Saturday, June 13, 2009

Vince McMahon


Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon (born August 24, 1945)[1] is an American professional wrestler, promoter, in-ring announcer, play-by-play commentator and film producer, known by the ring name Mr. McMahon. He is also the Chairman of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Board of directors and majority shareholder of WWE. He is the creator of most WWE television programs. After acquiring World Championship Wrestling in 2001 and Extreme Championship Wrestling in 2003 two years after its closure, McMahon's WWE became the sole remaining major American professional wrestling promotion (prior to the national expansion of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and to a lesser extent Ring of Honor).
As an on-camera character, he mainly appears on the Raw brand but makes appearances on the SmackDown and ECW brands, as well. McMahon plays a character based on himself in the world of the WWE, and is a two-time World Champion: a one-time WWF Champion and one-time ECW World Champion. He was also the 1999 Royal Rumble winner.In 1968, he graduated from East Carolina University with a business degree and after a nondescript career as a traveling salesman, he was eager to assume a managerial role in his father’s World Wide Wrestling Federation promotion (although Vince Sr. was not thrilled with the idea of his son entering the business). Nevertheless, he was assigned to a small territory in Maine, where he promoted his first card in 1971. Early in his wrestling career, McMahon served as the in-ring announcer. He later became the play-by-play announcer for television matches after he replaced Ray Morgan in 1971, a role he would regularly maintain until November 1997.
Throughout the 1970s, McMahon became the prominent force in his father's company, and over the next decade, Vince assisted his father in tripling TV syndication. He pushed for the renaming of the company to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The young McMahon was also behind the Muhammad Ali versus Antonio Inoki match of 1976. In 1979, Vince purchased the Cape Cod Coliseum, where he promoted hockey games and concerts in addition to pro wrestling, as he began to prove that he was capable of running the WWF after his father’s retirement. By 1980, Titan Sports was incorporated; in 1982, a 37-year old McMahon led Titan’s acquisition of the Capitol Wrestling Co. from his ailing father (who died in May 1984), as he and his wife Linda McMahon took control of the World Wrestling Federation.

Chavo Guerrero


Salvador Guerrero IV[4][5] (born October 20, 1970)[4] also known as Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero, Jr.[6], is a third generation American professional wrestler and member of the famed Guerrero wrestling family, currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its Raw brand.[1]
He is the grandson of Gory Guerrero; the son of Chavo Guerrero, Sr.; the nephew of Eddie Guerrero, Hector Guerrero, Mando Guerrero, and Enrique Llanes; and the cousin of Javier Llanes and Hector Mejia. His grandfather, Gory Guerrero, was one of the most famous wrestlers in Mexican history.[1] His father, Chavo Guerrero, Sr., was also a legendary wrestler in Mexico and worked in WWE as a part-time wrestler and full-time manager. One of his uncles, Eddie Guerrero, was one of WWE's biggest stars. Eddie performed for the SmackDown! brand,[1] as did Chavo Sr. (aka Chavo Classic). Chavo Jr. has two other uncles (Mando and Hector) who have had successful careers in the business.
He is recognized by WWE as a four-time Cruiserweight Championship, a two-time WWE Tag Team Championship with Eddie Guerrero, and a one-time world champion, having held the ECW Championship in 2008.[7]Chavo Jr. started wrestling in 1994, and quickly joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW). While in WCW, Chavo shared the limelight with his uncle Eddie, becoming a reluctant ally of his uncle's. As part of their angle, Eddie would continually try to make Chavo adopt Eddie's cheating tactics, but Chavo often refused to do so. Eventually, Chavo's treatment at the hands of Eddie would drive him "crazy" and Chavo adopted the gimmick of a psycho fixated with a hobby horse he dubbed "Pepé." This led to a famous feud with Norman Smiley in which Pepé was thrown by Smiley into a wood chipper. Another result of his insanity, was his inability to join Eddie's Latino World Order stable, which was a take-off of the nWo. The stable included nearly every Latino wrestler in WCW except Chavo. He was also a member of the comedy stable the Misfits In Action, billed as Lieutenant Loco.

Sandman


James "Jim" Fullington[1] (born June 16, 1963) better known by his ring name Sandman, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), where he developed into a "Hardcore Icon" and became a five time World Heavyweight Champion. He also had stints in World Championship Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
He currently works for independent wrestling promotion, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, and is also scheduled to appear for 1PW in the UK.In 1994, Sandman changed his gimmick after ECW owner Tod Gordon suggested that he channel his own personality into his character, creating an edgier gimmick.
He began a feud with Tommy Cairo over Sandman's valet Peaches. Being temporarily blinded following a match, the Sandman inadvertently struck Peaches. When a recovering Sandman saw his tag team partner, Cairo, assisting her to her feet, he attacked Cairo. Peaches, now revealed to be his wife Lori, now became Cairo's valet.
Sandman, adopting the gimmick of a pimp, claimed that Cairo had neglected to pay one of Sandman's prostitutes, Woman, who now became his new valet and convinced him that Cairo had slept with both her and Lori. The Sandman began harassing Lori and Cairo, demanding of Cairo: "Pay Your Bills!"[2]

Scott Steiner


Scott Carl Rechsteiner (July 29, 1962) better known by his ring name Scott Steiner, is an American professional wrestler. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order. He is also known for his appearances with Jim Crockett Promotions, World Wrestling All-Stars and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment. Among other accolades, Steiner is a two-time World Champion (a former WCW World Heavyweight Champion and former WWA World Heavyweight Champion), a two time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and a two time WCW World Television Champion. He was a World Tag Team Champion with his brother Rick in multiple promotions.
Steiner currently wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.Scott Steiner made his debut for WCW at Starrcade 1988: True Grit, cheering on his brother Rick as he defeated Mike Rotunda for the NWA World Television Championship. After Rick lost the belt back to Rotundo at Chi-Town Rumble, Scott and Rick began teaming together in tag team matches.
On November 1, 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia, the Steiner Brothers defeated the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael "P.S." Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) for the NWA World Tag Team Championship. They held the titles for over 5 months when on May 19, 1990, they were defeated by Doom (Butch Reed and Ron Simmons) in Washington, D.C. at Capital Combat

Goldberg


William Scott "Bill" Goldberg[1][2] (born December 27, 1966)[1][2] better known by his ring name Bill Goldberg (or simply Goldberg), is an American professional wrestler best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling from September 1997 to January 2001. He also wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment from March 2003 to March 2004. He is recognized by WWE as a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, having held the Big Gold Belt in both WCW and WWE, and was the first wrestler in history to do so (followed by Chris Benoit and Booker T). Before he was a professional wrestler, Goldberg was a college and professional football player. He was also a commentator for the now-defunct mixed martial arts promotion EliteXC.After training in the Power Plant training school, Goldberg made his televised debut in a little remembered flop where Rowdy Roddy Piper brought out a group of unknowns. Goldberg sporting red hair was soon made over with no hair and plain black trunks. On the September 22 edition of WCW Monday Nitro with a victory over Hugh Morrus in his debut match. Soon afterwards, Goldberg's succession of wins saw him quickly advance up the card, and he was pushed as a singles wrestler. Goldberg made his pay-per-view debut at Starrcade, and defeated Steve McMichael.[1][2][4] In early 1998, Goldberg defeated the likes of Brad Armstrong at SuperBrawl VIII[5] and Perry Saturn at Spring Stampede[6] in squash matches.[1][2] On April 20, 1998 edition of Nitro, he won his first championship, the United States Heavyweight Championship, by defeating Raven.[1][2][7][8] Two days later, on the April 22 edition of Thunder, he made his first successful title defense against Mike Enos.[9] Goldberg then started a feud with Raven and his Flock. At Slamboree, he ended his feud with Flock after a successful title defense against Saturn.[2][10] He would continue to make successful title defenses against Konnan at The Great American Bash,[1][2][11] and Curt Hennig

Kurt Angle


Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American professional wrestler, actor and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Angle was involved in amateur wrestling during both high school and college. In college at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, he won numerous accolades, including being a two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I champion.[5][6] After graduating, he won the 1995 World Championship tournament.[5] Angle then competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he won a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling.[6][7] Kurt Angle nearly did not win an Olympic gold medal because he tried out for the Pittsburgh Steelers and was nearly accepted before 1996.[citation needed]
Initially turning down an offer to join the World Wrestling Federation (WWF),[6] Angle signed a multi-year contract with the company in 1998. His first big push in the company was in February 2000 when he held both the European Championship and Intercontinental Championship.[8] Not long after, Angle began pursuing the WWF Championship. He continued to be a part of main event matches until August 2006, when Angle was granted a release from his contract.[9] Throughout his tenure in the company, he was a six-time World Champion (four-time WWF/E Champion,[10] World Heavyweight Champion[11] and WCW Champion),[12] WCW United States Champion,[13] WWF Intercontinental Champion,[14] WWF European Champion, [15] WWF Hardcore Champion[16] and WWE Tag Team Champion (with Chris Benoit).[17] In addition, he was the winner of the King of the Ring tournament in 2000,[18] the tenth Triple Crown Champion, and the fifth Grand Slam Champion. He is also the 2007 King of the Mountain winner at Slammiversary.
After leaving WWE, Angle joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he became the second wrestler in TNA to win TNA's Triple Crown and the first man to hold all three TNA championships simultaneously.[19] While in TNA, his real-life wife Karen began accompanying him to the ring and playing a part in his on-screen storylines. Angle has also made appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling and Inoki Genome Federation, where he is the former IWGP Third Belt Champion.[20] Also a former two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Angle is a eight-time World Champion overall, though TNA bills him as a twelve-time wrestling champion when adding in his two NCAA Championships, the IWGP Third Belt Championship and Olympic gold medal.[citation needed]

Mr. Kennedy


Kenneth C. Anderson (born March 6, 1976)[3] is an American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name Mr. Kennedy. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) between 2005 and 2009.
Before being promoted to the main WWE roster, Anderson wrestled for numerous promotions in his career. While situated in these promotions, he has won various championships, both in tag team and singles competition. Anderson was assigned to WWE's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in Louisville, Kentucky in 2005.
After signing with WWE, Anderson made his debut on the SmackDown! roster in August 2005. In September 2006 he captured his first title with the company, the WWE United States Championship, and would hold onto it for a month. The following year, at WrestleMania 23, Anderson won the annual Money in the Bank ladder match, a contract, which guarantees a match for any of WWE's three top titles. He was released from his WWE contract on May 29, 2009.[6]