The Headshrinkers were a professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation that consisted of Fatu and Samu. They previously competed under the name The New Wild Samoans in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and as The Samoan Swat Team in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), World Wrestling Council (WWC) and the American Wrestling Federation (AWF). They started out as heels.

The Headshrinkers portrayed a pair of Samoan savages, often displaying uncivilized behavior such as biting into a turkey carcass during a match and dragging each other by their hair. They were also billed as having hard heads that were impervious to pain; any attack that targeted a Headshrinker's head would have no effect, and an opponent who tried to headbutt one of them would end up hurting himself. Having hard heads went with typical professional wrestling portrayals of Samoan wrestlers.

While Samu and Fatu are the "Original" team members several other Samoans have at one time replaced one of the two.

Career[link]

Samula Anoa'i is the son of Wild Samoans Afa and Solofa Fatu is the nephew of Afa as well as both of them being the nephews of Sika and part of the Anoa'i family.

The Samoan Swat Team[link]

In 1985, Samu joined Gino Brito and Dino Bravo’s "International Wrestling" territory based in Montreal, which was the first time he worked in the same territory as his cousin Fatu. 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 and 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 Carrribean Tag-Team Champions on November 7, 1987 when they beat Invader I and Invader III.^[2] The duo held the titles for just over a month before dropping them to Mark Youngblood and Chris Youngblood^[2] before leaving the promotion.

Samu and Fatu next appeared in Texas, working for Fritz Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling promotion. The storyline was that Buddy Roberts brought the team in to fight his fights against the Von Erich Family and former Fabulous Freebirds partner Michael Hayes. The SST was given a big push right away; presented as an unstoppable force the team was even allowed to beat hometown heroes Kerry and Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW Tag-Team Titles on August 12, 1988.^[2] The Samoans remained undefeated in WCCW until they came up against Roberts’ former partner Michael Hayes and Hayes new partner, "Do It To It" Steve Cox on September 12.^[2] The duo was not without the gold for long as they recaptured the titles only 4 days.^[2] Hayes and Cox would beat the Samoan Swat Team for the titles once again on October 15,^[2][3] 1988 but this time they only held the gold for two days before they lost it back to the SST. On September 12, 1988 The Samoan Swat Team become double champions as they beat "Hollywood" John Tatum and Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship.^[2] The Samoan Swat Team made their pay-per-view debut at AWA Superclash III, the first (and only) PPV that the American Wrestling Association ever presented. The Samoans successfully defended their WCCW Tag-Team titles against Michael Hayes and Steve Cox.^[4] In the beginning of 1989, the Samoans left WCCW, forcing both tag-team titles to be vacated due to the sudden departure.^[2]

The Samoan Swat Team signed with Jim Crockett Promotions and was brought in as manager Paul E. Dangerously’s replacements for the "Original" Midnight Express who had left the promotion. The Samoans also took over the "Original" Midnight Express’ feud with the Midnight Express beating the team at Clash of the Champions VI on April 2, 1989.^[5] At The 1989 Great American Bash the Samoans teamed with former rival Michael Hayes, Terry Gordy and Jimmy Garvin losing a War Games Match to The Road Warriors, the Midnight Express and Steve Williams.^[6] In the fall of 1989 Paul E. Dangerously was phased out and the Samoans were given a new manager: "The Big Kahuna" Oliver Humperdink. Their ranks were also bolstered by the addition of The Samoan Savage who is Fatu’s brother. The Samoans started to lose more and more matches as 1989 drew to a close, but their fortunes appeared to be changing due to the injury to Sid Vicious. Because Vicious was injured the Skyscrapers had to pull out of the "Iron Team Tournament" at Starrcade 1989. The Samoan Swat Team, now using the name The New Wild Samoans (a reference to the "original" Wild Samoans) were chosen to be their replacements^[7] – Fatu and the Samoan Savage with no explanation of why the more experienced Samu was not chosen. For the remainder of the Samoan Swat Team’s time in WCW Fatu and the Samoan Savage competed under the name New Wild Samoans, while Samu made a few singles appearances. After leaving WCW in the summer of 1990 the Samoan Swat Team worked for a number of independent promotions in the US, Europe and Japan, often teaming up with family member Rodney Anoa'i who competed as "Kokina Maximus".^[8]

The Headshrinkers[link]

In 1992, Samu and Fatu signed up with the World Wrestling Federation, managed by Samu’s father Afa.^[9] The team changed their name to "the Headshrinkers" but their gimmick remained the same, Samoan wildmen. Rodney Anoa'i also signed with the WWF but he was repackaged as "Yokozuna" and the family ties between him and the Samoans were not mentioned on air. The team first made their presence known when they helped Money Inc. beat the Natural Disasters to win the WWF World Tag Team titles..^[10] Early in their run with the WWF the Headshrinkers feuded with the Natural Disasters and the recently formed High Energy^[11]

Between 1992 and the early parts of 1994, the Headshrinkers maintained a position in the middle of the tag team division, occasionally challenging for the titles and making sporadic PPV appearances feuding with teams like The Smokin' Gunns^[12] and Men on a Mission.^[13] The Headshrinkers assisted their relative Yokozuna in a casket match against The Undertaker at the 1994 Royal Rumble.^[14] In April 1994 the Headshrinkers turned face and challenged then tag-team champions The Quebecers, with the addition of manager Lou Albano the team won the gold on April 26, 1994.^[15] At King of the Ring 1994 on June 19 the Headshrinkers successfully defended their tag team titles against Yokozuna and Crush.^[16] Their run with the titles came to a surprising end on an untelevised card on August 28 where they lost the titles to Shawn Michaels and Diesel.^[17] The title change happened just one day before they were scheduled to defend against Irwin R. Schyster and Bam Bam Bigelow.^[18] Soon after the title change Samu left the WWF^[1] to recover from injuries and was replaced by Sionne.

The kayfabe reason given to Samu’s departure was that he "ate some bad fish and got a disease" and was not coping well with manager Lou Albano’s attempts to civilize the Headshrinkers, especially wearing boots. For the first time ever, one half of the team was neither a member of the Anoa'i family nor a Samoan as Sionne was from the island of Tonga. The new combination made only one pay-per-view appearance as a team which was at the 1994 Survivor Series where they were quickly eliminated.^[19] The only other notable appearance of Fatu and Sionne was as part of the tournament to crown new WWF tag team champions in late 1994, early 1995. The Headshrinkers lost to Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka in the Semi Finals.^[20] By July, the Headshrinkers dissolved, as Sionne left the WWF for WCW. By the time, the team was used to put over new teams such as The Blu Brothers^[21]

Independent Headshrinkers[link]

After being away from the spotlight for a while Samu returned to the WWF in 1995. Samu along with his brother Lloyd Anoa'i were known as "The Samoan Gangster Party" with Samu being known as "Sammy the Silk" and Lloyd being "LA Smooth". Their cousin Matt Anoa'i (son of Sika) became known as "Big Matty Smalls", and joind Samu as The Samoan Gangstas. The two men did not wrestle for the WWF but watched Fatu from afar as the former Headshrinker tried to turn himself into a positive rolemodel for kids on the street.^[22] The angle never went anywhere as the Samoan Gangster party never got in the ring or confronted Fatu before he was repackaged and the whole angle was dropped.^[22] In 1996 they worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling feuding mainly with The Gangstas in a short but intense war.^[23][24][25]

After leaving, Samu has worked for a number of independent organizations both as a singles wrestler and alongside his brother Lloyd who worked under names such as"Headshrinker" Alofa, "Headshrinker" Ruopa and "The Tahitian Warrior" winning titles in WWC^[2] and ISPW.^[2]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Diving headbutt
  • Diving splash
  • Double diving headbutt

• Signature moves
  • Double forward Russian legsweep
  • Double headbutt
  • Double savate kick

• Managers
  • Lou Albano^[1]
  • Buddy Roberts
  • Paul E. Dangerously
  • Oliver Humperdink^[26]
  • Afa^[1]

• Entrance themes
  • Theme from Halloween - NWA/WCW

Championships and accomplishments[link]

Fatu and Samu

• World Class Championship Wrestling
  • WCWA Tag Team Champion (3 times)
  • WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion (1 time)
• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship (1 time)
• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time)

Kokina, Fatu and Samoan Savage

• Universal Wrestling Association

• UWA World Trios Championship (1 time)

Samu and Lloyd Anoa'i

• Independent Superstars of Pro-Wrestling
  • ISPW Tag-Team Championship (1 time)
• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC Tag Team Championship (1 time) (As the Tahitian Warriors)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Worst Worked Match of the Year (1993) with Bastion Booger and Bam Bam Bigelow vs. The Bushwhackers and Men on a Mission at Survivor Series

References[link]

Professional wrestling portal

James Manley (born January 4, 1958), better known by his ring name Jim Powers is a retired American professional wrestler. He most notably wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s. The high point of his career was teaming with Paul Roma as The Young Stallions.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Powers was discovered and brought into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in late 1984 by Big John Studd who also had a hand in training him.^[2] In 1985, Powers ventured outside the WWF to gain more experience, including two Texas based promotions: Texas All-Star Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling where he appeared at a couple of the federation’s featured "Star Wars" events.^[3][4] After gaining more experience, Powers returned to the WWF.

Young Stallions[link]

He arguably reached the peak of his career in the WWF when Powers, on March 11, 1987, along with fellow preliminary wrestler Paul Roma, formed a tag team called The Young Stallions.^[5] At first the team had no name, and the original pairing saw Roma and Powers teamed with Tito Santana in a six-man tag-team match against Don Muraco, Bob Orton, and Tiger Chung Lee on Wrestling Challenge. Surprisingly the team of Powers, Roma, and Santana were victorious, although it would be several months before they would win again. Two brutal losses to Demolition followed, as well as a defeat in eight-man action against The Heenan Family in June 1987 (a match that saw the return of Paul Orndorff to action after a five month layoff to such thunderous applause that he was quickly turned face.

Power and Roma finally gained their first televised victory in regular tag-team action in late July 1987 when they faced another preliminary team, Barry Horowitz & Steve Lombardi. The team was dominant and announcer Bobby Heenan was stunned when Roma unleashed an off the top rope sunset flip. Fresh off of their first win, Powers and Roma were scheduled to face The Hart Foundation on an August 8, 1987 episode of Superstars (taped August 4), they scored an upset disqualification victory over WWF Tag Team Champions The Hart Foundation.^[6] The team seemingly received their name by accident when color commentator Bruno Sammartino referred to them once as "a couple of young stallions" thus naming the team.

In October 1987 the Young Stallions became the official moniker of the Powers and Roma tag-team. A storyline playing off of their upset of the Hart Foundation was started as they "stole" the theme song "Crank It Up" from Jimmy Hart, who had intended to use it for his team. Later that month they faced The Hart Foundation in a rematch on Saturday Night's Main Event. The Stallions were narrowly defeated and now clearly had momentum. Along with The Killer Bees, they were also the only survivors in the elimination tag team match at the first annual Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 26, 1987.^[2]

That momentum however seemed to end in January 1988 when the Stallions faced The Islanders in a best out of three falls match in the final bout of the inaugural Royal Rumble. Powers and Roma were defeated cleanly in two straight falls. The team was placed in featured matches on television and at house shows, but most times ended up on the losing end to teams such as The Bolsheviks, The Brain-Busters, and The Rougeau Brothers. Following yet another loss, this time to Demolition on the March 19, 1989 episode of Wrestling Challenge, the team began arguing after the match. Their final televised match was a loss to The Powers of Pain in July 1989. Soon, they were split up off camera without an official announcement. Roma and Powers went their separate ways and both floundered on the undercard afterward, with Powers sustaining an injury that forced him out of action until March 1990.

As Roma began teaming with Hercules to form the team of Power and Glory that spring, Powers began to occasionally partner with Jim Brunzell. Powers had an opportunity to face his former partner in August 1990 episode of Prime Time Wrestling when Power and Glory defeated Powers & Brunzell. For the next four years Powers was featured primarily as a singles wrestler. During this time, he most notably became the first WWF wrestler to lose to Ric Flair when the "Nature Boy" made his Federation debut on the September 30, 1991 episode of Prime Time Wrestling.^[7] While sustaining televised losses to top stars like Curt Hennig, Ted Dibiase, The Undertaker he also defeated Al Perez and Steve Lombardi. Probably his peak push came in June 1992, when he returned after a several month hiatus from television to pin Lombardi and Bob Bradley.

From this point on however he was unable to move up the card and finished up his main WWF run in April 1993 with a narrow loss on Monday Night Raw to Jerry Lawler. Powers had one final WWF appearance in July 1994 when he went up against Jim Neidhart on Raw. He then departed, a full decade after first signing with the company.

American Wrestling Federation[link]

In 1994, he competed for the short lived American Wrestling Federation (AWF) on the TV series Warriors of Wrestling where he was a fan favorite. He also teamed with Johnny Gunn while in the AWF.

World Championship Wrestling[link]

Powers resurfaced in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the spring of 1995 hoping to shed his “jobber" image. He was scouted and then managed for a brief time by Teddy Long as well as being scheduled to form a mid card stable with “Desperado" Joe Gomez and The Renegade but nothing ever came of it. He was attacked and spray painted during a mid-1996 match by the emerging New World Order (nWo). The reason for the attack was simply that the nWo wanted to address the crowd; it didn't really have anything to do with Jim Powers as he was just an expendable body. Just like in the WWF, WCW saw nothing but “Enhancement Talent" work for Jim Powers who finally left the company in early 1999 after being one of the sixty competitors in the annual WCW World War 3 Pay Per View in 1996.^[8]

Semi-retirement[link]

After spending several years in semi-retirement and rehabbing a neck injury that forced him out of the squared circle in the first place, Jim Powers returned to wrestling for an independent promoter on March 9, 2007. Since returning to wrestling, Powers has wrestled for several independent based organizations and has appeared, pairing back up with Young Stallions partner Paul Roma, at several wrestling fan fests meeting his fans and signing their autographs.

Retirement[link]

On Feb. 3, 2010, Jim Powers announced his retirement. Here is the letter he wrote for his announcement:

"First off, hello to all of my fans, supporters, and friends that I have had the pleasure of knowing and meeting throughout my wrestling career. You have no idea how much you all mean to me. Unfortunately, you don't realize these things until you get up in age, and you're not made as accessible as I was fortunate to have been in wrestling.

The other reason I am writing this letter is because I am officially announcing my retirement from pro wrestling. This is not something I just decided to do. For the last few years, retirement has weighed heavily on my mind. Basically, it's taken me this long to come to grips that I can't physically be the performer I once was. I still love wrestling just as I did when I was young, it's just the sad reality that my body can no longer take the abuse, which explains why I have remained dormant over the last few years. Admittedly, I was never a "top guy," although I wrestled my heart out to put on the best show possible for all of you. It's like the cliche goes, without you, there is no me. From when I first got into the business in 1984 until my most major injury in 1998, the 14 years of abuse I put my body through has pretty much left me crippled. From the neck injury I sustained in '98 on WCW Nitro that ended my full-time wrestling career, to a hip that needs to be replaced, to stiff joints, bad knees, bad back, and swollen ankles...my quality of life is almost nill. I used to be able to wrestle for 30+ minutes and not be winded, but now I get light-headed and out of breath just getting out of bed. I have a beautiful daughter, that once she has children of her own, I want to be able to hold my grandchild and be able to get down on the floor with them. I also have some young nieces and nephews, that I want to still be able to toss a softball or football with. I have a gorgeous wife that I still want to be able to go to places as uneventful as the grocery store. The years of wear and tear that wrestling has wreaked on my body, has already taken the ease of mobility, and a painless quality of life. The past few years, my wife, my family, my friends, and even my business manager, have told me that I need to end my career before it ends me. Through these people and prayer, I have finally come to terms with it being time to hang up the boots, as they say in the wrestling business.

I thought I could make a few non-wrestling appearances, but I have canceled them. I accepted them awhile back, because I was hoping I would feel up to it. I am not. My most sincerest apologies to anyone that was hoping to see me. Jim Powers was once on top of the world, but now James Manley is physically broken down and was trying to stay in the spotlight. Sadly for me, that spotlight has faded.

I apologize for the rant, anyone who knows me knows I tend to do it. Please forgive me for not being able to perform for you, or attend any conventions to meet you. It truly saddens me to no end. I love you all, you have given me memories that no one can ever take away from me. If you happen to see me somewhere in my hometown, please say hello, so I can personally thank you myself. God Bless you all, and thank you for giving me some of the best years in my life.

Yours Truly,

Jim Powers"

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Running powerslam^[1]

• Signature moves
  • Dropkick, sometimes from the top rope^[1]
  • Knee lift^[1]

Championships and Accomplishments[link]

• NWA Jersey
  • NWA New Jersey Television Tag Team Championship (1 Time)- with Danny Inferno^[9]

• Northeast Championship Wrestling (Tom Janette)
  • NCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ray Apollo^[10]

• Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling
  • PCW Americas Championship (1 Time)^[9]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #197 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1996^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• Jim Powers at Online World of Wrestling
• "Wrestling Accelerator" profile: Jim Powers
• Jim Powers Audio Interview

Sean Waltman
Waltman at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan, October 2, 2010.
Ring name(s)	X-Pac[1][2] 1–2–3 Kid[2][3] 6-Pac[4] The Lightning Kid[1][2] The Kamikaze Kid[1][2] The Cannonball Kid[2] The Black Dart The Hardluck Kid The Kid[1] Sean Waltman[1] Syxx[2][3] Syxx-Pac[1] X-Pack Pac
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1][2]
Billed weight	212 lb (96 kg)[2]
Born	(1972-07-13) July 13, 1972 (age 39)[1] Minneapolis, Minnesota[1]
Resides	St. Petersburg, Florida
Billed from	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Trained by	Eddie Sharkey[1][5] Boris Malenko[5]
Debut	March 16, 1992

Sean Michael Waltman (born July 13, 1972)^[1][5] 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.^[1] 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.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Early career[link]

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,^[6] the PWA Iron Horse TV Title^[7] and the GWF Light Heavyweight Championship.^[8] 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.^[9][10]

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1996)[link]

Waltman signed a contract in 1993 with the company, debuting as the Lightning Kid and losing his debut match to Rad Radford.^[5] After several weeks as a jobber, he upset Razor Ramon on the May 17, 1993 episode of Monday Night Raw.^[5] Waltman was given a number of different names such as the Kamikaze Kid, Cannonball Kid, and The Kid. Waltman was then renamed the 1–2–3 Kid.^[10] Waltman was worked into Ramon's feud with Ted DiBiase. DiBiase taunted Ramon repeatedly over losing to a nobody until he too was pinned by the Kid. Ramon turned face shortly after and took The Kid under his wing.^[5]

Waltman at an event in 1995.

For the next two years, Waltman's character played the role of the natural underdog and displayed a rebellious attitude until the Raw before the 1995 Survivor Series pay-per-view where he was the guest referee in a match between Razor Ramon and Sycho Sid. As Ramon was attempting his finisher, the Razor's Edge, The Kid pulled Sid down and fast counted him, giving Sid the win and thus turning heel. After this event, the Kid joined Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation faction.^[10] The 1–2–3 Kid remained with this group until the end of Waltman's first run in the company. In his first run, he held two World Tag Team titles, once each with Marty Jannetty and Bob Holly,^[11] and came close to defeating Bret Hart for the world title in July 1994.^[10]

World Championship Wrestling (1996–1998)[link]

He continued using the 1–2–3 Kid name until his departure for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1996. Upon joining WCW, he immediately became a part of the nWo group. Waltman appeared, sitting at ringside, during a live episode of WCW Monday Nitro on September 16, 1996.^[12] At one point in the show, he stood up and used a remote control to release nWo propaganda from the ceiling, revealing himself as the newest member of the recently-formed villain faction.^[12] To play upon his previous on screen character of 1–2–3 Kid, he was given the name Syxx, supposedly because he was the sixth member of the nWo, as well as the fact that adding the numbers one, two and three equal the number six.^[10] Waltman, now known as Syxx, immediately began taunting the cruiserweights, going as far as to steal Eddy Guerrero's WCW United States Heavyweight Championship title belt, an act that led to a ladder match for the title at the 1997 January event Souled Out, which Syxx lost.^[10]

In February 1997 at SuperBrawl VII, Syxx had another opportunity for championship gold, against Dean Malenko. Syxx won the match by submission to officially become the Cruiserweight Champion.^[10][13] In June 1997, he lost the Cruiserweight Title to Chris Jericho at a non-televised webcast house show in Los Angeles, California minutes after a successful defense against Rey Mysterio, Jr.^[5] Syxx then began a feud with Ric Flair, losing to Flair at Road Wild in August. Syxx was then involved in a parody of the Four Horsemen stable, where he portrayed Ric Flair.^[10] This led to the WarGames match at Fall Brawl, with Syxx teaming with Kevin Nash, Buff Bagwell, and Konnan to face the Four Horseman team of Flair, Steve McMichael, Chris Benoit, and Curt Hennig. The nWo won the match after Hennig betrayed the Horsemen and joined the nWo.^[10]

During the Fall of 1997, the nWo invoked "Wolfpac Rules" and named Syxx as a replacement for the injured Kevin Nash as part of the Outsiders with Scott Hall in defending the WCW World Tag Team Championship. On October 13, 1997, Hall and Syxx lost the titles to the Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott).^[10]

During that October Waltman injured his neck and was forced out of action, but continued to appear on camera for several weeks after.^[5] While recuperating from his injury, Waltman was fired by then WCW President Eric Bischoff as a show of force to keep Hall and Nash in check due to locker room instability caused by the three,^[10] as well as Waltman's lack of commitment. Bischoff claimed that Waltman was a competent performer "when sober," but that these periods were "few and far between." He asserted that "in many ways, Sean was lucky to even have a job."^[14]

Return to WWF[link]

D-Generation X (1998–2000)[link]

Waltman making an in-ring promo in 2007.

Waltman returned to WWF programming on March 30, 1998, the night after WrestleMania XIV and days after being released from WCW.^[3][10] With Shawn Michaels out of action following his title loss and back injury, which kept him inactive for four years, Triple H was now the leader of D-Generation X (DX). He stated that he was forming a DX army and "when you start an army, you look to your blood ... you look to your buddies ... you look to your friends ... you look to The Kliq."^[3] Waltman appeared on the stage and commented on Bischoff and Hogan, as well as claiming that if contractually free to do so, Hall and Nash would have been joining him in returning to the WWF.^[3][10] This comment actually prompted Bischoff to respond on Nitro the following week, telling Waltman to "bite me."^[15]

Following that Raw episode, Waltman was initially being billed as "The Kid" on the WWF homepage but became known as "X-Pac" by the next broadcast. As a member of DX, Waltman feuded with many wrestlers such as Jeff Jarrett, and he eventually won the WWF European Championship from D'Lo Brown in 1998.^[16] He and Brown traded the title a couple of times with Waltman ultimately winning the championship at Judgment Day: In Your House in October 1998.^[10] Waltman held the European Championship until February 1999 when he lost the title to Shane McMahon.^[16] At WrestleMania XV in 1999, he had a rematch with McMahon for the European Championship, but Triple H betrayed him and cost Waltman the title.^[5]

Waltman then paired off with Road Dogg against Triple H, Chyna and Billy Gunn, after the temporary demise of DX. Waltman and Road Dogg wanted DX to be about rebellion while Triple H, Chyna and Billy Gunn wanted it to be about making money.^[5] A few weeks after WrestleMania, he became a fan favorite and formed an alliance with Kane; a mute, brooding, menacing loner. Waltman and Kane went on to hold the WWF Tag Team Championship two times.^[11] After DX was reunited in late 1999 as a villainous group, Waltman led Kane to believe that he would be inducted into DX but instead betrayed him and eventually stole his girlfriend, Tori.^[10]

In 2000 he feuded with fellow DX member Road Dogg and Chris Jericho. Waltman would then be out of action for three months due to a neck injury caused when Jericho botched a powerbomb later that year.^[5]

X-Factor, nWo and departure (2001–2002)[link]

Waltman in a Dumpster match at King of the Ring 2000.

Upon his return to action, Waltman found himself without an angle. His most notable actions in the next two years were forming the short-lived faction X-Factor along with Justin Credible and Albert.^[10] During this time, he won the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship^[17] and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship,^[13] held by Billy Kidman, and became the first and only person to hold both belts simultaneously.

When X-Factor broke up due to Credible joining The ECW/WCW Alliance, he feuded with Kidman and Tajiri, until he had to take time off for another injury, after losing the WCW Cruiserweight Title to Kidman.^[5] The WWF Light Heavyweight Championship was abandoned upon his return to WWF television, although he defended the belt on several house shows just before his return to television.

When Hall, Nash and Hogan returned to the WWF in 2002, Hogan was removed from the latest incarnation of the nWo. Waltman, who had been out with an injury, returned on the March 21 episode of SmackDown! and immediately attacked Hogan, claiming he had been waiting four years to do so, stemming from shoot comments from Hogan on WCW Thunder in 1998 after he was fired that he could not "cut the mustard."^[10] This storyline was immediately dropped with the nWo members being drafted to Raw while Hogan being drafted to SmackDown! in the first ever WWE Draft Lottery.

During the nWo's feud with the tag team of Booker T and Goldust, Waltman was often misrepresented as refusing to lose to Booker T, but he denied this in an interview in November 2006, referencing a botched spine buster giving him an injury and keeping him from participating.^[18] On August 25, 2002 Raw commentator Jim Ross announced that WWE and Waltman had parted ways.^[5]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Xtreme Pro Wrestling (2002–2003)[link]

After departure from WWE, Waltman joined TNA Wrestling on September 18, 2002, wrestling under the ring name Syxx-Pac. Teaming with his former tag team partners Scott Hall and B.G. James, Waltman feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Brian Lawler.^[10] On October 9, 2002, Waltman made his X Division debut, defeating six other wrestlers to win the vacant TNA X Division Championship in a ladder match.^[19] He held the title for two weeks before losing to A.J. Styles on October 23, 2002 in a no disqualification match. He remained in TNA until November 2002, and is said to have left due to the arrival of Vince Russo, who, it is said, Waltman did not like. Waltman has stated in interviews, however, that he has no problem with Russo.^[10]

Waltman debuted in Xtreme Pro Wrestling on February 28, 2003, winning the XPW Television Championship from Kaos.^[10][20] He retained the title in a bout with Juventud Guerrera on March 1, 2003 and held the title until the promotion closed in April 2003.

Return to TNA (2003, 2005–2006)[link]

Waltman returned to TNA for a single night on June 18, 2003 at the TNA first anniversary pay-per-view, where A.J. Styles was to team with a mystery partner against Jeff Jarrett and Sting. Styles' manager Vince Russo described the mystery partner as being "a dirtbag," "a degenerate," and "the scum of the Earth" before adding that he was "just like [him]." Russo then announced the return of Sean Waltman. Waltman and Styles went on to lose the match.^[10]

Russo left TNA in November 2004, and Waltman returned to the promotion on February 13, 2005 at Against All Odds, attacking Jeff Jarrett during his NWA World Heavyweight Championship match with Kevin Nash. Nash, Waltman and Diamond Dallas Page formed an alliance against Planet Jarrett (Jarrett, The Outlaw and Monty Brown) which disbanded when Nash and Page left TNA to focus on their respective acting careers.

At TNA's Hard Justice in 2005, Waltman substituted for Jeff Hardy, who no-showed, and faced Raven in a Clockwork Orange House of Fun match.^[5] Waltman lost the match after Raven back-dropped him through a steel cage. On June 19 at Slammiversary, Waltman took part in a five man King of the Mountain match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In the course of the match, Waltman cost the incumbent and defending champion A.J. Styles the title, by delivering an X-Factor off a ladder. As a result, Waltman turned heel.^[10] The heel turn eventually lead to a match between Styles and Waltman at No Surrender, which Styles won after guest referee Jerry Lynn prevented Waltman from cheating. As a result, Waltman challenged his former partner to a match at Sacrifice. After Lynn won the match with a victory roll, Waltman attacked him and endeavored to re-injure his shoulder.

After Sacrifice, Waltman was partnered with Alex Shelley, and together they won the Chris Candido Cup. As a result of their tournament victory, Waltman and Shelley received a shot at the NWA World Tag Team Championship at Unbreakable. At Unbreakable, however, Waltman was announced as having no-showed the event. He was not heard from until September 19, 2005 when he was reported to have contacted a family member in Florida. Waltman made a final appearance with TNA at Final Resolution on January 15, 2006, defeating Raven with the assistance of Larry Zbyszko.

On September 15, 2006, Waltman made an appearance at a live WWE show in Tampa, celebrating with the newly reformed DX after their match, performing the crotch chop with them.

Wrestling Society X and National Wrestling Alliance (2006–2008)[link]

Waltman as the NWA Heritage Champion

In February 2006, Waltman joined MTV's newly formed Wrestling Society X (WSX) promotion. At the inaugural WSX tapings on February 9, 2006, Waltman (wrestling as 6-PAC) faced nine other wrestlers in a hardcore battle royal ladder match, which both Waltman and Vampiro won by climbing the ladder to take possession of WSX contracts. Waltman lost a WSX Championship title match to Vampiro the following week.^[10] Waltman challenged Vampiro during Episode four, as a ruse to introduce Ricky Banderas, who attacked Vampiro from behind. Afterwards, Waltman defeated Human Tornado and Scorpio Sky in singles competition, and teased an affair with Lizzy Valentine (the valet and girlfriend of Matt Sydal), though WSX folded before the angle could go on any further.^[10]

On July 8, 2007, Waltman teamed up with Chyna^{[citation needed]} as part of a triple threat match in McAllen, Texas to crown the new NWA World Tag Team Champions. The title was previously vacated by Team 3D after the National Wrestling Alliance severed its working relationship with TNA Wrestling. They lost the match to Karl Anderson and Joey Ryan.

Waltman re-appeared on the May 14, 2008 edition of NWA Wrestling Showcase, facing Adam Pearce for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The match came to a quick end when Waltman legitimately injured his knee five minutes into the match. Waltman won by disqualification when The Real American Heroes attacked him, along with Pearce. On June 1, 2008 Waltman and The Sandman wrestled in a tag team match for the NWA against the Illuminati which resulted in a defeat for Waltman and the Sandman.

Asistencia Asesoria y Administraction (2007–2008)[link]

In June 2007, Waltman began wrestling as a regular in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) as alternatively 6-Pac or X-Pack as a member of Konnan's La Legión Extranjera (Foreign Legion). He was managed by girlfriend Alicia Webb.^[10] Waltman usually used the D-Generation X theme music when he came out to the ring. He briefly left to go into rehab back in mid-2008, but returned at the Verano de Escándalo event in September 2008, turning against the Foreign Legion and announcing the creation of D-Generation Mex, a parody of WWE's D-Generation X, alongside Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov. Afterwards, Waltman started a feud with one of the top figures of the organization, El Zorro.

Waltman can be briefly glimpsed in Justin Lee Collins' 2009 reality series – Justin Lee Collins: The Wrestler, when Collins attends an AAA event.

Independent circuit[link]

Waltman as the 1–2–3 Kid in Chikara in April 2011.

On August 8, 2009 at GLCW Slamfest, Waltman became the new GLCW Heavyweight Champion after defeating Skull Crusher. Al Snow was stripped of the title as he was unable to make it to the show.

On February 26, 2011- Waltman was inducted into the Legends Pro Wrestling "Hall of Fame" by Jack Blaze in Wheeling, WV at their "LPW X-Factor 2011" event.

On March 5, 2011 Waltman reunited with former D-Generation X members Road Dogg and Billy Gunn at Pro Wrestling Syndicate in Long Island, New York. At the event, he landed on the guard rail resulting in a serious chest wound that put Waltman in the emergency room.^[21]

On March 15, 2011, Chikara announced that Waltman, billed as the 1–2–3 Kid, would be making his debut for the promotion on April 15, when he would enter the 2011 King of Trios tournament, teaming with Arik Cannon and Darin Corbin.^[22][23] On April 15, Team Minnesota was eliminated from the tournament in the first round by Team Michinoku Pro (Dick Togo, Great Sasuke and Jinsei Shinzaki).^[24] The following day Waltman entered the Rey de Voladores tournament, defeating Amazing Red, Frightmare and Obariyon in a four–way elimination semifinal match to make it to the following day's finals.^[25] On April 17, Waltman was defeated in the Rey de Voladores finals by El Generico.^[26] After the match Waltman announced that he believes 2011 will be his last year in professional wrestling, put Chikara over as the "future of wrestling" and thanked the promotion for a weekend he said he would never forget.^[27][28]

Return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010)[link]

January 4, 2010, special live, three-hour Monday night edition of Impact! Waltman and Scott Hall returned to TNA on the night Hulk Hogan made his debut for the company. Kevin Nash, Hall and Waltman quickly reformed their alliance, but Hogan kept himself out of the group, claiming that times have changed.^[29] At Genesis Waltman, renamed Syxx-Pac, replaced Hall and teamed up with Nash in a losing effort against Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm).^[30] On the following edition of Impact! Hogan, disgusted by the actions of the Band, had security remove Waltman and Hall from the Impact! Zone, since they were not under contract with the company.^[31] Waltman and Hall appeared the following week anyway, attacking Kurt Angle from behind.^[32] The week after that Hall and Waltman returned again, but this time they turned on their longtime friend Kevin Nash and beat him down.^[33] At Destination X Syxx-Pac and Hall faced Nash and Eric Young in a tag team match, where the Band's TNA futures were on the line. In the end Nash turned on Young and helped the Band pick up the victory, which finally gave them contracts with the company.^[34] On the March 29 edition of Impact! the Band lost a six man tag team steel cage match against Eric Young, Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy.^[35] Waltman was scheduled for a tag team match at Lockdown, but was absent from the event and was replaced by Nash.^[36] It was later reported that Waltman had let TNA know days in advance that he was not cleared to wrestle by the Missouri State Commission due to his hepatitis C diagnosis and was not going to be able to attend the event.^[37][38] On the April 26 edition of Impact!, Waltman was found on the floor backstage in a pool of his own blood by Team 3D.^[39] It was later reported that this would be his last TNA appearance for an undetermined period with Eric Young taking his position in The Band.^[40] On June 15, 2010, it was reported that Waltman had been released by TNA.^[41]

Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2011–present)[link]

On April 2, 2011, Sean Waltman made his return to WWE television to celebrate his longtime friend Shawn Michaels induction to the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame alongside his Kliq buddies Triple H and Kevin Nash. Since then Sean Waltman has been scouting and evaluating talent in Florida Championship Wrestling, the WWE developmental territory. In 2012 he also attended the Hall of Fame, again with the Kliq.

Personal life[link]

Waltman was married to a woman named Terry. Together they have two children: a son Jesse (born 1992) and a daughter Kaitlyn (born 25 January 1995) before divorcing in 2002.^[42] Waltman was also in a relationship with and eventually engaged to Joanie Laurer, who formerly competed as Chyna in the WWF.^[10] Before Laurer and Waltman split, they filmed a sex tape which was later released under the name 1 Night in China in late 2004.^[10] Since WWE still owned the rights of the name Chyna, the video included footage of Waltman in China walking over to the Great Wall to spare Red Light District Video any legal issues. In March 2005, Waltman appeared on the VH1 reality TV show The Surreal Life when he visited Laurer in an attempt to reconcile with her. After Laurer refused to reconcile, Waltman was eventually ejected from the house by the other guests. Three days after that episode was aired, Waltman posted a statement about the episode in his forums, where he also revealed that Laurer was upset with him after, in part, learning about his sexual relations with Jenna Jameson, "four years prior" to the two of them getting together.^[10][43]

In an early 2008 interview at inyourheadonline.com, Juventud Guerrera, who had been working with Waltman in AAA, claimed Waltman had recently tried to commit suicide due to depression.^[44] This was confirmed by The Wrestling Observer, which reported that Alicia Webb had found Waltman hanging by his neck in his Mexico City apartment, on the verge of death. He was subsequently taken back to the U.S. for treatment. Reportedly, Waltman had been speaking positively of his experiences in AAA, and he has denied attempting suicide, claiming the incident was a result of mixing alcohol and anti-depressants. Following the incident, long-time friend Kevin Nash flew to Texas to check Waltman into a rehabilitation facility for both his addiction and his psychiatric state. Nash also contacted friend Paul "Triple H" Levesque to discuss the new WWE policy of financing rehab for ex-employees.

Sean is currently shooting a documentary called The Price of Fame about his past, present and future in and outside of the ring. The film also stars Ted DiBiase Sr and will be released sometime in 2011.

On December 21, 2011, Waltman was arrested in Tampa, Florida on two charges of possession of a controlled substance and one charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released later that same day after posting a $1,150 bond.^[45]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • 1–2–3 Kick / Syxx Kick ^[1] (Superkick) – WWF/WCW
  • Buzzkiller^[1] (Crossface chickenwing)^[4] – WCW
  • X-Factor^[1] (WWF/E / Independent circuit/ TNA) / 6-Factor^[4] (WSX / Independent circuit) (Sitout facebuster), sometimes from the top rope^[46]

• Signature moves
  • Backhand chop
  • Bronco buster^[1][4]
  • Diving leg drop
  • High speed leg drop
  • Moonsault^[4]
  • Multiple kick variations
    • Drop
    • Roundhouse^[4]
    • Spinning heel^[1][4]
  • Running leaping clothesline
  • Senton bomb
  • Single leg Boston crab^[47]

• Managers
  • Albert
  • Chyna
  • Ted DiBiase
  • Tori
  • Alicia Webb
  • Scott Hall

• Entrance themes
  • "1–2–3" by Jim Johnston (WWF; 1993–1996)
  • "Break it Down" by Chris Warren and Jim Johnston (WWF/WWE/AAA; used while a part Of D-Generation X; 1998–2000, currently used as his normal entrance theme 2011–)
  • "Break it Down V2" by Chris Warren and J Johnston (WWF; used while a part of D-Generation X; 2000)
  • "Make Some Noise" By Chris Warren and J.Johnston (WWF; 1998–2001)
  • "The Kings" By Run DMC (used while part of D-Generation X) (WWF; 2000)
  • "Rockhouse" by Frank Shelley (used while a part of the New World Order) (WCW/WWF/WWE; 1996–1997, 2002)
  • "Tear It Up" by Jimmy Hart (WCW; used while part of the New World Order; 1996–1997)
  • "What 'Chu Lookin' At?" by Uncle Kracker (WWF; used while a part of X-Factor; 2001)
  • "The Band Theme" by Dale Oliver (TNA; 2010)
  • "Wolfpac Theme (Instrumental)" by Dale Oliver (TNA; 2010)
  • "One Last Time" by The Deadities (Chikara)^[48]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Great Lakes Championship Wrestling
  • GLCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Global Wrestling Federation
  • GWF Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[8]

• Legends Pro Wrestling
  • Inducted into the LPW Hall of Fame (2/26/11)

• Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
  • MEWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[49]

• NWA Pro Wrestling
  • NWA Heritage Championship (1 time)^[50]

• Pro Wrestling America
  • PWA Iron Horse Television Championship (1 time)^[7]
  • PWA Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[6]
  • PWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[9] – with Jerry Lynn

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Comeback of the Year (1998)^[51]
  • PWI Tag Team of the Year (1999)^[52] with Kane
  • PWI ranked him #21 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997^[53]
  • PWI ranked him #177 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003^[54]

• South Eastern Wrestling Alliance
  • SEWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[55]

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA X Division Championship (1 time)^[19]
  • Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament^[56] – with Alex Shelley

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[3][13]
  • WCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall¹

• World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WCW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[13]
  • WWF European Championship (2 times)^[16]
  • WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[17]
  • WWF Tag Team Championship (4 times)^[11] – with Marty Jannetty (1), Bob Holly (1), and Kane (2)

• Xtreme Pro Wrestling
  • XPW Television Championship (1 time)^[20]

¹ – Due to an injury to Kevin Nash, the nWo invoked Wolfpac Rules and named Syxx as Scott Hall's replacement partner.

Lucha de Apuesta record[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sean Waltman

• Professional wrestling record for Sean Waltman from The Internet Wrestling Database
• Online World of Wrestling profile
• Sean Waltman at the Internet Movie Database
• AAA official website article about Waltman
• Sean Waltman's official site
• WWE Alumni Profile