competed in the tournament to determine the new FCW Divas Champion.
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Scott Hall
Scott Oliver Hall (born October 20, 1958) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF ̶ now WWE) in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under his real name. Since the late 2000s, Hall has become known for his much publicized battles with alcoholism and drug addiction, which he initially struggled with in the late 1990s during his time in WCW.
Hall began his career in 1984 in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF), before working in territories across Jim Crockett Promotions as part of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). In 1985, Hall moved to the American Wrestling Association (AWA), winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship once with Curt Hennig in January 1986. Following further stints in the NWA and the World Wrestling Council - where he would briefly hold the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship - Hall signed with the World Wrestling Federation in 1992. Hall would wrestle as Razor Ramon, a Latino-heel persona modeled after the characters of Tony Montana and Manny Ribera from the movie Scarface. While in the WWF, Hall would win the WWF Intercontinental Championship four times, before leaving for WCW in 1996.
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Scott Stanford
Scott Stanford is a sports anchor and commentator. He is the weekend sports anchor at New York City's NBC affiliate, WNBC-TV. He is a play-by-play commentator for the Monday Night Raw portion of WWE's internationally syndicated program, WWE Superstars, an interviewer for Monday Night Raw, and host for various WWE programming.
At WCBS Newsradio 880, Stanford received the 2002 and 2003 "AIR Award," which recognized him as the best radio sports anchor in the New York City market. Stanford is also four-time New York Emmy Award-winning sportscaster for "On-Camera Achievement." In 2003, he joined the WWOR-TV My9 News Team, and for the following 6 years was an anchor/reporter, which included hosting duties for the popular Geico Sunday Sports Rap. In 2008, he also started working for WNYW-TV, where he was the post-game reporter for the New York Yankees baseball team, along with hosting/reporting duties for the New York Giants Football pre-game kickoff shows. Scott's "Know Your Foe" Giants quiz segment has also received an award from the Associated Press. He also acts as a play-by-play announcer for college basketball and arena football.
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Sean Morley
Sean Allen Morley (born March 6, 1971) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name Val Venis, during his time with World Wrestling Federation, later known as World Wrestling Entertainment. He has also worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
During his career in WWF/E, Morley held the Intercontinental Championship twice, the European Championship once, and the World Tag Team Championship once with Lance Storm. In Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, he is a one time World Heavyweight Champion.
He began his wrestling training in the early 1990s under the tutelage of Jason and Dewey "The Missing Link" Robertson and debuted on the Canadian independent circuit before making his way to the international circuit, finding work with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in Japan, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in Mexico, and World Wrestling Council (WWC) in Puerto Rico where he was one half of a tag team known as the Canadian Glamour Boys with Shane Sewell. In Japan, he was known as Sean Morgan as the name Morley was difficult to pronounce due to the lack of phonetic differences between the L and R in Japanese. In Mexico, he adopted a robot-like mask and gimmick, changed his name to Steele, and won the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship.
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Sean Waltman
Sean Michael Waltman (born July 13, 1972) is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE in their developmental program. He wrestled there under the ring names 1–2–3 Kid and X-Pac off and on from 1993–2002, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring name Syxx, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Syxx-Pac and also under his real name. Waltman is the only wrestler in history to have held the TNA X Division Championship, the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, and the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship. Waltman is a member of the group known in wrestling as The Kliq, which also consists of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.
After being trained by former professional wrestling brothers Boris and Joe Malenko, Waltman began his career as The Lightning Kid, working his way through various independent organizations such as Pro Wrestling America (PWA) and the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), winning the PWA Light Heavyweight title, the PWA Iron Horse TV Title and the GWF Light Heavyweight Championship. Throughout the early part of his career, Waltman worked extensively with wrestler Jerry Lynn in both North America and Japan. The duo even teamed up to win the PWA Tag Team titles twice in 1993.
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Sgt. Slaughter
Robert Remus (born August 27, 1948), better known by his ring name Sgt. Slaughter, is an American former WWE personality and semi-retired professional wrestler. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Slaughter had success in the National Wrestling Alliance, American Wrestling Association, and World Wrestling Federation. In the 1980s, an alternate version of the Sgt. Slaughter character was incorporated into the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line as well as its animated series and comic books.
Remus attended Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he wrestled and played football.
Sgt. Slaughter held numerous regional titles early in his career and experienced his first major success in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) capturing the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Don Kernodle. During the late 1970s, Remus worked the American Wrestling Association (AWA) territory under a mask as Super Destroyer Mark II with managers Lord Alfred Hayes and Bobby Heenan.
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Shane Douglas
Troy Shane Martin (born November 21, 1964) is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly in the World Wrestling Federation. Martin later worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Martin is former four time ECW World Heavyweight champion and one-time NWA World Heavyweight champion.
Martin was born one of six children, the son of a veteran of World War II, who died in 1991. He graduated cum laude from Bethany College in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in history and political science. He is an alumnus of the Psi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. After earning his degrees, he was offered to join the Saba University School of Medicine but declined in order to continue wrestling.
Martin was trained by Dominic DeNucci in the Pittsburgh suburb of Freedom, Pennsylvania, alongside Mick Foley in the mid-1980s. He had been wrestling professionally to earn money since 1982. When he started, he used the character of Troy Orndorff, the fictional nephew of Paul Orndorff. In 1986, he wrestled Randy Savage at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping using his real name. He would also wrestle "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the debut episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge, once again using his real name. Later that year, he began wrestling as a fan favorite for the Universal Wrestling Federation using the name Shane Douglas, which was given to him by "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and Missy Hyatt ("Shane" coming from Martin's middle name, and "Douglas" from Michael Douglas, who at the time had just appeared in Wall Street). Douglas defeated Gilbert for the World Television Championship on August 3, 1987, but did not rise above mid-card status. Douglas soon lost the title on September 2 to Terry Taylor.
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Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon (born January 15, 1970) is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon. He is also the older brother of Stephanie McMahon and brother-in-law of professional wrestler Paul "Triple H" Levesque. He spent over 20 years in WWE, leaving in January 2010.
In WWE, he is a one-time European Champion and a one-time Hardcore Champion. McMahon is considered a fourth generation McMahon as he follows his great-grandfather, Jess McMahon, his grandfather Vincent J. McMahon, and his father Vincent K. McMahon.
McMahon began his on-screen career as a referee named Shane Stevens in 1990 and was the first performer to walk out to greet the audience at WrestleMania VI. Shane McMahon also refereed during the 1991 Royal Rumble match. He soon left behind the blue shirt and bow-tie and took on the role of a backstage official at WrestleMania VIII in an attempt to break up a brawl between Randy Savage and Ric Flair.
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Shawn Daivari
Dara Daivari (born April 30, 1984) is an Iranian American professional wrestler, currently performing on the American independent circuit as Shawn Daivari. He is best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment as simply Daivari and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Sheik Abdul Bashir.
Daivari grew up admiring Mick Foley and Bret Hart. His childhood hero was Shawn Michaels. He participated in his first professional wrestling match at age 15. He started his career in the Midwest with All-Star Championship Wrestling. He is known for representing Iran for international title matches
On October 18, 1998, Daivari appeared on WCW Monday Nitro as a fan being interviewed by Mike Tenay.
He appeared on February 26, 2003's TNA Xplosion and wrestled a tag team match against Mike Sanders and Glenn Gilberti with Ken Anderson. He also appeared on the October 5, 2003 edition of WWE Sunday Night Heat as "Sheik" Shawn Daivari, losing his match against Tommy Dreamer. He also made four appearances for independent promotion Ring of Honor between April and July 2004.
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Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is a retired professional wrestler, and an American television host. He is currently signed to WWE, where he has served as an ambassador for the company since December 2010. Hickenbottom consistently wrestled for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998, due to injury. He appeared in non-wrestling roles from 1998 to 2000, and resumed his in-ring career in 2002, retiring in 2010. He also hosts the show MacMillan River Adventures, airing on the Outdoor Channel.
Hickenbottom began his wrestling career with Mid-South Wrestling, now known as Universal Wrestling Federation, and American Wrestling Association (AWA). During his time with AWA, he performed in partnership with Marty Jannetty, as The Midnight Rockers; winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice. Hickenbottom and Jannetty briefly signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1987, while in contract with AWA. They returned to AWA, only to go back to the WWF in 1988.
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Sheamus
Stephen Farrelly (Irish: Stíofán Ó Fearghaile) (born 28 January 1978) is an Irish professional wrestler and actor, best known by his ring name Sheamus. He is signed with WWE and competes on the SmackDown brand as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion.
Prior to joining WWE, Farrelly was also a two-time International Heavyweight Champion during his tenure in Irish Whip Wrestling. He is a three-time World Champion, having held the WWE Championship on two occasions and is the current World Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He also won the King of the Ring in 2010 and the Royal Rumble in 2012, as well as the WWE United States Championship once.
Farrelly was born in Cabra, Dublin and was raised within the city. His father, Martin, was an amateur bodybuilder. Farrelly speaks fluent Irish, having attended Scoil Caoimhin Primary and Secondary School, a Gaelscoil During his school years he sang in the Palestrina Choir until the age of thirteen, as part of which he appeared on the Late Late Show and Live at Three television programmes. He played Gaelic football for the Erin's Isle team where he was declared sports star of the month. He also played rugby for the National College of Ireland, where he gained a National Diploma.
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Shelton Benjamin
Shelton James Benjamin (born July 9, 1975) is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment. Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Benjamin has acted as an assistant coach in amateur wrestling. He first spent time in Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he held the Southern Tag Team Championship four times. WWE then moved him to the main roster and put him into an alliance with Kurt Angle and Charlie Haas, known as Team Angle (and later the World's Greatest Tag Team). During his tenure with the company, he won the Intercontinental Championship three times, the United States Championship once, and the WWE Tag Team Championship twice with Haas. He currently wrestles for Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is one half of the World Tag Team Champions with Charlie Haas.
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Sherri Martel
Sherri Schrull (born Sherri Russell, February 8, 1958 – June 15, 2007) was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri.
Martel began her professional wrestling career as a manager. She joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the mid-1980s and held its AWA World Women's Championship three times. In the late 1980s, she joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where she held the WWF Women's Championship. Also in the WWF, Martel continued to act as a manager to wrestlers such as Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, and Shawn Michaels. She appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s. In the latter, Martel acted as the manager for the tag team Harlem Heat. After leaving WCW, she made a few wrestling related appearances until her death in 2007.
Martel was first introduced to professional wrestling as a child, when her mother took her and her sister to shows in Mississippi. In 1974, Martel approached Grizzly Smith for advice on becoming a wrestler, but he questioned her conviction and told her to come back to him in five years when she was an adult. She eventually married her second husband and gave birth to a son named Jared, but she soon divorced her husband. During this time, she again became interested in becoming a professional wrestler and sought training from "Mr. Personality" Butch Moore in Memphis, Tennessee. She started wrestling as Sherri Martine, but decided she needed more training. She continued to train at The Fabulous Moolah's school, where Moolah changed her name to Sherri Martel and sent her to wrestle in Japan in 1981. Moolah claims that Martel frequented night clubs and liked to party, which resulted in Moolah kicking her out of the school.
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ShoMiz
ShoMiz was a professional wrestling team from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) consisting of Big Show and the Miz. They were active in 2010 and won the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships. They were also featured in two WWE PPV events, Wrestlemania XXVI and Extreme Rules (2010).
On January 18, 2010, after Big Show helped WWE United States Champion the Miz by attacking The Miz's rival, MVP, Raw guest host Jon Heder arranged for Big Show and the Miz to form a tag team to take on Triple H and Shawn Michaels of D-Generation X (DX).
At the February 8 episode of Raw, Big Show and the Miz, both heels, was in an Elimination Triple Threat tag team match for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships against the Straight Edge Society (consisting of CM Punk and Luke Gallows) and the champions, DX. After DX eliminated the Straight Edge Society, ShoMiz pinned DX, making ShoMiz the winners and new tag team champions. At the Elimination Chamber (2010) PPV, Big Show illegally interfered in the Miz's United States title match against MVP, leading to the Miz beating MVP. The next night on Raw, ShoMiz successfully retained their tag team titles against MVP and his partner, Mark Henry. ShoMiz also retained their titles by beating DX on the March 1 episode of Raw.
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Sid Eudy
Sidney Raymond "Sid" Eudy (born July 4, 1960) is an American professional wrestler, best known as Sid Vicious in World Championship Wrestling, and as Sid Justice and Sycho Sid in the World Wrestling Federation. He is a six-time world champion: a two-time WWF Champion, two-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, a two-time USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion and a one-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion.
Eudy entered the wrestling industry after an encounter with Randy Savage and his brother Lanny Poffo. After being trained by Tojo Yamamoto, Eudy made his debut as he teamed with Austin Idol and wrestled the team of Nick Bockwinkel and Jerry Lawler. He then adopted the masked wrestler persona known as Lord Humongous. After competing mainly on the continental wrestling circuits (Alabama, Mississippi, Memphis, and Georgia), he captured several regional titles while there. He also competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he challenged Tatsumi Fujinami for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship under the name Vicious Warrior, but was unable to win the title. Eudy then made a very brief stint in World Class Championship Wrestling, where he adopted one of his most notable ring names: Sid Vicious, which he took from the punk rock musician of the same name who played bass for the Sex Pistols.
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Sika Anoa'i
Leati "Sika" Anoa'i (born April 5, 1945) is a former professional wrestler and a member of the Anoa'i family.
Sika teamed with his brother Afa to form the tag team the Wild Samoans. They teamed in various promotions including WWF and Mid-South. In 1979, they signed with the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment). Along with Afa, Sika held the WWF Tag Team Championship on three occasions. They won their first title in the WWF by defeating the team of Ivan Putski and Tito Santana on April 12, 1980. The Wild Samoans held the belts for almost four months before losing them to Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales on August 9. The title was vacated the following day, however, because Backlund already held the WWF Championship and could not defend both titles. A tournament was held to select the new champions, and The Wild Samoans defeated Tony Garea and Rene Goulet to regain the belts.
After losing the title to Garea and Rick Martel, the Wild Samoans left the WWF to compete in Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling. They won the tag team championship three times before leaving the promotion to wrestle in the National Wrestling Alliance's Mid-Atlantic territory. While there, the Wild Samoans defeated the Fabulous Freebirds to win the NWA National Tag Team Championship. Sika and Afa soon left the promotion and vacated the championship.
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Solofa Fatu
Solofa F. Fatu, Jr. (born October 11, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Rikishi.
Solofa Fatu, Jr. first got the fans attention in 1985 as he worked for Gino Brito and Dino Bravo’s “International Wrestling" territory based in Montreal. While in Montreal, Fatu worked as Prince Alofa, a high flying babyface often working as a team with the territory’s top faces. While working in Montreal, Solofa hung out with his cousin Samula Anoa'i who was working in the area as the heel "The Great Samu". When the Montreal territory closed up, the two cousins signed with the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico and became The Samoan Swat Team (Samu & Fatu). The team adopted the “Samoan savage" gimmick that had made their fathers so well known and feared throughout the wrestling world, working barefoot and never speaking English on camera. The team became the first ever WWC Caribbean Tag Team Champions on November 7, 1987 when they beat Invader I and Invader III. The duo held the title for just over a month before dropping them to Mark and Chris Youngblood before leaving the promotion.
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Stan Stasiak
George Stipich (April 13, 1937 - June 19, 1997), better known by his ring name Stan Stasiak, was a Canadian professional wrestler and fifth World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion. He is the father of professional wrestler Shawn Stasiak.
Born George Stipich, Stasiak made his wrestling debut in Quebec, Canada. He used the nickname "Crusher" early in his career and used a bear hug as a finisher. Later on in his career, he adopted the heart punch as his finishing move.
During his third stay with World Wide Wrestling Federation, he would get one of the biggest opportunities of his career. Stan "The Man" Stasiak won the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship on December 1, 1973, defeating Pedro Morales. Unlike wrestlers today, Stasiak was given little notice about winning the title before it took place. According to him, he was sitting in the dressing room in Philadelphia and the road agent came to discuss the match. Stan considered this a formality as he had been having the same discussion, nearly verbatim, in every major city on the Eastern seaboard for the last two months. However this time, it was different. The agent told Stasiak that Morales was to give him a belly to back suplex and as the ref makes the count, Stan raises his shoulder up after two, while Morales' shoulder stays down, thus the title changes hands. According to friend and fellow wrestler Frank Dusek, the company wanted to make Bruno Sammartino its champion again but did not want Sammartino to defeat current champion Pedro Morales in the process. Stasiak was used as a transition champion, defeating Morales for the belt and holding it for just nine days before losing it to Sammartino on December 10, 1973.
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Steve Keirn
Stephen "Steve" Paul Keirn (born September 10, 1951) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for being part of the tag team The Fabulous Ones, with Stan Lane, and later for a run in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Skinner, a gimmick that portrayed him as a tobacco spitting alligator hunter from the Everglades. During his time in WWF, Steve was also one of a number of wrestlers to play the role of the masked Doink the Clown. He is currently signed with WWE, and works as President of Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory.
Much of Keirn's early career was spent wrestling as part of a tag team. While wrestling in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF), he held the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship twelve times; once each with Bob Backlund, Jimmy Garvin, and Brian Blair, and nine times with Mike Graham. In addition, the team of Keirn and Graham won the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship three times.
In 1980 and 1981, Keirn focused on his career as a singles wrestler. He won many titles in Florida and Georgia, including the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title by defeating Chavo Guerrero Sr.. This title reign was recognized by New Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as the Los Angeles and Florida NWA territories, but not by the NWA as a whole, which considered the title vacant and held a tournament to crown a new champion. The title Keirn held was later renamed the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title. Keirn also won the NWA National Television Championship twice, defeating Terry Funk and Kevin Sullivan.
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Stu Hart
Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart, CM (May 3, 1915 – October 16, 2003) was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. Hart founded Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and associated wrestling school "The Dungeon." The patriarch of the Hart wrestling family, Stu was the father of many wrestlers, most notably Bret and Owen Hart. Along with Bret and Owen, Hart's trainees included future world champions Chris Jericho, Edge, Christian, Mark Henry, and Chris Benoit.
Hart played football for the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1938 and 1939 seasons. Stu Hart began amateur wrestling when he joined the YMCA in Edmonton in 1929. By 1937 he won a gold medal in the welterweight class from the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada. His amateur career peaked in May 1940 when Hart won the Dominion Amateur Wrestling Championship in the light heavyweight category. It must have been a bittersweet win for Hart as by that time the Phoney War had ended in Europe, and World War II had erupted. This led to the cancellation of the Olympics ending one of Hart's greatest dreams. Hart did enlist in the Canadian Navy and served as the Director of Athletics.
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Tammy Lynn Sytch
Tamara "Tammy" Lynn Sytch (born December 7, 1972) is an American professional wrestling manager, personality,and occasional wrestler. She achieved her greatest success under the ring name Sunny within the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, and is widely considered as one of the first Divas. She also performed under her own name in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
Sytch grew up in a strict family with a father who was retired from the United States Navy. She attended the same high school as her long-time boyfriend Chris Candido.Upon entering Smoky Mountain wrestling in 1993, a kayfabe claim was made that she had come from studying pre-law at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She then switched to pre-med at the University of Tennessee, with the ambition to be a pediatrician. During college, she worked as a freelance photographer.
Sytch started out traveling with her boyfriend Chris Candido to make some extra money. In late-1992, she signed a six month deal with Smoky Mountain Wrestling. She first appeared onscreen as Tammy Fytch in 1993. She played a villain, who idolized Hillary Clinton. In her first storyline with the company, she threatened to file a sexual discrimination lawsuit due to the lack of prominent positions offered to females. She managed Brian Lee to the Heavyweight Championship and also began accompanying Candido in his matches, as well. By May 1994, she was managing the two men as a tag team, which won the Tag Team Championship from The Rock 'n' Roll Express. Both Sytch and Candido, however, left the promotion in early 1995 for jobs with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
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Taylor Rotunda
Taylor Michael Rotunda (born May 25, 1990) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE and wrestles in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), as Bo Rotundo. He is a former two-time FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion and former two-time FCW Florida Tag Team Champion with his older brother Husky Harris.
In 2008, Rotunda signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he debuted in December by defeating Caleb O'Neal. On December 16, 2008, Rotunda, wrestling under his real name teamed with Kris Logan to defeat Ryback and Jon Cutler in a tag team match. Throughout early 2009, Rotunda continued wrestling in tag team matches, and changed his name to 'Tank Rotunda' in February. In June, he began wrestling as 'Bo Rotunda' and later 'Bo Rotundo', and the following month he began teaming with his brother, Duke Rotundo. At the FCW television tapings on June 23, The Rotundo Brothers defeated The Dude Busters (Caylen Croft and Trent Barretta) to become the number one contenders to the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship. That same night, they defeated Justin Angel and Kris Logan for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship. They went on to successfully defend the championship against Dylan Klein and Vance Archer and the team of Curt Hawkins and Heath Slater. At the FCW television tapings on November 19, the Rotundos lost the championship to The Dude Busters (Hawkins and Croft).
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Tazz
Peter Senerchia (born October 11, 1967) is a retired American professional wrestler and color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz. Tazz is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling where he works as a color commentator.
He is best known from his tenure in Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a two time World Heavyweight Champion, a two time World Television Champion, a three time World Tag Team Champion, a two time (and the first ever) FTW Heavyweight Champion, and the fourth ECW Triple Crown winner (the final in the original ECW).
His World Wrestling Entertainment career as an in-ring performer came to an early halt in 2002 when mounting injuries forced him to retire and become a color commentator, which he continued to do until his contract with WWE expired in April 2009. Two months later, Senerchia debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling at their Victory Road pay-per-view under the ring name Taz and eventually reprised his role as a color commentator for TNA's broadcasts, replacing Don West.
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Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. (born January 18, 1954) is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career. He is best recalled by mainstream audiences for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he wrestled as "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.
Among other accolades in the WWF, DiBiase was the first WWF North American Heavyweight Champion, a three-time WWF Tag Team Champion (with Irwin R. Schyster) and the 1988 King of the Ring. DiBiase also created his own championship, the Million Dollar Championship. He was well known for his cutting-edge heel promos, which were often concluded with his trademark evil laugh; DiBiase has been described by WWE as the organization's "most despised villain" during the late 1980s. He held the WWF Championship belt in 1988 after purchasing it from André the Giant, but this period is not recognized by WWE as an official title reign. Nonetheless, DiBiase frequently performed in main event matches and has been cited as one of the finest in-ring technicians in history.
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Ted DiBiase, Jr.
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Jr. (born November 8, 1982) is an American professional wrestler and actor signed with WWE, where he appears on its SmackDown brand. He is a former two time World Tag Team Champion with his former tag team partner, Cody Rhodes.
After being trained by Chris Youngblood and undergoing further training at Harley Race's Wrestling Academy, DiBiase made his professional wrestling debut on July 8, 2006. He won the Fusion Pro Tag Team Championship with his brother Mike DiBiase, in February 2007, and also toured Japan briefly with Pro Wrestling Noah. He signed a developmental contract with WWE in July 2007, and was assigned to their developmental facility, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He joined the Next Generation Hart Foundation faction for a short time, before winning the FCW Southern Heavyweight Championship in December 2007. Due to injury, he relinquished the championship in January 2008.
He made his WWE television debut on May 26, 2008, and in his first match as a member of the Raw roster, he won the World Tag Team Championship with Cody Rhodes. They dropped the championship in August, before winning it again a week later. Rhodes and DiBiase were joined by Manu shortly afterwards, forming a faction of multi-generation wrestlers, although shortly afterwards DiBiase was taken off television to film The Marine 2. Upon his return, he formed The Legacy faction alongside Rhodes and Randy Orton. Following The Legacy's dissolution, DiBiase moved into singles competition, and was drafted to the SmackDown brand in April 2011.
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Tenille Dashwood
Tenille Dashwood is an Australian professional wrestler , better known by her ring name, Tenille Tayla, currently signed to WWE.
Tenille was introduced into wrestling by her older brother Jake, when she was about 8 years old. She involved herself in the Australian wrestling scene and did some training from the ages of 13 to 15. In 2005, Tenille made some appearances for the Australian wrestling promotion PWA under the name Valentine. However, from the age of 16 to 18, Tenille was limited to setting up the ring at events and helping out after she suffered a shoulder injury. In 2007, she moved to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for a few months to train with Lance Storm at the Storm Wrestling Academy. In the fall of 2008, Tenille returned to Australia. She wrestled for several promotions, with one of her most notable appearances being at Nightmare Wrestling, where she teamed up with Christy Hemme, Kellie Skater and Sara Jay to defeat the team of Traci Brooks, Vixsin, Sway and Aurora. On 22 February 2009 Tenille also won PWA Queensland's first-ever "Queen of the Warriors" tournament, after defeating Shazza McKenzie, Jessie McKay and Kellie Skater.
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Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk (born June 30, 1944) is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley. Funk has appeared in the NWA, AWA, WWF/E, WCW, ECW, USWA, ROH, and TNA.
Funk held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once and ECW World Heavyweight Championship once (ECW awarded him the honorary lifetime title of ECW Champion due to his contributions to the promotion). In addition, he won the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship once, the IWA World Heavyweight Championship twice, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once (the reign was under Eastern Championship Wrestling name), the 3PW World Heavyweight Championship once. He is the only man to have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, the WCW Hall of Fame, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, the NWA Hall of Fame, the Hardcore Hall of Fame, and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Funk was a primary subject of the documentary film Beyond the Mat. Funk is often noted for the longevity of his career, which has included multiple "retirement" matches.
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The Fabulous Moolah
Mary Lillian Ellison (July 22, 1923 – November 2, 2007) better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. She won the NWA World Women's Championship in 1956 and was the most prominent holder of the title for approximately the next thirty years.
In the 1980s, she joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as part of the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection storyline, feuding with Cyndi Lauper and Wendi Richter, the latter of whom defeated her for the WWF Women's Championship in 1984. Ellison was marketed by the WWF (later World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE) as holding the record for the longest title reign by any athlete in any professional sport. According to WWE, she was also the first WWF Women's Champion and held the title a total of four times.
In addition, Ellison was a prominent trainer and promoter in woman's professional wrestling. In the 1990s, she returned to the WWF in a comedic role with longtime friend Mae Young. Ellison became the oldest champion in the history of professional wrestling when she won the WWF Women's Championship at age 76, in 1999. In 2010, WWE recognized her as the 27th best wrestler ever.
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The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne "Presley" Farris (born January 25, 1953), better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education, Farris coached high school football for two seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee. Currently working on the independent circuit, he previously worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF)--now WWE. He is best known for his first run with WWF, where he held the WWF Intercontinental Championship for a record 64 weeks, and lost it to Ultimate Warrior in the very first pay-per-view of SummerSlam. He is the cousin of professional wrestler and color commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler.
Farris began his career in Memphis Wrestling in 1978. He wrestled frequently in Birmingham, Alabama with SECW / CCW / CWF as Dynamite Wayne Farris. Originally a low-card wrestler, he later achieved greater success when he teamed with Larry Latham to form The Blond Bombers tag team with Sgt. Danny Davis as their manager. The Blond Bombers were involved in heated feuds with several baby faces across the two competing Tennessee promotions, appearing in both Nick Gulas Nashville based territory, and Jerry Jarrett's Memphis area. Their signature moment was the now famous "Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl" against Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. He then had stints in the American Wrestling Association, NWA Mid-Atlantic, World Wrestling Council, NWA Southeastern, and Stampede Wrestling through the early '80s, winning multiple singles and tag team championships in each.
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The Miz
Michael "Mike" Gregory Mizanin (born October 8, 1980) is an American professional wrestler, reality television star, media personality, and actor better known by his nickname and ring name The Miz. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its Raw brand. Mizanin first gained fame as a cast member on MTV's The Real World: Back to New York, which first aired in 2001, and its spinoff series, Real World/Road Rules Challenge. He later entered the fourth season of Tough Enough, a televised competition that would award the winner a WWE contract, and became the first runner-up. Mizanin has also made appearances on television shows including Battle of the Network Reality Stars, Fear Factor, Identity, Ghost Hunters, Dinner Impossible, Psych and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.
Mizanin trained and wrestled with Ultimate Pro Wrestling and Deep South Wrestling, where he became the first Deep South Heavyweight Champion. Mizanin was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), working in tag team matches and winning the tag team title, the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship, on one occasion.
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The Undertaker
Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name The Undertaker. He is signed to WWE and is the company's most tenured competitor. Calaway began his wrestling career with World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in 1984. He joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as "Mean" Mark Callous in 1989. When WCW did not renew Calaway's contract in 1990, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation in October and, after shortening his name from Kane the Undertaker to simply The Undertaker, has remained with the company since.
The Undertaker has two contrasting personas. The first is the role of The Deadman, an undead, occult-like figure, which has consisted of many different styles. He debuted his original Deadman persona during his own on-camera debut at Survivor Series (1990). At this event, the Undertaker was clad as a Western mortician. Next, in October of 1998, the Undertaker appeared as the leader of the Ministry of Darkness (with similar apparel). Since WrestleMania XX, the Undertaker has appeared as a hybrid version of the Deadman character, using elements of the previous Deadman incarnations.
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Theodore Long
Theodore Rufus "Teddy" Long (born September 15, 1947) is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who is currently signed to WWE, performing as a servant for John Laurinaitis. He is best known for being a two-time general manager of WWE SmackDown.
Long started out as an errand boy for wrestlers Tommy Rich and Abdullah the Butcher. He eventually became a member of the ringcrew and was promoted to referee in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions in 1985 as Teddy Long. In 1989, at the Chi-Town Rumble event, Long ran in and counted three, making Ricky Steamboat the NWA World Champion. Shortly thereafter, Long began to turn into a villainous character when he started to bend the rules for the villains. On April 2, 1989 at the Clash of Champions in New Orleans, Long blatantly made a fast count allowing Mike Rotunda and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams to defeat the Road Warriors for the NWA World Tag Team Championship. After this match, the National Wrestling Alliance relieved Long of his refereeing duties. This was actually a story lifted from Championship Wrestling from Florida, where Long had been a referee and did several heel-decisions in the ring, including one for Ron Simmons over Skip Young. While riding with Kevin Sullivan and Eddie Gilbert, Long would DJ for them. After hearing Long talk, the two convinced Jim Ross to give Long a managerial role, managing "Norman The Lunatic". Long became the manager of Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed) and led them to the World Tag Team Titles. He also managed Johnny B. Badd, One Man Gang, Norman the Lunatic, The Skyscrapers (Sid Vicious, Dan Spivey and Mark Calaway), Marcus Bagwell, 2 Cold Scorpio, Joey Maggs, Craig Pittman, Jim Powers, Bobby Walker, Ice Train and Bobby Eaton while in Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW.
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Tito Santana
Merced Solis (born May 10, 1953) better known by his ring name Tito Santana, is an American professional wrestler whose heyday spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, though he continues to appear on the independent circuit. He is best known from his time in the World Wrestling Federation. Competing almost exclusively in the WWF from 1979 to 1993, Solis helped bridge the gap between the 1980s "Rock 'n Wrestling Connection" era to the 1990s "New Generation" era. He also won the first match in WrestleMania history.
Solis played tight end for West Texas A&M University, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. The team was quarterbacked by future professional wrestler Tully Blanchard, who would introduce him into the world of professional wrestling. After graduation, Solis was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs during training camp. He played one season for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, appearing in 13 regular-season games.
He pro debuted in Championship Wrestling From Florida in 1977, also worked in Georgia Championship Wrestling in 1977-78, until he joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1979. After a near 3 year run in the American Wrestling Association form 1980-1982 he returned to World Wrestling Federation in 1983.
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Tom Prichard
Thomas Prichard (born August 18, 1959) is an American professional wrestler better known as Tom Prichard. He is the brother of Chris and Bruce Prichard.
Tom Prichard began his career in Los Angeles, around 1979, working for Gene and Mike LeBell's Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium wrestling promotion, where he held several championships in that organization, including the Americas tag team title with Chris Adams. After LeBell closed the L.A. promotion down in 1982, Prichard competed in various NWA territories for the next four years before settling in the southeast, where he had his greatest success of his career.
Prichard joined the Continental Wrestling Federation in the late 1980s, and feuded with "The Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony. Their feud included a very controversial angle where Anthony's valet came out with a black eye and begged Prichard to help her, only for Anthony to attack him from behind, cuff his hands behind his back, and hang him. On October 3, 1988 in Birmingham, Alabama, he defeated Anthony in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant CWF Heavyweight Championship. Prichard lost the title to Wendell Cooley on April 7, 1989 in Knoxville, Tennessee, but regained the belt on June 23 of that year. He lost the title to Dennis Condrey a month later on July 22 in Dothan, Alabama, before once again regaining it after defeating Condrey on December 6 of that same year. Prichard held the title until the CWF closed later that month.
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Tony Atlas
Anthony White (born April 23, 1954) better known by his ring name "Tony Atlas" is an American bodybuilder, powerlifter, and professional wrestler who has held multiple titles and championships in each sport. He is also known by his bodybuilding title, "Mr. USA" (a distinction he earned three times), the nom de guerre the "Black Superman", as well as an alter ego named Saba Simba. He returned as an on screen manager for WWE, appearing on its now-defunct ECW brand.
Atlas started wrestling in 1975 for the National Wrestling Alliance World Wide/Mid Atlantic area. His debut, on July 10, was a tag team match with Bob Bruggers against Art Neilson and The Blue Scorpion. The match finished with Atlas winning the fall for his team with a sleeper hold on the Blue Scorpion.
Throughout his career he worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, the World Wrestling Council (WWC), World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Among his regular partners were Tommy Rich (as "TNT"), Dick Murdoch, and Rocky Johnson. He was also the very first man to press slam and pin Hulk Hogan though Hogan's foot was on the rope and the referee didn't see it.[citation needed]
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Tony Chimel
Anthony "Tony" Chimel (born October 11, 1961) is an American professional wrestling ring announcer, employed by WWE for WWE Superstars and Pay-Per-View pre-shows.
Before Chimel was ring announcer, he and Joey Marella (referee and son of legendary grappler Gorilla Monsoon) were the main ring technicians for the World Wrestling Federation. Chimel then began announcing duties for the company in 1991, working mostly non-televised house shows and filling in for Howard Finkel whenever necessary.[citation needed]
Chimel was the SmackDown ring announcer since its inception in 1999. He had also been ring announcing at SmackDown brand pay-per-views during this period of time. He defeated Howard Finkel for the rights to be SmackDown announcer in 1999 in a tuxedo match.
From 2005 to 2007 Chimel was involved in a mini-feud with former superstar Mr. Kennedy, who claimed that Chimel was not announcing his name with the proper respect that it deserved. This feud included Chimel being body punched, being "told to take a bow" (hit in the groin), and having a doughnut shoved in his mouth by Mr. Kennedy.
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Trent Barreta
Gregory "Greg" Marasciulo (born March 30, 1987) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, working on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Trent Barreta. He was one half of the Dude Busters tag team with Caylen Croft before Croft was released from his WWE contract. Marasciulo also wrestled for the New York Wrestling Connection as Plazma, and competed in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in drag as a masked wrestler, The Girl from Mexico.
Marasciulo made his professional debut for New York Wrestling Connection on July 10, 2004, under the ring name Plazma in a losing effort to Dan Barry. After wrestling primarily in singles and tag team matches, Plazma defeated Matt Maverick on January 28, 2006 to become the promotion's first ever Hi-Fi Champion, which was also the first championship of his career. On February 25, Plazma retained the title against Maverick in his first title defense. On March 18, Plazma lost the title to Mike Spinelli. Plazma would defeat Spinelli in a rematch for the title on May 20. After successfully retaining the title against the likes of Jamie Van Lemer, Spyder, Javi-Air, and Jerry Lynn throughout the next few months, Plazma lost the Hi-Fi Championship to Dickie Rodz on October 21. After two unsuccessful attempts to regain the title in February and March 2007, respectively, Plazma teamed with Maverick to defeat The Angus Brothers (Danny and Billy) and Dan Dynasty and Jamie Van Lemer in a three-way match to win the Tag Team Championship. The team would retain the title on several occasions before losing them to MEGA and Prince Nana on December 15. That same night, Plazma defeated Quiet Storm to win the Heavyweight Championship, although the title was vacated shortly afterwards due to Marasciulo announcing his signing to World Wrestling Entertainment.
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Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque (born July 27, 1969) is an American professional wrestler, wrestling executive, and actor better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Currently, Levesque works in the front office of WWE as the Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events, and as Triple H appears on television as the (storyline) Chief Operating Officer, and part-time wrestler.
Levesque began his wrestling career in the International Wrestling Federation as Terra Ryzing before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. After briefly using the Ryzing name, he changed his character to Jean-Paul Lévesque, a French-Canadian aristocrat which would be similar to his character Hunter Hearst Helmsley, that he used in his early years with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1995 onward. He later abbreviated his name to Triple H and adopted an alternative image in the D-Generation X (DX) stable. After the dissolution of DX, Triple H was pushed as a main event wrestler, winning several singles championships. As part of a storyline Triple H married Stephanie McMahon, who later became his real-life spouse. In 2003, Triple H formed another stable known as Evolution, and reformed DX with Shawn Michaels in 2006 and 2009. He is heavily involved in the writing process of WWE programming, and holds complete creative control over his television character's storylines, win/loss record, and championship reigns.
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Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard (born January 22, 1954) is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen.
He worked for most of the major professional wrestling organizations in the United States: the National Wrestling Alliance, American Wrestling Association, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE). As of March 31st, 2012, Tully Blanchard was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen.
As the son of wrestling promoter and former American Wrestling Association star Joe Blanchard, Tully Blanchard was involved in professional wrestling at a very young age. He began selling programs and refreshments at the arenas at the age of ten, and worked as a referee when he was older. Blanchard attended West Texas State University, where he played American football, first as a quarterback and then as a defensive end, alongside fellow future wrestlers Tito Santana and Ted DiBiase.
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Tyler Black
Colby Lopez (born May 28, 1986) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Tyler Black. He is signed to a contract with WWE, where he competes in their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling as Seth Rollins, where he is the reigning FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion. He is a former FCW 15 Champion and FCW Florida Tag Team Champion with Richie Steamboat. He is best known for his time in Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former ROH World Champion.
He has competed in Scott County Wrestling, AAW: Professional Wrestling Redefined, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, the National Wrestling Alliance, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Wrestling Society X. In several promotions, Black was the tag team partner of Jimmy Jacobs, with the team known as Doin' It For Her. He was once a member of The Age of the Fall along with Jacobs, and several other wrestlers. Black is also a three-time world champion having won the MCPW World Heavyweight Championship once, the FIP World Heavyweight Championship on one occasion, and the ROH World Championship once.
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Tyson Kidd
Theodore James "TJ" Wilson, sometimes stylized as T.J. Wilson, (born July 11, 1980) is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, and wrestles on the SmackDown brand as Tyson Kidd.
The final graduate of the Hart Dungeon, Wilson wrestled internationally, winning various championships, before signing with WWE in 2006. Forming the Hart Dynasty with David Hart Smith and Natalya, Kidd won the Unified Tag Team Championship in April 2010 when the Hart Dynasty defeated ShoMiz.
Wilson trained at Stu Hart's Dungeon in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Wilson furthered his wrestling training under the watch of Tokyo Joe, who later helped him get booked in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) as well as in England. He wrestled his first match in Stampede Wrestling in Calgary at the age of fifteen in 1995. At age sixteen, he wrestled in the opening match of a World Wrestling Federation house show in Calgary, teaming with Andrew Picarnic against Teddy Hart and Harry Smith. The following year, Wilson started training with Bret Hart.
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Umaga (wrestler)
Edward Smith "Eki" Fatu (March 28, 1973 - December 4, 2009) was a Samoan-American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Umaga. He was best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a two-time Intercontinental Champion.
He was a member of the Anoa'i wrestling family and frequently worked as a part of a tag team – variously named The Island Boyz, the Samoan Gangstas, and 3-Minute Warning – with his cousin Matt Anoa'i. During Fatu's first stint with WWE, he was known as Jamal and Matt was billed as Rosey. In late 2005, Fatu returned to WWE. Repackaged under the ring name "Umaga", Fatu went undefeated for many months on WWE's Raw brand throughout much of 2006, before suffering his first defeat under the Umaga name in January 2007.
His mother, Vera, was the sister of Afa and Sika of the Wild Samoans, and his later Umaga gimmick would be compared to their "wildness". His two older brothers, Sam (better known as Tonga Kid and Tama) and Solofa Jr. (better known as Rikishi), are also professional wrestlers who have achieved success of their own.
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Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne (born February 26, 1926), is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout the Midwest and Manitoba for many years. He remained in this position until 1991, when the company folded.
Gagne is a 16-time world heavyweight champion, having held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship 10-times, the World Heavyweight Championship (Omaha version) 5-times, and the IWA World Heavyweight Championship once. Gagne holds the record for the most combined days as a world champion and is third behind Bruno Sammartino and Lou Thesz for the longest single world title reign. He is one of six men inducted into each of the WWE Hall of Fame, the WCW Hall of Fame, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
Verne Clarence Gagne grew up on a farm in Corcoran, Minnesota. He left home at the age of 14 after his mother died. Verne went to Robbinsdale High School and excelled in football, baseball and wrestling, winning district, regional and state championships in high school wrestling, as well as being named to the All-State Football Team. In 1943, Gagne was recruited to play football at the University of Minnesota, where he was named to the All-Conference Team. After one year of college, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. Gagne chose to return to the University of Minnesota, where, as an amateur wrestler, he captured two NCAA titles. He was also an alternate for the U.S freestyle wrestling team at the 1948 Olympic Games; he later said that he might have wrestled in the Olympics, but his coaches had discovered that he had earned money winning a wrestling match at a carnival, thus putting his amateur standing in question.[citation needed]
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Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Lynn Guerrero (née Lara, born April 16, 1968) is an American professional wrestling personality, manager, shifting authority figure and occasional wrestler, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand. She is also the wife of the late professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero.
In 2005, Vickie Guerrero began to make cameo appearances during the feud between her husband Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, which had escalated when Eddie promised to reveal a secret concerning Mysterio's son, Dominick. Vickie was on the July 14 episode of SmackDown! with two of Eddie's three daughters to stop Eddie from revealing Mysterio's secret. Eddie promised not to reveal the secret should he lose to Mysterio at The Great American Bash, though that turned out to be another one of his character's trademark lies, as Eddie revealed that Dominick was really his biological son. Vickie later reappeared at SummerSlam to convince Eddie to put a stop to his war with Mysterio and not to go through with the "Custody of Dominick" ladder match that night. When that failed, she cost him the match by pushing over the ladder he was on as he was about to win. On November 13, 2005, Eddie Guerrero died of heart failure in his Minneapolis hotel room and was found by his nephew Chavo. On-screen, this led to Rey Mysterio, Eddie's real-life friend, getting more screen time and higher profile matches, including defeating Kurt Angle and Randy Orton at WrestleMania 22 for the World Heavyweight Championship.
wn.com/Vickie_Guerrero -
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon (born August 24, 1945) is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE. Upon acquiring World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), McMahon's WWE became the sole remaining major American professional wrestling promotion (until the national expansion of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Ring of Honor).
As an on-camera character, he can appear on all WWE brands (though the majority of the time, he appears on Raw). McMahon plays a character known by the ring name Mr. McMahon, based on his real life persona. In the world of WWE, he is a two-time world champion, having won the WWF Championship and ECW World Championship. He was also the winner of the 1999 Royal Rumble.
Vince is the husband of Linda McMahon, with whom he ran WWE from its establishment in 1980 until she resigned as the CEO in September 2009.
wn.com/Vince_McMahon -
Vince McMahon, Sr.
Vincent James "Vince" McMahon, better known as Vince McMahon, Sr. (July 6, 1914 – May 24, 1984) was an American professional wrestling promoter. He is best known for founding the American World Wide Wrestling Federation (now WWE) promotion.
Vincent James McMahon was born on July 6, 1914 in Harlem, New York to his father Roderick James "Jess" McMahon, an Irish-American, was a successful boxing, wrestling and concert promoter who had worked with legendary Madison Square Garden promoter Tex Rickard, and his mother Rose, a New Yorker of Irish descent. He had an older brother, Roderick Jr., and a younger sister, Dorothy. As a child Vince would often accompany his father to Madison Square Garden where he would play, and later, begin learning the family business.
McMahon saw the tremendous potential for growth that the pro wrestling industry had in the era following World War II, especially with the development of television and it's insatiable need for new programming. Similar to boxing, wrestling took place primarily within a small ring and could be covered adequately by one or two cameras, and venues for it could readily be assembled in television studios, lessening production costs.
wn.com/Vince_McMahon,_Sr. -
Vladimir Kozlov
Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius (Russian: Олег Александрович Прудиус; Ukrainian: Олег Олександрович Прудіус, Oleh Oleksandrovych Prudius; born on April 27, 1969) is an Ukrainian American professional wrestler currently signed to Inoki Genome Federation, a Wrestling Promotion in Japan. He was also known by his ring name Vladimir Kozlov (Russian: Владимир Козлов). When competing for WWE, he won the Tag Team Championship once with Santino Marella. He is trained in freestyle wrestling, rugby, football, sambo, kickboxing, judo, and mixed martial arts.
Prudius has also worked as a stage and screen actor, notably having a small role in Spike Lee's 25th Hour., and a walk-on role in the second season of the HBO hit series The Wire. Prudius also had a role in Grindhouse, appearing in the "Werewolf Women of the SS" trailer; he was credited under his real name and his WWE persona for the appearance. He is a former Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
Prudius has won numerous achievements, becoming the 2005 USA Open Heavyweight Sambo Champion and a United States Kick-Boxing Association (USKBA) International Heavyweight Grappling Champion. He has also played American football for the Ukrainian National Team as well as Santa Barbara City College..
wn.com/Vladimir_Kozlov -
Wade Barrett
Stuart Alexander "Stu" Bennett (born August 10, 1980) is an English professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he performs on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Wade Barrett. He won the first season of NXT in 2010 and made his Raw debut in June of that year, rising to prominence as the leader of the Nexus, a villainous stable composed of the NXT contestants. Barrett headlined five WWE pay-per-view events during the remainder of 2010, challenging for the WWE Championship in three of those.
After moving to SmackDown in January 2011, Barrett formed a new stable known as The Corre, which included former Nexus members. He challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship at the 2011 WWE Elimination Chamber and won his first singles championship, the WWE Intercontinental Championship, in March. Prior to his WWE debut, Barrett competed in various independent promotions under his own name, and the ring names of Stu Sanders and Lawrence Knight.
Bennett was born in Penwortham and lived in Preston, Lancashire until the age of six, when he moved to Wales with his family. He has an older brother named Martin. As a child, Bennett was a fan of "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Before becoming a professional wrestler, Bennett was a bareknuckle boxer while living in Liverpool. Bennett has a degree in marine biology from University of Liverpool. He worked in a science laboratory and later as a Recruitment Consultant at Venn Group's London Office, whilst training to become a wrestler.
wn.com/Wade_Barrett -
Wade Keller
Wade Keller (born May 22, 1971) is a wrestling columnist. He runs the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter, which is regarded as one of the most influential newsletters in professional wrestling.
Keller founded Pro Wrestling Torch (a/k/a PWTorch, or simply "The Torch") in October 1987, when he was a junior in high school. The newsletter is published weekly from his Minnesota home, as well as a website, PWTorch.com, which was launched in 1999. Keller's work includes weekly columns, news reporting and analysis, as well as interviews in both print and audio format. He works closely with wrestlers, promoters, and wrestling fans to gather the information for his features.
One of Keller's yearly features is the Torch Talk, in which he conducts interviews with wrestlers. Keller is also the host of ”Pro Wrestling's Ultimate Insiders”, a series of interviews with prominent wrestling personalities that are released on DVD. The first edition featured Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara, former writers for the WWE and WCW, while the second edition was conducted with Matt and Jeff Hardy. Another was conducted with ECW and XPW wrestler New Jack.
wn.com/Wade_Keller -
Warrior (wrestler)
Warrior (born James Brian Hellwig on June 16, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler who notably performed under the ring names The Ultimate Warrior and Warrior. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1987 to 1991 and again in 1992 and 1996, and in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1998.
He won the WWF World Championship when he pinned Hulk Hogan in the main event of WrestleMania VI. Hellwig legally changed his name to Warrior in 1993. Warrior retired from professional wrestling in 1999 and embarked on a public speaking career. On June 25, 2008 he returned to wrestle Orlando Jordan in Barcelona, Spain defeating him in a match booked by the Italian Nu-Wrestling Evolution promotion. Warrior was described by World Wrestling Entertainment as having been "the ultimate archetype of strength and intensity", as well as having been "one of the most intense and physically impressive competitors to ever appear in the WWE".
Warrior was born as James Brian Hellwig. He was the eldest of five children and was raised by his mother (along with, later, his stepfather) after his father left his family when young James was 12. He spent a year at Indiana State University. It was also during this time he began to compete in amateur bodybuilding.
wn.com/Warrior_(wrestler) -
William Calhoun
William Dee Calhoun (August 3, 1934 – December 7, 1989) was an American professional wrestler, who used the professional name "Haystack" or "Haystacks" Calhoun.
The gargantuan wrestler was one of the foremost drawing cards during the industry’s “Golden Age” of the 1950s and 1960s, sporting his trademark white T-shirt, blue overalls, and horseshoe necklace. He is recognized as a chief pioneer of the sport’s super-heavyweight attractions.
Born on August 3, 1934, William Dee Calhoun grew up on a farm in McKinney, Texas; a rural suburb located in Collin County about 30 mi (48 km) north of Dallas. William was an unusually large child with an extraordinary appetite, it was said that he regularly ate a dozen eggs for breakfast; and by age 14, he already weighed 300 lb (140 kg). His weight continued to climb; and by the time he was in his early 20s, Calhoun tipped the scales at over 600 lb (270 kg), prompting his personal physician to suggest he did not have long to live, unless he reformed his diet.
wn.com/William_Calhoun -
William Regal
Darren Kenneth Matthews (born 10 May 1968) is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal. Having started his career wrestling on the carnival circuit in England, Matthews moved on to wrestle around the world in countries such as Germany and South Africa, before being called up to World Championship Wrestling in 1993. In 2000, after leaving WCW, Matthews joined the World Wrestling Federation (later World Wrestling Entertainment and now just WWE), where he became commissioner. More recently he has been General Manager of Raw, the 2008 King of the Ring and is currently the Official Match Coordinator for NXT Redemption.
Never a world champion, Matthews has, nonetheless, achieved considerable championship success in professional wrestling. Throughout his career, he has won more than 60 titles worldwide, including four in WCW and 13 in WWE. He has overcome multiple drug problems as well as a major heart defect during his career, and he has written an autobiography, Walking a Golden Mile.
wn.com/William_Regal -
Yokozuna (wrestler)
Rodney Agatupu Anoaʻi (October 2, 1966 – October 23, 2000) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he wrestled under the ring name Yokozuna. The term yokozuna refers to the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling in Japan. Although the "Yokozuna" character was portrayed as a champion sumo wrestler, Anoaʻi had never competed as an actual sumotori. Though Yokozuna wrestled as a representative of Japan, he was of Samoan origin and was accordingly billed as hailing from Polynesia (although he was managed by Mr. Fuji, who would follow Anoaʻi to the ring with a wooden bucket of salt, and waving a Japanese flag).
In the WWF, Anoaʻi was a two-time WWF Champion and two-time Tag Team Champion (with Owen Hart), as well as the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble. Anoa'i was the first wrestler of Samoan descent to hold the WWF Championship as well as the first Royal Rumble winner to receive a world title shot at WrestleMania, as a result of a direct stipulation. He defeated WWE Hall of Famers Bret Hart and Hulk Hogan, in consecutive pay-per-view victories at WrestleMania IX and the 1993 King of the Ring, to win his two WWF Championships. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.
wn.com/Yokozuna_(wrestler) -
Yoshi Tatsu
Naofumi Yamamoto (山本 尚史, Yamamoto Naofumi?, born August 1, 1977) is a Japanese professional wrestler and former boxer, who is currently signed to WWE, performing on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Yoshi Tatsu.
Yamamoto trained for his professional wrestling career in the New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo before making his professional wrestling debut on October 12, 2002.
wn.com/Yoshi_Tatsu -
Yoshihiro Tajiri
Yoshihiro Tajiri (田尻 義博, Tajiri Yoshihiro?, born September 29, 1970), is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently working in Japan as TAJIRI.
Tajiri had originally wanted to become a kickboxer and trained in kickboxing, but after watching countless wrestling matches from Mexico, he entered the Animal Hamaguchi Wrestling gym and soon won its test match tournament. He debuted professionally in 1994 for Michinoku Pro Wrestling beating Akihiro Yonekawa and also wrestled for Wrestle Association-R. On 16 October 1994 Tajiri made his debut for IWA Japan under his real name. In 1996 he joined Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
In 1996 he left CMLL and joined the hardcore wrestling promotion Big Japan Pro Wrestling in Tokyo. He debuted for BJW under the name Aquarius and beat Unicorn in his first match. On 19 July 1996 he beat Dr. Wagner Jr for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship and lost it to him on 27 July. On July 23, 1997 Tajiri would team up with Ryuji Yamakawa to win the vacant BJW Tag Team Championship and lost it to Gedo and Jado on December 22. The team would regain the titles eleven days later and lose it to Shadow Winger and Shadow WX. He beat Gedo to become the first BJW Junior Heavyweight Champion he would later be stripped of the title when he left the company.
wn.com/Yoshihiro_Tajiri -
Zack Ryder
Matt Cardona (born May 14, 1985), better known by his ring name Zack Ryder, is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE and appearing on its Raw brand.
Cardona wrestled mostly with his tag team partner Brian Myers/Curt Hawkins on the independent circuit and initially in WWE, where they won the WWE Tag Team Championship. After the team split in 2009, Cardona was featured sparingly on WWE television. In 2011, Cardona used YouTube and Twitter to establish a niche fan following, which translated to a rise in status in WWE.
Cardona debuted with New York Wrestling Connection (NYWC) in 2004, using the name Brett Matthews. By 2005 he began regularly teaming with Bryan Myers and the duo of Myers and Matthews went on to defeat the NYWC Tag Team Champions Dickie Rodz and Mason Raige by disqualification, for which titles do not change hands. At the next event on June 4 they won a rematch decisively to become Tag Team Champions. Later that month they were attacked by The Dead Presidents (Lo Lincoln and Boog Washington) to set up a feud where they eventually lost their titles against them in July. on August 27. On September 23 they were entered into a three way match with the champions but Team Tremendous (Dan Barry and Ken Scampi) ended up with the belts. After continuing to win matches they re-earned a match against Team Tremendous and won the titles for the second time on January 25, 2006. They held the titles until they faced the B.S. Xpress (Tony Burma & Mike Spinelli), who defeated them for the gold on March 26.
wn.com/Zack_Ryder
Michaels, Shawn Filmography
- WWE: 50 Greatest Finishing Moves in WWE History (2012)
- WWE: Superstar Collection - John Cena (2012)
- Undertaker: The Streak (2012)
- WWE: Falls Count Anywhere: The Greatest Street Fights and Other Out of Control Matches (2012)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2012 (2012)
- WrestleMania XXVIII (2012)
- The True Story of WrestleMania (2011)
- Best of King of the Ring (2011)
- WWE: Rey Mysterio - The Life of a Masked Man (2011)
- WWE: OMG! - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2011)
- Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time (2011)
- Ladder Match 2: Crash & Burn (2011)
- WrestleMania XXVII (2011)
- WWE: DX: One Last Stand (2011)
- WWE: Greatest Rivalries - Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (2011)
- Randy Orton: The Evolution of a Predator (2011)
- Raw the Best of 2010 (2011)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2011 (2011)
- WWE: The Best of RAW 2009 (2010)
- WrestleMania XXVI (2010)
- Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho (2010)
- WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time (2010)
- WWE: Shawn Michaels - My Journey (2010)
- WWE: Satan's Prison - The Anthology of the Elimination Chamber (2010)
- WWE: John Morrison - Rock Star (2010)
- WWE Elimination Chamber (2010)
- The John Cena Experience (2010)
- WWE: The Undertaker's Deadliest Matches (2010)
- Wrestling's Highest Flyers (2010)
- WWE: Allied Powers - The World's Greatest Tag Teams (2009)
- WWE Bragging Rights (2009)
- WWE: Greatest Stars of the '90s (2009)
- WWE Breaking Point (2009)
- WWE: Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection (2009)
- WWE Live in the UK: November 2008 (2009)
- WWE Royal Rumble (2009)
- The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania (2009)
- WWE Hell in a Cell (2009)
- Jeff Hardy: My Life, My Rules (2009)
- WWE Summerslam: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 2 (2009)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2009 (2009)
- Survivor Series (2009)
- WWE Summerslam (2009)
- WWE: Summerslam - The Complete Anthology, Vol. 1 (2009)
- WWE No Way Out (2009)
- The WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event (2009)
- WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2009)
- WWE: Survivor Series Anthology, Vol. 2 (2009)
- WWE Summerslam: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 3 (2009)
- WWE Cyber Sunday (2008)
- WWE Unforgiven (2008)
- WWE Summerslam: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 4 (2008)
- WWE Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 4 (2008)
- WWE Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 3 (2008)
- WWE Royal Rumble (2008)
- WWE One Night Stand (2008)
- WWE No Way Out (2008)
- WWE No Mercy (2008)
- WWE Night of Champions (2008)
- WWE Live in the UK: October 2007 (2008)
- Summerslam (2008)
- WWE Judgment Day (2008)
- WWE: The History of the Intercontinental Championship (2008)
- WWE Great American Bash (2008)
- WWE Edge: A Decade of Decadence (2008)
- Survivor Series (2008)
- The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect (2008)
- WWE Backlash (2008)
- WWE Armageddon (2008)
- WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
- Nature Boy Ric Flair: The Definitive Collection (2008)
- WWE Judgment Day (2007)
- WWE Cyber Sunday (2007)
- WWE: The New & Improved DX (2007)
- WWE: The Best of RAW - 15th Anniversary 1993-2008 (2007)
- WWE New Year's Revolution (2007)
- WWE No Way Out (2007)
- WWE Armageddon (2007)
- Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen (2007)
- The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling (2007)
- WWE Backlash (2007)
- Royal Rumble (2007)
- The Shawn Michaels Story: Heartbreak and Triumph (2007)
- WWE: Royal Rumble - The Complete Anthology, Vol. 1 (2007)
- WWE Draft Special (2007)
- WWE: John Cena - My Life (2007)
- WrestleMania 23 (2007)
- Survivor Series (2007)
- WWE Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 2 (2007)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2007 (2007)
- Summerslam (2006)
- WWE: The History of the WWE Championship (2006)
- Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology (2006)
- Survivor Series (2006)
- Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story (2006)
- The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA (2006)
- The Worlds Greatest Wrestling Managers (2006)
- WrestleMania 22 (2006)
- WWE Backlash (2006)
- WWE Cyber Sunday (2006)
- WWE Great American Bash (2006)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2006 (2006)
- WWE New Year's Revolution (2006)
- WWE Raw Family Reunion (2006)
- WWE Royal Rumble (2006)
- WWE Vengeance (2006)
- WWE: D-Generation-X (2006)
- WWE: McMahon (2006)
- Tombstone: The History of the Undertaker (2005)
- WWE Armageddon (2005)
- The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior (2005)
- WWE Backlash (2005)
- The Great American Bash (2005)
- The Bret Hart Story: The Best There Is, Was, and Ever Will Be (2005)
- The Best of Intercontinental Championship (2005)
- Survivor Series (2005)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2005 (2005)
- WrestleMania 21 (2005)
- WWE A.M. Raw (2005)
- WWE Homecoming (2005)
- WWE WrestleMania: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 4 (2005)
- WWE WrestleMania: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 3 (2005)
- WWE WrestleMania: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 2 (2005)
- Summerslam (2005)
- WWE New Year's Revolution (2005)
- WWE Vengeance (2005)
- WWE Unforgiven (2005)
- WWE Royal Rumble (2005)
- WWE Tribute to the Troops (2005)
- WWE Taboo Tuesday (2005)
- Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses: A Life in Wrestling (2004)
- The Monday Night War: WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro (2004)
- WWE Taboo Tuesday (2004)
- Royal Rumble (2004)
- Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story (2004)
- WWE Unforgiven (2004)
- WWE Backlash (2004)
- WrestleMania XX (2004)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2004 (2004)
- WWE Bad Blood (2004)
- WrestleMania XIX (2003)
- Survivor Series (2003)
- WWE from the Vault: Shawn Michaels (2003)
- Before They Were WWE Superstars 2 (2003)
- Summerslam (2003)
- Royal Rumble (2003)
- WWE Armageddon (2003)
- The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection (2003)
- WWE Insurrextion (2003)
- WWE Backlash (2003)
- WWE No Way Out (2003)
- WWE Bad Blood (2003)
- WWE Unforgiven (2003)
- Summerslam (2002)
- WWE Armageddon (2002)
- Survivor Series (2002)
- WWE Vengeance (2002)
- WWE Back in Black: NWO New World Order (2002)
- King of the Ring (2002)
- WWF: Funniest Moments (2002)
- WWE Triple H: The Game (2002)
- WWE: Undertaker - This Is My Yard (2001)
- Wrestling Gold Vol.1: Busted Open! (2001)
- Mick Foley: Hard Knocks and Cheap Pops (2000)
- WWF Judgment Day (2000)
- WWE: TLC - Tables Ladders Chairs (2000)
- The Rock - The People's Champ (2000)
- WWE: Hell Yeah - Stone Cold's Saga Continues (1999)
- The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling (1999)
- King of the Ring (1999)
- Royal Rumble: No Chance in Hell (1999)
- WrestleMania XV (1999)
- WrestleMania XIV (1998)
- Royal Rumble (1998)
- Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998)
- No Way Out (1998)
- WWF Rock Bottom: In Your House (1998)
- Royal Rumble (1997)
- WWF in Your House: Ground Zero (1997)
- WWF in Your House: D-Generation-X (1997)
- Summerslam (1997)
- WWF in Your House: Badd Blood (1997)
- WWF One Night Only (1997)
- WWF Slammy Awards 1997 (1997)
- King of the Ring (1997)
- Survivor Series (1997)
- WrestleMania 13 (1997)
- WrestleMania XII (1996)
- WWF in Your House 6 (1996)
- WWF in Your House: International Incident (1996)
- King of the Ring (1996)
- Survivor Series (1996)
- Royal Rumble (1996)
- WWF Fab 4 (1996)
- Summerslam (1996)
- WWF in Your House: Mind Games (1996)
- WWF in Your House: Beware of Dog (1996)
- WWF in Your House 7 (1996)
- WWF in Your House: It's Time (1996)
- Bret 'Hit Man' Hart (1996)
- WWF in Your House 4 (1995)
- Royal Rumble (1995)
- WWF in Your House 3 (1995)
- Summerslam (1995)
- WWF Hall of Fame (1995)
- WrestleMania XI (1995)
- WWF in Your House 2 (1995)
- Survivor Series (1995)
- King of the Ring (1995)
- Royal Rumble (1994)
- King of the Ring (1994)
- Summerslam (1994)
- Survivor Series (1994)
- The Best There Is Bret 'Hitman' Hart 2 (1994)
- WrestleMania X (1994)
- WWF Hall of Fame (1994)
- Royal Rumble (1993)
- Summerslam (1993)
- WWF: U.K. Fan Favorites (1993)
- WWF: Smack 'Em Whack 'Em (1993)
- WWF Monday Night RAW (1993)
- WrestleMania IX (1993)
- Survivor Series (1993)
- WWF: UK Rampage 93 (1993)
- King of the Ring (1993)
- WrestleMania VIII (1992)
- Survivor Series (1992)
- Summerslam (1992)
- Royal Rumble (1992)
- WWF: European Rampage 92 (1992)
- Survivor Series (1991)
- WWF UK Rampage '91 (1991)
- WrestleMania VII (1991)
- WWF: Wrestlefest '91 (1991)
- Best of Saturday Night's Main Event (1991)
- Royal Rumble (1991)
- WWF Battle Royal at the Albert Hall (1991)
- Win, Lose or Draw! (1990)
- Survivor Series (1990)
- Royal Rumble (1990)
- WrestleMania VI (1990)
- WWF: Wrestlefest '90 (1990)
- Summerslam (1990)
- Survivor Series (1989)
- Summerslam (1989)
- Royal Rumble (1989)
- WrestleMania V (1989)
- Survivor Series (1988)
- AWA: WrestleRock (1986)
- AWA All-Star Wrestling (1960)
Michael, Shawn Filmography
- Desert Dons (2013)
- Remnants (2012)
- The Fuzz (2010)
- The Somnambulist (2010)
- The Fuzz (2010)
- The Somnambulist (2010)
- Echelon 8 (2009)
- The Alphabet Killer (2008)
- Pistol Whipped (2008)
Michaels, Shawn Filmography
- WWE: Greatest Stars of the New Millenium (2011)
- Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
- Scrooged (1988)
- Condor (1986)
- Inside Moves (1980)
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Shawn Michaels Life Learning Experience After Injury & The Return of Show Stopper in 2002
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:45
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
WWE Superstars discusses Shawn Michaels epic life learning experience after his spinal cord injury, they discusses how bitter Shawn became and how Rebecca & his son Cameron changed his life and his Epic return in 2002 as once again The Show Stopper A Clip from Shawn Michaels Heartbreak & Triumph DVD 2007 WWE, Inc. All Rights Reserved Join us at: www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
http://wn.com/Shawn_Michaels_Life_Learning_Experience_After_Injury_The_Return_of_Show_Stopper_in_2002
Wrestlemania 26 Undertaker Vs Shawn Michaels Full Match
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 35:20
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
All Rights Go To World Wrestling Entertainment. No Copyright Infridgement Is Intended xD
http://wn.com/Wrestlemania_26_Undertaker_Vs_Shawn_Michaels_Full_Match
WWE Classics - HOF: Shawn Michaels
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:58
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
WWE Hall of Fame presents "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels. #wweclassics
http://wn.com/WWE_Classics_HOF_Shawn_Michaels
Funny Shawn Michaels moments
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:00
- Updated: 19 Sep 2012
I've disabled comments. I got sick of the trolling and stupid questions. Seriously people google stuff. HBK is retired, he's not coming back. He's not going to TNA. I guess technically this would be the 8th compilation I made but I don't have the rest. Someone took and uploaded the others though. Once again these are clips that I find funny and as we all know I have a weird sense of humour lol.
http://wn.com/Funny_Shawn_Michaels_moments
After interview! WWE Greatest Rivalries Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart 2011
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 6:24
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
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Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels Tag 5/1/05
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 28:59
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
The 'Hulkster' and Shawn Michaels team up to thwart the duo of Davari and Muhammad Hassan, From WWE Backlash 5/1/05. #wweclassics
http://wn.com/Hulk_Hogan_and_Shawn_Michaels_Tag_5_1_05
WWE '13 Rise Of DX #1: Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 8:11
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
WWE '13 Rise Of DX #1: Shawn Michaels vs. Mankind
http://wn.com/WWE_'13_Rise_Of_DX_1_Shawn_Michaels_vs_Mankind
Yokozuna vs Shawn Michaels on Raw
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:54
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
enjoy
http://wn.com/Yokozuna_vs_Shawn_Michaels_on_Raw
Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels segment
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 13:30
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
"Buddy "The Hearthrob" Hart" Bret Hart goes face to face with "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels at the 12-30-96 edition of Monday night Raw.
http://wn.com/Bret_Hart_and_Shawn_Michaels_segment
Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels. From WWE Survivor Series 11/25/92
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 36:52
- Updated: 22 Nov 2012
WWE Championship Match - Bret 'The Hitman' Hart defends against his seemingly life long rival WWE Intercontinental Champion, 'Heartbreak Kid' Shawn Michaels. From WWE Survivor Series 11/25/92. #wweclassics
http://wn.com/Bret_Hart_vs_Shawn_Michaels_From_WWE_Survivor_Series_11_25_92
Shawn Michaels' wild card team must learn to band together to defeat Razor Ramon's team: Survivor Se
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 3:26
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
Two teams of wild cards compete in classic Survivor Series action.
http://wn.com/Shawn_Michaels'_wild_card_team_must_learn_to_band_together_to_defeat_Razor_Ramon's_team_Survivor_Se
WWE Hall of Fame 2011 Shawn Michaels Induction
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 12:39
- Updated: 22 Nov 2012
http://wn.com/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_2011_Shawn_Michaels_Induction
Crush vs. Shawn Michaels - June 13, 1993
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 14:26
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Shawn Michaels with bodyguard Diesel defends against the big Kona Crush at King of the Ring (6/13/93). #WWEClassics
http://wn.com/Crush_vs_Shawn_Michaels_June_13,_1993
Shawn Michaels - Wiki Article
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 64:59
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is a retired professional wrestler, and an American television host. He is currently signed to WWE, wher... Shawn Michaels - Wiki Article - wikiplays.org Original @ http All Information Derived from Wikipedia using Creative Commons License: en.wikipedia.org Author: David Seto Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: John McKeon Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: Mandy Coombes Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: Mandy Coombes Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: Sean Refer Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: Mshake3 Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: Sean Refer Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( Creative Commons ASA 3.0 ) Author: Speed CG Image URL: en.wikipedia.org ( This work is in the Public Domain. ) Author: TheHellraiser I...
http://wn.com/Shawn_Michaels_Wiki_Article
Wrestling with Rosenberg : Shawn Michaels Part. 3
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 13:12
- Updated: 11 Nov 2012
HBK and I discuss careful workers, big men, Randy Savage, Sensational Sherry, Ric Flair, and much more.
http://wn.com/Wrestling_with_Rosenberg_Shawn_Michaels_Part_3
WWE Raw 06/08/12 ( Shawn Michaels & Brock Lesnar & Paul Heyman , with Triple H segment )
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 13:35
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
See what happend The Video is HQ.. just watch and enjoy.. WWE Raw 06/08/12 WWE Raw 06/08/12 WWE Raw 06/08/12 WWE Raw 06/08/12 WWE Raw 06/08/12 WWE Raw 06/08/12 All copyrights belongs to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
http://wn.com/WWE_Raw_06_08_12_Shawn_Michaels_Brock_Lesnar_Paul_Heyman_,_with_Triple_H_segment_
WWE 13 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Submission Match)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:58
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
WWE 13 Submission Match between HBK & Brett Hart! Hope you guys enjoyed, make sure to hit that like button and subscribe! Lets hit 900 subs #AngoArmy Twitter @Ango32 Website - tigosports.com ======================================== WWE 13 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Submission Match) WWE 13 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Submission Match) WWE 13 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Submission Match) WWE 13 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Submission Match) WWE 13 - Bret Hart vs Shawn Michaels (Submission Match)
http://wn.com/WWE_13_Bret_Hart_vs_Shawn_Michaels_Submission_Match
Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs John Cena Triple Threat - SS09 Part 1
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 9:46
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs John Cena Triple Threat - SS09 Part 1
http://wn.com/Triple_H_vs_Shawn_Michaels_vs_John_Cena_Triple_Threat_SS09_Part_1
Brock Lesnar Breaks Shawn Michaels Arm 8-13-12 WWE Raw
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 4:16
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
All copyright go to WWE Watch this: www.youtube.com
http://wn.com/Brock_Lesnar_Breaks_Shawn_Michaels_Arm_8-13-12_WWE_Raw
WWE 13 - Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels (Hell In A Cell Match!)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 5:36
- Updated: 18 Nov 2012
Please leave a 'Like' to support the channel - Thanks! This is a dream match right here. More than likely never going to happen. But thanks to WWE 13... Its possible! www.Twitter.com www.Facebook.com WWE 13 Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels WWE 13 Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels WWE 13 Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels WWE 13 Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels WWE 13 Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels WWE 13 Brock Lesnar vs Shawn Michaels
http://wn.com/WWE_13_Brock_Lesnar_vs_Shawn_Michaels_Hell_In_A_Cell_Match!
WWE '13 - Shawn Michaels Entrance + Finisher
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 1:33
- Updated: 20 Nov 2012
WWE '13 - Shawn Michaels Entrance + Finisher ★★★Enjoy this video? Subscribe! - tinyurl.com twitter.com facebook.com
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WrestleMania: Triple H vs Shawn Michaels (3 Stages of Hell - WWF Title)
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 39:29
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
PLEASE READ: The Promo that you guys saw before the match took tons of editing. Please give me any feedback you guys can give on this video. I'll really appreciate it. Promo Editing took from 6-8 hours of editing/Recording. All the editing was done in Sony Vegas 10. FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: twitter.com SUBSCRIBE TO THIS SHOW - www.youtube.com Did you Like this video? Perhaps you might want to check this one out. Shawn Michaels vs Triple H - Last Man Standing Match - www.youtube.com Watch WWE '12: Armageddon 2000 - The Rock vs Stone Cold Steve Austin vs The Undertaker vs Kurt Angle (C) vs Triple H vs Rikishi [WWF Championship] - www.youtube.com Extra TAGS: wwe smackdown svr12 svr2011 raw wwe12 thq yukes gameplay news impressions indepth first look live wrestling poopoohead uberhaxornova paragonnova nova ign roster "wwe 12" "here comes the pain" "WWE Raw" "WWE SmackDown" "shut your mouth" "how to" "cm punk" community universe "Brock Lesnar" "the rock" vengeance 2011 2012 survivor series ring wrestlemania Undertaker Jericho gaming wwegames walkthrough playthrough review rtwm "road to wrestlemania" "CM Punk" Chris arena tlc draft
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Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H vs. John Cena ( WWE Survivor Series 2009 ) - W' Championship
- Order: Reorder
- Duration: 30:10
- Updated: 21 Nov 2012
Voici l'un des Match de Catch que j'ai le plus adoré pendant l'année de 2009 et ce Match Triple Menace a été SUPER en ce qui me concerne honnêtement :') ! D'ailleurs même en général, ce magnifique WWE SurvivorSeries edition 2009 est l'un de mes PPV préféré de l'année 2009 donc ^_^ ! Sachez que pour information, je regarder à ce moment là donc il ya 3 Ans à l'heure actuel, je regardais et je suivais assez régulièrement le Catch américain de la WWE durant cette période et tout cela en gros je le suis depuis 2005 jusqu'à aujourd'hui et je pense fortement que je n'arrêterais pas de le visionner...^^' ! Alors sinon par rapport précisément à moi-même 1505Nathaniel, je suis vraiment fatigué mentalement depuis 2 - 3 Jours et très sincèrement je suis complètement paumé actuellement..et les problèmes de famille me hante entièrement la tête et en + je commence depuis quelques mois à souffrir réellement de TOC ( Troubles Obsessionnels Compulsifs ) et j'avoue bien que je commence sérieusement à m'inquiéter de moi-même honnêtement et en + la Rentrée Scolaire approche et c'est dans une dizaine de jours...et si je vais à l'Internat par obligation malheureusement, je crois m'enfoncer de + en + et en venir à bout...MAIS je suis battant et je ne me laisserais pas faire comme certaines années précédentes franchement :-[ !!! Voilà après pour ce match, j'ai été pour les Trois catcheurs énormes véritablement et DONC je ne vous spoilerais pas dans cette Description de vidéo donc pour le savoir ...
http://wn.com/Shawn_Michaels_vs_Triple_H_vs_John_Cena_WWE_Survivor_Series_2009_W'_Championship
photo: AP / Pablo Martinez Monsivais
20 Nov 2012
Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling President Barack Obama's whirlwind tour of southeast Asia and meetings with dignitaries will have to walk a tightrope between either appearing to endorse military juntas or truly being committed to ongoing pro-democracy movements. Specifically at issue is Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi, a democratic advocate...(size: 5.0Kb)
photo: AP / Sebastian D'souza
21 Nov 2012
MUMBAI, India - India executed the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 terror attack on Mumbai early Wednesday, India's home ministry said. Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani citizen, was one of 10 gunmen who rampaged through the streets of India's financial capital in November 2008, killing 166 people. Kasab was hung at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at a jail in...(size: 4.5Kb)
photo: AP / Hatem Moussa
19 Nov 2012
Gaza/Jerusalem - Israel bombed dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip on Monday and said that while it was prepared to step up its offensive by sending in troops, it preferred a diplomatic solution that would end Palestinian rocket fire. Mediator Egypt said a deal for a truce to end the fighting could be close. The leader of Hamas said it was up to...(size: 4.1Kb)
photo: AP / Melanie Gouby
21 Nov 2012
Hundreds of government soldiers and police in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surrendered to rebels at a stadium in Goma, Al Jazeera's Nazanine Moshiri has reported from the scene. The M23 rebel group, believed to be backed by Rwanda seized the strategic, provincial capital of Goma in eastern Congo on Tuesday, home to more than 1 million...(size: 18.7Kb)
photo: UN / Logan Abassi
21 Nov 2012
A report by the UN says global attempts to curb emissions of CO2 are falling well short of what is needed to stem dangerous climate change. The UN's Environment Programme says greenhouse gases are 14% above where they need to be in 2020 for temperature rises this century to remain below 2C. The authors say this target is still technically...(size: 3.5Kb)
The Examiner
21 Nov 2012
Related topics John CenaWWE SmackDownkaitlynWWE RAWHardcore PawnLex Luger Advertisement Wrestling News World.com has a story up on John Cena and the injury he appeared to suffer on Monday’s Raw. Cena worked the WWE television tapings last night in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can read more at...(size: 6.4Kb)
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20 Nov 2012
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18 Nov 2012
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18 Nov 2012
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18 Nov 2012
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| Shawn Michaels | |
|---|---|
 Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 24 in March 2008. |
|
| Ring name(s) | Sean Michaels[1] Shawn Michaels |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2][3] |
| Billed weight | 225 lb (102 kg)[2] |
| Born | (1965-07-22) July 22, 1965 (age 46) Chandler, Arizona[4] |
| Resides | San Antonio, Texas[5] |
| Billed from | San Antonio, Texas[2] |
| Trained by | Jose Lothario[6] |
| Debut | October 16, 1984[7] |
| Retired | March 28, 2010 |
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is a retired professional wrestler, and an American television host. He is currently signed to WWE, where he has served as an ambassador for the company since December 2010. Hickenbottom consistently wrestled for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998, due to injury. He appeared in non-wrestling roles from 1998 to 2000, and resumed his in-ring career in 2002, retiring in 2010. He also hosts the show MacMillan River Adventures, airing on the Outdoor Channel.
Hickenbottom began his wrestling career with Mid-South Wrestling, now known as Universal Wrestling Federation, and American Wrestling Association (AWA). During his time with AWA, he performed in partnership with Marty Jannetty, as The Midnight Rockers; winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice. Hickenbottom and Jannetty briefly signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1987, while in contract with AWA. They returned to AWA, only to go back to the WWF in 1988.
Hickenbottom later worked as a singles performer, taking on a new persona of "The Heartbreak Kid" and, first as a villain and later as a fan favorite, moved into the main event sphere. He wielded considerable influence on booking decisions as the leader of The Kliq, a backstage group, which however fell apart in 1996. The following year, he teamed up with Hunter Hearst Hemsley, who often was referred to as Triple H (HHH), Chyna, and Rick Rude to form D-Generation X (DX). This group of wrestlers was known for their sophomoric crude humor. That same year, Hickenbottom took part in one of the most controversial matches in wrestling history, dubbed as the "Montreal Screwjob." After a back injury forced him to retire following his WWF Championship loss at WrestleMania XIV, Hickenbottom opened a wrestling academy, called The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, in which he trained upcoming wrestlers. He made his in-ring return at SummerSlam in 2002. In 2006, Hickenbottom and Triple H briefly reformed DX, but after an injury that Triple H sustained, Hickenbottom returned to singles wrestling. Although as of 2009, the duo reunited as a tag team once more, with the two capturing the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship. In the WWF/WWE, Michaels held championships, and headlined pay-per-view events, in each decade from the 1990s to the 2010s; at WrestleMania XXVI, he was forced to retire from in-ring competition when he lost a career-threatening match. In December 2010, he signed a long-term deal with WWE, making his first live appearance at a WWE show since WrestleMania later that month. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011. Following his induction, WWE said of Michaels, "Ask any Superstar on the WWE roster who the most gifted sports-entertainer of all time is and nearly everyone will have the same answer — Shawn Michaels."[2]
Among other accolades, Hickenbottom is a four-time world champion: a three-time WWF Champion and a former World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumbles and was the company's first Grand Slam Champion. He has also won the PWI Match of the Year Award a record eleven times. Hickenbottom currently resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children.
Contents |
Early life[link]
Hickenbottom was born on July 22, 1965 in Chandler, Arizona.[4][8] The last of four children – Randy, Scott, and Shari are his older siblings – he was raised in a military family and spent a brief part of his early years in Reading, Berkshire, England,[4] but grew up in San Antonio, Texas. As a child, Hickenbottom disliked the name Michael, so his family and friends just called him Shawn.[9] Ever since, he has been referred to as Shawn. Additionally, Hickenbottom moved around frequently since his father was in the military.[9]
He knew he wanted to become a professional wrestler at the age of twelve.[8] Hickenbottom was already an athlete; his career began at the age of six when he started playing football.[10] He was a stand-out linebacker at Randolph High School and eventually became captain of the football team.[2][11] After graduating, Hickenbottom attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, but soon realized that college life was not for him.[12] He then began pursuing a career in professional wrestling.
Professional wrestling career[link]
AWA and WWF (1984–1988)[link]
Hickenbottom began to train under Mexican professional wrestler Jose Lothario.[6][7] During his training, Hickenbottom adopted the ring name, Shawn Michaels.[1] After his training with Lothario, he debuted as Shawn Michaels with Mid-South Wrestling and Texas All-Star Wrestling (TASW) promotions in October 1984 at the age of 19.[1] During his time with TASW, Michaels replaced Nick Kiniski in the American Breed tag team, teaming with Paul Diamond. Michaels and Diamond were awarded the TASW Tag Team Championship by Chavo Guerrero, Sr.[8] The team was later renamed American Force.[13] He also worked for Central States Wrestling.[14] There, he and tag team partner Marty Jannetty defeated The Batten Twins for the Central States Tag Team Championship, later losing it back to the Battens.[8] Michaels also made several appearances in the Dallas, Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling throughout 1985.
Michaels made his national-level debut at the age of twenty in American Wrestling Association (AWA), once again teaming with Marty Jannetty.[6] The pair were billed as The Midnight Rockers and held the AWA World Tag Team Championship, defeating Doug Somers and Buddy Rose.[6] In 1987, The Rockers were signed by a competing promotion: the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[6] They were fired from WWF two weeks later, for a bar incident (a misunderstanding, according to Michaels' autobiography).[6][15] They then returned to AWA, but were re-signed by WWF a year later.[15]
World Wrestling Federation (1988–2000)[link]
The Rockers (1988–1991)[link]
Main article: The Rockers
The Rockers redebuted at a WWF live event on July 7, 1988.[16] Due to WWF chairman Vince McMahon's desire to have his performers carry WWF-exclusive ring names, Michaels and Jannetty were renamed, as simply "The Rockers."[1] The team proved popular with both children and women.[6] The team was a mid-card stalwart of television and pay-per-view shows for the next two years.[17]
In October 1990, The Rockers were scheduled to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), as Neidhart, half of the championship team, was in the process of negotiating his release from the company.[17] The match was taped with The Rockers winning the belts, but soon after, Neidhart came to an agreement with management and was rehired.[17] The belts were returned to the Hart Foundation, while the title change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on television.[17] When news spread, WWF explained that the original result was void due to a collapsed turnbuckle in the ring during the bout. A buckle had indeed broke, but not to a noticeable or dangerous extent during the match.[1] The Rockers continued their partnership, eventually splitting on December 2, 1991 during an incident on Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's televised Barber Shop talk show promotional segment.[18] Michaels superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a glass window on the set of Beefcake's talk show.[6][19] Jannetty returned to the WWF the following year and enjoyed moderate success before leaving the company in 1994, while Michaels became a prominent villain of the early-to-mid 1990s as "The Boy Toy."[18]
The Heartbreak Kid (1992–1995)[link]
See also: Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash
At the suggestion of "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig, Michaels adopted the nickname "The Heartbreak Kid."[6] Along with his new name came a new gimmick as a vain, cocky villain.[20] He was put together with mirror-carrying manager, Sensational Sherri, who, according to the storyline, had become infatuated with him.[18] Sherri even sang the first version of his new theme music, "Sexy Boy."[1] During that period, after Michaels had wrestled his scheduled match at live events, his departure was announced with the words, "Shawn Michaels has left the building" (alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building").[21]
At WrestleMania VIII, in his first pay-per-view singles match, Michaels defeated El Matador: both men had simultaneously eliminated each other from that year's Royal Rumble.[22] He subsequently became a contender to the promotion's singles championships. Michaels competed in his first pay-per-view main event when he co-headlined UK Rampage on April 19 at the Sheffield Arena, in a losing effort against "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the WWF Championship.[23][24] He failed to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart in the WWF's first-ever ladder match at a Wrestling Challenge taping on July 21, which would subsequently be made available on multiple Coliseum/WWE Home Video releases.[25][26] He, however, won the title from The British Bulldog on the October 27, 1992 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, which aired on November 14.[27] Shortly thereafter, he faced Hart for the WWF Championship in the main event of the 1992 Survivor Series, but lost the match.[28] Originally the secondary main event, Michaels and Hart became the primary main event after The Ultimate Warrior was unable to compete, and was replaced by Mr. Perfect in the tag team match that involved Randy Savage against the team of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon.[29] During this time, Michaels and Sherri split and he engaged himself in a feud with former tag team partner Marty Jannetty.[6] Michaels lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on Monday Night Raw on May 17, 1993.[27] He then regained it on June 6 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel,[1][27] and co-headlined the King of the Ring in a title defense against Crush.[30]
In September 1993, Michaels had quit the company, after it was announced that he had failed to defend his title enough times during a set period; in reality, he had been suspended for testing positive for steroids – a charge that Michaels denies to this day.[31] After turning down World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s advances, Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion. He returned to WWF television in November at the Survivor Series pay-per-view, substituting for Jerry Lawler, who was dealing with legal issues, in a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against the Hart brothers, Bret, Bruce, Keith, and Owen.[32]
He soon entered a staged rivalry with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacated Intercontinental Championship, during Michaels' absence.[33] Since Michaels had never been defeated in the ring for the title, he claimed to be the rightful champion and even carried around his old title belt.[33] This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two at WrestleMania X.[33] Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's belts suspended above a ladder in the ring.[32][33] This match was voted by fans as "PWI Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[6] It also received a 5-star rating from Wrestling Observer Newsletter member Dave Meltzer, one of five WWE matches to do so. Over the next few months, Michaels battled various injuries and launched the Heartbreak Hotel television talk show segment, mainly shown on WWF Superstars.[34]
On August 28, 1994, Michaels and Diesel captured the Tag Team Championship from The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu).[35] The next day, at SummerSlam, Diesel lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon when Michaels accidentally superkicked Diesel.[32] This triggered a split between Michaels and Diesel, a storyline that was drawn out until Survivor Series that November.[36] Michaels went on to win the Royal Rumble in 1995,[37] which set up a championship grudge match at WrestleMania XI against Diesel (who had gone on to win the WWF Championship from Bob Backlund).[37] As part of the storyline, Michaels recruited Sycho Sid as his bodyguard for the build-up, lost the match,[38] and was attacked by Sid the following night.[39] After this, Michaels took time off,[39] because Vince McMahon wanted Michaels to become a fan favorite.[40]
Kliq, WWF Champion and D-Generation X (1995–1997)[link]
Michaels returned to the ring, as a fan favorite, in May 1995. He went on to defeat Jeff Jarrett in July at the In Your House pay-per-view event, to win his third Intercontinental Championship.[6][41] This led to a title defense against Razor Ramon at SummerSlam, in a ladder match, which Michaels won.[6] Around this time Michaels became the alleged leader of a backstage group known as The Kliq.[6] Others perceived the group to have sufficient clout with WWF owner Vince McMahon, becoming dominant wrestling figures in the WWF for several years in the mid-1990s. Michaels disputes the perception, saying that McMahon pushed only deserving wrestlers.[42] Michaels' fan base was later nicknamed "The Kliq" as an inside reference to the real "Kliq".[43] In October 1995, he was legitimately attacked by several men outside a bar in Syracuse, New York.[1] Shortly afterwards, at the In Your House: Great White North pay-per-view, Michaels forfeited the Intercontinental Championship to staged rival Dean Douglas because he was, according to WWF, unable to compete.[44] Later in the night, Douglas lost the championship to Kliq member Razor Ramon.[45] The next month, during a match with Owen Hart on an episode of Monday Night Raw, Owen performed an enzuigiri that struck the back of Michaels' head.[46] They continued the match, but Michaels collapsed in the ring, supposedly because he had suffered a concussion.[1][46] The concussion was scripted, which was kept from most fans at the time.[1] A retirement angle was written so that Michaels could take some time off, after he came back from an injury too soon.[1]
After teasing a retirement, Michaels returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble match in 1996, which he wound up winning for a second year in a row, to receive a WWF Championship match in the main event at WrestleMania XII.[47] Around this time, Jose Lothario became Michaels' on-screen manager.[48] At WrestleMania XII, Michaels defeated WWF Champion Bret Hart in the overtime of their sixty minute Iron Man match, which had ended in a 0–0 tie.[6] On May 19, 1996, Michaels and his fellow Kliq members were involved in the incident known as "Curtain Call". Diesel and Razor Ramon were about to leave WWF to company rival WCW. After Michaels won a match against Diesel, Ramon and Hunter Hearst Helmsley came to the ring and joined Michaels and Diesel in a group-hug.[49] As Diesel and Helmsley were seen as villains at the time, in contrast to Michaels and Ramon, this constituted a breach of "kayfabe", as acting out of character, which was rare and controversial at the time.[49] As WCW gained momentum due to the signings of Hall and Nash, Michaels held the championship for most of the year. Michaels' championship reign ended at the 1996 Survivor Series event, where he lost to Sycho Sid, his former bodyguard.[50] Michaels recaptured the championship from Sid in January 1997 at the Royal Rumble.[51]
On a special episode of Raw dubbed Thursday Raw Thursday, Michaels vacated the WWF Championship;[1] he explained to fans that he was informed by doctors that he had conjured a knee injury, and that he had to retire.[52] His speech was regarded as controversial, as Michaels was allegedly unwilling to lose to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 (since it was noted that he was going to have a rematch with Hart at WrestleMania).[6] Michaels contemplated thoughts of retirement and stated that he "had to find his smile again," which he had "lost" somewhere down the line.[6] After knee surgery by Dr. James Andrews, Michaels returned a few months later, briefly teaming with Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.[53] In his autobiography, Michaels reveals about his real-life feud with Bret Hart, claiming that Bret did interviews on live television claiming that he [Michaels] was faking his whole injury.[54]
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At SummerSlam, Michaels officiated the WWF Championship match between WWF Champion The Undertaker and Bret Hart.[55] The match ended in controversial fashion, with Michaels hitting Undertaker with a chair (unintentionally, as he was aiming for Bret after he spat in his face).[55] Michaels was then forced to award the championship to his nemesis, Bret Hart.[55] The next night on Raw, signs of a heel turn started to show as Michaels told the WWF fans what happened at SummerSlam was an accident and that he would deal with the Undertaker when the time came. At WWF One Night Only, held in Birmingham, England in September, Michaels defeated The British Bulldog to capture the WWF European Championship.[55][56] The fans at the event were so appalled at the result of the match they booed Michaels out of the building, to the extent that they littered the ring with garbage, cementing his second heel turn.[55][57] With this win, Michaels became the first Grand Slam Champion.[2] At the October pay-per-view event, In Your House: Badd Blood, Michaels and Undertaker participated in the first Hell in a Cell match. During the match, it saw Michaels fall off the side of the 15-foot (5 m) high structure through a table and saw him as the winner in the match.[58] The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.
In the summer, Michaels joined forces with real-life friend, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Hunter's then-girlfriend, Chyna, and Rick Rude to form the stable, D-Generation X (DX).[59] Moving away from the family-oriented product, this marked the beginning of the WWF Attitude Era.[60] Michaels continued his rivalry with Bret Hart and his reformed Hart Foundation, which was now a pro-Canada stable. Michaels taunted the group and Canada by engaging in acts, such as blowing his nose with and humping the Canadian Flag. Michaels later claimed the flag desecration was Bret's idea.[61] Michaels' feud with the Hart Foundation culminated in a championship match at Survivor Series in 1997 against Bret Hart. Michaels came out of this match, dubbed by fans the "Montreal Screwjob", as the WWF Champion.[62] Michaels now held both the WWF and European championship at the same time. Michaels, however, lost the European Championship to D-Generation X member, Hunter Hearst Hemsley, who often was referred to as Triple H (HHH), when he pinned him during a farcical match, making Triple H the European Champion.[63]
First retirement (1998–2002)[link]
At the 1998 Royal Rumble, Michaels received a legitimate back injury in a Casket match against The Undertaker.[6] Michaels took a back body drop to the outside of the ring and smashed his lower back on the casket, causing him to herniate two discs and crush one completely.[6][64] This rendered Michaels unable to compete in the main event of the following month's No Way Out of Texas: In Your House as advertised, and forced him into retirement after losing the WWF Championship to Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV.[65]
Michaels would continue to make non-wrestling appearances on WWF programming, and on November 23, 1998, replaced Sgt. Slaughter as the WWF Commissioner, a portrayed match maker and rules enforcer, eventually joining Vince McMahon's group of wrestlers called the Corporation as a villain.[66] Throughout late 1998 and early 1999, Michaels made regular television appearances on Raw, in which he scheduled matches, throwing around his authority, and sometimes even deciding the outcome of matches.[67][68][69] On January 4, 1999 on Raw, Michaels re-joined DX as a fan favorite, but disappeared from WWF television for a few months to have back surgery,[70] and by the time he had returned, DX had broken up.
Michaels made occasional appearances as the WWF Commissioner during the spring and summer of 1999, but remained absent from television until May 15, 2000, upon which he returned on Raw to announce himself as the special guest referee for the Iron Man match between The Rock and Triple H at Judgment Day.[71] One month later, Michaels briefly reappeared on Raw to hand over the role of Commissioner to Mick Foley and afterwards did not make any in-ring appearances until mid-2002,[72] appearing only once on WWF television to make a speech at WWF New York during Armageddon 2000.[73] During this time, believing that his wrestling career was over, Michaels was interested in training individuals who wanted to become professional wrestlers.[74] He saw potential in using his name and opened the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy in 1999, after his lawyer, Skip McCormick, suggested the idea.[74] Michaels left the academy in 2002,[74] giving co-founder Rudy Boy Gonzalez sole responsibility due to Michaels' new contract with WWE.[6] Michaels was also a sportscaster for San Antonio's local news for a short period during his retirement.[74]
Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–present)[link]
nWo, World Heavyweight Champion & Feud with Evolution (2002–2005)[link]
In 2002, Michaels returned to WWE television after 18 months of absence. On the June 3 episode of Raw, he was announced as a new member of the recently-reformed New World Order (nWo) stable by Kevin Nash.[75] After the nWo had disbanded, Triple H appeared to make amends with Michaels. This was solidified when Michaels pleaded Triple H to return to Raw.[76] Later on, they came down to the ring sporting their DX music and attire. When the pair was about to perform their trademark "Suck It" taunt, Triple H turned on Michaels by performing a Pedigree on him.[76] Continuing the angle, a week later, Triple H attacked Michaels from behind in a parking lot and put his head through a car window, in storyline.[77] In response, Michaels challenged Triple H to "a fight" (a non-sanctioned match) at SummerSlam,[78] which Triple H accepted, laying the foundation for a rivalry that would last for several years. In his first official wrestling match since WrestleMania XIV, Michaels won at SummerSlam, but was attacked by Triple H with a sledgehammer after the match.[79] At Survivor Series, Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match.[80] Michaels' reign as champion came to an end a month later when he lost the championship to Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match, a series of three matches in which wrestlers attempt to win the majority of matches, at Armageddon.[81]
Michaels then began a rivalry with Chris Jericho, after Jericho claimed that he was the next Shawn Michaels.[82] On January 13, 2003, after Jericho won a battle royal to select his entry number for the Royal Rumble, choosing number two in order to start the match with Michaels,[83] who had already been named number one. At the Royal Rumble, Jericho, with the help of Christian, eliminated Michaels.[84] Michaels defeated Jericho at WrestleMania XIX.[85]
As a part of an ongoing feud with Triple H, the two competed alongside Chris Benoit in the main event match at WrestleMania XX for the World Heavyweight Championship. The former DX partners both came up short in the match, however, as Benoit won the championship.[86] At Bad Blood in June, Michaels lost to Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match.[86] Four months later, he lost a World Heavyweight championship match against Triple H, after Edge interfered at Taboo Tuesday, when the fans voted for him ahead of Edge and Chris Benoit to face Triple H one more time.[87] Following this, Michaels was out of action for a few months with a legitimate torn meniscus.[2][88]
At the Royal Rumble in 2005, Michaels competed in the Rumble match and eliminated Kurt Angle. In seeking revenge, Angle re-entered the ring and eliminated Michaels, and thus placed him in an ankle lock submission hold, outside of the ring.[89] Michaels issued a challenge to Angle for a match at WrestleMania 21, which Angle accepted when he appeared on Raw to attack Michaels.[90] The following week on Raw, Marty Jannetty and Michaels had a one time reunion as The Rockers and defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier).[91] Three days later on SmackDown!, Angle defeated Jannetty, after Angle made Jannetty submit to the ankle lock.[92] To send a "message" to Michaels, Angle also humiliated Michaels' former manager, Sensational Sherri, when he applied the ankle lock hold on her.[93] At WrestleMania 21 in April, Angle defeated Michaels by submission, again with an ankle lock.[89] Two months later, at a WrestleMania 21 rematch, Michaels defeated Angle at the Vengeance pay-per-view event.[94]
Following the events of WrestleMania 21, the next night on Raw, Muhammad Hassan and Daivari came out to confront and assault Michaels.[95] On the April 11 episode of Raw, Michaels approached authority figure Eric Bischoff, in which he demanded a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari, a match consisting of one wrestler or team of wrestlers facing off against a team of wrestlers with numerical superiority such as two against one, or three against two. Bischoff refused to schedule the match, but informed Michaels to find a partner and he would grant him the match. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan to come back and team with him.[96] On the April 18 episode of Raw, Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his offer.[97] At Backlash, Hassan and Daivari lost to Hogan and Michaels when Daivari was pinned.[98] On the July 4 episode of Raw, Michaels and Hulk Hogan had a tag team match, which they won.[99] During the post-match pose, Michaels hit Hogan with his superkick, knocking Hogan to the ground and making Michaels a villain for the first time since returning in 2002.[99] The following week on Raw, Michaels appeared on Piper's Pit where he superkicked Roddy Piper and then challenged Hogan to a match at SummerSlam.[100][101] Hogan defeated Michaels at SummerSlam, and after the match Michaels extended his hand to him, saying "I needed to know, and I found out" and he and Hogan shook hands. Michaels left the ring to allow Hogan to celebrate with the crowd, and Michaels once again became a fan favorite.[102]
D-Generation X reunion (2006–2007)[link]
See also: D-Generation X reunion
On the December 26, 2005 episode of Raw, Vince McMahon lauded Michaels for his part in the "Montreal Screwjob". Michaels said he was only being loyal to his company, he had moved on, and McMahon should move on as well. McMahon then began setting unusual stipulations for Michaels' matches and interfering on behalf of Michaels' opponents.[103] During the Royal Rumble, McMahon made his way to the ring, and as Michaels stared at McMahon, Shane McMahon made a surprising appearance, eliminating Michaels from the match.[104] On the February 13 episode of Raw, McMahon tried unsuccessfully to force Michaels to sign retirement papers.[105] The following week, Michaels won a handicap match against the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky and Mikey) and after the match, Michaels' former partner, Marty Jannetty, came down to help Michaels from the assault by the Spirit Squad. After the two reunited, McMahon offered Jannetty a contract if he "kissed his ass."[106] The following week, Jannetty refused McMahon's offer and instead took Chris Masters' "Masterlock challenge."[107] Michaels tried to help Jannetty, which ultimately resulted in Shane attacking Michaels and forcing him to kiss his father's ass.[107] At Saturday Night's Main Event, Shane defeated Michaels in a Street Fight, a match without disqualifications and where scoring conditions can occur anywhere, after he applied a sharpshooter on Michaels, which led to McMahon immediately ordering for the bell to be rung, even though Michaels did not submit, which was an allusion to the "Montreal Screwjob".[108] Despite interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane, Michaels defeated McMahon at WrestleMania 22 in a No Holds Barred match, a match where there are no disqualifications.[105] At Backlash, The McMahons (Vince and Shane) defeated Michaels and "God" in a tag team match, with help from the Spirit Squad in a no disqualification match.[109] On the May 22 episode of Raw, the Squad was scripted to injure Michaels' knee.[110] This was angle was written so that Michaels could have surgery on his knee, which had been legitimately injured for some time.[111]
In 2006, a series of events took place which suggested a reunion of Michaels and Triple H as DX. They began at WrestleMania 22, where both Michaels and Triple H performed the crotch chop, during their matches.[105] On Raw, the two continued to deliver chops, as Michaels feuded with Vince McMahon and Triple H went for the WWE Championship, repeatedly butting heads with Vince McMahon in the process. On the June 12 episode of Raw, DX officially reunited.[112] During Triple H's gauntlet match, which had him compete against the Spirit Squad. Michaels came in to help Triple H, and the two did the DX "crotch chops."[112] At Vengeance, DX defeated the Spirit Squad in a 5–on–2 handicap match.[113] They also defeated the Spirit Squad at Saturday Night's Main Event in a 5-on-2 elimination match and defeated The McMahons at SummerSlam.[114] At Unforgiven, DX once again defeated the McMahons and ECW World Champion The Big Show in a Hell in a Cell match.[115]
At Cyber Sunday, DX took on Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton). The fan-selected referee Eric Bischoff allowed the illegal use of a steel chair to give Rated-RKO the ill-gotten win and the plaudit of being the first tag team to defeat DX in a tag team match since their reformation in June 2006.[116] At Survivor Series, however, Team DX emerged victorious against Team Rated-RKO in a clean sweep victory.[117] At New Year's Revolution, Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps during their match with Rated-RKO.[118] Rated-RKO claimed victory over DX, citing Triple H's injury, as the "end" of DX.[119] On January 15, Michaels lived up to his word of "dealing" with Rated-RKO, from his comments the previous week before,[120][121] when he took out Randy Orton with a con-chair-to after a handicap match against Edge and Orton.[122]
Various feuds (2007–2009)[link]
On the January 29 episode of Raw, Michaels captured the World Tag Team Championship with WWE Champion John Cena after defeating Rated-RKO.[123] He then defeated both Edge and Orton in a Triple Threat number one contender's match on another episode of Raw to earn a shot at the WWE Championship.[124] At WrestleMania 23, Cena retained the championship, after he made Michaels submit to the STFU.[125] The next night on Raw, Michaels and Cena competed in two back-to-back ten team battle royals, winning the first and losing the titles in the second to The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) when Michaels threw Cena over the top rope.[126] Michaels' feud with Cena continued and he faced off with Cena, Edge and Randy Orton in a Fatal Four-Way Match at Backlash for the WWE Championship. Cena retained the championship when Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Cena causing him to fall on Orton, which gained Cena the pinfall.[127]
Michaels then entered a feud with Randy Orton when Orton claimed that he could beat Michaels.[128] The week before their scheduled match at Judgment Day, after Michaels won a match against Edge, Orton interfered, punting Michaels in the head.[128] Orton assaulted Michaels again, just prior to their match at Judgment Day, interrupting Michaels' interview segment.[129] Michaels collapsed during the course of their match, causing Orton to win by referee stoppage.[129] Afterwards, Orton continued the beating, when he performed an RKO to a fallen Michaels. Michaels was then removed out of the ring in a stretcher.[129] During the feud, Michaels conjured a storyline concussion. This injury was used to keep Michaels out of action, as he required surgery for his knee.[130] Michaels made his return on the October 8 episode of Raw, performing a superkick to newly-crowned WWE Champion, Randy Orton, during his title ceremony at the end of the show and then celebrating over the knocked-out champion as Vince McMahon watched.[131] At Cyber Sunday, Michaels was voted by the fans to face Orton for the WWE Championship; though he won via disqualification when Orton hit Michaels with a low blow, which resulted in Orton retaining the championship.[132] Michaels got another opportunity at the WWE Championship, when he was granted his rematch against Orton at Survivor Series.[133] In their match, Michaels was banned from using Sweet Chin Music upon request by Orton, referring to as Michaels superkicking Orton week after week.[134] Michaels lost the match, when Orton performed an RKO for the win.[133]
As part of the storyline involving Ric Flair, Michaels faced Flair in a Career Threatening match at WrestleMania XXIV, in which he won by performing Sweet Chin Music and thus ending Flair's career.[135] [136] Afterwards, Batista confronted Michaels about his actions at WrestleMania, calling him selfish and egotistical.[137] The two faced off at Backlash with Chris Jericho as the guest referee. Michaels won after faking a knee injury and performing Sweet Chin Music.[138] Jericho then confronted Michaels on this matter, in which Michaels admitted to faking the injury in order to defeat Batista.[139] Michaels then defeated Jericho at Judgment Day.[140] At One Night Stand, Michaels lost to Batista in a stretcher match, thus ending their feud.[141] On the June 9 episode of Raw, Michaels was attacked by Chris Jericho during his talk show segment, The Highlight Reel, being thrown directly through a television screen.[142] The following week, it was revealed that, within the context of the storyline, Michaels had suffered a detached retina.[143] At The Great American Bash, a match between Michaels and Jericho was scheduled, in which Jericho assaulted Michaels' eye, which caused Jericho to win by referee stoppage.[143]
A month later at SummerSlam, Michaels was scripted to announce his retirement from professional wrestling, though the staged rivalry between Jericho and himself continued after Jericho punched Michaels' wife in the face.[144] On the August 25 episode of Raw, Michaels denounced his decision to retire and challenged Jericho to an unsanctioned match at Unforgiven, which Jericho accepted.[145] The following week, Michaels and Jericho held a scripted official contract signing for the unsanctioned match. During the contract signing, a confrontation with Jericho occurred.[146] A predicament ensued when Michaels suffered a small tear on his left triceps,[146][147] though Michaels was medically cleared to compete in the match.[146] At Unforgiven, Michaels defeated Jericho, after the referee stopped the match, due to the severity of the beating Michaels was giving Jericho.[148] It was at the same September event that Jericho replaced CM Punk in the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match, which saw him win the match and become World Heavyweight Champion.[148] The following month at No Mercy, Michaels met Jericho in a ladder match in which Jericho defended the championship against Michaels.[149] At the event, Jericho defeated Michaels to retain the title.[150]
In December 2008, Michaels accepted an offer to become an employee of John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). The storyline was that Michaels had lost his family's personal savings due to the global recession, forcing him to accept JBL's offer of employment.[151] After failing to secure JBL the World Heavyweight Championship against John Cena at the Royal Rumble,[152] Michaels agreed to take part in an "All or Nothing" match at No Way Out in February.[153] Michaels won the match, letting Michaels out of his one-year contract with JBL immediately while still receiving full payment.[154] Michaels became the first person to defeat Vladimir Kozlov on the March 2 episode of Raw, and as a result earned the right to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV in April.[155] At the event, The Undertaker defeated Michaels to extend his WrestleMania winning streak to 17–0.[156] After WrestleMania, Michaels took a hiatus from WWE.
Final storylines and retirement (2009–2010)[link]
Michaels returned to WWE programming in a series of segments that aired on the August 10, 2009 episode of Raw, where he had scripted left the WWE. Triple H met with Michaels at an office cafeteria in Texas where he was working as a chef; throughout the segments, Triple H would try to convince Michaels to return to WWE and reform DX. After several incidents during the segments, Michaels agreed to team with Triple H to face The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase) at SummerSlam.[157] At the pay-per-view event, DX defeated Legacy.[158] The two teams would exchange victories, with their feud concluding in October. Two months later, at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, DX defeated Chris Jericho and The Big Show to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match (TLC).[159] On the January 4, 2010 episode of Raw, Michaels buried the hatchet with long-time rival Bret Hart, as they shook hands and hugged in the ring. In contrast to the storylines featured on the show, this was in fact a real-life reconciliation which laid to rest animosities surrounding the Montreal Screwjob. While some cast doubts on its sincerity, both men have confirmed that it was indeed genuine.[160][161] DX lost the Unified Tag Team Championship in a Triple Threat match to the team of The Miz and Big Show on the February 8 episode of Raw, the match also included The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows).[162] At the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Michaels cost The Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event.[163] At WrestleMania XXVI, Michaels lost to The Undertaker and, as a result, was forced to retire due to the match stipulation, the same way HBK ended Ric Flair's career.[164] The following night, on the March 29 episode of Raw, Michaels gave an emotional farewell speech, departing with the familiar sentence, "Shawn Michaels has left the building."[165]
Hall of Famer and part-time appearances (2010–present)[link]
On the December 14 episode of Raw, Michaels won the Slammy award for Moment of the Year for his match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI. Michaels made an appearance via satellite to accept the award.[166] Three days later, he announced a long-term deal with WWE, where he will serve in an ambassadorial role.[167][168] Michaels made his first live appearance at a WWE show since the night after WrestleMania at the December 11 Tribute to the Troops taping, where he and Triple H made a special appearance for a one-night only DX reunion.[169] Michaels appeared on the January 10, 2011, episode of Raw, where it was announced he was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011. After being ridiculed by Alberto Del Rio, Michaels hit Del Rio with Sweet Chin Music.[170] On the March 28 episode of Raw, Michaels addressed Triple H and The Undertaker about their match at WrestleMania XXVII.[171] Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2 by Triple H. The two were also joined by Kevin Nash (who had returned to WWE previously to participate in the recent Royal Rumble) and Sean Waltman, reuniting the majority of The Kliq.[172] He further made an appearance on the June 27 episode of Raw where he was confronted by CM Punk, and superkicked David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty. Later that night when Diamond Dallas Page made a special appearance and was interrupted and threatened by Drew McIntyre, Michaels superkicked McIntyre.[173] He made another appearance on February 13, 2012 to confront his friend Triple H about not accepting The Undertaker's challenge. He also declared the fact that he was the special guest referee for the match between The Undertaker and Triple H inside Hell In A Cell at Wrestlemania XXVIII.
Personal life[link]
Hickenbottom's marriage to his first wife, Theresa Wood, was brief and ended in divorce, but was amicably settled.[174] He is now married to former WCW Nitro Girl Rebecca Hickenbottom (née Curci), who went by the stage name of Whisper. They were married on March 31, 1999 at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada in a small ceremony.[175] The only people present were the couple and an Elvis impersonator. The couple have a son, Cameron Kade (born on January 15, 2000)[176] and a daughter, Cheyenne Michelle (born on August 19, 2004 ).[177] His cousin Matt Bentley is also a professional wrestler having wrestled in TNA and WWE.[178]
Hickenbottom has several tattoos. He has a tattoo of a heart with a sword through it, that has a snake around it in the shape of an "S."[179] He has one on his wedding finger, that has an R for his wife Rebecca.[179] Another in his left wrist, is a bracelet design that says "Cameron" for his son and "Cheyenne" for his daughter.[179] On his left leg he has a picture of his wife,[179] the other leg has a picture of the state of Texas.[179] Finally, he has a small broken heart with the letters "HBK" above it, tattooed on his right hip.[179]
In 1996, Hickenbottom posed in a non-nude layout for Playgirl magazine.[180] It was not until after he posed that he discovered that Playgirl has a mostly homosexual readership, which was seen as humorous by his fellow wrestlers.[180] He is ambidextrous, which caused him problems as a boy playing football, as he had trouble differentiating between his right and left directions.[10] He uses his right hand to draw and color and his left hand to write.[10] He typically uses his right leg when performing Sweet Chin Music, but has been known to use either arm when performing his signature elbow drop. Hickenbottom is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs. He has been seen wearing Spurs merchandise and attending Spurs games.[181] John "Bradshaw" Layfield made a reference to Hickenbottom being a season ticket holder during the 2007 Royal Rumble.[182]
Hickenbottom is a born again Christian. He was raised as a Roman Catholic, but became a non-denominational Christian under the influence of his wife Rebecca.[1] His ring attire often incorporated cross symbols, and while on the way to the ring, he would normally get down on his knees and mouth a prayer while his pyrotechnics went off. He has been seen in the congregation during a televised service of John Hagee's Cornerstone Church in his hometown of San Antonio, where he is also a Bible teacher.[1] He also appeared on a Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) program along with fellow professional wrestler Sting.[183]
In wrestling[link]
- Finishing moves
- Modified figure four leglock[184] – was used rarely after 2008
- Sweet Chin Music[2] (Superkick, with theatrics)
- Teardrop Suplex[185] (Leg hook Saito suplex) – 1992–1993
- Signature moves
- Arm trap crossface[186] – 2007–2010
- Backhand chop[186]
- Belly to back suplex[185]
- Diving elbow drop, with theatrics[1]
- Dropkick[185]
- Figure-four leglock[185]
- Flying forearm smash followed by a kip-up[1]
- Inverted atomic drop[1]
- Moonsault,[1] sometimes while springboarding to the outside
- Skin the cat[85]
- Slingshot crossbody[185]
- Stables and Tag Teams
- Entrance themes
- "Sexy Boy" by Sensational Sherri, Jim Johnston, Jimmy Hart and J.J. Maguire (February 15, 1992–January 30, 1993)
- "Sexy Boy" by Shawn Michaels, Jim Johnston, Jimmy Hart and J.J. Maguire (February 13, 1993–November 9, 1997; November 30, 1998–June 26, 2000; June 3, 2002–June 12, 2006; April 9, 2007–April 5, 2009; March 26, 2010–present)
- "Break It Down" by The DX Band (November 10, 1997–March 29, 1998; June 19, 2006–April 2, 2007; August 24, 2009–March 1, 2010) (Used while a member of D-Generation X)
Championships and accomplishments[link]
- Central States Wrestling
- NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time)[8] – with Marty Jannetty
- Continental Wrestling Association
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times)[1][8] – with Marty Jannetty
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho
- PWI Match of the Year (1993)[187] vs. Marty Jannetty on Monday Night Raw on May 17
- PWI Match of the Year (1994)[188] vs. Razor Ramon in a Ladder match at WrestleMania X
- PWI Match of the Year (1995)[6] vs. Diesel at WrestleMania XI
- PWI Match of the Year (1996)[6] vs. Bret Hart in an Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII
- PWI Match of the Year (2004)[187] vs. Chris Benoit and Triple H at WrestleMania XX
- PWI Match of the Year (2005)[187] vs. Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 21
- PWI Match of the Year (2006)[187] vs. Vince McMahon in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania 22
- PWI Match of the Year (2007)[187] vs. John Cena on Raw on April 23
- PWI Match of the Year (2008)[187] vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV
- PWI Match of the Year (2009)[189] vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV
- PWI Match of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker in a Career vs. Streak match at WrestleMania XXVI
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2010)[190]
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1995, 1996)[188]
- PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1996[191]
- PWI ranked him #10 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[192]
- PWI ranked him #33 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Marty Jannetty in 2003[192]
.jpg)
- World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWF Championship (3 times)[8]
- World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[8]
- WWF European Championship (1 time)[193]
- WWF Intercontinental Championship (3 times)[8]
- WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (5 times)[194] – with Diesel (2), Steve Austin (1), John Cena (1), and Triple H (1)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)[195] – with Triple H (1)
- Royal Rumble (1995, 1996)[8]
- Fourth Triple Crown Champion
- First Grand Slam Champion[8]
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2011)
- Slammy Award for Best Slammin' Jammin' Entrance (1996)
- Slammy Award for Best Threads (1996)
- Slammy Award for Squared Circle Shocker (1996) Won for collapsing; Owen Hart accepts the award for making Michaels collapse
- Slammy Award for Master of Mat Mechanics (1996)
- Slammy Award for Match of the Year (1996) vs. Razor Ramon in a Ladder match at SummerSlam
- Slammy Award for Leader of the New Generation (1996)
- Slammy Award for Best Finisher (1997)
- Slammy Award for Match of the Year (1997) vs. Bret Hart in an Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII
- Slammy Award for Match of the Year (2008) vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV
- Slammy Award for Match of the Year (2009) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV
- Slammy Award for Moment of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI
^ In October 1990, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty defeated The Hart Foundation for the title. Despite winning the match, the win and reign are not recognized by WWE, as the ring ropes broke and the match was not aired on television. As a result, Michaels is only officially recognized as a 5-time World Tag Team Champion.
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 5 Star Match (1994) vs. Razor Ramon in a Ladder match at WrestleMania X.
- 5 Star Match (1997) vs. The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell at Badd Blood.
- Best Babyface (1996)[196]
- Feud of the Year (2004) vs. Triple H and Chris Benoit[196]
- Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho[196]
- Match of the Year (1994) vs. Razor Ramon in a Ladder match at WrestleMania X[196]
- Match of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho in a Ladder match at No Mercy[196]
- Match of the Year (2009) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV[196]
- Match of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI[197]
- Most Charismatic (1995, 1996)[196]
- Tag Team of the Year (1989) with Marty Jannetty as The Rockers[196]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2006) with Triple H vs. Shane and Vince McMahon[196]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)[198]
See also[link]
References[link]
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- ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 164)
- ^ a b c (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, pp. 12–13)
- ^ Nanda, Jay (2009-06-03). "It's always Sunny when the original diva's around". San Antonio Express-News: 09T. "[Tammy] Sytch has gone on record via YouTube detailing a 'nine-month' courtship in the 1990s with San Antonio native and World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Shawn Michaels"
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- ^ a b (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 57)
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- ^ Adkins, Greg (2009-02-02). "Missouri loves company". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02022009/. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ Vermillion, James. "Sweet Chin Music to our ears". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/8281270/results/. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2009-03-02). "Breaking the news". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/03022009/. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
- ^ Plummer, Dave (2009-04-06). "WrestleMania 25: HBK steals the show". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2009/04/06/9019551.html. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
- ^ Adkins, Greg (2009-08-10). "North of disorder". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2009-08-23). "Results: How DX won the war". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2009/matches/11196552/results/. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2009-12-13). "Caldwell's WWE TLC PPV Report 12/13: Complete PPV report on Cena vs. Sheamus, DX vs. JeriShow, Taker vs. Batista". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_37357.shtml. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ McCoy, Heath (2010-01-10). "Back in the Ring: Hart seeks closure in comeback". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. http://www.webcitation.org/5nRR41I35. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
- ^ Eck, Kevin. "Q&A with Shawn Michaels". The Baltimore Sun. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2010/03/qa_with_shawn_michaels_1.html. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
- ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-02-08). "Raw's pit stomp". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02082010/. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
- ^ Adkins, Greg (2010-02-21). "Heartbroken". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/eliminationchamber/matches/13422574/results/. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
- ^ Plummer, Dale; Nick Tylwalk (2010-03-29). "Undertaker ends Shawn Michaels' career in thrilling rematch to cap off Wrestlemania XXVI". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania26/2010/03/29/13391706.html. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
- ^ Plummer, Dale (2010-03-29). "Raw: HBK says farewell to the WWE Universe". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/03/29/13402836.html. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "2010 Slammy Awards". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/slammyawards10/. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
- ^ Castellano, Anthony (2010-12-18). "Shawn Michaels announces "long-term" deal with WWE". Newsday. http://www.newsday.com/sports/the-steel-cage-1.811995/shawn-michaels-announces-long-term-deal-with-wwe-1.2551687. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- ^ Rowe, Jeff (2010-12-20). "Shawn signs lengthy WWE deal". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/3310327/Shawn-signs-lengthy-WWE-deal.html. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- ^ Gerweck, Steve (2010-12-12). "Spoilers: WWE 2010 Tribute to the Troops results". WrestleView. http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1292171243. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
- ^ Adkins, Greg (2011-01-10). "Tennessee titan". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/16786978/. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ^ Plummer, Dale (2011-03-28). "Raw: One last push toward Wrestlemania". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/03/28/17788296.html. Retrieved 2011-03-30.
- ^ Eck, Kevin (2011-04-03). "Thoughts on WWE Hall of Fame ceremony". The Baltimore Sun. http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2011/04/thoughts_on_wwe_hall_of_fame_ceremony_1.html. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ^ Plummer, Dale (2011-06-27). "Punk overshadows Raw Roulette". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/06/27/18343201.html. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
- ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 194)
- ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 296)
- ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 304)
- ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 329)
- ^ Milner, John M.; Jaya Roopansingh. "Matt Bentley". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/bentley-matt.html. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ^ a b c d e f Zeigler, Zack (2008-03-13). "Shawn Michaels: Superstardom and salvation in ink". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/superstarink/articles/hbksuperstardomandsalvationinink. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ a b (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 233)
- ^ "Image of HBK". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/circleofchampions/articlephotos/triplehdetroit/. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ Royal Rumble 2007 (DVD). WWE Home Video. 2007.
- ^ "TBN Newsletter". Trinity Broadcasting Network. http://www.tbn.org/about/newsletter/index.php/793.html. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
- ^ Newth, Chris (2008-03-03). "Raw Storylines and Feuds – A look at Cena-Orton-HHH, Jericho-Hardy, and Floyd Mayweather". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_24776.shtml. Retrieved 2009-09-23. "The match ended when Flair locked in his Figure Four on Cade while [Michaels] applied his modified Figure Four on Murdoch for the double tap."
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Wrestler Profiles". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shawn-michaels.html. Retrieved 2007-12-09.
- ^ a b Golden, Hunter (2009-01-13). "Raw Results – 1/12/09 – Sioux City, IA". WrestleView.com. http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1231831212.php. Retrieved 2009-04-07.
- ^ a b c d e f Olds, Chris (2008-03-24). "24 days of WrestleMania Memorabilia Countdown: No. 7, Shawn Michaels". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2009-09-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5k298sRjv. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
- ^ a b "PWI Awards". 1996 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts. 1996.
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated 31 (3): 78–79. 2010.
- ^ "Achievement Awards: Inspirational". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. 2010-01-04. http://prowrestlingillustrated.blogspot.com/2011/01/achievement-awards-inspirational.html. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
- ^ "PWI Awards". 2008 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts 29 (5): 32. 2008. 1043-7576.
- ^ a b "PWI Awards". 2008 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts. 2008. 1043-7576.
- ^ "Shawn Michaels' first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/euro/358418. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
- ^ "WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
- ^ "WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > WWE Tag Team". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Meltzer, Dave (2010-02-01). "2009 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, CA): pp. 1–12. ISSN 1083-9593
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (January 26, 2011). "Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, CA): 1–40. ISSN 1083-9593.
- ^ "Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. http://www.pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
Notes[link]
- Assael, Shaun; Mooneyham, Mike (2002). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Crown. ISBN 1-4000-5143-6
- Michaels, Shawn; Feigenbaum, Aaron (2005). Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story. WWE Books. ISBN 978-0-7434-9380-2
- "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". Wrestling’s Historical Cards (Kappa Publishing). 2007.
External links[link]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shawn Michaels |
- Official website
- Shawn Michaels on Facebook
- Shawn Michaels on Twitter
- Professional wrestling record for Shawn Michaels from The Internet Wrestling Database
- WWE Hall of Fame Profile
- Online World of Wrestling profile
- Shawn Michaels at the Internet Movie Database
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hickenbottom, Michael Shawn |
| Alternative names | Michaels, Shawn |
| Short description | Professional wrestler |
| Date of birth | July 22, 1965 |
| Place of birth | Chandler, Arizona |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Shawn_Michaels
Related pages:
http://it.wn.com/Michael Hickenbottom
http://cs.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://id.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://es.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://ru.wn.com/Шон Майклз
http://nl.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://pt.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://pl.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://fr.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
http://de.wn.com/Shawn Michaels
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Michaels
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is about the professional wrestler. For the author, see Bret Harte. For other uses, see Hitman (disambiguation).
| Bret Hart | |
|---|---|
 Hart in 2010. |
|
| Ring name(s) | Bret Hart[1] Brett Hart[1] Buddy Hart[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 234 lb (106 kg) |
| Born | (1957-07-02) July 2, 1957 (age 54)[1] Calgary, Alberta, Canada[1] |
| Billed from | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| Trained by | Stu Hart[1] Katsuji Adachi[1] Kazuo Sakurada Harley Race[1] The Iron Sheik[citation needed] |
| Debut | 1978[3] |
| Retired | 2000;[4] has made sporadic in-ring appearances since |
Bret Hart (born July 2, 1957) is a Canadian American writer, actor and retired professional wrestler currently signed with WWE under a Legends contract. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College. Along with his famed "Hit Man" nickname, Hart was known by the monikers "The Excellence of Execution", "The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever Will Be" and "The Pink and Black Attack"—the latter being in reference to his ring attire, as well as his signature mirrored sunglasses, which he routinely gave away to a young audience member before matches.
Hart joined his father Stu Hart's promotion, Stampede Wrestling, in 1976, carrying out non-wrestling duties. He made his in-ring debut in 1978.[3] He found mainstream popularity and championship success throughout the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF—later WWE), where he helmed the Hart Foundation faction and was a challenger for singles and tag team championships in both decades. He left for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) following the controversial "Montreal Screwjob" in 1997, where he enjoyed continued championship success until his departure from that promotion in 2000, due to a 1999 concussion. He officially retired in October 2000. In a publication that year, WCW described Hart as "universally respected by other wrestlers", and "perhaps the greatest pure wrestler ever to lace up a pair of boots."[5] He returned to sporadic in-ring competition in 2004 and 2006, and in 2010 with WWE, where he won his final championship, headlined that year's SummerSlam event, and served as the General Manager of Raw. He makes occasional appearances for WWE, who has described him as "arguably the greatest technical wrestler in WWE history."[6] In other WWE publications, Hart has been described as one of the biggest names in the history of the business,[7][8] and perhaps the most popular in the world by the mid 1990s.[9]
Hart has held championships in five decades from the 1970s to the 2010s, with a total of thirty-two held throughout his career, and seventeen held between the WWF/WWE and WCW. He is a seven-time world champion, having held the WWF Championship five times and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice. He spent more time as WWF Champion than any other wrestler during the 1990s, with a total of 654 days as champion, and was the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion born outside the United States. He is also a record-tying five-time WCW/WWE United States Champion, with his four WCW reigns being the most in the history of the organization; and the second WWF Triple Crown Champion and fifth (with Bill Goldberg) WCW Triple Crown Champion. He was the first man to win both the WWF and WCW Triple Crown Championships. In addition to championships, he is the 1994 Royal Rumble winner (with Lex Luger), and the only two-time King of the Ring in WWE history, having won the 1991 tournament and the first King of the Ring pay-per-view in 1993. Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 by former on-screen rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Contents
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Early life[link]
The eighth child of wrestling patriarch Stu Hart, Bret Hart was born in Calgary, Alberta into the Hart wrestling family. His introduction to professional wrestling came at an early age. As a child, he witnessed his father training future wrestling stars like Billy Graham in the Dungeon, his household basement which served as possibly the most notorious training room in the world of wrestling. Before school, Hart's father, also a wrestling promoter, had him hand out fliers to local wrestling shows. In the 1998 documentary, Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, Hart reflected on his father's discipline, describing how Stu inflicted excruciating submission holds while uttering morbid words to his teenage son. The suffering endured in these sessions even left broken blood vessels in his eyes. Hart also, cited his father's otherwise pleasant demeanor and growing up in the professional wrestling atmosphere. Hart also repeated these statements in his 2007 autobiography.[10]
Amateur wrestling[link]
File:Hartamateur.jpg
Hart as a collegiate wrestler.
At Ernest Manning High School, Hart became a standout student in the amateur wrestling division. Hart has stated that he joined the wrestling team "for the sole reason that my dad expected me to... no-one asked me to."[11] He would go on to win significant championships in tournaments throughout Alberta, including the 1974 city championships in Calgary. He would score a victory over competitor Bob Eklund – who would go on to become a CIS national champion, winning Outstanding Wrestler of the Year 1980-1981[12] – en route to the championship.[13] Hart describes the moment where he displayed the medal to his father, Stu, as a "powerful moment", and that the relationship with his father "took a different direction from that point on."[11] To this day, Hart considers his scholastic medal as one of his most prized possessions, "The fact is, even after winning all the big pro wrestling championships in both organizations, including seven world heavyweight titles that took me around the world, I still hold in high regard the city championship medal I won back in '74. It did so much to bolster my confidence and self esteem that it proved to be one of the biggest turning points in my entire life." After reading a Calgary Sun column by Hart, Canadian Olympic amateur wrestling gold medalist Daniel Igali told Hart that it means a lot to him to know how much that medal means to Hart.[14]
By 1977, Hart was collegiate champion at Mount Royal College, where he was studying filmmaking;[11][15] his coaches and other people around him felt that he had shown sufficient promise to compete at the following year's Commonwealth Games, and encouraged him to begin training for the event. Hart, however, was beginning to find amateur wrestling unrewarding amid injuries and fluctuating weight, and wanted to "get off this train".[11][16] Hart has told how Stu still believed that his son, whom he described as being able to "turn around in his own skin", was capable of making it to the Olympic or Commonwealth Games if he put forth the effort. When asked by his father, "Don't you want to walk down the street and hear people say, there goes Bret Hart; he won a gold medal in wrestling?", Hart replied, "I'd rather drive by those very same people in a brand-new car", alluding to his dream of becoming a successful film director.[17] Hart felt that the only way to give up amateur wrestling, without disappointing his father, was to become a professional wrestler. His college grades became poorer as his interest in filmmaking waned; he dedicated himself to professional wrestling, and began training with his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion.[11] Hart has often spoken of how helpful his amateur background was in his professional wrestling career, and also of what a positive effect amateur wrestling has on junior high school and high school-aged boys in terms of building self confidence.[14]
Professional wrestling career[link]
Stampede Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling (1976–1984)[link]
In 1976, Hart began working for his father's Stampede Wrestling promotion in Calgary. Hart first began helping the promotion by refereeing matches, but at one fateful event, a wrestler was unable to perform his match.[18] This forced Stu to ask his son to stand in as a replacement, paving the way for Hart's very first match in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Before long, he became a regular contender, eventually partnering with brother Keith to win the Tag Team Championship four times. Earlier on, however, he was still unsure he wanted to make a career of professional wrestling and continually contemplated the idea.
Hart gained some of his most prominent experience with Japanese combatants and real-life trainers Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada, later praising them as his most significant teachers. Before long, Hart was amazing crowds with his high-impact matches against the Dynamite Kid. In the midst of wrestling alongside his brothers and even his aging father, Hart made a point not to ride on the shoulders of his elders as other sons of promoters have. Hart faithfully jobbed as requested of him, taking pride in the believability of his performances. As he said himself, "no one could take a shit kicking like Bret Hart."[11] Although he dreaded partaking in interviews and speaking in front of a crowd, Hart went on to win the promotion's top titles, including two British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championships, five International Tag Team Championships, and six North American Heavyweight Championships. Hart also wrestled the famous Tiger Mask in New Japan Pro Wrestling, a promotion for whom he often wrestled during the early-to-mid 1980s. He remained one of Stampede's most successful performers until the promotion, along with several wrestlers, was acquired by the World Wrestling Federation in August 1984.
World Wrestling Federation[link]
Debut and Hart Foundation (1984–1991)[link]
Main article: The Hart Foundation
Hart was asked to start out in the World Wrestling Federation as a singles wrestler with a cowboy gimmick but refused, citing that where he comes from "if you called yourself a cowboy, you'd better be one".[19] He instead requested to join Jimmy Hart's heel stable, the Hart Foundation, which included brother-in-law Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. He made his televised World Wrestling Federation debut on August 29, 1984, in a tag team match where he teamed with another brother-in-law, The Dynamite Kid.[20] On September 11, in Poughkeepsie, New York, Hart defeated Aldo Marino in his televised debut singles match, which aired on the September 29 edition of Superstars. By 1985, he was billed as Bret "Hit Man" Hart[6] and began to increasingly team with Neidhart in order to build the promotion's tag team division. The "Hart Foundation" name then became exclusive to Hart, Neidhart and manager Jimmy Hart, due to the similar family names of both team members and their manager.[1] Hart's agile, technical style—which earned him the moniker "The Excellence of Execution" (coined by Gorilla Monsoon)[6][21]—created an intriguing contrast with his partner Neidhart's strength and brawling skills. During this time, Hart began wearing his signature[22] mirrored sunglasses, initially to conceal his nervousness during promos.[11] Hart considers his microphone work throughout his career to have been a weakness in his repertoire: he instead relied on his in-ring performances to win over the fans.[23]
In 1986, Hart began his first singles program, with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. In a match originally planned for WrestleMania II,[24] he lost to Steamboat at the Boston Garden on March 8, 1986, which would be included on Hart's 2005 DVD as one of his all-time favorite matches.[11] At WrestleMania II, Hart would instead participate in a 20-man battle royal which was eventually won by André the Giant.[25] Hart was the last man to be eliminated by André, however.[26] He lost to Steamboat again on the July 28, 1986 edition of Prime Time Wrestling.[27] Hart headlined his first televised WWF card when he beat Ray Rougeau, of The Fabulous Rougeaus, in the main event of the November 3, 1986 edition of Prime Time Wrestling.[27] The Hart Foundation won their first of two World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championships on the February 7, 1987 edition of Superstars when they defeated the British Bulldogs.[28][29]
The Hart Foundation would adopt the nickname, "The Pink and Black Attack", which would continue to be used by Bret after the team's disbandment. This was in reference to the team's ring attire, as well as Hart's signature mirrored sunglasses, which he would routinely give away to a young audience member before matches, following his face turn in 1988.[22][30][31] As Hart's WWF career progressed, he would also increasingly describe himself as "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be" (derived from the 1984 film The Natural), which he would later justify through three claims: he never injured an opponent through any fault of his own; through the entire course of his career he missed only one show (as a result of flight difficulties); and that he only once refused to lose a match—his final WWF match with long-time adversary Shawn Michaels at the Survivor Series event in 1997, which culminated in the now infamous Montreal Screwjob.[32]
The Hart Foundation lost the WWF Tag Team Championship to Strike Force on the October 27 edition of Superstars.[28] Hart subsequently competed in his most high-profile singles contest to date on the November 28, 1987 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, when he faced "Macho Man" Randy Savage in a losing effort.[33] He began 1988 with a decisive victory over Paul Roma of The Young Stallions (who had scored an upset victory over the Hart Foundation the previous year[34]) on January 11 edition of Prime Time Wrestling,[27] and, at WrestleMania IV, was the last man eliminated in a battle royal by the eventual winner Bad News Brown, which set the wheels in motion for a face turn.[35] Due to Hart's increasing popularity, Vince McMahon approached him with the idea of splitting up the Hart Foundation and turning him face, telling Hart that he received the most fan mail of any of his wrestlers.[36] Ultimately, McMahon decided that the Hart Foundation were too over to split up, but would turn the team face, and have them sack Jimmy Hart as their manager. As a face, Hart enjoyed significant popularity in singles wrestling. In his first singles championship opportunity, he challenged The Honky Tonk Man for the WWF Intercontinental Championship in the main event of the July 18 edition of Prime Time Wrestling, with the match ending in a double count-out.[27]
At a live event in Milan on April 8, 1989, André the Giant requested to work a singles match with Hart. Hart lost the match, but considered André's praise and encouragement after the match to be of key importance in his singles career.[37] He wrestled his first pay-per-view singles match on October 10, losing to Dino Bravo in the first British WWF pay-per-view, which was held at the London Arena and broadcast on Sky Television[38] (Hart was in fact booked to win the match, but incurred a broken sternum, causing an unplanned count-out loss[11]). Hart would score victories over the likes of Barry Horowitz (who had previously wrestled as "Brett Hart"[39]),[40] Steve Lombardi[28] (whom Hart had wrestled in his first WWF match[11]) and defecting Hart Foundation member "Dangerous" Danny Davis[28] throughout 1989. In the first televised contest of a rivalry that would span Hart's WWF and WCW careers, he lost to Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig on the November 6, 1989 edition of Prime Time Wrestling, when Perfect pulled Hart's tights during a roll-up.[41] In their first ever singles meeting, Shawn Michaels and Hart wrestled to a double count-out on the February 11, 1990 edition of the Wrestling Challenge.[42]
At SummerSlam in 1990, the Hart Foundation began their second, and final, WWF Tag Team Championship reign by defeating Demolition members Crush and Smash in a two out of three falls match with some help from the Legion of Doom.[43][44] On October 30, the Hart Foundation lost the title to The Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels), but a few days later, President Jack Tunney returned the title to the Hart Foundation because the decision had been reversed due to a rope coming off of the turnbuckle during the match and the win was never acknowledged on television. The Hart Foundation's reign lasted until WrestleMania VII, where they lost to The Nasty Boys, after which the team split.[45]
Intercontinental Champion (1991–1992)[link]
Hart won his first WWF Intercontinental Championship by defeating Mr. Perfect with the Sharpshooter at SummerSlam in 1991,[46][47] and subsequently won the 1991 King of the Ring tournament on September 7, 1991 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Hart's first pay-per-view title defense occurred at This Tuesday in Texas, where he beat the undefeated Skinner.[48]
In January 1992, Hart placed in a feud with the Mountie. This feud came about when the Mountie's manager, Jimmy Hart, threw water on Hart. Then, the Mountie proceeded to shock Hart with a cattle prod. Following the loss, Roddy Piper (his real life cousin) defeated Mountie with a sleeper hold at the 1992 Royal Rumble,[49] and Bret would later pin Piper for his second Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania VIII later that year,[50][51] making him the first, and one of few wrestlers to ever pin Piper's shoulders to the mat.[11] At a Wrestling Challenge taping on July 21, 1992, Hart defeated Shawn Michaels, with the Intercontinental Championship suspended above the ring, in the WWF's first ever Ladder match, which would subsequently be made available on multiple Coliseum/WWE Home Video releases.[52] Hart dropped the Intercontinental Championship to his brother-in-law, Davey Boy Smith, in Hart's first WWF pay-per-view main event at SummerSlam 1992 held before over 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.[53] Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers voted it the "Match of the Year";[54] WWE has named the match as the greatest in the history of SummerSlam.[55] Upon induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, Hart would cite the contest as his favorite match of his career.[56]
WWF Champion, various rivalries and hiatus (1992-1996)[link]
Hart won the WWF Championship from Ric Flair at a Superstars taping at Saskatchewan Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on October 12 of that year, in a match not originally broadcast on WWF television[57]—the match was instead made available on a series of Coliseum/WWE Home Video releases.[58] Hart dislocated one of the fingers on his right hand during the match and popped it back in himself so it would not affect the rest of the match.[11] He would headline his first pay-per-view as champion with a successful title defense against Shawn Michaels at the 1992 Survivor Series,[59] and defeated Razor Ramon at the 1993 Royal Rumble.[60] He would also defend the title against contenders such as Papa Shango[61] and former champion Ric Flair[6] before losing the title to Yokozuna in his first WrestleMania main event at WrestleMania IX, after interference from Mr. Fuji. Fuji then challenged Hulk Hogan, who had come out to help Hart, to compete for the title; Hogan then won his fifth WWF Championship from Yokozuna.[62] Shortly after, however, Hart won the first pay-per-view King of the Ring tournament in 1993 (prior King of the Ring tournaments were non-televised live events), defeating Razor Ramon, Mr. Perfect, and Bam Bam Bigelow, thus becoming the only two-time King of the Ring in WWE history.[63] After being crowned as the King of the Ring, Hart was attacked by Jerry "The King" Lawler. Lawler claimed he was the rightful King and began a barrage against Hart and his family. This began an intense two-year feud which would go on to be considered as one of the greatest in professional wrestling history. The two met at SummerSlam in 1993, to determine the "Undisputed King of the World Wrestling Federation",[64] where Hart originally won the match by submission, via the Sharpshooter. Hart, however, would not let go of the hold and the decision was reversed to a Lawler victory by disqualification[65] (according to Hart, he was scheduled to defeat WWF Champion Hulk Hogan at the event, but Hogan elected to drop the belt to Yokozuna instead in his last WWF appearance at the 1993 King of the Ring).[66] Hart and his younger brother, Owen Hart, would also feud with Lawler during 1993 in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), with Lawler notably defeating Owen for Owen's USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.[67] Hart's feud with Lawler was named "Feud of the Year" by Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and voted "Feud of the Year" by readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[68]
After months of dealing with Lawler, Hart invoked his rematch clause from his match with WWF Champion Yokozuna at WrestleMania IX on the November 20 edition of WWF Superstars. When Bret appeared to have the match won, with Yokozuna locked in the sharpshooter, Owen came to ringside to congratulate his brother. The referee began questioning Owen's motives, which allowed Fuji to assault Bret. Owen then involved himself in the match, resulting in a victory for Yokozuna via disqualification. The brothers' post-match disagreement set the wheels in motion for a family feud that would span the entirety of 1994.[69] At Survivor Series, the Harts (Bret, Owen, Bruce, and Keith) took on Shawn Michaels (a substitution for Lawler, who was facing legal troubles[70]) and his knights. The Harts won the match, with all of the brothers surviving except for Owen, the only Hart family member eliminated.[71] Bitter about his elimination, Owen blamed Bret for this and in the weeks ahead, blamed Bret for holding him back. Owen demanded a one-on-one match with Bret, which Bret refused to accept. In the storyline, Bret, along with his parents, worked over the Christmas holidays to reunite the family and to settle their rivalry. Bret was voted "WWF Superstar of the Year" 1993 by fans,[72] as well as the greatest wrestler of the year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers.[73]
At the Royal Rumble in January, Bret and Owen took on The Quebecers for the WWF Tag Team Championship. Referee Tim White stopped the match after he considered Bret unable to continue after he sustained a kayfabe knee injury during the match. After the match, Owen berated his brother for costing him a title opportunity and attacked the injured knee, setting the feud between the two.[74] Later on, Hart managed to participate and win the 1994 Royal Rumble match amid controversy. Hart and Lex Luger were the final two participants and the two were eliminated over the top rope at the same time. Therefore, both men were named co-winners of the 1994 Royal Rumble match and received title shots at WrestleMania X.[75] Luger won the chance to face Yokozuna first, with Hart having to wrestle his brother Owen, before receiving his title shot. Hart lost his match against Owen[76] but went on to defeat Yokozuna for his second WWF Championship.[77][78][79]
Hart continued to feud with his brother Owen while he also started feuding with Diesel. Hart's friend and former tag team partner Jim Neidhart returned to the WWF and reunited with Hart. At King of the Ring, Hart defended the WWF Championship against Diesel. When Hart was winning the match, Shawn Michaels interfered on Diesel's behalf. Diesel appeared close to victory after he delivered a Jackknife Powerbomb yet before he could pin Hart, Neidhart interfered. Diesel won by disqualification but Hart retained his title. Neidhart left when Diesel and Michaels attacked Hart following the match. Neidhart's motivation was made clear when he helped Owen win the tournament that night, so that he could receive a title shot against his brother.[80] At SummerSlam, Hart successfully retained the WWF Championship against Owen in a steel cage match.[81] This match would get a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and the brothers' feud would be voted "Feud of the Year" by readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[68]
Hart eventually lost his WWF Championship at Survivor Series in a submission match against Bob Backlund where the manager of either competitor (Davey Boy Smith for Hart, Owen for Backlund) would have to 'throw in the towel' for the wrestler they were representing. When Hart was in Backlund's Crossface Chickenwing and Davey Boy was kayfabe knocked out, Owen persuaded his mother Helen to throw in the towel for Hart, giving Backlund the championship victory.[82] Bret's feud with Backlund would continue into the following year. He was voted the greatest wrestler of 1994 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers, winning the vote for the second straight year.[83]
Three days after Hart's title loss, Diesel would swiftly defeat Backlund with a jackknife powerbomb to become the new WWF Champion. By 1995, Hart was focusing on projects outwith the business, such as acting, and shifted to the number two face in the company, behind Diesel.[84] Hart would challenge for Diesel's WWF Championship at the 1995 Royal Rumble, in a match that was continually marred by outside interference and ruled a draw. Both men embraced in a display of sportsmanship after the match. In a rematch from Survivor Series, Hart defeated Bob Backlund in an "I Quit" Match at WrestleMania XI.[85] Hart would be the focal point of the first event in the In Your House pay-per-view series, competing in two matches at In Your House 1. He defeated Hakushi in the very first match of the In Your House series. Hart's acclaimed feud with Jerry Lawler was reignited at the event, losing to him in the penultimate match of the card due to Hakushi's (now Lawler's protégé) interference. Hart beat Lawler in a "Kiss My Foot" match at King of the Ring, and defeated his private dentist, the seven-foot, 320 pound Isaac Yankem, by disqualification at SummerSlam 1995. Their King of the Ring match would end with one of the most iconic images in WWF history, with Hart shoving his foot into Lawler's mouth, then forcing Lawler to kiss his own foot.[86] Although Hart was victorious in their in-ring feud, Lawler remained strongly opposed to Hart as a commentator, however, and would routinely encourage Hart's opponents during matches; it would not be until Over the Limit 2011, some sixteen years later, that both men would finally bury the hatchet. After disposing of Lawler, Hart shifted his focus back to the WWF Championship, defeating Diesel in a No Disqualification match at Survivor Series to commence his third reign.[87][88]
In a rematch from their SummerSlam 1992 encounter, Hart successfully defended his title against the now heel Davey Boy Smith at In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings. He lost to The Undertaker by disqualification at the 1996 Royal Rumble when Diesel interfered, ultimately retaining the WWF Championship, and defeated The Undertaker by disqualification in a rematch on the February 5 edition of Raw, again due to Diesel's interference.[89] Hart retained his WWF Championship against Diesel in a steel cage match at In Your House 6, and defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley, who was undefeated on Raw, on the March 4 edition of the show.[90] WWF Commissioner Roddy Piper ruled that Hart would face Shawn Michaels, who had earned a WWF Championship match at WrestleMania XII by winning the Royal Rumble,[91] in a 60-minute Iron Man match at the event. The wrestler with the most decisions during the 60 minutes would win the match and the WWF Championship.
At WrestleMania, with less than a minute left on the clock and the score still 0–0, Michaels jumped from the middle rope; his legs were caught by Hart, and Hart locked in his Sharpshooter. However, Michaels did not submit in the last 30 seconds so the match ended in a tie. President Gorilla Monsoon ruled that the match would continue in sudden death overtime. Michaels hit a superkick to win the championship.[92] Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers voted it the "Match of the Year";[54] in 2004, WWE fans voted the match as the greatest in the history of WrestleMania.[93] After WrestleMania, Hart took his hiatus from television. Towards the end of the year, he would consider offers of employment from both WCW and the WWF, but would ultimately re-sign with the WWF.[94] He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Class of 1996.
Return, Hart Foundation reunion and departure (1996–1997)[link]
Main articles: Hart Foundation reunion and Montreal Screwjob
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Over the summer, Steve Austin, who was fresh from winning the 1996 King of the Ring,[95] continually taunted Hart and challenged him to come back and have a match. After an eight month hiatus from television, Hart returned and defeated Austin at Survivor Series in a match for the #1 contender spot to the WWF Championship.[96] Hart challenged champion Sycho Sid at the following month's In Your House 12: It's Time; Shawn Michaels, who was serving as a guest commentator at ringside, accidentally cost Hart the victory when he attempted to become involved in the match after being assaulted by Sid. The building tension between Hart and Michaels climaxed after the match, when Hart assaulted Michaels. Hart's feud with Austin escalated at the Royal Rumble, when Hart tossed Austin out of the ring, only for Austin (unbeknownst to the referees) to climb back into the ring and win the Rumble.[97] Hart quit the WWF the next night on Raw in protest. In order to deal with this controversy, a Fatal Four-Way between Austin and the participants he eliminated after re-entering the ring (Vader, The Undertaker and Hart) was set up for In Your House 13: Final Four, with the winner becoming the number one contender. After current champion Shawn Michaels relinquished the belt, though, the match officially became one for the WWF Championship. Hart defeated Austin, Vader, and The Undertaker in the Fatal Four-Way.[98][99] However, Austin made sure Hart's fourth reign was short-lived, costing him a title match against Sid the next night on Raw, and making it the only reign of Hart's to last less than three months.[100] Hart challenged for Sid's WWF Championship in a steel cage match shortly before WrestleMania 13 (Hart's twelfth consecutive and final WrestleMania until WrestleMania XXVI), which saw Austin actually attempt to help Hart win, in order to make their scheduled match at WrestleMania 13 a title match. Concurrently, The Undertaker, who had a scheduled title match with Sid at WrestleMania, attempted to help Sid win. Sid ultimately retained, leading to a pure grudge match for Hart and Austin.[101] Following his loss to Sid, Hart shoved "announcer" Vince McMahon to the ground when he attempted to conduct a post-match interview, and engaged in an expletive-laden rant against McMahon and WWF management. This incident has been cited as one which helped lay the foundations of the WWF's Attitude Era, as well as the starting point of McMahon's on-air character, the tyrannical WWF owner, "Mr. McMahon".[102]
At WrestleMania 13, Hart and Austin had their rematch in a Submission match that would later get a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer. In the end, Hart locked the Sharpshooter on a bloody Austin, who refused to give up. In fact, Austin never quit, but passed out from the blood loss and pain. Ken Shamrock, the special guest referee, awarded Hart the match, after which he continued to assault Austin.[103] This turned Austin face, and Hart became a heel. It was named "Match of the Year" by Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and voted "Match of the Year by" Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers.[54] Hart challenged The Rock for the WWF Intercontinental Championship in the main event of the March 31 edition of Raw. The Rock won by disqualification when Hart refused to release a figure-four leglock applied around the ringpost. He would face Austin again in the main event of In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker, to determine who would challenge the WWF Champion in a title match at the following month's In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell. Austin had Hart locked in his own finishing move, the Sharpshooter, in the middle of the ring when The British Bulldog interfered on Hart's behalf, resulting in disqualification and giving Austin the victory and title match. They would meet once again in a street fight on the April 21 edition of Raw, in which Austin injured the now-heel Hart's ankle with a steel chair. The match was ultimately awarded to Hart when Austin refused to release Hart from the sharpshooter. Austin continued to beat Hart while on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance.
Hart's feud with Austin saw Hart shift to the top heel in the company. In the ensuing weeks, Hart denounced American fans, because of their negative reaction to him in the recent weeks in contrast to his continued popularity through the rest of the world, and reunited with brother Owen and brothers-in-law Davey Boy Smith and Jim Neidhart. The family members formed a new Hart Foundation with Brian Pillman; this incarnation was an anti-American stable which was popular within Canada and Europe. As the leader of this stable, Hart would routinely carry a Canadian flag to the ring and engage in promos where he declared the superiority of his home nation; he became so despised by U.S. audiences that they would often throw debris during his ring entrances, interviews and matches.[11] He would go on to be voted by Pro Wrestling Illustrated readers as the "Most Hated Wrestler of the Year" 1997.[104] At In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede, in Hart's home town of Calgary, the Hart Foundation would defeat the team of Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust and The Legion of Doom, representing the U.S., in a ten-man tag team match main event.[105] The Canada vs U.S. rivalry escalated on the July 21 edition of Raw in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where Bret, Owen and Davey Boy Smith, representing Canada and the Hart Foundation, defeated the team of Dude Love, Austin and The Undertaker, representing the U.S., in a Flag Match.[106] The Hart Foundation's feud with Austin was named "Feud of the Year" by Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and voted "Feud of the Year" by readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[68] Hart vowed that if he could not defeat The Undertaker for the WWF Championship at SummerSlam, he would never wrestle in the United States again. The Undertaker agreed to the match, and Hart won his fifth WWF Championship after spitting in guest referee Shawn Michaels' face; Michaels swung a steel chair in retaliation, which accidentally struck the Undertaker. Michaels, who, as part of another pre-match stipulation, would be banned from wrestling in the United States if he did not remain impartial as referee, had no option but to count the pinfall, giving his bitter rival Hart the victory and the WWF Championship.[107][108]
After SummerSlam, Michaels was pushed as the top heel in the company and negative fan reactions towards Hart softened somewhat, as he adopted a tweener role and declared, "I'm not so much anti-American as I am just very, very pro-Canadian".[11] Hart successfully defended his title against The Patriot, with whom Hart had become involved in a feud as part of the Canada vs U.S. storyline, at Ground Zero: In Your House,[109] avenging a loss to him weeks earlier on Raw,[110] and the Canada vs U.S. feud would conclude at Badd Blood: In Your House, where Hart and Davey Boy Smith, representing Canada and The Hart Foundation, defeated The Patriot and Vader, representing the U.S., in a Flag Match.[111] Erstwhile, in a rematch from SummerSlam, The Undertaker challenged Hart for the WWF Championship at One Night Only; after reversing a Tombstone Piledriver attempt from Hart, The Undertaker dumped Hart on the apron when he would not let go of the ropes. As a result, Hart's neck was caught in the ropes, and The Undertaker was disqualified.[112] Hart would cite this as his favorite of all his matches with The Undertaker,[11] and his last great match in the WWF.[113] During the Hart Foundation's feud with the Shawn Michaels-led D-Generation X, DX framed the Hart Foundation in vandalizing the locker room of the African American stable, Nation of Domination with racist motifs. In retaliation, during a promo with D-Generation X, Hart called members Triple H (previously billed as "Hunter Hearst Helmsley") and Shawn Michaels "homos". Hart later apologized for his participation in the storyline and said that he had been pressured into it, saying, "I am not in any shape or form a racist. And I don't believe it is anything to kid around about. I also want to apologize for any remarks I made about gay people. It was a stupid mistake on my part."[113] Hart successfully defended the WWF Championship against Nation of Domination leader, Faarooq, on the October 20 edition of Raw,[114] and, in his penultimate WWF Championship match, wrestled Ken Shamrock to a no-contest on the October 27 edition of the show when both men were assaulted by Shawn Michaels.[115]
Around this time, Hart's on-air rivalry with Vince McMahon also escalated. A heated ringside altercation between the two led many fans to dislike McMahon, who at the time was being exposed as owner of the WWF more and more frequently on-air. Although Hart was signed to a 20-year contract back in 1996, the WWF was in a rough financial position by late 1997 and could not afford the contract. Although Hart was arguably the biggest wrestler in the world during the mid-1990s,[9] McMahon also felt that the value of his character was beginning to wane,[116] but wished for Hart to remain with the WWF and discuss the contract and the character's future. Nonetheless, McMahon gave Hart his blessing to talk to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) about possibly taking a second look at their original offer to him.[117] Hart subsequently signed a three-year contract with WCW. His final match with the WWF would be a title match against his real life rival Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series in Montreal. Hart did not want to end his WWF career with a loss to Michaels in his home country; McMahon agreed to Hart's idea of forfeiting the championship the next night on Raw or losing it a few weeks later.
Although Hart stated to McMahon he would not take the WWF Championship with him to WCW TV (and despite insistence from then-WCW President Eric Bischoff, according to Hart's DVD biography,[117] that Hart would join WCW with a "clean slate"), McMahon was still concerned; this led to him breaking his word in what eventually came to be known as the Montreal Screwjob. Even though Hart did not submit to the Sharpshooter, referee Earl Hebner called for the bell as if he had, on McMahon's orders. This resulted in Hart "losing" the WWF Championship to Michaels.[118] The night ended with an irate Hart spitting in McMahon's face, destroying television equipment, and punching McMahon backstage in front of Gerald Brisco, Pat Patterson, and McMahon's son Shane. Hart also confronted Michaels backstage about the match finish. Many behind-the-scenes events leading up to the Montreal Screwjob were filmed for the documentary Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, released in 1998. WWE has described the Montreal Screwjob as "arguably the most controversial, most jarring moment in the annals of sports-entertainment."[119]
World Championship Wrestling[link]
Various feuds and United States Champion (1997–1999)[link]
Hart signed a three-year contract with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in November 1997, the perks of which included a salary of $2.5 million per year, a substantial increase from his WWF contract, as well as a greatly reduced live schedule and complete creative control over his television character.[120] A day after the Survivor Series pay-per-view, Eric Bischoff, while with the New World Order (nWo), announced that Hart was going to be coming to WCW, and joining the nWo. Hart made his debut on WCW Monday Nitro on December 15, 1997,[121] and was heavily involved in that month's Starrcade pay-per-view. Due to a 60 day no-compete clause from the WWF, he served as the special guest referee for the match between Bischoff and Larry Zbyszko; during the Sting versus Hulk Hogan main event for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, he used his referee's license to step in toward the conclusion of the match as impromptu referee. He attacked referee Nick Patrick, accusing him of making a fast count and shouting he would not let "it happen again" (a reference to the Montreal Screwjob), and declaring Sting the winner and new champion by submission.[122] During Bischoff's period in control of the company, the goodwill towards Hart generated by the Montreal Screwjob resulted in his being pushed as a face. In January, his no-compete clause expired, and he was immediately pushed as a main event superstar. His first feud in WCW was against Ric Flair: both Flair and Hart considered themself the greatest professional wrestler of all time. Hart main-evented the Souled Out 1998 pay-per-view with a victory over Flair in his first WCW match.[123] After this, Hart would elect to defend the honor of WCW against the nWo, defeating members Brian Adams in his debut Nitro match on March 2, and old WWF rival Curt Hennig (formerly known as "Mr. Perfect") at Uncensored.[124]
In April 1998, Hart turned heel by interfering in a Nitro main event between Hogan and Randy Savage, helping Hogan recapture the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. He became an associate of the nWo, but did not officially join the group. Hart defeated Savage in singles action in his second WCW pay-per-view main event at Slamboree, thanks to assistance from Hogan. The following night on Nitro, however, guest referee Roddy Piper changed his decision and declared Savage as the winner by disqualification.[125] In a tag team match at The Great American Bash, Hart and Hogan defeated Savage and Piper.[126]
Hart competed in his second Nitro match on June 22, defeating Chris Benoit with assistance from nWo members: Hart had attempted to recruit his long-time friend into the nWo, but the offer was rejected.[127] At Bash at the Beach, Hart competed in his first championship match in WCW when he faced Booker T for Booker's WCW World Television Championship. He was disqualified after hitting Booker with a steel chair.[128] He would headline his first Nitro card on July 20, defeating Diamond Dallas Page for the vacant WCW United States Heavyweight Champion, with assistance from nWo member, The Giant.[129] WWE would later write, "Hart added to the significance of the already prestigious championship as many major WCW events were headlined by a U.S. Title bout rather than a WCW World Title contest."[130] On the August 10 edition of Nitro, Hart lost the United States Heavyweight Championship to fellow WWF alumnus Lex Luger.[131] Hart regained the title from Luger, the next night on Thunder.[132] In the main event of Fall Brawl, Hart would compete for the #1 contender spot to the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, losing to Diamond Dallas Page in a WarGames match.[133] Hart subsequently asked the fans for forgiveness, turning his back on Hogan and the nWo and ostensibly turning face again. A match between Hart and Hogan was booked to headline the September 28 edition of Nitro. During the match, Hart sustained a knee injury, with Sting taking his place. Hart's rift with Hogan had been a swerve: Hart turned on Sting, delivering a DDT, and the match was officially ruled a no-contest. Sting, a member of the rival nWo Wolfpac, was assaulted after the match; this betrayal began an intense feud between Hart and Sting. On the October 11 edition of Nitro, Sting and the Warrior beat Hart and Hogan. Hart's feud with Sting ended at Halloween Havoc with Hart controversially defending the United States Heavyweight Championship and (kayfabe) injuring Sting. On the October 26 edition of Nitro, Hart lost the title to Diamond Dallas Page.[134] The two would headline the following month's World War 3 pay-per-view in a title match which Hart lost.[135] Hart regained the title from Page on the November 30 edition of Nitro in a No Disqualification match with help from The Giant.[136]
On the February 8 edition of Nitro, Hart lost the United States Heavyweight Championship to family friend Roddy Piper.[137] In subsequent weeks, Hart declared that he was shifting his focus back to the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. On the March 29, 1999 edition of Nitro held at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, Hart appeared in street clothes and derided champion Ric Flair, as well as Hogan, for avoiding a match with him. Finally, he called out "franchise player" Bill Goldberg, claiming he could beat him in five minutes and verbally coercing Goldberg into tackling him. Hart was wearing a metal breastplate under his Toronto Maple Leafs sweater, which resulted in Goldberg being knocked out. Hart then counted his own pinfall over Goldberg's unconscious body, announced over the mic "Hey WCW, Bischoff, I quit!", to close the show, arising speculation on whether Hart was actually leaving the company. In reality, Hart had suffered a groin injury at the hands of Dean Malenko in November, and needed time off for surgery, removing him from the WCW World Heavyweight Championship picture.[138] On May 23, 1999, the night before Hart was scheduled to make an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to hype his imminent WCW return, his brother Owen Hart died in an accident during a WWF pay-per-view. Hart took a further four months off from WCW to be with his family.
World Heavyweight Champion, nWo and departure (1999–2000)[link]
Hart returned to wrestling as a face on the September 13, 1999 edition of Nitro in a match with Hulk Hogan against Sting and Lex Luger. On the October 4, 1999 edition of Nitro he defeated Chris Benoit in a tribute match for Owen — this match took place in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, where Owen had died months earlier.[139] Hart challenged for Sting's WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the October 18 edition of Nitro, but lost the match when he was attacked by Lex Luger.[140] Due to controversy over a series of WCW World Heavyweight Championship matches between Sting, Hogan, and Goldberg at Halloween Havoc, the title was declared vacant. A tournament then took place over several episodes of Nitro. Hart's first round match came against Goldberg the night after Halloween Havoc, with the match being a tournament match for a berth in the next round, as well as being a match for the United States Heavyweight Championship that Goldberg had won the night before. Thanks to outside interference, Hart was able to defeat Goldberg, handing him his second official WCW loss, and winning the United States Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time. Hart holds the record for most reigns with the title during the company's history (he would again make history with the title in 2010 by winning the rebranded WWE United States Championship, making him a record-tying five-time champion overall).[141][142]
On the November 8 edition of Nitro, Hart lost the United States Heavyweight Championship to Scott Hall in a ladder match which also involved Sid Vicious and Goldberg.[143] Hart went on to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship tournament by defeating Perry Saturn,[143] Billy Kidman,[144] Sting, and Chris Benoit at Mayhem, held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, giving him his first of two reigns in WCW and his sixth world title overall.
On December 7, Hart and Goldberg won the WCW World Tag Team Championship from Creative Control, thus not only making Hart a double champion (as he was still World Champion at that point) but also the first wrestler to win both the WWF and WCW version of the Triple Crown Championship.
Hart and Goldberg would lose the tag team titles to The Outsiders on the December 13 edition of Nitro.[145] At Starrcade, Hart defended his WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Goldberg. During the match, Hart was struck with a thrust kick to the head, resulting in a severe concussion. Hart later speculated that he may have suffered up to three additional concussions within matches over the course of that day along with the days immediately following Starrcade, having been unaware of the severity of his injuries.[146] As a part of this, Hart placed Goldberg on the post in a figure-four leg lock which ended with Hart hitting his head on the concrete floor when Goldberg failed to receive the move correctly.[147] The sum total of those injuries left Hart with post-concussion syndrome and ultimately forced his retirement from professional wrestling. Hart wrote a Calgary Sun column in which he said that Goldberg "had a tendency to injure everyone he worked with."[148] As part of his DVD documentary, Hart expressed regret that "someone as good-hearted as Bill Goldberg" was responsible for hurting him.[117] As with the Montreal Screwjob, referee Roddy Piper simply rung the bell when Hart held Goldberg in the Sharpshooter, although Goldberg did not submit. Piper simply walked away, leaving both Goldberg and Hart bewildered.[149] This would be Hart's last WCW pay-per-view.
Out of respect for Goldberg, Hart vacated the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on the December 20 edition of Nitro and suggested that he, without the championship advantage, face Goldberg that night to determine the true champion. During the match, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash came to the ring looking to attack Goldberg with baseball bats. Hart convinced them to stop, then in a swerve hit Goldberg with one of the bats. The three continued to beat down Goldberg and were eventually joined by Jeff Jarrett.[150] As a result, not only did Hart regain the championship, the nWo was reformed (now billed as "nWo 2000"), and Hart turned heel once again.[151][152] Hart wrestled Terry Funk to a no-contest in a non-title, hardcore rules match on the January 6 edition of Thunder. In his final match in WCW, he defended the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Kevin Nash on the January 10 edition of Nitro, which also ended in a no-contest. Hart vacated the title in late January 2000 when he was forced to withdraw from the main event of WCW's Souled Out due to his injuries. Hart continued to make appearances on WCW television, generally cutting promos. He was an official participant in a battle royal on the May 3, 2000 edition of Thunder to determine the number one contender for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: the extent of his involvement in the match—ultimately won by Ric Flair—was to hit Hulk Hogan with a chair. His final WCW appearance occurred on the September 6, 2000 edition of Thunder, in a promo where he confronted Bill Goldberg on the injury he sustained nine months prior. WCW released Hart from his contract in October 2000, due to his ongoing incapacity, and he announced his retirement from professional wrestling soon afterward.
Hart and several critics considered his storylines during his tenure to be lackluster. Nonetheless he had, upon departing, held seven titles, including the WCW Triple Crown, and headlined multiple pay-per-views for WCW.[11][153] Hart has cited his WCW World Heavyweight Championship victory at Mayhem 1999, the "steel plate" segment with Goldberg and his tribute match to Owen, against Chris Benoit, as his greatest moments with the company.[11]
Retirement appearances[link]
World Wrestling All-Stars (2001; 2003)[link]
In 2001, Hart became the on-screen commissioner of World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA), a role that ended prematurely due to a 2002 stroke, which temporarily rendered him a wheelchair user.[154] In his first major appearance since recovering, Hart traveled to Australia to appear at another WWA event in May 2003.
Theater and return to the ring (2004; 2006)[link]
Hart donned his famed "Hit Man" singlet, along with additional costume, and wrestled in-ring matches against jobbers (playing minor villain characters) as part of his performance as the Genie in a 2004 stage production of Aladdin, which capitalized on his past as a professional wrestler.[155] He reprised the role in 2006.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2005–2006)[link]
In mid 2005, Hart worked with the renamed World Wrestling Entertainment for the first time since 1997, contributing hours of interview footage and selecting matches for his WWE Home Video release, Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be. He was interviewed by Todd Grisham on the November 16, 2005 edition of Byte This!, marking his first appearance on WWE programming since his departure.[156] In April 2006, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by former on-screen rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Independent promotions (2007–2009)[link]
On May 9, 2007, it was announced that Hart would make his first appearance for a professional wrestling event since the 2006 WWE Hall of Fame. Hart signed autographs at "The Legends of Wrestling" show at the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.[157] On June 11, 2007, Hart made his first appearance on Raw since October 27, 1997 when he appeared in a pre-taped interview voicing his opinions on Vince McMahon as part of "Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night." During the months of October and November 2008, Hart went on tour with American Wrestling Rampage promotions, touring many places throughout the UK and Ireland, posing for photographs and signing autographs before the show. On the weekend of July 11, 2009, he made an appearance at One Pro Wrestling in Doncaster, England, where he held a Q&A, and then entered the ring to address the fans at the show. On September 27, 2009, Hart appeared in New York City's Manhattan Center to sign autographs during a Ring of Honor event. He spoke to the crowd, reminiscing about some of his more memorable matches in New York.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2009-2011)[link]
Hart re-signed with WWE in late 2009. On December 28, after weeks of controversy surrounding Hart and his presence in World Wrestling Entertainment, Chairman Vince McMahon announced that Hart would be special guest host on the January 4, 2010 episode of Raw.[158] Hart made his first live appearance on Raw in over 12 years by hosting the program. There, he thanked the fans for their continued support, jokingly teased announcer Jerry Lawler about their long-running 1990s feud, and confronted Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon regarding the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series in 1997. Hart and Michaels were able to agree on a truce, shaking hands and hugging. While many cast doubts on the sincerity of their reconciliation, both men have confirmed that it was indeed genuine.[159][160] It also appeared that he had buried the hatchet with Vince later in the night, until Vince subsequently kicked Bret in the gut (this was in fact part of a storyline, as Bret and Vince have been on speaking terms since 2005).[159]
During different encounters the following month, Hart and McMahon would reproduce similar events that occurred in the Montreal Screwjob: McMahon spitting in Hart's face (as Hart did to McMahon), and Hart destroying parts of the technical equipment that goes into producing Raw (as he did to the Survivor Series equipment).[161] On the February 15 episode of Raw, Hart made a farewell from WWE, but as he left to go inside his limousine, another vehicle reversed into the door of his limo and injured his leg. On the March 1 episode of Raw, Mr.McMahon, who would take advantage of Hart's condition, challenged Hart to a match at WrestleMania XXVI; Hart accepted.[162] The match was later changed to a No Holds Barred Match as Hart revealed the staging of his injury. Hart, along with his family, inducted his father Stu Hart into the WWE Hall of Fame, a controversial decision that aggravated Hart and McMahon's rivalry in 2010. At WrestleMania, McMahon attempted to buy Hart's family into turning against him; however, they turned against McMahon instead and helped Hart defeat McMahon.[163]
On the Raw episode after WrestleMania, Hart was about to announce his farewell from WWE until Unified WWE Tag Team Champions The Miz and The Big Show taunted Hart. This led Hart to request a match between the champions and The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd), a stable stemmed from the Hart family. Ultimately, the Dynasty would win a championship match that culminated in them winning the championship on April 26. Hart would manage in the Dynasty's corners while they battled with the Miz and Show in various matches, which eventually led to The Miz losing a match that guaranteed a WWE United States Championship match to a Hart family member against him. Instead of choosing a member of the Dynasty, The Miz chose Bret; with the help of the Dynasty, Hart would defeat The Miz to win his record-tying fifth United States Championship on May 17.[164]
On the May 24 edition of Raw, Hart was named the new General Manager of Raw. He set up qualifying matches for Fatal 4-Way Pay-per-view, but one of which involving the injured Batista and Randy Orton. Batista refused to take part and quit the WWE. He vacated the United States title, which was later won by R-Truth, and once again retired from the ring to fulfill his duties as General Manager.[165] The next week, he was confronted by Vince McMahon who congratulated Hart on becoming General Manager but warned him that he would have to make tough decisions in the future. Hart retaliated by declaring a Viewer's Choice episode of Raw.[166] The week after the Viewer's Choice episode, he confronted the NXT rookies who demanded WWE contracts. Hart denied their requests and fired NXT Season 1 winner Wade Barrett. At the end of the night, the NXT rookies attacked Hart and demanded for contracts giving Hart until the Fatal 4-Way pay per view for his answer.[167] Hart legitimately did not appear at the pay-per-view or the following night's Raw as advertised. On Raw, Vince McMahon scolded Hart for failing to appear at the pay-per-view, and to hire extra security to prevent the "chaos" caused by the NXT rookies, relieving him of his duties as General Manager.[168] Hart's profile was subsequently removed from the Raw roster on WWE.com. Some speculated that Hart had left the company, with the most commonly reported explanation being that Lloyd's of London, with whom he has an insurance settlement following his career ending injury in WCW, were unhappy with the level of physicality involved in his WWE appearances.[169][170]
After a five-week absence from WWE programming, Hart returned to Raw on July 19, where it was announced by John Cena that he, The Great Khali, R-Truth, Edge, Chris Jericho, John Morrison, and Hart would face the NXT rookies, now known as The Nexus, at SummerSlam.[171][172] The following week, Hart teamed with John Cena to wrestle SummerSlam teammates Edge and Chris Jericho to a no-contest.[173] In the SummerSlam main event, Hart's first pay-per-view headlining match since Starrcade 1999, he was disqualified for using a steel chair on Skip Sheffield. However, his team went on to win the match.[174] On the August 16 edition of Raw, Bret Hart introduced the new tag team title belts to the champions, The Hart Dynasty. Later on in the night during the Nexus vs. Raw challenge, Hart was scheduled to face Justin Gabriel, but was unable to compete after the anonymous GM, citing his disdain for Hart, removed him from the match and replaced him with Randy Orton.[175] On August 30 Hart appeared on the 900th episode of Raw and was booked in a match against The Undertaker by the anonymous GM. The match, however, would never take place as The Undertaker was assaulted by the Nexus and Kane.[176] On September 25, 2010, WWE hosted a tribute event to Hart in Madison Square Garden, where he and the Hart Dynasty defeated Nexus members Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel and Michael Tarver in a six man tag team match, when Gabriel submitted to Hart's Sharpshooter.[177] At Raw on October 18, 2010, Hart made an appearance in his hometown of Calgary, working as the special enforcer in the main event dark match between Randy Orton, Sheamus and Wade Barrett and, after the match, saved Orton from a Nexus beatdown and locked Heath Slater in a Sharpshooter.[178] As of November 2010, Hart's WWE contract had expired.[179][180][181]
Hart appeared on WWE.com's Legends of Wrestling: Rivalries on March 23, 2011, discussing the greatest professional wrestling rivalries of all time with other prominent industry figures. On the April 25, 2011 edition of Tough Enough, the contestants focused on developing their agility. Hart, who was described in his introduction by host Steve Austin as the personification of "courage, technique and agility", motivated the contestants by giving a talk on the attributes required to be successful in WWE.[182] On May 22 at Over The Limit, Hart's long-running 1990s rival, Jerry Lawler, defeated Michael Cole in a Kiss My Foot match. Harking back to Hart's victory over Lawler in a Kiss My Foot Match at the 1995 King of the Ring, Hart came to the ring after the match and, along with Jim Ross and Eve Torres, forced Michael Cole back into the ring so he could kiss Lawler's foot, as agreed in the pre-match stipulation; Hart placed Cole in the Sharpshooter to accomplish this. Hart and Lawler then embraced, laying past animosities to rest. The following night on Raw, Hart refereed the main event, which saw John Cena and Rey Mysterio defeat R-Truth and CM Punk with Hart's assistance. On the August 23, 2011 tapings of the August 26, 2011 edition of Smackdown, Hart served as guest General Manager. Hart announced that Mark Henry would get a shot at Randy Orton's World Heavyweight Championship the following week, but he was forced to give Christian a title shot instead, after Christian invoked his rematch clause. Hart, however, used his authority to add a steel cage stipulation to the match. Hart also guest refereed a Street Fight between Randy Orton and Christian in a Dark Match. After the match, Christian squared off with Bret, who applied the sharpshooter on Christian.
On September 12, 2011 Hart appeared on RAW and was placed in a tag team match with John Cena against Alberto Del Rio and Ricardo Rodriguez which he won after putting Rodriguez into a sharpshooter.[183] Later that week on Smackdown, which was filmed in Toronto, he took part in a post-show tribute for one of his biggest fans (who also was forced to retire early, due to injuries), Edge.
Legacy[link]
Hart has been credited by WWE and prominent industry figures as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.[11][6] WWE has also described him as one of the biggest names in the history of the business,[7][8] and said of his popularity, "In the mid ’90s, there were very few, if any, Superstars as popular as Bret “Hit Man” Hart."[9] WCW said, "Bret "Hit Man" Hart [is] perhaps the greatest pure wrestler ever to lace up a pair of boots. Universally respected by other wrestlers, Hart is almost as controversial as he is technically adept." The organization also called Hart "an incredible international draw, attracting standing room only crowds in every corner of the globe."[5] Since Hart's retirement, WWE chairman Vince McMahon has described him as the greatest technical wrestler and storyteller in the history of the business, and as having given the best match of the night every time he wrestled.[184] Stone Cold Steve Austin,[185] The Undertaker,[186] Shawn Michaels,[187] Chris Benoit,[188] Roddy Piper,[189] Bam Bam Bigelow[190] and other wrestlers[191][192] have named Hart as one of their favorite opponents. Veteran AWA, WWF/E and WCW announcer Gene Okerlund has asserted that Hart should appear in anyone's list of the top ten greatest wrestlers of all time.[193] Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) readers voted Hart the greatest wrestler of 1993 and 1994 in the "PWI 500",[73] as well as the "Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year" 1994.[194] He was voted "WWF Superstar of the Year" 1993 by fans.[72] PWI ranked him #4 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003, after Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Andre The Giant.[195] WWE has also credited Hart as the top "Submission Specialist" in professional wrestling history,[196] and for popularizing the Sharpshooter submission hold, named by the organization as the most devastating submission hold in professional wrestling history.[197]
In 2004, Hart was chosen as one of the Greatest Canadians, coming in at number thirty-nine. He was also the advocate for Don Cherry during the televised portion of the competition. Hart said he would be done with professional wrestling following his U.S. book tour. He believed his wrestling career would be complete after saying good-bye to his American fans on various book signing tours to promote its release in the States. Hart was content saying good-bye to wrestling through his book and not working for a promotion after spending seven years on the project. "I'd be happy being remembered for really brilliant storytelling in my matches, not for some last chance to snap up some money," Hart said. "I respectfully understand my light in wrestling is fading. I can live with that." Hart said he nearly gave up on the project while trying to fight with the illnesses he faced after suffering a stroke in 2002. However, Hart wanted to bring closure on his wrestling career. "A lot of times, I thought about giving up because it was hard reliving some of these events. But I couldn't say goodbye to my wrestling character until I finished."
On the February 16, 2006, episode of Raw, it was announced that Hart would be a 2006 inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame.[198] Hart had also been approached by Vince McMahon for a potential match between the two at WrestleMania 22 but declined the offer.[199] On April 1, 2006, Hart was inducted by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.[200] He thanked every wrestler he worked with (even thanking Vince McMahon) and said he's "in a good place in life."[201] Despite Hart's claims around the time of WrestleMania 22, the idea of a match between Hart and McMahon was revived in 2010 following Bret's guest appearance on the January 4th edition of Raw. On March 1, 2010, it was confirmed that Hart and McMahon would have their match at WrestleMania XXVI.
On July 15, 2006, Bret Hart was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, at the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton, Iowa. The induction took place in an immensely crowded and humid display room showcasing one of Hart's ring entrance jackets. The honor is only awarded to those with both a professional and amateur wrestling background, making Hart one of the youngest inductees. During his acceptance, Hart compared this induction to his place in the WWE Hall of Fame, saying "This is a much bigger honor for me."[202]
In June 2008, Hart returned to the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame ceremony, this time to induct his father Stu Hart. At the induction ceremony in Waterloo, Iowa, he ridiculed Slam Wrestling editor Greg Oliver, calling him a "charlatan" and his books on wrestling "fiction" to the standing ovation of some wrestlers in attendance. At the end of the speech, Hart said "Either you go or I go." After Oliver refused to leave, Hart walked out of the ceremony with other wrestlers to scattered applause.[203]
On October 16, 2010, Bret Hart was honored at MainStream Wrestling Entertainment's Maritime Wrestling Expo event in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Mayor of Halifax, Peter Kelly, declared the date as Bret "Hit Man" Hart Day and delivered a proclamation in honor of Bret's lifetime contributions to wrestling and for naming the City of Halifax as a favorite place in which to perform. Bret was also given a special custom-made plaque by MainStream Wrestling Entertainment, which was designed by Custom Design Cycle in Liverpool, Nova Scotia.
In December, 2010, WWE released the "50 Greatest Superstars of All-Time" DVD in which Bret was ranked #4 behind Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Shawn Michaels.
Outside the ring[link]
Writing[link]
Hart wrote a weekly column for the Calgary Sun from June 1991 until October 2004.
On October 16, 2007, Hart's autobiography titled Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, was released in Canada by Random House Canada, and released in fall 2008 in the United States by Grand Central Publishing, with a U.S. book signing tour. Hart began writing the book in July 1999 with Marcy Engelstein, his longtime close friend and business associate. They did not complete the book until eight years later in September 2007 due to Hart suffering his stroke in 2002, among numerous other tragedies that occurred during the writing. Hart's chronicle is based on an audio diary that he kept for all of his years on the road in professional wrestling.
Acting[link]
In 1994, Hart played a prison inmate in Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers; however, the scene he appeared in was deleted.
From 1995 to 1996 Hart appeared in the Lonesome Dove television series playing "Luther Root". He has made numerous televised appearances since, including a guest spot on The Simpsons in 1997 (as himself, in "The Old Man and the Lisa") and episodes of the Honey I Shrunk The Kids TV series (along with his brother Owen), The Adventures of Sinbad, Big Sound, and The Immortal. Hart provides the voice of pro wrestler character "The Hooded Fang" in Jacob Two-Two.
Hart also guest starred on the sketch comedy series MADtv in 1997 where he acted as enforcer at a fan's house, appearing with his WWF Championship belt. Hart later appeared again on MADtv in 1999 and 2000 in an angle with actor Will Sasso in which the two feuded on the set of MADtv and in World Championship Wrestling; this culminated in a grudge match on WCW Monday Nitro, where Hart decisively defeated Sasso.
Hart had a stint playing The Genie in a theatrical production of Aladdin in 2004, a role which he reprised in the Canadian Touring production of Aladdin in late 2006.
Wrestling-related[link]
Hart was the subject of 1998 documentary, Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, which chronicles the events leading up to his transition from WWF to WCW.
In mid-2005, WWE announced the release of a three-disc DVD originally named Screwed: The Bret Hart Story, with the title a reference to the Montreal Screwjob. After he was approached about appearing in the DVD, Hart visited WWE Headquarters on August 3, 2005 and met with Vince McMahon. Hart filmed over seven hours of interview footage for the DVD, which was renamed Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be. The DVD includes a compendium of Hart's favorite matches, including a match against his brother Owen held in White Plains, New York and his first match with Ricky Steamboat. Before the DVD's release, WWE released a special magazine covering Hart's career. The collection was released on November 15, 2005.
On April 6, 2010, WWE released Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology, which is a 3 DVD set featuring a documentary on the Hart wrestling family as well as 12 matches. It is unique in that it also features previously unseen home movies from the Harts as well as candid interviews from surviving family members.
Hart appeared on many talk shows (Larry King Live, Nancy Grace, Hannity & Colmes, On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren, etc.) discussing the Chris Benoit double murder and suicide. Hart is shown putting his finishing hold, the Sharpshooter, on Chris Benoit in the opening credits of Malcolm in the Middle which was footage from WCW Mayhem 1999 .
In 2010, The Fight Network produced a documentary titled 'Bret Hart - Survival of the Hitman' produced by John Pollock, Jorge Barbosa and Wai Ting chronicling the rise of Hart, his split with WWE in 1997 and his road back to the company in January 2010. The documentary features interviews with Bret, members of the family, Carl DeMarco, former sports agent Gord Kirke, producer of 'Wrestling with Shadows' Paul Jay and more.
In June 2011, tweets from Jim Ross, Shawn Michaels and Hart announced that the three were working on a DVD chronicling the careers of Hart and Michaels that the WWE was planning to release in October 2011. The subject of the DVD would be their on-screen rivalry and real-life conflicts, with a particular focus on the Montreal screwjob. In his tweet, Hart described working on the DVD as a "cathartic" experience, and Ross asserted that both Hart and Michaels had been very honest and emotional in their interviews.
Personal life[link]
Family[link]
Hart married Julie Smadu-Hart (born March 25, 1960) on July 8, 1982. Bret and Julie have 4 children:[204] Jade Michelle Hart (born March 31, 1983); Dallas Jeffery Hart (born August 11, 1984); Alexandra Sabina Hart (born May 17, 1988), nicknamed "Beans"; and Blade Colton Hart (born June 5, 1990).[205] The 4 hearts located on the right thigh of his tights symbolize his 4 children, as do the 4 dots following his signature.[206] Bret and Julie separated in May 1998 and they eventually got divorced on June 24, 2002 just hours before Bret suffered his stroke.[207] Hart married an Italian woman named Cinzia Rota in 2004, but they got divorced in 2007 after failing to agree on where they should live.[207] In July 2010 Hart married a woman named Stephanie Washington.[208]
His 7 brothers were either wrestlers or involved backstage with the wrestling business; his 4 sisters all married professional wrestlers. 3 of his brothers-in-law, the Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith, and Jim Neidhart had successful careers in the business. His youngest brother Owen Hart had become a decorated wrestler in his own right before his death in 1999, caused in a real-life accident at the WWF pay-per-view Over the Edge.
He is a cousin of Roddy Piper.
Health problems[link]
On June 24, 2002, Bret Hart suffered a stroke after hitting his head in a bicycle accident. The Calgary Herald reported that Hart hit a pothole, flew over the handlebars of the bike, and landed on the back of his head. Hart suffered total paralysis on his left side, which required months of physical therapy. Hart has since recovered much of his mobility and is in good health, although he suffers from an emotional imbalance and other lasting effects common to stroke survivors. Hart wrote in detail about his stroke in his autobiography, Hitman: My Real Life In The Cartoon World of Wrestling.[209] Hart later became a spokesperson for March of Dimes Canada's Stroke Recovery Canada program.[210]
Feud with Ric Flair[link]
In 2004, Hart engaged in an off-screen rivalry with Ric Flair. In his autobiography, Flair criticizes Hart for exploiting the death of his brother, Owen Hart, and the controversy surrounding the Montreal Screwjob.[211] Flair also claimed in his autobiography that, despite Hart's popularity in Canada, he was not a formidable money-making draw in the United States, a claim which Hart dismissed as "plain ridiculous" in a column written for the Calgary Sun.[212] Hart claimed that he drew greater revenue than Flair, citing his headlining performances on consistently sold-out tours throughout his WWF career, while Flair wrestled to allegedly near-empty arenas. He also criticized Flair on what he perceived as insults to fellow wrestlers Mick Foley and Randy Savage. Hart did acknowledge a decline in the WWF's popularity during the mid-1990s, but he, and others, felt that this was largely attributed to the WWF's well-publicised sex and steroid scandals, as well as WCW's acquisition of former top WWE stars.[212][213][214] In contrast to Flair's claims, longtime dirtsheet writer Dave Meltzer, of the Wrestling Observer, said of Hart, "there is no denying he was a major draw in the United States";[215] WWE owner Vince McMahon has asserted that whichever company hired Hart could "have built the entire franchise around [him]," describing him as an "extraordinary star who you know is going to give you the best match of the night every time he goes out there." McMahon added that it was "fortunate for me, in terms of my company," that his chief competitor, WCW, did not utilize Hart to his full potential.[11] WCW described Hart as "an incredible international draw, attracting standing room only crowds in every corner of the globe."[5]
Other[link]
When Hart began the controversial "Canada versus America" angle, he was criticized in public, accused of being anti-American and often told by angry American fans "go back where you came from". Hart responded in an interview with the Calgary Sun, stating that "[there is] a difference between a show and reality". In actuality, Hart holds dual citizenship with Canada and the U.S. as his mother is originally from Long Island, New York in the U.S.[216]
The Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League took their name from Hart, who was a founder and part-owner.[217]
In wrestling[link]
- Finishing moves
- Signature moves
- Bulldog, sometimes from the second rope
- DDT[219]
- Dropkick
- Enzuigiri
- Figure four leglock,[218] sometimes while using the ringpost for extra pressure[1]
- Headbutt,[219] sometimes to to the opponent's lower abdomen[1]
- Inverted atomic drop[1]
- Kip-up, often from a prone position
- Multiple pinning variations
- Multiple suplex variations
- Pendulum backbreaker[1][218][219]
- Plancha
- Russian legsweep[218][219]
- Seated senton to an opponent's leg draped over the first rope
- Second or top rope dive into either an axe handle elbow drop or a side elbow drop[1][218]
- Sleeper hold
- Standing legdrop
- Stomp to the opponent's abdomen[1]
- Suicide dive
- Swinging neckbreaker
- Wrestlers Managed
- Entrance themes
- "Hart Beat" by Jimmy Hart and J.J. Maguire (WWF; 1988–1994)
- "Hart Attack" by Jim Johnston, Jimmy Hart, and J.J Maguire (WWF; 1994–1997)
- "Hitman in the House" (WCW; 1997–1999)
- "Hitman Theme" by Keith Scott (WCW; 1999–2000)
- "Rockhouse" by Jimmy Hart and H. Helm (WCW; used while a part of the nWo 2000; 1999–2000)
- "Return of the Hitman" by Jim Johnston (WWE; 2010–present)
Championships and accomplishments[link]
Amateur[link]
- City championships, Calgary (1974)[11][13]
- Mount Royal Collegiate Champion (1977)[11][15]
Professional wrestling[link]
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Iron Mike Award (2008)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Comeback of the Year (1997)[222]
- PWI Feud of the Year (1993)[68] vs. Jerry Lawler
- PWI Feud of the Year (1994)[68] vs. Owen Hart
- PWI Match of the Year (1992)[54] vs. British Bulldog at SummerSlam
- PWI Match of the Year (1996)[54] vs. Shawn Michaels in an Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII
- PWI Match of the Year (1997)[54] vs. Steve Austin in a Submission match at WrestleMania 13
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1997)[104]
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1994)[194]
- PWI Stanley Weston Award (2003)[223]
- PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1993 and 1994[73][83]
- PWI ranked him #4 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[195]
- PWI ranked him #37 of the top 500 tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Jim Neidhart in 2003[224]
- World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWE United States Championship (1 time)[142]
- WWF Championship (5 times)[7]
- WWF Intercontinental Championship (2 times)[234]
- WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jim Neidhart[45]
- King of the Ring (1991, 1993)
- WWF Superstar of the Year (1993)[72]
- Royal Rumble (1994)2[231]
- Second Triple Crown Champion (2 times)[231][232]
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
- Slammy Award for Put a Fork in Him, He's Done (1996) The Sharpshooter[235]
- Slammy Award for Best Music Video (1996)[235]
- Slammy Award for Which WWF champion, past or present, in attendance, is Hall of Fame bound? (1996)[235]
- Slammy Award for Match of the Year (vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XII) (1996)[235]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- 5 Star Match (1994) vs. Owen Hart in a cage match at SummerSlam
- 5 Star Match (1997) vs. Steve Austin in a Submission match at WrestleMania 13
- Best Pro Wrestling Book (2007) Hitman
- Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2006) Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be
- Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2011) WWE Greatast Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
- Feud of the Year (1993) vs. Jerry Lawler
- Feud of the Year (1997) with Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, British Bulldog, and Brian Pillman vs. Steve Austin
- Match of the Year (1997) vs. Steve Austin in a Submission match at WrestleMania 13
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
1 Hart became the fifth man to win the Triple Crown along with Goldberg because they defeated Creative Control to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship, with both already holding all other required titles. Therefore, they both achieved Triple Crown status at the exact same time.
2Hart co-won the Royal Rumble with Lex Luger after both simultaneously eliminated each other.
References[link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Bret Hart profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/bret-hart.html. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Wikia". http://prowrestling.wikia.com/wiki/Bret_Hart.
- ^ a b Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 35-41
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 526
- ^ a b c WCW: The Ultimate Guide. DK Books. 2000. (p.104-105)
- ^ a b c d e f "biography". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/brethart/. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ a b c "WWE Championship history". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
- ^ a b History of the Intercontinental Championship: "The Mountie". WWE. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c Vermillion, James. "Their Dark Days: How can you be so Hart-less?". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/theirdarkdays/. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p.4
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be (aka "The Bret Hart Story"), WWE Home Video (2005)
- ^ Championship History. Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
- ^ a b Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 32
- ^ a b Hart, Bret. "Special Memories". Calgary Sun. 2001-01-27. Retrieved 2010-08-07. Archived at SLAM! Sports.
- ^ a b Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 36
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 33
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 38
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 35-41
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p.170
- ^ "WWF @ Brantford, Ontario - August 29, 1984". The History of WWE. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/84.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ WWE Byte This interview (2005)
- ^ a b Zeigler, Zack. "Hats off to Trevor Murdoch". WWE. August 21, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2011
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 3
- ^ Hart, Bret (2007). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling, p. 191
- ^ "WrestleMania 2 Official Results". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm2/results. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
- ^ "WrestleMania 2 review". pWwew - Everything Wrestling. http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/march/2.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
- ^ a b c d WWF Prime Time Wrestling results. Archived at wiawrestling. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ a b c d WWF Superstars results. Archived at wiawrestling. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ "History Of The World Tag Team Championship - Hart Foundation(1)". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413212221. Retrieved 2007-12-20.
- ^ Adkins, Greg. "Raw results, December 28, 2009". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12282009/. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ "Raw: A special look at Bret Hart's WWE history". WWE. 0:25 minutes in. Vince McMahon: "The Pink and Black Attack, here it comes."
- ^ a b Hart, B. "When I boast about being the best there is, it is because of three reasons...," Bret Hart Calgary Sun column.
- ^ The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event. WWE Home Video. 2009.
- ^ Graham Cawthon. "WWF Show Results 1987". http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/87.htm. Retrieved 7 April 2007. "Roma & Jim Powers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart (w/ Jimmy Hart) via disqualification when the champions illegally double teamed the challengers"
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- ^ "Wwf Aims Low, Shoots High Wrestling Comes To The Garden On A Roll". Nydailynews.com. 1998-12-27. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/news/1998/12/27/1998-12-27_wwf_aims_low__shoots_high_wr.html. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ "World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. - Company History". Fundinguniverse.com. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/World-Wrestling-Federation-Entertainment-Inc-Company-History.html. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave. Wrestling Observer. November 17, 1997. Archived version.
- ^ Hart, Bret. "An open letter to Shawn Michaels". Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBretHart9799/hitman_may17.html.
- ^ "The Calgary Hitmen Hockey Team Has Come a Long Way in a Short Time". Calgary for Newcomers.com. 1999-05-07. http://www.calgary-for-newcomers.com/CalgaryHitmenHockey.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
- ^ a b c d e f "Souled Out report on January 24, 1998". http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1998014p.htm.
- ^ a b c d e f "Slamboree report on May 17, 1998". http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1998053p.htm.
- ^ "Hart Foundation Profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/h/hart-foundation-original.html. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ "Bret Hart". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/hart-bret.html. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Comeback of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwicome.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Editor's Award". Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiedit.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Tag Teams of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi100tg.htm. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
- ^ "Stampede International Tag Team Championship history". Wrestling=titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-t.html.
- ^ "Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship history". Wrestling-titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-mh.html.
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship history". Wrestling-titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-h.html.
- ^ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html.
- ^ "WCW World Heavyweight Championship title history". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
- ^ "WCW World Tag Team Championship history". Wrestling-titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html.
- ^ a b c "Bret Hart's title history at WWE.com". http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/brethart/bretharttitlehistory.
- ^ a b "Triple Crown Club". WWE. 2010-10-18. http://www.wwe.com/magazine/magazinefeatures/featureoftheweek20090423a/. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ "WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship history". Wrestling-titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/carib-t.html.
- ^ "WWE Intercontinental Championship history". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
- ^ a b c d "And the winner is". WWE. 2008-02-23. http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/andthewinneris. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
Further information[link]
- Hart, Bret (2008). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling. Vintage Canada,. ISBN 978-0-307-35567-6. http://books.google.ca/books?id=9w_ufNyxo3YC&lpg=PP1&dq=Bret%20%22Hitman%22%20Hart%3A&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=true
- Hart, Bret; Lefko, Perry (March 2000). Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be. Balmur/Stoddart. ISBN 0-7737-6095-4.
- Documentary
- Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Vince McMahon (December 8, 2009). Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (Documentary film). ASIN B001NG9GZ0.
External links[link]
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- Official website
- Bret Hart on Twitter
- Bret Hart on Facebook
- Professional wrestling record for Bret Hart from The Internet Wrestling Database
- Audio Interview (2010) from 'Rafferty/Mills Connection' Podcast
- WWE: Home is where the Hart is? The return of The Hitman
- WWE Hall of Fame profile
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| Hulk Hogan | |
|---|---|
 Hulk Hogan at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. (August 21, 2005) |
|
| Ring name(s) | The Super Destroyer[1] Hulk Hogan[1] Hollywood Hulk Hogan[1] Hollywood Hogan[2] Terry Boulder[1] Mr. America Sterling Golden |
| Billed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)[3] |
| Billed weight | 302 lb (137 kg)[1] |
| Born | (1953-08-11) August 11, 1953 (age 58)[1] Augusta, GA[1] |
| Resides | Tampa, Florida[1] |
| Billed from | Venice Beach, California[3] Washington, D.C. (as Mr. America)[4] Hollywood, California (as Hollywood Hogan) |
| Trained by | Hiro Matsuda[1] |
| Debut | August 10, 1977[1] |
| Website | hulkhogan.com |
Terry Gene Bollea[5] (born August 11, 1953),[1] better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[6]
Hogan enjoyed mainstream popularity in the mid 1980s through the early 1990s as the all-American character Hulk Hogan in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF—now WWE), and was notable in the mid-to-late 1990s as Hollywood Hogan, the villainous nWo leader, in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Following the closure of WCW, he made a brief return to WWE in the early 2000s before revising his heroic character by combining elements of his two most famous personas.
Hogan was later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. He is a 12-time world champion being a six-time WWF/WWE Champion, six-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a former WWE World Tag Team Champion with Edge. He won the Royal Rumble in 1990 and 1991, making him the first to win two consecutive Royal Rumbles. He was also the first WWE wrestler to win the WWE Championship three times. In his first reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Hogan held the title for 469 days from July 17, 1994 to October 29, 1995—the longest ever reign for this championship.
Contents
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Early life[link]
Hogan, born Terry Gene Bollea, was born in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Peter Bollea, a construction foreman, and Ruth, a homemaker and dance teacher. He is of Italian, French, and Panamanian heritage.[7]
When he was one and a half years old, his family moved to Port Tampa, Florida.[8]
As a boy, he was a pitcher in Little League Baseball. He began watching professional wrestling at 16 years old. While in high school, he revered Dusty Rhodes,[9] and he regularly attended cards at the Tampa Sportatorium. It was at one of those wrestling cards where he first turned his attention towards "Superstar" Billy Graham and looked to him for inspiration;[9] since he first saw Graham on TV,[9] Hogan wanted to match his "inhuman" look.[9] Hogan was also a skilled musician, spending ten years playing bass guitar in several Florida-based rock bands.[2]
He went on to study at Hillsborough Community College and the University of South Florida. After music gigs began to get in the way of his time in college, Hogan decided to drop out of the University of South Florida before receiving any degree.[10] Eventually, Hogan and two local musicians formed a band called Ruckus in 1976.[11] The band soon became a local sensation in the Tampa Bay region.[11]
During his spare time, Hogan would work out at Hector's Gym in the Tampa Bay area and eventually became strong enough to do big lifting.[12] Many of the wrestlers who were competing in the Florida region visited the bars where Ruckus was performing.[9] Among those attending his performances were Jack and Gerald Brisco,[9] two brothers who wrestled together as a tag team in the Florida region. Impressed by Hogan's physical stature, the Brisco brothers asked Hiro Matsuda—the man who trained wrestlers working for Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF)—to make him a potential trainee.[13] In 1976, the two brothers asked Hogan to try wrestling. Having been a wrestling fan since childhood,[9] Hogan eventually agreed.[14] At first, however, Mike Graham, the son of CWF promoter Eddie Graham, refused to put Hogan in the ring;[15] according to Hogan, he met Graham while in high school and the two didn't get along.[15] However, after Hogan quit Ruckus and started telling people in town that he was going to be a wrestler,[15] Mike Graham finally agreed to accept the Brisco Brothers' request.
Professional wrestling career[link]
Early years (1977–1979)[link]
In the summer of 1977, after over a year of training with Matsuda,[16] the Brisco brothers dropped by Matsuda's gym to see Hogan.[16] During this visit, Jack Brisco handed Hogan a pair of wrestling boots and informed him that he was scheduled to wrestle his first match the following week.[16] In his professional wrestling debut, Eddie Graham booked him against Brian Blair in Fort Myers, Florida on August 10, 1977 in Championship Wrestling from Florida.[17][18] A short time later, Bollea donned a mask and assumed the persona of "The Super Destroyer," a hooded character first played by Don Jardine and subsequently used by other wrestlers. Hogan, however, eventually could no longer work with Hiro Matsuda,[19] whom he felt was an overbearing trainer,[19] and left Championship Wrestling From Florida.[20] After declining an offer to wrestle for the Kansas City circuit,[20] Hogan took a hiatus from wrestling and managed a private club in Cocoa Beach, Florida-known as the Anchor Club-.[20] for a man named Whitey Bridges.[20] Eventually, Whitey and Hogan became close friends, and decided to open a gym together;[20] the gym would be known as Whitey and Terry's Olympic gym.[20] Soon after, Hogan's friend Ed Leslie (later known as Brutus Beefcake) came down to Cocoa Beach to help Hogan and Bridges manage both the Anchor Club and the Whitey and Terry's Olympic Gym.[20] On his spare time, he and Beefcake would work out in the gym together,[20] and eventually, Beefcake developed a muscular physique;[21] Hogan was impressed by Beefcake's physical stature and became convinced that the two of them should wrestle together as tag team partners.[21] Depressed and yearning to return to wrestling,[21] Hogan called Superstar Billy Graham in 1978 with hopes that Graham could find him a job wrestling outside of Florida;[21] Graham agreed and Hogan soon joined Louie Tillet's Alabama territory.[21] Hogan also convinced Beefcake, who had yet to become a wrestler,[21] to come with him and promised to teach him everything he knew about the sport.[21]
In Alabama, he and Beefcake wrestled as Terry and Ed Boulder, known as the Boulder Brothers.[22] These early matches as a tag team with the surname Boulder being used by both men prompted a rumor among wrestling fans unaware of the inner workings of the sport that Hogan and Beefcake were brothers,[22] as few people actually knew their real names outside of immediate friends, family, and of course the various promoters the two worked for. After wrestling a show for Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) in Memphis,[23] Jerry Jarrett, the promoter for the (CWA), approached Hogan and Beefcake and offered them a job in his promotion for $800.00 a week;[23] this was far more than the $175.00 a week they would make working for Tillet.[23] Hogan and Beefcake accepted this offer and left Tillet's territory.[23]
During his time in Memphis, Hogan appeared on a local talk show, where he sat beside Lou Ferrigno, star of the television series The Incredible Hulk.[24] The host commented on how Terry, who stood 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) and weighed 295 pounds with 24 inch biceps, actually dwarfed "The Hulk." Watching the show backstage, Jerry Jarrett noticed that Hogan was actually bigger than Ferrigno, who was well known at the time for having large muscles.[25] As a result, Bollea began performing as Terry "The Hulk" Boulder[25] and sometimes wrestled as Sterling Golden.[2]
In May 1979, Bollea had an early shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, which at the time was generally recognized as the highest honor in wrestling. In June 1979, Bollea won his first wrestling championship, the NWA Southeast Heavyweight Championship, recognized in Alabama and Tennessee when he defeated Ox Baker.
World Wrestling Federation (1979–1980)[link]
Later that year, former NWA World Champion Terry Funk introduced Bollea to the company head Vincent J. McMahon, who was impressed with his charisma and physical stature. McMahon, who wanted to use an Irish name, gave Bollea the last name Hogan, and also wanted him to dye his hair red. Hogan who said his hair was already beginning to fall out, refused to dye it and simply said "I'll be a blond irish.[26] At this time, Hogan wrestled Bob Backlund for the World Championship,[27] and he started his first big feud with André the Giant, which culminated in a match with André at Shea Stadium in August 1980.[28] Hulk Hogan claims in his autobiography that he and André the Giant were the reason for the Shea gate. However, Sammartino/Zbyszko sold out everywhere they wrestled leading up the show. Hogan and Andre wrestled in White Plains, New York, drawing 1,200 in a building that held 3,500 as the main event before they wrestled at Shea. During his initial heel run in the WWF, Hogan was paired with "Classy" Freddie Blassie, a wrestler-turned-manager.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (1980–1985)[link]
A great deal of Hogan's early success was achieved in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Japanese wrestling fans were in awe of the gargantuan blond American and nicknamed him "Ichiban" (which translates to "Number One"). Hogan first appeared in Japan on May 13, 1980, while he was still with the WWF. He occasionally toured the country over the next few years, facing a wide variety of opponents ranging from Tatsumi Fujinami to Abdullah the Butcher. When competing in Japan, Hogan used a vastly different repertoire of wrestling moves, relying on more technical, traditional wrestling holds and maneuvers as opposed to the power-based, brawling style American fans became accustomed to seeing from him. Another difference is that Hogan used a running forearm lariat (called the "Axe Bomber") as his finisher in Japan instead of the running leg drop that has been his traditional finisher in America. On June 2, 1983, Hogan became the first International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) tournament winner (although he held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt, this was not the beginning of the actual championship), defeating Japanese wrestling icon Antonio Inoki by knockout in the finals of a 10-man tournament featuring top talent from throughout the world.[29] Hogan and Inoki also worked as partners in Japan, winning the prestigious MSG Tag League tournament two years in a row: in 1982 and 1983. Hogan's popularity in Japan was so great, he even recorded an album there—a forerunner to the World Wrestling Federation's "Rock 'n' Wrestling" of the mid 1980s.
In 1984, Hogan returned to New Japan, to wrestle Antonio Inoki in the finals of the IWGP League, in which he lost the belt by countout, thanks to interference from Riki Choshu. Hogan would also defend his WWF World title against various stars in New Japan including Inoki, Seiji Sakaguchi, and Tatsumi Fujinami among others, until the WWF ended their relationship with New Japan in October 1985.
American Wrestling Association (1981–1983)[link]
After filming his scene for Rocky III against the elder McMahon's wishes, Hogan made his debut in the American Wrestling Association, owned by Verne Gagne. Hogan started his AWA run as a heel, taking on "Luscious" Johnny Valiant as his manager, before handing the AWA title over to him. Hogan, unwilling to give up his life as a bachelor for the world title of the AWA, continued to turn down the belt. Shortly after these attempts to woo Hogan into giving Gagne more of a share of his profits and booking in Japan and attempts to bring him into the Gagne family, Hogan was lured back to the Northeast by Vincent K. McMahon, who had just recently purchased the WWF from his ailing father.
Over twenty years later, just prior to Hulk Hogan's WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2005, the revived American Wrestling Association, under the authority of owner Dale Gagner, retroactively acknowledged Hogan's two previously-overturned title wins over Nick Bockwinkel making Hogan a two-time AWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.[30] This resolution, however, has been regarded as apocryphal to most as the resurrected AWA is generally regarded as a different body than the Verne Gagne–owned AWA of old. As recently as the release of the DVD The Spectacular Legacy of the AWA, interviews between Hogan and the Gagnes show that there is still animosity between both parties indicating the unlikelihood that Hogan's AWA title reign would have been retroactively instated under the original ownership. The WWE won a lawsuit against Dale Gagner, due to trademark infringement, which declared Gagner's claims to ownership of the AWA false and as such rendered the resolution moot as WWE only recognizes twelve American world championships being attributed to Hulk Hogan, and, the AWA World Championship is not among that number.[citation needed]
Return to World Wrestling Federation (1983-1993)[link]
The Birth of Hulkamania (1983–1984)[link]
After purchasing the company from his father in 1982, Vincent K. McMahon had plans to expand the territory into a nationwide promotion, and he handpicked Hulk Hogan to be the company's showpiece attraction due to his charisma and name recognition. Hogan made his return at a television taping in St. Louis, Missouri on December 27, 1983 defeating Bill Dixon.[31]
On the January 7, 1984 edition of Championship Wrestling, Hogan confirmed his face status for the WWF fans by saving Bob Backlund from a three-way assault.[32] Hogan's turn was explained simply by Backlund: "He's changed his ways. He's a great man. He's told me he's not gonna have Blassie around." The storyline shortcut was necessary because less than three weeks later on January 23, Hogan won his first WWF Championship, pinning The Iron Sheik (who had Blassie in his corner) in Madison Square Garden.[2][33] The storyline accompanying the victory was that Hogan was a "last minute" replacement for the Sheik's original opponent Bob Backlund,[3] and became the champion by way of being the first man to escape the camel clutch (the Iron Sheik's finishing move).[34] The backstage story was that the WWF Champion Bob Backlund had refused to let Hogan win the title from him, demanding that any wrestler to whom he lost the belt have a legitimate wrestling background. As a consequence, The Iron Sheik won the title from Backlund first and then dropped it to Hogan.
Immediately after the title win, commentator Gorilla Monsoon proclaimed "Hulkamania is here!" Hogan frequently referred to his fans as "Hulkamaniacs" in his interviews and introduced his three "demandments": training, saying prayers, and eating vitamins. Eventually, a fourth demandment (believing in oneself) was added during his feud with Earthquake in 1990. Hogan's ring gear developed a characteristic yellow-and-red color scheme; his ring entrances involved him ritualistically ripping his shirt off his body, flexing, and listening for audience cheers in an exaggerated manner. The majority of Hogan's matches during this time involved him wrestling heels who had been booked as unstoppable monsters, using a format which became near-routine: Hogan would deliver steady offense, but eventually lose momentum, seemingly nearing defeat. He would then experience a sudden second wind, fighting back while "feeding" off the energy of the audience, becoming impervious to attack—a process described as "Hulking up". His signature maneuvers—pointing at the opponent (which would later be accompanied by a loud "YOU!" from the audience), shaking his finger to scold him, three punches, an Irish Whip, the big boot and running leg drop—would follow and ensure him a victory. That finishing sequence would occasionally change depending on the storyline and opponent; for instance, with "Giant" wrestlers, the sequence might involve a body slam.
Over the next year, Hulk Hogan became the face of pro wrestling as McMahon pushed the WWF into a pop culture enterprise with The Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection on MTV, drawing record houses, pay-per-view buyrates, and television ratings in the process. The centerpiece attraction for the first WrestleMania on March 31, 1985, Hogan teamed with legit friend Mr. T to defeat his archrival "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.[2][35] On the first edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Hogan successfully defended the WWF title against Cowboy Bob Orton in a match which Hogan won by a disqualification.[36]
Hogan was named the most requested celebrity of the 1980s for the Make-a-Wish Foundation children's charity. He was featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated, TV Guide, and People magazines, while also appearing on The Tonight Show and having his own CBS Saturday morning cartoon titled Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. Hogan, as the premier WWF icon, headlined eight of the first nine WrestleMania events. He also co-hosted Saturday Night Live on March 30, 1985 during this lucrative run. AT&T reported that his 900 number information line was the single biggest 900 number from 1991 to 1993. Hogan operated the 900 number through his stint in WWF and then recreated it when he joined World Championship Wrestling.[37]
WWF Champion (1984–1988)[link]
On the October 5, 1985 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, he successfully defended the title against Nikolai Volkoff in a flag match.[38] He met long-time rival Roddy Piper in a WWF title match at the Wrestling Classic pay-per-view (PPV) event. Hogan retained the title by disqualification after Bob Orton interfered and hit Hogan with his cast.[39] Hogan had many challengers in the way as the new year began. Throughout 1986, Hogan made successful title defenses against challengers such as Terry Funk,[40] "The Magnificent" Don Muraco,[41] King Kong Bundy (in a steel cage match at WrestleMania 2),[42] Paul Orndorff,[43] and Hercules Hernandez.[44]
In the fall of 1986, Hogan occasionally wrestled in tag matches with The Machines as Hulk Machine under a mask copied from New Japan Pro Wrestling gimmick "Super Strong Machine."[1][45] At WrestleMania III in 1987, Hogan was booked to defend the title against André the Giant, who had been the sport's premier star and was pushed as undefeated for the previous two decades. A new storyline was introduced in early 1987; Hogan was presented a trophy for being the WWF Champion for three consecutive years.[46] André the Giant, a good friend came out to congratulate him.[47] Shortly afterward, André was presented a slightly smaller trophy for being "undefeated in the WWF for 15 years."[46] Hogan came out to congratulate André, who walked out in the midst of Hogan's speech. Then, on an edition of Piper's Pit, Hogan was confronted by Bobby Heenan, who announced that André was his new protégé, and Andre challenged Hogan to a title match at WrestleMania III.[47][48][49][50] At WrestleMania III, Hogan successfully defended the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against André the Giant. During the match, Hogan bodyslammed the 520-pound Frenchman (which was dubbed "the bodyslam heard around the world") and won the match after a leg drop.[48][51]
Hogan remained WWF Champion for four years (1,474 days).[52] In front of 33 million viewers, however, Hogan finally lost the belt to André on the February 5 edition of The Main Event after a convoluted scam involving "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Earl Hebner (who assumed the place of his twin brother Dave Hebner, the match's appointed referee).[53] After André delivered a belly to belly suplex on Hogan, Hebner counted the pin while Hogan's left shoulder was clearly off the mat.[3] After the match, André handed the title over to DiBiase to complete their business deal.[53] As a result, the WWF Championship was vacated for the first time in its 25-year history.[53] At WrestleMania IV, Hogan participated in a tournament for the vacant WWF title to regain it and faced André in the tournament quarter-finals but their match resulted in a double disqualification.[54] Later that night in the main event, Hogan interfered and helped "Macho Man" Randy Savage defeat Ted DiBiase to win the title.[55]
The Mega Powers (1988–1989)[link]
Main article: The Mega Powers
Together, Hogan, Savage, and manager Miss Elizabeth formed a partnership known as The Mega Powers.[56] After Savage became WWF Champion at WrestleMania IV, they feuded with The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase and André the Giant) and defeated them at the main event of the first SummerSlam.[57] The Mega Powers, however, soon imploded from within in 1989, due to Savage's burgeoning jealousy of Hogan and his paranoid suspicions that Hogan and Elizabeth were "more than friends". Dissension was furthered at the Royal Rumble, when Hogan eliminated Savage from the Royal Rumble match.[58] The duo broke up while wrestling The Twin Towers on the February 3, 1989 edition of The Main Event. During the match, Savage accidentally collided with Miss Elizabeth. Hogan took her backstage to receive medical attention, while temporarily abandoning Savage. When he returned to the ring, Savage slapped Hogan and left the ring, where Hogan eventually won the match by himself.[59] After the match, Savage attacked Hogan backstage, which started a feud between the two.[56] Their feud culminated in Hogan beating Savage for his second WWF Championship at WrestleMania V.[3][56]
Later WWF Championship reigns (1989–1992)[link]
Hogan's second run lasted a year, during which time he starred in the movie No Holds Barred. The film was the inspiration of a feud with Hogan's co-star Tom Lister, Jr., who appeared at wrestling events as his movie character, Zeus. Zeus was a monster heel who was "jealous" over Hogan's higher billing and wanted revenge. Hogan, however, was easily able to defeat Zeus in a series of matches across the country during late 1989, beginning with a tag team match at SummerSlam, in which Hogan and Brutus Beefcake topped Zeus and Savage.[60] Hogan and Beefcake defeated Zeus and Savage in a rematch at the No Holds Barred pay-per-view to end the feud.[61][62]
Hogan's second title run was briefly interrupted in January 1989 when he was defeated via submission by Dino Bravo after Hogan couldn't break Bravo's bearhug hold. Hogan attempted to "Hulk Up" and turn the match around, but Bravo wouldn't release the hold, and Hogan became unconscious, forcing the ref to call the match. A silenced crowd watched Bravo grab the championship belt no sooner than an announcement was made that Hogan was determined the winner, by way of disqualification, therefore retaining his title and championship. An infuriated Bravo was quoted, "Last I checked, a bearhug was a legal move. The better and stronger wrestler just got cheated." The Wrestler magazine covered the story in their February 1989 issue with Bravo's hold on Hogan on the front cover with the title, "The Man That Hulk Hogan Cannot Beat." Also during his second run, Hogan won the 1990 Royal Rumble match.[3][63] He dropped the title to Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior in a title versus title match at WrestleMania VI on April 1, 1990.[64]
Hogan soon became embroiled in a heated feud with the 470-pound Earthquake, who had crushed Hogan's ribs in a sneak attack on The Brother Love Show in May 1990. On television, announcers explained that Hogan's injuries and his WrestleMania VI loss to Warrior both took such a huge toll on his fighting spirit that he wanted to retire. Viewers were asked to write letters to Hogan and send postcards asking for his return (they got a postcard-sized picture in return, autographed by Hogan, as a "thank-you"). Hogan returned by SummerSlam 1990 and for several months, dominated Earthquake in a series of matches across the country.[65] His defeat of this overwhelmingly large foe caused Hogan to add a fourth demandment: believing in yourself. He would also be known as "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan. Hogan then became the first wrestler to win two Royal Rumble matches in a row,[66] as he won the 1991 Royal Rumble match.[3][63][66]
At WrestleMania VII, Hogan stood up for the USA against Sgt. Slaughter, defeating him for his third WWF Championship.[67] In the fall of 1991, Hogan was challenged by Ric Flair, the former NWA champion who recently arrived in the WWF. The feud remained unresolved, as Hogan lost the WWF title to The Undertaker at Survivor Series,[68] and he won it back at This Tuesday in Texas six days later.[69] Flair had interfered in both matches and due to the resulting controversy, the title was again declared vacant.[69]
The WWF Championship was decided at the 1992 Royal Rumble in the Royal Rumble match. Hogan failed to regain the championship as he was eliminated by friend Sid Justice and in turn caused Sid to be eliminated, leaving Ric Flair the winner and new champion.[70] Hogan and Sid patched things up and teamed together on the February 8, 1992 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event against Flair and Undertaker but during the match Sid abandoned Hogan,[71] starting their feud. At WrestleMania VIII, Hogan defeated Sid via disqualification due to interference by Sid's manager Harvey Wippleman.[72] Hogan was then attacked by Papa Shango and was saved by the returning Ultimate Warrior.[72]
At this time, news sources began to allege that Dr. George Zahorian, a doctor for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, had been selling steroids illegally to wrestlers in general and Hogan in particular. Hogan appeared on an episode of The Arsenio Hall Show to deny the allegations. Due to intense public scrutiny, Hogan took a leave of absence from the company.[73]
Return and departure (1993–1994)[link]
Hogan returned to the WWF in February 1993, helping out his friend Brutus Beefcake in his feud with Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster), and officially renaming themselves The Mega-Maniacs.[61] At WrestleMania IX, Hogan and Beefcake took on Money Inc. for the WWF Tag Team Championship. However, Hogan thought he was too big of a star to be a tag champion and instead wanted the world title. So Hogan and Vince McMahon came up with the plan that Hogan and Brutus would be disqualified in their match.[61][74] Later that night, Hogan won his fifth WWF Championship by pinning Yokozuna only moments after Yokozuna had defeated Bret Hart.[74][75] McMahon then planned that Hogan and Bret Hart would eventually fight in a big match at Summerslam 1993 in which Hogan would drop the title to Hart, Hogan didn't want to drop the title in a clean victory to Hart, due to Hart's size and doubts over whether he could draw, and opted to lose the title to the heel Yokozuna instead. At the first annual King of the Ring pay-per-view on June 13, 1993, Hogan defended the championship against the former champion, Yokozuna, in his first title defense since defeating Yokozuna at WrestleMania IX. Yokozuna kicked out of Hogan's signature leg drop and scored the pinfall after Hogan was blinded by a fireball shot by a "Japanese photographer" (actually a disguised Harvey Wippleman), this was Hogan's idea as he did not want Yokozuna to gain a clean victory over him. The victorious Yokozuna proceeded to give Hogan a Banzai Drop.[58][76] This would be Hogan's last WWF pay-per-view appearance until 2002, as both he and Jimmy Hart were preparing to leave the promotion. Hogan would continue his feud on the international house show circuit with Yokozuna until August 1993. After that, Hogan would sit out the rest of his contract which expired later that year.
In 1994, Hogan, having received immunity from prosecution, testified in the trial of Vince McMahon relating to shipments of steroids received from Dr. Zahorian by both parties. Under oath, Hogan admitted that he had used anabolic steroids since 1976 to gain size and weight, but that Vince McMahon had neither sold him the drugs, nor ordered him to take them. The evidence given by Hogan proved extremely costly to the government's case against McMahon. Due to this and jurisdictional issues, McMahon was found not guilty.[77]
Return to New Japan (1993–1994)[link]
On May 3, 1993, Hulk Hogan returned to NJPW as WWF Champion, defeating IWGP Heavyweight Champion The Great Muta in a dream match at Wrestling Dontaku. Hogan would wrestle against Muta again, under his real name, Keiji Mutoh on September 26, 1993. Hogan would also wrestle The Hell Raisers with Muta and Masahiro Chono as his partners. His last match in Japan was on January 4, 1994 at Battlefield, when he defeated Tatsumi Fujinami.
World Championship Wrestling (1994-2000)[link]
Early run (1994–1996)[link]
After Hogan left the WWF in the summer of 1993, he split his time working on movies, television, wrestling in Japan, and spending time with his family. In June 1994, Hogan signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and began appearing on television the next month. Hogan won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in his debut match, defeating Ric Flair in a 'dream' match at Bash at the Beach.[78] After overcoming the likes of Flair,[79] The Butcher (former partner Brutus Beefcake),[80] Vader,[81][82][83] and the Dungeon of Doom[84] for the next fifteen months (the longest reign of all time for this championship), Hogan dropped the belt to The Giant at Halloween Havoc 1995 via DQ.[85] Following the controversial loss (which was due to a "contract clause"), the WCW title became vacant.
In early 1996, Hogan continued his feud with The Giant,[86] before teaming with Randy Savage in a feud with the Alliance to End Hulkamania.[87] After coming out victorious from his feuds, Hogan began to only appear occasionally on WCW programming.
New World Order (1996–1998)[link]
Main article: New World Order (nWo)
At Bash at the Beach in 1996, during a six man tag team match pitting The Outsiders (Kevin Nash and Scott Hall) against WCW loyalists, Hogan interfered on behalf of Nash and Hall, attacking Randy Savage, thereby turning heel for the first time in over ten years.[1][58][88] After the match, Hogan delivered a promo, accosting the fans and WCW for underappreciating his talent and drawing power, and announcing the formation of the New World Order (nWo).[88] The new stable gained prominence in the following weeks and months.[2][3][88][89] Hogan grew a beard alongside his famous mustache and dyed it black, traded his red and yellow garb in for black and white clothing, often detailed with lightning bolts, and renamed himself Hollywood Hulk Hogan (often shortened to Hollywood Hogan). Hogan returned to WCW programming eight days after his heel turn.[1][58]
Hogan won his second WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Hog Wild, defeating The Giant for the title.[89][90] He spray painted "nWo" across the title belt, scribbled across the nameplate, and referred to the title as the "nWo title" during this and any other time he held the title while in the nWo.[90] Hogan then started a feud with Lex Luger after Luger and The Giant defeated Hogan and Dennis Rodman in a tag team match at Bash at the Beach.[85]
On the August 4, 1997 edition of Nitro, Hogan lost the WCW title to Luger by submission.[91] Five days later, at Road Wild, Hogan defeated Luger to regain the WCW title and begin his third WCW World Heavyweight Championship.[92] Hogan then lost the belt to Sting in a match at Starrcade. In the match, WCW's newly-contracted Bret Hart accused referee Nick Patrick of fast-counting a victory for Hogan and had the match restarted—with himself as referee.[58] Sting later won by submission.[58] After a rematch the following night, where Sting controversially retained the title, the WCW Championship became vacant.[1] Sting then went on to win the vacant title against Hogan at SuperBrawl VIII.[93]
Hogan then developed a rivalry with former friend (and recent nWo recruit) Randy Savage, who had just cost Hogan the title match at SuperBrawl by hitting him with a spray can.[58] The heat culminated in a steel cage match at Uncensored, which ended in a no contest.[94] Savage took the World Championship from Sting at Spring Stampede, while Hogan teamed with Kevin Nash to take on Roddy Piper and The Giant in the first-ever Bat match.[95] Hogan betrayed Nash by hitting him with the bat and then challenged Savage the following night for his championship.[89] In the no disqualification match for Savage's newly won title, Nash entered the ring and powerbombed Hogan as retribution for the attack the previous night. Bret Hart interfered moments later and turned heel by jumping in to attack Savage and preserve the victory for Hogan, who won his fourth WCW World Heavyweight Championship.[96] However, Nash's attack on him signified a split of the nWo into two separate factions- Hogan's became nWo Hollywood and Nash's became nWo Wolfpac- that would feud with each other for the remainder of the year.
Hogan defended the title until July of that year, when WCW booked him in a match against newcomer and then WCW United States Champion Bill Goldberg, who had yet to lose a match in the company. Late in the match, Hogan was distracted by Karl Malone, and Goldberg pinned Hogan to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.[97]
Hogan spent the rest of 1998 wrestling celebrity matches. His second tag team match with Dennis Rodman pitted them against Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone at Bash at the Beach[98] and at Road Wild, he and Eric Bischoff lost to Page and Jay Leno thanks to interference from Kevin Eubanks, who leveled Bischoff with a Diamond Cutter.[99] Hogan also had a rematch with the Ultimate Warrior at Halloween Havoc, where his nephew Horace aided his victory.[100]
Return to WCW (1998-1999)[link]
On the Thanksgiving episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Hogan officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling, as well as his candidacy for President of the United States.[101] Campaign footage aired on Nitro of Hogan and Bischoff holding a press conference, making it appear legitimate. In the long run, however, both announcements were false and merely done as a publicity stunt attempting to draw some of the hype of Jesse Ventura's Minnesota gubernatorial win back to him.[101]
After some time off from WCW, Hogan returned on the January 4, 1999 edition of Nitro to challenge Kevin Nash for the WCW title. Hogan won the match for his fifth WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but many people found the change to be "scandalous".[102] As a result, the warring factions of the nWo reunited into one group, which began feuding with Bill Goldberg and The Four Horsemen.
Conflicts with Vince Russo (1999–2000)[link]
He then lost the title to Ric Flair at Uncensored in a Steel Cage First Blood match. A heavily bleeding Flair won via pinfall in a match refereed by Charles Robinson.[1][103] During that match, however, Hogan began to show some signs that a face turn was imminent, showing off some old tactics like his "Hulking up" no-sell.[58] The turn would have to wait, however, as Hogan was severely injured in a Texas Tornado match for the world championship featuring him, Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, and Flair at Spring Stampede[104]
On the July 12 edition of Nitro, Hogan made his grand return as a full-fledged face and accepted a challenge from Savage, who had gained the world title at Bash at the Beach the night before in a tag team match by pinning Kevin Nash. Thanks to interference from Nash, Hogan defeated Savage to win his sixth and final WCW World Heavyweight Championship.[105] Nash turned on him the next week, however, and the two began a feud that would last until the next pay-per-view.
On August 9, 1999, he started the night dressed in the typical black and white, but after a backstage scene with his son, Hogan came out dressed in the traditional red and yellow for his main-event 6-man tag team match. He then defeated Nash in a retirement match at Road Wild to retain his title. Injuries and frustrations were mounting up however, and he was absent from television from October 1999 to February 2000. In his book Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Bollea said that he was asked to take time off by newly hired head of creative booking Vince Russo and was not told when he would be brought back at the time. Despite some reservations, he agreed to do so. On October 24 at Halloween Havoc, Hogan was to face Sting for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship (which he had lost to Sting at Fall Brawl the previous month, when Sting beat Hogan by cheating and had turned heel in the process).[106] Hogan, however, came to the ring in street clothes, laid down for the pin, and left the ring.[107]
Soon after his return in February 2000, at Bash at the Beach on July 9, Hogan was involved in a controversial, legit incident with Vince Russo. Hogan was scheduled to wrestle Jeff Jarrett for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.[108] Before the match, there was a dispute between Hogan and Russo. Unbeknownst to Hogan, Russo told Jarrett to lie down in the middle of the ring and asked Hogan to pin him straight away. A visibly confused Hogan complied with a foot on Jarrett's chest after getting on the microphone and telling Russo, "Is this your idea, Russo...? That's why this company is in the damn shape it's in, because of bullshit like this!" Russo responded by coming out and angrily proclaiming "I can guarantee you that this is the last time you will ever see that piece of shit in a WCW stadium!" This is also when the public discovered, through Russo, the "creative control" clause that Hogan had, which meant that Hogan was able to control what would happen with his own character and be able to do so without anyone else being able to tell him no. This has been a common complaint about Hogan, since he has been known to request such clauses in his contracts (even in WWE) because it is believed by many that he uses them to be able to "bury" others that would prove to be a threat to his legacy (which also might lead to the belief that the on-air criticisms that Bobby Heenan and then later Mark Madden made about him were not kayfabe even though the two usually were heel commentators, with Madden saying "Amen!" when Russo said that Hogan would not be back in WCW after that night). In his Bash at the Beach shoot promo, Russo said that he was arguing with Hogan all day prior to the event in the back because he wanted to use the clause in the Jarrett match, saying, "That means that, in the middle of this ring, when [Hogan] knew it was bullshit, he beats Jeff Jarrett!"
Since Hogan refused to job to Jarrett, a new WCW World Heavyweight Championship was created, setting the stage for a title match between Booker T and Jeff Jarrett later that night.[58] Whether or not the whole incident was a shoot or a work was hotly debated. As a result, Hogan filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Russo soon after,[109] which was eventually dismissed in 2002. Russo claims the whole thing was a work, and Hogan claims that Russo made it a shoot.[110] Eric Bischoff agreed with Hogan's side of the story when he wrote that Hogan winning and leaving with the title was a work, and that he and Hogan celebrated after the event over the success of the angle, but that Russo coming out to fire Hogan was an unplanned shoot which led to the lawsuit filed by Hogan.[1][109]
In the months following the eventual demise of WCW in March 2001, Hogan underwent surgery on his knees in order for him to wrestle again. As a test, Hogan worked a match in Orlando, Florida for the Xcitement Wrestling Federation promotion run by his longtime handler Jimmy Hart. Hogan defeated Curt Hennig in this match and felt healthy enough to accept an offer to return to the WWF in February 2002.[1]
Return to World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment[link]
Hollywood Hogan and Undisputed WWF Champion (2002)[link]
File:HollywoodHulkhoganwmx8.jpg
"Hollywood" Hulk Hogan making his entrance at WrestleMania X8 in 2002
At No Way Out in 2002, Hogan returned to the company that had made him a pop culture icon.[3] Returning as leader of the original nWo with Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, the three got into a confrontation with The Rock[111] and cost Stone Cold Steve Austin a chance at becoming the Undisputed WWF Champion against Chris Jericho in the main event.[111] The nWo feuded with both Austin and The Rock, and Hogan accepted The Rock's challenge to a match at WrestleMania X8. At the event, Hogan asked Hall and Nash not to interfere, wanting to defeat The Rock by himself. Despite the fact that Hogan was supposed to be the heel in the match, the crowd cheered for him heavily. The Rock cleanly won the contest,[112] but befriended Hogan at the end of the bout and helped him fight off Hall and Nash, who were upset by Hogan's conciliatory attitude.[113] After the match, Hogan was a definite face again, siding with The Rock, though he continued wearing black and white tights for a few weeks after WrestleMania X8 until he resumed wearing his signature red and yellow tights. During this period, the "Hulk Rules" logo of the 1980s was redone with the text "Hulk Still Rules." Hulk wore the original "Hulk Rules" attire 12 years earlier, when he headlined WrestleMania VI at the same arena, in the SkyDome. For a time, he was still known as "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, notably keeping the Hollywood Hogan style blond mustache with black beard while wearing Hulkamania-like red and yellow tights and using the Voodoo Child theme music he used in WCW. On April 4, Hogan feuded with Triple H and defeated him for the Undisputed WWF Championship and sixth and final WWF Championship at Backlash,[114][115] thus becoming the last ever WWF champion before the initials dispute against the World Wildlife Fund For Nature. On May 19 at Judgment Day, he lost the belt to The Undertaker.[116] After losing a Number One Contenders match for the Undisputed Championship to Triple H on June 6, Hogan began feuding with Kurt Angle resulting in a match between the two at the King of the Ring, which Angle won by submission.
On the July 4, 2002 edition of SmackDown!, Hogan teamed with Edge to defeat Billy and Chuck and capture the WWE World Tag Team Championship for the first time.[117] They celebrated by waving the American flag as the overjoyed audience sang along to Hogan's theme song "Real American." They later dropped the titles to The Un-Americans (Lance Storm and Christian), at Vengeance.[118] In August 2002, Hogan was used in an angle with Brock Lesnar, culminating in a main event singles match. Lesnar won by submission (the match was called after Hogan became unconscious from a bear hug hold). Lesnar became only the second WWE Superstar to defeat Hogan by submission (after Kurt Angle), and the first to defeat Hogan by having the match called. Following the match, Lesnar continued to beat on Hogan, leaving him bloody and unconscious in the ring in what many fans recall as the worst beating Hogan ever received of his career. As a result of Lesnar's assault, Hogan went on hiatus and was not able to return until early 2003, shaving off his black beard and dropping "Hollywood" from his name in his return. He battled The Rock (who had turned heel) once again at No Way Out[119] and defeated Vince McMahon at WrestleMania XIX in a match billed as "20 years in the making."[120]
Mr. America and departure (2003)[link]
Later, he had a run as the masked Mr. America. The persona was supposed to be Hulk Hogan in disguise, wearing a mask. He used Hulk Hogan's "Real American" theme music and used all of Hogan's signature gestures, moves, and phrases. He was the subject of a storyline that took place after Hulk Hogan was forced by Vince McMahon to sit out the rest of his contract.[1] After Hogan won at WrestleMania XIX, McMahon was frustrated with him and wanted Hulkamania to die.[1] A WWE pre-debut push took place with mysterious Mr. America promos airing for weeks during SmackDown!.[1] There was also on-screen discussion on SmackDown! between then General Manager Stephanie McMahon and other players concerning her hiring Mr. America "sight unseen."[1] On May 1, Mr. America debuted on SmackDown! on a Piper's Pit segment. McMahon appeared and claimed that Mr. America was Hulk Hogan in disguise; Mr. America shot back by saying, "I am not Hulk Hogan, brother!" (lampooning Hogan's use of "brother" in his promos).[1] The feud continued through the month of May, with a singles match between Mr. America and Hogan's old rival Roddy Piper at Judgment Day.[121] McMahon tried desperately to prove that Mr. America was indeed Hulk Hogan but failed at all attempts. Mr. America even passed a lie detector test.[58]
Mr. America's last WWE appearance was on the June 26 edition of SmackDown! when The Big Show and The World's Greatest Tag Team (Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas) defeated the team of Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, and Mr. America in a six-man tag team match when Show pinned Mr. America.[122] After the show went off the air, Mr. America unmasked to show the fans that he was indeed Hulk Hogan, putting his finger to his lips telling the fans to keep quiet about his secret. The next week, Hogan quit WWE due to frustration with the creative team.[123] On the July 3 edition of SmackDown!, Vince McMahon showed the footage of Mr. America unmasking as Hogan and "fired" him, although Hogan had already quit in real life.[123] The Mr. America gimmick came under fire briefly from Marvel Comics, who anointed it a rip-off of Captain America, citing costume similarity; the single star on the mask was also a trademark on Captain America's chest piece. This was also adding fuel to the fire over the rights to use the Hulk Hogan name because of Marvel's ownership of the Incredible Hulk character. Because of these problems, WWE was forced to edit out all references to the "Hulk Hogan" name, including pictures which featured Hogan wearing memorabilia that said "Hulk" (a majority of them) and started to refer to Hogan under the "Hollywood Hogan" name he used in WCW. It was later revealed that Hogan was unhappy with the payoffs for his matches after his comeback under the Mr. America gimmick.[123] Vince decided to terminate Hogan's contract, and Hogan left WWE in 2003.[123]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003)[link]
Shortly after Hogan left WWE, TNA Wrestling began making overtures to Hogan, culminating in Jeff Jarrett, co-founder of TNA and then NWA World Heavyweight champion, launching an on-air attack on Hogan in Japan in October 2003. The attack was supposed to be a precursor to Hogan battling Jarrett for the NWA title at TNA's first three-hour pay-per-view. However, due to recurring knee and hip problems, Hogan did not appear in TNA. Still, the incident has been shown several times on TNA broadcasts, and was included in the TNA DVD TNA's Fifty Greatest Moments.
Return to WWE (2005–2007)[link]
In 2005, weeks before WrestleMania 21, it was announced on all WWE programming that Hogan would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. On April 2, Hogan was inducted by actor and friend Sylvester Stallone.[124] Hogan was applauded for several minutes before he was able to make a speech. When he paused during his speech, the crowd chanted "One More Match! One More Match!" The fans also chanted "Austin, Hogan" (referring to a Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan match); Hogan responded "that may be a good match someday". At WrestleMania 21 on April 3, Hogan came out to rescue Eugene, who was being attacked by Muhammad Hassan and Khosrow Daivari. Some of the build-up to Hogan's induction into the Hall of Fame and preparation for this angle were shown on the first season of Hogan Knows Best.
The next night on Raw, Hassan and Daivari came out to confront and assault fan favorite Shawn Michaels. The following week, Michaels approached Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff demanding a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari. Bischoff refused but told Michaels if he found a partner he would be granted a tag team match. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan to come back and team with him. On the April 18 episode of Raw, Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared, and saved Michaels and accepted his offer. At Backlash 2005, Hassan and Daivari lost to Hogan and Michaels.[125]
Hogan then appeared on July 4 edition of Raw as the special guest of Carlito on his talk-show segment Carlito's Cabana. After being asked questions by Carlito concerning his daughter Brooke Hogan, Hogan proceeded to attack Carlito. This was then followed up by an appearance of Kurt Angle, who made comments about Brooke, which further upset Hogan. Hogan was eventually double teamed by Carlito and Angle but was saved by Shawn Michaels. Later that night, Michaels and Hogan defeated Carlito and Kurt Angle in a tag match. During the post match celebration, Michaels delivered Sweet Chin Music to Hogan and walked off.[126] The following week on Raw, Michaels appeared on Piper's Pit and challenged Hogan to face him one-on-one for the first time.[127] Hogan appeared on Raw one week later and accepted the challenge.[128] The match took place at SummerSlam. The "Legend vs. Icon" storyline was the main event for the Raw brand going into SummerSlam. The match went back and forth, with two referees getting knocked out and Michaels using a steel chair to try to gain an advantage. Even after Michaels hit his Sweet Chin Music, Hogan still kicked out and mounted some offense against Michaels, finally hitting him with the legdrop and scoring the victory. Michaels extended his hand to him, telling him that he "had to find out for himself," and Hogan and Michaels shook hands. Michaels left the ring to allow Hogan to celebrate with the crowd.[129]
Prior to WrestleMania 22, Hogan inducted friend and former announcer "Mean" Gene Okerlund into the WWE Hall of Fame. Hogan returned on the July 15, 2006 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event with his daughter Brooke. During the show, Randy Orton flirted (kayfabe, as he was engaged with his girlfriend, now wife Sam Speno) with Hogan's daughter, and later attacked Hogan in the parking lot and hit the RKO onto the trunk of Hogan's car.[130] He later challenged Hulk to a match at SummerSlam, which Hogan won.[131] In regards to the public reaction to Summerslam, and his treatment as an employee, he said:
| “ | Last year at SummerSlam, I fought Randy Orton—and me and Vince had some problems with the money. Before SummerSlam, I was a little worried because instead of being a main event match I was on fourth against Randy Orton. When I heard about the first three matches at the Fleet Center in Boston, it sounded like a funeral. And when I listened to the crowd reactions to those matches, it did sound like a funeral. Then, when my music came on it was like the old days, people were stood up. It was electric. Randy is a great hard working wrestler and we fought an old school style match. That was the most exciting match I've ever had in the Fleet Centre. I wrestled Steve Borden in a cage, which was a great match in my opinion at least, but this one was better; as after second-guessing I was like 'Oh my god, it still works'. Then Vince went out with his son and wrestled Triple H and Shawn Michaels and it was dead again. Cena went on for the main event, and people started leaving.[132] | ” |
He also spoke extensively on his payment, and his concerns of not being a top priority to Vince McMahon, despite the fact that he felt he was the company's biggest draw:
| “ | I felt bad when the night ended, as they should have put me on later, but it was the money that really got to me. I swore I would never talk about the money again with Vince because that's what we always argue about. But when I saw the amount I was like, 'That's like one of my driver's paychecks', so I had to say something. He replied, 'Well you're not the only big guy any more, there are now 12 big guys.' I said, 'Well if that's the case let me explain something to you, I heard the first three matches and (the crowd response was) nothing. I wrestled and I heard what happened. And then I heard your match, Vince, and nothing. And I saw Cena, and people were leaving. I had a hard time getting out the building because of all the people marching through. 'So who are the other 11 big guys you're splitting my money with?'[132] | ” |
Hogan's last WWE appearance to date occurred on December 10, 2007 on the WWE Raw 15th anniversary. He saved Hornswoggle from being attacked by The Great Khali.
Memphis Wrestling and PMG Clash of Legends (2007)[link]
After a brief fall out with McMahon and WWE,[133] Hogan was lured to Memphis Wrestling with the proposal of wrestling Jerry "The King" Lawler.[134] The match had been promoted on Memphis Wrestling Prime Time for several months. On April 12, 2007, however, Lawler announced in a news conference that WWE had barred him from wrestling Hogan on the basis that NBC performers (including Lawler, on the basis of co-hosting the NBC-owned USA Network's WWE Raw and his appearances on the biannual WWE Saturday Night's Main Event) are contractually prohibited from appearing on VH1, the channel on which Hogan Knows Best airs.[134] The situation resulted in a lawsuit being filed against WWE by event promoter Corey Maclin.[135] Lawler was replaced with Paul Wight.[134] Hulk Hogan defeated Wight at PMG Clash of Legends on April 27, 2007 when he picked up and bodyslammed Wight and pinned him following his signature Leg Drop.
Return to TNA Wrestling[link]
Dixie Carter's business partner (2009–2010)[link]
On October 27, 2009 it was announced on TNAwrestling.com that Hulk Hogan had signed a contract to join TNA on a full time basis where, partnered with Eric Bischoff, he would partner with TNA President, Dixie Carter.[6] The footage of his signing and the press conference in the Madison Square Garden following it were featured on the October 29 episode of TNA Impact!. His role remained uncertain.[136]
On November 21, 24, 26, and 28, Hogan performed with a group of wrestlers including Spartan-3000, Heidenreich, Eugene, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake and Orlando Jordan across Australia in a tour titled Hulkamania: Let the Battle Begin. The main event of each show was a rematch between Hogan and Ric Flair—the wrestler who defeated Hogan more times than any other. Hogan defeated Flair in all four matches, bringing his career record against Flair from 2–8 to 6–8.[137] It was the first time Hogan had performed in Australia.[138]
On December 5, 2009, Hogan announced on UFC's The Ultimate Fighter that he would be making his official TNA debut on January 4, 2010, in a special live three hour Monday night edition of TNA Impact! to compete with WWE's Monday Night Raw (which featured the return of Bret Hart[139]) Carter revealed Hogan's role in the company in an interview with The UK Sun stating when his job came to question, "he is involved with everything from looking at the talent to how we shoot the show".[140]
On the January 4, 2010 Impact!, Hogan debuted after a motorcade arrival reuniting briefly with former nWo partners Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Sean Waltman, the latter two of whom made their returns to the company. He, however, refused to join them for a full-fledged reunion of their group claiming, "it's a different time", and stuck to his business relations with Bischoff, who made his appearance to declare that, the two of them would "flip the company upside down" and everyone would have to earn their spot. Hogan also encountered TNA Founder, Jeff Jarrett on the broadcast, appearing via video wall and interrupting Jarrett's company success speech, stating that Carter was instrumental to the company's survival, and that just like the rest, Jarrett would have to (kayfabe) earn his spot in TNA.[141]
At TNA Genesis on January 17, Hogan and Bischoff revealed a newly renovated TNA Impact! Zone, and reintroduced the traditional four sided ring, opposing the six sided ring TNA had in use.[142] On the February 18 edition of Impact! Hogan took Abyss under his wing, and during this sequence, gave him his Hall of Fame ring and claimed it would make him a "god of wrestling".[143] The following week Hogan announced that he would be making his in-ring TNA debut on the March 8 live Monday night edition of Impact! teaming with Abyss to face A.J. Styles and Ric Flair.[144] That night, Hogan and Abyss defeated Styles and Flair, when Abyss scored a pinfall over Styles.[145] Afterwards, the returning Jeff Hardy saved Hogan and Abyss from a beat down at the hands of Styles, Flair and Desmond Wolfe.[145] This proceeded in later weeks to become a Team Flair versus Team Hogan situation, whereas Jarrett and the debuting Rob Van Dam joined Team Hogan and Beer Money and Sting, who rekindled his feud with Hogan with an attack, joined Team Flair. At Lockdown Team Hogan (Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Hardy and Rob Van Dam) defeated Team Flair (Sting, Desmond Wolfe, Robert Roode and James Storm) in a Lethal Lockdown match.[146]
Immortal (2010–2011)[link]
Main article: Immortal (professional wrestling)
On the June 17 edition of Impact! Hogan's alliance with Abyss came to an abrupt end, when Abyss turned heel.[147] Abyss later claimed that he was controlled by some entity, that was coming to TNA.[148] The next months Hogan worked with Bischoff, Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe against Sting and Kevin Nash, who claimed that they knew that Hogan and Bischoff were up to something.[149] During this time Abyss went on a rampage, attacking Rob Van Dam to the point that he was forced to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and eventually put his hands on TNA president Dixie Carter, which led to her signing the paperwork, presented by Bischoff, that would have Abyss fired from TNA following his match with Van Dam at Bound for Glory.[150][151][152] Hogan was set to wrestle with Jarrett and Joe against Sting, Nash and D'Angelo Dinero at Bound for Glory, but was forced to miss the event due to a back surgery. However, he would make a surprise appearance at the end of the event, turning heel, helping Jeff Hardy win the vacant TNA World Heavyweight Championship and aligning himself with Hardy, Bischoff, Abyss and Jarrett. This is also Hogan's first working as a heel since he reunited with the NWO in the WWE.[153] On the following edition of Impact! it was revealed that Bischoff had tricked Carter and the paperwork she had signed a week earlier, were not to release Abyss, but to turn the company over to him and Hogan. Meanwhile, Bischoff's and Hogan's new stable, now known as Immortal, formed an alliance with Ric Flair's Fortune.[154] Dixie Carter returned on the November 25 edition of Reaction, informing Hogan and Bischoff that a judge had filed an injunction against the two on her behalf over not having signatory authority, indefinitely suspending Hogan from TNA.[155] During his absence, Hogan underwent a potentially career–ending spinal fusion surgery on December 21, 2010.[156][157]
Hogan returned to TNA on the March 3, 2011, edition of Impact!, declaring himself as the new owner of TNA, having won the court battle against Dixie Carter.[158] In April, he began hinting at a possible return to the ring to face the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Sting.[159] On the May 12 edition of the newly renamed Impact Wrestling, Hogan lost control of the program to Mick Foley, who revealed himself as the Network consultant, who had been causing problems for Immortal ever since Hogan and Bischoff took over the company; however, this angle was aborted just three weeks later, when Foley left the promotion.[160][161] During the following months, Hogan continued to interfere in Sting's matches, costing him the TNA World Heavyweight Championship first at Hardcore Justice, recruiting Kurt Angle to Immortal in the process, then on the September 1 edition of Impact Wrestling and finally at No Surrender.[162][163][164] On the September 15 edition of Impact Wrestling, Sting defeated Immortal member Ric Flair to earn the right to face Hogan at Bound for Glory.[165][166] On October 4, it was reported that Hogan had signed a contract extension with TNA.[167] After feigning retirement from professional wrestling, Hogan accepted the match at Bound for Glory on the October 6 edition of Impact Wrestling, while also agreeing to hand TNA back to Dixie Carter, should Sting manage to win the match.[168]
Face turn and General Manager (2011–present)[link]
On October 16 at Bound For Glory, Hogan was defeated by Sting, ending his run as the storyline president of TNA. After the match, Immortal attacked Sting. Hogan then "Hulked up", tore his shirt, and helped Sting chase the stable out of the ring, turning face once again in the process.[169] The following Impact Wrestling, Hogan, wearing his trademark yellow and red again, admitted to his mistakes, and put over Sting for winning, who ended up helping Hogan this time chase Immortal from the ring.[170] After that, Hogan took a hiatus from TNA. On January 26, 2012, Hogan returned to the ring at a house show in Nottingham, England, where he, James Storm and Sting defeated Bobby Roode, Bully Ray and Kurt Angle in a six man tag team main event.[171] Hogan returned to Impact Wrestling on February 2, when he was revealed as Garett Bischoff's trainer.[172] On the March 29 edition of Impact Wrestling, Hogan returned and accepted Sting's offer to replace him as the new General Manager.[173]
Endorsements and business ventures[link]
Food industry[link]
Hulk Hogan's Pastamania was a restaurant in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.[174] It was created and financed by Hogan. It opened on the Labor Day weekend of 1995 and was later heavily hyped on World Championship Wrestling's live flagship show WCW Monday Nitro, which actually premiered that September from the mall. The restaurant, which remained in operation for less than a year, featured such dishes as "Hulk-U's" and "Hulk-A-Roos".[174]
In an interview on both the The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Bollea claimed that the George Foreman Grill was originally offered to him, but he failed to respond in time. George Foreman was called and he chose to endorse the grill instead of a blender which became the Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer. This claim was validated on an episode of Hogan Knows Best, in which his wife Linda and the family are worried about Hogan's wrestling career and plead with him to take up a career in marketing.[175] Hulk explains about turning down the Foreman grill, and his choice to invest in the shake-mixer instead, saying that whenever he thinks about investing in something "big," he thinks about what happened with the grill and the shake-mixer. However, he has since endorsed a similar product known as "The Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grill."
In 2006, Bollea unveiled his own energy drink, Hogan Energy, distributed by Socko Energy.[176] It was featured in an episode of Hogan Knows Best. His name and likeness are also applied to a line of microwavable hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and chicken sandwiches sold at Wal-Mart called "Hulkster Burgers".[177] On November 1, 2011 Bollea launched a new website called Hogan Nutrition www.hogannutrition.com which features many nutritional and dietary products.
In September 2008, Bollea's net worth was revealed to be over $30 million.[178][179][180] In September 2011, Bollea revealed that his lavish lifestyle, and recent divorce had cost him hundreds of millions of dollars and nearly bankrupted him.[181]
Other[link]
During an interview with The Sun in 2007, Bollea claimed to be planning his own federation to compete against Vince McMahon.[182] Bollea says he has raised $40 million of the $80–$100 million goal and his venture is something that will eventually revolutionize the sport of professional wrestling.[182]
In October 2007, Bollea transferred all trademarks referring to himself to his liability company named "Hogan Holdings Limited". The trademarks include Hulk Hogan, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Hulkster, Hogan Knows Grillin, Hulkamania.com, and Hulkapedia.com.[183]
In April 2008, Bollea announced that he would be lending his license to video game developer Gameloft to create "Hulkamania Wrestling" for mobile phones. Hogan stated in a press release that the game would be "true to [his] experiences in wrestling" and use his classic wrestling moves like the Doublehand Choke Lift and Strong Clothesline.[184] As of 2010, Hogan stars alongside Troy Aikman in commercials for Rent-A-Center.[185] On March 24, 2011, Hogan made a special appearance on American Idol, giving a big surprise to wrestling fans Paul McDonald and James Durbin.
On 15 October 2010, Endemol Games UK (a subsidiary of media production group Endemol UK) announced a partnership with Bischoff Hervey Entertainment to produce "Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania", an online gambling game featuring video footage of Hogan.[186][187]
Other media[link]
Acting[link]
File:Hogan.JPG
The handprints of Hulk Hogan in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park
Hulk Hogan's crossover popularity led to several television and movie roles. Early in his career Bollea played the part of Thunderlips in Rocky III (1982). He also appeared in No Holds Barred (1989), before starring in the family films Suburban Commando (1991), Mr. Nanny (1993), Santa with Muscles (1996), and 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain (1998).[188] He starred in his own television series, Thunder in Paradise, in 1994. He is the star of The Ultimate Weapon (1997), in which Brutus Beefcake also appears in a cameo.[189]
Bollea also starred in a pair of television movies, originally intended as a pilot for an ongoing series for TNT, produced by Eric Bischoff. The movies, Shadow Warriors: Assault on Devil's Island and Shadow Warriors: Hunt for The Death Merchant, starred Hogan alongside Carl Weathers and Shannon Tweed as a freelance mercenary team. In 1995, he appeared on TBN's Kids Against Crime.
Bollea made cameo appearances in Muppets from Space, Gremlins 2: The New Batch (the theatrical cut) and Spy Hard as himself. Hogan was offered the role of Zeus in Little Hercules in 3D on an episode of Hogan Knows Best and was shown during the filming of the movie. He also had a cameo at the end of the movie Little Monsters. Hogan also made two appearances on The A-Team (in 1985 and 1986), and along with Roddy Piper. Nick's favorite animated show, Captain Planet, was another popular stop for Hogan's recognizable voice. He was the voice of BP, Sly Sludge's evil sidekick. His famous catchphrase was "You're gonna pay at the pump, brother!" He also had a vital role in the two-part episode of Suddenly Susan in 1999. In 2001, Hogan guest-starred on an episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, playing a reformed criminal now operating a Christian Community Center and helping Walker steer teenagers away from gangs. Hogan also appeared in 1992 commercials for Right Guard deodorant dressed in fine clothing and painting and his line "anything less would be uncivilized".
Hogan has become a busy voice actor in recent years making guest voice spots on Robot Chicken and American Dad! and as a main actor in the Cartoon Network/Adult Swim series China, IL.
Reality television[link]
On July 10, 2005, VH1 premiered a new reality show titled Hogan Knows Best which centered around Hulk Hogan, his then-wife Linda, and their children Brooke and Nick. Set in their home in Clearwater, Florida, the show followed the family in their efforts to fulfill the dreams of their children while still maintaining their sense of closeness. At the show's onset, 16-year-old Brooke was trying to break into the music industry while younger brother Nick (age 14) went through a series of career aspirations including his failure to become a professional race car driver and following in his dad's footsteps as a pro wrestler.[190]
As of July 2008, Hogan Knows Best transferred its focus into a new show called Brooke Knows Best which focuses on his daughter's move into a new apartment to continue her pursuit of a music career.[191]
Bollea hosted the comeback series of American Gladiators on NBC in 2008.[192] He also hosted and judged the short-lived reality show, Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling.[193] Hogan had a special titled Finding Hulk Hogan on A&E on November 17, 2010.[194]
Music and radio[link]
Bollea released a music CD, Hulk Rules, as Hulk Hogan and The Wrestling Boot Band. Also, Green Jellÿ released a single, a duet with Hogan, performing Gary Glitter's classic song "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)". He has also made cameos in several music videos. From her self-named show, Dolly the music video for Dolly Parton's wrestling-themed love song "Headlock on my Heart" features Hogan as "Starlight Starbright". On the show, Parton mentioned that the tabloid Weekly World News had "reported" that she had written a song about her love for a wrestler, and said "if you read in the Weekly World News, it must be true!" In the music video "Pressure" by Belly ft. Ginuwine, Bollea and his daughter Brooke both made brief cameo appearances.
Bollea is a regular guest on Bubba the Love Sponge's radio show. He also served as the best man at Bubba's January 2007 wedding.[195] On March 12, 2010, Bollea hosted his own radio show, titled Hogan Uncensored, on Sirius Satellite Radio's Howard 101.[196]
Video games[link]
Bollea did a video game voice acting on Saints Row: The Third as Angel De la Muerte a member of the Saints.[197] In October 2011, Bollea released a video game called Hulk Hogan's Main Event.[198]
Personal life[link]
On December 18, 1983, Bollea married Linda Claridge (born August 24, 1959). They have a daughter Brooke (born May 5, 1988) and a son Nick (born July 27, 1990). Bollea made his personal life the centerpiece of the television show Hogan Knows Best, which includes his wife and two children.
Bollea's 17 year old son Nick was indicted as an adult on November 7, 2007 on four criminal charges. The charges stemmed from an August car accident that seriously injured the passenger in Nick's car, John Graziano. Nick pleaded no contest and was sentenced to eight months in prison on May 9, 2008.[199]
According to an interview in The National Enquirer, Christiane Plante claimed that she had an affair with Hogan in 2007 while the Hogan family was shooting Hogan Knows Best.[200] Plante was 33 years old at the time and had worked with Brooke Hogan on her 2006 album.[201] On November 20, 2007, Linda filed for divorce in Pinellas County, Florida.[202] Hulk told St. Petersburg Times that he was unaware of the filing when the paper called for a comment. The Graziano family's lawyer believed the divorce might have been an attempt to divide the family's assets from a planned civil suit against the Bolleas regarding their son, Nick.[203] After filing for divorce, Linda (48 at the time) began dating Charlie Hill (19 at the time). Hill was a student at Brooke and Nick's high school, one grade above Nick and one grade below Brooke.[204][205] In November 2008, Linda claimed to the public that she made the decision to end her marriage after finding out about Hulk Hogan's affair.[206][207] Hogan admitted at the time that he had considered committing suicide; however, he moved on and married his current wife Jennifer McDaniel.[208] In his 2009 autobiography, however, Hogan acknowledged that Linda on numerous occasions suspected he was having infidelities whenever he developed friendships with other women,[209] but denied allegations that he ever cheated on Linda.[209]
Bollea lived with his daughter, Brooke, who starred in the now-cancelled VH1 reality series, Brooke Knows Best.[210] Bollea has suffered numerous health problems, particularly with his back since retiring as a wrestler following the years of heavyweight training and jolting as a wrestler.[211]
On October 27, 2009, St. Martin's Press released Bollea's autobiography, My Life Outside the Ring. Bollea has continued to stay in the news, due to his revelation that he considered suicide in 2007, shortly after his wife filed for divorce. Hogan credits Laila Ali, co-star on American Gladiators, with preventing him from committing suicide.[212]
Bollea has been in a relationship with Jennifer McDaniel since early 2008.[213] The two were engaged in November 2009 and married on December 14, 2010, in Clearwater, Florida.[213][214][215]
Hogan became a distributor for multi-level marketing company ViSalus Sciences after looking for business opportunities outside of wrestling.[216]
Hogan supports the American Diabetes Association.[217]
Honors[link]
Bollea was honored as the 2008 King of the Krewe of Bacchus, a New Orleans carnival organization.[218][219] Hogan visited the Children's Hospital of New Orleans and rode in the parade where he threw doubloons with his likeness. Hogan received the honor in part because meeting Hogan is one of the most requested "wishes" of the terminally ill children benefited by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[219]
Whenever Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin scores a goal at Consol Energy Center Hulk Hogan would appear on the Jumbotron and say "Whatcha gonna do when Malkamania runs wild on you" as well as Hulk Hogan impersonators.
Filmography[link]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Rocky III | Thunderlips | |
| 1989 | No Holds Barred | Rip | |
| 1990 | Gremlins 2: The New Batch | Himself | |
| 1991 | Suburban Commando | Shep Ramsey | |
| 1993 | Mr. Nanny | Sean Armstrong | |
| Thunder in Paradise | Randolph J. Hurricane Spencer | ||
| 1994 | Thunder in Paradise II | ||
| Thunder in Paradise (TV) | |||
| 1995 | Thunder in Paradise III | ||
| 1996 | The Secret Agent Club | Ray Chase | |
| Spy Hard | Steele's other Tag-Team Member | (cameo) | |
| Santa with Muscles | Blake | ||
| 1997 | The Ultimate Weapon | Cutter | |
| Assault on Devil's Island | Mike McBride | ||
| 1998 | McCinsey's Island | Joe McGrai | |
| 3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain | Dave Dragon | ||
| 1999 | Assault on Death Mountain | Mike McBride | |
| Muppets from Space | Himself | ||
| 2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Boomer Knight | TV episode: Division Street |
| 2009 | Little Hercules | Zeus | |
| 2011 | Gnomeo and Juliet | Terrafirminator V.O. | Voice |
| Black River | Marcus Demchak | Pre-production | |
| China, IL | The Dean |
Other media[link]
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Saints Row: The Third (video game) | Angel |
In wrestling[link]
- Finishing moves
- Atomic Leg Drop (Running leg drop)[1][3]
- Axe Bomber[1] (Crooked arm lariat)[220]
- Signature moves
- Atomic drop[221]
- Big boot[1]
- Body slam[1]
- Clothesline[1]
- Multiple punches, sometimes with theatrics[1]
- Raking the opponent's eyes or back[1]
- Entrance themes
- American Wrestling Association
- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
- World Championship Wrestling
- "American Made" by The Wrestling Boot Band (1994–1996, 1999–2000)
- "Rockhouse" by Frank Shelley (used while a part of the New World Order; 1996–1999)
- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1997–1999)
- "Kevin Nash/Wolfpac Theme" (used while a part of the nWo wolfpac elite; 1999)
- Xcitement Wrestling Federation
- "American Made" by The Wrestling Boot Band (2001)
- World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor (January 7, 1984–November 22, 1986)
- "Hulk Hogan's Theme" by Jim Steinman (1985)
- "Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa (1985)
- "Real American" by Rick Derringer (November 29, 1986–June 13, 1993, July 4, 2002, May 22, 2003–July 3, 2003, March 21, 2005–December 10, 2007)
- "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (March 18, 2002–February 23, 2003)
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- "nWo Original Theme" (Rockhouse Remix) by Frank Shelly (2010–present)
- "Immortal Theme" by Dale Oliver (used while a part of Immortal; 2010–2011)[224]
- "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor (used at house shows)[171]
- American Wrestling Association
Championships and accomplishments[link]
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- IWGP League Tournament (1983)[1][29]
- MSG Tag League Tournament (1982, 1983) – with Antonio Inoki
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Comeback of the Year (1994, 2002)
- PWI Feud of the Year (1986) vs. Paul Orndorff
- PWI Match of the Year (1985) with Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff at WrestleMania
- PWI Match of the Year (1988) vs. André the Giant at The Main Event
- PWI Match of the Year (1990) vs. The Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI
- PWI Match of the Year (2002) vs. The Rock at WrestleMania X8
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1996, 1998)
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1983, 1999)[225]
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1985, 1989, 1990)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (1987, 1991, 1994)
- PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991[226]
- PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[227]
- PWI ranked him #57 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Randy Savage in 2003[228]
- Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Feud of the Year (1986) vs. Paul Orndorff
- Most Charismatic (1985–1987, 1989–1991)
- Most Overrated (1985–1987, 1994–1998)
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (1987) vs. André the Giant at WrestleMania III
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (1996) with Randy Savage vs. Arn Anderson, Meng, The Barbarian, Ric Flair, Kevin Sullivan, Z-Gangsta, and The Ultimate Solution in a Towers of Doom match at Uncensored
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (1997) vs. Roddy Piper at SuperBrawl VII
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (1998) vs. The Warrior at Halloween Havoc
- Worst Feud of the Year (1991) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
- Worst Feud of the Year (1995) vs. The Dungeon of Doom
- Worst Feud of the Year (1998) vs. The Warrior
- Worst Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Billy Kidman
- Best Babyface (1982–1991)
- Least Favorite Wrestler (1985, 1986, 1991, 1994–1999)
- Worst Wrestler (1997)
- Most Embarrassing Wrestler (1995, 1996, 1998–2000)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)[234]
1 ^ Hogan's last reign was as Undisputed WWF Champion. The title was renamed the WWE Undisputed Championship on May 6, 2002 after World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. settled a lawsuit with the World Wide Fund for Nature, and became simply World Wrestling Entertainment.
References[link]
- Bischoff, Eric (2006). Eric Bischoff: Controversy Creates Cash. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1-4165-2729-X.
- Hogan, Hulk (2002). Hollywood Hulk Hogan. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7434-7556-9.
- Loverro, Thom (2006). The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1-4165-1058-3.
- Shields, Brian (2006). Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1-4165-3257-9.
- Hogan, Hulk and Dagostino, Mark (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's. ISBN 0-312-58889-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=-r8gB_j8a-UC&printsec=frontcover.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Hulk Hogan's Profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/h/hulk-hogan.html. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g Patrick Jones (2002). "Hulk Hogan". St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200552. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Hulk Hogan's Bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/Hulkhogan/. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ Judgment Day 2003 (DVD). WWE Home Video. 2003.
- ^ "$40,000 a month not enough for Hogan wife". UPI.com. November 23, 2008. http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2008/11/23/40000-a-month-not-enough-for-Hogan-wife/UPI-16501227471351/. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
- ^ a b "Hulk Hogan Joins TNA Wrestling!". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. October 27, 2009. http://www.tnawrestling.com/content/view/1770/84/. Retrieved 2009-10-27. [dead link]
- ^ Hollywood Hulk Hogan By Hulk Hogan
- ^ Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 11. ISBN 9870312588892.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 45. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 41. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 44. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 42. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ WWE – Superstars – Hall of Fame Inductees – Gerald Briscoe[dead link]
- ^ Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 47. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b c Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 51. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b c Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 56. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ "Old School Wrestling – Florida results 1977 (August 10)". http://www.oldschool-wrestling.com/geeklog/article.php/20061017223545426.
- ^ Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 57. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 61. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 62. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b c d e f g Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 67. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 73. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b c d Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 75. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 76. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ a b Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 77. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/9870312588892|9870312588892]].
- ^ Fifteen Greatest Superstars of the '80s DVD
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1980". Angelfire. 1980. Archived from the original on December 22, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20061222064125/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/80.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1980". Angelfire. August 9, 1980. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080220173429/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/80.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ a b "The 1st International Wrestling Grand Prix Championship Tournament". Wrestling-Titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp1.html. Retrieved 2007-10-21.
- ^ awastars.com. AWA World Champion: HOLLYWOOD HULK HOGAN!! By Sean Bush
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1983". Angelfire. December 27, 1983. Archived from the original on December 3, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071203141804/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/83.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1984". Angelfire. January 7, 1984. Archived from the original on December 4, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071204183532/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Hulk Hogan's first WWE Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454120. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1984". Angelfire. January 23, 1984. Archived from the original on December 4, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071204183532/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ ""Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper w/ Cowboy Bob Orton vs. Hulk Hogan & Mr. T w/ "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka". World Wrestling Entertainment. March 31, 1985. http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm1/mainevent1/. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event I results". World Wrestling Entertainment. May 11, 1985. http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/may111985. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "Hulk Hogan Divorce Papers". TMZ.com. http://www.reference.com/search?q=900%20number. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event II results". World Wrestling Entertainment. October 5, 1985. http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/oct051985. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "WWF Show Results 1985". Angelfire. November 7, 1985. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080304205639/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/85.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event IV results". World Wrestling Entertainment. January 4, 1986. http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/jan041986. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event V results". World Wrestling Entertainment. March 1, 1986. http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/march011986. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "King Kong Bundy vs. Hulk Hogan – WWE Championship Steel Cage Match". World Wrestling Entertainment. April 2, 1986. http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm2/mainevent/. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event VII results". World Wrestling Entertainment. October 4, 1986. http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/oct041986. Retrieved 2008-04-12.
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- ^ Hulkster Cheesburger. JPG Image
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- ^ {{cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/118/1182800p1.html
- ^ "Hulk Hogan's Main Event". GameSpot.com. 2011-10-11. http://www.gamespot.com/hulk-hogans-main-event/platform/xbox360. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ Nick Bollea Gets Eight Months Jail for Injury Accident
- ^ Ree Hines (February 28, 2008). Hulk Hogan cheated with Brooke’s BFF. MSNBC. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
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- ^ Rothstein, Simon (November 28, 2007). "Lawyer: Hulk divorce is a ruse". The Sun (UK). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/article519080.ece. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
- ^ "Brooke Hogan Confirms Linda Hogan Dating Charlie Hill 19". Spreadit.org. June 11, 2008. http://www.spreadit.org/brooke-hogan-confirms-linda-hogan-dating-charlie-hill-19. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
- ^ "Linda Hogan Fine After Fender-Bender". E! Online. December 19, 2008. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b74318_linda_hogan_fine_after_fender-bender.html. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
- ^ "Linda Hogan: Hulk's Affair Killed Our Marriage". E! Online. November 6, 2008. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b67542_linda_hogan_hulks_affair_killed_our.html. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
- ^ De Leon, Chris (November 7, 2008). "Linda Hogan Blames Christiane Plante for Failed Marriage with Hulk". E!News (BuddyTV). http://www.buddytv.com/articles/hogan-knows-best/linda-hogan-blames-christiane-24323.aspx. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
- ^ "The Top 10 Superstar Collapses of the Modern Era". Bleacher Report. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/828721-falls-from-grace-the-top-10-superstar-collapses-of-the-modern-era/page/4. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ a b Hulk Hogan (2009). My Life Outside the Ring. St. Martin's Press. p. 159. ISBN [[Special:BookSources/987-0-312-58889-2|987-0-312-58889-2]].
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External links[link]
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Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Hulk Hogan |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hulk Hogan |
- Official website
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame profile
- WWE Hall of Fame profile
- TNA Impact Wrestling profile
- Hulk Hogan at the Internet Movie Database
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hogan, Hulk |
| Alternative names | Bollea, Terry Gene (real name) |
| Short description | American professional wrestler |
| Date of birth | August 11, 1953 |
| Place of birth | Augusta, Georgia, United States |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Hulk_Hogan
Related pages:
http://it.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://cs.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://es.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://ru.wn.com/Халк Хоган
http://nl.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://pt.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://pl.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://fr.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://de.wn.com/Hulk Hogan
http://hi.wn.com/हल्क होगन
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulk_Hogan
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
| Brock Lesnar | |
|---|---|
 Lesnar at a WWE Raw show in 2012. |
|
| Ring name(s) | Brock Lesnar |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Billed weight | 266 lb (121 kg) |
| Born | (1977-07-12) July 12, 1977 (age 34)[1] Webster, South Dakota, United States[2] |
| Resides | Alexandria, Minnesota, United States |
| Billed from | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
| Trained by | Ohio Valley Wrestling |
| Debut | October 2000 |
Brock Edward Lesnar[1] (/ˈlɛznər/; born July 12, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, actor, former mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler,[3] signed with WWE and appearing on its Raw brand.[4] He is also a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and former #1 ranked mixed martial arts (MMA) Heavyweight by Sherdog; he was ranked #5 before he announced his retirement at the end of 2011.[5] Lesnar is an accomplished amateur wrestler, winning the 2000 NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship and placing second in 1999, losing in the finals to 1999 world freestyle wrestling champion and future New England Patriots offensive lineman Stephen Neal.[6]
He gained prominence in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2002 to 2004, where he is a former three-time WWE Champion, becoming the youngest WWE Champion at age 25 with his first reign. Lesnar was the 2002 King of the Ring and the winner of the 2003 Royal Rumble.[7][8] After leaving WWE, Lesnar pursued a career in the NFL.[9] He played during the preseason for the Minnesota Vikings, but ended up being a late cut.[10] Lesnar returned to professional wrestling at the end of 2005, and joined New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his first match.[11] He was officially stripped of the title by NJPW in July 2006, and took the physical belt with him to Inoki Genome Federation (IGF), where he was still recognized as IWGP Champion until June 2007.[12]
Lesnar started a career in MMA and won his first fight in June 2007.[13] He then signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in October 2007. He lost his UFC debut against Frank Mir, but defeated Heath Herring in his sophomore fight. He subsequently captured the UFC Heavyweight Championship from Randy Couture on November 15, 2008, then avenged his loss to Mir at UFC 100 to become the Undisputed Champion. After being sidelined from fighting in late 2009 due to diverticulitis, Lesnar returned to defeat the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin at UFC 116. Lesnar lost the Heavyweight belt against Cain Velasquez at UFC 121. He was once again stricken with a bout of diverticulitis in May 2011 and had surgery to try to cope with the ailment.[14] Lesnar returned at UFC 141 in December 2011, where he lost to Alistair Overeem and promptly retired from the UFC.[15] In April 2012, Lesnar returned to WWE.
Contents |
Early life[link]
Brock Lesnar was born in Webster, South Dakota. He attended Webster High School in Webster, where he had a wrestling record of 33–0–0 in his senior year.[16] Lesnar admits he graduated last of 54 students in his class.[17] Lesnar later attended the University of Minnesota on a full wrestling scholarship for his junior and senior years of college; his roommate was fellow professional wrestler Shelton Benjamin who served as Lesnar's assistant coach.[18] Lesnar won the 2000 NCAA wrestling championship as a heavyweight after placing second in 1999.
Prior to joining the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Lesnar wrestled at Bismarck State College in Bismarck, North Dakota.[2] Lesnar finished his amateur career as a two-time NJCAA All-American, 1998 NJCAA Heavyweight Champion, two-time NCAA All-American, two-time Big Ten Conference Champion, and the 2000 NCAA heavyweight champion with a record of 106–5 overall in four years of college.[19]
Professional wrestling career[link]
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (2000–2004)[link]
Training and debut (2000–2002)[link]
In 2000, after leaving college, Lesnar signed up with the World Wrestling Federation. He was sent to its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. There, he formed a tag team known as "The Minnesota Stretching Crew" with his former college roommate, Shelton Benjamin. Lesnar and Benjamin won the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on three occasions.[20] He wrestled several dark matches in 2001 and 2002 before being called up to the main roster.[11]
Lesnar debuted on WWF television on the March 18, 2002 episode of Raw, the night after WrestleMania X8, coming through the crowd and attacking Al Snow, Maven, and Spike Dudley during the course of a match. He was accompanied by Paul Heyman, who was seen giving instructions to Lesnar.[21] When the brand extension was introduced in the WWF, Lesnar was drafted to the Raw brand.[22] Later, Heyman was confirmed to be Lesnar's agent and gave Lesnar the nickname "The Next Big Thing".[23] Brock's first feud was with the Hardy Boyz. Lesnar and Jeff Hardy squared off at Backlash in Lesnar's first official televised match.[11] He won the match by knockout.[24] The next night on Raw Lesnar faced off against Matt Hardy, defeating him in the same fashion.[25] At Judgment Day, Lesnar once again gained the upper hand on the Hardy Boyz before tagging his partner, Heyman, in to make the pin.[26]
Main event status (2002–2003)[link]
In June 2002, Lesnar won the King of the Ring tournament, defeating Rob Van Dam in the final round.[7] This victory earned him a shot at the WWE Undisputed Championship at SummerSlam.[26] On July 22, Lesnar joined the SmackDown! brand.[27] After a quick feud with Hollywood Hulk Hogan in August 2002, Lesnar began feuding with the Undisputed Champion The Rock.[28] At the main event of SummerSlam, Lesnar defeated The Rock to become the WWE Undisputed Champion.[26] With his victory at age 25, Lesnar became the youngest WWE Champion in history (a record that was previously held by The Rock and stands to date).[26] With the WWE Undisputed Championship being defended on both brands, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff expected Lesnar to be able to return to Raw the following night. However, SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon announced that Lesnar's contract only required him to defend the title on SmackDown!, forcing Bischoff to establish a new world championship for his brand. With the new World Heavyweight Championship on the Raw brand, the now disputed WWE Undisputed Championship simply became known as the WWE Championship.[29]
Lesnar's rapid rise to the top of WWE in 2002 led to a feud with The Undertaker, which involved a match at Unforgiven.[26] It ended in a double disqualification leading to Lesnar retaining the title. The next month, at No Mercy, he faced The Undertaker again, this time in a Hell in a Cell match. Leading up to the match, Lesnar broke the Undertaker's hand with a propane tank.[30] Despite Heyman begging McMahon not to let The Undertaker use his cast as a weapon, the request was denied and the match went on as planned.[31] In a match that saw both wrestlers and even Heyman covered in blood, it ended when Lesnar reversed an attempted Tombstone piledriver into his finishing F-5 maneuver for the win.[26] Six days after his Hell in a Cell match with The Undertaker, Lesnar successfully retained his WWE title in a Handicap match with Heyman at the Rebellion pay-per-view against Edge.[32]
Lesnar's next opponent was The Big Show. Heyman was convinced more than anyone that Lesnar could not win, trying to talk him out of defending the title.[33] Lesnar refused and lost the championship in Madison Square Garden at the Survivor Series pay-per-view to Big Show, Lesnar's first pinfall loss in WWE. When the champion tried to pin the 500-pounder following an F-5, he was betrayed by Heyman who pulled the referee out of the ring allowing Big Show to capitalize by chokeslamming Lesnar on a steel chair. Show went on to pin Lesnar and win the title. As a result, Lesnar became a fan favorite.[34] Following Survivor Series, Heyman made it clear that Lesnar would not get a rematch, even going so far as to sneak a special clause in his contract.[35] In order to gain his revenge on Big Show and Heyman, Lesnar interfered in his first title defense, which came against Kurt Angle the next month at Armageddon. Lesnar hit the F-5 on the champion, which enabled Angle to pin him and win the title. On the next edition of SmackDown, however, Angle introduced Heyman as his manager and, despite promising Lesnar a match for his title earlier in the evening, declared that Lesnar still would not get a title shot. Lesnar was then beaten down by Big Show and Angle following the main event, but the former champion got his revenge after the show went off the air. While getting attacked again and berated by Heyman, Lesnar recovered and began to fight off both men. He eventually clotheslined Big Show out of the ring and then knocked him out with a steel chair when he returned, leaving Angle alone with Lesnar. Lesnar then chased the champion, who had escaped to the outside, and resumed his assault that culminated when Lesnar used the F-5 to propel Angle's right knee into the steel ringpost. As paramedics tended to a screaming Angle, Lesnar finished off the assault with a kneebreaker on the ringside barricade, (kayfabe) breaking the champion's leg.
With Angle temporarily put out of action, Lesnar's rivalry with Heyman and the Big Show resumed, which culminated in a match at the Royal Rumble in January 2003. A spot in the Royal Rumble match was on the line, and winning the match would be Lesnar's only hope for a potential title shot. Lesnar defeated Big Show to gain entry into the match and entered at #29, the second to last competitor to enter the match. He eliminated Matt Hardy and Team Angle, which was composed of the debuting (at the time) Charlie Haas and his former OVW teammate, Shelton Benjamin who were mentored by the WWE champion. Lesnar made it to the final two, with the only remaining entry being a returning Undertaker who entered the match last. Lesnar went on to win the match by eliminating Undertaker, which now guaranteed him a title match which he would receive at WrestleMania XIX.[34]
After the Royal Rumble, Lesnar's feud with Angle, Heyman, and their allies continued as Angle retained the title at the Rumble by defeating Chris Benoit. Lesnar and Benoit faced off against Angle, Haas, and Benjamin at No Way Out the following month and Lesnar's team won the match. This helped to forward the feud leading into the main event at WrestleMania.[34] During the match, Lesnar attempted and botched a shooting star press, a move typically done by cruiserweights but a move Lesnar knew how to perform, having done so in developmental matches. However, Lesnar overestimated the distance he could jump to execute the move. As a result, he did not get enough rotation on his leap and instead of landing with his body on top of Angle's, Lesnar jammed his head and neck by hitting Angle's side and ribcage. This stunned Lesnar and forced Angle to improvise the finish of the match. Lesnar suffered a severe concussion from the botched move, but still managed to pin Angle after an F-5 to win his second WWE Championship.[34] The rivalry ended after this, as Angle was forced to undergo neck surgery and missed several months.
After WrestleMania Lesnar turned his attention to John Cena, who had returned from injury in February 2003 and who had been F-5'd into a ringpost in the same manner Angle had been. Cena claimed Lesnar nearly ended his career and even named his new finishing move the "FU" as a jab at the new champion.[36] The feud ended relatively quickly in a match at Backlash when Lesnar defeated Cena. On the following SmackDown, Lesnar returned to his rivalry with Big Show after he injured Rey Mysterio badly during their match at Backlash. Show's attack resulted in Mysterio being carried out on a stretcher and back board and Big Show took Mysterio off the stretcher and swung the back board into the ringpost, compounding the injury.[34] Lesnar called out the Big Show, who demanded that Lesnar put his title on the line against him. This led to a Stretcher match at Judgment Day for the title. Lesnar successfully retained his title with help from Rey Mysterio and a forklift.[37] During the scripted rivalry, on SmackDown!, Lesnar lifted Big Show over in a Superplex, which caused the ring to collapse on impact.[38]
As Lesnar and Big Show continued their rivalry, Kurt Angle returned from his neck surgery and he and Lesnar began to form a more friendly rivalry, as the two were allies yet contenders for the title. At the first ever SmackDown brand-exclusive pay-per-view in July, Vengeance, Lesnar took on Angle and Big Show in a No Disqualification Triple Threat match for his title, which ended after Angle hit his Angle Slam on both Big Show and Lesnar, pinning the champion to become WWE Champion for a fourth time.[34]
Lesnar continued to chase Angle's title, however, despite their friendship. Vince McMahon found his way into the angle, at first berating Lesnar, who had involved himself in McMahon's rivalry with Zach Gowen, for losing to Angle. This all turned out to be a huge swerve that came into focus on the August 7, 2003 SmackDown in Kelowna, British Columbia. That night, Lesnar and McMahon were to face each other in a steel cage match with Angle as the special guest referee as per McMahon's orders on the previous week's program. During the course of the match, Lesnar had passed out due to a staged backstage incident and McMahon was set to pin him but Angle refused to allow McMahon to win that way. As the two men began to argue, Lesnar rose to his feet, revealing the ruse to the crowd, and F-5'd Angle. He then brutally beat Angle in the cage while McMahon watched, and celebrated with the owner of the company afterward, turning heel in the process.
At SummerSlam, [39] Lesnar lost to Angle when Angle made Lesnar tap out to the ankle lock.[40] After that, Lesnar began brutalizing smaller wrestlers and attacking his rivals on a more consistent basis. He returned to using the F-5 to propel his opponents' legs into the ringpost, as he did to Spanky and Gowen, and interfered in Angle's matches on two separate occasion.
On September 18, 2003, Lesnar received his third shot at Angle in as many months when he faced the champion in a sixty-minute Iron Man match for the title in what went down as one of the greatest matches in the history of SmackDown.[41] Lesnar employed an early strategy where he assaulted the champion with a steel chair early in the match, getting himself disqualified to lose the first fall but allowing himself a chance to do a fair amount of damage. Lesnar won the next three falls by hitting Angle with the F-5 and pinning him, putting Angle's own ankle lock on him and forcing him to submit, and then getting Angle counted out after hitting a second F-5 on the floor. Angle recovered to pin the champion after an Angle Slam, but Lesnar won two additional falls by first leveling him with the championship belt while the referee's back was turned and then hitting a superplex from the top. That made it five falls to two in favor of the challenger with the match more than halfway over. In the final ten minutes of the match, Angle moved to within one fall after a pin and a submission with the ankle lock. For the final two minutes of the match, Lesnar tried to dodge Angle by leaving the ring on several occasions. Angle finally caught the champions with 1:12 left and hit a series of German suplexes, keeping Lesnar locked up for nearly 45 seconds. Lesnar, however, was able to hold on to the referee and kicked Angle below the belt with :35 left. However, since Lesnar was still holding the official he was not disqualified, and with nineteen seconds remaining Angle appeared to be out of it. However, Lesnar fell into a trap set by the champion and Angle locked in the ankle lock again. This time, Angle applied a grapevine hold to the lock, wrenching hard on Lesnar's ankle for the final fifteen seconds of the bout. However, Lesnar was able to withstand the hold for the remaining time and as a result, by a final count of five falls to four, won the match and his third WWE Championship.[42]
With Angle finally out of his hair for the first time in nearly a year, Lesnar returned to feuding with The Undertaker. Lesnar had previously cost Undertaker the title in a match against then-champion Kurt Angle, which granted him a shot at Lesnar's title.[43] At No Mercy, Lesnar defeated Undertaker in a Biker Chain match.[44] However, the rivalry came to an end when Undertaker instead chose to focus on McMahon.
After Paul Heyman returned to WWE as general manager of SmackDown, Lesnar aligned himself with his former manager. Since he had also since been aligning himself with his former rival The Big Show for several weeks after his betrayal of Angle, this brought Lesnar almost full circle from the year prior, where Heyman and Big Show had conspired with each other to rid Lesnar of his title. With Survivor Series coming up, Lesnar decided to challenge Angle to a traditional Survivor Series elimination tag team match, with Lesnar picking four additional wrestlers and Angle doing the same. Lesnar chose Big Show as his first pick, with Heyman adding a returning Nathan Jones and a debuting Matt Morgan to bring the team number to four. Angle, in the meantime, chose Chris Benoit and The APA to join his team. However, Faarooq was injured during a match with Lesnar and Big Show and Angle's team was forced to not only find a replacement for him, but to fill the fifth spot. Lesnar's team picked A-Train to fill that spot for them after he attacked John Cena, who refused to accept an invitation to join Lesnar's team. Cena instead joined Angle's team, and Angle added Hardcore Holly as the fifth member; Lesnar had injured Holly the year before and he hadn't wrestled since.[45] In the climax of the match, Chris Benoit became the second person to make Lesnar tap out.[44]
Lesnar faced Benoit in a singles bout two weeks later for the WWE Championship on SmackDown!, where Lesnar won after Benoit passed out to Lesnar's debuting Brock Lock submission hold.[46] He then began a brief feud with Hardcore Holly, defeating him at the Royal Rumble in January 2004 to retain his title.
Feuding with Goldberg and departure (2003–2004)[link]
The Survivor Series event marked the first time Lesnar met Goldberg from the Raw brand, a man to whom Lesnar had been compared due to their similar physiques and undefeated streaks in wrestling. Lesnar claimed in a backstage interview that he could beat anybody in the world, leading to Goldberg interrupting the interview and introducing himself to Lesnar, shaking hands with him before leaving with a staredown.[44] Lesnar followed this rivalry with a feud involving Hardcore Holly.[47] In the storyline, Holly wanted revenge on Lesnar for legitimately injuring his neck during a previous match between the two in 2002 which left Holly in need of neck surgery and out of action for a year. At the Royal Rumble in 2004, Lesnar defeated Holly to retain the WWE Championship.[48] Later in the Royal Rumble match, Lesnar attacked Goldberg and delivered an F-5, enabling Kurt Angle to eliminate him.[44]
In February, Lesnar faced Eddie Guerrero for the title at No Way Out. Goldberg interfered in the match and was able to help Guerrero turn the tide in the match. Lesnar still had his chance to win by nailing an F-5 onto his title belt that Lesnar brought into the ring, but Guerrero countered with a DDT to drive the champion into the belt. After a frog splash, Guerrero pinned Lesnar to win the WWE Championship. An angry Lesnar then began feuding with Goldberg, blaming him for losing his title, and a match was set up between the two at WrestleMania XX.[49] During the feud with Goldberg, Lesnar was at odds with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was shown suggesting to Goldberg that he attack Lesnar at No Way Out.[50] When Lesnar attacked Austin on Raw and stole his four-wheeler, Austin was inserted as the special guest referee for the Wrestlemania match.[51] Behind the scenes, it was widely known that the match would be Goldberg's last in WWE.[citation needed] Only a week before Wrestlemania, however, rumors surfaced that Lesnar, too, was leaving in order to pursue a career in the National Football League.[citation needed] As a result, Lesnar's match with Goldberg became a fiasco as the fans at Madison Square Garden jeered and heckled both wrestlers vociferously.[52] Goldberg gained victory after delivering a Jackhammer to Lesnar and both men subsequently received Stone Cold Stunners from Austin.[52]
New Japan Pro Wrestling (2005–2007)[link]
On October 8, 2005, Lesnar won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a three-way match at a New Japan Pro Wrestling show in the Tokyo Dome, which included the then-champion Kazuyuki Fujita and Masahiro Chono.[53] He won the match by pinning Masahiro Chono after an F-5, which he had renamed the Verdict, since WWE owns the trademark on the F-5 name.[11] After the match, he stated that this name was referring to his lawsuit against WWE. The match was his first pro wrestling match since leaving WWE.[11] Lesnar is one of the few American wrestlers to have held this title.[53]
On December 6, WWE filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent Lesnar from continuing to work with NJPW, but the court did not grant it, and thus Lesnar had two non-title victories against Manabu Nakanishi and Yuji Nagata.[54][55] Lesnar successfully defended his championship on January 4, 2006, against former champion Shinsuke Nakamura.[54] On January 13, WWE once again filed an injunction against Lesnar to stop him from defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on March 19. Evidently this was not enforced (nor granted), as he went on to have a tag team match with Shinsuke Nakamura against Akebono and Riki Chōshū at the Sumo Hall on February 19, which was won after a Verdict to Chōshū.[54][56] On March 19, at the Sumo Hall, Lesnar retained his championship against former Sumo Wrestling Grand Champion Akebono when Lesnar hit him with the championship belt and a DDT.[57] Lesnar went on to successfully defend his title against the winner of the New Japan Cup, Giant Bernard, on May 3, 2006, in Fukuoka. This was the first American vs. American title match in NJPW since Vader vs. Stan Hansen in 1990.[58]
On July 15, 2006, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that Brock Lesnar had been stripped of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as he would no longer be returning to defend the title due to "visa issues." A tournament was held on July 16 to determine the new champion, which was won by Hiroshi Tanahashi, the man Lesnar was originally scheduled to face. Lesnar continued to possess the physical IWGP Championship belt until late June 2007.[12]
Approximately one year later on June 29, 2007, Lesnar defended his IWGP Heavyweight Championship (IGF promoter Antonio Inoki had stated he still viewed Lesnar as the "proper" IWGP Champion, as he was not defeated for the title) against TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle in a champion versus champion match. Angle defeated Lesnar with the Ankle lock to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as recognized by IGF and TNA.[12] and challenged him to an MMA fight.[59] This was Lesnar's last match as a professional wrestler until 2012 when he re-signed with WWE.
Lawsuit[link]
Lesnar had previously signed a no-compete clause in order to be released from his contract with WWE, which prohibited him from working for any other sports entertainment or mixed martial arts companies before June 2010. Lesnar had anticipated leaving wrestling entirely, but his inability to secure a career in professional football led to him challenging this ruling in court.[60] WWE responded by demanding damages as a result of Lesnar allegedly breaching the agreement by appearing at a New Japan Pro Wrestling show in 2004.[61] In July 2005, the two sides dropped their claims and entered negotiations to renew their relationship.[62] WWE had offered Lesnar a contract, but on August 2, 2005, WWE's official website reported that Lesnar had withdrawn from any involvement with the company.[63] The lawsuit was then entered into settlement on September 21, but talks broke down.[64][65]
On January 14, 2006, Judge Christopher Droney stated that unless WWE gave him a good argument between then and January 25, he would rule in favor of Brock Lesnar, giving him a summary judgment. This would have enabled Lesnar to work anywhere he wanted immediately.[66] WWE was later granted a deadline postponement.[67] On April 24, World Wrestling Entertainment announced on their official website, WWE.com, that both parties had mutually come to a settlement and on June 12, a federal judge dismissed Lesnar's lawsuit against WWE after both parties requested for the case to be dismissed.[68]
Return to WWE (2012)[link]
On April 2, 2012, Lesnar returned to the WWE at the end of Monday Night Raw, attacking John Cena.[69] The following week, general manager John Laurinaitis introduced Lesnar as the new face of the WWE, he then announced Lesnar would face Cena at the Extreme Rules PPV. Cena then interrupted and slapped Lesnar in the face, the two then brawled which resulted in Cena getting a busted lip. On April 16, it was announced, via the official WWE website, that Lesnar would face Cena in an Extreme Rules match.[70] At the pay-per-view, Lesnar bloodied Cena with MMA-style strikes, but would ultimately lose the match.[71]
The following night on Raw, Chief Operating Officer Triple H returned to confront Lesnar over his new contract demands, saying wouldn't be authorizing any of them. Lesnar would then attack Triple H, apply a Kimura lock and break his arm.[72] On the May 7 episode of Raw, Paul Heyman, serving as legal representative for Lesnar, announced that Lesnar had quit the WWE.[73]
National Football League (2004–2005)[link]
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Personal information
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| Date of birth: (1977-07-12) July 12, 1977 (age 34) | |||||||
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Career information
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| College: Minnesota | |||||||
| Undrafted in 2004 | |||||||
| No regular season or postseason appearances | |||||||
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Career history
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Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2004
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After his final match at WrestleMania XX, Lesnar sidelined his career in WWE to pursue a career in the National Football League.[9] This move upset many in WWE, as the company felt they had invested heavily in Lesnar. World Wrestling Entertainment confirmed Lesnar's departure on their official website WWE.com by the statement
Brock Lesnar has made a personal decision to put his WWE career on hold to prepare to tryout for the National Football League this season. Brock has wrestled his entire professional career in the WWE and we are proud of his accomplishments and wish him the best in his new endeavor.[74]
Lesnar later told a Minnesota radio show that he had three wonderful years in WWE, but had grown unhappy and had always wanted to play pro football, adding that he did not want to be 40 years old and wondering if he could have made it in football. In an interview about starting with the NFL, Lesnar made the statement
This is no load of bull; it's no WWE stunt. I am dead serious about this... I ain't afraid of anything, and I ain't afraid of anybody. I've been an underdog in athletics since I was 5. I got zero college offers for wrestling. Now people say I can't play football, that it's a joke. I say I can. I'm as good an athlete as a lot of guys in the NFL, if not better... I've always had to fight for everything. I wasn't the best technician in amateur wrestling. But I was strong, had great conditioning, and a hard head. Nobody could break me. As long as I have that, I don't give a damn what anybody else thinks.[75]
Lesnar played for the Minnesota Vikings, where he created controversy in some games by starting minor fights and got heat from the Kansas City Chiefs for a sack on quarterback Damon Huard, which drew a big response from the crowd.[76] Huard was hit hard and had to go to the sidelines and sit out a few plays.[76] After playing in the preseason, Lesnar ended up being a late cut.[10] He declined an invitation to play as a representative of the Vikings in NFL Europa because he wanted to be closer to home with his family.[10]
Mixed martial arts[link]
| Brock Lesnar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Brock Edward Lesnar (1977-07-12) July 12, 1977 (age 34)[2] Webster, South Dakota, United States[2] |
| Residence | Alexandria, Minnesota, United States |
| Nationality | American[2] |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[77] |
| Weight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18 st 13 lb) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Reach | 81 in (206 cm) |
| Style | Wrestling |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Alexandria, Minnesota, United States |
| Team | DeathClutch Gym |
| Trainer | Head Trainer: Marty Morgan[78] Coach: Erik Paulson[79] Boxing: Peter Welch[80] Jiu-Jitsu: Rodrigo Medeiros[81] |
| Wrestling | NCAA Division I Wrestling |
| Years active | 2007 – 2011 (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 8 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Other information | |
| University | University of Minnesota |
| Spouse | Rena Mero |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
|
|
|
Hero's (2007)[link]
On April 28, 2006, Lesnar appeared inside the ring after the final match of K-1 Hero's Las Vegas and announced his intent to join the MMA promotion. He trained with Minnesota Martial Arts Academy under Greg Nelson, and University of Minnesota Assistant Head wrestling coach Marty Morgan.[82] Brock Lesnar announced on August 12 in Las Vegas that he had signed a deal with the K-1 promotion.[83] His first fight was scheduled for June 2, 2007, on the K-1 Dynamite!! USA show against Choi Hong-man of Korea.[84][85] However, prior to the match, Choi Hong-Man was replaced by Min Soo Kim. Lesnar submitted Min Soo Kim due to strikes in 1 minute 9 seconds of the first round to win his first official MMA match.[13]
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2008–2011)[link]
During UFC 77, it was announced that Brock Lesnar had reached a deal to fight with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[3] On February 2, 2008, Lesnar made his debut with the promotion in an event titled UFC 81:Breaking Point against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir.[86] Lesnar secured an early takedown, but was deducted a point for hitting Mir on the back of the head. Following another takedown by Lesnar, Mir managed to secure a kneebar and force a submission at 1:30 of the first round.[86] Due to the large size of his hands,[87] Lesnar was wearing 4XL gloves for the fight, making him the second man in Nevada's combat sports history to wear such gloves after Choi Hong-man.[88] At UFC 82, it was announced that former UFC Heavyweight Champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee Mark Coleman would fight Lesnar at UFC 87:Seek and Destroy.[89] Coleman was forced to withdraw from the fight due to a training injury, and Lesnar's opponent was changed to Heath Herring.[90] In the early seconds of the first round, Lesnar dropped Herring with a straight right. For the rest of the fight, Lesnar kept the fight on the ground and went on to win by unanimous decision.[91]
Lesnar's next opponent was Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 91:Couture vs Lesnar on November 15.[92] Lesnar beat Couture via a technical knockout in Round 2, becoming the UFC Heavyweight Champion.[93]
On December 27, 2008, at UFC 92, Frank Mir defeated Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira for the Interim Heavyweight title and was to face Lesnar for the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 98. Immediately after winning the Interim Heavyweight title, Mir found Lesnar in the crowd and shouted at him "You've got my belt."
However, due to a knee injury to Mir, the title unification match with Lesnar that was originally slated to be the UFC 98 main event was postponed. The news broke during the broadcast of UFC 96 that the bout had been cancelled and was replaced by Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida for the UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship."[94] Lesnar won the postponed rematch with Mir at UFC 100 on July 11, 2009, via Knockout after dominating his opponent for the duration of the bout. The win earned Lesnar Beatdown of the Year honors from Sherdog for 2009. It's an award he shares with Anderson Silva after his win over Forrest Griffin.[95] During his post-match celebration, Lesnar flipped off the crowd who had been booing him. He made a disparaging comment about the PPV's primary sponsor Bud Light, claiming they "won't pay me nothin'", promoting Coors Light instead. He then stated he might even "get on top of [his] wife" after the show. He would later apologize for his actions in his post-fight press conference, where he held a bottle of Bud Light.[96]
In January 2009, Brock Lesnar signed a supplement endorsement deal with Dymatize Nutrition. A CD containing training footage of Lesnar was included with boxes of Dymatize Xpand and Energized Xpand.[97]
On July 1, 2009, it was reported that the winner of the Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez fight at UFC 104 would face Brock Lesnar in his second title defense on a date yet to be determined; however, the UFC then reconsidered the contendership bout and Lesnar was scheduled to defend his belt against Shane Carwin at UFC 106 on November 21.[98]
On October 26, 2009, it was announced that Lesnar had pulled out of the UFC 106 card in which he was set to face Shane Carwin for the UFC Heavyweight Championship due to an illness. UFC President Dana White said that Brock had been ill for three weeks, claiming he had never been this sick in his life and that it would take him a while to recover; his fight with Carwin was rescheduled for UFC 108 in early 2010.[99] Lesnar initially sought treatment in Canada, but later told reporters that he had received "Third World treatment" from malfunctioning equipment at a hospital in Brandon, Manitoba, and that seeking better medical treatment in the United States saved his life. Lesnar, who describes himself as a conservative and a supporter of the US Republican Party, went on to criticize Canadian-style health care further and said that he shared his experience in an effort to speak "on the behalf of the doctors in the United States that don't want health care reform to happen and neither do I."[100]
On November 4, it was confirmed that Lesnar was suffering from mononucleosis and that his bout with Carwin would have to wait a bit longer, thus the fight for UFC 108 was cancelled.[101] On November 14 at the UFC 105 post-fight conference, Dana stated, "He's not well and he's not going to be getting well anytime soon." and that an interim title match might need to be set up.[102] In addition to mononucleosis, it was revealed that Lesnar was suffering from a serious case of diverticulitis, an intestinal disorder, which would require surgery.[103] After further diagnosis, on November 16 Lesnar underwent surgery to close a perforation in his intestine that had been leaking fecal matter into his abdomen, causing pain, abscesses, and overtaxing his immune system to the point that he contracted mononucleosis. From the level of damage to Lesnar's system, the surgeon estimated that the intestinal condition had been ongoing for around a year.[104]
In January 2010, Lesnar announced on ESPN SportsCenter that he was scheduled to make a return to the UFC in the summer of 2010.[105] A match between Frank Mir and Shane Carwin took place on March 27 at UFC 111 to determine the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, and Brock's next opponent.[106] Shane Carwin defeated Frank Mir by KO in the first round, becoming the new Interim Champion. After the fight, Brock came into the ring and stated "It was a good fight, but he's wearing a belt that's a make believe belt, I've got the real championship belt."[107]
Lesnar faced Shane Carwin at UFC 116 to unify the heavyweight titles.[108] After Carwin knocked him down early in the first round, Lesnar survived a ground and pound attack. Early in the second round, Lesnar was able to take Carwin down, attain a full mount, then move into side-control and finish the fight with an arm triangle choke. With the victory, Lesnar again became the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, earning his first UFC Submission Of The Night and giving Carwin his first loss.
Lesnar's next defense was against undefeated top contender Cain Velasquez on October 23, 2010, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California at UFC 121.[109] Dana White announced via SportsNation that the UFC would be bringing back UFC Primetime to hype up Lesnar vs. Velasquez at UFC 121.[110] Lesnar was defeated by Velasquez for the UFC Heavyweight Championship via TKO in the first round at UFC 121 on October 23, 2010.[111]
On January 11, 2011, it was revealed that Lesnar would be one of the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter Season 13, opposite to Junior dos Santos,[112] with the two expected to face each other on June 11, 2011 at UFC 131.[113] Lesnar, however, was struck with another bout of diverticulitis and had to withdraw from the bout on May 12, 2011.[114] He was replaced by Shane Carwin who lost against dos Santos at UFC 131.[115]
Lesnar underwent surgery on May 27, 2011, to help battle his problems with diverticulitis. UFC president Dana White said that Lesnar had a 12-inch piece of his colon removed.[14]
ESPN The Magazine, in its May 2011 issue, did a story listing the highest paid athlete based on base salary and earnings for the most recent calendar year or most recent season in 30 sports. Brock Lesnar topped the list for mixed martial artists at $5.3 million, which included his reported bout salaries and estimated pay-per-view bonuses.[116]
In the summer of 2011 Lesnar announced that he was ready to get back into the Octagon, stating that "I feel like a new man, healthy, strong, I feel like I used to feel."[117]
His return match was scheduled to be at UFC 141 on December 30 in Las Vegas against former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.[118] Lesnar had to cut weight for the fight in order to meet the 265lb weight limit and entered the Octagon with a potential title shot at the new champion Junior dos Santos for the match victor.[119] During the match, Overeem targeted his opponent's midsection and was able to land several strikes before delivering a powerful kick that dropped Lesnar to his knee and left him prey to a barrage of punches resulting in the referee stopping the fight and declaring Overeem the winner via TKO at 2:26 of the first round.[120][121] After the defeat, Lesnar announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, mentioning his struggles with diverticulitis and saying "tonight was the last time you'll see me in the octagon".[120][121] UFC President Dana White commented that while he wasn't aware of the decision, Lesnar's decision to retire was not a surprise to him.[121]
Other media[link]
Lesnar makes an appearance in the video game WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, which is named after the quote that former WWE commentator Tazz attributed to Lesnar, "here comes the pain."[122] Other video games in which Lesnar has appeared include WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth, WWE WrestleMania XIX, WWE Crush Hour,, WWE Raw 2 Madden NFL 06, UFC 2009 Undisputed, UFC Undisputed 2010, PlayStation 2 version of Wrestle Kingdom and most recently, WWE '12. as a Legend.[123][124][125][126] With the release of UFC Undisputed 2010 Lesnar became the first man to appear on the cover of a WWE and UFC video game as he was the cover star on Here Comes the Pain.
Lesnar was on the cover of Flex Magazine.[127] Lesnar was featured in Minneapolis' City Pages in February 2008.[128] In February 2008 Lesnar was featured on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine.[129]
WWE Home Video released a DVD in 2003 titled Brock Lesnar: Here Comes the Pain. The DVD covered Lesnar's career up to 2003 which featured some of his biggest matches. Lesnar owns an MMA clothing line called "DeathClutch".[130]
Personal life[link]
Lesnar grew up on a farm in South Dakota, and later joined the National Guard at the age of seventeen.[16] In January 2001, Lesnar was arrested for receiving large amounts of what was alleged to be steroids. The charges were later dropped when it was discovered the substances were in fact a legal growth hormone. His lawyer later described the growth hormone as a "vitamin type of thing."[131]
Lesnar has one daughter, Mya Lynn who was born on April 10, 2002, with his ex-fiancée, Nicole.[132] He left Nicole in 2003 in order to begin a relationship with Rena "Sable" Mero who had been recently divorced from Marc Mero. Lesnar and Mero were engaged in 2004, separated in 2005, then reconciled later that year and married on May 6, 2006.[133] Lesnar has one stepchild with Mero: Mariah, a stepdaughter born to Mero and her late husband, Wayne Richardson.[134] The couple had their first child together, a son named Turk in June 2009.[135] The couple had their second child, a son named Duke in July 2010.[136]
Lesnar has numerous tattoos, with the most prominent being a stylized skull in the center of his back and a large sword on his chest.[128]
He is known to be very conservative of his private life and avoids discussing it in interviews:
| “ | It's very basic for me. When I go home, I don't buy into any of the b.s. Like I said, it's pretty basic: Train, sleep, family, fight. It's my life. I like it. I've been in front of the cameras for 10, 12 years. I was a star at the University of Minnesota. I went on to World Wrestling Entertainment. Wannabe NFL player. And here I am, the UFC heavyweight champion. I just don't put myself out there to the fans and prostitute my private life to everybody. In today's day and age, with the Internet and cameras and cell phones, I just like being old school and living in the woods and living my life. I came from nothing and at any moment, you can go back to having nothing.[137] | ” |
On December 15, 2011, Lesnar was charged with hunting infractions of a trip to Alberta on November 19, 2010. On a court appearance in Medicine Hat in December 20, two charges were dropped but pleaded guilty to the charge of improper tagging of an animal. Lesnar was fined $1,725 and given a six-month hunting suspension.[138][139]
Mixed martial arts record[link]
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 8 matches | 5 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 5–3 | Alistair Overeem | TKO (kick to the body & punches) | UFC 141 | 02011-12-30December 30, 2011 | 1 | 2:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Announced retirement after fight |
| Loss | 5–2 | Cain Velasquez | TKO (punches) | UFC 121 | 02010-10-23October 23, 2010 | 1 | 4:12 | Anaheim, California, United States | Lost UFC Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 5–1 | Shane Carwin | Submission (arm triangle choke) | UFC 116 | 02010-07-03July 3, 2010 | 2 | 2:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended UFC Heavyweight Championship. Unified UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship; Submission of the Night |
| Win | 4–1 | Frank Mir | TKO (punches) | UFC 100 | 02009-07-11July 11, 2009 | 2 | 1:48 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended UFC Heavyweight Championship. Unified UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | 3–1 | Randy Couture | TKO (punches) | UFC 91 | 02008-11-15November 15, 2008 | 2 | 3:07 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won UFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–1 | Heath Herring | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 87 | 02008-08-09August 9, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Frank Mir | Submission (kneebar) | UFC 81 | 02008-02-02February 2, 2008 | 1 | 1:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Min-Soo Kim | Submission (punches) | Dynamite!! USA | 02007-06-02June 2, 2007 | 1 | 1:09 | Los Angeles, United States |
In wrestling[link]
- Finishing moves
- Brock Lock (Over the shoulder single leg Boston crab – WWE or a side bearhug – OVW)[11]
- F-5 (WWE) / Verdict[11] (NJPW) (Spin-out fireman's carry facebuster)[11]
- Shooting star press UVW
- Signature moves
- Backbreaker[11]
- Double or a triple powerbomb[11]
- Kimura lock[140]
- Knee lift to the opponent's midsection[11]
- Multiple suplex variations
- Multiple turnbuckle thrusts[11]
- Managers
- Nicknames
- "The Next Big Thing"[11]
- "War Machine"
- "The Beast"
- "The Freak"
- "The Anomaly"
- Entrance themes
- World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
- "Unknown Title" by Jim Johnston (April 8, 2002 - June 3, 2002)
- "Next Big Thing" by Jim Johnston (June 10, 2002 – March 14, 2004; April 2, 2012 - May 7, 2012)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- "Shout at the Devil" by Mötley Crüe
- "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
- World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
Championships and accomplishments[link]
Collegiate wrestling[link]
- Big Ten Conference
- Big Ten Conference Champion (1999, 2000)
- Ranked the #1 Heavyweight in the Big Ten Conference (2000)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- NCAA Division I Runner-up (1999)
- NCAA Division I Champion (2000)
- North Dakota State University's annual Bison tournament
- Heavyweight Champion (1997–1999)[141]
- National Junior College Athletic Association
- NJCAA All-American (1997, 1998)
- Junior College National Champion (1998)
Mixed martial arts[link]
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Submission of the Night (1 time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Best Box Office Draw (2008–2010)[142]
- MMA Most Valuable Fighter (2008–2010)[142]
- Sherdog Awards
- Beatdown of the Year (2009)[143]
- Fighter's Only World MMA Awards
- Breakthrough fighter of the year (2009)[144]
Professional wrestling[link]
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Inoki Genome Federation
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Feud of the Year (2003) vs. Kurt Angle[145]
- PWI Match of the Year (2003) vs. Kurt Angle – a 60 minute Iron Man match on SmackDown!, September 16[146]
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2002)[147]
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2002)[148]
- PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2003[149]
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Best Brawler (2003)[151]
- Best Wrestling Maneuver (2002) F-5
- Feud of the Year (2003) vs. Kurt Angle[152]
- Most Improved Wrestler (2002, 2003)[153]
1Lesnar's first reign was as WWE Undisputed Champion.
See also[link]
References[link]
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- ^ a b c d e "Brock Lesnar profile". SLAM! Sports. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/lesnar.html. Retrieved April 13, 2007.
- ^ a b "UFC signs former WWE star Brock Lesnar". 411mania.com. http://www.411mania.com/MMA/news/61900/UFC-signs-former-WWE-star-Brock-Lesnar.htm. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
- ^ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1176683-wwe-news-paul-heyman-will-keep-brock-lesnar-relevant-while-hes-off-television
- ^ "Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings: Heavyweight". SHERDOG.com. October 27, 2010. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/2/Sherdog-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-27767. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
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- ^ "Brock Lesnar retires after UFC 141 loss". ESPN | Mixed Martial Arts. December 31, 2011. http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/7406718/brock-lesnar-retires-first-round-loss-alistair-overeem-ufc-141.
- ^ a b Schmaltz, Jim (2004). "Brock Lesnar interview". Flex. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_12_21/ai_112350861/pg_3. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
- ^ Wetzel, Dan (October 8, 2009). "Yahoo! Sports – Enigmatic Lesnar defies definition Oct 8, 2009". Sports.yahoo.com. http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dw-lesnar100709. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
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- ^ a b Westcott, Brian; Dupree. "NWA Ohio Valley Wrestling Southern Tag Team Title History". Solie's Title Histories. http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ovsttnwa.html. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
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- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 102.
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- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 32.
- ^ a b c d e f PWI Staff (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts". "Wrestling's historical cards" (Kappa Publishing): pp. 110–111.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. pp. 198–199.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 200.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. pp. 220–222.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 281.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 285.
- ^ PWI Staff (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts". "Wrestling's historical cards" (Kappa Publishing): pp. 111–112.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 290.
- ^ a b c d e f PWI Staff (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts". "Wrestling's historical cards" (Kappa Publishing): pp. 112–113.
- ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. pp. 341–342.
- ^ "John Cena profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/john-cena.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007. "Brock Lesnar defeated John Cena, then gave Cena an F5 into the ringpost, injuring his knee!"
- ^ "Judgment Day 2003 results". PWWEW.net. http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/may/2003.htm. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – June 12, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030612.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – August 7, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030807.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ PWI Staff (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts". "Wrestling's historical cards" (Kappa Publishing): pp. 113–114.
- ^ "WWE: Inside WWE > title History > WWE championship > 20030918 – Brock Lesnar". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541405. Retrieved April 21, 2008.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – September 18, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030918.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – September 25, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030925.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ a b c d PWI Staff (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts". "Wrestling's historical cards" (Kappa Publishing): p. 114.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – October 30, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031030.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ McAvennie, Mike (April 27, 2007). "Bringin' Down The House". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/mostmemorablesdmoments/sdmoments2. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – December 11, 2003". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031211.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "Royal Rumble 2004". Full Event Results. WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/1988118/results. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ PWI Staff (2007). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts". "Wrestling's historical cards" (Kappa Publishing): p. 115.
- ^ "RAW results – February 2, 2004". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040202.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "RAW results – March 4, 2004". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040304.html. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ a b Powell, John (March 15, 2004). "WrestleMania XX bombs". Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/03/15/382634.html. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ a b c Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary. "I.W.G.P. HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY". Soli'e Title Histories. http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/htiwgp.html. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ a b c "New Japan Pro Wrestling news – (December 25, 2005 – January 20, 2006)". Strong Style Sprit. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209134350/http://puroresufan.com/script/show_archives.php?archive=1137877436&subaction=list-archive&. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ "New Japan Pro Wrestling news – (December 6, 2005 – December 23, 2005)". Strong Style Sprit. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209143514/http://puroresufan.com/script/show_archives.php?archive=1135582068&subaction=list-archive&. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ "New Japan Pro Wrestling news – (February 9, 2006 – March 7, 2006)". Strong Style Sprit. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209134350/http://puroresufan.com/script/show_archives.php?archive=1137877436&subaction=list-archive&. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ "New Japan Pro Wrestling news – (March 9, 2006 – April 8, 2006)". Strong Style Sprit. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209143520/http://puroresufan.com/script/show_archives.php?archive=1145025962&subaction=list-archive&. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ "New Japan Pro Wrestling news – (April 10, 2006 – May 5, 2006)". Strong Style Sprit. Archived from the original on February 9, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209143527/http://puroresufan.com/script/show_archives.php?archive=1147261899&subaction=list-archive&. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ "Kurt Angle Beats Brock Lesnar In Japan". June 29, 2007. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/56486/Kurt-Angle-Beats-Brock-Lesnar-In-Japan.htm. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
- ^ "Brock taking WWE to court". SLAM! Sports. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/02/12/929079.html. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
- ^ "WWE Responds To Brock Lesnar's Lawsuit". 411Mania. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/24184/WWE-Responds-To-Brock-Lesnars-Lawsuit.htm. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
- ^ "WWE cuts more while negotiating with Lesnar". SLAM! Sports. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/07/06/1119803.html. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
- ^ "Brock says no to contract". SLAM! Sports. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/08/02/1156700.html. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
- ^ "Update On The Brock Lesnar Vs. WWE Lawsuit". 411Mania. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/25343/Update-On-The-Brock-Lesnar-Vs.-WWE-Lawsuit.htm. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
- ^ "WWE Files Restraining Order Against Brock Lesnar". 411Mania. http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/25835/WWE-Files-Restraining-Order-Against-Brock-Lesnar.htm. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
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- ^ "Brock Lesnar and WWE settle lawsuit". WWE.com. http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/lesnarwwesettle. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ Mitch Passero (2.4.2012). "Brock is back". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2012-04-02/results. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Tom Herrera (16.4.2012). "Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena - Extreme Rules Match". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2012/lesnar-cena. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
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- ^ a b Mike Sloan (February 3, 2008). "Nogueira Becomes First to Hold UFC, PRIDE Belts". sherdog.com. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/nogueira-becomes-first-to-hold-ufc-pride-belts-11138. Retrieved February 3, 2008.
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- ^ Pishna, Ken (May 24, 2008). "HEATH HERRING TO FACE BROCK LESNAR AT UFC 87". MMAWeekly. http://mmaweekly.com/heath-herring-to-face-brock-lesnar-at-ufc-87-2. Retrieved May 27, 2008.
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- ^ Smith, Michael David (December 27, 2008). "UFC 92 Live Blog: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir Round-by-Round Updates". MMAFanHouse.com. http://mma.fanhouse.com/2008/12/27/ufc-92-live-blog-antonio-rodrigo-nogueira-vs-frank-mir-round-b/. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
- ^ http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/3/Sherdogs-2009-Misc-Awards-22093
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- ^ Kelly, Cathal (November 16, 2009). "Lesnar needs surgery, UFC boss says". Toronto: torontostar.com. http://www.thestar.com/sports/article/726440--lesnar-needs-surgery-ufc-boss-says. Retrieved November 16, 2009.
- ^ "UFC boss faces biggest promotional test". SPORTS.YAHOO.com. November 18, 2009. http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dw-white111809. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ "After medical "miracle," champ Brock Lesnar plans summer return to UFC action". MMAKJUNKIE.com. January 20, 2010. http://mmajunkie.com/news/17623/after-medical-miracle-champ-brock-lesnar-plans-summer-return-to-ufc-action.mma. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ "White says Lesnar could return for UFC 114; champ welcomes fight with "stalker" Mir". MMAJUNKIE.com. January 20, 2010. http://mmajunkie.com/news/17624/white-says-lesnar-could-return-for-ufc-114-champ-welcomes-fight-with-stalker-mir.mma. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ "Main Card: Carwin Crushes Mir, Wins Interim Heavy Title". UFC.com. March 28, 2010. http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=79761. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ "Lesnar-Carwin Targeted for July". SHERDOG.com. March 28, 2010. http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Lesnar-Carwin-Targeted-for-July-23507. Retrieved July 5, 2010.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez Agree to Fight at UFC 121". MMAFighting.com. July 9, 2010. http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/07/09/brock-lesnar-vs-cain-velasquez-signed-for-ufc-121/.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez UFC Primtime". MMAFighting.com. August 26, 2010. http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/8/25/1650475/via-sportsnation-chat-w-dana.
- ^ "UFC 121 Results & Live Play-by-Play". SHERDOG.com. October 23, 2010. http://www.cdn.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-121-Results-amp-Live-Play-by-Play-27640. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos named "The Ultimate Fighter 13" coaches". http://mmajunkie.com/news/22057/brock-lesnar-and-junior-dos-santos-named-the-ultimate-fighter-13-coaches.mma. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar vs. Junior Dos Santos At June UFC PPV; No Interim Title on the Line". mmaweekly.com. January 11, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/brock-lesnar-vs-junior-dos-santos-at-june-ufc-ppv-no-interim-title-on-the-line.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar Fighting Diverticulitus Again; Shane Carwin Steps Up". MMAWeekly.com. May 12, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/brock-lesnar-fighting-diverticulitus-again-shane-carwin-steps-up.
- ^ "Shane Carwin Quickly Accepts Opportunity to Put Himself Back in Title Contention". MMAWeekly.com. May 12, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/shane-carwin-quickly-accepts-opportunity-to-put-himself-back-in-title-contention.
- ^ "Former UFC Champ Brock Lesnar is MMA’s Top Dog on ESPN 30 Highest Paid Athletes List". MMAWeekly.com. April 20, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/former-ufc-champ-brock-lesnar-is-mmas-top-dog-on-espn-30-highest-paid-athletes-list.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar Declares He is Healthy, Ready to Reclaim UFC Title". MMAWeekly.com. August 18, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/brock-lesnar-declares-he-is-health-ready-to-reclaim-ufc-title.
- ^ Martin, Damon (September 6, 2011). "Brock Lesnar Faces Alistair Overeem on Dec 30 in Las Vegas". MMAWeekly.com. http://mmaweekly.com/brock-lesnar-faces-alistair-overeem-on-dec-30-in-las-vegas. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ Wagenheim, Jeff (December 28, 2011). "Viewers' guide to UFC 141". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jeff_wagenheim/12/28/ufc.141.viewers.guide/index.html. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ a b Wagenheim, Jeff (December 31, 2011). "Lesnar's career-ending UFC 141 uncharacteristic of MMA legend". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jeff_wagenheim/12/31/ufc.141.lesnar/index.html. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Brock Lesnar retires after UFC 141 loss". ESPN Mixed Martial Arts. Associated Press. December 31, 2011. http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/7406718/brock-lesnar-retires-first-round-loss-alistair-overeem-ufc-141. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar profile". Wrestling 101. http://www.wrestling101.com/101/article/USProfiles/114/. Retrieved April 21, 2007. "The champion is now meaner and stronger than ever, and no matter who is on the other side of the ring, they better be careful, because in the words of Tazz... "Here comes the Pain.""
- ^ "SmackDown Countdown: Brock Lesnar". IGN. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/376/376647p1.html. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
- ^ "WWE Crush Hour cheats". Game Winners. http://www.gamewinners.com/gamecube/WWECrushHour.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
- ^ "Madden NFL 06 cheats". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/madden-nfl-06/cheats-guides-faqs/g-2005120715584427496337. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
- ^ "Wrestle Kingdom". National Console Support. http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/SLPM-66401.html. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
- ^ "Flex Magazine summary (February 2004)". GetBig.com. http://www.getbig.com/magazine/flex/flex0402.htm. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ a b Snyder, Matt (February 6, 2008). "The Real Brock Lesnar". City Pages. http://www.citypages.com/2008-02-06/news/the-real-brock-lesnar/. Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ^ "On Newsstands Now". Muscle and Fitness online. http://www.muscleandfitness.com/newsstand/55. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ "MMA Clothing by UFC HW champion, Brock Lesnar". Mmaoverload.com. http://www.mmaoverload.com/death-clutch.html. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar arrested in January 2001". The Smoking Gun. http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/celebrity/sports/brock-lesnar. Retrieved April 26, 2007.
- ^ "Grappling with his future". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1830855. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
- ^ "Sable and Brock Lesnar's Wedding". Love Tripper. http://www.lovetripper.com/newswire/61153-sable.html. Retrieved May 7, 2007.
- ^ Cohen, Eric. "Sable". About.com. http://prowrestling.about.com/od/wrestlerprofiles/p/sableprofile.htm. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ "Brock Lesnar Craves Ultimate Vengeance". CRAVEONLINE. July 10, 2009. http://heymanhustle.craveonline.com/blogs/21006-brock-lesnar-craves-ultimate-vengeance. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
- ^ "Reclusive Lesnar is alive and well". Yahoo! sports. January 25, 2011. http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-lesnar012511. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
- ^ Kevin Iole. "Lesnar separates public from private". http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-lesnar102210.
- ^ Stephane Massinon (December 15, 2011). "Ultimate fighter Brock Lesnar charged with illegal hunting practices". Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Ultimate+fighter+Brock+Lesnar+charged+with+illegal+hunting+practices/5867344/story.html. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ "UFC fighter Brock Lesnar pleads guilty to Alberta hunting charge". Globe and Mail. Canada. December 20, 2011. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/more-sports/ufc-fighter-brock-lesnar-pleads-guilty-to-alberta-hunting-charge/article2278118/. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
- ^ Martin, Adam (29 April 2012). "Extreme Rules PPV Results - 4/29/12". Wrestleview. http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1335754751. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- ^ "Bison Open Champions – H eavyweight". Bison Wrestling. November 15, 2007. https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=19756&SPID=701&DB_OEM_ID=2400&ATCLID=87983. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ a b Meltzer, Dave (January 26, 2011). "Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, CA): 1–40. ISSN 10839593.
- ^ "Beatdown of the Year – Sherdog’s 2009 Misc. Awards". Sherdog.com. January 11, 2010. http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/3/Sherdogs-2009-Misc-Awards-22093. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ^ http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=3695
- ^ "PWI Feud of the Year" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=weitereawards&award=10&sort=1&kategorie=80&jahrzehnt=200. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "PWI Match of the Year" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=weitereawards&award=10&sort=1&kategorie=80&jahrzehnt=200. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=weitereawards&award=10&sort=1&kategorie=86&jahrzehnt=200. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "PWI Wrestler of the Year" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=weitereawards&award=10&sort=1&kategorie=80&jahrzehnt=200. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 – 2003". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080415151626/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50003.htm. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
- ^ "History Of The WWE Championship". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "Observer: Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler)" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=observer&award=11. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "Observer: Best Feud Of The Year" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=observer&award=5. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
- ^ "Observer: Most Improved Wrestler" (in German). Cagematch.de. http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=observer&award=7. Retrieved March 22, 2008.
External links[link]
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Brock Lesnar |
- Brock Lesnar's official Deathclutch website
- Professional MMA record for Brock Lesnar from Sherdog
- UFC profile
- Brock Lesnar Profile at National (Amateur) Wrestling Hall of Fame
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Randy Couture |
14th UFC Heavyweight Champion November 15, 2008 – October 23, 2010 |
Succeeded by Cain Velasquez |
|
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lesnar, Brock Edward |
| Alternative names | Lesnar, Brock |
| Short description | Professional wrestler |
| Date of birth | July 12, 1977 |
| Place of birth | Webster, South Dakota |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
http://wn.com/Brock_Lesnar
Related pages:
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http://ru.wn.com/Леснар, Брок
http://nl.wn.com/Brock Lesnar
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This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brock_Lesnar
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.
For other uses, see Triple H (disambiguation).
| Triple H | |
|---|---|
 Triple H during his ring entrance. |
|
| Ring name(s) | Triple H Hunter Hearst Helmsley Jean-Paul Lévesque Terra Ryzin |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 255 lb (116 kg)[1] |
| Born | (1969-07-27) July 27, 1969 (age 42)[2] Nashua, New Hampshire |
| Resides | Greenwich, Connecticut |
| Billed from | Greenwich, Connecticut[1] |
| Trained by | Killer Kowalski[1] |
| Debut | March 24, 1992 |
| Retired | July 2011 (Full Time Wrestling) |
Paul Michael Levesque[3] (born July 27, 1969)[4] is an American professional wrestler, wrestling executive, and actor better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley. Currently, Levesque works in the front office of WWE as the Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events, and as Triple H appears on television as the (storyline) Chief Operating Officer, and part-time wrestler.
Levesque began his wrestling career in the International Wrestling Federation as Terra Ryzing before joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994. After briefly using the Ryzing name, he changed his character to Jean-Paul Lévesque, a French-Canadian aristocrat[4] which would be similar to his character Hunter Hearst Helmsley, that he used in his early years with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1995 onward.[5] He later abbreviated his name to Triple H and adopted an alternative image in the D-Generation X (DX) stable. After the dissolution of DX, Triple H was pushed as a main event wrestler, winning several singles championships.[1] As part of a storyline Triple H married Stephanie McMahon, who later became his real-life spouse. In 2003, Triple H formed another stable known as Evolution,[1] and reformed DX with Shawn Michaels in 2006 and 2009.[6] He is heavily involved in the writing process of WWE programming, and holds complete creative control over his television character's storylines, win/loss record, and championship reigns.[7]
Overall, Levesque has won 23 championships in WWE. He is a thirteen-time world champion — the all-time record in the company — having won the WWF/E Championship eight times, and the World Heavyweight Championship five times.[8][9] He was the first World Heavyweight Champion. In addition, Helmsley won the 1997 King of the Ring, the 2002 Royal Rumble, and was the second Grand Slam Championship winner. Outside of wrestling, Helmsley has made numerous guest appearances in film and on television.
Contents
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Early life[link]
Paul Levesque was born in Nashua, New Hampshire.[10] In his youth, he was a fan of professional wrestling and his favorite wrestler was Ric Flair.[citation needed] Levesque became aware of bodybuilding at the age of fourteen; after graduating from high school in 1987, Levesque entered several bodybuilding competitions.[11] He was crowned Teenage Mr. New Hampshire in 1988.[12]
Professional wrestling career[link]
World Championship Wrestling (1994–1995)[link]
In early 1994, Levesque signed a one year contract with World Championship Wrestling (WCW).[12][13] In his first televised match, Levesque debuted as a villain named Terror Risin' and defeated Keith Cole.[14] His ring name was soon modified to Terra Ryzing, which he used until mid-1994, when he was renamed Jean-Paul Lévesque.[5][15] This gimmick referred to his surname's French origins and he was asked to speak with a French accent, as he could not speak French.[16] During this time, he began using his finishing maneuver, the Pedigree.
Levesque had a brief storyline feud with Alex Wright that ended at Starrcade 1994[5] with Wright pinning him.[17] Between late 1994 and early 1995, Levesque briefly teamed with Lord Steven Regal, whose snobby British persona was similar to Levesque's character.[15] The team was short-lived, however, as Levesque left for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in January 1995 after WCW turned down his request to be pushed as a singles competitor.
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment[link]
The Connecticut Blueblood (1995–1997)[link]
As a continuation of his gimmick in WCW, Levesque started his WWF career as the "Connecticut Blueblood" Hunter Hearst Helmsley.[16] Levesque appeared in taped vignettes, in which he talked about how to use proper etiquette, up until his wrestling debut on the April 30, 1995 episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge.[18]
Although he was heavily pushed in the first few months after his debut, Levesque's career stalled during 1996, starting off with being mired in a feud with Duke "The Dumpster" Droese following a loss during the Free for All at 1996 Royal Rumble.[19][20] Up until that event, his angle included appearing on television each week with a different female valet (which included Playboy Playmates Shae Marks and Tylyn John).[5] Sable was his valet at WrestleMania XII, and after his loss to Ultimate Warrior,[21] as part of the storyline, he took his aggressions out on her. The debuting Marc Mero—her real-life husband—came to her rescue, starting a feud between the two wrestlers.[22]
During 1996, Helmsley appeared on an episode of WWF Superstars in a match against Marty Garner.[23] When Levesque attempted to perform the Pedigree, Garner mistook the maneuver for a double underhook suplex and tried to jump up with the move, causing him to land squarely on top of his head and suffer neck damage.[23] Garner sued the WWF, eventually settling out of court and later discussed the incident in an appearance on The Montel Williams Show.
File:Hug MSG Incident.jpg
The MSG Incident.
Levesque was known backstage as one of the members of The Kliq, a group of wrestlers including Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman and Scott Hall, who were known for influencing Vince McMahon and the WWF creative team.[19] It has been claimed that he was scheduled to win the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, but the victory was instead awarded to Stone Cold Steve Austin after the Madison Square Garden Incident, in which the Kliq broke character after a match to say goodbye to the departing Nash and Hall.[24] Despite the punishment, Helmsley did have several successes following the MSG Incident. Mr. Perfect became his manager and he won the WWF Intercontinental Championship for the first time on October 21, 1996, defeating Marc Mero.[22][24] When Mr. Perfect left the WWF, his departure was explained to be a result of Helmsley turning his back on his manager as soon as he won the Intercontinental Championship. Levesque held the belt for nearly four months before dropping it to Rocky Maivia on the February 13, 1997 special edition of Monday Night Raw, called Thursday Raw Thursday.[25] For a very brief time, Helmsley was accompanied by Mr. Hughes, who was his storyline bodyguard.[26] After losing the Intercontinental title, he feuded with Goldust, defeating him at WrestleMania 13.[27] During their feud, Chyna debuted as his new bodyguard.[28]
D-Generation X (1997–1999)[link]
Main article: D-Generation X
Helmsley's push resumed in 1997, when he won the 1997 King of the Ring tournament by defeating Mankind in the finals.[24][29] Later that year, Shawn Michaels, Helmsley, Chyna and Rick Rude formed D-Generation X (DX). This stable later became known for pushing the envelope, as Michaels and Helmsley made risqué promos—spawning the catchphrase "Suck It", using a "crotch chop" hand motion,[30] and sarcastically deriding Bret Hart and Canada. By that point, Helmsley had fully dropped the "blueblood snob" gimmick, appearing in T-shirts and leather. During this period, his ring name was shortened to simply Triple H.[24] Even after the DX versus Hart Foundation storyline ended, Helmsley continued to feud with the sole remaining member Owen Hart over the WWF European Championship. This ended in a match between the two at WrestleMania XIV, with the stipulation that Chyna had to be handcuffed to then-Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter. Helmsley won after Chyna threw powder into Slaughter's eyes, momentarily "blinding" him and allowing her to interfere in the match.
After WrestleMania, Michaels was forced into temporary retirement due to a legitimate back injury sustained at the Royal Rumble,[31] with Triple H taking over the leadership position in DX,[24] claiming that his now-former associate had "dropped the ball". He introduced the returning X-Pac the night after WrestleMania and joined forces with the New Age Outlaws.[24][32] As 1998 went along, D-Generation X became more popular, turning the group from villains to fan-favorites. It was also during this time that Triple H began a feud with the leader of the Nation of Domination and rising WWF villain, The Rock.[11] This storyline rivalry eventually led to a feud over the Intercontinental Championship, which Triple H won in a ladder match at SummerSlam.[11] He did not hold the title long, however, as he was sidelined with a legitimate knee injury.[11] When The Rock won the WWF Championship at Survivor Series,[33] the rivalry between the two continued, as DX fought The Corporation stable, of which The Rock was the main star. Triple H received a shot at the WWF Championship on the January 25, 1999 episode of Raw in an "I Quit" match against The Rock, but the match ended when Triple H was forced to quit or see his aide Chyna chokeslammed by Kane.[11] This began a new angle for Triple H, as Chyna betrayed him by attacking him after the match and joining The Corporation.[11]
At WrestleMania XV, Triple H beat Kane with the aid of Chyna, who was thought to have rejoined DX.[11] Later on in the night, he betrayed his long-time friend and fellow DX member X-Pac by helping Shane McMahon retain the European Championship and joined The Corporation.[11] turning heel in the process. After Triple H's heel turn in early 1999, he moved away from his DX look, taping his fists for matches, sporting new and shorter wrestling trunks, and adopting a shorter hairstyle.[11] Levesque's gimmick changed as he fought to earn a WWF title shot.[11] After numerous failed attempts at winning the championship, Triple H and Mankind challenged WWF Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin to a Triple Threat match at SummerSlam, which featured Jesse "The Body" Ventura as the special guest referee. Mankind won the match by pinning Austin.[34] The following night on Raw, Triple H defeated Mankind to win his first WWF Championship.[11]
Triple H dropped the WWF Championship to Vince McMahon on the September 16, 1999 episode of SmackDown! before regaining it at Unforgiven in a Six-Pack Challenge that included Davey Boy Smith, Big Show, Kane, The Rock, and Mankind. He defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin at No Mercy before dropping the title to Big Show at Survivor Series. Triple H then continued his feud with Vince McMahon by marrying his daughter, Stephanie McMahon. He then defeated McMahon at Armageddon. As a result of the feud, an angle with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon began which carried the WWF throughout the next seventeen months; together they were known as the "McMahon-Helmsley Faction".[35]
McMahon–Helmsley Era (2000–2001)[link]
By January 2000, Triple H dubbed himself "The Game," implying that he was on top of the wrestling world and was nicknamed "The Cerebral Assassin" by Jim Ross. On the January 3 episode of Raw is War, Triple H defeated The Big Show to win his third WWF championship.[36]
Triple H feuded with Mick Foley in early 2000. They both fought at the Royal Rumble in a Street Fight Match for the WWF Championship, which Triple won after doing two pedigrees on Foley. The storyline would come to an end at No Way Out in a Hell in a Cell where if Mick Foley lost he would have to retire. Triple H retained his title at the PPV and thus ending Mick Foley's fifteen year career. Triple H pinned The Rock at WrestleMania 2000 to retain the title,[37] but lost it at Backlash to The Rock.[38] He regained it three weeks later, in an Iron Man match at Judgment Day,[39] only to lose it back to The Rock at King of the Ring.[40] Triple H then entered a storyline feud with Chris Jericho, which culminated in a Last Man Standing match at Fully Loaded.[40]
A later storyline feud between Triple H and Steve Austin started when it emerged that Triple H had paid off Rikishi to run down Austin at Survivor Series, causing him to take a year off. In reality, Austin's previous neck injuries started bothering him again, forcing him to have surgery. In 2000, Triple H and Austin had a match at Survivor Series that ended when Triple H tried to trick Austin into coming into the parking lot to run him over again, only to have Austin lift his car up with a forklift and flip the car onto its roof 10 feet high. Triple H returned a few weeks later and attacked Austin. The feud continued into 2001 and ended in a Three Stages of Hell match in which Helmsley defeated Austin. In 2001, Triple H also feuded with The Undertaker, who defeated him at WrestleMania X-Seven.[41] The night after WrestleMania, Triple H interfered in a steel cage match between Austin (who had just won the WWF Championship) and The Rock where he joined forces with Austin and double teamed on The Rock,[42] forming a tag team called The Two-Man Power Trip. Triple H then defeated Chris Jericho for his third Intercontinental Championship on the April 5 episode of SmackDown!,[43] and won it for a fourth time two weeks later by defeating Jeff Hardy. Triple H then became a tag team champion for the first time at Backlash when he and Austin defeated Kane and The Undertaker in a winner-take-all tag match. As Triple H was still Intercontinental Champion, the win made him a double champion.[44]
During the May 21, 2001 episode of Raw, he suffered a legitimate and career-threatening injury.[5][45] In the night's main event, he and Austin were defending the Tag Team Championship against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. At one point, Jericho had Austin trapped in the Walls of Jericho. Triple H ran in to break it up, but just as he did, he suffered a tear in his left quadriceps muscle,[5][45] causing it to come completely off the bone.[12] Despite his inability to place any weight on his leg, Triple H was able to complete the match.[12] He even allowed Jericho to put him in the Walls of Jericho, a move that places considerable stress on the quadriceps. The tear required an operation, which was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. This injury brought an abrupt end to the McMahon-Helmsley Era, as the rigorous rehabilitation process kept Triple H out of action for over eight months,[5][12] completely missing The Invasion storyline.
Return from injury and Shawn Michaels feud (2002)[link]
File:HHHwmX8.jpg
Triple H after winning the Undisputed Championship at WrestleMania X8.
Triple H returned to Raw as a face on January 7, 2002 at Madison Square Garden.[12] He won the Royal Rumble and received an Undisputed WWF Championship match at WrestleMania X8.[46] At WrestleMania X8, Triple H beat Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship.[5][46] After holding the title for a month, Helmsley dropped it to Hulk Hogan at Backlash.[46] Triple H then became exclusive to the SmackDown! roster due to the WWF Draft Lottery and continued to feud with Jericho, culminating in a Hell in a Cell match at Judgment Day. On June 6, Triple H defeated Hogan in a Number One Contenders match for the Undisputed Championship at the King of the Ring against The Undertaker but was unsuccessful at the event.
In the interim, between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, the McMahon-Helmsley Faction was brought to an official on-screen conclusion. By the time he returned, Triple H's on-screen marriage to Stephanie McMahon was on the rocks, so Stephanie faked a pregnancy in order to get him back on her side.[47] When he learned that it was fake, he dumped her publicly on Raw when they were supposed to renew their wedding vows.[47] Stephanie aligned with Jericho afterward,[47] but she was forced to leave after losing a Triple Threat match on Raw the night after WrestleMania when she was pinned by Triple H.[48] The divorce, and thus the storyline, was finalized at Vengeance.[49]
Meanwhile, Shawn Michaels had made his return to WWE and joined the New World Order (nWo). Michaels and Kevin Nash planned to bring Triple H over to Raw in order to put him into the group. Vince McMahon, however, disbanded the nWo following several backstage complications and brought in Eric Bischoff as the Raw brand's new general manager. One of Bischoff's first intentions was to follow up on the nWo's plan and bring Triple H over to the Raw roster. Triple H did indeed go to the Raw brand, reuniting with Shawn Michaels, but on July 22 he turned on Michaels by performing a Pedigree on him during what was supposed to be a DX reunion, turning heel once again. The following week, Triple H smashed Michaels' face into a car window to prove that Michaels was weak. These events led to the beginning of a long storyline rivalry between the former partners and an eventual "Unsanctioned Street Fight" at SummerSlam, in which Michaels came out of retirement to win. Afterwards, however, Triple H attacked him with a sledgehammer, and Michaels was carried out of the ring.[50]
Before September 2, 2002, WWE recognized only one champion for both the Raw and SmackDown! brands. After SummerSlam, champion Brock Lesnar became exclusive to SmackDown!, leaving Raw without a champion. Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff then awarded Triple H the Big Gold Belt (which had been used for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and WCW World Heavyweight Championship) making him the first World Heavyweight Champion of the WWE brand.[51] Triple H retained his title against Rob Van Dam at Unforgiven when Ric Flair hit RVD with a sledgehammer.
In October 2002, Triple H began feuding with Kane, leading to a match at No Mercy on October 20 in which both Kane's Intercontinental Championship and Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship were at stake. In the weeks preceding the match, Triple H claimed that, several years earlier, Kane had an unrequited relationship with a woman named Katie Vick.[52] He went on to claim that, after Vick was killed in a car crash, Kane (the driver) raped her corpse.[52] Triple H later threatened to show video footage of Kane committing the act in question; however, the footage that finally aired showed Triple H (dressed as Kane) simulating necrophilia with a mannequin in a casket;[52] Kane's tag team partner The Hurricane responded the following week by showing a video of Triple H (rather, someone wearing a Triple H series of masks) getting an enema. The angle was very unpopular with fans,[53] and was de-emphasised before the title match. Triple H went on to defeat Kane at No Mercy, unifying the two titles.[54]
Triple H eventually lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Shawn Michaels in the first Elimination Chamber match, at Survivor Series.[55] He defeated RVD for the title shot at Armageddon with Michaels as special referee. He regained the title from Michaels in a Three Stages of Hell match at Armageddon.[55]
Evolution (2003–2005)[link]
Main article: Evolution (professional wrestling)
In January 2003, Triple H formed a stable known as Evolution with Ric Flair, Randy Orton, and Batista. Triple H and Ric Flair challenged RVD and Kane for the World Tag Team Titles, but they lost the match. The group was pushed on Raw from 2003 to 2004. The height of their dominance occurred after Armageddon when every member of Evolution left the pay-per-view holding a title.[56] Triple H held the World Heavyweight Championship for most of 2003 until Unforgiven, losing the title to Bill Goldberg. After a failed attempt to win back the title from Goldberg in a rematch at the Survivor Series, he finally regained the championship against Goldberg in a triple threat match at Armageddon which also involved Kane. At the 2004 Royal Rumble, Triple H and Shawn Michaels fought in a Last Man Standing match to a double countout, so Triple H retained the title as a result.[56] Triple H dropped the title to Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX,[57] and he was unable to reclaim the belt from Benoit in subsequent rematches, including a rematch from WrestleMania between Triple H, Benoit, and Shawn Michaels at Backlash.[57]
He then ended his feud with Michaels, defeating him in a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood.[57] After another failed attempt, losing to Benoit at Vengeance, he focused on Eugene, beating him at SummerSlam.[58] Triple H then regained the title from former associate Randy Orton at Unforgiven.[59] Following a Triple Threat World Heavyweight title defense against Benoit and Edge on the November 29, 2004 episode of Raw, the World Heavyweight Championship became vacant for the first time.[60] At New Year's Revolution, Triple H won the Elimination Chamber to begin his tenth world title reign.[61] At WrestleMania 21, Triple H lost the championship to Batista,[62] and subsequently lost two rematches at Backlash and Vengeance.[63][64] After Vengeance, Triple H took hiatus from WWE due to suffering from his minor neck problems.[65]
After four month hiatus, Triple H returned to Raw on October 3, 2005 as part of WWE Homecoming. He teamed with fellow Evolution member Flair to defeat Chris Masters and Carlito. After the match, Triple H turned on Flair hitting Flair with a sledgehammer, sparking a feud between the duo.[66] Flair defeated Triple H in a Steel cage match at Taboo Tuesday for Flair's Intercontinental Championship.[67] Subsequently, Triple H defeated Flair in a non-title Last Man Standing match at Survivor Series to end their feud.[67]
D-Generation X reunion (2006–2007)[link]
Although Triple H failed to win the Royal Rumble match at the Royal Rumble, another championship opportunity arose for Triple H in the Road to WrestleMania Tournament. He won the tournament, granting him a match for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 22. At WrestleMania, Triple H and John Cena fought in the main event for the title, which Triple H lost via submission.[68] Later that month at Backlash, Triple H was involved in another WWE Championship match, fighting Edge and Cena in a Triple Threat match, where he lost again. In an act of frustration, a bloodied Triple H used his sledgehammer to attack both Edge and Cena and then performed a number of DX crotch chops.[69] Triple H unsuccessfully attempted to win the WWE title from Cena on numerous occasions, blaming his shortcomings on Vince McMahon, which eventually led to a feud between the McMahons and Triple H.
Shawn Michaels returned on the June 12 episode of Raw and soon reunited with Triple H to reform D-Generation X, turning Triple H into a fan-favorite once again for the first time since 2002.[6] DX defeated the Spirit Squad at Vengeance in a 5-on-2 handicap match.[70] They continued their feud with Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and the Spirit Squad for several weeks. They then defeated the Spirit Squad again on the July 18, 2006 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event in a 5-on-2 Elimination match. They then again defeated the McMahons at SummerSlam, withstanding the attack of several handpicked WWE superstars by Vince McMahon.[69] At Unforgiven, D-Generation X overcame the odds once again, defeating The McMahons and ECW World Champion Big Show in a Hell in a Cell match. During the match, DX embarrassed Vince by shoving his face in between Big Show's buttocks, and DX won when Triple H broke a sledgehammer over the shoulders of Vince McMahon after Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on him.[71]
At Cyber Sunday during DX's feud with Rated-RKO, special guest referee Eric Bischoff allowed the illegal use of a weapon to give Rated-RKO the win.[71] At Survivor Series, DX got their revenge when their team defeated Edge and Orton's team in an Elimination Match.[72] In January 2007, at New Year's Revolution, DX and Rated-RKO fought to a no-contest after Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps (similar to the one he suffered in 2001 but in the other leg) fifteen minutes into the match.[73][74] Surgery was successfully performed on January 9, 2007 by Dr. James Andrews.[73]
Record breaking WWE Champion (2007–2009)[link]
Triple H made his return at SummerSlam, where he defeated King Booker.[75] Two months later at No Mercy, Triple H was originally scheduled to face Umaga in a singles match. However, at the start of the night Triple H decided to challenge newly named WWE Champion Randy Orton, reigniting his rivalry with Orton that had been interrupted following his injury. Triple H won the match, winning his eleventh world championship and sixth WWE Championship,[76] and then defended his title against Umaga in his regularly scheduled match after Mr. McMahon declared the match to be for the WWE title.[77] After that McMahon gave Orton a rematch against Triple H in a Last Man Standing match in the main event, and Triple H lost after failing to beat the ten count when Orton hit his RKO onto the announcer's table.[77] Triple H's title reign at No Mercy is the fifth shortest reign in WWE history, only lasting through the duration of the event.[77] After winning the Raw Elimination Chamber at No Way Out, Triple H gained a WWE Championship match, by outlasting five other men, last eliminating Jeff Hardy after a Pedigree on a steel chair.[78] However, at WrestleMania XXIV, Randy Orton retained after punting Triple H and pinning John Cena following Triple H's Pedigree on Cena.[79] A month later, at Backlash, Triple H won the title in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match against Orton, Cena, and John "Bradshaw" Layfield, tying the record for most WWE Championship reigns with The Rock.[80] Triple H then retained the title against Orton at Judgment Day in a Steel Cage match and again at One Night Stand in a Last Man Standing match.[81][82] Orton suffered a legitimate collarbone injury during the match, thus ending the feud prematurely.[83]
On June 23, 2008 episode of Raw, Triple H was drafted to the SmackDown brand as a part of the 2008 WWE Draft, in the process making the WWE Championship exclusive to SmackDown.[84] He defended the championship over the summer and was the only champion to retain his title at Unforgiven's Championship Scramble matches. After this he defended it against Jeff Hardy, who was in the Unforgiven match.
At Survivor Series, Triple H was scheduled to defend the championship against Vladimir Kozlov and Hardy, however Hardy was kept out of the match after a scripted attack and injury. During the match, Smackdown General Manager Vickie Guerrero announced that Edge had returned and introduced him into the contest. Jeff Hardy interfered and hit Triple H with a steel chair meant for Edge, thus costing him the title and resulting in Edge winning his sixth World Title. Triple H entered seventh in the 2009 Royal Rumble, but was last eliminated by Randy Orton. In February at Elimination Chamber, Triple H won the WWE Championship in the SmackDown Chamber match, setting the record for most reigns at eight. That record stood until 2011 when John Cena won his ninth WWE Championship.
The Legacy feud and DX farewell (2009–2011)[link]
On the February 16, 2009 episode of Raw, Triple H made an appearance aiding Stephanie and Shane McMahon, after they were attacked by Randy Orton.[85] On the February 20 episode of SmackDown, Triple H was interviewed by Jim Ross, in the interview, footage was shown highlighting the events that occurred on the February 16 episode of Raw. Ross asked Triple H how he felt seeing that footage, in response, he broke character (after 5 years of marriage) by admitting that Vince McMahon is his father-in-law, that Shane is his brother-in-law, and that Stephanie is his wife, thus creating a rivalry between Triple H and Orton. On the February 23 episode of Raw, Triple H confronted Orton, before attacking him, Ted DiBiase, and Cody Rhodes (a group known as The Legacy) with a sledgehammer and chasing them from the arena.[86] Weeks later, it was announced that Triple H would defend the WWE championship against Orton at WrestleMania XXV.[87] At the event, Triple H defeated Orton to retain the title.Triple H would later face Orton and Legacy in a six man tag team match with Shane McMahon and Batista for the WWE championship at Backlash (2009). Triple H lost the title after trying to stop Batista from hitting Cody Rhodes with a chair then being hit with a RKO by Orton followed by the running punt to the head, allowing Orton to win the WWE championship and putting Hunter out of action for six weeks. At The Bash, Triple H would lose to Orton in a Three Stages of Hell match for the WWE Title. At Night of Champions, Triple H would again lose to Orton in a match for the WWE Championship, this time in a Triple Threat match, also involving John Cena.
On the August 10, 2009 episode of Raw, video segments aired in which Triple H met with Michaels at an office cafeteria in Texas where he was working as a chef; throughout the segments, Triple H would try to convince Michaels return to WWE from hiatus. After several incidents during the segments (including a grease grill burgers on fire and Shawn shouting at a little girl), Michaels agreed to team with Triple H to face The Legacy at SummerSlam, superkicking the girl, and quitting from his chef job in the process.[88] On the August 17 episode of Raw, in St. Louis, MO, Michaels and Triple H officially reunited as DX, but as they were in the process of their in-ring promo, Legacy attacked them both.[89] Their first match after reuniting was against Legacy at SummerSlam, which they won.[90] At Breaking Point, however, they lost to Legacy in the first ever Submissions Count Anywhere match in WWE history.[91]
At the October pay-per-view Hell in a Cell, DX defeated Legacy in a Hell in a Cell match.[92] DX would challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship in a triple threat match at Survivor Series with both men failing to win the title,[93] although they were able to retain their friendship and tag team partnership. On December 13 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, DX defeated Chris Jericho and The Big Show to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match;[94] the first tag team championship reign for Michaels and Triple H as a tag team.
On December 21, Triple H announced that Hornswoggle was the new DX mascot.[95] This came about after Hornswoggle sued DX for emotional and physical distress due to them not allowing him to join DX.[95] After being taken to court where they were ruled guilty by a jury and judge consisting of dwarves, Michaels told Triple H that Hornswoggle could be the mascot. Triple H agreed to it only if the charges were dropped, which Hornswoggle agreed to.[95] On January 11 Mike Tyson, who was the Raw guest host for the night, teamed with Jericho to face DX; however, at the end of the bout, Tyson turned on Jericho and aligned himself with Michaels and Triple H.[96] On the February 8, 2010 episode of Raw, DX lost their Unified Tag Team Titles to ShoMiz (The Miz and The Big Show) in a Triple Threat Elimination Tag Team match also featuring The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows.) On the March 1 episode of Raw they lost their rematch for the titles which would be their last televised match before Michaels retired.[97] Michaels and Triple H had a non-wrestling reunion at the 2010 Tribute to the Troops.
On February 21, Triple H eliminated WWE Champion Sheamus in an Elimination Chamber match, though he would not win the title himself. Sheamus attacked him weeks later, setting up a match between the two at WrestleMania XXVI, where Triple H was victorious.[98][99] Also at WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels lost to The Undertaker and was forced to retire, but while giving a farewell speech the next night, Sheamus attacked him. This would set up a rematch at Extreme Rules where Sheamus attacked Triple H at the start of the show ahead of a win in their scheduled contest to allow Triple H time off to recover from injuries.[100] Triple H made an untelevised appearance on October 30 at the WWE Fan Appreciation Event and also at the 2010 Tribute to the Troops.[101]
Feud with The Undertaker and Chief Operating Officer (2011–present)[link]
On the February 21, 2011 episode of Raw, Triple H made his return to the WWE by interrupting the return of The Undertaker. He challenged him to a match at WrestleMania XXVII, which later became a No Holds Barred match. A week later he put Sheamus through the announce table with a Pedigree, in retaliation for Sheamus giving him a 10 month injury. At WrestleMania XXVII Triple H lost which extended Undertaker's undefeated streak to 19-0, however Undertaker was carried from the ring in a stretcher whereas Triple H left the ring of his own volition.[102]
At the end of the July 18, 2011 episode of Raw, Triple H returned on behalf of WWE's board of directors to relieve his father-in-law Vince McMahon of his duties.[103] This was followed by the announcement that he had been assigned to take over as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the WWE. This was during a storyline where CM Punk had won the WWE Championship and left the company. Though a new champion was crowned, Triple H helped resign CM Punk and upheld both championship reigns. He announced he would referee a match to unify both WWE Championships at SummerSlam. Although he counted a pinfall for CM Punk to win, John Cena's leg was on the ropes which would break the pin. Regardless, Triple H's longtime friend Kevin Nash attacked Punk immediately after the match to allow Alberto Del Rio to become champion.[104] Though Nash and Punk demanded a match against each other, Triple H fired Nash for insubordination and booked himself in a No Disqualification match at Night Of Champions with his position of COO on the line.[105] He won the match despite interference from John Laurinaitis, Nash, The Miz and R-Truth.[106] After repeated attacks from these wrestlers in various matches, the majority of WWE's on-screen staff gave Triple H a vote of no confidence. Mr. McMahon returned to relieve him of his duties on Raw though he remained COO. He was replaced as General Manager of Raw by Laurinaitis, who booked him in a tag team match against Miz and R-Truth at Vengeance.[107] During the match, Nash once again attacked him and did so the following night on the October 24 Raw, hospitalizing him.[108] WWE later announced that Triple H sustained a fractured vertebrae which would remove him from television until his return on December 12, as part of the Slammy Awards. On December 18, Triple H defeated Nash at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs in Sledgehammer Ladder Match where he used the sledgehammer against Nash.[109]
Triple H returned on the January 30 edition of Raw, to evaluate Laurinaitis' performance as General Manager. Before he could announce the decision, he was interrupted by the returning Undertaker.[110] After initially refusing the rematch as he did not want to tarnish Undertaker's legacy,[111] Triple H accepted the challenge after being called a coward who lives in Shawn Michaels' shadow, on the condition their rematch be contested inside Hell in a Cell.[112] Triple H went on to lose this match at WrestleMania XXVIII.[113] Triple H returned on Raw four weeks later, to tell Brock Lesnar that he will only accept the original contract agreed upon before having his arm broken by Lesnar.[114] It was later announced on WWE.com that in addition to a broken arm Triple H had suffered severe ligament and tendon damage around the elbow and that it would require surgery.[115]
Backstage roles[link]
In 2010, Levesque's role as an Executive Senior Advisor was officially formalized as he was given an office at WWE headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.[116] Levesque was named Executive Vice President, Talent in 2011. In this role he oversees the talent relations and talent development departments, training of performers and management of worldwide recruitment. In addition to his talent duties, Levesque has worked as a director and producer of the creative direction and storylines of WWE’s programming.[117]
Personal life[link]
In 2000, Levesque began dating Stephanie McMahon and they married on October 25, 2003.[118] He had previously been in a long-term relationship with former WWE wrestler Chyna.[119] He and McMahon have three daughters.[120] On January 8, 2006, WWE announced that McMahon and Levesque were expecting their first child, due on July 27, 2006.[121] Stephanie McMahon continued to work and travel with WWE throughout her pregnancy, giving birth to an 8 lb, 7 oz (3.8 kg) baby girl, Aurora Rose Levesque, on July 24, 2006.[122] The couple had their second daughter, Murphy Claire Levesque, on July 28, 2008.[123] The couple welcomed their third daughter, Vaughn Evelyn Levesque, on August 24, 2010.[124]
He has a sister named Lynn.[12]
In late 2004, Levesque released a book titled Making the Game: Triple H's Approach to a Better Body.[125] Mostly devoted to bodybuilding advice, the book also includes some autobiographical information, memoirs, and opinions.
Filmography[link]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Pacific Blue | Triple H | |
| 1998 | The Drew Carey Show | The Disciplinarian | |
| 2001 | MADtv | Himself | |
| 2004 | Blade: Trinity | Jarko Grimwood | |
| 2005 | The Bernie Mac Show | Triple H[126] | |
| 2006 | Relative Strangers[127] | Wrestler | Uncredited |
| 2011 | The Chaperone | Raymond "Ray Ray" Bradstone | |
| 2011 | Inside Out | Arlo "A.J." Jayne |
In wrestling[link]
- Finishing moves
- Pedigree[1] (Double underhook facebuster) - 1995-present
- Signature moves
- Abdominal stretch[3]
- Blatant choke[3]
- Chop block[128]
- Facebreaker knee smash,[3][129] often as a back body drop counter
- Figure four leglock[3]
- Flowing DDT[3]
- High knee[3]
- Inverted Indian deathlock – WCW;[130] used rarely as a regular move thereafter in WWE[131]
- Jumping knee drop[3]
- Mounted punches[3]
- Running clothesline[3]
- Running neckbreaker[3]
- Sleeper hold[3]
- Spinning spinebuster[3]
- Nicknames
- Entrance themes
- World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
- "Blue Blood" by Jim Johnston (April 28, 1995 – December 15, 1996)
- "Symphony No. 9 (Fourth movement)" by Ludwig van Beethoven (December 15, 1996 – November 10, 1997)
- "Break It Down" by The DX Band (November 10, 1997 – April 5, 1999; June 19, 2006 – April 2007; August 24, 2009 – March 1,2010)
- "Corporate Player" by Jim Johnston (April 25, 1999 – May 10, 1999)
- "Higher Brain Pattern" by Jim Johnston (May 16, 1999 – June 21, 1999)
- "My Time" by The DX Band (June 27, 1999 – December 10, 2000)
- "The Game" by Motörhead (January 8, 2001–present)
- "The Game" by Drowning Pool (used for advertising promos; March 2002 – March 2011)
- "King of Kings" by Motörhead (used for promos and as prelude to "The Game"; April 2, 2006–Present)
- "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Metallica (WrestleMania XXVII prelude to "The Game")
- World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
Championships and accomplishments[link]
- Independent Wrestling Federation
- IWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[4]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Feud of the Year (2000)[133] vs. Kurt Angle
- PWI Feud of the Year (2004)[133] vs. Chris Benoit
- PWI Feud of the Year (2009) vs. Randy Orton
- PWI Match of the Year (2004)[134] vs. Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit at WrestleMania XX
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2003–2005)[135]
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (2008)
- PWI Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
- PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2000[136] and 2009[137]
- PWI ranked him #139 in the PWI Years in 2003[138]
- World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWF/E Championship (8 times)1[139]
- World Heavyweight Championship (5 times - first champion)[140]
- WWF European Championship (2 times)[141]
- WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (5 times)[142]
- WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Steve Austin (1) and Shawn Michaels (1)[143][144]
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shawn Michaels (1)[145]
- King of the Ring (1997)[1]
- Royal Rumble (2002)[146]
- Second Grand Slam Championship
- Seventh Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award for Best Hair (1997)
- Slammy Award for OMG Moment of the Year (2011) - Triple H kicking out of a Tombstone Piledriver at WrestleMania XXVII
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Mick Foley[147]
- Feud of the Year (2004) vs. Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit[147]
- Feud of the Year (2005) vs. Batista[147]
- Most Overrated (2002–2004, 2009)[147]
- Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (2002-2003)[147]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2002) vs. Kane[147]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2006) with Shawn Michaels vs. Vince and Shane McMahon[147]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2011) vs. Kevin Nash[148]
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2003) vs. Scott Steiner at No Way Out[147]
- Worst Worked Match of the Year (2008) vs. Vladimir Kozlov and Edge at Survivor Series[147]
- Wrestler of the Year (2000)[147]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2005)
1 ^ Triple H's fifth reign was as Undisputed WWF Champion.
Notes[link]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Triple H Bio". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://us.wwe.com/superstars/raw/tripleh. Retrieved April 14, 2009.
- ^ Triple H at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Triple H Bio". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/triple-h.html. Retrieved 2011-08-30.
- ^ a b c Milner, John; Clevett, Jason; Kamchen, Richard (December 5, 2004). Slam! Sports (Canadian Online Explorer). http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/helmsley.html. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Wrestler snapshot: Triple H". Wrestling Digest. August 2002. Archived from the original on November 21, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20071121150725/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_2_4/ai_88761521. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
- ^ a b "Raw – June 12, 2006 Results". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060612.html. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Hunter Hearst Helmsley: Triple H Now an Exec". Wrestler Autographs. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
- ^ "W.W.W.F./W.W.F./W.W.E. World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwf-h.html. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
- ^ "World Heavyweight Title (W.W.E. Smackdown!)". Wrestling-Titles.com. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwf/wwe-world-h.html. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
- ^ "Famous People From New Hampshire". NH Tour Guide. http://www.nhtourguide.com/famous_nh_people/index.htm. Retrieved 10/03/2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Triple H and Chyna (1999). It's Our Time (VHS). World Wrestling Federation.
- ^ a b c d e f g Peter McGough (July 2002). "Coming to grips with Triple H". Flex. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_5_20/ai_98539200. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
- ^ Marvez, Alex (April 2001). "Triple Threat". Wrestling Digest. p. 2. Archived from the original on July 20, 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100720194525/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_6_2/ai_71403973/pg_2/?tag=artBody;col1. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
- ^ "WWE: 30 Most Memorable Dates of Triple H's Career". Bleacher Report. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/646324-wwe-30-best-and-most-memorable-dates-of-triple-hs-career/page/2. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ^ a b Baer, Randy and R. D. Reynolds. Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling (p.204)
- ^ a b Marvez, Alex (April 2001). "Triple Threat (p. 3)". Wrestling Digest. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100718193822/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_6_2/ai_71403973/pg_3/?tag=artBody;col1. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
- ^ "Starrcade 1994 results". Pro Wrestling History. http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#94. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
- ^ "Wrestling Challenge Results". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070629183751/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/challenge.htm. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ a b Baer, Randy and R. D. Reynolds. Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling (p.206)
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.95)
- ^ "WrestleMania XII results". WWE. http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/12/results. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
- ^ a b "Raw – 1996 Results". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1996/. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ a b "Marty Garner Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/marty-garner.html. Retrieved March 17, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f "The don't call him "the Game" for nothing". Wrestling Digest. December 2002. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20081216125558/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_4_4/ai_94123534?tag=artBody;col1. Retrieved July 20, 2008.
- ^ Laurer, Joanie. If They Only Knew, 266–267.
- ^ Mick Foley (2000). Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks (p.213). HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-103101-1.
- ^ "WrestleMania XIII". PWWEW.net. http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/march/xiii.htm. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
- ^ Laurer, Joanie. If They Only Knew, 269.
- ^ "King of the Ring 1997 Results". PWWEW.net. http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/june/1997.htm. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
- ^ Baer, Randy and R. D. Reynolds. Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling (p.210)
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.100)
- ^ "Raw – 1998 Results". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/_1998/. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.102)
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.104)
- ^ Baer, Randy and R. D. Reynolds. Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling (p.257)
- ^ "Triple H's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/3044541403. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ^ "WrestleMania 2000 Results". PWWEW.net. http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/march/xvi.htm. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.105)
- ^ "Judgment Day 2000 Results". PWWEW.net. http://www.pwwew.net/ppv/wwf/may/2000.htm. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
- ^ a b Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.106)
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.107)
- ^ "Raw results – 2001". The History of the WWE. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/raw01.htm. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ "SmackDown! results – 2001". The History of the WWE. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/smackdown01.htm. Retrieved September 24, 2009.
- ^ Guerrero, Lucio (April 30, 2001). "WWF's big show drives local fans wild". Chicago Sun-Times: 1.
- ^ a b Quiones, Eric (May 24, 2001). "Hart's death is still causing pain". The Star-Ledger: 56.
- ^ a b c Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.110)
- ^ a b c "HALL "OWW" SHAME: I'M PREGNANT!". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 24, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070624113547/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/oww/hallofshame/preg.html. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ "Raw Results: March 25, 2002". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020325.html. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ "Vengeance 2002 Results". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/vengeance02.html. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts. "Wrestling’s historical cards" (p.111)
- ^ Hamilton, Ian (2006). Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens To An Industry Without Competition. Lulu.com. p. 58. ISBN 1-4116-1210-8.
- ^ a b c Reynolds, R. D. (2003). WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. p. 267. ISBN 1-55022-584-7.
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- Mick Foley (2000). Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-103101-1.
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- Laurer, Joanie (2001). If They Only Knew. ReaganBooks. ISBN 0-06-109895-7.
External links[link]
|
Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Triple H |
Media related to Triple H at Wikimedia Commons
- WWE.com Profile
- WWE Corporate Profile
- Online World of Wrestling profile
- Triple H at the Internet Movie Database
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| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| Name | Levesque, Paul Michael |
| Alternative names | Triple H; Helmsley, Hunter Hearst; Levesque, Jean-Paul; Ryzing, Terra |
| Short description | Professional wrestler |
| Date of birth | July 27, 1969 |
| Place of birth | Nashua, New Hampshire |
| Date of death | |
| Place of death | |
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