Kevin Kelly (announcer): Difference between revisions

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Extended confirmed users
6,141 edits
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.6.1)
Line 37: Line 37:
Kelly would later begin hosting the weekly WWF webcast ''Byte This!''.<ref>{{IMDb title|5859428|WWE Byte This!}}</ref> In addition to his on-screen roles, Kelly served as a WWF talent scout, monitoring wrestlers in the [[Heartland Wrestling Association]], [[Memphis Championship Wrestling]], [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] and [[Urban Wrestling Alliance]] developmental territories.<ref name="OWW"/> Kelly was responsible for watching and evaluating tapes of matches sent to the WWF by prospective employees.<ref name="Oliver">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2001/jun1_prospects-can.html|title=The Alberta WWF tryout experience|author=Oliver, G.|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=June 1, 2001}}</ref><ref name="LaCroix">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/09/30/1924748.html|title=The WWE tryout experience|author=LaCroix, C.|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=September 30, 2006}}</ref> Kelly also had a minor degree of influence on the creative direction of the WWF, and was the creator of the storyline that saw [[Stephanie McMahon]] marry [[Triple H]], creating the [[McMahon-Helmsley Faction]].<ref name="Adam"/> In addition, Kelly produced ''[[WWE Confidential|Confidential]]''.<ref name="Adam"/>
Kelly would later begin hosting the weekly WWF webcast ''Byte This!''.<ref>{{IMDb title|5859428|WWE Byte This!}}</ref> In addition to his on-screen roles, Kelly served as a WWF talent scout, monitoring wrestlers in the [[Heartland Wrestling Association]], [[Memphis Championship Wrestling]], [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] and [[Urban Wrestling Alliance]] developmental territories.<ref name="OWW"/> Kelly was responsible for watching and evaluating tapes of matches sent to the WWF by prospective employees.<ref name="Oliver">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2001/jun1_prospects-can.html|title=The Alberta WWF tryout experience|author=Oliver, G.|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=June 1, 2001}}</ref><ref name="LaCroix">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/09/30/1924748.html|title=The WWE tryout experience|author=LaCroix, C.|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=September 30, 2006}}</ref> Kelly also had a minor degree of influence on the creative direction of the WWF, and was the creator of the storyline that saw [[Stephanie McMahon]] marry [[Triple H]], creating the [[McMahon-Helmsley Faction]].<ref name="Adam"/> In addition, Kelly produced ''[[WWE Confidential|Confidential]]''.<ref name="Adam"/>


In November 1999, Kelly debuted in the [[Delaware]]-based [[East Coast Wrestling Association]] as a [[Manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], forming several [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stables]]. On April 7, 2001 in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], Kelly defeated Cheetah Master for the [[ECWA Heavyweight Championship]] with the help of [[Billy Fives]] and [[Rick Fuller]], members of Kelly's '''Alliance of Defiance''' stable. He was stripped of the title on May 5, 2001, with [[Scoot Andrews]] defeating Billy Fives for the vacant title.<ref name="Gerweck">{{cite web|url=http://www.gerweck.net/jimkettnerinterview.htm|title=Jim Kettner|author=Gerweck, S.|publisher=Gerweck.net|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=May 30, 2001}}</ref><ref name="Dupree">{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/whtecwa.html|title=ECWA - East Coast Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title History|author=Dupree, J.|publisher=Solie.org|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=2005}}</ref> On December 3, 2005, Kelly was inducted into the ECWA Hall of Fame.
In November 1999, Kelly debuted in the [[Delaware]]-based [[East Coast Wrestling Association]] as a [[Manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], forming several [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stables]]. On April 7, 2001 in [[Wilmington, Delaware]], Kelly defeated Cheetah Master for the [[ECWA Heavyweight Championship]] with the help of [[Billy Fives]] and [[Rick Fuller]], members of Kelly's '''Alliance of Defiance''' stable. He was stripped of the title on May 5, 2001, with [[Scoot Andrews]] defeating Billy Fives for the vacant title.<ref name="Gerweck">{{cite web|url=http://www.gerweck.net/jimkettnerinterview.htm|title=Jim Kettner|author=Gerweck, S.|publisher=Gerweck.net|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=May 30, 2001|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204851/http://www.gerweck.net/jimkettnerinterview.htm|archivedate=September 27, 2007|df=}}</ref><ref name="Dupree">{{cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/whtecwa.html|title=ECWA - East Coast Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title History|author=Dupree, J.|publisher=Solie.org|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=2005}}</ref> On December 3, 2005, Kelly was inducted into the ECWA Hall of Fame.


On March 21, 2003, Kelly was released by the WWF (renamed [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] in 2002) as part of a series of budget cuts.<ref name="Adam">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=8488|title=Kevin Kelly interview about backstage in WWE|publisher=[[Dave Meltzer|WrestlingObserver.com]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=September 22, 2003}}</ref><ref name="Baines">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/03/30/54487.html|title=WWE to welcome Goldberg tonight?|author=Baines, T.|publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=March 30, 2003}}</ref>
On March 21, 2003, Kelly was released by the WWF (renamed [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] in 2002) as part of a series of budget cuts.<ref name="Adam">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=8488|title=Kevin Kelly interview about backstage in WWE|publisher=[[Dave Meltzer|WrestlingObserver.com]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=September 22, 2003}}</ref><ref name="Baines">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/03/30/54487.html|title=WWE to welcome Goldberg tonight?|author=Baines, T.|publisher=[[Ottawa Sun]]|accessdate=July 26, 2007|date=March 30, 2003}}</ref>

Revision as of 09:18, 9 December 2017

Template:Distinguish2

For other people with the same name, see Kevin Kelly (disambiguation).
Kevin Kelly
Kelly at a Ring of Honor show in August 2011
Birth nameKevin Foote
Born (1967-05-09) May 9, 1967 (age 57)[1]
New York City, New York[2]
Children2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kevin Kelly[3]
Billed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Billed weight240 lb (110 kg)[1]
Debut1992[3]

Kevin Foote

New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor. Kelly is married with two children. [3]

Early career

Kelly was born in New York City, New York, but his family relocated to Stuart, Florida when he was ten. He graduated from Florida State University in January 1990.[5] Kelly first became involved in broadcasting when he began working as a disc jockey, playing music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.[6]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1996–2003)

Kelly debuted on the professional wrestling independent circuit in 1991. He originally worked as a ring announcer for Eddie Mansfield's Orlando, Florida-based International Wrestling Federation.[3][1]

Kelly received a try-out with the

SmackDown!.[3]

As an interviewer, Kelly was involved in numerous

9 mm Glock pistol and stated that he would "blow [Austin's] sorry ass straight to hell!" A frightened Kelly delivered the line "Pillman's got a gun!"[8][9]

In the course of the interview, Austin arrived at Pillman's home and, after fighting off several of Pillman's friends who had surrounded the house to protect him, broke into the house and advanced on Pillman. Pillman responded by pointing his pistol at Austin, with the live camera feed subsequently fading to black as Kelly and Melanie Pillman screamed. When the camera feed returned, Pillman was being restrained by his friends, and Kelly informed McMahon that there had been two explosions, but no-one had been injured. At that point, Austin re-entered the house, with Pillman's friends forcing him out again as Pillman pointed his pistol at Austin while screaming obscenities and threats. Kelly shouted for someone to "call the police" as Monday Night Raw color commentator Jerry Lawler instructed him to "get the gun". The broadcast ended with Austin being driven from the house as Melanie Pillman cried. The WWF and Pillman would later apologize for the segment.[8][9]

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Kelly would frequently be mocked by The Rock during interviews, with The Rock labeling him an "ugly hermaphrodite" and nicknaming him "Hermie".[1][10] At Unforgiven on September 24, 2000, Kelly was attacked by the returning Stone Cold Steve Austin while attempting to interview him.[11]

Kelly would later begin hosting the weekly WWF webcast Byte This!.[12] In addition to his on-screen roles, Kelly served as a WWF talent scout, monitoring wrestlers in the Heartland Wrestling Association, Memphis Championship Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling and Urban Wrestling Alliance developmental territories.[3] Kelly was responsible for watching and evaluating tapes of matches sent to the WWF by prospective employees.[13][14] Kelly also had a minor degree of influence on the creative direction of the WWF, and was the creator of the storyline that saw Stephanie McMahon marry Triple H, creating the McMahon-Helmsley Faction.[10] In addition, Kelly produced Confidential.[10]

In November 1999, Kelly debuted in the Delaware-based East Coast Wrestling Association as a manager, forming several heel stables. On April 7, 2001 in Wilmington, Delaware, Kelly defeated Cheetah Master for the ECWA Heavyweight Championship with the help of Billy Fives and Rick Fuller, members of Kelly's Alliance of Defiance stable. He was stripped of the title on May 5, 2001, with Scoot Andrews defeating Billy Fives for the vacant title.[15][16] On December 3, 2005, Kelly was inducted into the ECWA Hall of Fame.

On March 21, 2003, Kelly was released by the WWF (renamed

World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002) as part of a series of budget cuts.[10][17]

Radio (2003–2010)

He went on to work for the short-lived Major League Wrestling promotion. Since his release, Kelly has criticized the corporate policies and creative direction of his former employer.[10][18][19]

Kelly once hosted a segment named "Plan B" on the Voice of Wrestling Internet radio program. He continues to appear on the independent circuit with promotions such as Eastern Pro Wrestling.[20] In August 2007, Kelly started his own show on the Wrestling Radio Network called The Kevin Kelly Show. Kelly also hosts The Big Picture audio show on ClubWWI.com.

Ring of Honor (2010–2017)

On March 2, 2010, Jim Cornette announced that Kelly had signed an agreement to be the voice of Ring of Honor on Internet pay-per-view,.[21] Since 2011 until now, Kevin Kelly has been serving as main color commentator in Ring of Honor TV tapings as well as Internet pay per views.

May 28, 2011 to October 22, 2011, Kelly was an announcer for Lucha Libre USA For Season 2.[22]

In 2014, Kevin Kelly began hosting a wrestling and pop culture podcast, The Kevin Kelly Show, on Place to Be Nation.[23]

On February 2, 2017, it was reported that Kelly had given his notice to ROH and left his position as the company's head play-by-play announcer.[24][25] Kelly remained with ROH in a part-time role until July 11, when he announced he was no longer working for the company.[26]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2015–present)

On October 12, Kelly and

New Japan Pro Wrestling World.[27]

Kelly returned to NJPW English commentary at

Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2016, again working alongside Matt Striker as well as NJPW wrestler Yoshitatsu.[28] He returned as part of NJPW English commentary at Invasion Attack 2016 alongside Steve Corino, who filled in Matt Striker's position. In January 2017, Corino was replaced by Don Callis.[29]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Kevin Kelly". Bodyslamminging.com. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  2. ^ "Profil von Kevin Kelly". Cagematch.net. March 4, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kevin Kelly". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  4. ^ "Kevin Kelly". Ring of Honor. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Interview with Kevin Kelly". TheBurningHammer.com. December 11, 2006. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Thatcher, L.; Young, D. (April 8, 2007). "Kevin Kelly interview". WrestlingObserver.com. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  7. ^ Lyon, S. (June 17, 2006). "Stephen Lyon looks at 10 years ago this week in the Wrestling Observer". WrestlingObserver.com. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  8. ^ a b Burkholder, D. (October 7, 2004). "1996: Brian Pillman Whips It Out". OnlineOnslaught.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b Lyon, S. (November 4, 2006). "Pillman & Austin Gun Angle..." WrestlingObserver.com. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Kevin Kelly interview about backstage in WWE". WrestlingObserver.com. September 22, 2003. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  11. Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  12. IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  13. Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  14. Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  15. ^ Gerweck, S. (May 30, 2001). "Jim Kettner". Gerweck.net. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ a b Dupree, J. (2005). "ECWA - East Coast Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title History". Solie.org. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  17. ^ Baines, T. (March 30, 2003). "WWE to welcome Goldberg tonight?". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  18. Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  19. ^ Stein, T.; et al. (October 28, 2003). "Jimmy Valiant, Bill Eadie and Kevin Kelly interviews on state of wrestling business". WrestlingObserver.com. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  20. ^ "EPW roster". EPWWrestling.com. 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
  21. ^ Who's Slamming Who (March 2, 2010). "Who's Slamming Who". Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  22. ^ Roberts, Alex (May 30, 2011). "5/28 Lucha Libre USA TV taping: Spoiler results for Season 2 episodes of MTV2 show - Lethal debuts, Petey, new commentators, double-turns". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  23. ^ http://placetobe.podbean.com/
  24. ^ Johnson, Mike (February 2, 2017). "Voice of Ring of Honor Kevin Kelly leaves promotion". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  25. ^ Meltzer, Dave (February 2, 2017). "Kevin Kelly leaving full-time position with Ring of Honor". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  26. ^ Scherer, Dave (July 11, 2017). "Kevin Kelly leaves Ring of Honor". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  27. ^ Meltzer, Dave (October 2, 2015). "Fri update: John Cena taking time off, Johnny Hendricks hospitalized". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  28. ^ Velten, Dan (December 18, 2015). "Late news updates from Friday 12/18: Taven injury, weight issues, Tokyo-Dome, NXT". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  29. ^ Currier, Joseph (January 17, 2017). "NJPW World finds its new lead English color commentary voice". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  30. ^ "ECW A Hall of Fame". ECWA. Retrieved 2008-07-02.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kevin Kelly (announcer).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Kelly_(announcer)&oldid=814524644"