| Leo Kruger | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Dameon Duke[1] Leo Kruger[1] Presley Jackson[1] Ray Bourne[1] Ray Leppan[1] Rey Bourne[1] |
| Weight | 238 lb (108 kg)[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 205 lb (93 kg)[2] |
| Born | July 20, 1979 [1] Johannesburg, South Africa[1] |
| Billed from | Johnnesburg, South Africa[2] |
| Trained by | FCW Training[1] Paul Lloyd Sr.[1] |
| Debut | 1998[1] |
Ray Leppan (born July 20, 1979) is a South African professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Leo Kruger. He is signed to WWE, and wrestles in Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory, where he is the reigning FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.
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Leppan worked in South Africa with Paul Lloyd Jr., known as the tag team Pure Juice. He also wrestled as "Dameon Duke" in World Wrestling Professionals.[1] While there, Duke won the WWP World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Tornado in 2007 and lost it to Fury the following year.[3]
After Leppan's United States work visa cleared, he was able to debut in Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) in 2010.[1]
Leppan debuted in FCW under his real name on February 25, 2010, in a losing effort against Curt Hawkins. Two weeks later, Leppan was defeated by Eli Cottonwood. The following week, Leppan changed his ring name to "Leo Kruger", before losing to Johnny Curtis. On March 18, Kruger picked up his first win since joining FCW by defeating Jacob Novak.[1] At the television tapings on May 20, Kruger challenged fellow South African wrestler Justin Gabriel to a match. At the television tapings on June 10, Kruger lost to Gabriel, but in a rematch on July 1, Kruger reversed the result.[4] In mid-2010, Kruger formed a team with Derrick Bateman, known as The Handsome Man Express. The duo challenged Los Aviadores (Hunico and Epico) for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on July 2, but were unsuccessful.[5] On July 8, Kruger teamed with Tyler Reks to challenge Los Aviadores again for the championship, but was unsuccessful. Kruger then went on a winning streak, defeating Big E. Langston, Bateman, Austin Watson, Husky Harris, and Wes Brisco, before finally losing in a mixed tag team match, when he and Kaitlyn lost to Brad Maddox and Jamie Keyes on September 9. Kruger's final match in 2010 was at the television tapings on September 23, when he lost to Bo Rotundo.[4] Following the match, Kruger lost feeling in his arm, and it was discovered that he had broken his neck.[2] While recuperating, Kruger became a commentator for the FCW television program.[2]
After Bo Rotundo was injured in September 2011, his FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship was vacated and a tournament set up to determine the new champion.[6] Kruger defeated Percy Watson to make it to the final, a fatal four-way match against Husky Harris, Damien Sandow, and Dean Ambrose.[7] Kruger won the match and the championship, his first in FCW.[8] Kruger then appeared in dark matches prior to the SmackDown television tapings on September 20 and 27, losing to Trent Barreta and defeating Johnny Curtis respectively.[9][10] Kruger successfully defended the championship against Harris on the October 24 episode of FCW television and on the November 14 episode of FCW television, Kruger defeated Harris and Richie Steamboat in a triple threat match to retain the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship.[11][12] On the December 18 episode of FCW television, Kruger successfully defended the championship against Seth Rollins, after interference from Antonio Cesaro.[13]
In late December 2011, Kruger appeared at several WWE house shows, losing to Alex Riley on December 27 and 28.[14][15] On December 30, he teamed with Riley and Mason Ryan to defeat Tyler Reks, Curt Hawkins, and JTG and in a six-man tag team match at a Raw brand house show.[16]