Rodney Begnaud

Infobox Wrestler
name= Rodney Begnaud


names= Redd Dogg / Redd Dawg
Gavin Archibald
Badd Dogg
Rodney Mack
height= height|ft=6|in=2
weight= convert|265|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = Birth date and age|1972|10|12
death_date =
birth_place = Lafayette, Louisiana
resides=
billed= New Orleans, Louisiana
trainer= Junkyard Dog
debut= 1998
retired=|

Rodney Begnaud (born October 12, 1972) is a professional wrestler and Mixed Martial Artist. He has previously worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment on the "RAW" and "SmackDown!" brands under the ring name Rodney Mack and currently wrestles under the name Redd Dawg.

Early years

Rodney first started wrestling during high school. He was on the varsity team at Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana. Begnaud was also a successful football player, becoming a three-year letter winner at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and earning All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference honors in 1994.

Career

Independent circuit and Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–2002)

Rodney started wrestling in 1998 as Redd Dogg (also spelt as Red Dogg) in the Southwest independents.cite news |title=Profile on Online World of Wrestling |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rodney-mack.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] He made his debut in NWA Southwest losing to Scott Putski in 29 seconds. However he would become a major star and capture the title in almost all Texas independent promotions he worked for including NWA Southwest, PCW, IHW, and XCW. After working on the independent circuit, Mack signed on with Extreme Championship Wrestling in 2000, making his debut as a member of Da Baldies.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2003–2004)

After ECW's closure, Begnaud was signed by WWE to wrestle in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and he changed his name to Gavin Archibald. When he made his debut on the January 16, 2003 episode of "SmackDown!", he went by his original Redd Dogg name. [cite news |title=SmackDown - 16 January, 2003 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030116.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] He was placed alongside John Cena in an enforcer role, replacing Bull Buchanan, who was betrayed by Cena (and then released soon after), but Begnaud didn't last long in that role before he was switched over to "Raw" and renamed Rodney Mack. He made his "Raw" debut, attacking D'Lo Brown on "HEAT", replacing him to be managed by Theodore Long. [cite news |first=Matt |last=Hartgrave |title=WWE Sunday Night Heat Results 2-23-03 |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003/articles/1046055411.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] [cite news |first=Dustin |last=Tingue |title=WWE Raw Results, 2-17-03 - Booker/Steiner vs. Triple H/Batista |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003/articles/1045545263.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

Mack re-started Theodore Long's group Thuggin' And Buggin' Enterprises, which eventually turned into a group of African Americans who worked a race angle in which they felt they were victims of racism and were being held down by the white man. [cite news |first=Matt |last=Hartgrave |title=WWE Sunday Night Heat Results 3-9-03 |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003/articles/1047280938.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] Jazz joined the group in April. [cite news |first=Dustin |last=Tingue |title=WWE Raw Results, 4/7/03 - Michaels/Booker vs. Triple H/Jericho, Nash returns |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003/articles/1049776251.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

On "Raw", he often competed in "White Boy Challenges". [cite news |first=Dustin |last=Tingue |title=WWE Raw Results, 4/21/03 - Rock Concert II, Triple H vs. Booker T |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003/articles/1050985708.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] In these challenges, usually, a Caucasian wrestler would wrestle Mack for five minutes and attempt to beat Mack. He was undefeated in these matches until he was challenged and defeated by Goldberg in 26 seconds on June 23, 2003. [cite news |title=RAW - 23 June, 2003 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030623.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

Mack also teamed with Christopher Nowinski when Nowinski joined Theodore Long's Group as a white male who helped with Long's race angle, [cite news |first=Dustin |last=Tingue |title=WWE Raw Results: 6/16/03 - The fallout from Bad Blood |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003/articles/1055821807.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] until Nowinski suffered from post-concussion syndrome and retired from wrestling. [cite news |title=Chris Nowinski - Biography |url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1054042/bio |publisher=IMDB.com |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

A few months later, manager Theodore Long announced a new tag team partner for Mack: the World's Strongest Man, Mark Henry. Mack and Henry competed as a team for about two months and were fairly successful and caused some upsets over some household WWE tag teams. [cite news |first=Dustin |last=Tingue |title=WWE Raw Results: 8/25/03 - SummerSlam aftermath, Jericho vs. Shane |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003_/articles/1061885074.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] [cite news |first=Dustin |last=Tingue |title=WWE Raw Results: 9/15/03 - The return of a Diva; Triple H throws a party for Goldberg |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2003_/articles/1063685938.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

In November 2003, he suffered a knee injury which prevented him from wrestling. Begnaud was supposed to return to action between March and June 2004, but was sent back to OVW and worked "Raw" dark matches throughout June and July 2004. Mack made his return to WWE television on July 26, 2004 participating in an over the top rope battle royal for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.

There were a few plans to push Mack's career. One idea was to under go a makeover and re-debut with a "Junkyard Dog" gimmick similar to Sylvester Ritter, who trained him. After those plans were scrapped, WWE Creative wanted to form a tag team consisting of Rodney Mack and Chuck Palumbo, who had been a mainstay on "HEAT" due to his lackluster "Custom Chucky P" gimmick that received no push. These two worked together at a number of house shows throughout September and October 2004, [cite news |title=Live Event - 24 September, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/040924r.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] [cite news |title=Live Event - 25 September, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/040925r.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] [cite news |title=Live Event - 22 October, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/041022r.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] [cite news |title=Live Event - 24 October, 2004 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/041024r.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] but these plans were also dropped. On November 4, 2004 WWE released Mack from his contract along with a few others including his wife Jazz. [cite news |first=Calvin |last=Martin |title=WWE releases more superstars - Johnny Stamboli, Rodney Mack & Jazz |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2004_/articles/1099584673.php |publisher=Lords of Pain |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

In 2005, Rodney competed in NWA Cyberspace and the independents of the Southwest. [cite news |title=NWA Shockwave SuperStars |url=http://www.nwashockwave.com/v3/superstars/ |publisher=NWA |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

Downsouth Championship Wrestling (2005–Present)

In late 2005, Jazz and Rodney Mack opened Dirtysouth Championship Wrestling, an independent promotion based in Louisiana. DCW would be renamed Downsouth Championship Wrestling due to copyright issues. Throughout 2006, Rodney would feud with "Texas Legacy" Austin Rhodes. Rhodes is the real-life nephew of wrestling great Dusty Rhodes and a cousin of TNA wrestler Dustin Rhodes and WWE wrestler Cody Rhodes. Rodney would also compete in his famous "White Boy Challenges" while in DCW. DCW went into hiatus in 2007 but now periodically runs shows.

Return to WWE (2006–2007)

On September 15, 2006, it was reported on WWE.com that Rodney Mack along with Marty Jannetty and Brad Armstrong had been hired by WWE. [cite news |first= |last= |title=Three veterans return to WWE |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/threevetsreturn |publisher=WWE.com |accessdate=2007-08-15 ] He started wrestling at ECW house shows on September 30, 2006. Mack was brought back in September at the request of Paul Heyman. He wanted to use him as a tough guy to do a program with CM Punk, where Punk would win in a stepping stone of climbing the ladder. However, after Mack was signed, Heyman's plan was overruled and he never made it on to television. On January 18, 2007, Mack along with several other superstars (including his wife Jazz) were released by WWE. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/3877160223|title=WWE releases Superstars|accessdaymonthyear=23-12-2007|publisher=WWE]

Return to the independent circuit (2007–Present)

Mack currently wrestles for Untamed Championship Wrestling in Arkansas. He is also a trainer with UCW. He recently took part in a UCW show entitled "Wrestle for the Cure" with proceeds going to help fight breast cancer.

Mack also returned to the Texas independents following his release from WWE, working most notably for PCW and XCW. He was referred to as "Redd Dogg" Rodney Mack. In PCW he came in as a heel, teaming with Canyon against Mike Foxx and Action Jackson. Mack only lasted there a few weeks as after no-showing a couple shows in a row, PCW claimed that Mack had gone back to WWE as a storyline reason for his absence. In XCW, Mack shortly re-captured the XCW Heavyweight Championship before losing it to Hernandez.

In May 2007, Mack and Jazz were booked by the Queens of Chaos promotion in France. They wrestled in front of 72,000 people, which is the 2007 record for a wrestling show. A documentary will be released in 2008 from the event.

In November 2007, in an interview with ClubWWI.com, when asked if he was interested in signing with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Mack claimed that he and Jazz had called TNA many times. However, TNA had told him that he would call him back when they had more room on the roster but has yet to receive one phone call back.

Mixed Martial Arts (2008)

Rodney Mack was successful in his mixed martial arts debut on June 7, 2008 against Joe Nameth in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. [cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/MMA/news/77471/Result-Of-Rodney-Mack%5C%5Cs-MMA-Debut.htm |title=Result Of Rodney Mack's MMA Debut
accessdate=2008-07-11 |publisher=477Maina.com,by Dustin James
date=2008-06-09 ]

Mixed martial arts record

MMArecordbox
wins=1
losses=0
draws=0
ko-wins=1
ko-losses=0
sub-wins=0
sub-losses=0
dec-wins=0
dec-losses=0

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Blackout" (Cobra clutch with body scissors) – WWE:*"Dawg Pound" (Independent circuit) / Sitout or a kneeling double underhook powerbomb (WWE) :*Running powerslam – OVW; Used as a regular move in WWE and the independent circuit :*Snap DDT, sometimes to a kneeling opponent:*Double leg slam:*Spear:*Spinning spinebuster:*STO

*Managers:*Theodore Long:*Jazz:*Sekou Berthe

*Theme songs:*"Hate Me Now" by Nas (Independent circuit):*"Chopping Block" :*"Dawgs Out Here" :*"McMilitant" by Jim Johnston (Later passed onto Mark Henry and then Teddy Long) (WWE):*"Atomic Dog" (DCW)

Championships and accomplishments

*Hazeltown Wrestling Alliance:*HWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Insane Hardcore Wrestling:*IHW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*NWA Southwest:*NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (3 times) [cite news |title=WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship title history |url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/thtnwa.html |publisher=Solie.org |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

*Northeast Wrestling Federation:*NWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Ohio Valley Wrestling:*OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Shelton Benjamin [cite news |title=OVW Southern Tag Team Championship title history |url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ovsttnwa.html |publisher=Solie.org |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

*XCW Wrestling:*XCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite news |title=XCW roster |url=http://www.xcwprowrestling.com/xcw/roster.php |publisher=XCWProWrestling.com |accessdate=2007-08-15 ]

Personal life

He is married to Carlene Begnaud, who also competed on "RAW" and recently competed on the "ECW" brand under the alias Jazz. The couple is expecting their first child. [ [http://www.wrestlingepicenter.com/5678articles/216170640.shtml It was announced at last night's Oldskool Wrestling Entertainment indy show in Louisiana that former WWE stars Rodney Mack and Jazz were expecting their first child. ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.pitbullrodneymack.com Rodney Mack's Official Website]
* [http://www.pwmania.com/interviews.php?page=rodneymack Rodney Mack Speaks On WWE's Backstage Politics, XCW]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rodney-mack.html Rodney Mack] at Online World of Wrestling
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=106752497 Rodney Mack] at MySpace
* [http://www.xcwprowrestling.com/xcw/profile_photos/Index.php3?id=7 Rodney Mack] at XCW

Persondata
NAME= Begnaud, Rodney
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH= Birth date and age|1972|10|12
PLACE OF BIRTH= Lafayette, Louisiana
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=