This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Betacommand (talk | contribs) at 15:16, 21 March 2007 (removing inappropriate link per WP:EL, WP:SPAM, WP:RS, and WP:NOT). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 15:16, 21 March 2007 by Betacommand (talk | contribs) (removing inappropriate link per WP:EL, WP:SPAM, WP:RS, and WP:NOT)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For other people named William Welch, see William Welch (disambiguation).| William Welch | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 18, 1977 Detroit, Michigan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Iron Mike Ehrhardt The Blunatic The Messiah |
| Billed height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Trained by | Carlito Montana Slam U Training School |
William Welch (born December 18, 1977 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Messiah.
Career
Welch's professional career began modestly after being trained at the Slam U Wrestling Gym in Sun Valley, California. He worked for the school's parent company the Slammers Wrestling Federation for a time, losing his first professional match there to El Sprito. In the Slammers Wrestling Federation, he worked under the name Iron Mike Erhardt.
Recognition came for Welch after he joined Xtreme Pro Wrestling. Working his way up the card with his new gimmick, Messiah, he eventually became a main eventer who wrestled with well known former Extreme Championship Wrestling stars like Sabu, Chris Candido and New Jack.
While XPW folded, Messiah continued to compete in the CZW promotion. Messiah has also competed in IWA Mid-South, Pro Pain Pro Wrestling (3PW), as well as other promotions. He has competed in Italy twice, as well as been in a world wide video game. (Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes The Neighborhood for Xbox and PlayStation 2) He has held the CZW Heavyweight Title three times; having a nearly one-year long run with the belt from March 6, 2004 to February 5, 2005. After losing the CZW Heavyweight Title to Ruckus in February of 2005, The Messiah slowly faded away from CZW and now appears only on special occasions and has a limited schedule.
Finishing and signature moves
- Fall From Grace (Inverted Death Valley driver)
- Godsmack (Elevated Cutter)
- Carlito's Way (Airplane spin into a stunner, named after his trainer Carlito Montana)
- Cross Factor (Sitout facebuster)
- Super Cross Factor (Top rope sitout facebuster)
- Armdrag into an armbar
- Belly to belly suplex into the turnbuckle
- Elevated boston crab with knee to back
- Facewash
- Figure four leglock
- Headscissors into a DDT
- Leg lariat
- Lionsault
- Spinning side slam
- Sugar hold
- Suicide senton
- Sunset flip powerbomb
- Various powerslams
Championships and accomplishments
-
- Won from Adam Flash on October 12 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lost to Nick Mondo on February 8 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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- Won from Justice Pain on December 14 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lost to John Zandig on October 25 2003 in Pistoia, Italy
- CZW World Heavyweight Championship (3)
- Won from John Zandig on March 6 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lost to Ruckus on February 5 2005 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- NWA Florida King of the Deathmatch Championship (1)
- Defeated Madman Pondo, Prime Evil and Chaos on November 30 2002 in Pinellas Park, Florida, USA (first and final champion)
- Insane Wrestling Federation
- IWF Tag Team Champion (1)
- with Adam Flash
- Defeated The Lynch Mob on June 27th 2003 in Hamtramck, Michigan USA
- Lost to Corporal Robinson & "The Dangerous One" The DBA on September 26th 2003 in
- Hamtramck, Michigan USA
- Millennium Pro Wrestling
- MPW Heavyweight Championship (1)
- Defeated Tech IX, Samo Joe, B-Boy, Frankie Kazarian, & Super Dragon in a Gauntlet Tag Match on March 23 2002 in West Hills, California, USA (final champion)
- Pacific Championship Wrestling
- PCW Heavyweight Championship (1)
- Defeated B-Boy on January 25 2003 in City of Industry, California, USA
- Stripped on March 2 2004 for being unable to defend
- River City Wrestling
- RCW Tag Team Championship (1)
- with Scott McKenzie (known as The Country of Caucasian Knights or C.o.C.K)
- Defeated The Texas Treats on January 27 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, USA
-
- Won from Supreme on November 11 2000 in Reseda, California, USA
- Stripped after being fired from XPW on August 25 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA
Personal life
On August 1, 2002, he was attacked by two unknown assailants in his home, who subsequently cut off his right thumb. Welch's former promoter, Rob Black was mentioned on an episode of America's Most Wanted about the incident. Since the episode's airing, nobody has been accused or arrested by police in connection to the attack and the case remains unsolved.
Welch was good friends with Gary Yap of EPIC Pro Wrestling and Welch ended up moving in and living with Yap and Renell (Yap's girlfriend and also a part-time on-screen character in EPIC under the alias, "Hailey"). Eventually, Rennell broke up with Yap and she married Welch, her current husband.
Welch also had a relationship with adult film star Kristi Myst.