- Sterling James Keenan
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Sterling James Keenan Ring name(s) Sterling Keenan
Sterling James Keenan
Iron City Irvin Ickleman
Sterling Spice
Corey Graves[1]Billed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Billed weight 220 lb (100 kg) Born February 24, 1984
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaBilled from The Iron City, Pennsylvania
Sunset StripTrained by Dory Funk Jr.
Mad Mike
Boomer PayneDebut 2000 Matt Polinsky (born February 24, 1984) is an American professional wrestler known better by his ring name, Sterling James Keenan, the second part of which is taken from Maynard James Keenan of Tool.[2] He is currently signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), under the ring name Corey Graves.
Contents
Career
Keenan debuted on March 22, 2000 against Orion and wrestled mainly at NWA East/Pro Wrestling eXpress until given his break by International Wrestling Cartel in 2002, defeating CM Punk. Keenan made various indie appearances, most notably with IWC and Dory Funk Jr.'s "Funkin' Conservatory", until finally winning the IWC Heavyweight Title on November 1, 2003, defeating Dennis Gregory. He kept the title until March 20, 2004, losing it to Dean Radford. Keenan continued to battle on, however, finding his greatest success in IWC and eventually taking the IWC Super Indy title after it was vacated by Chris Sabin. SJK defeated Petey Williams in a four-way that also included Fabulous John McChesney and Josh Prohibition. McChesney then proceeded to win the Super Indy Tournament in 2005, but Keenan took the title back at Ring Of Honor's Do Or Die V. McChesney gained a rematch on IWC ground and regained it once more.
Polinsky was invited to Ohio Valley Wrestling to train; he has also appeared as a jobber in dark matches, on WWE Velocity and teamed with Jon Bolen to face Jamie Noble and Kid Kash on the last episode of WWE Velocity.
1PW
Keenan made his debut for UK-based promotion 1 Pro Wrestling at their inaugural show in October 2005, defeating D'Lo Brown. Keenan found great success in 1PW, teaming with 'The Monster' Abyss to great effect. Keenan's relationship with Abyss in 1PW was similar to James Mitchell's role with 'The Monster' in TNA - the "controller of the beast", ordering his "pet monster" to do whatever bidding he has. Abyss rebelled on occasion, however, choking Keenan when he suggested that Abyss would hand over the 1PW Title to Keenan should he win the crowning tournament. Despite this, the partnership continued and they won a tag-team match at No Turning Back Night Two against Sabu and Ulf Herman in early 2006.
Keenan, after being eliminated from the title tournament by A.J. Styles, subsequently managed Abyss to the 1PW title at 1PW's All Or Nothing shows in March 2006. Keenan continued aiding Abyss in defending the championship in his battles against Herman. In addition to this, Keenan faced 2 Cold Scorpio at All Or Nothing Night 2 in a match highly praised by those in attendance. Scorpio raised Keenan's hand in respect post-match, before Keenan continued to play heel and hit Scorpio with the MK Ultra finishing move.
Keenan and Abyss also took it upon themselves to pick on Spud, a smaller 'underdog' wrestler, in order to show their dominance. Spud refused to back down from Keenan's attacks, however; despite a loss to Keenan in a singles match at "Know Your Enemy", Spud stood his ground even when his opponent set the debuting Team Supreme (Jack Storm and Dave Moralez) on him in a handicap match at 1PW Fight Club. Keenan briefly turned his focus to Steve Corino following an incident in the main event of Night One in which Abyss attacked Corino's son Colby on Keenan's direction. Corino's Old School X stablemate Chris Hamrick attempted to defend his friend's honour, pulling double duty and facing Keenan one-on-one in a match originally scheduled to feature Justin Credible, but Keenan defeated him. The match was again praised by those in attendance.
Returning his focus to 'The Little Wrestler That Could', at Fight Club 2, Keenan took on Spud once more in an Iron City Street Fight. Keenan was victorious again thanks to interference from Team Supreme, followed by SJK hitting the MK Ultra for the pin.
Recently at 1PW's First Anniversary Show, Keenan came to the aid of longtime rival Steve Corino. He turned on his cronies Team Supreme and the monster Abyss and saved Corino from a beating. At 1PW Fight Club IV, Keenan teamed with Corino and Ulf Herman in what was to be Corino's last match for the company, defeating Team Supreme and Darkside.
At 1PW No Turning Back 2007, Keenan was due to face The Great Muta in his first-ever appearance in the UK; however, 1PW went into liquidation a week before the event. Instead, he appeared for the 1PW tribute show, ...Will Not Die which replaced the scheduled No Turning Back event on the same date in the same arena. The show saw Keenan coming to the aid of his main 1PW nemesis, Spud to do battle and eventually defeat Keenan's former team mates, Team Supreme in an impromptu match.
1PW made a comeback on 6 April 2007 with the show '1PW Resurrection', Keenan lost his match on the night for the NWE Heavyweight Championship against Romeo Roselli due to disqualification by using the belt as a weapon.
It was revealed by 1PW Management that Keenan would get his first ever 1PW Championship shot on the first night of the Know Your Enemy 2007 show in a Four Way Elimination match. Sterling faced off against 1PW Champion Ulf Herman, Abyss and Doug Williams. Keenan was eliminated last, pinned by Ulf after a Black Hole Slam from Abyss. The next night, Keenan faced Herman one-on-one for the title. Herman this time pinned Keenan with a modified rollup reversal. The two were due to clash in a three-way with Abyss at Invincible which, if Keenan won, would make him number one contender for the title rather than the Champion. However, Abyss did not appear and instead Keenan was granted a full title shot which, if he lost, would mean he would not get any title shots for a full year. Keenan and Herman battled outside to a no-contest, which prompted 1PW to make a Steel Cage match for their Second Anniversary Show.
At 1PW's Second Anniversary, Keenan defeated Herman by pinfall to win the 1PW Championship.
International Wrestling Cartel
Keenan faced Dennis Gregory for the IWC Heavyweight Title, and he lost due to referee CJ Sensation aligning himself with Gregory's faction, The War Machine. Sensation hit Keenan with his finisher, and then counted the pinfall in favor of Gregory.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Keenan appeared in an August 10, 2007 episode of SmackDown!, where he was easily squashed by Mark Henry. Later that week on an edition of WWE Heat Keenan lost to Val Venis by pinfall.
The UNION Of Independent Professional Wrestlers
Keenan has been a member of the roster during both of UIPW's incarnations. In 2003, in Erie, PA, Keenan feuded with hometown hero "Fabulous" John McChesney over McChesney's UNION Cruiserweight title. Keenan defeated McChesney through nefarious means to claim the title in October 2003, just a few months before the promotion folded. When the group returned in late 2007, this time based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Keenan lost a match to Steve Corino at Born Again on September 8, 2007. Keenan rallied from that loss to triumph over former Ring of Honor Tag Team champion Ricky Reyes on October 6, 2007.
Ballpark Brawl
He defeated Samoa Joe and Rikishi by countout on August 23, 2007 to win the Ballpark Brawl Natural Heayweight Title.
3 Count Wrestling
He defeated Jimmy Jacobs in a 'Middlesbrough Street Fight' at '3CW Remembrance Day' in Middlesbrough, England on November 11, 2007. He was originally scheduled to wrestle Steve Corino in what was billed as Corino's final UK match but due to travel issues, Corino never made the show.
Other
Keenan faced former NWA Champion Adam Pearce, in a losing effort, for the title on January 19. He faced Mr. Wrestling III at the Devil Bhudakahn Memorial Show on March 8, 2008, winning the ZERO-ONE United States Heavyweight Championship from Corino via submission with the Anaconda vice.
Keenan would go on to defend the Z1 U.S title against the debuting Dr X in Morganville NJ for B4W Pro Wrestling (B4Wpro.com). He ended up being defeated for the gold that night after Dr X used the ropes to get the pinfall. The loss occurred on March 15, 2008, however Keenan received a rematch at the first ever 3K Wrestling event on May 9, where he regained the title. He lost the title to Ricky Landell on June 1.
Ring of Honor
Throughout the years Keenan has also made sporadic appearances for Ring of Honor. Keenan lost a singles match to Claudio Castagnoli in October 2005 in Buffalo, NY. Keenan appeared in a match teaming with Jason Blade to take on the Briscoe Brothers for ROH Videos at In Your Face on June 17, 2006. Keenan lost the match, but impressed many spectators. At a later event in Dayton, Ohio, however, Keenan returned to face Jimmy Rave in a match reported as being unimpressive.[3] On April 4, 2009, Keenan made his debut for Ring of Honor Wrestling on HDNet in a match where he was defeated by Erick Stevens.
WWE (2011)
In August 2011, it was reported that Polinksy had signed a developmental contract with WWE. Polinsky announced that he would be performing in WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), under the ring name Corey Graves.[1]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- MK Ultra (Cradle back to belly piledriver)
- Steel City Slaughter (Running sitout crucifix powerbomb)
- Signature moves
- Double knee backbreaker
- Fireman's carry dropped into a backbreaker
- Helter Skelter (Hanging triangle choke)
- Release dragon suplex
- Steel Slicer (Double knee backbreaker to a tree of woe hung opponent)
- STO
- Entrance themes
- "Mainlining Murder" by Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards
- "Dirty Angel" by Voodoo Johnson
Championships and accomplishments
- Absolute Intense Wrestling
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- AIW Absolute Championship (1 time, longest reign)[6]
- Ballpark Brawl
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- Natural Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)[7]
- Far North Wrestling
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- FNW Heavyweight Championship (2 times, current)[8]
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- FC Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- International Wrestling Cartel
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- IWC Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- IWC Super Indy Championship (4 times)[9]
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- NWA North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Brandon K
- NWA East Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA East Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Mad Mike
- Renegade Wrestling Alliance
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- RWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
References
- ^ a b "WWE looks to independents for latest developmental signing". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2011-08-25. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_52558.shtml. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
- ^ Hurley, Oliver (2006-06-01). "Sterling James Keenan Interview". Skin Deep. http://www.bigtattooplanet.com/features/reader-profile/sterling-james-keenan. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
- ^ Ring Of Honor Fifth Year Festival review at insidepulse.com
- ^ "1-Pro Wrestling 2007 Results". 1pwonline.co.uk. http://www.1pwonline.co.uk/results.php?year=2007. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
- ^ "1 Pro Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. http://www.titlehistories.com/1_Pro_Wrestling.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ Absolute Championship "Error: no
|title=specified when using {{Cite web}}". Cagematch.de. http://cagematch.de/?id=5&nr=610title=AIW Absolute Championship. Retrieved 2011-05-20. - ^ "Ballpark Brawl Wrestling". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ballpark-brawl/. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ "Far North Wrestling Bio". fnwwrestling.net. http://www.fnwwrestling.net/bios/sjk.html. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results - December 2004". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2004-12.html. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ ""PWI 500": 201–300". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. 2010-07-28. http://prowrestlingillustrated.blogspot.com/2010/07/pwi-500-201-300.html. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
External links
Categories:- 1984 births
- American professional wrestlers
- Living people
- Finishing moves
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