1.
Carthage, North Carolina
–
Carthage is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,205 at the 2010 Census and it is the county seat of Moore County. Carthage is located at 35°19′46″N 79°24′31″W, according to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.9 square miles, of which,5.8 square miles of it is land and 0.04 square miles of it is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,871 people,653 households, the population density was 321.3 people per square mile. There were 768 housing units at a density of 131.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 67. 72% White,30. 84% African American,0. 48% Native American,0. 05% Asian,0. 37% from other races, hispanic or Latino of any race were 0. 86% of the population. 29. 7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13. 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.02. In the town, the population was out with 21. 5% under the age of 18,7. 9% from 18 to 24,26. 5% from 25 to 44,21. 9% from 45 to 64. The median age was 40 years, for every 100 females there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males, the median income for a household in the town was $35,050, and the median income for a family was $43,594. Males had an income of $32,305 versus $23,603 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,343, about 8. 1% of families and 14. 7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13. 4% of those under age 18 and 33. 9% of those age 65 or over. The town was the home of the Tyson Buggy Company, a predominant cart, a common story told by residents is that after the closing of the Tyson Buggy Company, Henry Ford was interested in buying the old plant and converting it into a car assembly line. According to the legend, the owners refused to let Ford buy the plant and this story is often repeated despite a lack of evidence, and runs contrary to the established pattern of Ford starting all of his businesses in Detroit. A few years afterwards, the Tyson Buggy plant burned down, another common story of folklore is that the town was originally to be the home of the University of North Carolina. In this story, however, city leaders determined that they didnt want the university built there, city leaders told the State that Carthage was on too steep of a hill for locomotives to climb and that access to the University would be limited if built there. This often-repeated story fails to take into consideration the fact that locomotives were not invented until two decades after the university had built in Chapel Hill. The town now has an event that takes place every spring called the Buggy Festival
2.
Professional wrestling
–
Professional wrestling is a dramatized athletic performance that portrays a combat sport. Various forms of weaponry are sometimes used, the content – including match outcomes – is scripted and choreographed, and the combative actions and reactions are performed to appear violent without injuring the wrestlers. Before the 1980s, these facts were considered trade secrets, in the mid-90s, the presentation of scripted events as legitimate is known as kayfabe. Although the combative content is staged and communicated between the wrestlers, there are physical hazards involved - including permanent injury and death. While it has declined in Europe, in North America it has experienced several different periods of prominent cultural popularity during its century. The advent of television gave professional wrestling a new outlet, unlike in Europe, show wrestling has become especially prominent in Japan and in North America. In Brazil, there was a popular wrestling television program from the 1960s to the early 1980s called Telecatch. High-profile figures in the sport have become celebrities or cultural icons in their native or adopted home countries, although professional wrestling started out as petty acts in sideshows, traveling circuses and carnivals, today it is a billion-dollar industry. Revenue is drawn from live event ticket sales, network television broadcasts, pay-per-view broadcasts, personal appearances by performers, branded merchandise, pro wrestling was also instrumental in making pay-per-view a viable method of content delivery. Annual shows such as WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, and formerly Bash at the Beach, Halloween Havoc, home video sales dominate the Billboard charts Recreational Sports DVD sales, with wrestling holding anywhere from 3 to 9 of the top 10 spots every week. Due to its persistent cultural presence and to its novelty within the performing arts, there have also been many fictional depictions of wrestling, the 2008 film The Wrestler received several Oscar nominations and began a career revival for star Mickey Rourke. Because actual events are often co-opted by writers for incorporation into storylines for the performers, special care must be taken when talking about people who perform under their own name. The actions of the character should be considered fictional events, wholly separate from the life of the performer and this is similar to other entertainers who perform with a persona that shares their own name. Some wrestlers will incorporate elements of their real-life personalities into their characters, even if they and those who participated felt that it was necessary that spectators should be kept in a constant and complete illusion of a real competition to keep audience interest. For decades, up until the mid-1980s, wrestlers lived their lives as though they were their characters. Wrestlers, bookers and promoters all rigorously enforced the illusion and very few were allowed into the society of professional wrestling to maintain suspension of disbelief. The practice of keeping the illusion, and the methods used to do so, came to be known as kayfabe within wrestling circles. An entire lexicon of slang jargon and euphemism developed to allow performers to communicate without outsiders knowledge of what was being said, occasionally a performer will deviate from the intended sequence of events
3.
Greenwich, Connecticut
–
Greenwich /ˈɡrɛnᵻtʃ/ is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 61,171. The largest town on Connecticuts Gold Coast, it is home to many hedge funds, Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut as well as the six-state region of New England. It takes roughly 40-50 minutes by train from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, cNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Greenwich first on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States in 2005. The town is named after Greenwich, a borough of London in the United Kingdom, the town of Greenwich was settled in 1640. One of the founders was Elizabeth Fones Winthrop, daughter-in-law of John Winthrop, founder, Greenwich was declared a township by the General Assembly in Hartford on May 11,1665. During the American Revolution, General Israel Putnam made an escape from the British on February 26,1779. Although British forces pillaged the town, Putnam was able to warn Stamford, p1270020-300x225. jpg | Putnam Hill, where General Putnam escaped. In 1974, Gullivers Restaurant and Bar, on the border of Greenwich and Port Chester, in 1983, the Mianus River Bridge, which carries traffic on Interstate 95 over an estuary, collapsed, resulting in the death of three people. For many years, Greenwich Point, was only to town residents. However, a lawyer sued, saying his rights to freedom of assembly were threatened because he was not allowed to go there, the lower courts disagreed, but the Supreme Court of Connecticut agreed, and Greenwich was forced to amend its beach access policy to all four beaches. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 67.2 square miles, of which 47.8 square miles is land and 19.4 square miles. In terms of area, Greenwich is twice the size of Manhattan. The town is bordered to the west and north by Westchester County, New York, to the east by the city of Stamford, and faces the Village of Bayville to the south across the Long Island Sound. The Census Bureau recognizes seven CDPs within the town, Byram, Cos Cob, Glenville, Old Greenwich, Pemberwick, Riverside, the USPS lists separate zip codes for Greenwich, Cos Cob, Old Greenwich, and Riverside. Additionally, Greenwich is often divided into several smaller, unofficial neighborhoods. The Hispanic population is concentrated in the corner of the town. In 2011, numerous neighborhoods were voted by the Business Insider as being the richest neighborhoods in America, Byram, Cos Cob, Greenwich, Old Greenwich, and Riverside each have their own ZIP Codes and with the exception of Byram, each has a Metro North station
4.
WWE
–
Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. was an American professional wrestling promotion and the sanctioning body for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and later World Wrestling Federation. Founded by Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt in 1953, Capitol Wrestling Corporation is the precursor to todays WWE, run by Jess grandson, Jess McMahon was a successful boxing promoter who began working with Tex Rickard in 1926. With the help of Rickard, he began promoting boxing at the third Madison Square Garden, a few years prior, professional wrestler Toots Mondt had created a new challenge of professional wrestling that he called “Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling”. He convinced wrestler Ed Lewis and his manager Billy Sandow to implement this new solution, after much success, a disagreement over power caused the trio to dissolve and, with it, their promotion. Mondt later formed partnerships with other promoters, including Jack Curley in New York City. Mondt eventually took over the New York wrestling scene, due to the fact Curley was dying, with the aid of several bookers, together, McMahon and Mondt created the Capitol Wrestling Corporation Ltd. which later joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 1953. In November 1954, Jess McMahon died and Ray Fabiani, one of Mondts associates, both men left the company in protest following the incident and formed the WWWF in the process, awarding Rogers the new WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in April of that year. He lost the championship to Bruno Sammartino a month later on May 17,1963, after gaining a television program deal and turning preliminary wrestler Lou Albano as a manager for Sammartinos heel opponents, the WWWF was doing sell out business by 1970. Mondt left the company in the late 1960s and although the WWWF had withdrawn from the NWA, Vince McMahon, at the annual meeting of the NWA in 1983, the McMahons and WWF employee Jim Barnett all withdrew from the organization. By March 1979, for marketing purposes, the World Wide Wrestling Federation was renamed the World Wrestling Federation and that same year, Vincent J. McMahons son, Vincent K. McMahon, founded Titan Sports, Inc. incorporated on February 21,1980, originally in Massachusetts. In 1982, Titan Sports Inc. acquired Capitols operations, effectively relocating its headquarters to Greenwich, in an attempt to make the WWF the premier wrestling promotion in the world, McMahon began an expansion that fundamentally changed the industry. In the end, the elder McMahon would never live to see his company grow from a promotion to what is now a worldwide organization. He died from cancer at 69 years old on May 24,1984. By 1985, Titan moved to Stamford, Connecticut then establishing a new entity in 1987 in Delaware which later merged with the old company in 1988. Titan later changed its name to World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. before finally becoming World Wrestling Entertainment, list of independent wrestling promotions in the United States
5.
The Hardy Boyz
–
The Hardy Boyz, often referred to simply as The Hardys, are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Jeff and Matt Hardy. They are the current tag team champions of six promotions, most notably being the reigning Raw Tag Team Champions in WWE and they both signed contracts with the World Wrestling Federation in 1998. In 2000, they were joined by Lita, and the trio became Team Xtreme, after splitting as a team in 2002, the brothers reunited in 2006 and teamed sporadically afterward. They also appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, briefly reuniting in 2011 as members of Immortal, the Hardy Boyz gained fame for their participation in ladder matches and Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches with The Dudley Boyz/Team 3D and Edge and Christian. They are the team to have held the WWF/World, WCW, TNA, ROH. Both brothers also won championships during their run as a tag team. In 2017, they held seven Tag Team Championships from seven different promotions at the same time and they are the only tag team in history to be recognized as the TNA and ROH Tag Team Champions simultaneously. At WrestleMania 33, the Hardy Boyz made their return after 8 years to the WWE, winning the Raw Tag Team Championships in a fatal 4 way match. Real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy formed a tag team in 1993 after Jeffs debut in the Trampoline Wrestling Federation, the promotion went by several names, and in 1997, it was modernized as the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts. The duo worked in several North Carolinian independent promotions holding the OMEGA Tag Team Championship, after being signed to a contract in 1998, they were trained by Dory Funk, Jr. in his Funkin Dojo. The Hardy Boyz started their run as a tag team with a win over Kaientai on the September 27,1998 episode of Sunday Night Heat. Soon after their Sunday Night Heat win, they built up a fan following through their high-flying tag team tactics. They started to become contenders for the Tag Team Championship after they became managed by Michael Hayes. They eventually dumped Hayes as their manager in August 1999, becoming villains, the fans also gave both teams a standing ovation the next night on Raw Is War. This began a two year rivalry between the Hardy Boyz and the team of Edge and Christian. During this time, they gained notoriety as a faction with Lita. With the addition of Lita, Matt and Jeff comprised the trio dubbed Team Xtreme, in 2000, they were involved in feuds with Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boyz in many ladder matches and TLC matches. They faced Edge and Christian and the Dudley Boyz at WrestleMania 2000 in a triple tag team ladder match
6.
Cameron, North Carolina
–
Cameron is a town in Moore County, North Carolina in the United States. The population was 285 at the 2010 census, cameron grew up around a plank road that was followed in later years by a railroad. The town was planned in 1875 and incorporated in 1876, cameron was at the end of the Raleigh and Augusta Railroad. Its location made it a place of entrepreneurs to establish businesses. They built turpentine distilleries, established mercantile and hotel businesses to serve the needs of the customers and built a thriving dewberry farming. Cameron is located at 35°19′34″N 79°15′11″W, according to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square mile, all land. Neighboring towns include Vass to the south and Carthage to the west, as of the census of 2000, there were 151 people,66 households, and 41 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.8 people per square mile, there were 78 housing units at an average density of 74.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 64. 90% White and 35. 10% Black,31. 8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16. 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the family size was 2.88. In the town, the population was out with 17. 9% under the age of 18,9. 9% from 18 to 24,30. 5% from 25 to 44,20. 5% from 45 to 64. The median age was 42 years, for every 100 females there were 75.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males, the median income for a household in the town was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $41,964. Males had an income of $32,917 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,337, there were 17. 9% of families and 21. 3% of the population living below the poverty line, including 13. 5% of those under eighteen and 45. 8% of those over 64
7.
WWE Raw
–
WWE Raw, also known as Monday Night Raw or simply Raw, is a professional wrestling television program that currently airs live on Monday evenings at 8 pm EST on the USA Network in the United States. The shows name is used to refer to the Raw brand, in which WWE employees are assigned to work and perform on that program. The show debuted on January 11,1993 and has since been considered as the program of WWE. Raw moved from the USA Network to TNN in September 2000, on October 3,2005, Raw returned to the USA Network, where it remains today. As of December 9,2016, all episodes of the show are now available on demand on the WWE Network, since its first episode, Raw has broadcast live from 208 different arenas in 171 cities and towns in eleven different nations. Following the 1000th episode on July 23,2012, Raw became a three-hour broadcast from two hours, a format that had previously reserved for special episodes. Beginning as WWFs Monday Night Raw, the program first aired on January 11,1993 on the USA Network as a replacement for Prime Time Wrestling, the original Raw was sixty minutes in length and broke new ground in televised professional wrestling. Traditionally, wrestling shows were taped on sound stages with small audiences or at large arena shows, the Raw formula was considerably different from the taped weekend shows that aired at the time such as Superstars and Wrestling Challenge. Instead of matches taped weeks in advance with studio voice overs and taped discussion, Raw was a shot and aired to a live audience. Raw originated from the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios, a small New York City theater, the combination of an intimate venue and live action proved to be a successful improvement. However, the live schedule proved to be a financial drain on the WWF. From Spring 1993 up until Spring 1997, Raw would tape several weeks worth of episodes after an episode had aired. The WWF taped several weeks worth of Raw from the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York in April 1993, up until that point, unless it was part of an ongoing feud or a title match, most matches on nationally televised WWF programs were primarily squash matches. Only Saturday Nights Main Event and The Main Event generally featured the type of matches Raw had, though unlike Raw, huge storyline-developing matches were regularly featured, such as Ric Flair vs. Mr. Perfect in January 1993, this would be Flairs last appearance in the company for almost 9 years, also, The 1–2–3 Kids upset victory over Razor Ramon in May 1993 would result in The Kid becoming an upper roster mainstay for years to come. Vince McMahon, Randy Savage and Rob Bartlett were the hosts of the show. Bartlett, a comedian who previously had nothing to do with the wrestling industry, Lawler has since been named as a permanent co-host for SmackDown and later pre-shows. Corey Graves would later replace JBL, on September 4,1995, the WWFs chief competitor World Championship Wrestling began airing its new wrestling show, Monday Nitro, live each week on TNT
8.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
–
Steve Austin, better known by the ring name Stone Cold Steve Austin, is an American actor, media personality, producer, and retired professional wrestler who is signed to a Legends contract with WWE. Veteran pro wrestling journalist Wade Keller remarked that Austin is in conversation for the greatest wrestling act of all time, as well as for the most profitable. This persona of Austins became the poster boy of the Attitude Era and he also devised the long-standing What. Several prominent industry figures, including McMahon, have declared Austin to be the biggest star in WWF/E history, while stressing that he surpassed the popularity of Hulk Hogan. He was also the winner of the 1996 King of the Ring tournament, as well as the 1997,1998, furthermore, under The Ringmaster moniker, he was awarded the unsanctioned Million Dollar Championship by the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase. Austin has headlined multiple pay-per-view events for the WWF, including three WrestleManias and he was forced to retire from in-ring competition in 2003 due to a series of knee injuries and a serious neck injury. Throughout the rest of 2003 and 2004, he was featured as the Co-General Manager, since 2005, he has continued to make occasional appearances, and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 by Vince McMahon. In 2011, Austin returned to WWE to host the reboot of the reality series Tough Enough, Austin was born in Austin, Texas. His parents, James and Beverly Anderson, divorced when he was around a year old and his mother moved to Victoria, Texas, and in 1968, married Ken Williams. Austin adopted his stepfathers surname and later, legally changed his name to Steven James Williams and he spent most of his childhood in Edna, Texas. After finishing his schooling from Edna High School, Austin got a scholarship at Wharton County Junior College. Austin has three brothers, Scott, Kevin, and Jeff and one sister, Jennifer. Kevin is less than a younger and Austin has hypothesized in his autobiography that their father may have left because he couldnt handle having another child so soon. Deciding to become a wrestler, Austin joined Chris Adams school in the Dallas Sportatorium, Adams training was purely technical, teaching Austin the moves, but nothing relating to kayfabe or business. His first lesson in that came from Tony Falk, the referee in his 1989 televised WCCW debut against Frogman LeBlanc, who called the spots to lead him to a pinfall and a $40 payday. He later returned to Dallas and feuded with Adams, managed by Percy Pringle and it was during this time Austin adopted the Stunning nickname that followed him to WCW. Austin left the USWA in 1990 and signed with WCW the next year and he was originally paired with a valet named Vivacious Veronica, but was later joined by Jeannie Adams, known as Lady Blossom. Just weeks after his debut, Austin defeated Bobby Eaton for his first WCW World Television Championship on June 3,1991, later that year, Austin joined Paul E. Dangerouslys Dangerous Alliance
9.
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
–
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment, known at the time as the World Wrestling Federation. It debuted on September 6,1986, Superstars, as it would later be known, was the flagship program of the WWFs syndicated programming from its inception until the premiere of Monday Night Raw in 1993. In September 1986, Superstars replaced WWF Championship Wrestling, before that, WWF Superstars Of Wrestling was the name of a weekly recap show hosted by Vince McMahon and Lord Alfred Hayes that lasted from 1984 through August 1986. The new version of Superstars was where all the angles began and at times ended, matches primarily saw top tier and mid-level talent versus jobbers, pre-taped interviews with the WWFs roster of superstars, and promos featuring the wrestlers. At times, there was a match between main WWF talent. As with all syndicated WWF programming, another aspect of the show was to promote house shows. However this repackaging was, at the time, sufficient to allow the program to count towards Canadian content requirements for television stations. The show began airing also in 1986 in the United Kingdom on Saturday nights on Sky Channel, for a short time, it was shown on Tuesdays on Eurosport. Early in the 1990s, it was featured in a Friday night time slot, in the mid-1990s, Superstars was then moved to a Sunday morning time slot. For most of it run in the United Kingdom Gorilla Monsoon was the play-by-play commentator with various color commentators throughout its history. Since then, archival footage of the program has usually been shown with the words of Wrestling blurred out where applicable, after this aired December 7, it remained vacant until January 19,1992 when Ric Flair won the title by winning the 1992 Royal Rumble. In September 1996, Superstars left syndication and moved to USA Network in place of WWF Action Zone, although for a brief period the show continued in its same format, as time went on more and more recaps of the WWFs other programming began to fill the hour. By March 1997, Superstars was solely a summary program and continued in that manner until its eventual ending, in 1997, the format of Superstars as aired in the United Kingdom also changed and began to only feature weekly summaries of Monday Night Raw. Superstars served as a show for SmackDown. as well. When the WWF moved its cable TV contract to TNN in September 2000, the show was then discontinued in August 2001. The show continued until December 2002 in the UK, until it was replaced by Heat in January 2003, many of these title changes were not aired for up to several weeks after they took place. The Hart Foundation defeating the British Bulldogs for the WWF World Tag Team Championship on February 7,1987, the Honky Tonk Man defeating Ricky The Dragon Steamboat for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship on June 13,1987. Strike Force defeating the Hart Foundation for the WWF World Tag Team Championship on November 7,1987, Demolition defeating the Brain Busters for the WWF World Tag Team Championship on November 4,1989
10.
Davey Boy Smith
–
David Davey Boy Smith was a British professional wrestler. Born in Golborne, Lancashire, Smith is best known for his appearances in the United States with the World Wrestling Federation under his own name and under the ring name The British Bulldog. He was trained by Ted Betley in Winwick, England before relocating to Calgary, Alberta, while training with Hart, Smith met Stu and Helen Harts youngest daughter Diana, whom he married in 1984. One of their two children, Harry, is also a professional wrestler, Smith won titles within the WWF in three decades, from the 1980s to the 2000s. Never a world champion, Smith nevertheless headlined multiple pay-per-view events in the WWF and WCW, in which he challenged for the WWF-, prior to finding singles success, Smith achieved stardom as one half of The British Bulldogs tag team, alongside the Dynamite Kid. Smith was born in Golborne, where he grew up with his father Sid, mother Joyce, his brother, Terrence and sisters, Joanne and Tracy. Joyce was the sister of Bill Billington, the father of Tom Billington, also known as the Dynamite Kid, Davey Boy Smith started competing on ITVs World of Sport when he was only 15, wrestling under the name Young David with his slightly older cousin Tom Billington. He was then spotted by Bruce Hart scouting talent in the UK, Stu Hart and Roy Wood trained Smith further in his Dungeon and Smith became a key wrestler in Harts promotion, Stampede Wrestling. In 1983, Smith debuted in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he involved in a three-way feud with Dynamite Kid. On 7 February 1984, a three-way, one-night tournament was held, and Dynamite Kid won the tournament by defeating Smith via count-out, after the tournament, Smith and Dynamite Kid formed a tag team in both New Japan and in Stampede Wrestling known as the British Bulldogs. In 1984, the Bulldogs made a move by jumping to New Japans rival. The Bulldogs made a showing in the tournament, which drew the interest of the World Wrestling Federation. The Bulldogs, along with Smiths brothers-in-law Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart were brought in to World Wrestling Federation after Vince McMahon bought out Stampede Wrestling, at first, the Bulldogs were able to tour both WWF and All Japan, but eventually McMahon gained exclusive rights to the Bulldogs. While in the WWF, the Bulldogs began a running feud with Hart and Neidhart. The Bulldogs also feuded with the Dream Team, at WrestleMania 2, with Captain Lou Albano and Ozzy Osbourne in their corner, the Bulldogs defeated the Dream Team for the Tag Team Championship. The Bulldogs held the titles for nine months, feuding with the Dream Team and Nikolai Volkoff. On the January 26,1987 episode of Superstars, the Bulldogs lost the titles to the Hart Foundation due to a back injury to the Dynamite Kid. After losing the titles, the Bulldogs gained a mascot, a bulldog who went by the name Matilda, and feuded with the likes of The Islanders, Demolition
11.
Jeff Hardy
–
Hardy is best known for his work during his first run in the World Wrestling Federation, later renamed to World Wrestling Entertainment, and he also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Before gaining prominence in WWE, Hardy performed for the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts, after being signed by WWE, the brothers worked as enanchment talents, before gaining notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches. With the addition of Lita, the became known as Team Xtreme. As a tag team wrestler, Hardy is a world tag team champion – all with his brother Matt. On the independent circuit, Jeff was also one-half of the OMEGA Tag Team Champions with Matt in their second reign and one-half of the The Crash Tag Team Champions with Matt in their first reign. As a singles wrestler, Hardy is a world champion. Between WWE, TNA, and ROH, Hardy has won 25 total championships, Hardy is involved in motocross, music, painting, and other artistic endeavors. He is currently a member of the band PeroxWhy. Gen, Jeff Hardy is the son of Gilbert and Ruby Moore Hardy, and the younger brother of Matt Hardy. Their mother died of cancer in 1986, when Hardy was nine. He developed an interest in motocross aged 12 and got his first bike and he had his first race when he was in ninth grade. Hardy played baseball as a child, but had to stop after he crashed during a motocross race and he also played football during high school as a fullback and linebacker. He briefly competed in wrestling in high school. He had to stop playing football in school, after he was ordered to pick between professional wrestling and football, and he chose wrestling. Hardys favorite subjects in school were U. S. history and art, Hardy, along with his brother Matt and friends, started their own federation, the Trampoline Wrestling Federation and mimicked the moves they saw on television. Later on, the TWF went under different names, eventually being integrated into a county fair in North Carolina. The brothers and their friends began to work for other independent companies. They drove all over the East Coast of the United States, working for such as ACW. Before arriving in the WWF, Jeff and Matt formed their own wrestling promotion, the promotion was a more successful version of the original TWF and included talent such as both Hardy brothers, Shannon Moore, Gregory Helms, Joey Matthews, and Steve Corino, among others
12.
Shane McMahon
–
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American businessman and part-time professional wrestler who is a minority owner of WWE and the vice-chairman of Wecast Holdings inc. He is currently the commissioner of WWEs weekly television show SmackDown. McMahon is a wrestling promoter as a member of the McMahon family. He began working in WWE at age 15, starting in their warehouse, McMahon was also a referee, producer, announcer, and eventually a wrestler on-screen, while also becoming WWEs Executive Vice President of Global Media behind the scenes. As a wrestler, he won the European Championship once and the Hardcore Championship once, in 2009, McMahon announced his resignation from WWE which went into effect January 1,2010. He later became CEO of entertainment service company YOU On Demand in late 2010, on February 22,2016, he returned to the WWE as an on-screen character. On October 21,2006, Pride Fighting Championships held Pride 32 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Shane was in attendance at the event, resulting in speculation that WWE could be considering promoting MMA events. On November 17, WWE and Dream Stage Entertainment officials, the parent company of Pride Fighting Championships, had a meeting at WWE global headquarters in Stamford, the meeting focused on the possibility of the two groups doing some form of business together in the future. Yet on March 27,2007, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, president of DSE, announced that Station Casinos, Inc. Later in November, McMahon and WWE Canada President Carl DeMarco traveled to South America to finalize a major TV deal in Brazil, No specific reason was given for the resignation. McMahon stated in the WWE press release, Having been associated with this organization for the majority of my life, thus ending his 20-year stint with the company on January 1,2010. McMahons resignation left only two members of the McMahon family active within the company, his father Vince, and his sister. The company is based in Boulder County, Colorado, McMahon also sits on the Board of Directors for International Sports Management representing talent such as Ernie Els and Rory McIlroy. He was seen at the hole of the 2011 U. S. Open with Rory McIlroys father just minutes before Rory confirmed his first U. S Open win. McMahon was also seen shaking the hand of new Open champion Darren Clarke as he left the 18th green at Royal St. George on July 17,2011, Clarke was also represented by International Sports Management. In 2010, McMahon became the CEO of You On Demand, in 2013, McMahon stepped down as CEO but remains Vice Chairman of the Board of You On Demand. McMahon is also an owner of the Indian Larry Motorcycle Shop in Brooklyn. He also refereed during the 1991 Royal Rumble match, McMahon soon left behind his refereeing duties and took on the role of a backstage official at WrestleMania VIII in an attempt to break up a storyline brawl between Randy Savage and Ric Flair
13.
WrestleMania 2000
–
WrestleMania 2000 was the sixteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on April 2,2000, at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim in Anaheim, the main feud heading into WrestleMania was between Triple H, The Rock, Mick Foley, and The Big Show, with the four feuding over the WWF Championship. The proceeding month at No Way Out, The Big Show defeated The Rock to gain entry into the WWF Championship match at WrestleMania, also at the event, Triple H defeated Foley in a Hell in a Cell match to retain the WWF Championship. Per the pre-match stipulation, Foley had to retire from professional wrestling, the following week, after Triple H retained his title against both The Rock and The Big Show, Linda McMahon added Mick Foley to the match, which thereby became a Four-Way match. The second main feud heading into the event was between Edge and Christian versus The Hardy Boyz versus The Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championship in a Triangle Ladder match. On the edition of January 17 of Raw, Jeff Hardy was scheduled to face Bubba Ray Dudley in a match, the match saw Jeff pinning Bubba Ray after delivering a Swanton Bomb. After the match, the Dudleys attacked the Hardy Boyz, in which they powerbombed Matt on top of a table, on the edition of January 20 of SmackDown. Matt was placed in a match again D-Von Dudley, the win was given to Matt, after a disqualification took place. Jeff and Bubba Ray made their way to the ring, in both teams began brawling against one another. Bubba Ray prepared to powerbomb Matt into a table, that was set up by the Dudleys, Bubba Ray, however, was hit by Jeff with a chair, causing him to fall onto the tables. The Hardys then set up a table of their own and put D-Von on it, at the Royal Rumble, the Hardys defeated the Dudleys in a tag team tables match. The following night after the Royal Rumble, the Dudleys showed respect towards the Hardys in which they would help defeat the New Age Outlaws for the World Tag Team Championship. In return, the Hardys would have to grant the Dudleys a title shot at the Tag Team Championship, during the tag title match, the Dudleys stopped the three count, after the Hardys had the match in their favor and allowing the Outlaws to retain the titles. After the match, the Dudleys then went on to perform the 3-D on them, Crash decided that he was tired of being on guard all the time and offered a shot to any wrestler for WrestleMania, provided that the 24/7 rule would be suspended until afterward. Several wrestlers took Crash up on his offer and the became a battle royal. Before the opening video, Lilian Garcia sang America the Beautiful, the first match that aired was a tag team match between the team of The Godfather and DLo Brown against the team of The Big Boss Man and Bull Buchanan. The Godfather and Brown gained the advantage over Buchanan and Bossman, as they were able to execute a leg drop. Buchanan and Bossman, yet, retaliated after Bossman delivered a Sidewalk slam and Buchanan delivered a Leg drop from the top turnbuckle into a pinfall, the second match was a hardcore battle royal for the WWF Hardcore Championship involving defending champion Crash Holly
14.
WWE Hardcore Championship
–
The WWE Hardcore Championship was a hardcore wrestling championship in WWE, which was contested under hardcore rules. In the latter part of the history, a rule was implemented allowing anyone to challenge the champion at any place or time. It was established on November 2,1998 with Mankind as the inaugural champion, in 2002, it was unified with the WWE Intercontinental Championship by Rob Van Dam, the final Hardcore Champion. Mr. McMahon awarded Mankind the World Wrestling Federation Hardcore Championship on November 2,1998, after Mankind lost the title to Big Boss Man, he never attempted to recapture its mainly because of the main event push he received shortly afterward. At the time of conception, the idea was for the belt to be used in segments to play on Mankinds reputation as a hardcore wrestler. However, as Mankind and hardcore wrestling became more popular with audiences and its popularity led competitor World Championship Wrestling to create its own Hardcore Championship, a move followed by numerous independent promotions. When Crash Holly won the belt, he introduced the 24/7 rule which said the belt was to be defended at all times, as long as a referee was present. This allowed for many comic moments, such as the belt changing hands while the champion was asleep. At WrestleMania X8, Maven defended the title against Goldust, after they knocked each other out with trash can lids, Spike Dudley entered and pinned Maven to win the title. Then, in the area, The Hurricane pinned Spike for the title. Mighty Molly told The Hurricane to go to the Hurri-cycle before knocking him out with a frying pan when his back was turned, while looking for a safe place, Christian won the title by pinning Molly after hitting her in the head with a door. As he was about to leave the building in a taxi, he was attacked and pinned by Maven, Trish Stratus faced Jazz for the Womens Championship, and lost due to Richards interference. After the match, Bubba Ray Dudley attacked Richards from behind, Raven appeared and pinned Dudley, but quickly lost the title to Justin Credible, who was then pinned by Crash Holly. Dudley hit Holly with a trash can, but Stratus stole the pin on him, Dudley tried to attack Stratus from behind, but Jazz sprayed him with a fire extinguisher. Richards then stole the pin of the night after Dudley accidentally powerbombed Stratus through a wooden table. This rule has allowed the shortest title reigns and quickest title changes in WWE history, four women have held the Hardcore Championship, Molly Holly, Trish Stratus, Terri Runnels, and The Godfathers ho. The championship often changed hands at house shows, to give the audience a big moment, in the end, the title always returned to its original holder. At WrestleMania 2000, a royal match, in the style of Championship Scramble was booked where the title changed hands 10 times during the 15 minutes
15.
William Regal
–
Darren Kenneth Matthews is an English retired professional wrestler, trainer, author, color commentator, commissioner, and head talent scout. He is currently signed to WWE under the ring name William Regal and he is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal. Having started his career on a rare surviving carnival booth in Britain, he moved on to wrestle for national-level promotions on the British wrestling circuit and on British television. He then progressed to touring around the world, in such as Germany and South Africa. In 2001, after leaving WCW, Matthews joined the World Wrestling Federation, more recently, he has been general manager of Raw, the 2008 King of the Ring, and the official match coordinator for NXT Redemption in 2011. He is currently the manager of NXT. He is highly respected amongst his peers and fans and has achieved considerable success in professional wrestling. Throughout his career, he has won titles, including four in WCW and 15 in WWE. He has overcome multiple drug problems as well as a heart defect during his career. Matthews was born in Codsall, Staffordshire and he made his ring debut wrestling for promoter Bobby Barron at his wrestling challenge booth at the Horseshoe Showbar at Blackpool Pleasure Beach at the age of fifteen. In time, he graduated to be a shooter at the booth, by this time, he wrestled professionally all over Britain for All Star Wrestling where he regularly teamed with Robbie Brookside as The Golden Boys tag team. Both Regal and Brookside appeared in televised matches during the final years of ITVs coverage of British wrestling. He went on to worldwide, including Germany and South Africa. During this early period, Matthews was billed as Steve Regal, the other was a brief stint for Joint Promotions in 1986 where he wrestled his first two televised matches under the name Roy Regal. Regal made his debut on the January 30,1993 episode of Saturday Night. Shortly after his debut, Regal entered a tournament for the vacant World Television Championship and he became the villain Lord Steven Regal on the June 12 episode of Saturday Night, claiming descent from William the Conqueror and Sir William began serving as his manager. At times arrogantly charming in this persona, one of his statements to a post-match interviewer was. To wake up a half an hour earlier so I can hate you more and his first major win after the character change was against Marcus Alexander Bagwell on the June 16 episode of Clash of the Champions
16.
Ron Killings
–
Ronnie Aaron Ron Killings is an American professional wrestler, actor and rapper. He is signed to WWE under the ring name R-Truth performing on the Raw brand, Killings is a former one time United States Champion and a one time Tag Team Champion as R-Truth, and a two time Hardcore Champion under the ring name K-Kwik. Between 2010 and 2011, Killings headlined five WWE pay-per-view events, while in TNA, Killings also held the NWA World Tag Team Championship on two occasions and the TNA World Tag Team Championship once. Killings was born in Atlanta, Georgia but raised in Charlotte and his family was poor and both Killings and his father sold cannabis to try to make ends meet. From a young age, Killings had developed a love for hip hop and breakdancing, Killings also continued dealing drugs in order to help his music career financially and was arrested, spending 13 months incarcerated. Killings spent two years working on his career and then contacted Crockett once more and expressed an interest in becoming a wrestler. Crockett, by now the senior cameraman for World Championship Wrestling, took Killings to several WCW and Pro Wrestling Federation events, Killings debuted in the Pro Wrestling Federation in 1997 as a manager, then spent three years traveling and training with Manny Fernandez. In 1999, he debuted in NWA Wildside as K-Krush, where he was awarded the newly created NWA Wildside Television Championship on December 12 and he was known as K-Kwik when he joined World Wrestling Federation in 2001. At the urging of Rick Michaels, Killings sent a videotape to the World Wrestling Federation. He was signed to a developmental contract in 1999 and was assigned to Memphis Championship Wrestling. On April 12 in Robinsonville, Mississippi, he won a royal to claim the vacant Southern Heavyweight Championship. He lost the title to a masked Jerry Lawler on May 24 in Tunica, Mississippi and his second reign ended on November 3, when he lost to Steve Bradley in Manila, Arkansas. Killings was then promoted to the roster and put in a tag team with Road Dogg. He debuted on the November 13,2000 episode of Raw is War, Killings and the Road Dogg began rapping together, performing a song called Gettin Rowdy as they approached the ring. Upon the return of Road Doggs former partner Billy Gunn later that month, at Survivor Series, Killings teamed with former DX members Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, and Chyna to face The Radicalz in a Survivor Series match. Killings was eliminated and the Radicalz went on to win the match, at Armageddon, Killings and the Road Dogg took part in a four-way tag team match for the Tag Team Championship, which was won by Edge and Christian. After Road Dogg was suspended in December and eventually released on January 26,2001, Killings became a singles competitor and he took part in the 2001 Royal Rumble, but was eliminated by Big Show. Killings then began competing in the hardcore division and he defeated Raven for the Hardcore Championship on February 3, but lost the title to Crash Holly that same evening under the titles 24/7 rules
17.
Powerbomb
–
A powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position and he is then lifted on the wrestlers shoulders and slammed down back-first to the mat. A prawn hold is used for a pinning powerbomb. Powerbombs are sometimes used in mixed martial arts competitions, when a fighter attempts to slam another fighter who has him trapped in a triangle choke, in professional wrestling, it is also sometimes used by a bigger wrestler as a counter to an attempted hurricanrana by a smaller wrestler. While it was associated with super-heavyweight wrestlers, the move was innovated by Lou Thesz, often the wrestler drops to a seated position while spinning the opponent. Styles with the name Rack Bomb, also known as a sitout two-handed chokeslam and a choke driver. The most common move referred to as a chokebomb sees a wrestler grasps an opponents neck with both hands and then lift them up into the air. From here the wrestler would throw the opponent back down to the mat while falling to a seated position. This would see the opponent land in a position where their legs are wrapped around the wrestler with their back and this allows the attacking wrestler to lean forward and place both his/her arms on the opponent for a pinfall attempt. A falling version exists, and usually ends with the attacking wrestler pinning the opponent immediately while still holding the throat after the move has already been executed. The wrestler places his opponents head in between his legs then grabs the opponents stomach and lifts his opponent over his shoulder and holds both his arms in a position over his head. The wrestler finally runs or falls to his/her knees and throws his opponent onto the mat back/neck first, WWE superstar Sheamus employs the running variation, dubbing it the High Cross. The falling variation is associated with Razor Ramon, who called it Razors Edge. This move is used by Roman Reigns as a signature move and was also commonly performed by Matt Hardy. A top rope version was used by Konnan as well, one opponent is placed on the attackers shoulders as per a standard powerbomb, then the other will be placed on the first opponents shoulders, facing in the same direction. This is normally performed by putting the first opponents head between the legs while they are sitting on the second or top turnbuckle. Finally, both opponents will be slammed to the mat, also known as a Tiger Bomb. The wrestler faces a bent over opponent, and hooks each of the arms behind the opponents back
18.
Professional wrestling attacks
–
Attacking maneuvers are offensive moves in professional wrestling, used to set up an opponent for a submission hold or for a throw. There are a variety of attacking moves in pro wrestling. Professional wrestlers frequently give their finishers new names, occasionally, these names become popular and are used regardless of the wrestler performing the technique. Professional wrestling contains a variety of punches and kicks found in martial arts and other fighting sports, many of the moves below can also be performed from a raised platform, these are called aerial variations. Moves are listed under general categories whenever possible, also known as a splash, a body press involves a wrestler falling against the opponent with the core of their body. It is executed from a running or jumping position, using momentum and weight to impact the opponent and this attack is a plancha in lucha libre. The big splash involves a wrestler jumping forward and landing stomach-first across an opponent lying on the ground below, on some occasions a wrestler has a short running start before executing the move. The wrestler charges into an opponent in the corner of the ring without leaving their feet and this is normally used by bigger, heavier wrestlers. There is also a variation, known as a diving crossbody. A move named after Sting, who popularized it, the Stinger splash involves the wrestler trapping his opponent in a corner. This move is described as a crossbody as a counter of a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker/tilt-a-whirl mat slam. The bronco buster is normally treated as having comic or sexual connotations rather than as a painful move. Similar to a bronco buster, the wrestler jumps onto a standing opponent in the corner, straddling and sitting on the opponents chest. The attacking wrestler then follows with mounted punches, the act of a wrestler to slap the chest of his opponent with the palm of the hand using a backhand swing. Many wrestlers use this chop, often referring to it as a knife edge chop, because it was popularized by Ric Flair the crowd always responds with a woo noise. Sometimes referred to as a frying pan chop or an open-hand chop, the act of slapping the chest of the opponent using the forehand. A downward diagonal backhand chop to the side of the opponents neck, the act of karate chopping both the opponents shoulders and sides of the neck with the hands edges in a swinging motion at the same time. Also known as a brain chop or a tomahawk chop, the wrestler draws his hand back and hits the opponent vertically with a backhand chop, usually hitting the head
19.
Powerslam
–
A powerslam is a professional wrestling body slam move in which the wrestler performing the slam falls face-down on top of his/her opponent. The use of the term usually refers to the front powerslam. The wrestler lifts the opponent up on his shoulder, as in a front powerslam. Then, the arm is wrapped around the opponents neck. The wrestler then sits down while dropping the opponent vertically to the side, driving the opponent neck-. The move was innovated by Mitsuharu Misawa and is known as a sitout side powerslam. This move is known as a falling slam or a reverse fallaway slam. Facing the opponent, the reaches between the opponents legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the same side with the other arm. The wrestler lifts the opponent up so they are horizontal across the wrestlers body, an inverted version exists, where the opponent is lifted from behind and slammed in a manner similar to a falling slam, only on their face/abdomen. The wrestler lifts the opponent across their shoulders in a carry, grabs their right leg and pushes it up. The wrestler then falls forward, slamming the opponent down on their back in a front powerslam, the most common powerslam variation, it is also often referred to simply as a powerslam. The attacking wrestler reaches between an opponents legs with one arm and reaches around their back from the side with their other arm before then lifting the opponent up over their shoulder. From this position, the wrestler falls forward to slam the opponent against the mat back-first, wrestlers often run forward as they slam and there is also inverted variation of the front powerslam. The move, also known as a military press powerslam or falling press slam, is similar to a press slam. The attacking wrestler grabs the opponents waist, as in a gutwrench, from this position, the attacking wrestler then sits down and simultaneously flips the opponent forwards and downwards, slamming them down to the ground face-first to one side. The wrestler reaches between the legs with one arm and around the opponents back from the same side with the other arm. The wrestler then lifts the opponent up over their shoulder, and runs towards the ring corner, the wrestler keeps the hold and slams the opponent to the opposite corner as well. The wrestler then runs to the middle of the ring and falls down forward and this move was popularized and named by Dr. Death Steve Williams
20.
Suplex
–
A suplex is an offensive move used in both professional and amateur wrestling. A suplex is a throw that involves lifting the opponent and bridging or rolling to slam the opponent on their back, though there are many variations, the term suplex can also refer specifically to the vertical suplex. In Olympic and amateur wrestling there exists a move called a souplex, pronounced suplay, during his career, pro wrestling commentator Gordon Solie used the soo-PLAY pronunciation, but almost all other pro wrestling talent pronounces it SOO-plex. Professional wrestling features many different varieties of suplexes, the following are among the most common, but many more exist, particularly as the signature techniques of individual wrestlers. In these suplexes, the wrestlers begin by facing each other, in most cases, the opponent is suspended upside-down during part of the move. The most common front facelock suplex is the vertical suplex, Also spelled as a fisherman suplex and also known as a cradle suplex or leg hook suplex. In most cases the wrestler will keep the leg hooked and bridge to pin the opponent in a cradle-like position, as in the case of Curt Hennigs Perfect-plex. Val Venis also used this move in the past, other times the wrestler will apply a leglock submission hold to the hooked leg. Also known as swinging fisherman neckbreaker and the Golden Gate Swing, in this variation of the suplex, the attacker applies a hammerlock on his opponent before applying a front facelock and positioning the opponents free arm over the attackers head. The attacker then lifts up the opponent and falls backwards, dropping the opponent down back first, the attacker faces a standing opponent with one side of the ring immediately behind the opponent. The attacker applies a front facelock to the opponent, takes hold of the opponent with his/her free hand, then lifts the opponent until he/she is nearly vertical. Sometimes this involves the turning the opponent in midair and slamming the opponent down to the mat in front of him/her onto their back. The suplex slam can also be used for other such as the fisherman suplex or gutwrech suplex. Also called a driver or a falcon arrow, this sees an attacker apply a front facelock to the opponent. The attacker then takes hold of the torso with their free arm. The facelock is loosened so the opponent can be twisted slightly, then the attacker falls to a sitting position, the opponent lands between the attackers legs with their head toward them. Also called a front suplex or a gourdbuster, this move sees attacker apply a front face lock to the opponent, the attacker then lifts the opponent into a vertical position, then he falls forward, driving the opponents face into the ground. A sitout version is used by WWE superstar Dean Ambrose as signature move, the attacker applies a front face lock to the opponent and drapes the opponents near arm over his/her shoulder
21.
Music in professional wrestling
–
Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, after a match, the entrance theme of the victor will normally be played as they exit the ring. Entrance themes are used to alert the audience to the arrival of a wrestler. Entrance themes are often tailored to the gimmick of the wrestler they are written or selected for, in practice, modern day entrance themes are normally rock, rap, or R&B, as these genres of music are popular with the professional wrestling key demographics. Some entrance themes are accompanied by the recorded voice saying his signature phrase. Examples of this include The Rocks recorded voice saying, If you smell what the Rock is cookin, before his music starts, Booker T saying Dont hate the player. Hate the game and Can you dig it, Sucka, followed by his entrance theme and Ric Flairs signature exclamation of Wooooooo. Due to licensing costs, entrance themes are composed by the promotion for which the wrestlers perform in order to avoid having to pay royalties. A promotion might also purchase music from production libraries, which is considered to be cheaper than the royalties of commercial music, or use public domain music, due to less restrictive copyright laws in Mexico, lucha libre promotions use mostly popular songs. In addition, ECW used popular music in order to promote a hip, edgy, in the early 1950s, female champion Mildred Burke often entered to theme music, while Gorgeous George was associated with Pomp and Circumstance, a song which was later used regularly by Randy Savage. Slaughter, who has claimed to have introduced the idea to Vincent J. McMahon. Though British wrestler Big Daddy had been using We Shall Not Be Moved as his music in the 1970s in the United Kingdom. Music is also used as a tool during advertisements, video packages
22.
Matt Hardy
–
Matt, along with his real-life brother Jeff, gained notoriety in WWEs tag team division due to their participation in Tables, Ladders, and Chairs matches. Aside from his success as a tag team wrestler, Hardy is a world heavyweight champion, having held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship twice. He has also won the WWE United States Championship, the WWE European Championship, the WWE Hardcore Championship, altogether, Hardy has won 18 championships between WWE, ROH, and TNA, as well as 44 championships in his overall career. Hardy was born in Cameron, North Carolina, the son of Gilbert and he is the older brother of Jeff Hardy. Their mother died of cancer in 1986. Hardy played baseball as a child and throughout high school, but had stopped by his senior year and he also played football, either as a linebacker or a defensive end. Hardy was a student at Union Pines High School in North Carolina, and was a nominee for the Morehead Award. Hardy attended University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he majored in engineering, after a year, however and he then attended Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst to gain his associate degree. Hardy, along with his brother Jeff and friends, started their own federation, the Trampoline Wrestling Federation and mimicked the moves they saw on television. A few years later, it was revealed to him by Chris Kanyon that the tape had been kept in the WCW Power Plant, watched multiple times, beginning in 1994, The Hardys wrestled for several North Carolina-based independent circuit promotions and adapted a number of alter-egos. As The Wolverine, Hardy captured the New England Wrestling Alliance Championship in May 1994, as High Voltage, he teamed with Venom to claim the New Frontier Wrestling Association Tag Team Championship in March 1995. A month later, High Voltage defeated the Willow for the NFWA Championship, Matt would continue to wrestle in various independent promotions until 2001. In 1997, Matt and Jeff created their own wrestling promotion, The Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts, the Hardys launched the promotion because, at the time, there werent many places to wrestle, nor did they know anyone who could help. Both Matt and Jeff would take apart the ring and put it together at every event they had. The promotion would fold in October 1999, after both Matt and Jeff signed with the World Wrestling Federation, Hardy worked as a jobber for the World Wrestling Federation from 1994 up until he signed a full-time contract. His first WWF match was against Nikolai Volkoff on May 23,1994 and he wrestled sporadically throughout 1994 in the WWF, losing matches against Crush, Razor Ramon, Hakushi, Owen Hart and the imposter Undertaker. Hardy continued wrestling with the WWF sporadically, including matches against Hunter Hearst Helmsley and it was not until 1998, however, that the Hardy brothers were given full-time WWF contracts, and sent to train with former wrestler Dory Funk, Jr. The Hardy Boyz used a cruiserweight, fast-paced high flying style in their matches, although Jeff was better known for his extreme moves, Hardy was a prodigious high-flier himself
23.
Dorling Kindersley
–
Dorling Kindersley is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%, DK has offices in New York, Melbourne, London, Munich, New Delhi and Toronto. Dorling Kindersley was founded as a company by Christopher Dorling and Peter Kindersley in London in 1974. DK Inc. began publishing in the United States in 1991, in 1999 it overestimated the market for Star Wars books and was left with millions of unsold copies, resulting in crippling debt. As a direct result, DK was taken over the year by the Pearson PLC media company and made part of Penguin Group. DK has continued to sell Star Wars books after the takeover, in 2013 Bertelsmann and Pearson Completed a merger to form Penguin Random House. Bertelsmann owns 53% and Pearson 47% of the company, penguins trade publishing activity continued to include DK under the newly formed Penguin Random House. Dorling Kindersley publishes a range of titles internationally for adults and children, most of the companys books are produced by teams of editors and designers who work with freelance writers and illustrators. Some are endorsed by imprimaturs, well-known and respected such as the British Medical Association, the Royal Horticultural Society. Some DK books apparently produced by celebrity authors such as Carol Vorderman are actually ghostwritten by the companys own writers and editors, BradyGames is a publishing company in the United States operating as a DK imprint, which specializes in video game strategy guides, covering multiple video game platforms. It published their first strategy guide in November 1993 as a division of MacMillan Computer Publishing, in 1998, Simon & Schuster divested BradyGames as part of its educational division to Pearson PLC. BradyGames has grown to publish roughly 90-100 guides per year, on 1 June 2015, BradyGames merged with Prima Games, and future strategy guides made by the publishing company will be published under the Prima Games label. During the 1990s, the company published educational videos and a range of educational CD-ROMs under the brand DK Multimedia. During the late 1990s CD-ROMs were rebranded as DK Interactive Learning to reflect an emphasis toward the educational sector. The DK Online section of the business transferred into development work on the anglicised version of the Pearson Education KnowledgeBox product. In December 2010 DK opened an app store, selling digital versions of some of its books as well as products from other publishers, DK commenced publishing books aimed at teens with the release of Heads Up Psychology in May 2014 and further titles following every two to three months. Infographics, sidebars, and photos both create a visual layout and underscore the concepts discussed
24.
International Standard Book Number
–
The International Standard Book Number is a unique numeric commercial book identifier. An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book, for example, an e-book, a paperback and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, the method of assigning an ISBN is nation-based and varies from country to country, often depending on how large the publishing industry is within a country. The initial ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 based upon the 9-digit Standard Book Numbering created in 1966, the 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO2108. Occasionally, a book may appear without a printed ISBN if it is printed privately or the author does not follow the usual ISBN procedure, however, this can be rectified later. Another identifier, the International Standard Serial Number, identifies periodical publications such as magazines, the ISBN configuration of recognition was generated in 1967 in the United Kingdom by David Whitaker and in 1968 in the US by Emery Koltay. The 10-digit ISBN format was developed by the International Organization for Standardization and was published in 1970 as international standard ISO2108, the United Kingdom continued to use the 9-digit SBN code until 1974. The ISO on-line facility only refers back to 1978, an SBN may be converted to an ISBN by prefixing the digit 0. For example, the edition of Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns, published by Hodder in 1965, has SBN340013818 -340 indicating the publisher,01381 their serial number. This can be converted to ISBN 0-340-01381-8, the check digit does not need to be re-calculated, since 1 January 2007, ISBNs have contained 13 digits, a format that is compatible with Bookland European Article Number EAN-13s. An ISBN is assigned to each edition and variation of a book, for example, an ebook, a paperback, and a hardcover edition of the same book would each have a different ISBN. The ISBN is 13 digits long if assigned on or after 1 January 2007, a 13-digit ISBN can be separated into its parts, and when this is done it is customary to separate the parts with hyphens or spaces. Separating the parts of a 10-digit ISBN is also done with either hyphens or spaces, figuring out how to correctly separate a given ISBN number is complicated, because most of the parts do not use a fixed number of digits. ISBN issuance is country-specific, in that ISBNs are issued by the ISBN registration agency that is responsible for country or territory regardless of the publication language. Some ISBN registration agencies are based in national libraries or within ministries of culture, in other cases, the ISBN registration service is provided by organisations such as bibliographic data providers that are not government funded. In Canada, ISBNs are issued at no cost with the purpose of encouraging Canadian culture. In the United Kingdom, United States, and some countries, where the service is provided by non-government-funded organisations. Australia, ISBNs are issued by the library services agency Thorpe-Bowker
25.
ITunes
–
ITunes is a media player, media library, online radio broadcaster, and mobile device management application developed by Apple Inc. It is used to play, download, and organize digital downloads of music and video on personal computers running the macOS, the iTunes Store is also available on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Application software for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch can be downloaded from the App Store. ITunes 12.5 is the most recent major version of iTunes, available for Mac OS X v10.9.5 or later and Windows 7 or later, it was released on September 13,2016. ITunes 12.2 added Apple Music to the application, along with the Beats 1 radio station, soundJam MP, developed by Bill Kincaid and released by Casady & Greene in 1998, was renamed iTunes when Apple purchased it in 2000. Jeff Robbin, Kincaid, and Dave Heller moved to Apple as part of the acquisition and they simplified SoundJams user interface, added the ability to burn CDs, and removed its recording feature and skin support. On January 9,2001, iTunes 1.0 was released at Macworld San Francisco, originally a Mac OS 9-only application, iTunes began to support Mac OS X when version 2.0 was released nine months later, which also added support for the original iPod. Version 3 dropped Mac OS9 support but added smart playlists, in April 2003, version 4.0 introduced the iTunes Store, in October, version 4.1 added support for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Introduced at Macworld 2005 with the new iPod Shuffle, Version 4.7, Version 7.0 introduced gapless playback and Cover Flow in September 2006. In March 2007, iTunes 7.1 added support for Windows Vista, iTunes lacked support for 64-bit versions of Windows until the 7.6 update on January 16,2008. ITunes is supported under any 64-bit version of Windows Vista, although the iTunes executable is still 32-bit, the 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 are not supported by Apple, but a workaround has been devised for both operating systems. Version 8.0 added Genius playlists, grid view, iTunes 9 added Homeshare, enabling automatic updating of purchased items across other computers on the same subnet and offers a new iTunes Store UI. Genius Mixes were added, as well as improved app synchronization abilities and it also adds iTunes LPs to the store, which provides additional media with an album. Apple added iTunes Extras as well to the store, which adds content usually reserved for films on DVD, both iTunes LPs and Extras use web-standards HTML, JavaScript and CSS. iTunes acts as a front end for Apples QuickTime media framework. Officially, it is required in order to manage the data of an iPod, iPhone, or iPad. In addition, users are able to add PDF files to their library, the PDFs can be synchronized with and read on several devices except the regular iPod. iTunes 8.0 saw the removal of several options in the Preferences window. For example, iTunes once gave users the option to display arrows beside the selected songs title, artist, album and these arrows are no longer removable, except through the direct editing of a preferences file. ITunes keeps track of songs by creating a library, allowing users to access
26.
IMDb
–
In 1998 it became a subsidiary of Amazon Inc, who were then able to use it as an advertising resource for selling DVDs and videotapes. As of January 2017, IMDb has approximately 4.1 million titles and 7.7 million personalities in its database, the site enables registered users to submit new material and edits to existing entries. Although all data is checked before going live, the system has open to abuse. The site also featured message boards which stimulate regular debates and dialogue among authenticated users, IMDb shutdown the message boards permanently on February 20,2017. Anyone with a connection can read the movie and talent pages of IMDb. A registration process is however, to contribute info to the site. A registered user chooses a name for themselves, and is given a profile page. These badges range from total contributions made, to independent categories such as photos, trivia, bios, if a registered user or visitor happens to be in the entertainment industry, and has an IMDb page, that user/visitor can add photos to that page by enrolling in IMDbPRO. Actors, crew, and industry executives can post their own resume and this fee enrolls them in a membership called IMDbPro. PRO can be accessed by anyone willing to pay the fee, which is $19.99 USD per month, or if paid annually, $149.99, which comes to approximately $12.50 per month USD. Membership enables a user to access the rank order of each industry personality, as well as agent contact information for any actor, producer, director etc. that has an IMDb page. Enrolling in PRO for industry personnel, enables those members the ability to upload a head shot to open their page, as well as the ability to upload hundreds of photos to accompany their page. Anyone can register as a user, and contribute to the site as well as enjoy its content, however those users enrolled in PRO have greater access and privileges. IMDb originated with a Usenet posting by British film fan and computer programmer Col Needham entitled Those Eyes, others with similar interests soon responded with additions or different lists of their own. Needham subsequently started an Actors List, while Dave Knight began a Directors List, and Andy Krieg took over THE LIST from Hank Driskill, which would later be renamed the Actress List. Both lists had been restricted to people who were alive and working, the goal of the participants now was to make the lists as inclusive as possible. By late 1990, the lists included almost 10,000 movies and television series correlated with actors and actresses appearing therein. On October 17,1990, Needham developed and posted a collection of Unix shell scripts which could be used to search the four lists, at the time, it was known as the rec. arts. movies movie database
27.
Mick Foley
–
Foley has wrestled under his real name and various personas, including Dude Love, Cactus Jack, and Mankind, also known as the Three Faces of Foley. He is a world champion, an 11-time world tag team champion, a one-time TNA Legends Champion. Foley was born in Bloomington, Indiana and he had an older brother named John. Soon after, Foleys family moved to East Setauket, New York, where Foley attended Ward Melville High School, played lacrosse, Foley was a high school classmate of comic actor Kevin James. The two were on the team together and attended the same college. While a student at State University of New York at Cortland, he hitchhiked to Madison Square Garden to see his favorite wrestler, Jimmy Snuka, Foley has said that Snukas flying body splash from the top of the cage inspired him to pursue a career in pro wrestling. Foley had a front row seat and is visible on the video of the event, Mick Foley formally trained at Dominic DeNuccis wrestling school in Freedom, Pennsylvania, driving several hours weekly from his college campus in Cortland, New York, and debuted in 1986. In one of these matches, Foley and Les Thornton faced the British Bulldogs, during these squash matches, Foley also faced other top level talent at the time, such as Hercules Hernandez. His run would not last long, as he had not signed a contract with the promotion at the time, during this run, he was also billed from different hometowns and at different weights. After several years of wrestling in the independent circuit, Foley began receiving offers from various regional promotions and he joined the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association as Cactus Jack, where he teamed with Gary Young as part of the Stud Stable. Cactus and Young briefly held the CWA tag titles in late 1988, on November 20, Foley left CWA for Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling. In World Class Championship Wrestling, Cactus Jack, billed as Cactus Jack Manson, was a part of Skandor Akbars stable. Foley also won titles, including the companys light heavyweight and tag team titles before leaving the company. He then briefly competed in Alabamas Continental Wrestling Federation before completing a stint with World Championship Wrestling. For much of his there, he would team with jobbers. When the jobber would lose the match for them, Cactus Jack would attack his partner, throw out of the ring. His biggest match at the time was against Mil Máscaras at Clash of the Champions X and it was during this period that Foley was involved in a car accident that resulted in the loss of his two front teeth, adding to the distinctive look for which he is famous. Following the short stint with WCCW, Foley then signed with Herb Abramss Universal Wrestling Federation, in UWF, Foley teamed with Bob Orton to feud with Don Muraco, Sunny Beach, and Brian Blair
28.
Big Boss Man (wrestler)
–
During his appearances with the WWF, Big Boss Man held the WWF World Tag Team Championship once and the WWF Hardcore Championship four times. On March 7,2016, Traylor was confirmed to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016 and he was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame 2016 by Slick and the award was accepted by his wife Angela and his daughters Lacy and Megan. A former prison guard in Cobb County, Georgia, Traylor debuted in 1985, initially working as a jobber for Jim Crockett Promotions and he got a solid push as a seemingly unstoppable heel and feuded with Rhodes in a series of Bunkhouse Stampede matches in 1986. He and Rhodes were tied for wins in this series, leading to a cage match. In 1987, Traylor joined the Universal Wrestling Federation, and won their heavyweight title from One Man Gang, in June 1988, Traylor joined the WWF as Big Boss Man, a prison guard character. Wrestling as a heel and managed by Slick, Boss Mans post-match routine often included handcuffing his defeated opponents to the rope and beating them with a nightstick or ball. After defeating Koko B. Ware at the inaugural SummerSlam, Boss Man began his first major WWF angle by attacking Hulk Hogan on The Brother Love Show. During this feud, he also challenged Randy Savage for the WWF Championship, after being double-teamed for a while, Hogan eventually rallied and defeated The Twin Towers on his own. At WrestleMania V, The Twin Towers defeated The Rockers and then, for most of spring and early summer 1989, during the match, Hogan superplexed Boss Man off the top of the cage. Boss Man retrieved a bag containing both the belt and Roberts pet python, Damien, on The Brother Love Show, he refused to accept DiBiases money for the bag, and returned it to Roberts. Boss Man then feuded with former partner Akeem, defeating him in less than two minutes at WrestleMania VI, as part of his face turn, he later stopped handcuffing and beating jobbers after matches. In the fall of 1990, Boss Man began feuding with Bobby Heenan, at the SummerSlam, he defeated The Mountie in a Jailhouse Match, a match in which the loser must spend a night in jail. This was the only match ever held by the promotion. Boss Man then briefly feuded with Irwin R. Schyster, Boss Man took time off TV to sell his injuries, eventually returning and having a series of matches with Nailz in the latter half of 1992. The feud culminated at Survivor Series, when Boss Man defeated Nailz in a Nightstick on a Pole match. This was the push for the Boss Man during this run, as he was subsequently used as enhancement talent against Razor Ramon, Bam Bam Bigelow. The Big Boss Mans last pay-per-view match of this run came at the 1993 Royal Rumble and he left the WWF shortly after a house show in Gatineau, Quebec on March 14. During the next few months he made appearances in the USWA, on December 4 he made a one-time return to the WWF as a special guest referee to officiate the main event of a house show in Anaheim, CA between Bret Hart and Jeff Jarrett
29.
Road Dogg
–
James is an American professional wrestler and former United States Marine, currently signed to the WWE as a producer and occasional wrestler. James is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation as The Roadie from 1994 to 1995. He is also known for his appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as B. G, James has held numerous championships over the course of his 30-year career. Additionally, James found success in competition by becoming a one time Intercontinental Champion. James also twice competed for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on pay-per-view, WWE commentator John Layfield charted Jamess transition from a cornerstone of the Attitude Era, one of its greatest stars and one of its architects, to one of the prime creative forces behind WWE. James is a second generation wrestler, his father Bob wrestled, as did his brothers Scott, Brad, and Steve. James, under the ring name Brian Armstrong, made his wrestling debut on December 1,1986. After completing another tour of duty, James made his debut for Smoky Mountain Wrestling on November 20,1992 under a mask as The Dark Secret, where he lost to Tracy Smothers. As The Dark Secret, James was relegated to jobbing, as he would lose continuously in both singles and tag team throughout the rest of 1992 and into 1993. Following another tour of duty, James returned to SMW five months later on July 2, on July 19, James, now using his Brian Armstrong ring name, defeated Killer Kyle in a dark match. Beginning in 1994, James would begin to more frequently for WCW. Following a tag match where he, as The Dark Secret. James wrestled his final match for WCW on the December 17 episode of WorldWide, as he and his brothers Brad and Scott lost a six-man tag team match to The Three Faces of Fear. After defeating Barry Hardy in a match on the August 16,1994 episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge. He was billed as The Roadie, an assistant to Double J Jeff Jarrett and he wrestled on several pay-per-views and television shows, but most of his first WWF tenure was spent accompanying Jarrett and interfering in his matches. In early 1995, Jarrett released the song With My Baby Tonight, the planned angle was to reveal that it was The Roadie, not Jarrett, who had really performed the vocals on this song, sparking a feud between the two wrestlers. Before this revelation could take place, James and Jarrett suddenly left the WWF following the second In Your House pay-per-view on July 23,1995. James, without Jarrett, returned to the WWF in 1996 under the ring name Jesse James, where he revealed himself as The Real Double J and he languished as an undercard singles wrestler until beginning a feud with The Honky Tonk Man
30.
Hardcore Holly
–
Robert William Bob Howard is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and actor. After debuting in 1990, Holly worked for Smoky Mountain Wrestling and other independent promotions, initially portraying the character of a NASCAR driver, Thurman Sparky Plugg, his name was soon changed to Bob Spark Plug Holly. In 1998, he formed a team with Bart Gunn, known as The New Midnight Express, after becoming known simply as Hardcore Holly in 1999, he was joined by on-screen cousins, Crash and Molly. In 2002, he suffered a neck, which sidelined him for over a year. Upon his return, he engaged in feuds with wrestlers such as Mr. Kennedy and Rob Van Dam. Holly departed WWE in 2009, wrestling intermittently on the independent circuit and he published his autobiography, The Hardcore Truth, The Bob Holly Story, in 2013. Championships held by Holly over the course of his include the WWF/E World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship. Howard was born in Glendale, California, where he and his brother were raised by his mother. After his mother remarried, the relocated to Ventura, California and then to Grants Pass, Oregon. After graduating, Howard worked in a warehouse before moving to Mobile, Alabama with the mother of his daughter. Howard spent several years working as a mechanic for Meineke before joining Taylor Wharton as a pipe cutter, Howard later moved to Cowin Equipment, where he worked as a mechanic and welder. He teamed regularly with Robert Gibson, from there, he wrestled in Memphis and then in the NWA with moderate success. In 1990 Holly began making appearances in World Championship Wrestling, being utilized primarily as a jobber. His first match came on July 30 in Gainesville, Georgia, Holly then wrestled in a six-man match in Marietta, Georgia on August 6, teaming with Powerhouse Tim Parker and Brad Bratton against Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Barry Windham. On August 13 Holly faced Flair in a match that aired on World Championship Wrestling, losing via submission. Two months later Bob Holly made his appearance in the World Wrestling Federation. Again, he was portrayed as a jobber and his sole match was a teaming with Mike Sample in a loss to The Bushwhackers on the March 30 edition of WWF Superstars. Holly joined Jim Cornettes new Smoky Mountain Wrestling promotion and made his debut at the very first television taping on October 30 in Greensville, South Carolina
31.
Billy Gunn
–
Monty Kip Sopp, better known by his ring name Billy Gunn, is an American professional wrestler and former professional bull rider. Gunn is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment from 1993 to 2004 and he also served as a coach on WWEs Tough Enough, and was a trainer in its developmental branch, NXT. He is also known for his appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling from 2005 to 2009, primarily a tag team wrestler, Gunn is a total 11-time tag team champion in WWE with three different partners. He is also a one time WWF Intercontinental Champion and a two time WWF Hardcore Champion, giving him 14 total championships in WWE and he is the 1999 King of the Ring winner. After a stint as a bull rider in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Trained by Jerry Grey, Sopp wrestled on the independent circuit for four years signing a contract with the World Wrestling Federation in 1993. Sopp made his WWF debut in 1993 under the ring name Billy Gunn, alongside his on-screen brother, Bart Gunn, they formed a tag team known as The Smoking Gunns. In early 1995, the Gunns won their first Tag Team Championship by defeating the team of Bob Holly. They held the title until WrestleMania XI, where they were defeated by the team of Owen Hart and they won the titles again in September 1995. On February 15,1996, the Gunns vacated the title because Billy was in need of neck surgery, after Billy returned from hiatus, The Smoking Gunns won the Tag Team Title for the third time by defeating The Godwinns in May. After the match, The Godwinns manager Sunny turned on her team in favor of the Gunns, on September 22 at In Your House, Mind Games, the Gunns lost the Tag Team Title to Owen Hart and The British Bulldog. After the match, Sunny abandoned The Gunns, saying that she would only manage title holders, Billy, frustrated with losing both the championship and Sunny, walked out on Bart, breaking up The Smoking Gunns. After The Smoking Gunns disbanded, Gunn took some time off to nurse an injury, at WrestleMania 13, he defeated Flash Funk catching the attention of The Honky Tonk Man, who made Gunn his protégé. During this time, he adopted a new gimmick, Rockabilly, on Shotgun Saturday Night, James realized both of their careers were going nowhere and suggested that they became a tag team. Gunn agreed and smashed a guitar over the Honky Tonk Mans head to solidify their new alliance, James and Rockabilly were quickly rebranded as Road Dogg Jesse James and Badd Ass Billy Gunn, respectively, and their tag team formed was soon dubbed the New Age Outlaws. This new team was in the spirit of the new Attitude Era, brash, vulgar, egotistical and they quickly rose to the top of the tag team ranks and won the Tag Team Championship from the Legion of Doom on November 24. They also defeated the LOD in a rematch at In Your House, the Outlaws slowly began to align themselves with D-Generation X, who were impressed with their new attitude. At the Royal Rumble, the New Age Outlaws interfered in a Casket match to help Shawn Michaels defeat The Undertaker
32.
Al Snow
–
Allen Ray Sarven is an American professional wrestler, color commentator, training coach and actor better known by his ring name of Al Snow. He is currently signed with Impact Wrestling and is best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling, since 2010, Snow has worked as a road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and with its former developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, as a show producer. Sarven attended a professional wrestling tryout camp held by Ole and Gene Anderson, there he met Jim Lancaster, promoter of Ohios Midwest Championship Wrestling, who agreed to train him. Lancaster later described Sarven as a leader in the ring who had drive and he made his debut on May 22,1982. Sarven defeated Lancaster on May 5,1985 for the Midwest Championship Wrestling title, Sarven wrestled in various independent promotions throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, capturing both tag team and singles titles, but failed to make any big breaks. In 1993 he competed in the WWF as a jobber losing to Marty Jannetty and he gained a reputation as the best-kept secret in wrestling. Sarven helped train future Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame member, during this time he would sometimes wrestle as Shinobi, a ninja-style masked gimmick. He wrestled in the November 19,1994 tournament for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but he lost to Chris Candido, from 1995-1997, Snow operated a professional wrestling school called Body Slammers in Lima, Ohio hiring DLo Brown as an assistant trainer. It has since branched out with one of his trainers running Bodyslammers in Ottawa, after a tour of Japan, Sarven wrestled a match in Michigan against Sabu, an Extreme Championship Wrestling regular, who suggested he try ECW. After making his debut against The Tazmaniac and losing via pinfall on February 4,1995, Sarven faced Chris Benoit as Al Snow, Sarven was also being courted by Jim Cornette for his Smoky Mountain Wrestling federation. ECW booker Paul Heyman agreed to let him work for both companies, Sarven soon found that he was not being utilized by ECW and went to Smoky Mountain full-time. In Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Snow teamed with Unibomb as The Dynamic Duo, both wrestlers caught the attention of the World Wrestling Federation and were signed by the end of 1995. Sarven began working for the World Wrestling Federation when he signed a contract in August 1995, Sarven wrestled under numerous gimmicks in the WWF, such as Avatar and Shinobi, a ninja assassin hired by Jim Cornette to dispose of Shawn Michaels. Sarvens WWF debut took place on the October 23,1995 episode of Monday Night RAW as Avatar, Sarven received his first mainstream exposure with the WWF as Leif Cassidy, the tag team partner of Marty Jannetty. The duo were promoted as The New Rockers, a throwback to the original Rockers team of Jannetty, eventually, Jannetty left, and Sarven was reduced to jobbing for mid-carders. Sarven found success back in ECW, billed once again as Al Snow, Sarven developed a new character gimmick after reading about abnormal psychology and finding a mannequin head on the street near the ECW Arena during a Mummers Day parade. He got the idea to portray an individual with a schizophrenic disorder using the head as a prop for projection, in this role, Sarven received a lot of fan and management support for his J. O. B. Squad storyline, which promoted him as being driven insane by his years as a jobber for the WWF, in the storyline, Snow, upset at his lot in life, asked Cactus Jack what he had to do to get anywhere in wrestling
33.
Test (wrestler)
–
Andrew James Robert Patrick Martin was a Canadian professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment under the ring name Test, Martin won six championships in the WWF. He found his greatest success as a competitor, winning the Intercontinental and European Championships once each. Martin was also successful in the tag division, twice becoming a World Tag Team Champion with Booker T by winning the WWF. In the mid-1990s, Martin met professional wrestler Bret Hart in a restaurant, after Hart offered to train him to wrestle, Martin spent eight months training under both Hart and Leo Burke. Martin debuted in 1997, wrestling on the Canadian independent circuit under the ring names Martin Kane, Martin continued his training with Dory Funk, Jr. at Funks Funkin Dojo, a training center in Ocala, Florida. Martin debuted in the World Wrestling Federation on the October 25,1998, episode of Sunday Night Heat as a bodyguard for the band Mötley Crüe. In a scripted event, Martin threw an overzealous fan off the stage during the bands rehearsal, on the December 14,1998, episode of Raw is War, Martin aligned himself with WWF Champion The Rock by attacking The Rocks rival Triple H. A week later on the December 21 edition of Raw, Martin made his in ring debut teaming with The Rock to defeat Triple H, Martin went on to join The Corporation, a wrestling stable consisting of numerous other wrestlers. During this time, he received the ring name Test, on the January 11,1999 edition of Raw is War, Test competed in a Corporation vs. DX Corporate Rumble, which was won by Chyna, making her the 30th entrant in the upcoming Royal Rumble. At the Royal Rumble, Test competed in the Royal Rumble match but was eliminated by Steve Austin, on the March 8 edition of Raw, Test defeated X-Pac. At WrestleMania XV on March 28, Test teamed with DLo Brown in a WWF Tag Team Championship title match against Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart where Jarrett, along with Triple H, he helped Shane McMahon retain the European Championship against X-Pac at WrestleMania XV. After being removed from the Corporation, Martin joined The Union who were known to carry 2x4 boards of wood with them. The group briefly feuded with the Corporation and at Over the Edge, The Union defeated The Corporate Ministry in an Eight-man elimination tag team match, Martin then began an on-screen relationship with Stephanie McMahon that would lead to a Love her or Leave her match at SummerSlam. He went on to defeat Shane McMahon at SummerSlam in 1999, gaining Shanes blessing, later in the storyline, The British Bulldog hit Stephanie with a trash can, which caused her to develop amnesia. Plans for the wedding continued however, and on the night of the wedding Test defeated Triple H with a quick 3-count from a referee in a Vince McMahon mask. Triple H later showed a video which revealed that he had drugged Stephanie and had taken her to Las Vegas, Nevada, Stephanie then turned on Test and aligned herself with Triple H, ushering in the McMahon-Helmsley Era. Test then had a feud with DX
34.
Crash Holly
–
Michael John Mike Lockwood was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment from 1999 to 2003 under the ring names Crash Holly or simply Crash. Lockwood debuted in 1989 and spent a decade wrestling on the independent circuit before joining the World Wrestling Federation in 1999 as Crash Holly and he formed a tag team with his kayfabe cousin Hardcore Holly, with whom he won the WWF World Tag Team Championship. The Holly Cousins was expanded into a stable with the addition of Molly Holly in 2000, during his WWF/WWE career, Lockwood held the WWF/WWE Hardcore Championship on 22 occasions, with many of his reigns coming during a period when the title was defended 24/7. After being released from WWE in June 2003, Lockwood joined NWA Total Nonstop Action as Mad Mikey, where he remained until his death later that year. In addition to his 22 reigns as WWF/WWE Hardcore Champion and single reign as WWF World Tag Team Champion, Lockwood was a one-time WWF European Champion, Lockwood debuted in 1989, as Johnny Pearson in Bay Area Wrestling, where he wrestled until 1994. He dislocated his shoulder about five times, and took 18 months off to recover and he then wrestled on the independent circuit as Irish Erin OGrady. In 1996, he joined All Pro Wrestling, where he became known as The Leprechaun Erin OGrady and had matches with Vic Grimes. After viewing a tape of a match between OGrady and Michael Modest, Extreme Championship Wrestling wrestler Taz referred Lockwood to ECW owner, Erin OGrady lost four untelevised matches in November 1997, including a dark match at November to Remember. OGrady wrestled Grimes in a match for the World Wrestling Federation on January 20,1998. They were sent to Power Pro Wrestling, the WWFs developmental promotion, here, they won the PPW Tag Team Championship together and OGrady won the Power Pro Wrestling Young Guns Championship. WWF Talent Coordinator Bruce Prichard sent Lockwood to Mexico, to him for the style of the WWFs lucha libre show. He wrestled in Monterrey for three months, under a mask, as The Green Ghost, Lockwood debuted as Crash Holly, the storyline cousin of Bob Hardcore Holly, on the August 16,1999 episode of Raw is War They became known as The Holly Cousins. Their relationship was a one, and Hardcore frequently threatened Crash. When they took the gimmick of claiming to be super heavyweights, over 400 lb each, Crash made his pay-per-view debut at SummerSlam in August, where The Holly Cousins wrestled in a Tag Team Turmoil match, won by the Acolytes Protection Agency. On October 17, at No Mercy, The Holly Cousins defeated The New Age Outlaws by disqualification, the next night on Raw is War, they defeated The Rock n Sock Connection for the Tag Team Championship. They held the title until the November 4 SmackDown, when they lost it to Mankind and his new partner, Al Snow. In early 2000, Crash Holly joined the hardcore division, on the February 24 episode of SmackDown
