The Faces of Wrestling - A Collaborative Wrestling TL

[Spens1]

What is this timeline:
Not so much of a timeline in truth as it is about talking about the (alternate) history of wrestlers throughout the years and their careers, accolades and possibly their personal lives as well

Anyway i'll start off:

John Cena

Background:
John Cena is a famous wrestler, predominantly known for his work in Mexico (predominantly AAA) where he is one of the most successful stars of all time for the promotion, with his name synonymous with modern AAA and Mexican Wrestling. He is most known for his feud with Latin Lover between 2005-2007 and again between 2009-2012 which many consider the greatest rivalry in AAA history and one of the best in modern mexican wrestling, his on and off feud with Alberto El Patron between 2008-2011 and again in 2015 along with feuds with Psycho Clown, Cibernetico, El Mesias and mentro Dr Wagner Jr.

Cena is credited by many foreign wrestlers to opening up Mexican wrestling to a western audience, with him also enjoying a cult following amongst wrestling fans in the United States and all over the world.

He is also a cross over superstar having appeared in many famous telenovas and having broken into hollywood in recent years, with a recurring in telenovas such as La Reina del Sur and La Patrona as well as one of the main protagonists in El Clon and Alguien Te Mira. He has also featured in movies such as Sisters, Daddy's Home, Bumblebee, Dolittle and will feature in the new Fast and Furious movie.

Originally signed with Ultimate Pro Wrestling between 1999-2001, he would briefly sign with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 2000, however after a rather uneventful run in the company, he'd be released in the spring of 2002 (where he'd sign with AAA in the winter of the same year).

Accolades:

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide:
AAA Mega Championship - 5 Times
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship - 3 Times
AAA World Tag Team Championship - 3 Times (2 with Dr Wagner Jr, 1 with Brent Albright)
Rey De Reyes (2004,2007,2008,2011,2014,2016)

Lucha de Aputeras Record:
John Cena d. Latin Lover - Hair vs Hair - 19 September 2006
Latin Lover d. John Cena - Hair vs Hair - 13 June 2009 (TripleMania 17)

Pro Wrestling NOAH:
GHC Heavyweight Championship - 1 Time
GHC World Tag team Championship - 2 Times (with Brent Albright)

Randy Savage

Background:
Depending on who you ask, Randy Savage may be the greatest wrestler of all time (granted, this is a very subjective criteria). He was the face of the golden era of the WWF in the 1980's, with his over the top personality making him an all time fan favourite. His feuds with the likes of Rowdy Roddy Piper, Ultimate Warrior, Iron Sheik, Seargent Slaughter and others was watched by millions across america each week with his in ring work and promos captivating audiences nation wide.

Savage would eventually leave the WWF in 1989 after it was becoming apparent that he was going to be phased out from the ace role and would join the NWA, where he'd remain until his retirement in 2004 (with his retirement match against student Jay Lethal, with Miss Elizabeth at ringside managing him).

Savage's run from 1989-1994 was considered one of the most engaging runs, with Savage taking the NWA to new heights, with Bill Watts and then later Dusty Rhodes booking Savage both as the fan favourite and the disgruntled heel, with the trio of Flair, Steamboat and Savage particuarly in the late 80's and early 90's being able to turn the company around and change its fate from going under to becoming the largest promotion in the United States and the world (a reputation that holds till today).

Post Retirement, he has kept largely quiet with his wife Miss Elizabeth and their children and grandchildren, mostly avoiding the public eye other than the occasional appearance on TV for the NWA and making cameo apperances on TV, movies and music videos.

Accolades:
World Wrestling Federation:
WWF World Heavyweight Championship - 6 Times
WWF Intercontinental Championship - 3 Times
WWF Tag Team Championship - 1 Time
1988 Royal Rumble

National Wrestling Alliance:
NWA World Heavyweight Championship - 4 Times
NWA Television Championship - 6 Times
Crockett Cup: 1993 (with Lex Luger), 1995 (with

Wrestlers Taught:
Jay Lethal

'Stone Cold' Steve Austin

Background:
'Stone Cold' is someone many people have lived through vicariously (especially as he feuded with the Network and his interactions with Cyrus) and is considered one of the Icon's of not only ECW, but of wrestling in general (having been voted the most popular wrestler of all time and coming in fourth in the all time poll, behind only Randy Savage, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat and Ric Flair), originally signed with WCW as 'Stunning' Steve Austin, after being let go by Eric Bischoff, Stone Cold would find a permanent home at the Home of Extreme with his edgy persona. His feud and partnership with real life best friend Brian Pillman would change the look of wrestling forever throughout the mid 90's, with a real life grittiness (including the Pillman's got a gun promo and their tag team title win at Wrestlepalooza against Raven and Christopher Daniels with the Flock being at ringside at Wrestlepalooza 2000). He also held the record for most title defences with the ECW World title (recording 27 defences, a record that would stand until CM Punk surpassed him in 2013, and then Bryan Danielson in 2016).

Paul Heyman even credited him for him for being the major reason that ECW has survived and has become one of the largest promotions in the world today (along with Eddie Gurrero, Pillman, Benoit, Jericho, RVD, Sandman, Raven and Tommy Dreamer amongst others).

Stone Cold retired in 2004 from in ring competition at November to Remember of that year in front of 100,000 people at the DKR Memorial stadium in Texas (which still is the largest attendance for a wrestling event in the United States). He now mostly makes appearances sporadically and hosts one of the biggest wrestling podcasts alongside friend Brian Pillman (with names from all over the wrestling world coming

Accolades:
Extreme Championship Wrestling:
ECW World Championship - 6 Times
ECW Television Championship - 3 Times
ECW Tag Team Championship - 7 Times (5 With Brian Pillman, 2 With the Sandman)

 

[farmerted555]

What happened to Hogan?

 

[Spens1]

What happened to Hogan?

Haven't added him yet, though i was going to put him in my next post as staying in the AWA and then moving over to JCP/WCW, Memphis and briefly the WWF in the early 90's.

 

[Spens1]

Brian Pillman

Background:
Brian Pillman started off his career with Stampede, training at the Hart dungeon before moving onto the NWA briefly and them moving to Jim Crockett Promotions in 1991 where he'd remain until he was released in 1994 (where he was a 3 time JCP Light Heavyweight Championship).

Pillman would immediately revamp himself into a darker and edgier personality, He would be most noted for his feud and partnership with 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin as well as feuds with Raven, The Sandman, Sabu and Tommy Dreamer. Just as apt at playing the sympathetic fan favourite as he was playing the devlish heel, Pillman was known as inspiring wrestlers a generation of wrestlers and heels.

Pillman would suffer a health scare in 1996 where he found out he had a heart disease that could potentially retire him. He would take a hiatus of 1 year and return to a mass ovation 1 year later. He would wrestle for another 4 years before his retirement in 2001, where he'd briefly become a manager until 2005 and even commentate until 2007. He currently is one half of one of the most popular wrestling podcasts with Stone Cold. He also has a son (Brian Pillman Jr) and a daughter (Sexy 'Lexi' Pillman) who entered the business (Brian Jr as a wrestler, Lexi as a manager).

Accolades:
Extreme Championship Wrestling:
ECW World Championship - 4 Times
ECW Television Championship - 5 Times
ECW Tag Team Championship - 8 Times (5 Times with Stone Cold Steve Austin, 2 Times with Owen Hart, 1 Time with Bret Hart)

Jim Crockett Promotions:
JCP Light Heavyweight Championship - 3 Times
JCP Tag Team Championship - 2 Times (with Stone Cold Steve Austin)

Owen Hart

Background:
Another one of the technical wizards and high flyers of ECW (alongside the likes of Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, RVD, Rey Mysterio Jr, Chavo Guerrero Jr and to a lesser extent, Lance Storm, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn) that had left either the WWF or Jim Crockett during the mid 90's for greener pastures, Hart would leave the WWF in 1996 as he would walk out of the company after an argument with Vince McMahon.

He would find his way to ECW where he'd wrestle and become one of the biggest heels in the company between 1996-1998, even joining the Network for a time being, before turning face in 1999 and winning one of two world titles in mid 1999. His most famous feud however would be with his brother Bret in the late 90's and early 2000's, with Owen retiring Bret in 2001 in the main event of November to Remember in a title vs career matchup (with Owen retaining and retiring his brother). Owen would wrestle for 2 more years before retiring in 2003 where he would help brother Bret Hart run Stampede Wrestling and the Hart Dungeon (which he does so till this day). He has occasionally appeared as a manager for family members and students of the hart dungeon such as Natalya Neidhart, Tyson Dux, Davey Boy Smith Jr and Brian Pillman Jr.

Along with being considered one of the best wrestlers in ECW history, he is considered possibly one of the best tag team wrestlers in general in ECW.

Accolades:

Extreme Championship Wrestling:
ECW World Championship - 3 Times
ECW Television Championship - 4 Times
ECW Tag Team Championship - 10 Times (6 Times with Bret Hart, 2 Times with Brian Pillman, 1 Time with Chris Benoit, 1 Time with Lance Storm)

New Japan Pro Wrestling:
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion - 2 Times
Best of the Super Juniors - 1996

Hulk Hogan:

Background:
Starting off in the AWA in the early 80's after being released by the WWF by Vince McMahon Sr for taking a leave of absence to film the Rocky III. He would wrestle for the promotion for around 2 years from 1981 to 1983 before being snapped by Continental Wrestling Alliance between 1983 and 1985 where he would go onto have a program with Jerry 'The King' Lawler where it would be Lawler who would wrestle as the heel against the all american, wholesome Hulkster. From there, Crockett would pick him up in 1985 and with their recent acquisition of Georgia Championship Wrestling, would make Hogan the face of their company throughout the late 80's and early 90's, becoming arguably the biggest name in U.S wrestling at the time alongside Randy Savage of the WWF and Ric Flair and Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat of the NWA. Hogan would be one of the reasons that Jim Crockett (which by this stage was booked by Bill Watts), felt comfortable enough to leave the NWA and go it alone, a decision that paid off well as they would become the third major promotion to survive the late 80's and make to the 90's alongside the WWF and NWA. He would constantly be at the top of the card, even going over to Japan to wrestle for New Japan briefly as well as wrestling briefly for All Japan as well in the early 90's (even appearing in a Champions Carnival). He is one of the only few men to ever win both the IWGP and Triple Crown Heavyweight Championships. A name that was as American as apple pie, Hogan would eventually try to break into the movie scene in the mid 90s but would ultimately fail, rejoining Crockett in 1996, this time forming the villanous NWO alongside fromer WWF wrestlers Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, where he'd continue to wrestle for before leaving Crockett in 2000 after Crockett was forced to downsize significantly (as the company was hemmoraging money (with the famous fallout between Eric Bischoff and members of the NWO, with Bischoff all but firing all members on the spot), with their new tv slot significantly worse on a worse channel). Hogan would return to the WWF between 2000 and 2002, even winning the WWF Championship (which proved a highly controversial decision), he has since appeared sporadically on WWF TV along with having a brief run in TNA Wrestling.

Hogan is a controversial figure, with many saying he was the one to have really drove Crockett in the mid-late 80's and early-mid 90's to be one of the biggest promotions in the world and praised him for his ability to reinvent himself as a heel in the mid-late 90's upon his return to wrestling, however many also criticising his ego and it leading to Crockett having to downside in the early 2000's (with the promotion only really able to recover somewhat in the late 2000's). Whoever you ask however, he is one of the most influential wrestlers of all time.

Accolades:

Jim Crockett Promotions:
JCP World Heavyweight Championship - 8 Times
JCP National Heavyweight Championship - 2 Times
JCP Tag Team Championship - 4 Times (2 with Kevin Nash, 1 with Scott Hall, 1 with Lex Luger)

World Wrestling Federation:
WWF Championship - 1 Time

New Japan:
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship - 1 Time
G1 Climax (1987)

All Japan:
Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship - 1 Time
Champions Carnival - (1992)


So I guess today the promotional layout of the U.S is as follows:

WWF, NWA and ECW are the major three promotions (NWA is still a predominantly sports oritentated product, WWF is sports entertainment like otl and ECW is kind of like mid 2000's ROH mixed with original ECW, as that was where it was heading apparently). Just below them and the other major national promotion is Jim Crockett Promotions. WWF is basically the same people OTL running it (Vince, HHH and the McMahons), NWA is run by guys like Dutch Mantell, Bruce Pritchard and Jim Cornette with Crockett still being run by Bischoff (who has somewhat evolved, he can book young wrestlers now, just that he still favours big men) with of course, ECW being run by Paul Heyman (of course), Gabe Sapolsky, Tommy Dreamer and Raven.

 

[farmerted555]

Do Eddie and Benoit live ITTL?

 

[Spens1]

Do Eddie and Benoit live ITTL?

Yes, they still live (my next set of entries are going to involve those two and Bret Hart in fact, both Benoit and Eddie retire for medical reasons/at the behest of Paul Heyman, a decision both men admit saved their lives).

 

[farmerted555]

Yes, they still live (my next set of entries are going to involve those two and Bret Hart in fact, both Benoit and Eddie retire for medical reasons/at the behest of Paul Heyman, a decision both men admit saved their lives).

Thank you!

 

[Dannyboy]

A collaborative timeline? OK to post our own entries for the timeline?

 

[nezza]

Scott "Cain"Hall

Background

Hall started his career in the AWA in 1984 under the name of Cain. He was portrayed as a monstrous heel and needed genuine protection from the crowds. In 1985 he narrowly missed being shot by a fan in Miami.

His time was dominated by his massive feud with Curt Hening over the AWA World Title. It changed hands 7 times and was at the heart of a political battle between Hening and Nick Bockwinkel over who controlled the territory.

The most monumental aspect of this feud was the 'Gang War' Steel cage match in July 1986 between Hall and Bockwinkel on one side and Hening and Rick Rude on the other. Even though Hening and Rude were booked to win the match was abandoned when fans rioted and entered the cage.

Hall was stabbed by a fan and nearly died in the ring. Larry Hening broke kayfabe by protecting Hall from the fans.

Hall was rushed to hospital where doctors discovered that he had been knifed just 2 inches from the heart. He needed 17 stitches and 4 pints of blood. The incident led to the AWA going bankrupt following the decision by stadia and TV companies to ban it.

Hall was seen as the cause of the downfall even though subsequent investigations found he was not the cause and for 2 years was persona non grata in the world of wrestling

ACCOLADES
3 Time AWA World Championships
2 Time AWA Tag Team Championships (with Bockwinkel)

In 1988 following a lot of persuasion by Hening and Rude. Hall joined WCW under his original name. Hopes of a clean slate were quickly dashed by fans who remembered the AWA's collapse. Again Hall needed protection from fans and was kept well away from major feuds. An attempt by WCW to rehabilitate Hall by giving him a brief United States title run backfired dramatically when again fans rioted.

ACCOLADES
1 time US Champion

Hall left WCW in 1990. He sank into a deep depression and became addicted to drugs and alcohol. His family abandoned him and he tried to commit suicide in 1991. Whilst recovering in hospital he was visited by Hening. In a tearful plea for help Hall said

"I've lost fucking everything, man. Everything I cared for has gone. Everyone I love has gone"

Hening replied

"I haven't gone"

Hening then made a suggestion which was to change Hall's life

If Hall sought help for his demons and could prove that he could keep himself clean for 2 years then Hening would speak to WWF about a contract.

Hall later recounted:

"Curt said to me that he would be a bastard with me and put me though hell. I knew that he would and I knew that he would do it because he loved me"

For the next two years Hall disappeared from public life. He joined self help groups and was even baptised. At the same time Hening alone with help from Rude put Hall through a bootcamp style of living. At first it was feared that Hall would slip and there was some bust-ups early on.

But somehow he pulled through. He lost 30 lbs and dried out completely. Hening kept his side of the bargain and persuaded WWF to give him a contract

Hall joined the WWF in 1993 under his own name. Debuting after the Royal Rumble he spent the first few months as a bland babyface. His first real feud was with Jerry Lawler who in kayfabe upset a child at a taping. Hall came out and remonstrated with him.

This feud ran until Summerslam 1993 when Hall beat Lawler with a power bomb. From that point Hall's popularity grew, In November 1993 at the Survivor Series Hall beat Shawn Michaels for the IC title.

In the 1994 Royal Rumble Michaels beat Randy Savage for the WWF championship. Hall won the Rumble and would mean Michaels at Wrestlemania.

During this time Michaels would "reveal" Hall's past in an attempt to distract him. This led to Hall losing the IC strap to Owen Hart.

The match at Wrestlemania was a true redemption story. Michaels attacked Hall constantly. Hall recovered and pinned Michaels with the powerbomb to win the title.

Hall kept the title for a year before losing it to the Undertaker.

Retiring in 1995 Hall now acts as an ambassador for the WWF and runs his own counselling firm "Salvation" alongside Ted Dibiase.

ACCOLADES
1x Royal Rumble Winner
1x IC Champion
1x WWF Champion

 

[Dannyboy]

Don Frye

Firefighter turn mixed martial artist, Don Frye won several of the early UFC tournaments before eventfully wining the Ultimate Fighter Open-Weight Championship in 1996, becoming its final holder before the belt was made defunct in favour of a more traditional weight class system. Leaving MMA behind, Frye joined New Japan Pro Wrestling in late 1997. Frye would win the Antiono Inoki Retirement Tournament where he pinned the founder of New Japan itself in his final match. Riding off this success he would win the IWGP Tag Teams titles with Scott Norton before defeating Kensuke Sasakai for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 2000 before dropping the belt to Kazuyuki Fujita serval months later.

As part of the partnership with the NWA, Don Frye would also win its World Heavyweight Championship before shortly losing it to Kurt Angle in 2001.

After that Don Frye would return to MMA, defeating Ken Shamrock for the PRIDE FC Heavyweight Belt which he would successfully defend several time before retiring form MMA due to mounting injuries.

Later in life Don Frye would also find success being a MMA pundit for ESPN but also quite famous acting career, mainly in Japan where in play the role of Captain, later General Gordon in the Godzilla franchise as well the voice of Mayor Haggar in both game and animation series, including playing the role in a live action web series.

 

[Spens1]

A collaborative timeline? OK to post our own entries for the timeline?

Of course, as long as it isn't inconsistent with anyone else's previous posts.

 

[Spens1]

Don Frye

Firefighter turn mixed martial artist, Don Frye won several of the early UFC tournaments before eventfully wining the Ultimate Fighter Open-Weight Championship in 1996, becoming its final holder before the belt was made defunct in favour of a more traditional weight class system. Leaving MMA behind, Frye joined New Japan Pro Wrestling in late 1997. Frye would win the Antiono Inoki Retirement Tournament where he pinned the founder of New Japan itself in his final match. Riding off this success he would win the IWGP Tag Teams titles with Scott Norton before defeating Kensuke Sasakai for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in 2000 before dropping the belt to Kazuyuki Fujita serval months later.

As part of the partnership with the NWA, Don Frye would also win its World Heavyweight Championship before shortly losing it to Kurt Angle in 2001.

After that Don Frye would return to MMA, defeating Ken Shamrock for the PRIDE FC Heavyweight Belt which he would successfully defend several time before retiring form MMA due to mounting injuries.

Later in life Don Frye would also find success being a MMA pundit for ESPN but also quite famous acting career, mainly in Japan where in play the role of Captain, later General Gordon in the Godzilla franchise as well the voice of Mayor Haggar in both game and animation series, including playing the role in a live action web series.

Takeyama slugfest happens in New Japan instead then, that would be something.

 

[Spens1]

Eddie Guerrero

Background:
Eddie Guerrero would begin his career in CMLL, firstly under the masked gimmick of Mascara Magica where he'd gain a decent following, and then after losing a mask vs hair match, he would turn heel and wrestle under his actual name. It would be here that he would be able to show off his natural charisma and ability. In 1991, he would briefly join the WWF, however would be released in 1992 after not doing all that much. He would then join New Japan as the 2nd Black Tiger, where who he'd wrestle for till 1995 where he'd briefly join ECW and even win the TV Championship as well as the tag team title and gain a lot of exposure and popularity before being snapped up by Jim Crockett Promotions. Guerrero would become a staple of the Light Heavyweight division between 1995 and 1998 before he would be part of a mass exodus of light heavyweight talent to ECW as Bischoff would deem them surplus (with the division as a whole scrapped shortly after).

Back in ECW, he would get his first real run as a main eventer, quickly becoming one of the most over faces in the company due to his technical ability and even having the perchant to cheat from time to time. He would have feuds with Chris Jericho, best friend Chris Benoit, RVD and even a gripping feud against Tazz where he'd fight as a massive underdog to overcome him. It was however his feuds with nephew Chavo Guerrero Jr and Rey Mysterio Jr in the early 2000's that would be his most remembered rivalry's, in particular, the shades of grey with Chavo Guerrero Jr and Eddie Guerrero and the family conflict storyline that played out was considered one of Heymans greatest masterpieces (alongside CM Punk and Colt Cabana's various feuds, the Hart brothers feud and Samoa Joe vs Brock Lesnar in their best of 7 series).

Guerrero would cut his career short in 2003, after having a heart scare where he'd find he had a atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease that was previously undiagnosed, with doctors saying that he should retire immediately. Guerrero himself said he was conflicted, however when asked in an interview in 2012 Guerrero said 'I looked at my wife and then at my three beautiful daughters and said, I need to stop for them at least.'

His final match would be against Nephew Chavo Guerrero Jr which still to this day many consider the greatest individual match in ECW history as a whole (emotion, story and wrestling) with a weeping Chavo Guerrero Jr weeping whilst climbing to the top rope to hit his uncle with the frog splash one of the most powerful moments in wrestling history.

Eddie Guerrero took time off from wrestling, before returning as his nephew's manager and managing Rey Mysterio Jr as well between 2003-2007 and started doing colour commentary in 2007 occasionally and then full time between 2007-2012 (winning Wrestling Observer's Colour commentator of the year three years in a row between 2009 and 2011) and now occasionally makes appearances.

Accolades:
Extreme Championship Wrestling
ECW World Champion - 4 Times
ECW Television Champion - 4 Times
ECW Tag Team Champion - 7 Times (3 With Chavo Guerrero, 2 With Rey Mysterio Jr, 2 with Chris Benoit)

Consejo Mundial Lucha Libre:
CMLL World Middleweight Champion - 1 Time

Jim Crockett Promotions:
JCP Light Heavyweight Champion - 3 Times
JCP Tag Team Champion - 1 Time (with Chris Benoit)

Chris Benoit

Background:
Benoit would start his career in 1985 in Stampede Wrestling and wrestle and train in Calgary for 2 years before moving to New Japan and their Dojo in 1987, where he'd remain for 8 years till 1995. In this time, he would wrestle as the Pegasus Kid between 1987 and 1991, and then becoming Wild Pegasus between 1991 and 1995 when he lost a mask vs mask match against Tiger Mask. He would have an incredible run, helping other wrestlers come to Japan and wrestle such as Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio Jr, Chavo Guerrero Jr and many more after him.

In 1995, he would briefly sign with ECW, winning both the Television and Tag Team championship with Eddie Guerrero at the time before leaving for Jim Crockett Promotions later that year.

In JCP he would become one of the main forces in the Jr Heavyweight Division and even briefly became United States Champion.

Benoit would leave as part of the JCP exodus (however Benoit was one of the few people that Bischoff actually wanted to keep), he would leave to ECW like many others and be engaged firstly with some interesting matchups such as The Sandman and then enter feuds with Tazz and later Rhyno. Renowned for being a technical wizard, Benoit would gain a lot of accolades and stand out in particular as being amongst the best wrestlers in the world at the time.

He would call time on his career in late 2002, with Heyman himself pleading with Benoit to ease up. In his final match for the company, he would put over young up and comer Bryan Danielson (who would later go on to become the technical wizard Benoit was and become one of the most celebrated wrestlers in ECW himself).

Benoit would (alongside Lance Storm) also train his son David Benoit Jr, with his son currently wrestling for New Japan (as Wild Pegasus Jr). Benoit would eventually move back up to Canada to quietly retire and occassionally would make an appearance on ECW and sometimes even the odd New Japan appearance.

Extreme Championship Wrestling
ECW World Champion - 3 Times
ECW Television Champion - 2 Times
ECW Tag Team Champion - 2 Times (With Eddie Guerrero)

Jim Crockett Promotions:
JCP United States Champion - 1 Time
JCP Light Heavyweight Champion - 4 Times
JCP Tag Team Champion - 1 Time (with Eddie Guerrero)

New Japan Pro Wrestling:
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion - 2 Times
IWGP Jr Tag Team Champion - 2 Times (1 Time with Tiger Mask, 1 Time with Great Sasuke)

 

[Dannyboy]

Takeyama slugfest happens in New Japan instead then, that would be something.

I mean screw it why not!

 

[Dannyboy]

Atsushi Onita

Loyal attendant and later adopted son to the legendary Giant Baba, Onita is a somewhat polarising figure in the world of Japanese pro-wrestling. Debuting initially as junior heavyweight in 1974, Onita was forced to retire in 1985 due to injuries. Onita would spend the next four years healing and retraining, returning to All Japan in 1989 as a heavyweight, debuting a viscous brawling style. Onita would go on to win multiple titles including the Triple Crown Championship three times and Champion Carnival twice.

When Giant Baba passed away in 1999, Onita was horrified to learn that Mitsuharu Misawa had removed Baba’s wife from leadership of AJPW. Onita would soon leave the company to form NOAH. Lacking an established roster Onita was forced to rely on hardcore deathmatchs and hard hitting attacks on the more traditional AJ/NJ groups in spite of Onita goal to continue Baba’s legacy. NOAH was labelled by some as renegade promotion similar to early ECW. And like ECW, NOAH gained a reputation as a place where young talent and foreign wrestlers could forge a name for themselves.

Facing the twilight of his in ring career Onita would only wrestle sporadically in NOAH. Today NOAH remains an a much beloved alternative in spite of the ups and downs in future it would face.

Accolades;

All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Asia Tag Team Championship x1 (with Masanobu Fuchi)
NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship x1
Triple Crown Crown Heavyweight Championship x3
Champion Carnival x2 (1993 and 1996)
World Strongest Tag Legaue (1992 with Mitsuharu Misawa )
World Tag Team Championship x2 (x1 Mitsuharu Misawa ,x1 Toshiaki Kawada )

No FMW in the 90s then. So thats a few butterfly's for a few wrestlers careers.

 

[nezza]

Yokozuna

Rodney Anoa'i started his wrestling career in the AWA in 1991 after a brief and un-memorable stint in Japan as a sumo tori. He was one of the last attempts by the dying federation to find a new star. His only real noteworthy appearance was when he faced Andre The Giant in what was one of the Giant's last matches

Yoko joined the WWF in 1992 and appeared on the same card in which the Ultimate Warrior beat Ric Flair for the WWF championship. Working his way through enhancement talent his first PPV was Survivor Series 1992 when he teamed with the Natural Disasters and the Bushwhackers against the team of Money INC, the Nasty Boys and Kamala. He was on the losing side but showed a lot of promise and got one of the biggest pops of the night when he pinned Ted Dibiase with his finisher the sumobomb. (More commonly known as the F5)

Yoko's first feud was with the newly heel Undertaker. They eliminated each other at the Royal Rumble 1993 and traded victories throughout the spring of that year. The feud ended at Wreslemania when Yoko pinned 'Taker with the Sumobomb (now renamed the Setting Sun after US veterans complained).

Yoko's first title was the IC championship at Summerslam when after a 23 minute war he pinned Razor Ramon.

However by the end of the year Yoko had turned heel (it was claimed but never established that the US wrestlers were getting annoyed over his wins (Yoko was born in Tokyo but was raised in American Samoa)

He tore through challengers for the IC title (including kayfabe breaking Shawn Michaels's neck at the 1994 Royal Rumble. He was then the surprise 30th entrant in the Rumble and won leading to him facing WWF Champion Vader in a champion vs champion match (only Vader's WWF title was on the line)

Yoko lost the match in what was called a "powerbomb masterclass" and 4 weeks later lost the IC title to Owen Hart in Calgary.

Yoko then took a sabbatical for a few months and returned at the Survivor Series 1994 where he saved his kayfabe former manager Mr Fuji from the Nasty Boys.

In the following Raw Yoko spoke about how he had lost his soul during his days as IC champ and his spirit was broken. He asked his former Sempei for help. Over the next few months Yoko would reengage with his sumo roots and started gaining victories and regaining his pride. During this period he slimmed down from 400 lbs to 275 lbs.

He won the 1995 Royal Rumble and would go on to face WWF champion the British bulldog who had turned heel earlier in the night when he pinned Owen Hart in a fatal three way against the Undertaker.

Bulldog would use the period up until WM XI to attack Yoko's (kayfabe) heritage and along with manager Jim Cornette attacked Fuji (who in reality needed an operation on his arm)

Yoko vs Bulldog at WM XI was to be fair one of the few highpoint in that year for WWF. (Vince McMahon was imprisoned in late 1994 over the steroid scandal and Jerry Jarrett was now pulling the strings)

Bulldog had Yoko pinned but Fuji came out to an incredible response. Cornette tried to break Fuji's arm with his racket but Fuji nailed Cornette with a heart punch which sent the crown wild

Yoko pinned Bulldog with a Setting sun off the top rope (!) to win the WWF title and end his journey

Yoko kept the title for a year before losing it to the Undertaker in a face vs face match at WM XII (Yoko had made it clear he was to retire) In front of nearly 19,000 spectators at Anaheim a tearful Yoko bade farewell and profusely thanked his fans for their support (Taker gained a lot of kudos by leaving the ring also in tears to allow Yoko his moment)

Yoko is still active within the WWF as both an ambassador and chief trainer for NXT

ACCOLADES
1X IC Title
1X WWF Title
1X Royal Rumble Winner

 

[Spens1]

Atsushi Onita

Loyal attendant and later adopted son to the legendary Giant Baba, Onita is a somewhat polarising figure in the world of Japanese pro-wrestling. Debuting initially as junior heavyweight in 1974, Onita was forced to retire in 1985 due to injuries. Onita would spend the next four years healing and retraining, returning to All Japan in 1989 as a heavyweight, debuting a viscous brawling style. Onita would go on to win multiple titles including the Triple Crown Championship three times and Champion Carnival twice.

When Giant Baba passed away in 1999, Onita was horrified to learn that Mitsuharu Misawa had removed Baba’s wife from leadership of AJPW. Onita would soon leave the company to form NOAH. Lacking an established roster Onita was forced to rely on hardcore deathmatchs and hard hitting attacks on the more traditional AJ/NJ groups in spite of Onita goal to continue Baba’s legacy. NOAH was labelled by some as renegade promotion similar to early ECW. And like ECW, NOAH gained a reputation as a place where young talent and foreign wrestlers could forge a name for themselves.

Facing the twilight of his in ring career Onita would only wrestle sporadically in NOAH. Today NOAH remains an a much beloved alternative in spite of the ups and downs in future it would face.

Accolades;

All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Asia Tag Team Championship x1 (with Masanobu Fuchi)
NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship x1
Triple Crown Crown Heavyweight Championship x3
Champion Carnival x2 (1993 and 1996)
World Strongest Tag Legaue (1992 with Mitsuharu Misawa )
World Tag Team Championship x2 (x1 Mitsuharu Misawa ,x1 Toshiaki Kawada )

No FMW in the 90s then. So thats a few butterfly's for a few wrestlers careers.

So NOAH is a hardcore promotion, good god i can imagine with the biblical reference, Onita puts himself on the cross like Inoki did that one time as well (just that the cross probably is also full of barbed wire) and proclaims himself hardcore jesus.

 

[Spens1]

Mistaharu Misawa:

Background:
Some would say, if you where to build a mount rushmore of japanese wrestling, he would have to have a place on it. Mitsaharu Misawa, depending on who you may ask, is the greatest wrestler to have ever graced the ring.

Debuting as a junior in 1981, he would take up the mantle of Tiger Mask until 1990, where he'd unmask. It would be here that his career would blossom (especially with the abrupt departure of All Japan Ace Genchiro Tenryu, who would leave All Japan in 1990 and be one of the founding members of UWFI the following year)

After being ousted from management by Makito Baba, Misawa would ultimately stay with All Japan, despite being offered the Presidency of Onita's new promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH (some say out of loyalty to Giant Baba himself, some say because he had already set plans in motion). In late 2002, their would be a corporate coup against Baba's widow with the new board making Misawa the new chairman. Misawa at least publically was not happy about this at all however (and privately he was said to be displeased about how it occured), however he would ultimately accept the decision (Baba's widow would blame Misawa for orchestrating the coup, however the large majority had a great deal of respect to Misawa for being honest).

The Four Pillars would remain a focal point of wrestling in the early to mid 2000's, still being able to wrestle at a high level but they'd finally see challengers from a younger generation (in particular, one Jun Akiyama) who would be able to beat all four Pillars in the 2004 champions carnival to win the whole thing and eventually would pin Misawa at the 2004 Summer showdown (with Misawa the one insisting it, with reports Akiyama almost refused to go over out of respect to misawa).

Misawa would rebuild All Japan, able to push a new generation of talent such as Jun Akiyama (who would become the Ace of All Japan in the mid to late 2000's, with both Misawa and Kobashi taking a step back and becoming more involved with management).

Misawa would retire in 2007, being one of only two men to ever get a retirement show at the Tokyo Dome (the other being his opponent in the main event, Kenta Kobashi). Kobashi and Misawa would remarkably put on what was some would say their best matchup together ever and what many consider to be the best match of all time.

Misawa would help broker the sale of All Japan to a company that would keep it alive, with the cash flow allowing Misawa to remain President and focus on the booking aspects (and the eventual transition of Jun Akiyama as ace to the new muskateer trio of KENTA, Naomichi Marifuji and Takeshi Morishima) and now the new trio of Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kento Miyahara and Kenoh leading the charge for the promtion (with Konosuke Takeshita, Kaito Kiyomiya and

Misawa is still the President and head booker of All Japan Pro Wrestling (and many feel with his leadership) and his and the four pillars in the

(bit of a deviation sought of, but a corporate coup still works, also with hardcore NOAH being a thing, i'd say let Misawa keep things going strong).


Shinya Hashimoto:

Background:
Shinya Hashimoto was the Ace of New Japan through the 90's, with his contemporaries the three muskateers surpassing the likes of Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami and Riki Choshu to become the modern day faces of New Japan. The trio would go to war constantly throughout the 90's, facing off with each other for major accolades (IWGP heavyweight titles, G1 Climax finals, New Japan Cup runs etc). He would remain the most popular New Japan Wrestler in the 90's and would even introduce the 2nd iteration of the IWGP title and hold it for a record length of time (a record only later broken by Kota Ibushi some 17 years later).

Hashimoto would soon find resistance to his plans to form Zero-1, however, he would find a large amount of support from the locker room, including his fellow muskateers Keiji Mutoh and Masahiro Chono along with most of the third generation along with other prominent wrestlers in the promotion at the time (Liger, Hayabusa, Tiger Mask etc). This would see Inoki relent and allow Zero-1 to form and become the junior promotion to New Japan. Hashimoto would retire in 2001 in order to manage Zero-1 full time, with his formal retirement show at Budokan one of the most tearjerking in wrestling (even making the normally stone faced Antonio Inoki tearful).

Hashimoto to this day is still head booker and booker for Zero-1, with the promotion now becoming a major excursion point for young foreign wrestlers coming out of the L.A Dojo (from the likes of Ryoto Machinda, Low-Ki and Samoa Joe in the past, to Karl Fredericks, Clark Connors and Alex Coughlin now) where they're allowed to hone their craft. Some Japanese wrestlers from the main New Japan dojo also appear on shows here as well, with Hashimoto known as one of the best developers of talent.

Accolades:
New Japan Pro Wrestling:
IWGP Heavyweight Champion - 3 Times
IWGP Tag Team Champion - 3 Times (1 with Masa Saito, 1 with Junji Hirata, 1 with Manabu Nakanishi)

(So Basically Hashimoto gets what he originally wanted with Zero-1 as Inoki relents lest he suffer a locker room revolt).

 

[Dannyboy]

So NOAH is a hardcore promotion, good god i can imagine with the biblical reference, Onita puts himself on the cross like Inoki did that one time as well (just that the cross probably is also full of barbed wire) and proclaims himself hardcore jesus.

What imagery, I love it.

I was going to do Onita/Misawa stay with All Japan, but I saw you already had Noah be a thing so I saw an opportunity to let the butterflies flap.

 

[Dannyboy]

Mike Awesome

Debuting in the WWF in at 93 Royal Rumble as Ric Flair bodyguard, Mike Awesome quickly rose to prominence due to his size and devastating move set. Jealous of his bodyguard’s success, Flair would turn against Awesome and interfered with Awesome’s first shot at the WWF Championship. The feud would end with Awesome defeating Flair at Summerslam 93, sending him packing back to the NWA.

At the 94 Royal Rumble, Mike Awesome would quickly eliminate several opponents before being eliminated himself. This would set up for to a ladders match against Konnan for the IC belt at Wrestlemania X. The gruelling match would lead to it being voted match of year. As Champion Awesome would fued with the likes of Borga and Bam Bam Bigelow, who he would lose and regain the title from over the course of 1995 before losing it raising new newcomer Taz. Awesome would briefly win tag gold with former rival Bigelow before leaving the WWF for JCP.

At Jim Crocket, Awesome would find himself against Hogan and the NWO, who he would defeat in 1997 for his 1st ever world title. Although quickly losing the belt back to Hogan, he would later defeat Beniot for the US belt on his way to ECW, and then pick up the tag belts with Billy Kidman and later Masato Tanaka, who would also win IWGP tag gold with. However, come the end of 1999 Awesome would leave JCP after suffering injuries after being thrown off a steel cage by Chris Kanyon.

Mike Awesome would go on to join the newly formed NOAH promotion wining the GHC title from and then losing it to Masato Tanaka. He would wrestle on the independent scene for the next several years before becoming a producer and trainer for the WWF and would make sporadic TV appearances.

Accolades:

WWF
Intercontinental Championship x2
WWF Tag Team Championship (with Bam Bam Bigelow)
WWF Hall of Fame (class of 2015)

JCP
World Heavyweight Championship
United States Championship
Tag Team Championship x2 (1 with Billy Kidman, 1 with Masato Tanaka)
IWGP Tag Team Championship (with Masato Tanaka)

NOAH
GHC Heavyweight Champsionship.