Al Green (wrestler)

Infobox Wrestler
name=Al Green
names=Master Blaster Blade Wrecking Crew Rage Rage Dog Al Greene, Bounty Hunter #1 Big Al


img_capt=Al Green on "WCW Saturday Night" in October 1998.
height= 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
weight= 280 lb (127 kg)
birth_date=
birth_place=January 19
death_date=
death_place=
billed= Tampa, Florida, United States
trainer=Steve Keirn
debut=1990
retired=
website=

Al Green is a professional wrestler who has performed in North America, Europe and Japan under a variety of gimmicks the most well known being "Rage" (One half of the team The Wrecking Crew with Fury), Blade one half of the Master Blasters with Steel and the Dog in World Championship Wrestling at the turn of the millennium.

Career

Al Green was trained for a professional career by Steve Keirn, making his debut in 1990. Green's first role was as a replacement partner for Kevin Nash in "The Master Blasters". Green was known as "Blade" and worked for World Championship Wrestling in September and October of 1990. After leaving WCW Green competed for Florida Championship Wrestling as one half of the tag team The Bounty Hunters, first known as "Bounty Hunter #1" later on as "The Bounty Hunter. The Bounty Hunters won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship in November, but when one of the Bounty Hunters was injured The Terminator stepped in and teamed up with Green to defend the tag team titles. The team held the gold until the Nasty Boys beat them on a card in Nassau, Bahamas on January 6, 1990cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=4th Edition 2006 | id=ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 ] .

The Wrecking Crew

While the team with The Terminator was a makeshift team at first they began teaming regularly first under the name The Terminators then later on as The Wrecking Crew where Mike became known as Fury and Al was renamed “Rage”. The team competed for the International Wrestling Federation based in Florida showing themselves to be a force in the tag team division. On May 28, 1992 the duo beat IWF Tag Team Champions The Long Riders (Brett Colt and Kip Winchester).

By late 1992 the Wrecking Crew got signed by World Championship Wrestling, making their debut in January of 1993 [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | month = January | year = 1993 | quote = (shown on WCW World Wide January 16) The Wrecking Crew defeated Joey Maggs & Johnny Rich at 4:24 when Rage pinned Maggs following an overhead backbreaker / elbow off the top double team] . Shortly after their debut the Wrecking Crew got national exposure by competing at Clash of the Champions XXII on January 13 where they defeated Tom Zenk and Johnny Gunn [cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXII | title = WCW Clash of the Champions Results (XXII) | date = January 13 | accessyear = 1993 | author = prowrestlinghistory.com] .

After their success at the clash the team rode on a wave of success defeating Gunn and Zenk repeatedly [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = February 2 | Year = 1993 | quote = (shown on WCW Saturday Night on February 20) The Wrecking Crew defeated Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk ] [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = February 19 1993 | quote = The Wrecking Crew defeated Johnny Gunn & Tom Zenk ] as well as looking impressive against temporary teams such as 2 Cold Scorpio & Johnny B. Badd [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = January 24 1993 | quote = 2 Cold Scorpio & Johnny B. Badd fought the Wrecking Crew to a draw ] and Marcus Bagwell & Joey Maggs [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = January 28 1993 | quote = The Wrecking Crew defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Joey Maggs ] .

By March the team was contesting a series of matches with future WCW World Tag Team Champions 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = March 3 | Year = 1993 | quote = 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated the Wrecking Crew] as well as feuding with the identical twin duo known as The Cole Twins (Keith and Kent Cole) [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = March 8 | Year = 1993 | quote = (shown on WCW Saturday Night on March 13) Keith & Kent Cole defeated Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce when Pierce was pinned following a double dropkick at around the 3:30 mark; after the bout, the Coles avoided an attack from the Wrecking Crew, Tex & Shanghai] . The feud with the Cole Twins was soon expanded to also include Bagwell and Scorpio as well as Tex Slazenger and Shanghai Pierce [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = April 27 1993 | quote = (shown on WCW Saturday Night on May 1) The Wrecking Crew, Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce defeated 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell, Keith & Kent Cole via disqualification ] . As the feud wore on the Cole Twins got the upper hand in the feud over the two big men [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = May 2| Year = 1993 | quote = Keith & Kent Cole defeated the Wrecking Crew ] . The Wrecking Crew also faced ”Cactus” Jack and The Barbarian in a series of house show matches [cite web | url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm | title = WCW Show Results 1993 | date = April 2| Year = 1993 | quote = Cactus Jack & the Barbarian defeated the Wrecking Crew when Cactus pinned Rage] .

As Summer turned to fall the Wrecking Crew’s time with WCW ended, returning to the independent scene. In 1994 the Wrecking Crew traveled to Europe to work for Otto Wanz’ Catch Wrestling Association. On July 24 they defeated David Finlay and John Hawk in the finals of a tournament to crown new CWA Tag Team Champions after Larry Cameron had died during a match. Fury and Rage held the belts for only 3 weeks before being unseated by CWA regulars August Smisl and Ulf Herman in Vienna, Austria.

In 1995 the Wrecking Crew tourned with All Japan Pro Wrestling over the summer being put over young teams like Kentaro Shiga and Mannukea Mossman [cite web | url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/bud95.html#0395 | title = AJPW Budokan Hall Show Results (1991 – 1995) | date = March 4 | Year = 1995 | quote = The Wrecking Crew beat Kentaro Shiga & Maunukea Mossman (7:41)] . The highlight of their summer tour was a clash with multiple time AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champions Doug Furnas and Dan Kroffat which the Wrecking Crew lost [cite web | url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/bud95.html#0795
title = AJPW Budokan Hall Show Results (1991 – 1995) | date = July 24 1995 | quote = Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas beat The Wrecking Crew (10:49)] .

Return to WCW

Green performed in WCW during the late 1990s, mainly on low level programs like "WCW Saturday Night". In 2000, he was repackaged as The Dog when he formed a hardcore tag team managed by Fit Finlay with former Nasty Boy Brian Knobbs. Green's mannerisms in this gimmick were those of a stereotypical attack dog and would have habits not unlike dogs, including drinking from the toilet. He was a last minute replacement in their group for Sabu, who couldn't start for WCW due to contract issues. Upon the acquisition of WCW by the World Wrestling Federation in early 2001, Green's contract was one of the assets not taken.

Other appearances

Al Green's most recent television appearances have been as a guest on the reality show "Hogan Knows Best" and "Brooke Knows Best" on VH1.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Diving shoulder block
**Running powerslam

*With Fury
**"Wrecking Ball" (Overhead gutwrench backbreaker hold (Rage) / Diving elbow drop (Fury) combination)

Championships and accomplishments

*Catch Wrestling Association:*CWA World Tag Team Title (1 time) with Fury

*"'Championship Wrestling from Florida:*NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with The Terminator

*International Wrestling Federation (Florida version):*IWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Fury

*Pro Wrestling Federation:*PWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) with the Terminator

*Windy City Pro Wrestling:*WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Fury

*Other titles:*HVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*ICWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) with The Terminator

References

External links