Chad Collyer

Last updated

Chad Collyer
Birth nameChad Collyer
Born (1974-12-12) December 12, 1974 (age 50) [1]
Richmond, Indiana, U.S.
Alma mater Manchester University
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Chad Collyer
The Metal Master
The Stealth
Chad Malenko
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm) [1]
Billed weight230 lb (104 kg) [1]
Billed fromRichmond, Indiana, United States
Trained by Dean Malenko [2]
Tom Prichard [2]
DebutDecember 6, 1997 [1]
Retired2016

Chad Collyer (born December 12, 1974) is an American retired professional wrestler. [3]

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Collyer attended Manchester College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. [1] He was an accomplished amateur wrestler, winning multiple championships over an eleven-year period, but decided to turn professional and continue his amateur career at Manchester College during his freshman year. [2]

Upon graduation, Collyer traveled to Tampa, Florida to train at the Malenko Pro Wrestling School under Dean Malenko and Jeff Bradley. Collyer began training on August 3, 1997. He debuted on December 6, 1997, at Kahuna's Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg, Florida, facing Jet Jaguar. [1] [2] [4]

In 2000, Collyer toured England twice with Scott Conway's Wrestling Alliance. He returned to England in 2001 and September 2002, competing for Brian Dixon's All Star Promotions. [4]

In 2002, Collyer returned to Japan, where he had worked previously in 1999, facing Tiger Mask. He wrestled for Michinoku Pro Wrestling between June 2002 and March 2003 as The Metal Master, a masked gladiator. [4] He feuded with Great Sasuke over the NWA World Middleweight Championship, but was unable to defeat the veteran. Collyer also appeared for MPW as The Stealth, and for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and BattlARTS as Chad Malenko, in honor of one of his trainers, Dean Malenko. [2] In the mid-2000s, Collyer wrestled a match for Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling in a winning effort against CM Punk. [5]

Heartland Wrestling Association (1997–2009, 2011–2012)

Collyer debuted in the Midwestern Heartland Wrestling Association immediately after debuting. In 1998, Collyer teamed with Shark Boy on a number of occasions. [6] In 1999, Collyer and Shark Boy began feuding with "Bad Boy" Bobby Kane and Tarek the Great. On March 6, 1999, and April 3, 1999, Collyer unsuccessfully challenged Kane for the HWA Cruiserweight Championship. [6]

Collyer received a third title shot on March 25, 2000, losing to Shark Boy by disqualification after Matt Stryker interfered on his behalf. Stryker and Collyer subsequently aligned themselves with valet Hellena Heavenly, forming a tag team known as "Hellena's Hunks". Over the following weeks, Stryker and Heavenly vied with Shark Boy while Collyer toured Japan. Collyer returned to the HWA in July 2000, wrestling Shark Boy on a number of occasions, yet failing to win the HWA Cruiserweight Championship. On September 30, 2000, Shark Boy defeated Collyer in a last man standing match. [6]

On October 27, 2000, Collyer unsuccessfully challenged Race Steele for the HWA Heavyweight Championship. [6] He defeated Steele on January 26, 2001, thus winning his first title, the HWA Heavyweight Championship. He held the title for just over month before being stripped of it on February 27, 2001, upon embarking upon a six-week tour to England. [6] [7]

Collyer returned to the HWA in July 2001. On August 9, 2001, he wrestled at the third annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show, taking part in a four way bout for the HWA Cruiserweight Championship. Throughout the remainder of 2001, Collyer wrestled a number of World Championship Wrestling wrestlers who had been assigned to the HWA (a World Wrestling Federation developmental territory) upon the purchase of WCW by the WWF. [6]

In January 2002, Collyer lost a best of three series for the number one contendership to the HWA Cruiserweight Championship to Stryker. In late January, Collyer began feuding with the Cruiserweight Champion Shannon Moore. He conceded several matches before defeating Moore and Stryker in a three way bout to win the HWA Cruiserweight Championship on February 13, 2002. Moore and Collyer subsequently engaged in a best of seven series, with Moore winning the deciding bout and the Cruiserweight Championship on March 24, 2002. On April 7, 2002, Hellena Heavenly claimed that she was pregnant, with numerous wrestlers claiming that they were the father. Over the following weeks, Collyer faced each of the claimants. [6] [8]

Collyer was subsequently largely inactive in the HWA until 2003. On May 2, 2003, Collyer won a Royal Rumble match with the HWA Heavyweight Championship on the line. He lost the title to Nigel McGuinness on September 6, 2003. [8] Following his loss, Collyer appeared intermittently with the HWA until January 11, 2005, when he defeated Brian Beech for the HWA Television Championship. He lost the title to "High IQ" Quinten Lee on January 18, 2005. Collyer subsequently appeared sporadically with the HWA throughout 2005, wrestling Stryker and James Gibson in technical bouts, and briefly feuding with Cody Hawk in August 2005. [8] [9]

Following a lengthy absence, Collyer returned to the HWA on March 19, 2006, wrestling Nigel McGuinness at the Internet pay-per-view CyberClash. Collyer won his third HWA Heavyweight Championship on August 29, 2006, defeating Jon Moxley. He lost the title to Pepper Parks on November 7, 2006. After failing to regain the title in a two out of three falls match on November 18, 2006, at the November to Dismember event, Collyer formed a tag team with Nigel McGuinness. [8]

Collyer wrestled his final match took place in April 2012 during the HWA's second annual Heartland Cup. [8]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2000–2005, 2007–2009)

Collyer made his first appearance with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) on the September 23, 2000 episode of Jakked , losing to Perry Saturn. He made two further appearances on Jakked in January 2001 and February 2001, losing on both occasions. [10]

On April 5, 2002, Collyer signed a three-year developmental deal with the World Wrestling Federation. [10] He was subsequently assigned to the Heartland Wrestling Association developmental territory. [4] While under contract, Collyer furthered his training under Les Thatcher and Tom Prichard, although he was skeptical of the WWF's request that he take acting classes. [2] He was released by the WWF in July 2002. [10]

Despite being released, Collyer made several appearances for the now renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2003 and 2004, jobbing on Heat , Velocity and in dark matches. [10] In 2009, Collyer appeared on the May 12 episode of WWE's ECW , where he jobbed to Vladimir Kozlov. [11]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2004)

Collyer debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on the October 18, 2003 episode of TNA Xplosion , losing to Chris Sabin. He went on to appear on the November 12, 2003 episode of Xplosion, losing to Sonjay Dutt. On the January 28, 2004 weekly TNA pay-per-view, Collyer, Eric Young, Matt Stryker and Shark Boy lost to Team Mexico in an eight-man tag team bout. [10]

Collyer returned to TNA on June 16, 2004, as one-third of The Elite Guard, a stable consisting of Collyer, Hotstuff Hernandez and Onyx. The Elite Guard were portrayed as a militant and superior antithesis to the 3 Live Kru, who were feuding with Jeff Jarrett and assisted Jarrett in his feud with the Kru. The 3Live Kru and The Elite Guard feuded over the following weeks, culminating in a ten-man Guitar on a Pole match on July 14, 2004, that saw Dusty Rhodes, Larry Zbyszko and the 3Live Kru defeat Jarrett, Ken Shamrock and The Elite Guard when Rhodes pinned Onyx. Following the loss, The Elite Guard was removed from TNA television. In Collyer's TNA match on July 30, 2004, he and Hernandez were defeated by America's Most Wanted in a dark match. [10] . He also appeared in the 20 Man Gauntlet for the Gold on the August 11, 2004 Pay Per View

Ring of Honor (2003–2006)

Collyer debuted in Ring of Honor at Night of the Butcher, losing to Bryan Danielson. He would then return to defeat Matt Stryker at Revenge on the Prophecy in January, 2003. He appeared with ROH sporadically over the following 16 months, wrestling Stryker on a number of occasions. On June 12, 2004, at World Title Classic, Collyer faced Hydro, Superstar Steve and Ray Gordy in a Four Corner Survival match, with the stipulation being that the winner would take part in the Pure Wrestling Championship tournament in July 2004. The match was won by Hydro. [10]

In late 2004, Ricky Steamboat, an advocate of technical wrestling, began feuding with Mick Foley, a proponent of hardcore wrestling, with Collyer taking the side of Steamboat along with other mat-based wrestlers such as Nigel McGuinness. On October 16, 2004, at Joe vs. Punk II, Collyer and McGuinness (accompanied by Steamboat) defeated B. J. Whitmer and Dan Maff (accompanied by Foley). Collyer and McGuinness subsequently teamed on several occasions, unsuccessfully challenging the Havana Pitbulls for the Tag Team Championship on December 4, 2004, at All-Star Extravaganza II. [10]

Following a four-month absence, Collyer returned to ROH on May 13, 2005, at The Final Showdown, teaming with McGuinness in a loss to Colt Cabana and Doug Williams. On August 12, 2005, Collyer and McGuinness unsuccessfully challenged B. J. Whitmer and Jimmy Jacobs for the Tag Team Championship. In November 2005, Collyer began feuding with Ace Steel. The feud culminated in a First Blood match on March 31, 2006, at Super Card of Honor, which was won by Steel. [10]

Collyer made several further appearances with ROH throughout 2006. His final match, on August 13, 2006, at Anarchy in the UK, saw him team with The Kings of Wrestling in a loss to Colt Cabana, Nigel McGuiness and Robbie Brookside. [10]

All Star Wrestling (2000–2002, 2004–2011, 2015)

Chad often tours the UK with All Star Wrestling in England, working as a heel. However, his character became a comedic character, with most of his matches being comedy sketches. He has wrestled the likes of Dean Allmark, Marty Scurll, James Mason, the Zebra Kid and Doug Williams.

After retiring in 2012, Collyer returned to professional wrestling in July 2015 and wrestled a number of matches for ASW until his final match on September 12.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2009–2010)

In July 2009, Collyer debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) under his Metal Master gimmick, in which he defeated then-OVW Television Champion Jamin Olivencia in a non-title match. The Metal Master would eventually win the Television Championship from Mohammad Ali Vaez on September 15, 2010. He held the title for 47 days before losing the title in a rematch.

Personal life

In 2011, Collyer began performing as a magician and mentalist. [3]

Championships and accomplishments

Collegiate wrestling

Professional wrestling

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Waltman</span> American professional wrestler (born 1972)

Sean Michael Waltman is an American retired professional wrestler, martial artist, and former adult movie star. He is currently signed to WWE under a legends contract. He is best known for his appearances for the World Wrestling Federation under the ring names 1–2–3 Kid and X-Pac; World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as Syxx; and NWA Total Nonstop Action (NWA-TNA) as Syxx-Pac and under his real name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Lo Brown</span> American professional wrestler

Accie Julius Connor, better known by his ring name D'Lo Brown, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to TNA Wrestling, where he works as a producer. He is best known for his time with WWE. Brown is also known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Malenko</span> American professional wrestler

Shelly Dean Simon, better known by the ring name Dean Malenko, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as a senior producer. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as a wrestler and a road agent and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Lynn</span> American professional wrestler

Jeremy Lynn, better known by the ring name Jerry Lynn, is an American retired professional wrestler signed with All Elite Wrestling as a producer and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elix Skipper</span> American professional wrestler

Elix Skipper is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one-time WCW Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion, and with NWA Total Nonstop Action, where he was a four-time NWA World Tag Team Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Diamond</span> American professional wrestler

Patrick Joseph Michael Kenney is an American retired professional wrestler and baseball player, better known by his ring name, Simon Diamond. He is working for the National Wrestling Alliance as Director of Talent Relations. Diamond is best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1998 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Albright</span> American professional wrestler

Brent Albright is an American retired professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment, during which he appeared on SmackDown! as Gunner Scott. Aside from WWE, Albright is a one-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, having won the title while performing for Ring of Honor.

Christopher Ford is an American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Crowbar, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion, a one time World Tag Team Champion with David Flair and a one time Cruiserweight Champion, which he held jointly with Daffney. He, Jerry Lynn and Christopher Daniels are the only wrestlers in history to have wrestled for World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Ring Of Honor and All Elite Wrestling. He currently performs on the independent circuit either as The Timeless One, Crowbar or Devon Storm.

Michael Edwin Neil Sanders is an American stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler. Sanders is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time Cruiserweight Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shark Boy</span> American professional wrestler (born 1975)

Dean Matthew Roll is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Shark Boy. Prior to his appearances in TNA, Roll competed on the independent scene from the mid-1990s onwards before being signed by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1999. Following his release from WCW six months later in 2000, Roll returned to the independent scenes, mainly competing for the World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA) promotion. He would leave WWA in 2002 to join TNA, where he became a member of the TNA X Division. He would make sporadic appearances in TNA from 2009 onwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christian York</span> American professional wrestler (born 1977)

Jason Spence is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Christian York. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling and Impact Wrestling. Championships held by York over the course of his career include the NWA World Tag Team Championship as one-half of The Bad Street Boys with Joey Matthews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Stryker</span> American professional wrestler

Brian Woermann is an American former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Matt Stryker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slammiversary (2005)</span> 2005 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view event

The 2005 Slammiversary was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotion, which took place on June 19, 2005 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida. It was the first event under the Slammiversary chronology and the sixth event in the 2005 TNA PPV schedule. Nine professional wrestling matches, three of which featured championships, and one pre-show match were featured on the event's card. The event commemorated TNA's third anniversary, after forming on June 19, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Bradley</span> American professional wrestler

Bradley Thomas Jay is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in Impact Wrestling under the ring names of Jay Bradley and Aiden O'Shea, and WWE as Ryan Braddock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nigel McGuinness</span> British professional wrestler

Steven Haworth, better known by his ring name Nigel McGuinness, is an English professional wrestler and commentator. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he serves as a color commentator on Collision as well as an occasional in-ring talent. He is known for work with Ring of Honor, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and WWE.

Kyle McNeely, better known by his ring name Onyx, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2003 to 2004.

Sean Casey is an American professional wrestler who wrestles on the Southeast independent circuit. He has made appearances in World Championship Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation, and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He also appeared in the magazine Playgirl in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Carter III</span> American professional wrestler

Michael Hutter is an American professional wrestler and promoter better known by the ring name Ethan Carter III. He is signed to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he is a former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and NWA National Heavyweight Champion. He also performs on the independent circuit. He is best known for his tenures with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and WWE, where he performed both under his EC3 ring name and, earlier, as Derrick Bateman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chip Fairway</span> American professional wrestler

Brett J. Keen, better known by the ring name Chip Fairway, was an American professional wrestler. One of the top cruiserweight wrestlers in the Midwestern United States during the mid-to-late 1990s, his in-ring persona as a pro golfer turned wrestler was considered one of the most unusual "gimmicks" on the independent circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Blade (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler (born 1980)

Jesse Guilmette is an American professional wrestler, he is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) with the ring name The Blade. He is known for his tag team work with The Butcher with the name The Butcher and the Blade. Outside of that, he is known for his work in Impact Wrestling with the ring name Braxton Sutter and on the independent promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), where he was a one-time CZW World Tag Team Champion with the ring name Pepper Parks.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Bio". ChadCollyer.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Chad Collyer Interview". 1Wrestling.com. December 3, 2002. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. 1 2 "Louisville Magician and Mentalist Chad Collyer".
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gerweck, S. "Chad Collyer". Gerweck.net. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  5. ↑ "CM Punk VS. Chad Collyer - Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling [Free Wrestling Match]". www.youtube.com. Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling. September 27, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Chad Collyer Heartland Wrestling Association Matches August 1998 – February 2002". Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  7. ↑ Westcott, B. (2007). "HWA Heavyweight Title History". Solie.org. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Chad Collyer Heartland Wrestling Association Matches February 2002 – April 2012". Cagematch – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Westcott, B. (2007). "HWA Cruiserweight / Television Title History". Solie.org. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Chad Collyer". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  11. ↑ "Matches « Chad Collyer « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Chad Collyer". Bodyslamming.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
  13. ↑ "NWA Indiana Heavyweight Championship history".
  14. ↑ "NWA Indiana Heritage Championship history".
  15. ↑ "OVW championship histories". Archived from the original on April 13, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Internet Wrestling Database - Chad Collyer: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ratings".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.