Brian Christopher
Brian Christopher | |
---|---|
Birth name | Brian Christopher Lawler |
Born | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | January 10, 1972
Died | July 29, 2018 Bolivar, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 46)
Cause of death | Suicide by hanging |
Parent(s) | Jerry Lawler (father) Kay Lawler (mother) |
Relatives | The Honky Tonk Man (cousin once removed) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Brian Christopher[1] Brian Lawler[1] El Unico[1] Grand Master Sexay[1] Grandmaster Sexay[1] |
Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 213 lb (97 kg)[1] |
Billed from | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
Trained by | Jerry Lawler[1] |
Debut | 1988[1] |
Brian Christopher Lawler[1] (January 10, 1972 – July 29, 2018)[1] was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered for his career in the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE), where he performed as "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher and Grand Master Sexay. Lawler was a one-time WWF Tag Team Champion as part of Too Cool with Scotty 2 Hotty, and won 44 titles within the United States Wrestling Association, the promotion formerly co-owned by his father, professional wrestler Jerry Lawler.[1]
Professional wrestling career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (November 2021) |
United States Wrestling Association (1988–1997)
Lawler began his career as one half of the masked tag team "The Twilight Zone" with Tony Williams under the individual ring names of Nebula (Lawler) and Quasar (Williams). After they were unmasked, Brian continued to wrestle in the
World Wrestling Federation (1997–2001)
Lawler, still known as Brian Christopher, joined the
On the June 13, 1999, episode of
World Wrestling All-Stars (2001–2002)
In November and December 2001, Lawler (as Brian Christopher) wrestled in the United Kingdom and Ireland for World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA). On February 24, 2002, at the WWA pay per view "The Revolution" in the United States, Lawler wrestled WWA Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett for the title, but lost. In April 2002, at the WWA pay-per-view "The Eruption" in Australia, Lawler teamed with Ernest Miller to defeat Buff Bagwell and Stevie Ray.[3]
NWA Total Nonstop Action (2002–2003)
From 2002 until 2003, he worked for
World Wrestling Entertainment (2004)
Lawler returned to WWE as Grand Master Sexay in April 12, 2004, but he was released the following month.[5]
Late career (2004–2017)
In July 2007, Christopher reunited with Scotty 2 Hotty at the UWF Rock 'n' Roll Express Tag Team Tournament, after Scotty was released by WWE.
In 2009 he worked for the Hulkamania Let the Battle Begin Tour in Australia where he teamed with Rikishi.
On the March 14, 2011 episode of Raw, Lawler returned to the WWE as a heel in a segment between Michael Cole and his father, Jerry Lawler, where Brian would side with Cole, saying that he felt that Jerry never cared for him and that he was ashamed to be his son. Lawler indirectly agreed, telling Brian that he was a bigger screw-up than Charlie Sheen.
Lawler returned to the WWE on January 6, 2014, appearing on the "Old School" edition of Raw and reuniting with Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty to take on 3MB in a six-man tag team match. His team was successful in winning. He made what would be his final WWE appearance, on NXT Arrival in February 2014 as part of Too Cool in a losing effort as mystery opponents to The Ascension, who defended their NXT Tag Team Championship.
In 2014 Christopher and Scotty 2 Hotty continued teaming together in the independent circuit, England and Germany until 2016.
On the weekend of September 22 and 23, 2017, Christopher teamed with his dad and Doug Gilbert as these lost two matches to Terry Funk and The Rock 'n' Roll Express for Big Time Wrestling in Raleigh, North Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Christopher's last match was on November 11, 2017 where he defeated Donnie Primetime for Georgia Premier Wrestling in Canton, Georgia.
Personal life
Lawler was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, in stark contrast to his father, who is a diehard Cleveland Browns fan. According to his brother Kevin, Lawler was buried in a Steelers-themed casket with his ring name.[6]
Lawler was arrested in February 2009 for disorderly conduct.[7] On June 26, 2009, he was arrested for public intoxication just before 3 a.m. According to the police report, he "became very belligerent" once in custody and threatened the police officer who arrested him.[7] On July 13, 2009, he was jailed for 30 days after failing to attend an in-patient treatment center as part of his plea agreement.[8]
Death
Around 1 a.m. EST on July 7, 2018, Lawler was again jailed for driving under the influence, and for evading police.[9] On the early morning of July 29, 2018, Lawler was found hanging in a cell at the Hardeman County Jail and was observed to be brain dead.[10] His life support was disabled a few hours after his father Jerry Lawler had arrived to the hospital to see him.[11] Lawler was pronounced dead at around 4:40 p.m. EST at the age of 46.[12]
On the one year anniversary of his death, Jerry Lawler filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hardeman County, Hardeman County Sheriff John Doolen, and others for allegedly failing to protect Lawler. He alleged that Doolen had personally promised to "keep an eye" on Lawler after he was incarcerated. At his funeral, a little red wagon that he used to carry his numerous title belts to the ring in his USWA days was present, in memorial to the career of a decorated, respected, and well-liked wrestler.[13]
Championships and accomplishments
- Hoosier Pro Wrestling
- HPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doug Gilbert
- Lethal Attitude Wrestling
- LAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Memphis Superstars of Wrestling
- MSW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Memphis Wrestling
- 1 time)[14]
- Memphis Wrestling Television Championship (1 time)
- Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2022
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Spellbinder[15]
- NWA New South
- New South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Powerhouse Championship Wrestling
- PCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Power Pro Wrestling
- 1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 367 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[16]
- Ultimate Christian Wrestling
- UCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Billy Jack[17]
- United States Wrestling Association
- 26 times)
- USWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (8 times)
- USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[18][19]
- USWA World Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Big Black Dog (1), Scotty Anthony (1), Jeff Jarrett (2), Eddie Gilbert (1) and Wolfie D (1)
- GWF Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- World Wrestling Federation
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Brian Lawler Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (June 2, 2001). "Brian Lawler busted at the border". MikeMooneyham.con. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Brian Christopher - matches - World Wrestling All-Stars". Cagematch.net. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Brian Christopher - matches - Impact Wrestling". Cagematch.net. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Greenberg, Keith Elliot (September 22, 2019). "Did WWE Star Grandmaster Sexay Have to Die?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Photo: Brian Christopher's Brother Reveals Custom "Grand Master Sexay" Casket". Wrestling Inc. August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ a b "Former WWE Wrestler Arrested". WBBJ-TV. June 26, 2009. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
- ^ Caldwell, James (July 14, 2009). "Other News: Judge decides jail sentence for Brian Christopher, the son of Jerry Lawler". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ "Ex-WWE Grandmaster Sexay Arrested for DUI, Allegedly Ran from Cops". TMZ.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (July 29, 2018). "Brian Christopher pronounced brain dead after suicide attempt". f4wonline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (July 29, 2018). "Brian Christopher passes away at 46 years old". f4wonline.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (July 29, 2018). "UPDATE: BRIAN CHRISTOPHER LAWLER TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT, PASSES AWAY AT 46 YEARS OLD". pwinsider.com. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ Hardiman, Samuel; Garland, Max (July 29, 2019). "Jerry Lawler files wrongful death suit in son Brian's death, alleges he hung from cell bolt". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
- ^ Gerweck, Steve (November 5, 2010). "Former WWE star wins Southern title". WrestleView. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2010.
- ^ "NWA North American Tag Team Championship history".
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results – October 2007". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
- ^ "Too Cool". WWE. May 29, 2000. Archived from the original on July 6, 2005. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
External links
- Brian Christopher's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database