| James Curtin | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Spud |
| Billed height | 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) |
| Billed weight | 130 lb (59 kg) |
| Born | 30 January 1983 Birmingham, West Midlands, England |
| Trained by | Jack Storm Chris Gilbert Don Charles |
| Debut | 2001 |
James Curtin (born 30 January 1983),[1] better known by his ring name Spud, is a British professional wrestler. Curtin, known for his small stature, is considered the smallest mainstream wrestler in the United Kingdom.
Throughout most of his career, the Spud persona has wrestled matches as the babyface underdog; often facing off against much larger wrestlers. He is currently working for SAS Wrestling, Frontier Wrestling Alliance, Anti-Watershed Wrestling (AWW), IPW:UK New Generation Wrestling (NGW)and Triple X Wrestling (TXW) in his 'Rockstar' persona, a heel apparently based on obnoxious prima-donna 1980s rock musicians such as Ronnie James Dio.[2]
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Curtin, who was originally trained by Jack Storm and Chris Gilbert within the K-Star Wrestling promotion before eventually coming under the tutelage of "Charming" Don Charles at the SAS Wrestling Academy, went on to perform in many independent promotions within the United Kingdom, United States and Europe under the ring name "Spud".
While on the indy circuit, Spud's first major appearances came with the Revolution British Wrestling promotion in 2003. On 30 August 2003, Spud defeated Jack Hazard to become RBW's first British Welterweight Champion; a title Spud held for several months before losing it to "The Gift" Ross Jordan in a Maximum Falls contest sometime in December 2003.
PWG made their first tour of the UK in February 2006 where Spud teamed with Topgun Talwar and Aviv Maayan faced Excalibur, Disco Machine and Ronin in a 6-man tag team match where Spud was pinned by Excalibur.
PWG's second UK show in October 2007 featured Spud facing off against Joey Ryan. Ryan pinned Spud after a Superkick.
Spud competed regularly for the International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom promotion right from its creation in 2004. Through 2005, Spud had a high profile feud with Jack Storm, which culminated in a street fight in January 2006.
While in IPW:UK, Spud became one half of the tag team Dragon Hearts, with fellow wrestler Dragon Phoenix. On 24 September 2006, Dragon Hearts defeated The Untouchables in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to become IPW:UK Tag Team Champions.
The Dragon Hearts also got involved with IPW:UK's inter-federation feud with Frontier Wrestling Alliance, and even though Spud is a regular for that promotion he wrestled on the side of IPW:UK in a match against Team FWA. The Dragon Hearts teamed up with Leroy Kincaide to face off against Iceman, Jonny Storm, and Jorge Castano in a match that saw both Phoenix and Spud suffer injury. Phoenix deep wound to his head while Spud suffered what appeared to be a separated or dislocated shoulder due to a dropkick at the hands of Storm. Storm and Spud faced off in a in a grudge match in early 2007 with Spud picking up the win.
Spud went on to represent IPW:UK in the joint FWA vs IPW:UK Final Frontiers show losing to Hade Vansen. After a losing effort against IPW:UK Tag team champions Swiss Money Holdings in IPW:UK's debut in Liverpool, Luke Dragon Phoenix left the promotion disbanding The Dragon Hearts. Back to singles action, Spud went on to face Big Brother contestant Billi Bhatti in a losing effort thanks to the Hated Heroes.
Spud recently defeated Dave Moralez and Eamon O'Neill to advance in the opening rounds of the British National Championship but was defeated by Sam Slam in the Quarter Finals.
Spud's last recent appearances for IPW:UK have seen him in losing efforts to former Gladiator's and current TNA star Magnus Nick 'Oblivion' Aldis.
Spud returned to the promotion after 6 months under his "Rockstar" character and defeated Lion Kid to become the IPW:UK Cruiserweight Champion.
Spud also worked for the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, and was brought up into the main roster to be used as a jobber for a short time, competing against many larger opponents. During the start of 2005, however, FWA began showcasing their flyweight division, later that year Spud entered into a tournament to crown a Flyweight Champion for promotion. Spud made it to the tournament final, where he was defeated by Ross Jordan, who became the first FWA Flyweight Champion. However, Jordan was only awarded the match after the referee stopped the contest due to a kayfabe injury to Spud's leg. The pair continued to feud for over 14-month with Jordan repeatedly attacking Spud in attempts to re-injure his leg. The feud culminated in a Last Man Standing match at FWA Last Fight at the Prom on 30 September 2006 with Spud picking up the win.
Following a talent trading agreement with the FWA, Spud made his first US appearance in April 2006, competing for Ring of Honor during their two-night Weekend of Champions shows. Spud also appeared during ROH's first tour of shows in the UK, Unified and Anarchy In The UK in August 2006.
The-then 21 year old Spud also competed under the FWA banner during the British Wrestling United National Under 23's Championship event, being FWA's entry into the tournament to crown the first under 23 champion. However, Spud failed to win the tournament losing to its eventual winner Sam Slam in the first round.
Upon the FWA's relaunch Spud has performed under his "Rockstar" character with an over the top entrance including a female security guard, a band and groupee. He is currently locked in a war of words with longtime rival Jonny Storm.
After the feud between FWA and IPW:UK ended, the XWA promotion was founded from the remains of the FWA. Spud feuded with XWA Flyweight Champion El Ligero, defeating him in a last man standing match to become champion with help from The Kartel and Martin Stone to form 'The Firm' faction.
Spud won the annual Goldrush rumble to become the No 1 Contender to the XWA Heavyweight Championship while still the XWA Flyweight Champion, which he succeeded in doing after beating Sam Slam at the 2009 Last Fight at the Prom.
The Rockstar was stripped of the XWA Flyweight Championship due to his lack of defenses and also lost the XWA Heavyweight Championship later in the year losing the title to Johnny Phere.
Spud, since losing the XWA Heavyweight Championship, suffered a number of defeats and was then injured in September 2010 in a match with the new 'Showstealer' Nathan Cruz. The Rockstar made his return in February 2011 confronting Cruz and his former allies Team Rockstar for abandoning him in the annual XWA Goldrush Rumble.
Spud also became one of the top British stars in the One Pro Wrestling roster since its inception in 2005. Still competing under the out matched underdog gimmick, Spud had a longtime feud with American wrestler Sterling James Keenan and the super heavyweight Abyss.
Spud and partner Luke Dragon Phoenix resurfaced in 1PW to win the Tag Team Titles in their debut as a team.
Spud left the promotion in the Winter of 2007 after losing the 1PW Tag Team Titles to The Damned Nation along with partner Luke Dragon Phoenix
Spud later Returned to 1PW at The 3rd Year Anniversary, as Hubba Bubba Lucah's mystery Tag team partner to finally cause the disbantion of Damnned Nation. On 15 November 2009, he defeated Darkside to win the 1PW Openweight Championship.
Spud is well known in RQW when he partners with Luke 'Dragon' Phoenix to make the team of The Dragon Hearts. They participated in the RQW Tag Team Championship tournament between 17 February 2007 and 13 January 2008. They made it into the semi-finals (which Luke Phoenix did not participate in, and was replaced by Ross Jordan) but were then knocked out by Team Charming who went on to win the RQW Tag Team Championships.
In January, Spud had two appearances at Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) house shows which took place in Portugal, facing Jonny Storm, Jody Fleisch and Pac in fatal 4-way matches.
Spud made many appearances for the Midlands based promotion, Anti-Watershed Wrestling, using an 80s Rockstar gimmick. On 26 July 2007, Spud won a 5-Man Gauntlet defeating BBS to become number one contender for the AWW Championship but was unable to defeat Carnage for the title in November 2007. Spud competed in a TLC featuring Carnage and Dan Ryder for the AWW Championship and again failed to win the championship.
Spud defeated Dave Moralez to become AWW Champion on 7 November 2008. Spud would hold the title for a year, losing it to Lucian L. Jones in November 2009 at Aston Uni after nearly losing it to young, talented MK Mikinan the show before at The Saddlers Club, Walsall. Although Spud got pinned by MK, Management Disqualified Mikinan for an illegal use of the title belt, thus Spud retained the title.
Spud lost the championship to Lucian L. Jones in November 2009 and then began feuding with former bodyguard T-Bone for most of 2010.
Spud has appeared for the London and Midlands based promotion since its establishment in 2005. He has waged war with long-time nemesis Jack Storm after he turned on him in the "Bring Your Jeans" show of November 2005.
Spud battled against Team Charming members for nearly a year in order to get his hands on Jack Storm. He faced him eventually in the final of the first SAS UK Wrestling Championship tournament by pinning his foe after a hard-fought encounter thought by many as UK Match Of The Year in 2006.
Spud lost the championship a month later thanks to Jack Storm's manager Charming Don Charles, and in another long feud eventually wrestled him in a one on one Bring Your Jeans Streetfight match pinning him with one foot after a steel chair shot to the head.
Spud became SAS UK Champion once again by defeating Jack Storm in April 2008 in a steel cage match.
Recently Spud turned his back on the fans by attacking Phil Bedwell, citing the fans not caring about him as much as they do about the former alcoholic as his motivation, and evolved into his 'Rockstar' persona.
Spud defended the championship for most of 2009 against Derise Coffie and Bubblegum before finally losing the championship to Bubblegum in a Steel cage match in June 2010.
Recently Spud has competed in NGW, and in its Summer Smash Brawl 4 event lost in the finals of the round robin to decide the number one contender for the NGW championship.
In August 2006 Spud appeared on Channel 4's Big Brother's What They Did After The House where Spud on an IPW:UK show in Originton, Kent, was defeated by Big Brother contestant Billi Bhatti.
In January 2011 Spud, in his "Rockstar", character appeared on BBC3's Snog Marry Avoid? where he was given a 'make-under'.
Curtin has also filmed a small part in upcoming short film "Light The Lights" (starring Callum Best) where he plays the part of a clown.