Barri Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Barri Griffiths is a Welsh
professional wrestler
and former Gladiators
competitor, also known as Goliath and by his ring name
Mason Ryan. He is signed to WWE, where he wrestles on the Raw
brand
.He was also a member of The Nexus. He also competes in Florida Championship Wrestling
(FCW), a WWE developmental territory.
, Wales
and Ysgol Eifionydd
secondary school
in Porthmadog
, before studying construction management
at Cardiff University
for 18 months. Griffiths worked as a trainee carpenter, and in his family's funeral home business prior to becoming a professional wrestler. He has a sister. Griffiths played football as a centre-back for Welsh Premier League side Porthmadog F.C.
, but had to stop due to a knee injury.
television show in 2009, and competed under the name "Goliath". When he was working on a television show in Wales
about being a wrestler, he was told that producers were looking for new gladiators, and he applied with the encouragement of his trainer, Orig Williams
. He began filming the first show approximately a month later and had to grow a beard especially for the role.
71/
in 2006 after attending a wrestling show with a friend where the promoter recommended he start wrestling. He trained at a professional wrestling school in Birkenhead
. Prior to appearing on Gladiators, Griffiths had wrestled under the names "Celtic Warrior" and "Smackdown Warrior" since 2007, and had competed in almost 100 matches in countries including Egypt
and Venezuela
. He represented the UK in a 'Battle of the Nations' tag team match
between the UK and Austria, teaming with Drew McDonald
and Sheamus O'Shaunessy in a losing effort to Chris Raaber, Michael Kovac, and Robert Ray Kreuzer at the European Wrestlng Association's
Night of Gladiators show in June 2007. After signing with World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE), Griffiths had his final show in Wales at Y Ganolfan, Porthmadog in October 2008, where he first won a singles match, before winning a battle royal
.. He is also referred to by fans as Former WWE Superstar Dave Batista because of his likeness to him
(FCW) in January 2010. Under the name Mason Ryan, he competed against wrestlers including Johnny Curtis
, Tyler Reks
, Johnny Prime
, and Hunico
in his first matches.
On 22 July, Ryan won a triple threat match against defending champion Alex Riley
and Johnny Curtis
by pinning Riley to win the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Over the next few months, Ryan successfully defended the championship against wrestlers including Bo Rotundo
, Richie Steamboat, and Eli Cottonwood
. At the tapings of FCW television on 2 September, Ryan successfully defended the championship against Johnny Curtis
when FCW commentator Byron Saxton interfered and aided him. The following week, Saxton became aligned with Ryan, accompanying him to the ring and acting as his manager
. In November 2010, Ryan toured Europe with the SmackDown brand
, defeating Chavo Guerrero
in dark matches in Belfast
on 4 November, Liverpool
on 6 November and Manchester
on 8 November prior to Monday Night Raw. On 3 February 2011, Ryan lost the Florida Heavyweight Championship to Bo Rotundo, ending a six-and-a-half month reign.
by interfering in a match between CM Punk
and John Cena
. Following his interference, Punk presented him with a 'Nexus' armband, inducting him into the group. Ryan participated in the 2011
Royal Rumble match but was eliminated by Cena. On 7 February Ryan had his debut match on Raw when he lost to R-Truth via disqualification. In late February, it was announced that Punk would face Randy Orton
at WrestleMania XXVII
, with each member of The Nexus facing Orton to win the right to accompany Punk to the ring in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania. Ryan was the final member to face Orton, but lost on the March 14 episode of Raw. Following the match, Orton punted Ryan in the head.
Ryan was absent from television for nearly a month, making his return on 11 April on Raw with the other New Nexus members, attacking Orton and preventing him from earning a WWE Championship match.
On the 2 May episode of Raw, Ryan lost to Kane
by disqualification following interference from Punk, and went on to attack both Kane and The Big Show
. Afterward he left the ring without celebrating with the other members of The Nexus. At the Over the Limit
pay-per-view on 22 May, Ryan and Punk challenged Kane and The Big Show for the WWE Tag Team Championship
, but were unsuccessful. Fans in attendance chanted "Dave Batista" due to similarities between the two.
On the 20 June Power to the People episode of Raw, Ryan was voted to face Evan Bourne, whom he defeated. WWE released a statement the following day on their official website, revealing Sin Cara
was the real winner of the poll vote, but the text votes from the previous match were still coming in. A week later on Raw, Michael Cole
announced that Ryan was injured over the weekend at a house show
, but was later reported online that it happened outside the ring and that he would be out from six weeks to six months.
Ryan would make an appearance at the SummerSlam
Axxess event with his New Nexus
stablemates.
, Ryan returned to WWE, defeating JTG. On the 26 September episode of Raw, Ryan was chosen by Vickie Guerrero
as Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler's partner in a 6-man Tag match against Zack Ryder
and Air Boom
(Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston
), where Ryan would turn on Swagger and Ziggler, allowing Ryder to pick up the victory for his team and turn face
in the process. The following week on Raw, Ryan teamed with Air Boom
(Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston
), Sheamus, CM Punk
and John Cena
in a 12-man Tag match defeating the team of Alberto Del Rio, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and David Otunga
. He would start a feud with Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and Vickie Guerrero in the few months. His recent match with Dolph Ziggler was at the special edition of RAW! (Raw Gets ROCKED) and with Jack Swagger at the 18 edition of Smackdown! which Ryan won both matches.
. Barri Griffiths: Y Reslar, a documentary about Griffiths' life in the months before he moved to the United States, aired in September 2010 on S4C
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and former Gladiators
Gladiators (2008 UK TV series)
Gladiators was a British television series which aired on Sky1 from 11 May 2008 to 25 October 2009. It was filmed in Shepperton Studios and was produced by Shine Limited. It was a revival of the earlier series of the same name and based on the American version of the show. The US, UK and...
competitor, also known as Goliath and by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Mason Ryan. He is signed to WWE, where he wrestles on the Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
.He was also a member of The Nexus. He also competes in Florida Championship Wrestling
Florida Championship Wrestling
Championship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...
(FCW), a WWE developmental territory.
Early life
Griffiths attended both Ysgol y Gorlan primary school in TremadogTremadog
Tremadog is a village on the outskirts of Porthmadog, in Gwynedd, north west Wales. It was a planned settlement, founded by William Madocks, who bought the land in 1798...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Ysgol Eifionydd
Ysgol Eifionydd, Porthmadog
Ysgol Eifionydd, Porthmadog is a bilingual comprehensive school. The majority of its students speak Welsh as a first language and receive their education through the medium of Welsh. The school is located next to the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in Porthmadog.There were 487 pupils at the school...
secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Porthmadog
Porthmadog
Porthmadog , known locally as "Port", and historically rendered into English as Portmadoc, is a small coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd, in Wales. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972 it was in the administrative county of Caernarfonshire. The town lies east of...
, before studying construction management
Construction management
Construction Project Management is the overall planning, coordination and control of a project from inception to completion aimed at meeting a client’s requirements in order to produce a functionally and financially viable project that will be complete mingement is project management that applies...
at Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
for 18 months. Griffiths worked as a trainee carpenter, and in his family's funeral home business prior to becoming a professional wrestler. He has a sister. Griffiths played football as a centre-back for Welsh Premier League side Porthmadog F.C.
Porthmadog F.C.
Porthmadog Football Club is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1884 and plays at Y Traeth, Porthmadog, which accommodates 2,000 spectators .- History :...
, but had to stop due to a knee injury.
Gladiators
Griffiths appeared in the second series of the revived GladiatorsGladiators (2008 UK TV series)
Gladiators was a British television series which aired on Sky1 from 11 May 2008 to 25 October 2009. It was filmed in Shepperton Studios and was produced by Shine Limited. It was a revival of the earlier series of the same name and based on the American version of the show. The US, UK and...
television show in 2009, and competed under the name "Goliath". When he was working on a television show in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
about being a wrestler, he was told that producers were looking for new gladiators, and he applied with the encouragement of his trainer, Orig Williams
Orig Williams
Orig Williams was a Welsh professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. Williams spent his wrestling career in the persona of a villainous heel under the pseudonym "El Bandito", and after retiring as a fighter he became a promoter, manager and television presenter...
. He began filming the first show approximately a month later and had to grow a beard especially for the role.
71/
Professional wrestling career
Griffiths began training to be a professional wrestlerProfessional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
in 2006 after attending a wrestling show with a friend where the promoter recommended he start wrestling. He trained at a professional wrestling school in Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
. Prior to appearing on Gladiators, Griffiths had wrestled under the names "Celtic Warrior" and "Smackdown Warrior" since 2007, and had competed in almost 100 matches in countries including Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. He represented the UK in a 'Battle of the Nations' tag team match
Professional wrestling tag team match types
Much like singles matches, tag team professional wrestling matches can and have taken many forms. Just about any singles or melee match type can be adapted to tag teams; for example, hardcore tag team matches are commonplace...
between the UK and Austria, teaming with Drew McDonald
Drew McDonald
Drew McDonald changed his name by deed poll to Drew McDonald is a Scottish professional wrestler. He is best known for wrestling on the independent circuit in the United Kingdom since the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Sheamus O'Shaunessy in a losing effort to Chris Raaber, Michael Kovac, and Robert Ray Kreuzer at the European Wrestlng Association's
Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
The Global Professional Wrestling Alliance is a cooperative group of professional wrestling promotions and wrestlers from around the world. Formed in 2006, the group was founded by the professional wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa, the founder of Pro Wrestling Noah...
Night of Gladiators show in June 2007. After signing with World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE), Griffiths had his final show in Wales at Y Ganolfan, Porthmadog in October 2008, where he first won a singles match, before winning a battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
.. He is also referred to by fans as Former WWE Superstar Dave Batista because of his likeness to him
Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2011)
In mid-2009, Griffiths signed a five-year contract with WWE. When he received his work visa, he debuted in their developmental territory, Florida Championship WrestlingFlorida Championship Wrestling
Championship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...
(FCW) in January 2010. Under the name Mason Ryan, he competed against wrestlers including Johnny Curtis
Johnny Curtis
Jonathan Curtis is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand under his ring name Johnny Curtis. He also performs in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. He was the winner of the fourth season of NXT.- Early Career :Curtis...
, Tyler Reks
Gabe Tuft
Gabriel Allan Tuft is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on its Raw brand under the ring name Tyler Reks...
, Johnny Prime
Johnny Prime
Jonathon David "Jon" Emminger is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring names Johnny Prime and Lucky Cannon. He is best known for his appearances for WWE, where he performed on the second and fifth seasons of NXT, while also working in the promotion's developmental territory...
, and Hunico
Incognito (wrestler)
Jorge Arias is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed by WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand while also wrestling in Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Hunico...
in his first matches.
On 22 July, Ryan won a triple threat match against defending champion Alex Riley
Kevin Kiley (wrestler)
Kevin Robert Kiley, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Alex Riley. He is currently signed to WWE, where he wrestles on the Raw brand. He also was a part of the second season of NXT....
and Johnny Curtis
Johnny Curtis
Jonathan Curtis is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand under his ring name Johnny Curtis. He also performs in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. He was the winner of the fourth season of NXT.- Early Career :Curtis...
by pinning Riley to win the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Over the next few months, Ryan successfully defended the championship against wrestlers including Bo Rotundo
Taylor Rotunda
Taylor Rotunda is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE and wrestles in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling , as Bo Rotundo. He is a former two time FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion and has previously held the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship...
, Richie Steamboat, and Eli Cottonwood
Kipp Christianson
Kipp Christianson is an American professional wrestler and former basketball player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he works in their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling and was part of the second season of NXT under his ring name Eli Cottonwood...
. At the tapings of FCW television on 2 September, Ryan successfully defended the championship against Johnny Curtis
Johnny Curtis
Jonathan Curtis is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand under his ring name Johnny Curtis. He also performs in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. He was the winner of the fourth season of NXT.- Early Career :Curtis...
when FCW commentator Byron Saxton interfered and aided him. The following week, Saxton became aligned with Ryan, accompanying him to the ring and acting as his manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
. In November 2010, Ryan toured Europe with the SmackDown brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
, defeating Chavo Guerrero
Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Salvador "Chavo" Guerrero IV also known as Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero, Jr., is a third generation Mexican-American professional wrestler and member of the famed Guerrero wrestling family who was well known for working with World Wrestling Entertainment and World Championship Wrestling...
in dark matches in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
on 4 November, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 6 November and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
on 8 November prior to Monday Night Raw. On 3 February 2011, Ryan lost the Florida Heavyweight Championship to Bo Rotundo, ending a six-and-a-half month reign.
The New Nexus (2011)
Griffiths made his WWE television debut on the 17 January 2011 episode of RawWWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
by interfering in a match between CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
and John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
. Following his interference, Punk presented him with a 'Nexus' armband, inducting him into the group. Ryan participated in the 2011
Royal Rumble (2011)
Royal Rumble was the 24th annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on January 30, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts....
Royal Rumble match but was eliminated by Cena. On 7 February Ryan had his debut match on Raw when he lost to R-Truth via disqualification. In late February, it was announced that Punk would face Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
at WrestleMania XXVII
WrestleMania XXVII
WrestleMania XXVII was the twenty-seventh annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , held on April 3, 2011 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
, with each member of The Nexus facing Orton to win the right to accompany Punk to the ring in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania. Ryan was the final member to face Orton, but lost on the March 14 episode of Raw. Following the match, Orton punted Ryan in the head.
Ryan was absent from television for nearly a month, making his return on 11 April on Raw with the other New Nexus members, attacking Orton and preventing him from earning a WWE Championship match.
On the 2 May episode of Raw, Ryan lost to Kane
Kane (wrestler)
Glenn Thomas Jacobs is a Spanish-born American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name, Kane. He is signed to WWE, appearing on its SmackDown brand, but is currently inactive due to injury....
by disqualification following interference from Punk, and went on to attack both Kane and The Big Show
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight, Jr. , better known by his ring name, Big Show, is an American professional wrestler and actor, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand....
. Afterward he left the ring without celebrating with the other members of The Nexus. At the Over the Limit
Over the Limit (2011)
Over the Limit was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by WWE, which took place on May 22, 2011 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. It was the second Over the Limit event...
pay-per-view on 22 May, Ryan and Punk challenged Kane and The Big Show for the WWE Tag Team Championship
WWE Tag Team Championship
The WWE Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship in WWE. It was established as a second title for tag teams in WWE in 2002 to complement the original World Tag Team Championship...
, but were unsuccessful. Fans in attendance chanted "Dave Batista" due to similarities between the two.
On the 20 June Power to the People episode of Raw, Ryan was voted to face Evan Bourne, whom he defeated. WWE released a statement the following day on their official website, revealing Sin Cara
Sin Cara
Sin Cara is a professional wrestling character in the WWE, which has been portrayed by two different performers:*Luis Urive, the original Sin Cara a.k.a Sin Cara "Azul"...
was the real winner of the poll vote, but the text votes from the previous match were still coming in. A week later on Raw, Michael Cole
Michael Cole
Michael Sean Coulthard , better known by his ring name Michael Cole, is an American professional wrestling commentator, currently signed to WWE on both its Rawand SmackDown brands. Coulthard is a former news journalist....
announced that Ryan was injured over the weekend at a house show
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
, but was later reported online that it happened outside the ring and that he would be out from six weeks to six months.
Ryan would make an appearance at the SummerSlam
SummerSlam (2011)
SummerSlam was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by WWE that took place on August 14, 2011. For the third consecutive year, SummerSlam was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, and it was the 24th annual SummerSlam event...
Axxess event with his New Nexus
Nexus (professional wrestling)
The Nexus was a villainous professional wrestling stable in the professional wrestling promotion, WWE, that competed on its Raw brand. The group originally consisted of all eight rookies of NXT season one and shifted their roster several times throughout their existence...
stablemates.
Return to Raw (2011-present)
On the 8 September edition of WWE SuperstarsWWE Superstars
WWE Superstars is a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment that originally aired on WGN America in the United States. It debuted on April 16, 2009 and ended its domestic broadcasting on April 7, 2011...
, Ryan returned to WWE, defeating JTG. On the 26 September episode of Raw, Ryan was chosen by Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Guerrero
Vickie Lynn Guerrero is an American professional wrestling personality, manager, shifting authority figure and occasional wrestler. She is the widow of professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero, currently signed to WWE on its Raw brand...
as Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler's partner in a 6-man Tag match against Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder
Matthew Joseph Cardona, Jr. better known by his ring name Zack Ryder, is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE and works on the Raw brand as a wrestler and the SmackDown brand as an assistant to SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long.Cardona wrestled mostly with his tag...
and Air Boom
Air Boom
Air Boom is a WWE professional wrestling tag team consisting of Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston, both of whom compete on WWE's Raw brand where they are the current reigning WWE Tag Team Champions. Their team name "Air Boom" was voted upon by fans on WWE's website...
(Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah , is a Ghanaian American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Kofi Kingston. He is currently signed to WWE and works on its Raw brand where he is one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions with Evan Bourne as Air Boom...
), where Ryan would turn on Swagger and Ziggler, allowing Ryder to pick up the victory for his team and turn face
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
in the process. The following week on Raw, Ryan teamed with Air Boom
Air Boom
Air Boom is a WWE professional wrestling tag team consisting of Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston, both of whom compete on WWE's Raw brand where they are the current reigning WWE Tag Team Champions. Their team name "Air Boom" was voted upon by fans on WWE's website...
(Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston
Kofi Kingston
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah , is a Ghanaian American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Kofi Kingston. He is currently signed to WWE and works on its Raw brand where he is one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions with Evan Bourne as Air Boom...
), Sheamus, CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
and John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
in a 12-man Tag match defeating the team of Alberto Del Rio, Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and David Otunga
David Otunga
David Daniel Otunga is a professional wrestler and former reality television actor. He is signed to WWE, appearing on the Raw brand under his real name. He's a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion, having one reign each with Michael McGillicutty and John Cena. He was the runner-up on the first season...
. He would start a feud with Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and Vickie Guerrero in the few months. His recent match with Dolph Ziggler was at the special edition of RAW! (Raw Gets ROCKED) and with Jack Swagger at the 18 edition of Smackdown! which Ryan won both matches.
Other media
Griffiths has appeared on The Paul O'Grady ShowThe Paul O'Grady Show
The Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
. Barri Griffiths: Y Reslar, a documentary about Griffiths' life in the months before he moved to the United States, aired in September 2010 on S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Argentine backbreaker rack - FCW
- House of Pain (Swinging side slam) - 2010-2011
- Pumphandle slam – 2011
- Wrenching full nelson lifted and dropped into a slam — 2011–present
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Orig WilliamsOrig WilliamsOrig Williams was a Welsh professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. Williams spent his wrestling career in the persona of a villainous heel under the pseudonym "El Bandito", and after retiring as a fighter he became a promoter, manager and television presenter...
- Byron Saxton
- Orig Williams
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "Barri 10-foot"
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "We Are OneThe Only Easy Day Was YesterdayThe Only Easy Day Was Yesterday is an EP from the American rock band 12 Stones. It was released on July 20, 2010 by Wind-up Records and debuted at #103 on the Billboard 200....
" by 12 Stones12 Stones12 Stones is a rock band that was formed in 2000 in Mandeville, Louisiana. They have collectively sold more than 2 million records.-History:The four band members met in Mandeville, Louisiana, a small suburb north of New Orleans, and within 15 months were signed to a record deal with Wind-up Records...
(Used while a part of the NexusNexus (professional wrestling)The Nexus was a villainous professional wrestling stable in the professional wrestling promotion, WWE, that competed on its Raw brand. The group originally consisted of all eight rookies of NXT season one and shifted their roster several times throughout their existence...
) - "This Fire Burns" by Killswitch EngageKillswitch EngageKillswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer...
(Used while a part of the New Nexus) January 2011 - September 2011 - "Here and Now or Never" (Instrumental version) by The Heroes Lie (September 2011–present)
- "We Are One
Championships and accomplishments
- Florida Championship WrestlingFlorida Championship WrestlingChampionship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...
- FCW Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipFCW Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipThe FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned and promoted by Florida Championship Wrestling , the developmental territory of WWE. It is contested for in their heavyweight division...
(1 time)
- FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #119 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011