Billy Kidman
Billy Kidman | |
---|---|
Birth name | Peter Alan Gruner Jr. |
Born | [1] New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.[2] | May 11, 1974
Spouse(s) | |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Billy Kidman[3] Kid Flash[3] Kidman[1] Dr. Weisenburg El Técnico |
Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2] |
Billed weight | 195 lb (88 kg)[2] |
Billed from | Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.[2] |
Trained by | Afa Anoa'i[3][2] |
Debut | September 11, 1994[3][1] |
Retired | February 23, 2008 |
Peter Alan Gruner Jr.[citation needed] (born May 11, 1974)[1] is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Billy Kidman. He currently works for WWE as a producer.
As a wrestler, Kidman is best known for his work with
Upon WCW's purchase by the World Wrestling Federation, Kidman became a member of the
Early life and education
Gruner grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Parkland High School.[13] Gruner was a banker before he started training to be a professional wrestler and was good friends with fellow professional wrestler Chris Kanyon, who he met at the Wild Samoan training center in Pennsylvania.[14] He is a cousin of fellow professional wrestler Mikey Batts.[15]
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1994–1996)
Gruner was trained by
World Championship Wrestling
The Flock (1996–1998)
Gruner started wrestling for
On the September 30 episode of Nitro, Kidman filled in for Psychosis, who could not show up due to his visa issues and competed as the masked "El Technico" by teaming with Juventud Guerrera against The Public Enemy in a losing effort.[19] Kidman would receive two more title shots for the World Cruiserweight Championship, this time against Dean Malenko on the December 2 episode of Nitro and the December 14 episode of Saturday Night but lost both times.[20][21]
On the October 13, 1997 episode of Nitro, Kidman was added to
Cruiserweight Champion (1998–1999)
Following the Flock's disbanding, Kidman shed his grungy attire and heroin gimmick and began performing as a clean-cut
Kidman's title reign continued into 1999 with a successful title defense against Guerrera, Psychosis and Mysterio in a
The three teams feuded for several weeks, which ended in a three-way tag team match for the World Tag Team Championship at Slamboree.[29] Chris Kanyon's interference led to the victory for Raven and Saturn.[29] Kidman spent the next several months in assorted feuds.
Filthy Animals (1999–2001)
In the summer of 1999, Kidman joined Filthy Animals alongside Rey Mysterio, Konnan, and Eddie Guerrero.[30] Initially joining together to combat Dead Pool, Filthy Animals defeated the Dead Pool twice at Road Wild and Fall Brawl. Kidman would then become responsible for unmasking Psychosis by defeating him in a hair vs. mask match on the September 27 episode of Nitro. At Halloween Havoc, Kidman substituted for an injured Mysterio and teamed with Konnan to defend the World Tag Team Championship against Harlem Heat and The First Family in a triangle match, which Harlem Heat won. However, the following night on Nitro, Kidman and Konnan defeated Harlem Heat to win the titles, beginning Kidman's second tag team title win in WCW.
Kidman then participated in a tournament for the vacant
Filthy Animals began to crumble in 2000 when Guerrero left WCW, and Kidman left the stable when the rest of its members turned heel. At
In April, Kidman joined
Following the feud, Kidman began teaming with Mysterio Jr. again, thus joining Filthy Animals once again. At
In the spring of 2001, Kidman and Mysterio entered the Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship tournament, defeating Jason Lee and Johnny Swinger in the quarterfinals and 3 Count in the semifinals but lost in the finals to Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo at Greed.[34] On the final episode of Nitro, Kidman and Mysterio Jr. won the titles from Skipper and Romeo. That night, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) purchased WCW and Kidman's contract was picked up by the WWF.[35] As a result, Kidman and Mysterio ended up as the final Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions in WCW history.
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
Cruiserweight Championship pursuit (2001–2003)
When the WWF purchased WCW, the contract of Gruner (who was still wrestling as Billy Kidman) was one of twenty-five involved in the purchase. When
After recovering from his injury, Kidman returned to WWF in October. On the October 11 episode of SmackDown!, Kidman defeated X-Pac to win his record-tying fifth Cruiserweight Championship.[9] He lost the title to Tajiri on the October 22 episode of Raw is War. At Survivor Series, Kidman participated in the Immunity battle royal, where the winner would receive immunity from being fired. Kidman failed to win the match, and Alliance lost later that night, thus being forced to disband. As a result, all Alliance members were fired in storyline, and Kidman was taken off television, competing at house shows for the next four months.
Kidman returned to WWF television after being
At Rebellion, Kidman and his real-life girlfriend Torrie Wilson defeated John Cena and Dawn Marie in an intergender tag team match. After this, he went on to win his record-breaking seventh Cruiserweight Championship after defeating Jamie Noble at Survivor Series.[11] He later lost the title three months later to Matt Hardy at No Way Out.
Teaming and feuding with Paul London (2004–2005)
Following the title loss, Kidman proceeded to spend the next few years as a cornerstone of the cruiserweight division before forming a tag team with newcomer
Their championship run 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 Kidman's shooting star press unintentionally caused Chavo Guerrero Jr. to suffer a concussion.[37][38] 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.[37][38] London was left alone to defend the title against Kenzo Suzuki and René Duprée, and was easily defeated.[38] As a result, London and Kidman faced each other at No Mercy, where Kidman defeated London before performing the shooting star press on London while he was strapped to a stretcher.[39] This completed Kidman's heel turn, as he proceeded to blame the fans for wanting him to be more brutal with his in-ring style.[40] 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 Cruiserweight Championship in the coming months.[41] At the start of 2005, Kidman suffered a broken orbital bone, which sidelined him for three months.[3]
Gruner was released from his WWE contract on July 6, 2005.[42][43] Gruner stated that the release was due to an argument with management over their decision to stop booking wrestlers on first class flights overseas.[citation needed]
Independent circuit (2005–2007)
Following his departure from WWE, Kidman began touring the United Kingdom. During the tour, he competed for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance in a three-way match with Jody Fleisch and Jonny Storm. He also wrestled British wrestling legend Robbie Brookside in a losing effort to determine the inaugural Real Quality Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
In 2007, Kidman made his
On July 8, 2007, Kidman teamed up with Sean 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 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling officially pulled out of the National Wrestling Alliance. However, Kidman and Waltman lost the match to Karl Anderson and Joey Ryan.
Return to WWE (2007–present)
Kidman returned to WWE in 2007, helping train upcoming wrestlers in its then developmental territory
On April 9, 2012, Gruner along with former wrestlers Jamie Noble, Goldust and other officials and WWE wrestlers broke up the brawl between John Cena and Brock Lesnar.[46] In November 2013, Gruner appeared on WWE's European tour as Paul Heyman's doctor, under the name of "Dr. Weisenburg".[47] On August 23, 2016 episode of SmackDown Live, he appeared along with Jamie Noble to prevent Dolph Ziggler from attacking AJ Styles.[48]
Kidman's contract was furloughed by the company on April 15, 2020, due to COVID-19 cutbacks.[49] He returned to the company on September 25, 2020.[50]
Personal life
Gruner is
A book detailing Gruner's career, Billy Kidman: The Shooting Star, was released in early 2014.[56]
In 2014, Kidman began appearing on The JBL Show, where he attempts to promote his Twitter account but is always interrupted due to technical difficulties, which has become a running gag on the show.
Championships and awards
- East Coast Wrestling Association
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Revolution Xtreme Wrestling
- RXW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[3]
- Trans-World Wrestling Federation
- TWWF Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)[1]
- World Championship Wrestling
- Rey Mysterio Jr.[7]
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Rey Mysterio Jr. (1) and Konnan (1)[7]
- World Series Wrestling
- WSW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[60]
- World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
- 1 time) – with Paul London[12]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Hulk Hogan[61]
Bibliography
- Carrington, L. Anne (2014). Billy Kidman: The Shooting Star. Palm Tree Books
See also
- List of Jewish professional wrestlers
References
- ^ a b c d e "Billy Kidman Profile". Bodyslamming.com. Archived from the original on 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Kidman's WWE Alumni Profile". WWE. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Billy Kidman Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ a b "Billy Kidman's first WCW Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2012-11-12.
- ^ a b "Billy Kidman's second WCW Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2012-11-12.
- ^ a b "Billy Kidman's third WCW Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2012-11-12.
- ^ a b c d "Billy Kidman's Title History". WWE. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ a b c "Billy Kidman's fourth WCW Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Billy Kidman's fifth WCW Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Billy Kidman's sixth WWF Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Billy Kidman's seventh WWE Cruiserweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2013-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Billy Kidman and Paul London's first WWE Tag Team Championship reign". Archived from the original on 2012-06-02.
- ^ "Champ grapples with star status", Times Leader, December 25, 1998
- ^ a b Oliver, Greg (2000-04-19). "Kidman: Pinning Hogan a career highlight". Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ^ "Mikey Batts profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2009-03-24. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
- ^ "WCW Saturday Night - Saturday, May 18th, 1996". DDT Digest. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Bob Colling, Jr. (April 5, 2023). "WCW Worldwide 7/28/1996". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Scott Keith (February 1, 2012). "Monday Nitro – September 9, 1996". Blog of Doom. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Scott Keith (October 10, 2022). "The SmarK Rant for WCW Monday Nitro – 09.30.96". Blog of Doom. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Matt Peddycord (April 26, 2011). "WCW Nitro 12/2/1996". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Scott Keith (December 21, 2014). "WCW Saturday Night: December 14, 1996". Blog of Doom. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- Cageside Seats. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ "WCW Saturday Night - Saturday, 05/30/98". DDT Digest. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
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- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
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- ^ Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ^ "The Filthy Animals profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2011-09-03. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- ^ "New Blood profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
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- ^ a b c "Kenzo Suzuki and Rene Dupree's first WWE Tag Team Championship reign". WWE. 2004-09-09. Archived from the original on 2005-07-05. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
- Canoe.ca. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- )
- )
- ^ "WWE releases several Superstars". World Wrestling Entertainment. 8 July 2005. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- )
- ^ "IWA: Kidman vs Ray Gonzalez en Bayamón" (in Spanish). PRWrestling.com. 2007-03-29. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
- ^ a b "Where Are They Now? Billy Kidman, Part Two". Wwe.com. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "WWE Raw Deal April 9: Brock Lesnar Bloodies John Cena". Bleacher Report.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (November 11, 2013). "TOP STAR INJURED? ALL TIME GREAT BECOMES WWE NXT TRAINER, HEYMAN UPDATE, FORMER WCW STAR MAKES CAMEO ON TOUR AND MORE". Pwinsider.com.
- ^ Parks, Greg (August 23, 2016). "8/23 WWE Smackdown LIVE – Parks's Complete, Real-Time Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
- ^ Rodriguez, Angel (2020-04-15). "Several WWE Superstars released due to budget cuts". Wrestling News | Wwe and Aew Results, Spoilers, Rumors & Scoops. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
- ^ "WWE PRODUCER RETURNS TO WORK". Pwinsider.com.
- ^ "The 32-year-old has been with the WWE since 2016, but trained with the #Israeli Pro-Wrestling Association in Netanya in 2010. The previous version of the title has had Jewish holders, including Dean Malenko (Dean Simon) and seven-time champion @WWEKidman (Peter Gurner Jr)". Twitter.com. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Schultz, Gary (2004-05-14). "Miss Torrie Wilson". Film Monthly. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ Milner, John M. "Torrie Wilson". Slam! Sports. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Berkowitz, Matt (June 2003). "The wiles of Wilson: WWE Diva Torrie Wilson reveals all—her secrets to success, that is". Wrestling Digest. Archived from the original on 2008-04-27. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ Namako, Jason (2014-02-05). "Press Release: Book On Billy Kidman Coming Out in 2014". Wrestleview.com. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
- ^ "Solie's Title Histories: ECWA - EAST COAST WRESTLING ASSOCIATION". Solie.org. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "ECWA Hall of Fame Inductees – Wrestlers". ECWAProWrestling. Archived from the original on 2002-08-02. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
2004 Billy Kidman
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1999". Profightdb.com. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
- ^ Pulsone, Mario. "WSW World Heavyweight Championship history". Solie. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ISSN 1083-9593.
External links
- Billy Kidman on Twitter
- Billy Kidman on WWE.com
- Billy Kidman's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- Peter Gruner at IMDb