Jason McGinn

Jason McGinn
Jason McGinn
Born June 27, 1980
Aberdeen, Scotland
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Jason Steele
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Billed weight 260 lb (118 kg)
Billed from Johannesburg
Trained by Booker T
Debut 2005

Jason McGinn is a Scottish professional wrestler/bodybuilder.

Personal

Statistics:

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Jason was a prominent competitor in South African strongman tournaments from 2001 to 2004 before becoming a professional wrestler.[1] He initially trained at the now-defunct International Wrestling Federation: South Africa training camp headed by Tornado and joined World Wrestling Professionals in 2005 when IWF:SA closed operations.

Jason performed for World Wrestling Professionals in 2005 during the first season of WWP Thunderstrike, wrestling as The Gatekeeper.[2]

In 2005 Jaosn traveled to the United States of America and wrestled for various independent promotions, including the Houston-based promotion Pro Wrestling Alliance which was promoted by Booker T. He used the moniker Jason The Terror and was one-half of The South African Connection with Ananzi. On June 29, 2007, they were defeated by Gabe Hollier and Surfin Surge in PWA Tag Team Qualifying match.[3] On July 21, 2007, they were beat by The Trump Twins in a PWA Tag Team Tournament Semifinals match.[3]

OVW Debut (2005–2006)

After training in DSW for most of 2005 and early 2006, Jason was transferred over to Ohio Valley Wrestling in early March. He defeated Kasey James, Pat Buck, Da Beast and Nick Nemeth in dark matches over the next two months and, with Mikey Batts, defeated the teams of Billy Kryptonite and Russell Simpson, and Jack Bull and Vic Devine.

PWA (2007–2008)

Jason along with Ananzi trained at the Houston based PWA run by multiple world champion Booker T, McGinn and Ananzi created the South African connection and entered the PWA tag team champion ships, matched against Gabe Hollier and Surfin Surge as well as the Trumps established the South African connection as a heal faction.


OVW Return and departure (2008)

After being absent from Ohio Valley Wrestling for over two years, Jason returned to the promotion. After several months, now renamed Jason Steel, debuted under a Rick Flair gimmick and subsequently won the Heavyweight Championship on September 15 after defeating Anthony Bravado. Steel held the title for two weeks before losing it back to Bravado on September 29. After losing the title, Jason was re-signed to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. To explain his departure from OVW, later lost a Loser Leaves OVW match to Bravado.

WWP (2008-2010)

Jason Steele made his South African debut on WWP Thunderstrike on SABC 2 in late 2008, he had feuds with Angelico and Justin Gabriel, he ended the series as one of the top rated wrestlers in South Africa history. 2009 and 2010 saw Jason wrestle for Colors TV in India on 100% De dana Dhan, he was positioned as the South African faction heal and antagonist to the Indian wrestlers, Jason dominated the show with notable matches against Sando Paaiji and Murat Bosporus, and was seen as a staple of the show, he appeared on a 2009 version of India has got talent with Tornado to promote the newly formed wrestling show. [4]

WWE (2008-2010)

In 2008 Jason traveled to Auckland New Zealand and participated with locals from the Kiwi Pro Wrestling promotion in WWE tryouts lead by Rip Morgan, he worked matches for the Undertaker and despite great reviews was not called up to the WWE. [5]

In 2010 McGinn again participated in a WWE tryout this time on Tampa Florida, again positive reviews from the trainers including Norman Smiley, Dusty Rhodes and Steve Keirn.

Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding (2012-2014)

In 2012 Jason entered his first Bodybuilding contest in 12 years competing in the ifbb Kwazulu Natal Novice Super Heavyweight division, he won his division and focuses the remainder of 2012 and 2013 on improving his physique and conditioning.

After taking some time off to improve his conditioning Jason in 2014 qualified for the IFBB South African Nationals by winning the super heavyweight division at the provincial championships, This was Jason's first Senior Nationals and with the help of his coach Andrew Hudson, took third place in the super heavies in his first try at nationals at a weight of 238lbs. [6]

In wrestling

References

  1. ↑ "SA Strongman Championships 2004". Big Arnie.
  2. ↑ "The Gatekeeper Profile". TVSA.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Pro Wrestling Alliance (Booker T)". Online World of Wrestling.
  4. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3790022/
  5. ↑ http://www.kiwiprowrestling.co.nz/News-Item.487.0.html?&tx_ttnews%5Bswords%5D=tryout&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=3&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=165&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=545&cHash=0e6b4c9e4304f9518359adde11aa7922
  6. ↑ http://www.ifbbsa.co.za/competitions/local-results/ifbb-sa-champs-2014/
  7. ↑ Trionfo, Richard. "WWE MAIN EVENT REPORT: CESARO/RYBACK REDUX; TENSAI/TITUS; A NEW ALLIANCE?; INTERCONTINENTAL CUP (1/23/13 - 1/30/13), LEAVE THE MEMORIES ALONE". PW Insider. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "PARKS' WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 7/27: Complete coverage of the Friday show, including Fatal Four-Way to determine World Title #1 Contender".
  9. ↑ Cohorn, James. "CM PUNK FACES OFF WITH RYBACK: 10/12 WWE SUPERSHOW RESULTS FROM JONESBORO, AR". PW Insider. Retrieved 19 January 2013.

External links