Paul London

Paul London
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Paul London[1] El Gran Luchadore[2][3]
Billed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Billed weight	205 lb (93 kg)[1]
Born	April 16, 1980 (1980-04-16) (age 29)[4] Austin, Texas[5]
Resides	Austin, Texas[4]
Billed from	Austin, Texas[1]
Trained by	Texas Wrestling Academy[6] Dory Funk, Jr.[4] Ivan Putski[3]
Debut	April 7, 2000[5]

Paul Sanchez-Garcia London^[7] (born April 16, 1980) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

After being trained at the Texas Wrestling Academy, London began competing for Ring of Honor, where although he never won a title, began popular amongst the fans due to his high risk offensive moves. He later competed for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, and various independent promotions, winning numerous championships and won the ECWA Super 8 Tournament in 2003.

London made his debut in WWE in late 2003, and immediately began teaming with fellow cruiserweight Spanky, (Brian Kendrick). After Kendrick briefly left WWE, London formed a tag team with Billy Kidman, and together they won the WWE Tag Team Championship. After their split, London began competing in the cruiserweight division, and won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. In late 2006, Kendrick returned, and the two reformed as a team. London and Kendrick were previously managed by former WWE Diva, Ashley Massaro, who London has previously dated. The team split when Kendrick was drafted to the SmackDown brand in June 2008, and London was released later that year.

In WWE, London is a former WWE Cruiserweight Champion, World Tag Team Champion, and two-time WWE Tag Team Champion. During his second reign as WWE Tag Team champion, London and his partner, Brian Kendrick, became the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions since the title's creation.^[1]

Career

Early career

London was born in Austin, Texas where he attended Westlake High School.^[5] While there, he helped create the school's first-ever wrestling team where he was the captain, first varsity letterman and still holds the record for the fastest pinfall time of 7.4 seconds.^[5] After graduating, London trained at several wrestling schools in West Memphis, Arkansas and a school run by Ivan Putski in North Austin, Texas.^[5] He made his debut in the independent circuit on April 7, 2000, after his debut, he competed in promotions throughout Texas. It was there that he met the head trainer of the Texas Wrestling Academy, Rudy Gonzales, and enrolled in his school for further training. In August 2000, London attended Southwest Texas State University where he studied theater.

Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

London competed in numerous promotions, including NWA Southwest and Extreme Texas Wrestling, before he made his debut in Ring of Honor (ROH) on March 30, 2002 in a match against Chris Marvel.^[8] He began a lengthy feud with Michael Shane during a tag team match for ROH contracts on July 27, 2002. During the bout, both Shane and London made simultaneous pinfalls on their opponent's partners. The referee only counted for Shane, giving his team the victory, which led to London and Shane brawling.^[9] The two continued to feud over the next several months in matches such as Street Fights (where the crowd chanted "please don't die" due to London's high risk offense), a Triple Threat match and a Gauntlet match.^[10][11][12]

On December 7, 2002, London won a tournament to capture the ROH Number One Contender's Trophy, guaranteeing a match for the ROH Championship.^[13] He lost the match three weeks later to then-champion Xavier.^[14] On February 8, 2003, London competed in a Triple Threat match for the Number One Contender's Trophy, pinning A.J. Styles for the win.^[15] After the match, Xavier informed London that he would compete for the title immediately.^[15] London again lost to the champion.^[15] London's final match in ROH was for the title against Samoa Joe on July 19, 2003, in which he lost.^[4][16]

During his time in ROH, London made brief appearances in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE (ZERO1) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). London competed in ZERO1 for several months on a match-by-match basis, beginning in January 2003, before turning down a contract.^[5] London was contacted by TNA after ROH's 1 year anniversary show, and told that they were interested in him doing some matches on a try-out basis.^[17] On February 12, 2003 he made his TNA debut in a Gauntlet match against Jerry Lynn, which he lost.^[18][19] London competed mainly in the company's X Division, even earning shots at the NWA TNA X Division Championship.^[20] His last appearance in TNA was on June 18, 2003 at the TNA Anniversary show.^[21] He wrestled X Division Champion Chris Sabin for the title, only to lose due to interference from CM Punk.^[21] London has said that he viewed his time in TNA as a "stepping stone", but knew that he didn't want to be there long-term.^[17]

World Wrestling Entertainment

SmackDown (2003–2007)

London in 2005 as WWE Cruiserweight Champion

London signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in mid–2003, working a few dark matches before being sent to the company's developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, on August 30.^[3] London made his official WWE television debut on the SmackDown! brand, losing to Brock Lesnar in a match for the WWE Championship on October 9.^[4] After the match, Lesnar continued to attack London until fellow cruiserweight Spanky (Brian Kendrick) made the save.^[22] The two competed as a tag team on SmackDown!'s sister show Velocity until Spanky left the company in January 2004.^[3][23]

London then began a tag team with Billy Kidman on January 29, 2004.^[24] On the July 8 episode of SmackDown!, the duo won the WWE Tag Team Championship from the Dudley Boyz.^[25] They defended the title against the Dudleys on several occasions before losing the championship to René Duprée and Kenzo Suzuki on September 9, due to Kidman leaving London to fight by himself.^[26][27][28] Kidman's heel turn led to a feud between the two, which culminated at No Mercy where Kidman defeated London with a shooting star press. After the match, London was bleeding from the mouth and being stretchered when Kidman pulled him back into the ring with the stretcher and delivered another shooting star press to London's injured ribs.^[29] This storyline was put in place after London had broken his nose wrestling Booker T on an episode of SmackDown! a few weeks prior to the event.^[30] The nose required surgery and for London to miss a few months.^[31] London returned on November 25, wrestling on Velocity until the end of the year.^[32]

On March 10, 2005, London became the number one contender for Chavo Guerrero's WWE Cruiserweight Championship, which he later won in a cruiserweight battle royal.^[33][34] Guerrero challenged London for the title at Judgment Day, where London emerged victorious.^[35] During another title match with Guerrero on June 23, The Mexicools stormed the ring, attacking both London and Guerrero.^[36] On the July 14 episode of SmackDown!, London teamed with Scotty 2 Hotty and Funaki to face The Mexicools. The ending of the match saw Juventud perform the 450° splash on London for the win, but landing his knee onto London's face and legitimately injuring him in the process.^[37][38] London lost the Cruiserweight Title on the August 4 edition of Velocity to Nunzio.^[39] Later in the night, London cut a heel promo encouraging the fans to protest his title loss.^[40] London went on a losing streak before returning as a face and teaming with the newly rehired Brian Kendrick.^[41]

On the December 16 edition of Velocity London and Kendrick remade their image, wearing theatrical masks to the ring and matching vests and shorts.^[42] On the April 7, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, London and Kendrick defeated WWE Tag Team Champions MNM in a non-title match.^[43] They continued their winning streak on the champions, including singles victories for both Kendrick and London on Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury, respectively.^[44][45][46] London and Kendrick won the WWE Tag Team Title at Judgment Day,^[47] thus defeating MNM six times in a row in both singles and tag team matches.^[48] On August 11, K. C. James and Idol Stevens defeated the champions in a non-title match, igniting a feud between the two teams.^[49] During the rivalry, WWE Diva Ashley Massaro began accompanying London and Kendrick to the ring. She acted as a valet to the team, combating the actions of James and Stevens' manager Michelle McCool.^[50]

London as WWE Tag Team Champion.

On October 14, London and Kendrick became the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions of all time, surpassing MNM's previous record of 145 days.^[51][52][53] They, however, soon began a losing streak to the team of William Regal and Dave Taylor. Regal defeated both team members in singles matches,^[54][55] and on the December 8 edition of SmackDown!, Kendrick and London lost a title tag team match to the pair.^[56] During a scheduled title defense at Armageddon, London and Kendrick not only retained against Regal and Taylor but won a Fatal Four-Way tag team ladder match which also involved MNM and The Hardys.^[57] On the January 12, 2007 edition of SmackDown! London and Kendrick were successful in retaining their championship against Regal and Taylor in a traditional tag team match.^[58]

On February 2, 2007, London and Kendrick suffered a non-title loss to the rookie team Deuce 'n Domino,^[59] though, they were able to successfully defend the titles at No Way Out.^[60][61] London and Kendrick lost the championship to Deuce 'n Domino on the April 20 edition of SmackDown!, ending their reign at 331 days (SmackDown! was recorded on April 17).^[62] During the match London missed a moonsault from the ring apron to the floor kayfabe injuring his ribs, leaving Kendrick to battle Deuce 'n Domino alone.^[63] Selling his injured ribs, London was absent from physical action until the May 11 edition of SmackDown, defeating Domino in singles competition.^[64] London and Kendrick unsuccessfully competed for the title on June 1 in a Triple Threat tag team match, which also involved Regal and Taylor,^[65] and lost a rematch on June 15 in a standard tag team match.^[66]

Raw (2007–2008)

London, along with Kendrick, was drafted to the Raw brand on June 17, 2007 during the Supplemental Draft.^[67] They won their debut match on Raw against The World's Greatest Tag Team on June 18.^[68] On September 3, they won a number one contender's match for Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch's World Tag Team Championship.^[69] At a house show in South Africa on September 5, London and Kendrick defeated Cade and Murdoch to win the World Tag Team Title, only to lose it back in a rematch three days later.^[70][71] At the end of 2007, he was inactive due to a foot injury.^[72] On the February 4, 2008 edition of Raw, London returned to action in a match with Kendrick against the team of Carlito and Santino Marella.^[73] On the March 17 edition of Raw, London and Kendrick faced Umaga in a handicap match. During the match, Kendrick walked out and left London to get pinned,^[74] however, no dissension came of the incident, as London and Kendrick continued to team up.^[75]

The team came to an end when Kendrick was drafted back to the SmackDown brand as part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft.^[76]

London was released from his WWE contract on November 7, 2008.^[77]

Personal life

London is half Mexican on his mother's side.^[78] He is also bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.^[7] London has two older brothers, Daniel and Jonathan. In 1996, Daniel was killed by a drunk driver at the age of nineteen.^[5][79] Jonathan is a music video director.^[80] London has dated former WWE Diva Ashley Massaro.^[81]

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves
  • 450° splash^[1]
  • Legsweep DDT^[3] – ROH
  • Shooting star press, sometimes while running or standing (WWE) ^[82] / London Calling^[82] (ROH) / London Star Press^[3] (ROH)
  • Waffle Face (Chickenwing facebuster)^[3] – 2004–2005
  • Bridging fallaway slam – 2002–2005
  • Diving crossbody
  • Dragon suplex – 2004–2005
  • Dropkick
  • Dropsault^[1][3]
  • Inverted atomic drop followed by a Frankensteiner
  • Jumping heel kick enzuigiri^[3]
  • Mushroom stomp^[1]
  • Northern Lights suplex^[3]
  • Somersault plancha^[3]
  • Suicide dive
  • Superkick^[3]
  • Tornado DDT^[3]

• Managers
  • Ashley

• Nicknames
  • "The Excellence of Innovation"^[83]

• Entrance themes
  • "Born and Raised (Instrumental)" – TNA (Lyrical version was previously used by A.J. Styles)
  • "Redneck (Instrumental)"
  • "Rocker" – WWE (Shared with Billy Kidman)
  • "Rocker (Remix)" (Shared with Billy Kidman)
  • "Rocker (2nd Remix)" (Shared with Billy Kidman)
  • "Rocker (3rd Remix)" (Shared with Billy Kidman)
  • "Rocker (4th Remix)"

Championships and accomplishments

London and Kendrick are the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions in history.

• East Coast Wrestling Association
  • ECWA Super 8 Tournament (2003)^[83]

• Extreme Texas Wrestling
  • ETW Television Championship (1 time)^[83]

• Funking Conservatory
  • FC United States Championship (1 time)^[83]
  • FC Television Championship (1 time)^[83]
  • FC Hardcore Championship (1 time)^[83]
  • FC Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Adam Windsor^[83]

• NWA Southwest
  • NWA Texas Television Championship (1 time)^[83]

• Professional Championship Wrestling
  • PCW Television Championship (1 time)^[83]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Tag Team of the Year (2007) with Brian Kendrick^[84]
  • PWI ranked him #36 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2005^[85]

• World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)^[86]
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Billy Kidman (1)^[87] and Brian Kendrick (1)^[88]
  • World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brian Kendrick^[89]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Most Underrated Wrestler (2004)

See also

• Paul London and Brian Kendrick

References

External links

• Paul London's WWE.com Profile
• Online World of Wrestling profile
• Paul London at the Internet Movie Database