Brad Cain
Encyclopedia
Bradley "Brad" Cain is an American
professional wrestler
, author
and personal trainer
, better known by his ring name
, Lodi. Cain is likely best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling
between 1997 to 2000, where he was a member of The Flock
and The West Hollywood Blondes
.
in 1988, and graduated with a degree in political science
in 1993. During his time in college, Cain was both a member of the United States Army Reserve
, serving as an operating room specialist, and a bodybuilder.
alumnus C.W. Anderson
. He debuted later that year, and began wrestling on the independent circuit
either as a singles competitor or with his roommate Curtis White, who competed under the ring name Toad, as the tag team Dangerous Minds.
, Cain began training in their Power Plant wrestling school
. Prior to debuting on television, he was forced to adopt a new ring name due to his Razen Cain ring name
being seen as too similar to the name of another wrestler from the World Wrestling Federation
, then WCW's main rival. The name was also turned down due to it being used by an independent wrestler, despite the fact that Cain wrestled under it prior to the wrestler who adopted it began using it. Another proposed ring name, Skank, was also turned down due to an independent wrestler having used it for two years. At World War 3
on November 23, 1997, Cain debuted under the ring name Lodi ("Idol" spelled backwards, which came about due to his perceived resemblance to Billy Idol
). Lodi was introduced as a member of Raven's Flock in order to replace the injured Stevie Richards
. He accompanied his fellow Flock members to ringside carrying a variety of signs, which he displayed to the audience at intervals (a gimmick borrowed from ECW's Sign Guy Dudley
). The signs were generally intended to be humorous and variously furthered storylines, antagonized the audience, promoted the Flock and made inside jokes aimed at other wrestlers. Cain's in-ring debut was on the December 8 episode of Nitro
against Chris Benoit
, to whom he lost. The Flock eventually disbanded at the September 13, 1998 Fall Brawl
when Perry Saturn
defeated Raven to win the freedom of the Flock, and Lodi disappeared from WCW television several months later after suffering a fractured ankle while wrestling Psicosis.
In June 1999, WCW enhancement talent
Lenny Lane
persuaded Lodi to team with him as the West Hollywood Blondes, a gay Californian duo with pink trunks and flamboyant haircuts who were later revealed to be brothers. The name was a reference to the Hollywood Blonds, a popular tag team
of the early 1990s consisting of Steve Austin
and Brian Pillman
. The Blondes were highly controversial, and their depiction of homosexuals was protested by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
(GLAAD). Entertainment Media Director Scott Seomin wrote in a letter sent to Turner Network Television
president Brad Siegel, stating "The character of Lenny is presented with the intention to incite the crowd to the most base homophobic behavior." Seomen later stated "the audience's reaction [to Lenny and Lodi being physically attacked by other wrestlers] gives permission to viewers to do harm to gay people in a very literal way -- it's appalling." TNT quickly acceded to the demands of GLAAD, removing Lenny and Lodi from the active roster for six months. It is rumored that the bad press caused by the incident was a determining factor in the firing of Eric Bischoff
as Vice President of WCW by Ted Turner
.
After the hiatus, Lane and Lodi returned under the team name Standards and Practices with Miss Hancock
as their manager
. The name was intended to lampoon the censorship of TNT. Soon the gimmick of Standards and Practices were dropped on an addition of WCW Nitro when both Lane and Lodi stripped off their suit and tie. In the following weeks, they competed under the tag team name 2XS, a gimmick more resembling two hard rock party goes who wore just jeans to the ring and came out to theme music resembling something from Van Halen. This gimmick too was short lived as they failed to get over, even in a tag team title match and were soon pulled off TV a few weeks later. They failed to regain their earlier notoriety, however, and were released from WCW in 2000. Cain believes that his addiction to painkillers and drinking habit at this time was responsible for the loss of his job.
. They were scheduled to appear with Jeff Jarrett
's Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
promotion, but Cain was injured. He was sidelined from wrestling for nineteen months while recovering from neck surgery (his recovery time was unusually long because he underwent the same operation in 1994), and Lenny Lane formed a new tag team, the "Rainbow Express", with Bruce
in the interim. After recovering, Lodi took a hiatus before returning on September 18, 2004, where he defeated Mike G in a match for NWA Wildside
. Lodi would then wrestle on a semi-regular basis before joining NWA Charlotte.
and also in matches for the territory's United States and Heavyweight Championships. Cain remained with the territory until it's closing on July 3.
Cain is a former drug addict, and was addicted to GHB
and painkillers for seven years. He went into rehab
in 2000 and overcame his addictions.
In addition to wrestling, Cain is a personal fitness trainer
, and operates a studio named Your FLEX Appeal in Charlotte, North Carolina
. On May 17, 2004 Cain lost a number of personal possessions when his apartment building burned down.
In November 2005, Cain's first novel
, Perfect, was published
by Dog Ear Publishing.
1This Mid-Atlantic promotion, while currently operating out of the same region of the United States and having revised some of the championships used by the original Mid-Atlantic promotion, isn't the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. and was sold to Ted Turner in 1988. It is just another NWA affiliated promotion.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and personal trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
, better known 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:...
, Lodi. Cain is likely best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
between 1997 to 2000, where he was a member of The Flock
Raven's Nest
Raven's Nest was a professional wrestling stable led by Raven that was present in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1997.Later, Raven created other incarnations of the group in World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .-Raven's Nest:Raven's Nest was a large...
and The West Hollywood Blondes
Lenny and Lodi
Lenny and Lodi are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Lenny Lane and Lodi. During their later careers in World Championship Wrestling, they were billed as "brothers" and had several team gimmicks. The first one had them dubbed the West Hollywood Blondes...
.
Before wrestling
After graduating from East Randolph High School, Cain attended East Carolina UniversityEast Carolina University
East Carolina University is a public, coeducational, engaged doctoral/research university located in Greenville, North Carolina, United States. Named East Carolina University by statute and commonly known as ECU or East Carolina, the university is the largest institution of higher learning in...
in 1988, and graduated with a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in 1993. During his time in college, Cain was both a member of the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, serving as an operating room specialist, and a bodybuilder.
Professional wrestling career
In 1997, Cain trained as a wrestler under Extreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
alumnus C.W. Anderson
C.W. Anderson
Chris Wright is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name, C.W. Anderson. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early life:...
. He debuted later that year, and began wrestling on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
either as a singles competitor or with his roommate Curtis White, who competed under the ring name Toad, as the tag team Dangerous Minds.
World Championship Wrestling (1997–2000)
After being signed by World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, Cain began training in their Power Plant wrestling school
WCW Power Plant
The WCW Power Plant was a professional wrestling school located in Atlanta, Georgia and owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling. The Power Plant, which was developed from a school operated by Jody Hamilton, was in operation throughout the 1990s...
. Prior to debuting on television, he was forced to adopt a new ring name due to his Razen Cain 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:...
being seen as too similar to the name of another wrestler from the World Wrestling Federation
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...
, then WCW's main rival. The name was also turned down due to it being used by an independent wrestler, despite the fact that Cain wrestled under it prior to the wrestler who adopted it began using it. Another proposed ring name, Skank, was also turned down due to an independent wrestler having used it for two years. At World War 3
WCW World War 3
World War 3 was an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Championship Wrestling. The pay-per-view's title also was the name of its signature match, a three-ring, sixty-man battle royal which was their answer to the World Wrestling Federation's Royal Rumble. The event...
on November 23, 1997, Cain debuted under the ring name Lodi ("Idol" spelled backwards, which came about due to his perceived resemblance to Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
). Lodi was introduced as a member of Raven's Flock in order to replace the injured Stevie Richards
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
. He accompanied his fellow Flock members to ringside carrying a variety of signs, which he displayed to the audience at intervals (a gimmick borrowed from ECW's Sign Guy Dudley
Lou D'Angeli
Lou D'Angeli is a former professional wrestling manager and current Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas who is best known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling as a performer and promoter and World Wrestling Entertainment in marketing.-Sign Guy...
). The signs were generally intended to be humorous and variously furthered storylines, antagonized the audience, promoted the Flock and made inside jokes aimed at other wrestlers. Cain's in-ring debut was on the December 8 episode of Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
against Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
, to whom he lost. The Flock eventually disbanded at the September 13, 1998 Fall Brawl
Fall Brawl
Fall Brawl was an annual pay-per-view in World Championship Wrestling held in the month of September from 1993 through 2000. The name was derived from the fall edition of Clash of the Champions, called "Fall Brawl"...
when Perry Saturn
Perry Satullo
Perry Arthur Satullo is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Perry Saturn. Since debuting in 1990, Saturn wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , World Wrestling Federation and Total Nonstop Action .-Early career:Satullo enlisted...
defeated Raven to win the freedom of the Flock, and Lodi disappeared from WCW television several months later after suffering a fractured ankle while wrestling Psicosis.
In June 1999, WCW enhancement talent
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
Lenny Lane
Lenny Lane
Leonard "Lenny" Carlson is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Lenny Lane. During his time tenure in WCW, he was a one time Cruiserweight Champion....
persuaded Lodi to team with him as the West Hollywood Blondes, a gay Californian duo with pink trunks and flamboyant haircuts who were later revealed to be brothers. The name was a reference to the Hollywood Blonds, a popular tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
of the early 1990s consisting of Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
and Brian Pillman
Brian Pillman
Brian William Pillman was an American football player and professional wrestler best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling....
. The Blondes were highly controversial, and their depiction of homosexuals was protested by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a non-governmental media monitoring organization which promotes the image of LGBT people in the media...
(GLAAD). Entertainment Media Director Scott Seomin wrote in a letter sent to Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
president Brad Siegel, stating "The character of Lenny is presented with the intention to incite the crowd to the most base homophobic behavior." Seomen later stated "the audience's reaction [to Lenny and Lodi being physically attacked by other wrestlers] gives permission to viewers to do harm to gay people in a very literal way -- it's appalling." TNT quickly acceded to the demands of GLAAD, removing Lenny and Lodi from the active roster for six months. It is rumored that the bad press caused by the incident was a determining factor in the firing of Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
as Vice President of WCW by Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
.
After the hiatus, Lane and Lodi returned under the team name Standards and Practices with Miss Hancock
Stacy Keibler
Stacy Keibler is an American actress, model, and former professional wrestler and valet, best known for her work with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment ....
as their 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...
. The name was intended to lampoon the censorship of TNT. Soon the gimmick of Standards and Practices were dropped on an addition of WCW Nitro when both Lane and Lodi stripped off their suit and tie. In the following weeks, they competed under the tag team name 2XS, a gimmick more resembling two hard rock party goes who wore just jeans to the ring and came out to theme music resembling something from Van Halen. This gimmick too was short lived as they failed to get over, even in a tag team title match and were soon pulled off TV a few weeks later. They failed to regain their earlier notoriety, however, and were released from WCW in 2000. Cain believes that his addiction to painkillers and drinking habit at this time was responsible for the loss of his job.
Independent circuit (2000–present)
Lenny and Lodi teamed up again on the independent circuit, wrestling for the World Wrestling All-StarsWorld Wrestling All-Stars
The World Wrestling All-Stars was a professional wrestling promotion founded by Australian concert promoter Andrew McManus in 2001. The promotion was operated by McManus' International Touring Company. WWA was one of several promotions to come into existence shortly after the closings of Extreme...
. They were scheduled to appear with Jeff Jarrett
Jeff Jarrett
Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett is an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , an organization he co-founded along with his father and in which he holds some stock but not total control...
's Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
promotion, but Cain was injured. He was sidelined from wrestling for nineteen months while recovering from neck surgery (his recovery time was unusually long because he underwent the same operation in 1994), and Lenny Lane formed a new tag team, the "Rainbow Express", with Bruce
Alan Funk
Alan Eric Funk is an American professional wrestler, who has previously worked in promotions such as World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, often with comedic personas...
in the interim. After recovering, Lodi took a hiatus before returning on September 18, 2004, where he defeated Mike G in a match for NWA Wildside
NWA Wildside
NWA Wildside was an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cornelia, Georgia, with an office in Atlanta, Georgia, operating between September 1999 and April 2005....
. Lodi would then wrestle on a semi-regular basis before joining NWA Charlotte.
NWA Charlotte (2009)
Upon NWA Charlotte's debut in early 2009, Cain joined the territory as a color commentator alongside Tim Dixon. In addition to commentating, Cain has also begun wrestling for the territory, most notably against RavenScott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
and also in matches for the territory's United States and Heavyweight Championships. Cain remained with the territory until it's closing on July 3.
Personal life
Despite portraying homosexuals on television, Cain describes himself and his former tag team partner Lenny as "pretty much straight as nails." He refers to his fans as "Lodettes" and "Lodites."Cain is a former drug addict, and was addicted to GHB
Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid , also known as 4-hydroxybutanoic acid and sodium oxybate when used for medicinal purposes, is a naturally occurring substance found in the central nervous system, wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and almost all animals in small amounts. It is also categorized as an illegal...
and painkillers for seven years. He went into rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
in 2000 and overcame his addictions.
In addition to wrestling, Cain is a personal fitness trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
, and operates a studio named Your FLEX Appeal in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. On May 17, 2004 Cain lost a number of personal possessions when his apartment building burned down.
In November 2005, Cain's first novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
, Perfect, was published
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
by Dog Ear Publishing.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- DDTDDT (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
– 1999; used as a regular move from 2000–present - Sleeper hold – 1998
- Triple rolling vertical suplexes
- DDT
- Signature moves
- Bulldog, sometimes from the second or top rope
- Front powerslam
- Guillotine leg drop
- Hip toss
- Military press slam
- Plancha
- Sunset flip
- Super brainbusterBrainbusterA brainbuster is a professional wrestling throw in which a wrestler puts his/her opponent in a front facelock, hooks his/her pants, and lifts him/her up as if he/she was executing a vertical suplex. The wrestler then falls onto his/her back so that the opponent lands on his/her head while remaining...
- With LennyLenny LaneLeonard "Lenny" Carlson is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Lenny Lane. During his time tenure in WCW, he was a one time Cruiserweight Champion....
- Simultaneous vertical suplex / diving crossbody combination
- 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...
- Miss HancockStacy KeiblerStacy Keibler is an American actress, model, and former professional wrestler and valet, best known for her work with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment ....
- Miss Hancock
Championships and accomplishments
- Mid-Atlantic Championship WrestlingNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
1- NWA Mid-Atlantic Hardcore Championship (1 time)
- Tarheel Wrestling Entertainment
- TWE Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Turnbuckle Championship WrestlingTurnbuckle Championship WrestlingTurnbuckle Championship Wrestling was a Southeastern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Marietta, Georgia. It was founded by retired wrestler and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes in 2000 and, during its three years in operation, held events throughout the...
- TCW Hardcore ChampionshipTCW Hardcore ChampionshipThe TCW Hardcore Championship was the secondary professional wrestling singles title of Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling. It was first won by Lodi after defeating "Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez in Carrollton, Georgia on September 18, 2001...
(1 time)
- TCW Hardcore Championship
1This Mid-Atlantic promotion, while currently operating out of the same region of the United States and having revised some of the championships used by the original Mid-Atlantic promotion, isn't the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. and was sold to Ted Turner in 1988. It is just another NWA affiliated promotion.
See also
- Raven's FlockRaven's NestRaven's Nest was a professional wrestling stable led by Raven that was present in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1997.Later, Raven created other incarnations of the group in World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .-Raven's Nest:Raven's Nest was a large...
- West Hollywood Blondes