Sterling James Keenan
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| Matt Polinsky | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Sterling Keenan, Sterling James Keenan, Iron City Irvin Ickleman |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| 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 (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.
Contents |
[edit] 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. 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 appeared in a match teaming with Jason Blade to take on the Briscoe Brothers for ROH Videos at In Your Face on 6/17/2006. 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.
1PW made a comeback on 6 April 2007 with the show '1PW Resurrection', Sterling James 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 SJK 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.
[edit] International Wrestling Cartel
Sterling James 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 SJK with his finisher, and then counted the pinfall in favor of Gregory.
[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment
Sterling James 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 Heat Keenan lost to Val Venis by pinfall.
[edit] The UNION Of Independent Professional Wrestlers
Sterling 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. Sterling 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, SJK 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.
[edit] Ballpark Brawl
He defeated Samoa Joe and Rikishi by countout on August 23, 2007 to win the Ballpark Brawl Natural Heayweight Title.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Other
SJK faced reigning 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 sumbission 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 15th 2008, however SJK received a rematch at the first ever 3K Wrestling event on May 9th, where he regained the title. He lost the title to Ricky Landell on June 1.
[edit] Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature moves
- Theme music
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- "Mainlining Murder" by Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards - in 1PW & ROH
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
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- 1PW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
- Absolute Intense Wrestling
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- AIW Absolute Championship (1 time, current)
- Ballpark Brawl
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- Natural Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
- Far North Wrestling
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- FNW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
-
- FC Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- International Wrestling Cartel
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- IWC Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- IWC Super Indy Championship (4 times)
- NWA Pro Wrestling Express
-
- NWA East Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
- NWA East Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Mad Mike
- Union of Independent Professional Wrestlers
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- UIPW Keystone State Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)
- Xero Underground
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- Xero Underground Metropolitan Championship (1 time, current)
[edit] Personal life
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- He has a younger brother named Sam, AKA: "The Legacy" Samuel Elias, and 2 younger sisters, Alex and Syd.
- He also has a dog named Koji.
