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{{Infobox Wrestler |
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|name=Billy Kidman |
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|image=Billykidman.jpg |
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|names=Kid Flash<ref name="OWOW"/><br>'''Kidman'''<ref name="bodyslamming"/><br>'''Billy Kidman'''<ref name="OWOW"/><br> |
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|height=5 ft 10 in (178 cm)<ref name=wwebio>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/billykidman/bio/|title= Kidman's WWE Alumni Profile|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2007-06-04}}</ref> |
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|weight={{convert|195|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=wwebio/> |
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|birth_date={{birth date and age|1974|5|11}}<ref name="bodyslamming"/> |
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|death_date= |
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|birth_place=[[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]<ref name=wwebio/> |
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|resides=[[Tampa, Florida]]<ref name="OWOW"/> |
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|billed=[[Allentown, Pennsylvania]]<ref name=wwebio/> |
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|trainer=[[Afa Anoai]]<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=wwebio/> |
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|debut=September 11, 1994<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name="bodyslamming"/> |
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|}} |
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'''Peter Jacob Gruner''' (born May 11, 1974)<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/billy-kidman.html|title=Billy Kidman Profile|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref name="bodyslamming">{{cite web|url=http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/kidman.html|title=Billy Kidman Profile|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=Bodyslamming.com}}</ref> better known by his [[ring name]] '''Billy Kidman''', is an [[United States|American]] [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. Kidman is best known for his work with [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) and the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment]] (WWF/E) throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. |
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He joined [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) and ultimately gained fame as a key member of several strong wrestling [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|factions]]. In addition to being a member of [[Raven's Nest|Raven's Flock]], he also was a member of the [[Filthy Animals]] and later [[New Blood]].<ref name=wwebio/> As a member of these factions, Gruner participated in memorable rivalries with top WCW names, including [[Hulk Hogan]], [[Jeff Jarrett]], and [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]].<ref name=wwebio/> Kidman wrestled for WCW for many years and won tag team gold with partner and real life friend Mysterio. After leaving the group, he won the [[WCW World Cruiserweight Championship]] three times. Gruner also met his former wife [[Torrie Wilson]] while the two were working in WCW. |
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Upon WCW's purchase by [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF), Kidman became a member of the [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|WCW/ECW Alliance]] faction, and later a successful champion in WWE's Cruiserweight and Tag Team divisions. He now works on the [[independent circuit]]. |
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==Career== |
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===Early career=== |
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Gruner was trained by the one half of the [[Wild Samoans]], [[Afa Anoa'i]]<ref name="OWOW"/> and wrestled his first match on September 11, 1994 in the [[independent circuit]] as '''Kid Flash'''.<ref name="OWOW"/> He formed a [[tag team]] with [[Ace Darling]] known as '''Shooting Stars''' and they would win the [[ECWA Tag Team Championship]] and [[USWA World Tag Team Championship]]. |
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=== World Championship Wrestling === |
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{{Unreferencedsection|date=December 2008}} |
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Gruner first started wrestling as Billy Kidman for WCW in late 1996, spending over a year as a cruiserweight jobber with no gimmick. Finally, he was added to [[Raven's Nest|Raven's Flock]] in 1997 as a disheveled street junkie with a gimmick of a [[Heroin|heroin addict]]{{Fact|date=December 2008}}, constantly scratching his arms, and named his [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Shooting star press|Shooting Star Press]] maneuver the "Seven Year Itch." Kidman found little personal success with the group and aided [[Perry Saturn]] in defeating [[Scott Levy|Raven]] in a match, thus disbanding the group. |
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Kidman shed his grungy attire and began performing as a [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]], eventually pinning [[Juventud Guerrera]] to win his first [[WCW Cruiserweight Championship]]. Guerrera won the belt back a few weeks later, but Kidman regained it at [[WCW World War 3]]. Kidman went on to hold the title for several months, becoming the record holder at the time,{{Fact|date=December 2008}} and still holds one of the longest reigns. In this time he became a huge fan favorite and was considered the top star of the WCW Cruiserweight division.{{Fact|date=December 2008}} He eventually lost the title on an episode of ''WCW Monday Nitro'' to Rey Mysterio. They had a rematch at [[Spring Stampede#1998|Spring Stampede 1998]] where Mysterio was victorious. |
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Following this, Mysterio asked Kidman to be his tag team partner in a match for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|WCW Tag Team Championship]]. Kidman at first declined, as a previous attempt at a tag team between the two did not reach any level of success. The two, however, faced [[Chris Benoit]] and [[Dean Malenko]] for the titles and succeeded with unwanted aid from Raven and Saturn. The three teams feuded for several weeks, which ended in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination match|three way tag team match]] for the titles. [[Chris Kanyon]]'s interference led to the victory for Raven and Saturn. Kidman and Mysterio continued to team together throughout the remainder of WCW, but only sparingly. Kidman spent the next several months in assorted feuds. He won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship one more time from [[Prince Iaukea]] at a house show, but lost it back to Iaukea 24 hours later. Kidman also defeated [[Psicosis]] in a hair vs. mask match, and came close to defeating Jeff Jarrett for the [[WCW United States Championship|United States Championship]]. He then entered a short feud with [[Vampiro]]. |
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During this time, Kidman was a part of the WCW face faction, the [[Filthy Animals]], with Mysterio, [[Konnan]], and [[Eddie Guerrero]]. Guerrero left the group when he left WCW, and Kidman left the group when they became a heel faction. He later rejoined them when they were faces once more in the last few months of WCW. |
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Following his first departure from the Filthy Animals, Kidman joined [[Vince Russo]]'s [[New Blood]] faction, taking another heel turn. His gimmick was a young hotshot not wanting to be held back by superstars beyond their prime. This led to his biggest feud to date with [[Hulk Hogan]]. After the New Blood split up, Kidman became a face once more entering a feud with [[Shane Douglas]] for the affection of his on-screen girlfriend, [[Torrie Wilson]]. Wilson turned on Kidman, and the feud ended with Kidman victorious. |
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Following the Douglas feud, Kidman began teaming with Mysterio again, and they entered the [[WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship]] tournament. They lost in the finals to [[Elix Skipper]] and [[Kid Romeo]], but won the titles from them on the final episode of ''WCW Monday Nitro''. That night the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) purchased WCW, the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles were retired, and Kidman's contract was picked up by WWE. |
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===World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment=== |
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When the WWF purchased WCW, the contract of Gruner (who was still wrestling as Billy Kidman) was one of twenty-five contracts involved in the purchase. When [[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|The Invasion storyline]] commenced, Gruner appeared on WWF television as a [[tweener (professional wrestling)|tweener]] for the [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|WCW Alliance]] faction. In July 2001, Gruner won the [[WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] from [[Gregory Helms]] in the first televised WCW match on ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]]''.<ref name=wwebio/><ref name="Cruiser4">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/350674|title=History Of The Cruiserweight Championship - Bill Kidman(4)|date=2001-07-05|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Kidman was sidelined with an injury during the Invasion angle and thus did not have as big of an impact as other WCW superstars. |
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Kidman turned [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] after the WCW/ECW Alliance broke up. He was drafted to [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] as part of the [[WWE Brand Extension#RAW and SmackDown!|brand extension]], and in his return match he defeated [[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]] to win his first WWE Cruiserweight Championship.<ref name="Cruiser6">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/350562|title=History Of the Cruiserweight Championship - Bill Kidman (6)|date=2002-04-04|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Tajiri reclaimed the title at [[WWE Backlash#2002|Backlash]]. He went on to capture the Cruiserweight Championship for the seventh time (making him the record holder for most Cruiserweight Titles at the time), by defeating [[Jamie Noble]] at [[Survivor Series (2002)|Survivor Series]].<ref name="Cruiser7">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/cruiser/350466|title=History Of The Cruiserweight Championship - Billy Kidman(7)|date=2002-11-17|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Kidman lost the title three months later to [[Matt Hardy]] at [[No Way Out (2003)|No Way Out]]. He spent the next few years as a star attraction in the cruiserweight division, relying solely on his in-ring work and no real [[List of professional wrestling terms#G|gimmick]]. Later, Kidman was placed with a new [[tag team]] partner, [[Paul London]]. The team went on to win the [[WWE Tag Team Championship]] from [[Dudley Boyz|The Dudley Boyz]] on July 8, 2004.<ref name="WWE Tag">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/330038|title=History Of The WWE Tag Team Championship - Billy Kidman & Paul London|date=2004-07-08|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Proving the win was not an upset, they went on to win a rematch for the titles. |
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The championship run of this face team came to an abrupt end after Kidman turned his back on London. The [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turn]] played off of a legitimate injury which occurred on an August 24, 2004 taping of ''SmackDown!'', when Gruner's [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Shooting star press|Shooting Star Press]] had unintentionally caused [[Chavo Guerrero, Jr.|Chavo Guerrero]] to suffer a concussion and be taken to the hospital. The next week, Kidman was on the top rope ready to hit the Shooting Star Press, but hesitated, climbed down the turnbuckles, and slowly walked backstage overwhelmed with guilt after injuring Guerrero. London was left alone to defend the titles against [[Kenzo Suzuki]] and [[René Goguen|Rene Dupree]], and was brutally defeated. London and Kidman fought at [[No Mercy (2004)|No Mercy 2004]], where Kidman injured London with a shooting star press, while London was strapped to a stretcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/10/04/788800.html|title=Fans won't remember No Mercy|date=2004-10-04|last=Clevett|first=Jason|accessdate=2008-10-16|publisher=SLAM! Sports}}</ref> This completed Kidman's heel turn, blaming the fans for wanting him to be more brutal with his in-ring style. Kidman and Guerrero ended their feud upon Chavo's return, the latter being victorious in the final match. Kidman then competed against London over the Cruisweight title in the coming months. |
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Gruner was released from his WWE contract on July 7, 2005. It was rumored that the reason behind his release was the lack of crowd reaction and unintentional injuries he caused, but Gruner later stated in an interview with the [[United Kingdom|UK]] newspaper ''[[The Sun Newspaper|The Sun]]'' that it was because he argued with management over their decision to stop booking wrestlers on [[Business class|first class]] flights overseas.<ref name="fired-reason">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2006200713,00.html|author=Simon Rothstein|title=The Sun Online - Wrestling: Kidman: Why I Was Fired|accessdate=2007-05-19}}</ref> Recently he has become a trainer for developmental talent in [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWE]]'s official territory [[Florida Championship Wrestling]] making appearances as a wrestler but as of yet has not rejoined WWE in an official wrestling role. |
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===Post-WWE career=== |
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During this first tour of the UK since leaving WWE, Kidman would make a few appearances in independent British promotions. Other than his notable [[Frontier Wrestling Alliance]] 3-way match with [[Jody Fleisch]] and [[Jonny Storm]], Kidman would also wrestle British wrestling legend [[Robbie Brookside]] in a losing effort during a British rules match to determine the first [[Real Quality Wrestling]] Heavyweight Champion. |
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In 2007, Gruner was at [[IWA]], in a match for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ray Gonzalez.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prwrestling.com/noticiasprw/3840.php|title=IWA: Kidman vs Ray Gonzalez en Bayamón|date=2007-03-29|accessdate=2008-05-29|publisher=PRWrestling.com|language=Spanish}}</ref> Gruner also took part in the East Coast Australian "International Assault II" Tour from June 1-3, 2007 wrestling Australian superstars [[Greg Bownds|TNT]] and Mark Hilton, and pinned [[Bryan Danielson]] to win the [[WSW]] World Heavyweight Championship on the 3rd night in Newcastle. |
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On July 8, 2007, Kidman teamed up with [[Sean Waltman|Sean "X-Pac" Waltman]] as part of a triple threat match in [[McAllen, Texas]] to crown the new [[NWA World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Champions]]. The title was previously vacated by [[Dudley Boyz|Team 3D]] after [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA Wrestling]] officially pulled out of the [[National Wrestling Alliance]]. They would lose the match to [[Karl Anderson]] and [[Joey Ryan]]. He has since signed with the Australasian Wrestling Federation. |
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==Personal life== |
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Gruner grew up in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]] in the [[Lehigh Valley]] region, where he graduated from [[Parkland High School (Allentown, Pennsylvania)|Parkland High School]]. Gruner was a banker before he started training to be a professional wrestler, and is good friends with [[Glen Gilberti]], [[Chris Kanyon]], [[Diamond Dallas Page]], and [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]]. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} |
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After being together for four years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmonthly.com/Profiles/Articles/TorrieWilson/TorrieWilson.html|title=Miss Torrie Wilson|date=2004-05-14|last=Schultz|first=Gary|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Film Monthly}}</ref> Gruner married former [[WWE Diva]], [[Torrie Wilson]] on [[July 11]] [[2003]].<ref name="fired-reason"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/wilson-torrie.html|title=Torrie Wilson|last=Milner|first=John M.|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Slam! Sports}}</ref> They lived together in [[Tampa, Florida]] when not traveling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_1_5/ai_101337651|title=The wiles of Wilson: WWE Diva Torrie Wilson reveals all—her secrets to success, that is|date=2003-06|last=Berkowitz|first=Matt|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=Wrestling Digest}}</ref> The couple divorced in |
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2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warned.net/BillyKidmanAudioWrestling07.html|title=Billy Kidman Talks About Divorcing From Torrie Wilson, Working Against Hogan, His New Gimmick, Sleeping With Married Women And More|date=2007-02-26|last=Farrell|first=Errol Leigh|accessdate=2008-09-12|publisher=Warned.net}}</ref> |
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==In wrestling== |
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*'''Finishing and signature moves''' |
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<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style--> |
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:*'''''BK Bomb''''' ([[Powerbomb#Rydeen bomb|Standing sitout spinebuster]], sometimes from the [[Professional wrestling aerial attacks#Super|second rope]]) |
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:*'''''Kid Krusher''''' ([[Facebuster#Inverted double underhook facebuster|Jumping inverted double underhook facebuster]]) |
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:*'''[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Shooting star press|Shooting star press]]''' ([[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWF/E]]) / ''Seven Year Itch'' ([[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]])<ref name="OWOW"/><!--Leave this move's name as it is.--> |
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<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style--> |
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:*[[Dropkick]], sometimes from the [[Dropkick#Missile dropkick|top rope]] |
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:*[[Neckbreaker#Fireman's carry neckbreaker|Fireman's carry neckbreaker]]<ref name="OWOW"/> |
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:*[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frankensteiner|Frankensteiner]] |
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:*''Kid Factor'' ([[Facebuster#Sitout facebuster|Sitout facebuster]], often used as a [[powerbomb]] counter) |
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:*[[Moonsault]] |
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:*[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard bulldog|Springboard bulldog]]<ref name="OWOW"/> |
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:*[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard legdrop|Springboard leg drop]] |
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*'''[[Manager (professional wrestling)|Managers]]''' |
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:*[[Scott Levy|Raven]] |
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:*[[Dawn Marie Psaltis|Dawn Marie]] |
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:*[[Torrie Wilson]] |
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:*[[Von Erich Family#Lacey Von Erich|Lacey Von Erich]] |
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*'''[[Music in professional wrestling|Entrance themes]]''' |
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:*"Rock the World (WCW production theme) |
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:*"Destroyer" (WCW production theme) |
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:*"Mortal Wound" (WWE production theme) |
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:*"Extreme Impact" (WWE production theme) |
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:*"[[WWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6|You Can Run]]" by [[Jim Johnston (composer)|Jim Johnston]] |
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==Championships and accomplishments== |
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*'''[[East Coast Wrestling Association]]''' |
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:*[[ECWA Tag Team Championship]] ([[ECWA Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Ace Darling]]<ref name="bodyslamming"/> |
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:*[[ECWA Hall of Fame]] ([[ECWA Hall of Fame#2004|Class of 2004]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecwaprowrestling.com/halloffame/index.html|title=ECWA Hall Of Fame Inductees - Wrestlers|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=ECWAProWrestling|quote=2004 Billy Kidman}}</ref> |
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*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]''' |
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:*PWI ranked him # '''94''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]] in 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50004.htm/|accessdate=2008-07-03|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2004|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> |
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*'''Revolution Xtreme Wrestling''' |
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:*RXW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{Fact|date=July 2008}} |
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*'''Trans–World Wrestling Federation''' |
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:*TWWF Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="bodyslamming"/> |
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*'''[[United States Wrestling Association]]''' |
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:*[[USWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[USWA World Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with Ace Darling<ref name="bodyslamming"/> |
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*'''[[World Championship Wrestling]]''' |
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:*[[WWE Cruiserweight Championship|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE Cruiserweight Champions|3 times]])<ref name="WWE title history">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/billykidman/376954|title=Billy Kidman's Title History|accessdate=2008-03-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref> |
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:*[[WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship]] ([[WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Misterio, Jr.]]<ref name="WWE title history"/> |
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:*[[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|2 times]]) – with Rey Misterio, Jr. (1) and [[Konnan]] (1)<ref name=wwebio/><ref name="WWE title history"/> |
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*'''World Series Wrestling''' |
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:*WSW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/htwsw.html|accessdate=2008-07-03|last=Pulsone|first=Mario|title=WSW - World Series Wrestling WSW Heavyweight Title History|publisher=Solie}}</ref> |
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*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment]]''' |
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:*[[WWE Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WWE Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) – with [[Paul London]]<ref name=wwebio/><ref name="WWE title history"/> |
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:*[[WWE Cruiserweight Championship|WWF/E Cruiserweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE Cruiserweight Champions|4 times]])<ref name=wwebio/><ref name="WWE title history"/> |
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*'''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards]]''' |
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:*[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Worst Feud of the Year|Worst Feud of the Year]] (2000) <small>vs. [[Hulk Hogan]]</small> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}} |
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*[http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/kidman.html Billy Kidman at Bodyslamming.com] |
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*[http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/billykidman/bio/ WWE Alumni Profile] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kidman, Billy}} |
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[[Category:1974 births]] |
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[[Category:American professional wrestlers]] |
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[[Category:Jewish professional wrestlers]] |
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[[Category:Jewish sportspeople]] |
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[[Category:Lehigh Valley Conference athletes]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Parkland High School alumni]] |
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[[Category:People from Tampa, Florida]] |
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[[Category:People from the Lehigh Valley]] |
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[[da:Billy Kidman]] |
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[[de:Billy Kidman]] |
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[[fr:Billy Kidman]] |
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[[it:Peter Gruner]] |
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[[ja:ビリー・キッドマン]] |
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[[pt:Billy Kidman]] |
Revision as of 14:29, 11 January 2009
Billy Kidman | |
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File:Billykidman.jpg | |
Born | [1] Allentown, Pennsylvania[2] | May 11, 1974
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Kid Flash[3] Kidman[1] Billy Kidman[3] |
Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2] |
Billed weight | 195 lb (88 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Allentown, Pennsylvania[2] |
Trained by | Afa Anoai[3][2] |
Debut | September 11, 1994[3][1] |
Peter Jacob Gruner (born May 11, 1974)[3][1] better known by his ring name Billy Kidman, is an American professional wrestler. Kidman is best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E) throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and ultimately gained fame as a key member of several strong wrestling factions. In addition to being a member of Raven's Flock, he also was a member of the Filthy Animals and later New Blood.[2] As a member of these factions, Gruner participated in memorable rivalries with top WCW names, including Hulk Hogan, Jeff Jarrett, and Rey Mysterio.[2] Kidman wrestled for WCW for many years and won tag team gold with partner and real life friend Mysterio. After leaving the group, he won the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship three times. Gruner also met his former wife Torrie Wilson while the two were working in WCW.
Upon WCW's purchase by World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Kidman became a member of the WCW/ECW Alliance faction, and later a successful champion in WWE's Cruiserweight and Tag Team divisions. He now works on the independent circuit.
Career
Early career
Gruner was trained by the one half of the Wild Samoans, Afa Anoa'i[3] and wrestled his first match on September 11, 1994 in the independent circuit as Kid Flash.[3] He formed a tag team with Ace Darling known as Shooting Stars and they would win the ECWA Tag Team Championship and USWA World Tag Team Championship.
World Championship Wrestling
Gruner first started wrestling as Billy Kidman for WCW in late 1996, spending over a year as a cruiserweight jobber with no gimmick. Finally, he was added to Raven's Flock in 1997 as a disheveled street junkie with a gimmick of a heroin addict[citation needed], constantly scratching his arms, and named his Shooting Star Press maneuver the "Seven Year Itch." Kidman found little personal success with the group and aided Perry Saturn in defeating Raven in a match, thus disbanding the group.
Kidman shed his grungy attire and began performing as a babyface, eventually pinning Juventud Guerrera to win his first WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Guerrera won the belt back a few weeks later, but Kidman regained it at WCW World War 3. Kidman went on to hold the title for several months, becoming the record holder at the time,[citation needed] and still holds one of the longest reigns. In this time he became a huge fan favorite and was considered the top star of the WCW Cruiserweight division.[citation needed] He eventually lost the title on an episode of WCW Monday Nitro to Rey Mysterio. They had a rematch at Spring Stampede 1998 where Mysterio was victorious.
Following this, Mysterio asked Kidman to be his tag team partner in a match for the WCW Tag Team Championship. Kidman at first declined, as a previous attempt at a tag team between the two did not reach any level of success. The two, however, faced Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko for the titles and succeeded with unwanted aid from Raven and Saturn. The three teams feuded for several weeks, which ended in a three way tag team match for the titles. Chris Kanyon's interference led to the victory for Raven and Saturn. Kidman and Mysterio continued to team together throughout the remainder of WCW, but only sparingly. Kidman spent the next several months in assorted feuds. He won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship one more time from Prince Iaukea at a house show, but lost it back to Iaukea 24 hours later. Kidman also defeated Psicosis in a hair vs. mask match, and came close to defeating Jeff Jarrett for the United States Championship. He then entered a short feud with Vampiro.
During this time, Kidman was a part of the WCW face faction, the Filthy Animals, with Mysterio, Konnan, and Eddie Guerrero. Guerrero left the group when he left WCW, and Kidman left the group when they became a heel faction. He later rejoined them when they were faces once more in the last few months of WCW.
Following his first departure from the Filthy Animals, Kidman joined Vince Russo's New Blood faction, taking another heel turn. His gimmick was a young hotshot not wanting to be held back by superstars beyond their prime. This led to his biggest feud to date with Hulk Hogan. After the New Blood split up, Kidman became a face once more entering a feud with Shane Douglas for the affection of his on-screen girlfriend, Torrie Wilson. Wilson turned on Kidman, and the feud ended with Kidman victorious.
Following the Douglas feud, Kidman began teaming with Mysterio again, and they entered the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship tournament. They lost in the finals to Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo, but won the titles from them on the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro. That night the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) purchased WCW, the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles were retired, and Kidman's contract was picked up by WWE.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
When the WWF purchased WCW, the contract of Gruner (who was still wrestling as Billy Kidman) was one of twenty-five contracts involved in the purchase. When The Invasion storyline commenced, Gruner appeared on WWF television as a tweener for the WCW Alliance faction. In July 2001, Gruner won the WCW Cruiserweight Championship from Gregory Helms in the first televised WCW match on SmackDown!.[2][4] Kidman was sidelined with an injury during the Invasion angle and thus did not have as big of an impact as other WCW superstars.
Kidman turned face after the WCW/ECW Alliance broke up. He was drafted to SmackDown! as part of the brand extension, and in his return match he defeated Tajiri to win his first WWE Cruiserweight Championship.[5] Tajiri reclaimed the title at Backlash. He went on to capture the Cruiserweight Championship for the seventh time (making him the record holder for most Cruiserweight Titles at the time), by defeating Jamie Noble at Survivor Series.[6] Kidman lost the title three months later to Matt Hardy at No Way Out. He spent the next few years as a star attraction in the cruiserweight division, relying solely on his in-ring work and no real gimmick. Later, Kidman was placed with a new tag team partner, Paul London. The team went on to win the WWE Tag Team Championship from The Dudley Boyz on July 8, 2004.[7] Proving the win was not an upset, they went on to win a rematch for the titles.
The championship run of this face team came to an abrupt end after Kidman turned his back on London. The heel turn played off of a legitimate injury which occurred on an August 24, 2004 taping of SmackDown!, when Gruner's Shooting Star Press had unintentionally caused Chavo Guerrero to suffer a concussion and be taken to the hospital. The next week, Kidman was on the top rope ready to hit the Shooting Star Press, but hesitated, climbed down the turnbuckles, and slowly walked backstage overwhelmed with guilt after injuring Guerrero. London was left alone to defend the titles against Kenzo Suzuki and Rene Dupree, and was brutally defeated. London and Kidman fought at No Mercy 2004, where Kidman injured London with a shooting star press, while London was strapped to a stretcher.[8] This completed Kidman's heel turn, blaming the fans for wanting him to be more brutal with his in-ring style. Kidman and Guerrero ended their feud upon Chavo's return, the latter being victorious in the final match. Kidman then competed against London over the Cruisweight title in the coming months.
Gruner was released from his WWE contract on July 7, 2005. It was rumored that the reason behind his release was the lack of crowd reaction and unintentional injuries he caused, but Gruner later stated in an interview with the UK newspaper The Sun that it was because he argued with management over their decision to stop booking wrestlers on first class flights overseas.[9] Recently he has become a trainer for developmental talent in WWE's official territory Florida Championship Wrestling making appearances as a wrestler but as of yet has not rejoined WWE in an official wrestling role.
Post-WWE career
During this first tour of the UK since leaving WWE, Kidman would make a few appearances in independent British promotions. Other than his notable Frontier Wrestling Alliance 3-way match with Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm, Kidman would also wrestle British wrestling legend Robbie Brookside in a losing effort during a British rules match to determine the first Real Quality Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
In 2007, Gruner was at IWA, in a match for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ray Gonzalez.[10] Gruner also took part in the East Coast Australian "International Assault II" Tour from June 1-3, 2007 wrestling Australian superstars TNT and Mark Hilton, and pinned Bryan Danielson to win the WSW World Heavyweight Championship on the 3rd night in Newcastle.
On July 8, 2007, Kidman teamed up with Sean "X-Pac" Waltman as part of a triple threat match in McAllen, Texas to crown the new NWA World Tag Team Champions. The title was previously vacated by Team 3D after TNA Wrestling officially pulled out of the National Wrestling Alliance. They would lose the match to Karl Anderson and Joey Ryan. He has since signed with the Australasian Wrestling Federation.
Personal life
Gruner grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region, where he graduated from Parkland High School. Gruner was a banker before he started training to be a professional wrestler, and is good friends with Glen Gilberti, Chris Kanyon, Diamond Dallas Page, and Rey Mysterio. [citation needed]
After being together for four years,[11] Gruner married former WWE Diva, Torrie Wilson on July 11 2003.[9][12] They lived together in Tampa, Florida when not traveling.[13] The couple divorced in 2007.[14]
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- BK Bomb (Standing sitout spinebuster, sometimes from the second rope)
- Kid Krusher (Jumping inverted double underhook facebuster)
- Shooting star press (WWF/E) / Seven Year Itch (WCW)[3]
- Dropkick, sometimes from the top rope
- Fireman's carry neckbreaker[3]
- Frankensteiner
- Kid Factor (Sitout facebuster, often used as a powerbomb counter)
- Moonsault
- Springboard bulldog[3]
- Springboard leg drop
- "Rock the World (WCW production theme)
- "Destroyer" (WCW production theme)
- "Mortal Wound" (WWE production theme)
- "Extreme Impact" (WWE production theme)
- "You Can Run" by Jim Johnston
Championships and accomplishments
- Revolution Xtreme Wrestling
- RXW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[citation needed]
- Trans–World Wrestling Federation
- TWWF Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[1]
- USWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ace Darling[1]
- WCW Cruiserweight Championship (3 times)[17]
- WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rey Misterio, Jr.[17]
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Rey Misterio, Jr. (1) and Konnan (1)[2][17]
- World Series Wrestling
- WSW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)[18]
- Worst Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Hulk Hogan
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Billy Kidman Profile". Bodyslamming.com. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Kidman's WWE Alumni Profile". WWE. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Billy Kidman Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ "History Of The Cruiserweight Championship - Bill Kidman(4)". WWE. 2001-07-05. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ "History Of the Cruiserweight Championship - Bill Kidman (6)". WWE. 2002-04-04. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ "History Of The Cruiserweight Championship - Billy Kidman(7)". WWE. 2002-11-17. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ "History Of The WWE Tag Team Championship - Billy Kidman & Paul London". WWE. 2004-07-08. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ Clevett, Jason (2004-10-04). "Fans won't remember No Mercy". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- ^ a b Simon Rothstein. "The Sun Online - Wrestling: Kidman: Why I Was Fired". Retrieved 2007-05-19.
- ^ "IWA: Kidman vs Ray Gonzalez en Bayamón" (in Spanish). PRWrestling.com. 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ Schultz, Gary (2004-05-14). "Miss Torrie Wilson". Film Monthly. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ Milner, John M. "Torrie Wilson". Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ Berkowitz, Matt (2003-06). "The wiles of Wilson: WWE Diva Torrie Wilson reveals all—her secrets to success, that is". Wrestling Digest. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
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(help) - ^ Farrell, Errol Leigh (2007-02-26). "Billy Kidman Talks About Divorcing From Torrie Wilson, Working Against Hogan, His New Gimmick, Sleeping With Married Women And More". Warned.net. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ "ECWA Hall Of Fame Inductees - Wrestlers". ECWAProWrestling. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
2004 Billy Kidman
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2004". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ a b c d e "Billy Kidman's Title History". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ Pulsone, Mario. "WSW - World Series Wrestling WSW Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved 2008-07-03.