Sterling James Keenan

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Matt Polinsky
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Sterling Keenan, Sterling James Keenan
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Born	February 24, 1984 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Billed from	The Iron City, Pennsylvania Sunset Strip
Trained by	Dory Funk Jr. Mad Mike Boomer Payne
Debut	2000

Matt Polinsky 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.

1 Career
- 1.1 1PW
2 Wrestling facts
3 Championships and accomplishments
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Career

Keenan debuted on March 22, 2000 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. However, Keenan continued to battle on, 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 Do Or Die V. McChesney gained a rematch on IWC ground and regained it once more.

Recently, 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.

Keenan has also made other sporadic appearances for Ring Of Honor. Perhaps most notable, however, was that he was involved in the very beginning of the ROH vs. CZW feud - during his match, against Ace Steel, Chris Hero and Necro Butcher invaded and began the now long-running feud between the two companies.

SJK recently appeared in a match teaming with Jason Blade to take on Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe for ROH Videos. Keenan lost the match, but impressed many spectators. However, at a later event in Dayton, Ohio, Keenan returned to face Jimmy Rave in a match reported as being unimpressive.^[1]

[edit] 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. SJK'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. However, Abyss rebelled on occasion, choking Keenan when he suggested that Abyss would hand over the 1PW Title to SJK 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 AJ 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. However, Spud refused to back down from SJK's attacks; 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 & 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, SJK 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, Sterling James Keenan came to the aid of long time 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, Sterling James 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 SJK 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.