Thumbtack Jack

Alexander Bedranowsky (born July 21, 1985), better known by his ring name Thumbtack Jack and its abbreviation TJ,^[2] is a German retired professional wrestler, he is also best known for his work in westside Xtreme wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling and IWA East Coast. He is well known for his hardcore style of wrestling. Jack is known for using raw syringe as his signature weapon. In 2007, Jack faced Drake Younger in a death match in westside Xtreme wrestling (wXw) in Germany titled "TJ's Ultraviolent Underground" where the elements included barbed wires, broken glass, razor blades, and a saw.^[3] Towards the end of the match, Jack brought a pile of syringes to the ringside and after being slammed into it by Younger,^[4] he scattered it on the ring. He also used it in CZW at Tournament of Death 8 against D.J. Hyde.,^[5] and Tournament of Death 8.5 : Rewind against MASADA.^[6] His career was ended on October 2, 2010, when he fractured his 7th thoracic vertebrae in a match against MASADA. Bedranowsky now works for WWE as the content manager for their German YouTube channel.

Professional wrestling career

Thumbtack Jack made his professional wrestling debut on August 4, 2001.^[7] Since then he has wrestled for numerous European-based promotions, including German-based westside Xtreme wrestling and German Stampede Wrestling, and in Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.^[8]

Combat Zone Wrestling

Jack made his long awaited debut against Danny Havoc in March 2009 at the CZW's Total Havoc. Jack vied for Havoc's Ultraviolent Underground Title, but ultimately, came out on the losing end.

However, he would make his return to the Combat Zone on June 6, 2009, at CZW's annual, Tournament of Death (TOD). Jack would defeat D.J. Hyde in a Jack In the Box Death Match, which consisted of syringes, cinder blocks, panes of glass, light tubes & fire, in the first round. The match was considered "Match of the Night" by many. In the second round, Thumbtack Jack would defeat Danny Havoc and WHACKS, in a Fans Bring The Weapons Death Match. He would soon find himself in the final round against Tournament of Death 5 Champion, Nick Gage. However, the match would end all too soon as Gage suffered a laceration on a major artery due to a bump through the ropes and through light tubes. The match would soon deteriorate into an Ultraviolent Battle Royal. Zandig, then the owner of CZW, would present the Tournament of Death 8 trophy to Jack, as well as invite him to the upcoming Best of the Best, to put his trophy up for grabs.

At the Best of the Best 9, Thumbtack Jack would compete in a 4-Way Bring Your Own Weapon Match with his TOD Trophy on the line, against D.J. Hyde, Jon Moxley & Danny Havoc. Jack would lose the match to D.J. Hyde, essentially making him the new Tournament of Death Champion. A returning Nick Gage would also make his presence felt at the show, by attacking Jack.

With the loss of his Tournament of Death 8 Trophy, Thumbtack Jack would get a chance to redeem himself at the second tournament of the year, Tournament of Death: Rewind. In the opening round, Jack defeated Jon Moxley in a Four Corners of Fun Dog Collar Match, which consisted of Lego Bricks, a Staple Gun, Board of Mouse Traps, and Cinderblocks. Jack's second round opponent would be Sami Callihan as they faced one another for Sami's Ultraviolent Underground Championship, which would be on the line throughout the whole night. Jack would defeat Callihan in a Transylvania Death Match, which is basically a Light Tube Casket Match, to become the new UVU Champion. He would now find himself in the Tournament of Death finals for the second time in less than six months against, MASADA. The two faced each other in a brutal House of Pain Death Match, which consisted of Barbed Wire Ropes, Light Tube Ropes, Cinder Blocks, Barbed Wire Platform & Home Run Derby Weapons. Jack would come out of the match, the victor, remaining the UVU Champion, as well as becoming the new Tournament of Death Champion.

The new Ultraviolent Underground Champion would find himself in an all-too familiar place at Cage of Death XI, as he stood across the ring from "The Man" Nick Gage, once again. The two would collide in a No Ropes Barbed Wire Match, which saw Jack get the victory over Gage, following a sadistic and brutal match between the two. Afterwards, J. C. Bailey would make his return to wrestling and the Combat Zone, accompanied by the Halfbreed Billy Gram, and attack Thumbtack Jack from behind.

On January 17, 2010, Thumbtack Jack lost his Ultraviolent Underground Title to Adam Polak at the wXw 18+ Underground Chapter 2 Show

Thumbtack Jack retired from the deathmatch genre of wrestling on April 18. His final deathmatch in the United States was on March 13, 2010 and he lost to JC Bailey in a Barefoot thumbtacks match. His final deathmatch of his career was due to take place on April 18, 2010 in Germany against former rival Drake Younger. However, due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland on April 16, 2010, German airspace was restricted, forcing Drake Younger to cancel his appearance at the wXw Show. Thumbtack Jack ended up facing long time friend "HATE" and losing in a 200 light tube deathmatch.

IWA

2008 he won the IWA East Coast's deathmatch tournament Masters of Pain after defeating Mad Man Pondo, Necro Butcher, and Ryuji Ito.^[9] 2009 he competed at the IWA Mid-South's tournament King of the Deathmatch, where he lost to Masada in the final after defeating Nick Gage and Mad Man Pondo.^[10]

Retirement

After breaking both his 7th thoracic vertebrae in a match against MASADA on October 2, 2010, Bedranowsky announced the following day that his professional wrestling career was over^[1]. He was indicted into the wXw Wrestling Hall of Fame in the same year^[11].

In March 2011, Bedranowsky published his autobiography "Meine Kämpfe" (transl. "My Fights") in which he talks about his life pre-wrestling, his career and the circumstances that lead to his retirement. The book is available in its 3rd edition now. In March 2017, he also published an audio book version of the book, which he recorded himself^[12].

Bedranowsky now works for WWE Germany as the content manager for their German YouTube channel. He had some appearances for indie promotions, including GWF and NEW.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Brace to the Face (Cross-legged brainbuster onto the knee) - 2008–2010
  • Bloodshed Bomb (Cross–legged Michinoku driver II) - 2006–2010
  • Thumbattack (450° splash) - 2001-2006
• Signature moves
  • Corkscrew neckbreaker, sometimes from the top rope
  • Frog splash transitioned into an elbow drop
  • Moonsault
  • Pumphandle drop
  • Tear Down (Full nelson transitioned into an inverted DDT) 2001-2002
• nicknames
  • "tj"
• Entrance themes
  • "I'm So Sick" by Flyleaf^[13]
  • "Diamond Eyes" by Shinedown

Championships and accomplishments

• Combat Zone Wrestling
  • Tournament of Death (8) (was given the titel by zandig)
  • Tournament of Death (Tournament of Death: Rewind)
  • CZW Ultraviolent Underground Championship (1 time)
  • Tournament of Death (Rewind)
• German Stampede Wrestling
  • GSW Breakthrough Championship (2 times) - with Steve Douglas (1 time)
• Independent Wrestling Association East Coast
  • Masters of Pain (2008)
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #409 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2010^[14]
• Pro Wrestling Showdown
  • Toughest MF-er of Europe (1 time)(Current)
• westside Xtreme wrestling
  • wXw Hardcore Championship (1 time)
  • Gorefest II
  • wXw Hall of Fame (Class 2010)

Notes

References

• "Combat Zone Wrestling show archives (2008)". CZWrestling.com. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
• "Combat Zone Wrestling show archives (2009)". CZWrestling.com. Retrieved 2009-05-31. 

External links

• Official website