Ryan Taylor (wrestler)

Ryan Taylor

Taylor in June 2010.
Birth name Russell Gene Taylor
Born January 26, 1987[1]
Resides Phelan, California, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Ryan Taylor
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Billed weight 185 lb (84 kg)[2]
Billed from Long Beach, California[2]
Trained by Jesse Hernandez[2]
Debut March 27, 2004[1]

Russell Gene Taylor[1] (born January 26, 1987),[1] better known by the ring name Ryan Taylor, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently working for several independent promotions in the United States, Mexico, and Japan. He also does much work with the WWE, while never being under contract.

Professional wrestling career

Empire Wrestling Federation (2004-Present)

Debut; Cruiserweight Champion (2004-2007)

At 16 years old he began training at the EWF's training school, Jesse Hernandez's School of Hard Knocks and had his match for the EWF on March 27, 2004. Taylor wrestled to gain experience and won the 2004 Rookie of the year award in the company. In the spring of 2006 Taylor had his first feud with Joey Harder and after a series of hard matches, Taylor won the EWF Cruiserweight Championship on June 9, 2006. Taylor also won the 2006 Most Improved Award, becoming the first recipient of it. Taylor's reign as the Cruiserweight Champion lasted for 399 days until ending on July 13, 2007 when Markus Riot defeated Taylor in a Best of 3 Falls match to win the EWF Cruiserweight Championship.[3] Ryan won back the EWF Cruiserweight Championship by ending Markous Riot's reign after only 22 days. At EFW's Meltdown, Taylor forced Riot to submit to win back the title. Taylor's second reign as the EWF Cruiserweight Champion only 77 days until October 10, 2007 when Maximo defeated Ryan Taylor to win the EWF Cruiserweight Championship.[3] In November, Ryan Taylor competed in the EWF's Inland Title Series Tournament against J.T. Blackstar, Scorpio Sky, and Brandon Gatson. He placed third with a final score of 1-2-0.[4] Taylor also won the 2007 Match of the Year Award for his match against Marcus Riot at the Covina Classic on June 9.

The KOS (2008-2009)

In the early part of 2008 Taylor formed a stable known as the KOS alongside Mondo Vega and Hook Bomberry. On August 23, 2008 in San Bernardino, California, Taylor defeated Vizzion in the main event at Flirting With Disaster for the EWF American Championship[5] and had new female wrestler Aiden Riley join the KOS as well. The KOS then feuded with TJ Perkins and Liger Rivera until the end of the year in a very intense feud that not only won the Feud of the Year 2008 Award but Taylor would win the Match of the Year 2008 Award for his Belt on a Pole match against Perkins in which Taylor would win the NWA Heritage Championship from Perkins. Taylor also wrestled the main event of the first ever So-cal supershow featuring the combined companies of EWF and AWS against TJ Perkins and Scott Lost in a triple threat match for the AWS Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Championships and Taylor's NWA Heritage Championship, in which Taylor retained his title. Taylor held and defended both the EWF American Championship and the NWA Heritage Championship in the early parts of 2009 until losing the Heritage title to Oliver John in a Fatal 4-way match at the main event of the Cauliflower Ally Club Show after pinning Chris Hero and he lost the American title to Liger Rivera at the EWF's 14th Anniversary Show.

EWF Heavyweight Championship (2009-2011)

On October 30, 2009, after returning from Japan and being set on climbing the EWF to the top, Taylor defeated Brandon Gatson to win the EWF Heavyweight Championship. Taylor began to feud with his former stable the KOS in late 2009 and the early parts of 2010, ultimately ending with a Street Fight between Taylor and Mondo Vega, that ended the KOS as Taylor prevailed. During his 567 reign as EWF Heavyweight Champion, he would successfully defended his title 25 times against some of the independents top talent including Human Tornado and Scorpio Sky as well as EWF talent such as Extreme Loco, HJ Starr, Liger Rivera, Mike Mountain, Roger Ruiz, Shaun Ricker, SoCal Crazy and Terex. On May 20, 2011 Taylor lost the EWF Heavyweight Championship to Johnny Starr. However, several weeks later on August 12, he would regain the championship, only to lose it 21 days later to Shaun Ricker. Taylor participated in Inland Title Series Tournament in November and made it to the finals but lost to Jeremy Jaeger.

The Fallen Empire (2011-Present)

Taylor Formed a Alliance with Mondo vega collectively known as The Fallen Empire.On 7 September 2011, they wrestler their first match together and they were defeated by Joey Ryan & Rico Dynamite. Since then Taylor working with him and many other members who were joined by them winning Tag Team Championship two times and Heavyweight Championship One time.[6]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2006)

On 3 December 2006, Taylor made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling Where he teamed with Chris Vice and wrestled AZ Vegara & Sonny Samson to No Contest.[7] His last Match for the New Japan Was On 10 December 2006, Where he was defeated by Sonny Samson.[8]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2008;2009)

On 14 October 2008, Taylor made his debut for WWE On its Smackdown Show, Where he was defeated by Big Show in a I Quit Match.[9] He returned to WWE On 26 May 2009 On its ECW brand, Where he teamed with Joey Munoz and was defeated by Vladimir Kozlov in a Two On One Handicap Match.[10]

Kaientai Dojo (2009)

In 2009; Taylor was heavily involved in Kaientai Dojo He made his debut for Japanese Promotion Where he teamed with Boso Boy Raito & Yuu Yamagata and they were defeated by Omega (Saburo Inematsu, Shiori Asahi, Yujo Hino).[11] On 3 July 2009, Taylor was defeated by Quiet Storm.[12] Taylor Made his final appearance for the promotion On 13 September 2009, Where he teamed with Saburo Inematsu and they were defeated by Monster Plant (KAZMA & Kengo Mashimo).[13]

Championship Wrestling from Hollywood (2008-present)

Taylor made his debut for NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood on December 21, 2008, defeating Jay Streets. During the early years of the promotion, Taylor was used sporadically but that would change in 2011 when he would become a regular competitor. Taylor began feuding with Peter Avalon in April and would continue throughout the year and into 2012. Avalon initially had the upper hand winning two out of two matches, however, Taylor's fortunes would change on July 10 when he defeated Avalon in a six man tag team hair vs. hair match where Avalon and Taylor's hair were on the line. Avalon would bounce back by defeating Taylor in a number one contendership match and an "anything goes" match. The feud culminated on February 12, 2012, when Taylor defeated Avalon once and for all in a steel cage match.

With this win, Taylor would go on to challenge Scorpio Sky for the NWA Hollywood Television Championship in April but lost. He would move onto the Percy Pringle III Cup where on the way to the finals, he defeated Peter Avalon once again. The finals took place on July 22, where Taylor would win the tournament by defeating Shaun Ricker and guaranteeing a shot at the CWFH Heritage Heavyweight Championship. After winning the tournament, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood split from NWA and would subsequently change the name of there championships so the CWFH Heritage Heavyweight Championship became the Hollywood Heritage Championship. In the beginning of 2013, Taylor defeated Tyler Cintron in a qualifying match for the Red Carpet Rumble. This match took place on May 5, where Shaun Ricker would win the match and the Hollywood Heritage Championship. Straight after the match however, Taylor cashed in his Percy Pringle III Cup title shot and lost. He later went on to form the heel stable known as Vermin. He then feuded with Joey Ryan and won the MAV Television Championship on two different occasions.

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2009-2012)

On November 20, 2009, Taylor made his Pro Wrestling Guerrilla debut at the first night of the 2009 Battle of Los Angeles, where he teamed with Malachi Jackson in a losing effort against the Cutler Brothers (Brandon and Dustin Cutler).[14] Taylor continued to perform on every PWG show since, including having a standout and stellar match against Brandon Gatson at Titannica and teaming with Roderick Strong at the DDT4 tournament in May 2010, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Cutler Brothers.[15][16] On September 4 Taylor entered the 2010 Battle of Los Angeles, but was eliminated in the first round by Brandon Gatson.[17] The following day Taylor formed a new alliance with Chuck Taylor and Brian Cage (who would adopt the ring name Brian Cage-Taylor), called the Fightin' Taylor Boys.[18][19] In the early portion of 2011, Fightin' Taylor Boys lost a number one conders corners match and partook in the Joey Ryan invatational and lost. The Fightin' Taylor Boys lost to the RockNES Monsters in the first round of the 2012 DDT4.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas

Wager Winner Loser Location Date Notes
Hair Ryan Taylor Peter Avalon Hollywood, California July 10, 2011 Six man tag team captain's hair vs. captain's hair match, where Taylor, Aaron Bolo and Famous B faced Avalon, Ray Rosas and Rico Dynamite.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Cagematch profile". Cagematch. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Pro Wrestling Guerrilla roster". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2010-03-07.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "EWF Cruiserweight Championship history". Empire Wrestling Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-05-08. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  4. "INLAND TITLE SERIES FINAL TALLIES". Empire Wrestling Federation.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "EWF American Championship history". Empire Wrestling Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
  6. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=85103
  7. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=99897
  8. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=99899
  9. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=29525
  10. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=39742
  11. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=40760
  12. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=41132
  13. http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=44999
  14. "2009 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  15. "Titannica". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  16. "DDT4". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  17. "2010 Battle of Los Angeles - Night One". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  18. Alvarez, Bryan (2010-09-06). "Battle of Los Angeles Night II report with one of the best matches of the year". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  19. "Pro Wrestling Guerrilla roster page". Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Archived from the original on 2010-11-23. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
  20. "EWF Heavyweight Championship history".
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 "Ryan Taylor's EWF Bio". Empire Wrestling Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  22. 22.0 22.1 Meltzer, Dave (2010-11-14). "Sun. update: White on main event; Mania tickets sale update; WWE DVD top 50, UFC headliner bout". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
  23. http://www.westcoastwrestlingconnection.com/index2.htm

External links