Best Wrestlers That Never Became World Champions.
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Roddy Piper was born Roderick George Toombs on April 17, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was a pro wrestler from 1973-1987 in the NWA, Pacific Northwest, California. He was a longtime mainstay in the WWF, and was one of the biggest "bad guys" in the WWF during the early '80s, before becoming a fan favorite in the late '80s. He became infamous for his mouth as much as his skills in the ring. He hosted Pipers Pit, which saluted the bad guys of professional wrestling, the most famous of which involved him smashing Jimmy Superfly Snuka over the head with a coconut. He was wrestling's most popular villain because of his feud with Hulk Hogan that culminated at Wrestlemania I. He went into semi-retirement after Wrestlemania III, when he beat and shaved the late Adrian Adonis.
He continued to wrestle into the '90s, but spent much of his time doing color commentary for WWF TV. In January 1992, he won the WWF Intercontinental Title from "The Mountie", the only title he would ever hold in his storied WWF career. After losing the title three months later, he left the WWF, and only made the occasional appearance in the ring over the next few years. In 1995, he had a stint as the WWF's interim president. He later resurfaced in WCW during the late '90s to continue his feud with "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, until the company's demise in 2001.
Roddy Piper appeared in many action films. He died of a heart attack on July 31, 2015, in Hollywood, California.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Retired American professional wrestler of Japanese descent as Ricky Steamboat. He trained under Verne Gagne, and first made his name in the old Mid-Atlantic territory in the Carolinas. He had many legendary matches and feuds with Ric Flair, culminating in their epic "Holy Trilogy" of matches at WCW/NWA Chi-Town Rumble (1989), Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun (1989) and WCW/NWA WrestleWar (1989). He had a major feud with Randy Savage over the WWE Intercontinental Title, which Steamboat won at WrestleMania III (1987) in what many consider the greatest WrestleMania match of all time. Over the course of his career, he was a 1x NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a 1x WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, a multiple-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, an NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, a WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and a WCW Television Champion. At different points in his career, he had "retired" so he could spend time with his family and run his gym. He was forced into retirement due to a back injury suffered in a match with "Stunning" Steve Austin at Clash of the Champions XXVIII (1994). He was one of the few wrestlers to work as a babyface (good guy) for his entire career. He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 (charter class), the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012.
Was given the name "Ricky Steamboat" by wrestling promoter Eddie Graham due to his strong resemblance to wrestling legend Sammy Steamboat. Sammy even endorsed the name change and allowed them to bill the "Ricky Steamboat" character as his nephew. Ricky and Sammy remained friends until Sammy's death.
Played an on-air executive role in the early days of NWA TNA.
He was the "Inside Wrestling" Rookie of the Year for 1977.
Received the 1995 PWI Editor's Award.
After he won the Intercontinental Championship, he asked Vince McMahon for some time off to be with his wife who was expecting the birth of their son Richard Blood Jr. This did not sit well with WWF management and shortly after he was forced to drop the belt to the Honkytonk Man (Wayne Farris). Still bitter, the WWE did not push him or give him any meaningful matches upon his return. He left for WCW shortly after.- Owen Hart was one of twelve children from a legendary Canadian wrestling family. His brother Bret is also one of the most well known wrestlers of all time. Owen was one of the best wrestlers in the business and his major accomplishments include being the 1994 King of the Ring, former Intercontinental Champion(2), former European Champion, and co-holder of the Tag Team Championship (4). Sadly, Hart plunged to his death on May 23, 1999 during a PPV when he was performing a spectacular entrance. Hart was only 34 and is survived by his wife Martha, his son Oje and his daughter Athena.
- Scott Hall was born into a military family on October 20, 1958. Due to the army life he grew up a traveler and spent his high school years at the All American High in Munich, Germany. When his family returned to the States he attended St Mary's College in Maryland, where he graduated with a degree in Pre Med, with hopes to become a children's doctor. By this time Scott was already training to be a wrestler. He made his ring debut in South Carolina in 1984, and was picked up by the now defunct AWA soon after.
Almost a decade later without hitting major success in the wrestling world, Scott signed with the WWF in 1992. Taking a character he had used previously in WCW, Scott expanded the Diamond Studd and turned him into a Cuban gangster, basing "The Bad Guy" Razor Ramon on the gangster movies he'd watched as a child.
After 3 successful years as Razor, and some great matches, including the Ladder Match against the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 10 (since voted the best Wrestlemania match of all time), Scott signed with WCW, where he had some of the most controversial years of his career. His May 1996 appearance on the Turner Broadcasting Monday Nitro program breathed life into a dying wrestling market when he instigated the New World Order. After winning several tag team golds with his best friend Kevin Nash, and a couple of singles US championships, Scott received an injury to his neck during a match with Jeff Jarrett in February 2000, which kept him off TV. Scott was fired from WCW in October of 2000, allegedly due to drunken behavior on a German tour prior to his injury.
In March 2001, Scott began to tour with New Japan. He did so well that New Japan invited him back several times throughout 2001. He also did a couple of independent shows around Florida and Alabama. In January 2002, Scott signed a two year deal with the WWF to bring back the New World Order with Kevin Nash and Hollywood Hulk Hogan. They made their first appearance in February. Scott faced Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania X-8 in March, taking the loss. Granted custody of his two children and with a part time wrestling career, Hall finally found the balance he needed to go out a star. - Actor
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Jim Duggan was born on 14 January 1954 in Glens Falls, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for WCW Monday Nitro (1995), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WCW Thunder (1998). He has been married to Debra Haynes since 8 April 1989. They have two children.- Curt Hennig was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the son of one of wrestlings all time legends - Larry Hennig - Aka Larry The Ax Hennig. Curtbegan training to follow in his fathers footsteps when he was just 12 years old. Starting off in the AWA - Curt began his career as a tag team wrestler. He won the AWA Tag Team Championship with Scott Hall before concentrating on a singles career in the AWA. He became the AWA Heavyweight Champion in only his second year with the company before capturing the attention of the WWF. The WWF was looking to acquire the services of second generation stars and Curt Hennig fitted the bill perfectly. He made his debut in the WWF in 1988 as "MR.PERFECT". Curt's character was an instant hit with WWF fans and he quickly established himself as a quality technical wrestler. Fellow second generation WWF star and one of Curt's closest friends - Bret Hart aka Bret The Hitman Hart was also making waves in the WWF along the same time. Bret Hart and Curt Hennig began a legendary feud that would end in an Intercontinental Championship match at SummerSlam in 1992. Curt Hennig defended his WWF Intercontinental Title against Bret Hart at SummerSlam to end what had become a captivating feud between two of the best technical wrestlers in WWF history. However, Curt had suffered a serious back injury during a house show just prior to the big event. Against doctors orders, Curt Hennig made his way to the ring as Mr.Perfect and defended his Intercontinental Title at SummerSlam against the Hitman Bret Hart. Bret went on to win the match but was full of praise for his friend and opponent afterwards. Hart called Hennig "the best wrestler and one of the best workers he had ever worked with". Despite being praised for working a high profile match through a serious injury - Curt ended up paying a price. Curt's back injury had been aggravated and that caused him major problems in the future. After taking a few months of to rest his injury, Curt returned to the WWF, however his return was short lived as his back once again flared up in late 1993. As a result, Curt was out of the ring until 1996. During that period, Curt worked as a commentator for the WWF until his contract expired at the end of 1995. By this time, Curt's back had healed enough for him to consider a return to a WWF or WCW ring. Understanding the importance of having an Impact Player like Curt Hennig on their roster, WCW got involved in a bidding war for Mr.Perfect's services. In the end, WCW won and Curt Hennig signed a 4 year contract with WCW. Hennig returned to the ring for the first time in 3 years and in only his second official singles match since his return - Curt won the WCW United States Championship. He held the title on three separate occasions along with the WCW Tag Team Championship. However, his talents were being wasted in WCW and at the end of his contract in 2000, Curt decided against signing an extention with the company and proceeded to take a break from the sport altogether. In 2001, he returned to the ring with XWF and made appearances in Australia with the WWA. While these appearances were good enough as a stop-gap measure, Curt was hoping to make a comeback in the World Wrestling Federation - and sure enough the WWF contacted Curt Hennig to make his return to the WWF as Mr.Perfect in the 2002 Royal Rumble. What was initially billed as a one time arrangement, resulted in Curt Hennig once again re-joining the WWF after signing a long term contract. While Curt may have claimed to be perfect inside the ring, his life outside the ring was anything but perfect. In May 2002,he was fired by Vince McMahon after getting into a fight with Brock Lesnar on a charter flight. On February 10, 2003, he was found dead in a Tampa hotel. He was slated to wrestle on an independent card headed by Jimmy Hart at the Florida State Fair. The cause of death was later found to be acute cocaine intoxication. He left behind his wife of 20 years, Leonice, and four children.
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Chavo Guerrero is a 20-year third generation veteran of the professional wrestling industry who first debuted back in 1994 after having been trained by legendary family members Chavo Guerrero Sr., Eddie Guerrero, Hector Guerrero and Mando Guerrero. He started his career working in both Mexico and Japan and had a stint with New Japan Pro Wrestling prior to signing with World Championship Wrestling in 1996. During his 5-years with WCW Guerrero would both feud and team with his real life uncle Eddie Guerrero. He would become a 2-Time WCW Cruiserweight Champion and former 1-Time WCW Tag-Team Champion before the company closed in 2001.
Guerrero's contract was one of 25 that were purchased by World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001 during the acquisition of WCW. He ended up spending a decade with the organization becoming one of the company's top cruiser-weight talents during that period and also again formed a popular tag-team with Eddie Guerrero, Named Los Guerreros. Many consider Los Guerrero as one of the best tag teams in the world. Chavo would become a former 4-Time WWE Cruiserweight Champion and also win the tag-team titles twice with Eddie. In 2008 he reached his highest level of singles success when he defeated C.M. Punk in January to win the company's ECW Championship. Guerrero requested and was granted his release from the organization in June of 2011. Chavo then signed with TNA Impact Wrestling where he stayed for a year. In late 2013, he again asked for his release for TNA, this time to pursue other ventures. Chavo is now active in Hollywood on the acting scene and also is endorsing several companies. Chavo has recently become the Celebrity Ambassador to a new company dealing with monetizing social media, which will launch in the up coming months.- Actor
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Being trained by wrestling legend Dory Funk Jr., Mattthew "Matt" Hardy has become one of the most gifted and talented performers in sports-entertainment. Before going into the WWF (Now WWE) along with his brother Jeff Hardy, the Hardy Boyz (or The Hardyz) ran their own promotion called Organization of Modern Extreme Arts (OMEGA) wrestling, in which Matt went into as High Voltage. However, he had to change it because a wrestling tag team in World Champion Wrestling (WCW) was all ready using that name. So, Hardy decided to go under the name of "Surge". A few years later, it was revealed by Chris Kanyon that the tape had been kept in the WCW Power Plant, watched multiple times and had the name stole from them. OMEGA also included Lita (Amy Dumas), 'Shannon Moore(II)', 'Gregory Helms' and Joey Mercury (Adam Birch). Now, Matt along with his brother Jeff now their own Myspace, along with other wrestlers such as Helms, Ashley Massaro and Mercury.
The Hardy Boyz first started working for the WWF(E) not in the tag team division but in singles division as jobbers (a wrestler who "loses" more matches than winning). Matt was nineteen and Jeff was sixteen when both joined back in 1993. It wasn't until 1998 they were given full-time contracts as a tag team.
The Hard Boyz, as their were referred, used a cruiser weight (someone who use acrobatic styles but usually one who is 6'1" or under and weighs less than 215lbs) fast-paced high flying style in their matches, doing damage to their opponents.
Michael Hayes (Michael Seitz) then became their manager, who then guide them to win the WWF(E) Tag Team Titles. However, the Hardyz ditched Hayes after losing the titles to Ganrel's ('David Heath') tag team, The New Brood, who were Edge ('Adam Copeland') and Christian (Jay Reso). The Hardyz would soon gain Terri Runnels as their manager when Gangrel was dropped. Terri would later turn on the Hardyz in 2000. The Hardyz would later face Edge and Christian again, but with the Dudley Boyz, Buubba Ray Dudley ('Mark Lamonica') and D-Von Dudley (Devon Hughes). All three tag teams would face each other in a Ladder Match (To win, one opponent most grab a suitcase or a belt that is dangling from the top over ring) in Wrestlemania 2000. Though the Hardyz lost, they gave a great performance.
The following year, they really made a name for themselves when they faced the Dudleyz and Edge and Christian again, but this time, in a TLC (Tables and Ladders and Chairs) Match (Same rules apply to a Ladder Match, but this time, with tables and chairs). With all three tag teams with a gimmick, they all were a specialty with a certain weapon for the match and other opponents. The Dudleyz: Tables. The Hardys: Ladders. Edge and Christian: Chairs.
Later, both the Hardys found a new manager with their real-life friend Lita, which they named their team "Team Xtreme". Both Matt and Lita would begin an off-screen (later on-screen) relationship with Lita.
In 2001, Matt turned on Jeff when Jeff won the Intercontinental Championship, becoming jealous of becoming a successful singles competitor. Soon, Matt went to Smackdown! and renamed himself as "Matt Hardy - Version 0.1".. During this time, he would create the term "Mattitude". On Smackdown, he had his M'Fer (Mattitude Follower), Shannon Moore. Then Moore had his follower who would later join, Crash Holly (Michael Lockwood), which Moore would call his "Moore-on". The stable would later being disbanded after Crash was release and Matt would move back to Raw to continue with the story line with girlfriend Lita.
However, Matt and Lita would split when finding out that she and Edge (Copeland) are having an affair. This would cause Matt to be release, along with friend Rhyno (Terry Gerin).
Later, Hardy would return to the WWE on Raw, facing Edge. Their final confrontation was in a ladder match (which Edge never lost) and whoever loses, would leave Raw. With the help with Lita, Edge won and Hardy left.
However, that didn't keep Hardy away from the WWE. Hardy was then signed to Smackdown!. He wrestled on the web show Velocity by winning all of his matches. He also did the main event on the last episode against Simon Dean, which Matt won.
Matt is now dating Ashley Massaro.- Actor
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Matt Cardona was born on 14 May 1985 in Merrick, Long Island, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Z! True Long Island Story (2011), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WWE NXT (2010). He has been married to Chelsea Green since 1 January 2022.- While growing up in Detroit, Gerin's father died when he was just fourteen and his mother was working up to three jobs. While still living in Detroit, Gerin made his professional wrestling debut in 1994 in the independent circuit. Then in 1995, he started working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as a jobber (someone who loses almost every match).
Soon, he won the World Title for the Pro Wrestling Worldwid (PWW). During this time, he was part of a team called "Thug Life" which had top wrestlers of today such as 'Christian Cage' and 'Joe Legend'.
However, it was in 1999, that Gerin wrestled under the name "Rhino" when he won the Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) World Heavyweight Chmapionship in 1999 and became a star. He thanked Paul Heyman, the former owner of ECW, for making him a star.
When ECW was starting to go out of business, Rhino made his WWF/E (World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment) debut at WrestleMania 17 under slightly different name from his old name: Rhyno.
After being released from the WWE with his good friend _Matt Hardy_, Rhyno is now working Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) Wrestling. There, He won the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship. - Actor
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Stu Bennett is a globally known actor, television host and professional wrestler who performed for WWE from 2007- 2016, before returning to WWE as a commentator from 2020 - present.
His growing acting résumé includes leading roles in the features 'I Am Vengeance' (2018), 'Fanged Up' (2017), 'Eliminators' (2016), and 'I Am Vengeance: Retaliation (2020) alongside fellow Brit, Vinnie Jones. His first movie role was in 2013's 'Dead Man Down', appearing alongside Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace and Terrence Howard. Stu received the 'Best Actor' award at the 2017 Urban Action Awards in Manhattan for his performance as 'John Gold' in 'I Am Vengeance'.
In addition, Stu has hosted the athletic competition show 'Ultimate Beastmaster' (2018) on Netflix, and ITV's 'WOS Wrestling' (2018).- Before coming a wrestler, Howard was a welder. Once getting into the wrestling business, Holly was trained by Stan Frazier, Eddie Sullivan and Rip Taylor. Soon, Howard debuted in 1990. Two years later, Holly went to Smokey Moutain Wrestling under the name "Hollywood Bob Holly" before adopting the ring name "Superstar Bob Holly". When debuting in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) (Now called World Wrestling Entertainment), his gimmick was as a NASCAR diver going under the name "Thurman 'Sparky' Plug" and then adopted the name, Bob "Spark Plug" Holly.
After years of performing in singles division in the WWE, Holly went into the Hardcore division, billing himself as "Hardcore Holly", which he is still use today and helped him to shoot to fame since his Spark Plug gimmick. During this time, he introduced to his on-screen cousin, Crash Holly, with whom they both the WWE Tag Team Championships, who then later another on-screen cousin, Molly Holly.
Recently, Holly is now going under surgery to repair nagging knee injuries. He was hospitalized after a staph infection in the arm, which could be fatal. it is unknown that Holly would return to the ring or not. - Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American bare-knuckle boxing promoter and retired professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, and kick-boxer. He is best known for his time in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other combat sports. A member of the UFC Hall of Fame, Shamrock is widely regarded as icon and pioneer of the sport. He has headlined over 15 main events and co-main events in the UFC and Pride FC and set numerous MMA pay-per-view records. In the early part of his UFC career, Shamrock was named "The World's Most Dangerous Man" by ABC News in a special called "The World's Most Dangerous Things". The moniker has stuck as his nickname.
- Steve Blackman was born on 28 September 1963 in Annville, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE Raw (1993) and WrestleMania XIV (1998).
- Refused to drop the American Wrestling Association heavyweight title in 1984, even when told directly by AWA president Verne Gagne. Never officially dropped the title and was stripped of it for failure to defend it in thirty days. When the AWA asked him to return the belt since he wasn't champion anymore, Stan agreed to do so. But not until after he destroyed it by driving over it with his 4X4 pickup countless times. This led to Stan Hansen basically being blackballed from the North American wrestling scene for six years, which was fine with Hansen since he made most of his money in Japan anyway.
- Jimmy Snuka is a classic example of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (formerly known as World Wrestling Federation (WWF)) bad guy who became a baby-face (a good guy) without trying. Originally a "heel", he came into the WWE under the guidance of heel manager Capt. Lou Albano. After receiving many title shots at the WWE Championship, which he never won, the final match between he and then-WWE Champion Bob Backlund was in Madison Square Garden in the famous "Steel Cage Match", in which Snuka did his trademark "Superfly Splash" off the top of the steel cage.
Snuka attracted many fans with his acrobatic wrestling style. Soon he broke away from Albano and became a face. However, this wouldn't be the last time Snuka would see Albano, who brought in Snuka's former Mid-Atlantic tag team partner Ray Stevens to feud with him. With Albano in Stevens' corner, Snuka brought in former WWE Champion and WWE competitor "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers as his manager.
At the top of his game after a year in the WWE, Snuka would face a personal crisis that haunted him for the next few years. In 1983, after he finished his last match, his girlfriend Nancy Argentino was found semi-conscious next to a sleeping Snuka. Argentino died at the nearby hospital. In court it was ruled that the death was accidental.
After recovering from his girlfriend's death, Snuka's real shot at fame was when he feuded with Don Muraco, a former WWE Champion. In another famous "Steel Cage Match", Snuka faced Muraco but lost. However, he had gotten the last laugh by dragging Muraco back inside the cage, and that's when Superfly's proudest moment came. He climbed up to the top of the 20-foot steel cage and executed his "Superfly Splash". This became one of the most memorable moments in WWE history. Both wrestling veterans Mick Foley and Tommy Dreamer were there when it happened. Both also shot to fame in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), which Superfly first started and he later became the first ECW Champ (during that time it was formerly known as Eastern Championship Wrestling).
Another fan favorite highlight came along when Snuka started feuding with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, which Piper called Snuka a "big shot" and a "monkey". After Snuka came out confronting Piper, Piper smashed Superfly's head with an actual coconut. The story line went through the first WrestleMania when Snuka was managing Hulk Hogan and TV veteran Mr. T in the main even against Piper and Paul Orndorff. With Snuka in Hogan and Mr. T's corner, Piper and Orndoff had Bob Orton.
After a stint of alcohol/drugs rehab, Snuka went back into wrestling, but this time, in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) where he became a tag team partner with another wrestling veteran, Verne Gagne.
After AWA, he went back into the WWE in 1989, to help younger wrestlers who would also become legends such as "Mr. Perfect" 'Curt Cunning' and "Ravishing" Rick Rude. Then 1991, he started to feud with a much younger Mark Calaway (aka "The Undertaker) and lost to 'Taker at Wrestlemania VII, marking Snuka the first victim of Undertaker's 14-0 winning streak. After leaving WWE the same year, Snuka started touring with smaller wrestling promotions and also began working again with ECW, alongside Don Muraco and wrestling legend, Terry Funk.
Then in 1996, Snuka's biggest moment of his life came. He became part of the class of 1996 to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He also was inducted with legends such as his former manager, Lou Albano, 'Killer Kowaski', and 'Pat Patterson'. He was inducted by former rival, Don Muraco.
Recently, Superfly showed up at the WWE Homecoming, and was chosen by the fans that he would team up with newcomer Eugene (Nick Dinsmore), on Taboo Tuesday in a non-title tag team match against Rob Conway and Chris Master. Both Superfly and Eugene won by pin-fall when Snuka did his signature "Superfly Splash".
When he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame back in 1996, Snuka said that even though he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, it doesn't mean he will retire from wrestling. Today, even though in his 60s, Snuka still wrestles in the independent circuit and appears on WWE, occasionally. - Actor
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Dustin Rhodes was born on 11 April 1969 in Austin, Texas, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Copper Bill (2020), Meet Me There (2014) and Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon (2016). He has been married to Ta-rel Marie Runnels since 22 June 2012. He was previously married to Milena Martelloni and Terri Runnels.- Actor
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Cody Rhodes was born on 30 June 1985 in Marietta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Arrow (2012), Warehouse 13 (2009) and WWE Smackdown! (1999). He has been married to Brandi Rhodes since 12 September 2013. They have one child.- Actor
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The son of a professional wrestler, Ted DiBiase had started his pro wrestling career as a fan favorite, but soon "changed sides" and became a heel throughout the rest of his career. DiBiase entered the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the late 1980s where he gained most of his fame as "The Million Dollar Man." He employed a valet "Virgil" (formerly "Soul Train Jones, " and was an instrumental story line when Hulk Hogan's long WWF championship reign ended. DiBiase stayed in the WWF for more nearly 10 years, ending up as a manager for (soon to be star) "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. DiBiase left the WWF when Austin (then known as "The Ring Master") lost a match, and went to the WWF's rival World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as an "advisor" to Hogan's new NWO (New World Order) gang.- Davey Boy Smith was born on 27 November 1962 in Manchester, England, UK. He was an actor, known for WCW Monday Nitro (1995), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WCW Saturday Night (1985). He was married to Diana Hart. He died on 18 May 2002 in Invermere, British Columbia, Canada.
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Swiss professional wrestler known for his work for Ring of Honor, CHIKARA, CZW, IWA Mid-South, Pro Wrestling Guerilla and many other promotions under his own name and for WWE as Cesaro, formerly Antonio Cesaro. Debuted in 2000 and competed all over Europe, debuting in the U.S. in 2004. He and Chris Hero (Chris Spradlin) formed the Kings of Wrestling in CHIKARA and would go on to be the inaugural CHIKARA Campeones de Parejas (tag team champions). They would also be 2x ROH World Tag Team Champions, 2x CZW World Tag Team Champions, 1x JCW (Juggalo Championship Wrestling, the Insane Clown Posse's promotion in Michigan) Tag Team Champions, and, in 2010, Dave Meltzer's "The Wrestling Observer Newsletter" named them the Tag Team of the Year. He has also been a PWG World Heavyweight Champion, a WWE United States Heavyweight Champion and a 4x WWE Tag Team Champion (1x w/Tyson Kidd (T.J. Wilson) and 3x w/Sheamus (Stephen Farrelly)).- Bobby Heenan was born on 1 November 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for WrestleMania X-Seven (2001), WCW Bash at the Beach (1996) and WrestleMania V (1989). He was married to Cynthia Jean Perrett. He died on 17 September 2017 in Largo, Florida, USA.
- Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. (October 29, 1949 - July 12, 2021), nicknamed "Mr. Wonderful", was an American professional wrestler and college football player, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
After seven years working around the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Orndorff became a star in the 1980s WWF wrestling boom, and featured with manager Bobby Heenan and champion Hulk Hogan extensively, including in the main events of the first WrestleMania and Survivor Series. With an untreated neck injury, he left the WWF for WCW in early 1990, where he won the WCW World Television Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship with Paul Roma (as a team called Pretty Wonderful).
Arm atrophy from a nagging injury led him to retire in 2000 and he was treated for cancer in 2011. After retiring, he trained aspiring wrestlers. Orndorff was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2009. - Robert Rechsteiner is an American real estate broker and retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Rick Steiner.
Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion (seven times with his brother Scott as half of The Steiner Brothers, and once with Kenny Kaos). In addition to tag team success, he was also a one time United States Heavyweight Champion and a three time World Television Champion. Beyond WCW, Steiner found success in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he and Scott held the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice, and the World Wrestling Federation, where they won the World Tag Team Championship twice. - Perry Saturn was born on 25 October 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He is an actor, known for WWE Smackdown! (1999), WWE Raw (1993) and WrestleMania X-Seven (2001). He has been married to Lisa Marie Kuhlemeier since June 2009.
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Retired American professional wrestler best known for his work for ECW and WCW during the 1990s. He is the son of the late wrestling legend Boris Malenko. He debuted in Florida in 1979 and proceeded to work all over the world, particularly in Japan. He teamed with his brother Joe for years. He also worked as a referee, including on the January 4, 1986 (taped December 19, 1985) "WWF Saturday Night's Main Event." While wrestling in the Junior Heavyweight division for New Japan Pro Wrestling, became part of the "Holy Trinity" or "New Japan 3" with Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero and they would go on to have numerous matches for several promotions either as teammates or as opponents. Malenko arrived in ECW in 1994 as a heel. He defeated 2 Cold Scorpio (Charles Scaggs) for the ECW World Television Title in November and held it until Scorpio regained it in March 1995. Malenko defeated Eddie Guerrero for the belt and held it for a week in July 1995. Malenko, Benoit and Shane Douglas formed the Triple Threat at the start of 1995. Malenko and Benoit defeated Sabu (Terry Brunk) and the Tazmaniac (Peter Senerchia) for the ECW World Tag Team Titles in February 1995 at "ECW Return of the Funker" and held them until the Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge (Mike Durham) and Flyboy Rocco Rock (Ted Petty) defeated them and the Tazmaniac and Rick Steiner (substituting for Sabu, who had left the company) at "ECW The Three Way Dance" on April 8th. Malenko, Guerrero and Benoit left for WCW in September 1995, with ECW announcer Joey Styles explaining that it was due to something in their contracts with New Japan, which had a working relationship with WCW. He made his home in the Cruiserweight Division, and became known as "The Man of a 1000 Holds" and "The Iceman" for his stoic nature. At "WCW Uncensored" in March 1997, he defeated Guerrero for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title and held it until Jeff Jarrett defeated him in June. At "WCW Uncensored" in March 1998, WCW World Cruiserweight Champion Chris Jericho defeated Malenko. Mean Gene Okerlund asked Malenko what he was going to do, and he said he was going "home." Malenko promptly disappeared from TV with no word being given as to where he was and what he was doing. This led to a series of hilarious promos by Chris Jericho, including the "1004 Holds" one. At "WCW Slamboree" in May 1998, there was a Cruiserweight battle royal where the winner would get a shot at Jericho's title. The match came down to Juventud Guerrera (Eduardo Hernández) and Ciclope, which was surprising since Ciclope was one of WCW's less successful luchadores. Ciclope and Juvi shook hands, and Juvi promptly eliminated himself. "Ciclope" unmasked to reveal Malenko. Malenko proceeded to defeat Jericho for the title. Later that summer, Malenko started asking Arn Anderson about reforming the Four Horsemen, who had been disbanded since the NWO (Kevin Nash/Syxx (Sean Waltman)/Buff Bagwell (Marcus Bagwell)/Konnan (Charles Ashenoff)) had defeated them in the War Games match at "WCW Fall Brawl 1997: War Games" via Curt Hennig turning heel and slamming the cage door on Ric Flair's head while Benoit and Steve "Mongo" McMichael (Steve McMichael) were handcuffed to the cage. This was during the time that Flair was off of TV due to WCW boss Eric Bischoff suing him. On the September 14, 1998 "WCW Monday Nitro," the Four Horsemen returned. Arn Anderson and former Horsemen manager James J. Dillon brought out Benoit, Malenko, McMichael and the returning Flair to the ring. This led to another feud with the NWO. At "WCW Uncensored" in March 1999, Benoit and Malenko defeated Curt Hennig and Barry Windham for the WCW World Tag Team Titles. They held the belts for two weeks, losing them to Rey Misterio Jr. and Billy Kidman on the March 29, 1999 "WCW Monday Nitro." The Horsemen broke up once and for all in the Spring. Benoit, Malenko, Perry Saturn and Shane Douglas, making his surprise return to WCW after six years, formed the Revolution out of frustration with how they were treated by the company and how the older main eventers (Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Randy Savage, etc.) got everything they wanted. The group ended at "WCW Souled Out 2000," as Benoit, Malenko, Saturn and Guerrero left for WWE. Their group was named the Radicals. Malenko defeated Essa Rios (Jose Seldano) for the WWF World Light Heavyweight Title on the March 13, 2000 "WWF Monday Night Raw" and held it until Scotty 2 Hotty (Scott Taylor) defeated him on the April 17th "Raw." Malenko regained the title on the April 27th "WWF SmackDown!" and held it until losing it to Crash Holly (Michael Lockwood) on the March 13, 2001 "WWF Sunday Night Heat." On the May 22, 2000 "Raw," the Radicals (Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn) faced the Godfather (Charles Wright) and Essa Rios. During the Godfather's usual pre-match spiel, he mentioned Dean being "the Man of 1000 Holds" and that his hos knew "1000 positions" and that Dean could have any two hos he wanted. This led to Malenko adopting a new gimmick as a James Bond-styled ladies' man. This led to Malenko pursuing Lita (Amy Dumas), and a feud between the Radicals and Team Xtreme (The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy) and Jeff Hardy) and Lita), which would be Malenko's last feud before he retired in 2001. He has worked as a road agent for WWE ever since.- Jim Neidhart was born on 8 February 1955 in Montebello, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Eastern Championship Wrestling (1993), WCW Thunder (1998) and Thunder in Paradise (1993). He was married to Ellie Hart and Joy Small. He died on 13 August 2018 in Florida, USA.
- In 2002, Asai underwent arm surgery which allowed him to return to wrestling. He signed with WWE in 2003 fulfilling two life long goals of wrestling at Madison Square Garden and WrestleMania. His contract expired in 2004 which he left on good terms. Asai now works for CMLL in Mexico City and also runs Ultimo Dragon Gym which brings Japanese wrestlers into Mexico City to train Lucha Libre.
- Actor
- Stunts
- Producer
Aron Stevens was born on 3 August 1981 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for They Came and Left (2019), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WWE NXT (2010).- Actor
- Producer
Monty Sopp was born on 11 November 1963 in Orlando, Florida, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for WWE Raw (1993), WWE NXT (2010) and WWE Smackdown! (1999). He has been married to Paula since 24 January 2009. He was previously married to Tina Tinnell.- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
Brian James was born on 20 May 1969 in Marietta, Georgia, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for WWE Raw (1993), WWE Smackdown! (1999) and WCW Saturday Night (1985). He has been married to Tracy since 14 September 1996. They have three children.- Actor
- Cinematographer
- Producer
Broke into wrestling in the Global Wrestling Federation, known then as The Lightning Kid. He is also a member of the elite group of wrestlers known as the Clique. The group which consists of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Triple H, Justin Credible, and Shawn Michaels are best friends in and out of the ring. As X-Pac, he is the leader of X Factor which is comprised of him, Albert, and Justin Credible. He was one of the first small wrestlers to ever get a big break in the WWF.- Actor
- Producer
- Stunts
John Hennigan was born on 3 October 1979 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Boone: The Bounty Hunter (2017), Birds of Prey (2020) and The Iron Sheik Massacre (2022). He has been married to Kira Hennigan since 1 June 2018.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Ian was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario but has also lived in Toronto, L.A. and Mexico City. He played junior hockey for Kingston and was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens. However, he quit hockey and decided to become a wrestler. He started in Montreal and later jonied EMLL(CMLL) in Mexico as El Vampiro Casanova Canadiense where he became a huge star. He even starred in a movie, El Vampiro, Guerrero de la Noche. He has also wrestled in AAA, Promo Azteca, Toryumon, WAR and Michinoku Pro, the latter to in Japan. He now wrestles for WCW and recently moved back to Canada. Has also been a bodyguard for Milli Vanilli( he stated this on a WCW Live chat, from his days in LA in the late 80s). Big fan of Rancid and the Misfits.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Troy Allan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name Shane Douglas. He is best known for his tenures in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Dean Douglas, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he worked as a wrestler and manager.- Jushin Liger was born on 10 November 1964 in Hiroshima, Japan. He is an actor, known for Stampede Wrestling (1957), WCW Monday Nitro (1995) and Kabuto-Ô Bîtoru (2005). He has been married to Jane Lee since 14 January 2002. They have two children.
- Peter Gruner was born on 11 May 1974 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is an actor, known for Ready to Rumble (2000), WCW Monday Nitro (1995) and WXW Rage TV (1996). He was previously married to Torrie Wilson.