Zema Ion
Zema Ion in 2012
Ring name(s)	Shiima Xion[1] Michale Montecarlo[2] Shiima Casanova Zema Ion[3]
Billed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[2][3]
Billed weight	170 lb (77 kg)[2][3]
Born	(1986-10-05) October 5, 1986 (age 25)[2] Los Angeles, California[2]
Resides	Chester, West Virginia
Billed from	Manila, Philippines[2][3]
Trained by	Super Hentai[2] Shirley Doe[2] Taz El Ferroz[1] Gran Apache
Debut	2004[2]

Michael Paris^[2] (born October 5, 1986) is a Filipino American^{[citation needed]} professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Shiima Xion.^[2] He is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he competes as Zema Ion, while also working both on the American independent circuit and in Mexico.^[2]

Professional wrestling career[link]

Early career[link]

Michael Paris claims that he grew up always wanting to become either a professional wrestler or a rock star. After discovering that he could not play guitar well, Paris began searching for wrestling schools in his area at age of 16.

In 2003, Paris began training to become a professional wrestler at the Coalition of Competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under trainers Super Hentai, Shirley Doe, and Glenn Spectre.^[2] He trained there for 14 months before debuting as Shiima Xion, the "first Filipino male model of wrestling" on August 21, 2004 against Jason Gory in Wheeling, West Virginia.^[2] Shiima Xion competed throughout West Virginia and Ohio in the fall of 2004, since he was not old enough to compete in the state of Pennsylvania. Shortly after turning 18, however, Xion began competing regularly for the International Wrestling Cartel, as well as making appearances in Chikara, Far North Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Unplugged.^[2][4]

By early 2006, the Shiima Xion character had become more of a glam rock star than a male model, as Xion began wearing make-up to the ring, and had also changed his hair color from black to red/blonde.^[2] His bizarre hair style soon became his trademark, with Shiima becoming best known for hairspraying his hair during matches.^[2][4]

The androgynous character eventually caught the attention of Japanese wrestling promoter Sanshiro Takagi, who invited 19-year old Shiima to tour Japan with his company, Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) in the summer of 2006.^[2]

Shiima Xion was featured in the Introducing... article in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's The Wrestler, volume 19, 2007.^[2] The magazine was released on newsstands nationwide on December 4, 2007, with a two-page article spread on Shiima.^[4]

International Wrestling Cartel (2004–2008)[link]

Shiima Xion made his IWC debut on November 6, 2004 in Munhall, Pennsylvania.^[2] Shiima lost to Jason Gory, who was also making his IWC debut that night.^[2] The two feuded into 2005, culminating at IWC No Excuses on July 29, 2005.^[2] Gory won the feud, and the two would not wrestle again until IWC Super Indy V on April 15, 2006, in which Shiima defeated Gory with the Filipino Destroyer. Post-match saw the two shake hands for the first time in their near two-year long rivalry and eventually led to them forming a tag team known as BabyFace Fire (BFF).^[2][4]

BFF teamed for the first time on July 7, 2006, and were defeated by Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. The team is best known for their scramble matches with the Gambino Brothers, Sexual Harassment, and the Cleveland Mafia. The second of these scrambles, which took place on December 9, 2006, saw BFF capture their first IWC Tag Team Championship.^[2] Xion & Gory held onto the belts until March 2007, in which The Gambino Brothers challenged the champions, despite both BFF members already competing in singles action earlier in the night.^[2] The challenge was accepted, and Xion was pinned by Marshall Gambino after interference from Jimmy Demarco.^[2] Later that year, after a violent feud with the Gambinos, BFF won their second IWC Tag Team Championship on December 8, 2007.^[2] They would hold onto the tag titles twice as long as their first reign, until Sexual Harassment defeated BFF for the belts in June 2008.^[2] They also lost their rematch in a huge TLC match in August 2008.^[4]

Shiima Xion has also had many notable singles matches in IWC, including battles against Homicide, A.J. Styles, Chris Sabin, Jerry Lynn, and Chavo Guerrero.^[2] On May 11, 2007 Xion competed in the IWC Super Indy VI tournament.^[2] He defeated Ruckus in the first round and Super Hentai in the semifinals before losing to Larry Sweeney in the finals.^[2] The next year, Xion competed in the IWC Super Indy VII tournament.^[2] In the first round, he defeated "Altar Boy" Luke Hawx.^[2] He then lost in the semifinals to the eventual winner of the tournament, Jerry Lynn.^[2] In September 2008, Xion defeated Marshall Gambino to qualify for another tournament, for the vacant IWC World Heavyweight Championship.^[2] Xion defeated Justin Idol, John McChesney, and Raymond Rowe to advance to the finals, where he defeated Jimmy DeMarco with a 630 splash to win the tournament on October 25 and 26, 2008.^[2][4]

Dramatic Dream Team (2006, 2009)[link]

Shiima Xion made his Japanese debut in a losing effort, as Xion and the MAC were defeated by CMLL/KO-D Tag Team Champions, Dick Togo and Nobutaka Moribe, on June 22, 2006 in Shinjuku, Japan.^[2] Xion also appeared in the Takayuki Mikami-produced Cruiser's Game fourth Special, teaming with Kudo and Susumu against Kagetora, Yuko Miyamoto, and Mannjimaru. Xion's only win on the tour was on July 2, 2006, in which Xion, Kudo, and Mikami defeated Harashima, Toru Owashi, and Yusuke Inokuma in Shimane, Japan.^[2][4] Xion returned to Japan on August 9, 2009, competing in a six-man tag team match on a joint show with Macky Puroresu Shop and Big Japan Wrestling. Xion won the match for his team.

Desastre Total Ultraviolento (2008–2009)[link]

Shiima Xion made his Desastre Total Ultraviolento debut on May 3, 2008 in Mexico City, Mexico in a tag match with Joe Lider against El Generico and Crazy Boy. Xion lost the match after a top rope brainbuster from El Generico. Xion returned to DTU on July 11, 2009 in Tulancingo, Mexico in a 3-way light tube deathmatch with Crazy Boy and Extreme Tiger. Xion lost after a Swanton Bomb from Extreme Tiger. Xion also competed in DTU`s "Fashion" event on on July 26, 2009 in Mexico City, where Xion challenged for the DTU championship in a 3-way match with Aero Boy and Ragde. Aero Boy became the new DTU champion after pinning Xion.

AAA (2009–present)[link]

Shiima joined the AAA roster in Summer of 2009, debuting on a Cuautitlan, Mexico TV taping in a six-man tag that feautured Shiima, Teddy Hart and Electro Shock going against La Parka, Jack Evans and Extreme Tiger. Shiima was pinned following a double stomp from Tiger.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2011–present)[link]

On June 23, 2011, Paris made an appearance on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact Wrestling television show, working under the ring name Zema Ion, defeating Dakota Darsow and Federico Palacios in a three–way X Division match to advance to the tournament finals at Destination X, where a contract with the promotion would be at stake.^[5] At the pay-per-view, Ion competed in a four-way match against Jack Evans, Low Ki and the eventual winner of the match, Austin Aries.^[6] On July 24 it was reported that Paris had signed a contract with TNA.^[7] Zema Ion made his return to TNA on the August 11 edition of Impact Wrestling, appearing in a backstage segment, where Eric Bischoff introduced new rules to the X Division.^[8] The following week, Ion took part in a gauntlet match to determine the X Division rankings. After eliminating Mark Haskins from the match, Ion was himself eliminated by Jesse Sorensen, placing him fifth in the rankings.^[9] Ion returned on the September 28 edition of Impact Wrestling, working in a five man ladder match, which was won by Brian Kendrick.^[10] On the December 15 edition of Impact Wrestling, Ion started Best of Three Series with Anthony Nese to determine the third and final challenger for the X Division Championship at Genesis. Ion, now wrestling as a heel, won the first match of the series.^[11] Two weeks later, Ion defeated Nese in a Contract on a Pole match to win the series 2-1 and advance to the pay-per-view.^[12] On January 8, 2012, at Genesis, Ion was the second man eliminated from the X Division Championship match, which also included Austin Aries, Jesse Sorensen and Kid Kash. Ion then helped Aries defeat Sorensen and retain his title.^[13] On February 12 at Against All Odds, Ion defeated Sorensen in an X Division number one contender's match, after Sorensen was unable to continue after suffering a legitimate injury and was counted out.^[14] Ion received his shot at the X Division Championship on the March 8 edition of Impact Wrestling, winning the match via disqualification, after champion Austin Aries was caught using Ion's hair spray on him; as a result, Aries retained his title.^[15] Ion received another title shot on March 18 at Victory Road, but was defeated by Aries via submission.^[16] On the following edition of Impact Wrestling, Ion failed again to capture the X Division Championship after he fought Aries, Kid Kash and Anthony Neese to a no contest, following interference from Bully Ray.^[17] Ion received another shot at the X Division Championship on the May 10 episode of Impact Wrestling, but was again defeated by Aries.^[18]

Personal life[link]

Paris is a journalism major at West Virginia University.^[4] He is also half Filipino, half French.^[4]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • 450° splash^[19]
  • 630° senton^[19]
  • Bible Black (Running double high knee to a seated opponent into a rana pin)^[19][20]
  • Filipino Destroyer (Inverted snapmare driver)^[2][19]
  • From Lust to Dust (Snapmare driver)^[2][19]

• Signature moves
  • Hostile Makeover (Belly to back suplex flipped into a high knee)^[21]
  • Mary Lou Retton Splash (Corkscrew somersault splash)^[2]
  • One Night Stand (Running inverted DDT) ^[2]

• Nicknames
  • "The Future of Fashion"^[19]
  • "The Virgin Slayer"^[2][19]
  • "El Matador"^[19]
  • "The Filipino Flex Factory"^[19]

• Entrance themes
  • "Kiss" by London After Midnight^[22] (Mexico)
  • "Hey Mamita" by Cartel de Santa (AAA)^[22]
  • "Kiss" by Dope Stars Inc. (IWC)^[22]
  • "Nymphetamine (Fix)" by Cradle of Filth (IWC)^[22]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Absolute Intense Wrestling

• AIW Absolute Championship (1 time, current)^[23]
• AIW Intense Championship (1 time)
• AIW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shawn Blaze^[4]
• Battle Bowl (2011)^[23]
  
• Todd Pettengill Invitational (2011)^[23]

• Championship Wrestling Experience

• CWE Undisputed Championship (1 time)^[4]

• Far North Wrestling

• FNW Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)^[4]

• Independent Wrestling Association East Coast

• IWA East Coast Zero-G Crown (2008)^[4]

• International Wrestling Cartel

• IWC Super Indy IX Tournament (2010)
• IWC Super Indy Championship (2 times)
• IWC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jason Gory^[4]
• IWC World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[4]

• International Pro Wrestling

• IPW Texas Heavyweight Championship (3 times, current)^[4]

• New Era Pro Wrestling

• NEPW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jason Gory^[4]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #395 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011^[24]

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• TNA Wrestling profile
• Zema Ion on Twitter
• Profile at OWW.com

Austin Aries
Aries in November 2007
Ring name(s)	Austin Airs Austin Aries[1] (The) Austin Starr[2] Dan Sexon[1] The Ninja[2]
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Billed weight	210 lb (95 kg)[3]
Born	(1978-04-15) April 15, 1978 (age 34)[1] Milwaukee, Wisconsin[1]
Billed from	Minneapolis, Minnesota Milwaukee, Wisconsin[3] Savage, Minnesota[4] TV Land[5]
Trained by	Eddie Sharkey[1] Terry Fox[1]
Debut	November 11, 2000[2]

Daniel Healy "Dan" Solwold, Jr.^[1] (born April 15, 1978)^[1] better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is the current and longest reigning X Division Champion. He is also known for performing in Ring of Honor, where he became the first and thus far only two-time ROH World Champion.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Solwold began training under Eddie Sharkey and Terry Fox in 2000 and debuted on November 11, 2000, facing "Sheriff" Johnny Emerald.^[2] He wrestled in the midwest for several years before his east coast wrestling career was jumpstarted after he progressed to the finals of the 2004 ECWA Super 8 Tournament, where he was defeated by Christopher Daniels.^[2]

Ring of Honor (2004–2007)[link]

From there, he joined Ring of Honor. Aries made his ROH main show debut at ROH: Reborn Stage 2 in Chicago Ridge, Illinois on April 24, 2004. Aries was unsuccessful, however, losing a four corner survival match also involving Jimmy Rave, Rocky Romero, and the winner, Nigel McGuinness.^[6] Aries was scheduled to return at the May 22 show, Generation Next, to compete in a one night series which would showcase young, upcoming ROH talent. Alex Shelley, however, hand-picked Aries, along with Roderick Strong and Jack Evans, as members of a new stable (also meant to promote young, upcoming ROH talent) who, instead of earning their spots, would simply take them. The group took the name Generation Next as their own.^[1]

Aries captured the ROH World Championship at Final Battle 2004 on December 26, 2004, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by defeating the longest reigning ROH World Champion, Samoa Joe.^[7][8] On June 16, 2005, Ring of Honor named Aries the new head trainer at the ROH wrestling school, replacing the former head trainer, CM Punk, who had agreed to a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.^[9] After a six month string of non-stop defenses, many of which were international, Aries lost the championship to CM Punk on June 18, 2005.^[7][10]

On December 17 in Edison, New Jersey at Final Battle 2005, Aries teamed with Strong to defeat Sal Rinauro and Tony Mamaluke for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.^[11][12] The two would then disband Generation Next on June 3, 2006. In a first time ever match, Aries took on Pro Wrestling Noah star and former GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion KENTA in Chicago on June 24, but was defeated following KENTA's Go 2 Sleep.^[13]

On September 16, he and his partner Strong lost the ROH World Tag Team Championship to the Kings of Professional Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli).^[11][14] Aries and Strong continued to team together for the rest of the year. At Battle of the Icons on January 27, 2007, Aries and Strong teamed up with Jack Evans to defeat Davey Richards, Delirious and SHINGO.^[15] This apparent Generation Next reunion was short lived when, at the following show on February 16, Strong attacked Aries after their tag team title match against Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal.^[16] Strong then formed the "No Remorse Corps" with Davey Richards.^[16] Jack Evans ran down and pulled Strong off Aries, but refused to side with either of them. The following night, Aries called out Strong twice, but was unable to get his hands on him. When Evans refused to side with him, Aries said he was going to form a new faction with members of the next generation of wrestling. With that, he formed "The Resilience" with Erick Stevens and Matt Cross.

On April 27, Aries unsuccessfully challenged Takeshi Morishima for the ROH World Championship.^[17] On May 4, 2007, Ring of Honor announced on their website that they had signed a pay-per-view deal with G-Funk Sports and Entertainment.^[18] Following the announcement, TNA pulled Aries and Homicide, both under contracts with TNA, from all Ring of Honor shows.^[18]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2005–2007)[link]

In July 2005, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling held an Internet poll to select an opponent for the TNA X Division Champion Christopher Daniels at their August 14 pay-per-view, Sacrifice 2005. Billed as an "Internet dream match", the poll offered voters the choice of Aries, Roderick Strong, Jay Lethal and Matt Sydal (none of whom were contracted to TNA or had even appeared with the company on a regular basis in the past). Aries won the poll by a landslide, and thus faced Daniels in a non-title match at Sacrifice, which he lost.^[19] Following the event, it was rumored that TNA officials had been impressed by Aries and were considering offering him a contract, and these rumors were seemingly substantiated when Aries faced and defeated Roderick Strong at Unbreakable on September 11 in a "Showcase match".^[20]

Aries in the ring in 2006

On September 22, 2005, Aries announced on his website that he had received a contract offer from TNA, and intended to sign it. He became a regular member of the TNA roster, and formed a stable with Roderick Strong and Alex Shelley. Many fans referred to this group as the second coming of Generation Next, which had contained Shelley, Strong, Aries, and Jack Evans in Ring of Honor.

In February 2006, he and Strong were both suspended for two months for arriving four hours late for the pay-per-view Against All Odds 2006. This occurred because of Aries and Strong's decision to remain in Long Island for an ROH show, despite TNA's last minute request to travel to Florida because of the potential of a snowstorm.^[21]

In the build to Bound for Glory 2006, promos began to air advertising the debut of a new wrestler, "Austin Starr", at the event with the slogan "A Starr is Born". Starr appeared for TNA on October 22 as the first entrant and became the winner of the "Kevin Nash Open Invitational X Division Gauntlet Battle Royal at Bound for Glory.^[22] After the match, Kevin Nash presented Starr with a bowling trophy and a hug.^[22]

On the following episode of Impact!, it was announced Starr would work closely with Nash's group Paparazzi Productions, much to the dismay of one of the group's founders, Alex Shelley. Starr replaced Johnny Devine as a member of Paparazzi Productions and participated in the Paparazzi Championship Series along with Shelley, eventually losing to Shelley in the finals at Final Resolution 2007.^[23] Starr then went on to feud with Senshi.

On April 18, 2007, Starr was suspended for ninety days.^[24] On May 7 it was reported by The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the suspension branched from TNA asking Austin to tape promo vignettes on a day he believed to be his day off. Starr did ultimately agree to do the vignettes but TNA saw this as a bad attitude and was reason for his suspension. During the suspension, Aries requested, and was granted, his release from TNA.

Return to Ring of Honor (2007–2010)[link]

One month after being granted his release from TNA, Aries would make his return to Ring of Honor. At United We Stand on June 22, 2007 Aries was in attendance, but as a "fan". During a match between the No Remorse Corps and The Resilience, he was verbally called out by Roderick Strong. Aries tried to climb over the guard rail, but was held back be security as he was no longer employed by the company. The following night, at Driven, Aries was again in attendance. Following a six-man tag team match between the No Remorse Corps and Delirious and The Resilience, Aries ran through the crowd and attacked the NRC. He then signed a ROH contract in the ring.

Aries' first match back came at Race to the Top Tournament: Night One, when he faced Roderick Strong, Jimmy Rave and Gran Akuma in a Four Way Fray for the FIP World Heavyweight Championship.^[25] The feud between The Resilience and the No Remorse Corps would continue at ROH's Death before Dishonor V weekend. The first night, Aries teamed with Erick Stevens to defeat Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero.^[26] However, they would not be as lucky the following night, when they, along with Delirious, lost in a Street Fight to the No Remorse Corps and Matt Sydal.^[27]

At Manhattan Mayhem II, Aries defeated former Generation Next stable mates Roderick Strong and Jack Evans in a triple threat match.^[28] At Glory by Honor VI: Night Two, Aries disbanded The Resilience in order to focus on regaining the ROH World Championship. At Rising Above, Aries faced current ROH champion Nigel McGuinness in a losing effort in an attempt to regain the ROH World Championship.^[29]

Aries began to act frustrated due to losing matches and began refusing to shake hands after matches. Jimmy Jacobs displayed interest in adding Aries to The Age of the Fall (AotF). Tammy Sytch also offered Aries her managerial services. Aries was defeated by McGuinness a second time at Supercard of Honor III in March 2008.^[30] Afterwards, Aries left with Lacey, seemingly joining the AotF. Aries returned in April and revealed that Lacey had decided to leave the AotF and that him and Lacey had become a couple. This outraged Jacobs, who attacked Aries and started a feud with him. Shortly afterwards, Lacey was apparently attacked by Jacobs outside a gym.

On April 23, Aries was chosen by Jay Briscoe as his replacement for brother Mark Briscoe as to defend the ROH World Tag Team Championship against the The Age of the Fall after Mark was forced out of action due to an injury. The reasoning for this choice was Aries and the Briscoe Brothers' shared hatred for the Age of the Fall. Aries was not considered to have won the championship a second time, but rather to have been a substitute in a title defense. After their first and only title defense, the championship was vacated.

Aries (right) facing Davey Richards in 2008.

On June 6 Aries teamed with Bryan Danielson in Ring of Honor's one night tournament to crown new World Tag Team Champions. They defeated Roderick Strong and Davey Richards in the first round before being eliminated in the second by eventual winners Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black.^[31] On June 7 Aries and Danielson received a title shot against Jacobs and Black but were defeated when Black pinned Danielson with a Phoenix Splash.^[32]

On June 27, Aries was defeated by Necro Butcher in a "Relaxed Rules" match following a chair shot to the head.^[33] Aries had unsuccessfully attempted to get Butcher to leave the Age of The Fall and when Necro refused, he ceased fighting back against him. On June 28, Aries pinned ROH World Tag Team Champion Jimmy Jacobs in a "Relaxed Rules" match following a 450° splash despite interference from Necro Butcher, Tyler Black, Allison Wonderland, and MsChif.^[34] On July 25, Aries and Jay Briscoe teamed to defeat ROH World Tag Team Champions The Age of The Fall (Jimmy Jacobs and Tyler Black) in a No DQ Match when Briscoe pinned Black.^[35] On July 26, in Detroit, Aries would spend much of the show brawling with Jimmy Jacobs culminating in both men brawling at the top of a 20 foot ladder. Jacobs' partner in the Age of The Fall, Necro Butcher, would eventually tip the ladder over sending them both crashing through a table below.^[36]

Aries would continue his feud with Jimmy Jacobs throughout the fall. In the second Steel Cage Warfare Match at Glory by Honor VII, Aries' team (Aries, Briscoe Brothers) defeated Jacobs' team (Jacobs, Black, Delirious) and Necro's team (himself only).^[37] The two would have a best of three series to somewhat put a end to the feud. The first match took place at Ring of Homicide 2, where Jacobs (with help from Delirious and Brodie Lee) defeated Aries in a Falls Count Anywhere Match.^[38] The second match took place at Bound By Hate, and Aries defeated the bloody Jacobs in a Dog Collar Match.^[39] The deciding match was at Rising Above 2009 in a "I Quit" Match. Lacey returned to ROH in Aries' corner, and Aries won the match. Aries would continue his feud with the Age of the Fall this time against the heavily cheered Tyler Black. At Final Battle 2008, Black was defeated by Aries in a Number One Contender's Match.^[40] After the match Jacobs would attack Black, and Aries ran in to make the save.^[40] Instead, however, Aries teamed up with Jacobs to attack Black.^[40] Aries later explained that the reason that he attacked Black was because the fans turned on him.

In addition to his work in ROH, Austin Aries was recently announced as a member of Team Epic War for Chikara's King of Trios 2009 tournament. On the first night, Aries, along with Ryan Drago and Tony Kozina, lost to the F1rst Family (Arik Cannon, Darin Corbin and Ryan Cruz) in the first round. On the second night, Aries would go on to lose to Player Dos in the Rey de Voladores opening four corners match. On the final night, Aries lost to Eddie Kingston in a singles match.

In early 2009, Aries also underwent a complete character transformation, cutting his long hair, donning new pink and black trunks, and coming to the ring in a bright pink fur jacket. He would completely drop his darker type persona and adapt to a new ladies man gimmick, often referring to himself as "A Double" and "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived", the latter after a song by Weezer, which also became his new entrance theme.^[41][42]

On June 13, 2009, at Manhattan Mayhem III, Aries won a three-way elimination match against the ROH World Champion Jerry Lynn and Tyler Black, to become the first and only person to have held the ROH World Championship on more than one occasion to date.^[7] On December 19, 2009, at Final Battle 2009, ROH's first live pay-per-view, he defended the title by wrestling Tyler Black to a 60 minute time limit draw.^[43] On February 13, 2010, at the main event of ROH's 8th Anniversary Show, Aries lost the ROH World Championship to Tyler Black.^[7][44] During the following months he feuded with Delirious and Jerry Lynn, while also becoming the manager of Kenny King and Rhett Titus, the tag team known collectively as the All Night Express, dubbing himself the "Greatest Manager That Ever Lived".^[45] In October 2010 Aries' profile was removed from ROH's official website, after reports had surfaced that the promotion was going to be cutting down the size of their roster.^[46] On October 6, 2010, competing promotion Evolve announced that Aries would make his debut for the promotion on November 20.^[47]

Dragon Gate USA (2010–2011)[link]

On October 12, 2010, Dragon Gate USA announced that Aries had signed a contract with the promotion.^[48] Aries made his debut for the promotion on October 29 at the Bushido: Code of the Warrior pay-per-view, where he was defeated by Open the Dream Gate Champion Masato Yoshino in a non–title match. After the match, Rich Swann, whom Aries had offered to adopt as his protégé, turned his offer down.^[49] On January 28, 2011, at United: NYC, Aries defeated Swann in a singles match.^[50] The following month Aries started a storyline, where he claimed to have lost the motivation to continue his professional wrestling career, after failing to make the cast of WWE Tough Enough, before offering to put his Dragon Gate USA career on the line in order to get one last shot at Yamato and the Open the Freedom Gate Championship.^[51][52] On April 2 at Mercury Rising 2011, Aries was unsuccessful in his challenge, thus seemingly bringing his Dragon Gate USA career to an end.^[52] The following day at Open the Ultimate Gate, Aries was defeated by Jimmy Jacobs in what was billed as his Dragon Gate USA farewell match. However, after the match Aries feigned passing the torch to Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann, the trio known collectively as Ronin, before turning on them and joining the promotion's top heel group, Blood Warriors, claiming to have found his purpose under the leadership of CIMA.^[53] Blood Warriors and Ronin faced each other in a six man elimination tag team match on June 5 at Enter The Dragon 2011, which Ronin won after Johnny Gargano managed to submit both CIMA and Aries.^[54] On June 9 it was reported that Aries had left both Dragon Gate USA and Evolve to reportedly pursue a career outside of professional wrestling.^[55]

Return to TNA (2011–present)[link]

Aries making his return to TNA in June 2011.

On June 13, 2011, at the tapings of the June 16 episode of Impact Wrestling, Aries made a return to TNA, defeating Jimmy Rave and Kid Kash in a first round match of the X Division Showcase tournament for a contract with the promotion.^[56][57] On July 10 at Destination X, Aries defeated Jack Evans, Low Ki and Zema Ion to win the tournament and earn a contract with TNA.^[58] In his first match on Impact Wrestling since being officially re-signed, Aries defeated Shannon Moore in a singles match, after hitting him with a steel chain and then pinning him for the victory, thus returning to his A Double character and establishing himself as a heel.^[59] On the July 21 episode of Impact Wrestling, Aries cost Alex Shelley, who had previously confronted him on his win over Shannon Moore, his shot at the X Division Championship.^[60] Two weeks later, Aries defeated Shelley in a singles match.^[61] On August 7 at Hardcore Justice, Aries and Shelley competed in a three-way match for the TNA X Division Championship, but were both unable to win the belt from the defending champion, Brian Kendrick.^[62]

On the August 18 episode of Impact Wrestling Aries won an eight man gauntlet match to earn another shot at the X Division Championship.^[63] On September 11 at No Surrender, Aries defeated Kendrick to win the X Division Championship for the first time.^[64] On October 16 at Bound for Glory, Aries defeated Kendrick in a rematch to retain the title.^[65] On November 13 at Turning Point, Aries defeated Jesse Sorensen and Kid Kash in a three-way match to retain the X Division Championship.^[66] On December 11 at Final Resolution, Aries defeated Kash in a singles match to retain the X Division Championship.^[67] On January 8, 2012, at Genesis, Aries successfully defended the X Division Championship in a four-way elimination match against Jesse Sorensen, Kid Kash and Zema Ion.^[68] On February 12 at Against All Odds, Aries defeated Alex Shelley with his Last Chancery submission hold to retain the X Division Championship.^[69] On the March 8 episode of Impact Wrestling, Aries was defeated by Ion via disqualification, after Aries was caught using Ion's hair spray on him; as a result, Aries retained his title.^[70] On March 12, Aries became the longest reigning X Division Champion in history by breaking the previous record of 182 days, set by Christopher Daniels in 2005.^[71] On March 18 at Victory Road, Aries successfully defended the title against Zema Ion.^[72] On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, Aries again retained the title after he wrestled Ion, Kid Kash and Anthony Neese to a no contest, following interference from Bully Ray.^[73] Aries finalized his face turn the following week, when he teamed with James Storm to defeat Ray and Bobby Roode in the main event.^[74] The rivalry between Aries and Ray continued on April 15 at Lockdown, where the two were on opposing teams in the annual Lethal Lockdown match. Aries' team, led by Garett Bischoff, ended up defeating Ray's team, led by Eric Bischoff.^[75] Aries continued his record-breaking title reign on the May 10 episode of Impact Wrestling by successfully defending the X Division Championship against Zema Ion.^[76] Three days later at Sacrifice, Aries defeated Bully Ray in a singles match, submitting him with the Last Chancery.^[77] On May 19, Aries announced that he had signed a contract extension with TNA.^[78] On the live May 31 episode of Impact Wrestling, Aries successfully defended the X Division Championship against Chris Sabin.^[79]

Other media[link]

Aries provided the voice for the main character Jacob Cass in the Road to WrestleMania mode of WWE video game WWE '12.^[80]

In wrestling[link]

Aries performing a brainbuster on Jimmy Rave.

• Finishing moves
  • 450° splash^[2]
  • Brainbuster,^[2] sometimes from the second rope^[68] / Starrbuster^[81]
  • Horns of Aries / Last Chancery (Bridging arm triangle choke)^[82]

• Signature moves
  • Crucifix driver^[83]
  • Death Valley driver, sometimes onto the ring apron^[84]
  • Figure Eight Leglock^[85] (Modified figure four leglock)
  • Fish Hook of Doom (Aries presses both knees onto a facedown opponent's arm before applying a fish hook)^[86]
  • Forward Russian legsweep^[87]
  • Frog splash^[88]
  • Head stand into a dropkick to a seated opponent, as a neckscissors counter^[89]
  • Heat Seeking Missile (Suicide dive through the middle and bottom rope)^[86]
  • IED (Running dropkick to a cornered opponent)^[90][91]
  • Inverted suplex slam^[87]
  • Japanese arm drag^[87]
  • Leaps over the corner as an evasion, then performs a forward roll to the opposite corner and then finally hits a leaping back elbow^[92]
  • Macho Neck Snap^[2] (Springboards off the back of an opponent draped over the second rope and hits a neck snap to the rope hung opponent)
  • No-handed springboard moonsault^[87]
  • Pendulum Elbow^[2] (Pendulum backbreaker hold followed by an elbow drop to the opponent's face)
  • Powerdrive Elbow (Twisting elbow drop, with theatrics)^[2]
  • Rolling elbow^[87]
  • Rolling fireman's carry slam^[87]
  • Running jumping delayed knee drop, with theatrics^[88]
  • Scissored armbar^[2]
  • Shin breaker followed into a leg hook Saito suplex^[85][90]
  • Sidewalk slam^[93]
  • Slingshot into either a back elbow to a cornered opponent^[94] or a corkscrew splash^[2][87]

• Nicknames
  • "A Double"^[95][41]
  • "The Star"^[96][97]
  • "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived"^[41][98]
  • "The Vascular Vegetarian"^[42]
  • "MV3 (Most Valuable Vascular Vegetarian)"^[99]
  • "Mr. It"^[100]
  • "The Greatest Manager That Ever Lived"^[45]

• Entrance themes
  • Independent circuit
    • "Born of a Broken Man" by Rage Against the Machine^[101]
    • "Personal Jesus" by Marilyn Manson^[102]
    • "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)" by Weezer^[42][103]
  • Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
    • "Raging of the Region" by Dale Oliver^[3]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Aries with the ROH World Championship during his second reign in 2009 at a PWG show.

• Mid-American Wrestling
  • MAW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• Midwest Championship Wrestling
  • MWCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• Midwest Independent Association of Wrestling
  • MIAW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• Minnesota Independent Wrestling
  • MIW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• NWA Midwest
  • NWA Midwest X Division Championship (1 time)^[2]

• Neo Pro Wrestling
  • NPW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[2]
  • NPW Cruiserweight Championship Tournament (2002)^[2]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #25 of the best 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2010^[104]

• Pro Wrestling WAR
  • PWW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• Ring of Honor
  • ROH World Championship (2 times)^[7]
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Roderick Strong^[11]

• Steel Domain Wrestling
  • SDW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with "The Piston" Ted Dixon^[2]

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA X Division Championship (1 time, current)^[64]
  • X Division Showcase (2011)^[58]

References[link]