| Scott Garland | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Jeff Taylor[1] Scott Taylor[2] Scotty 2 Hotty[1] Scotty Too Hotty[3] Scotty Taylor[1] Scotty The Hotty[1] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3][4] |
| Billed weight | 209 lb (95 kg)[4] |
| Born | July 2, 1973 [5][6] Westbrook, Maine[3] |
| Billed from | Westbrook, Maine[4] |
| Debut | November 23, 1989[2][7] |
Scott Ronald Garland[3][8] (born July 2, 1973) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Scotty 2 Hotty. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment.
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When approximately 14 or 15 years old, Garland wrote to Sue Aitchison, the Community Relations Specialist of the World Wrestling Federation, inquiring from which professional wrestling school the company recruited the majority of their employees. Aitchison responded by telling him that they did not recruit from any particular school and wishing him luck. Garland then attempted to telephone Vince McMahon, but was unable to speak to McMahon directly.[7][9]
Garland began attending shows at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine, helping the ring crew to construct the wrestling ring.[7] After an independent promoter saw Garland wrestling with his friends, he offered Garland a job.[7] In his first match, Garland wrestled Steve Ramsey in a Portland armory on November 23, 1989, the same night the Survivor Series was taking place.[7][10][11]
In the same year, Garland began wrestling for the Massachusetts-based New England Wrestling. In August 1991, Garland was introduced to the WWF by fellow NEW wrestler Phil Apollo.[7][10]
Garland made his first appearance in October 1991, teaming with Sonny Blaze and using Scott Taylor as his ring name.[7] Garland continued to attend college throughout his early tenure, and in 1994, he supplemented his income by working as a Fleet Bank bank teller and as the assistant manager of a Spencer's Gifts outlet.[11] He remained a prominent enhancement talent throughout the mid 1990s.
In 1997, Garland, now working for an insurance company, planned to wrestle tryout matches for Extreme Championship Wrestling. Upon hearing of his plans, Vice President of the WWF Talent Relations, Bruce Prichard, signed him to a contract.[7] Garland began wrestling in the burgeoning Light Heavyweight division as Scott Taylor. In late 1997, he took part in an eight-man tournament for the vacant Light Heavyweight Championship, but was eliminated in the second round after being chokeslammed by Kane.[7]
On March 29, 1998 at WrestleMania XIV, Taylor and "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher teamed together for the first time, taking part in a tag team battle royal.[12] Following WrestleMania XIV, Taylor and Christopher continued to team together on the WWF's syndicated Saturday wrestling shows, with Taylor playing the straight man to Christopher's over-the-top, egotistical antics. Soon, Taylor adopted Christopher's flamboyant actions and in-ring mannerisms and became known as Scott "Too Hot" Taylor, with the duo dubbed "Too Much".[8]
In May 1999, Taylor was renamed Scotty Too Hotty (later changed to Scotty 2 Hotty) and Christopher was renamed Grand Master Sexay.[3] Collectively known as "Too Cool", Taylor and Christopher were given the characteristics of wiggers, delivering raps aimed at their opponents and parodying aspects of hip hop culture. Shortly after debuting their new characters, the team was temporarily separated after Christopher tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was sidelined for three months.[3] In late 1999, Too Cool aligned themselves with Rikishi Fatu (whom they quickly renamed Rikishi Phatu), forming a faction.[8] Following their matches, Too Cool and Rikishi would perform a dance routine in the center of the ring.[7]
In early 2000, the group began feuding with The Radicalz, culmintating with Too Cool teaming with Chyna to beat Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko at WrestleMania 2000. After Christopher re-injured his leg, Scotty briefly returned to the Light Heavyweight division, and on April 17, 2000, he defeated Radicalz member Dean Malenko to win the Light Heavyweight Championship. He held the title for only 10 days before dropping it back to Malenko on April 27, 2000.[13] Scotty challenged Malenko for the title once more at Backlash, but was defeated.[14] Christopher returned in mid-2000, and on May 29, 2000, Too Cool defeated Edge and Christian to win the Tag Team Championship with the assistance of rapper Joe C. They held the title until June 25, 2000, when Edge and Christian regained the title.[15]
Too Cool and Rikishi separated in late 2000 after Rikishi was revealed to have run over Steve Austin. Rikishi subsequently easily defeating his former allies in a handicap match. In February 2001, the intervertebral disc between Scotty's C6 and C7 vertebrae bulged, and he was forced to undergo surgery.[7][8] His absence was explained that he suffered a (kayfabe) broken ankle at the hands of Kurt Angle. Whilst Scotty was recuperating, Christopher was released from the company for illegally conveying drugs across the Canada–United States border.[16]
Scotty returned to the ring in June 2001, taking part in the rivalry between Team WWF and The Alliance. During this time, he formed a tag team with Albert, who subsequently adopted the nickname "The Hip Hop Hippo", and they collectively became known as the "Zoo Crew".[8] The team competed in the tag team division until April 2002, when Albert betrayed Scotty by attacking him.[17]
Scotty spent 17 months recuperating, returning to the ring in April 2003 and to television in October 2003. Wrestling on the SmackDown! brand, Scotty formed a tag team with his former ally Rikishi.[8] Together, they competed in the tag team division and ultimately defeated the Basham Brothers to win the WWE Tag Team Championship on February 5, 2004.[18] Scotty and Rikishi successfully defended their titles in a four way tag team match at WrestleMania XX.[19] Their reign ended on April 22, 2004 when they were defeated by Charlie Haas and Rico.[18] On July 16, 2004, WWE released Rikishi, leaving Scotty on his own.
After Rikishi's release, Scotty wrestled mainly on Velocity and in dark matches until early 2007. In April 2007 he returned briefly to the Raw roster, competing in a handful of matches on WWE Heat.[2] He was released from the company on May 18, 2007.[20]
On December 10, 2007, Scotty returned to WWE for one night only, during Raw's 15-Year Special Anniversary episode. He took part in a "15-Year Flashback Battle Royal", and was among the final four wrestlers before being eliminated by Skinner.[21]
Following his release, Garland began competing on the independent circuit once more, alternating between the ring names Scotty Too Hotty and Scotty The Hotty.[3] On March 1, 2008, Scotty won Eastern Pro Wrestling's Heavyweight Championship after defeating Bob Evans.[3] Evans won the title back in a cage match on May 17, 2008 in Danielson, Connecticut. In May 2008, Scotty wrestled two matches for Full Impact Pro, teaming with Delirious to defeat The Young, Rich, and Ready For Action (Sal Rinauro and Chasyn Rance), and defeating Davey Richards in a singles match.[3]
In June 2008, Scotty appeared at the CLASH Wrestling's NPCI tournament, in which the promotion's first World Tag Champions would be crowned, and teamed with CLASH Champion Cameron Skyy. The team lost in the first round to Tommy Tydie and J. Miller. Scotty returned to CLASH Wrestling in January of 2009 to face "Swagg Starr" Dave Manzo in the main event which ended up being a no contest due to some run-ins. Ultimately the match turned into a 6-Man Tag Team Match.[22] On October 3, 2008, Scotty teamed with Owen Graichen in a loss to Fred Curry and Chris Venom in which the loser of the fall was (in storyline) forced to leave Eastern Pro Wrestling for 60 days. Due to being the wrestler pinned, Scotty had to leave the promotion.
On October 17, 2009, Scotty won the Coastal Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Championship after defeating then-champion Dok Rivers.[23]
In 1998, Garland married Theresa "Terri" Marie, a nurse whom he met while working in a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet in Windham, Maine.[11] He and his wife currently live in Orlando, Florida, and have three children: a daughter named Taylor and two sons.[24] Garland is a Walt Disney World aficionado, and owns a season pass to the park.[24][25]
Garland appeared in-character, alongside Kid Kash in the December 2009 video for the Irish band, Fight Like Apes' single "Do You Karate".[26] In 2010, he completed filming a movie called Ultimate Death Match 3, which also featured other wrestlers.[2]