Brandon Gatson
Encyclopedia
Brandon Gatson is an American professional wrestler, primarily working for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
and Empire Wrestling Federation
. He has worked for several independent promotions throughout the southwest United States and has appeared on several episodes of WWE
and NWA
television as both enhancement talent and featured talent.
and dancing and his older brother is olympic gymnast Jason Gatson
. He was trained in professional wrestling at the School of Hard Knocks by the legendary Jesse Hernandez
. His natural athletic ability and his background in gymnastics and dancing helped him in all aspect of his training and impressed not only Jesse, but many others at the school as well.
(EWF), where his first professional match was against Aggravated Assault (Malice and Mayhem) and Los Cubanitos
(Rocky Romero
and Ricky Reyes
) in a tag match alongside his partner Johnny Dynamite as the Blonde Bombers. The Blonde Bombers had a good chemistry, but the team was forced to break up when Johnny Dynamite chose to enlist the Army and fight in Iraq. Brandon then went on to form his own name as a singles competitor in the EWF and upon the return of Dynamite, they reformed their team, this time known as TNT. They quickly became a dominant force in the tag team division and became the EWF Tag Team Champions
by defeating The Iron Express, the team of Joey Harder
and Hook Bomberry at Overkill 2 on April 27, 2007. They had no time to enjoy their victory however as Aggravated Assault came to the ring shortly thereafter and demanded a title shot. Their feud was a truly brutal one and it culminated in Tables match that saw Aggravated Assault taking the EWF Tag Team Titles at No Excuses on August 24, 2007. After this feud ended, Johnny Dynamite again had to answer his call to duty and moved to Arizona and TNT ended its run as a tag team. Brandon, then known as Brandon Nitro, began to use his given name of Gatson and became Brandon "Nitro" Gatson and set his sights of the top prize in the EWF, the Heavyweight Championship
.
, Ryan Taylor
and Blackstar. The winner of the tournament would become the #1 contender for the EWF Heavyweight Title. Gatson finished the ITS tied for first with Scorpio Sky and the two would meet in an epic tie-breaker match at The Fight Before Christmas. Gatson would then go on to meet Bino Gambino
on January 13, 2008 at Return to the Hudson and became the EWF Heavyweight Champion.
. Six days later he would drop the EWF Heavyweight Title to Ryan Taylor.
in a match where he teamed up with Jerome Robinson and Johnny Goodtime in a losing effort against Charles Mercury and Brandon and Dustin Cutler. On October 2 at Against the Grain Gatson defeated Goodtime, Brandon Cutler and Malachi Jackson
in a four-way match to earn a spot in the 2009 Battle of Los Angeles. In the tournament, held November 20 and 21, Gatson defeated Nick Jackson
and Alex Shelley
to advance to the semifinals, where he was defeated by Roderick Strong
.
On January 30, 2010, at Kurt Russellmania, Gatson, billed as the PWG breakout star of 2009, defeated Brandon Bonham, the breakout star of 2008, in a singles match. In the 2010 Battle of Los Angeles Gatson once again made it to the semifinals, after defeating Ryan Taylor and Brandon Bonham, but was there defeated by Chris Hero
. When Davey Richards
was after the tournament stripped of the PWG World Championship
, Gatson and the three other Battle of Los Angeles semifinalists, Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli
and Joey Ryan, were placed in a four–way match to determine a new champion. On October 9, 2010, at The Curse of Guerrilla Island, Gatson was defeated in his first PWG World Championship match by Claudio Castagnoli.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
and Empire Wrestling Federation
Empire Wrestling Federation
The Empire Wrestling Federation is an independent wrestling promotion based in San Bernardino, California. It is owned and operated by Jesse Hernandez). The EWF is also tied to Hernandez's wrestling school, The School Of Hard Knocks. The EWF is the longest running promotion in Southern California,...
. He has worked for several independent promotions throughout the southwest United States and has appeared on several episodes of WWE
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...
and NWA
National Wrestling Alliance
The 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...
television as both enhancement talent and featured talent.
Early career
Brandon Gatson began his career in professional wrestling at the age of 15. He has a background in gymnasticsGymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
and dancing and his older brother is olympic gymnast Jason Gatson
Jason Gatson
Jason Gatson is a retired American gymnast.Gatson competed in his first World Championship in 1997 at the age of 17, where he placed 5th with team USA and 22nd in the all-around...
. He was trained in professional wrestling at the School of Hard Knocks by the legendary Jesse Hernandez
Jesse Hernandez
Jesse Lizarraga is a Mexican American Pro Wrestler, Pro Wrestling Referee, trainer, Actor and owner of the School of Hard Knocks pro-wrestling training facility. He also promotes an independent wrestling organization called Empire Wrestling Federation in San Bernardino, California, performing...
. His natural athletic ability and his background in gymnastics and dancing helped him in all aspect of his training and impressed not only Jesse, but many others at the school as well.
Tag team wrestling
In 2000 Gatson joined Empire Wrestling FederationEmpire Wrestling Federation
The Empire Wrestling Federation is an independent wrestling promotion based in San Bernardino, California. It is owned and operated by Jesse Hernandez). The EWF is also tied to Hernandez's wrestling school, The School Of Hard Knocks. The EWF is the longest running promotion in Southern California,...
(EWF), where his first professional match was against Aggravated Assault (Malice and Mayhem) and Los Cubanitos
Havana Pitbulls
The Havana Pitbulls were a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Rocky Romero and Ricky Reyes. Working most notably for Ring of Honor as a member of The Rottweilers, they have also worked for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Empire Wrestling Federation, Ultimate Pro Wrestling, and Liberty States...
(Rocky Romero
Rocky Romero
John R. Rivera is a Cuban American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rocky Romero and as the fourth incarnation of Black Tiger. As Romero he was one half of the tag team The Havana Pitbulls , along with Ricky Reyes...
and Ricky Reyes
Ricky Reyes
Ricky Reyes is a Cuban professional wrestler. Known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and various other independent promotions, he is currently primarily working for the World Wrestling Council....
) in a tag match alongside his partner Johnny Dynamite as the Blonde Bombers. The Blonde Bombers had a good chemistry, but the team was forced to break up when Johnny Dynamite chose to enlist the Army and fight in Iraq. Brandon then went on to form his own name as a singles competitor in the EWF and upon the return of Dynamite, they reformed their team, this time known as TNT. They quickly became a dominant force in the tag team division and became the EWF Tag Team Champions
EWF Tag Team Championship
The EWF Tag Team Championship is the tag team professional wrestling title in the Southern California-based Empire Wrestling Federation independent promotion. It was established in 1996, when John Black and Johnny Love, The Ghetto Boyz, were declared the first champions. There have been a total of...
by defeating The Iron Express, the team of Joey Harder
Joey Harder
Joey Harder is an American former professional wrestler, also known by his nicknames of The Life of the Party and The Silent Assassin, who mainly worked for independent wrestling promotions on the west coast of the United States...
and Hook Bomberry at Overkill 2 on April 27, 2007. They had no time to enjoy their victory however as Aggravated Assault came to the ring shortly thereafter and demanded a title shot. Their feud was a truly brutal one and it culminated in Tables match that saw Aggravated Assault taking the EWF Tag Team Titles at No Excuses on August 24, 2007. After this feud ended, Johnny Dynamite again had to answer his call to duty and moved to Arizona and TNT ended its run as a tag team. Brandon, then known as Brandon Nitro, began to use his given name of Gatson and became Brandon "Nitro" Gatson and set his sights of the top prize in the EWF, the Heavyweight Championship
EWF Heavyweight Championship
The EWF Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in the Southern California-based Empire Wrestling Federation independent promotion. It was established in 1996, with Bobby Bradley as the first champion, who defeated Zuma to win it. There have been a total of 30 recognized...
.
Pursuit of the EWF Heavyweight Championship
Brandon "Nitro" Gatson began to chase the EWF Heavyweight Championship in the Fall of 2007. He quickly ascended the Heavyweight rankings and finished in the top 5 of the Inland Title Series Battle Royal, earning him a berth in the annual Inland Title Series, a round robin style tournament, against Scorpio SkyScorpio Sky
Schuyler Andrews, better known as Scorpio Sky, is an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is best known for his appearances on MTV's Wrestling Society X, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Lucha Vavoom, but has also worked in Japan, Germany and England. Sky has held titles in the...
, Ryan Taylor
Ryan Taylor (wrestler)
Russell "Ryan" Taylor is an American professional wrestler, who is currently working for several independent wrestling promotions on the west coast of the United States and continues to travel outside the country to Mexico City and Japan...
and Blackstar. The winner of the tournament would become the #1 contender for the EWF Heavyweight Title. Gatson finished the ITS tied for first with Scorpio Sky and the two would meet in an epic tie-breaker match at The Fight Before Christmas. Gatson would then go on to meet Bino Gambino
Bino Gambino
Daniel Greenberg is an American former professional wrestler, better known under his ring name Bino Bambino. He is best known for his tenure in Empire Wrestling Federation, and has worked for several independent wrestling promotions on the west coast of the United States, most notably for Pro...
on January 13, 2008 at Return to the Hudson and became the EWF Heavyweight Champion.
Defending the title and Scorpio Sky
Brandon "Nitro" Gatson quickly gained a reputation as a fighting champion, taking on anyone and everyone and becoming a fan favorite. At the same time Gatson was earning his reputation, Scorpio Sky, the runner-up in the 2007 ITS was earning his own devoted following and quickly rose up the Heavyweight rankings. Sky and Gatson teamed together on several occasions and developed a mutual respect and a friendship. Scorpio Sky then earned a shot at Gatson's Heavyweight Title after defeating Dan "The Man" Kobrick and Terex in a #1 contender's three-way dance. After the match, Gatson went out to congratulate Sky and then leveled him with a superkick. Their match at the 12th Anniversary Extravaganza was one of the most hyped matches in the history of the EWF and help the rare distinction of being scheduled for 2 out of 3 falls. In another match of the year candidate, Scorpio Sky went on the defeat Gatson 2 falls to 1 and become the EWF Heavyweight Champion.Feuds with Mikey Nicholls and Black Metal
After losing the Heavyweight Title, Gatson dropped the "Nitro" nickname and became simply Brandon Gatson and entered into his most physically demanding feuds that almost ended his career with Mikey Nicholls. Nicholls, NWA/EPW superstar from Australia came after Gatson with a ferocity rarely seen and went to great lengths to not just defeat Gatson, but cripple him. During their Last Man Standing match at Excessive Force 2. Nicholls hit Gatson over the head five times with a steel chair, which resulted in a hairline skull fracture and cost him a month of his career. Gatson would have the last laugh however as, in August at Red Hot Summer, Scorpio Sky was forced to relinquish the EWF Heavyweight Title and Gatson was given the final spot in a four-way elimination match for the Heavyweight Title and won by outlasting Sonny Samson, Joey Ryan and Mikey Nicholls. On October 24, 2009, Gatson defeated Sky in the finals on an eight-man tournament to win the vacant NWA Arizona Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Arizona Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Arizona Heavyweight Championship is a National Wrestling Alliance-controlled championship for the state of Arizona. It has been primarily defended in Rising Phoenix Wrestling and Impact Zone Wrestling. The current champion is Brandon Gatson, who won the title on July 31, 2011.-Title...
. Six days later he would drop the EWF Heavyweight Title to Ryan Taylor.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2009–present)
On July 31, 2009, at Threemendous II Gatson made his debut for Pro Wrestling GuerrillaPro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
in a match where he teamed up with Jerome Robinson and Johnny Goodtime in a losing effort against Charles Mercury and Brandon and Dustin Cutler. On October 2 at Against the Grain Gatson defeated Goodtime, Brandon Cutler and Malachi Jackson
Malachi Jackson
Malachi Massie is a former American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Malachi Jackson.-External links:*...
in a four-way match to earn a spot in the 2009 Battle of Los Angeles. In the tournament, held November 20 and 21, Gatson defeated Nick Jackson
The Young Bucks
The Young Bucks is an American professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real life brothers Matt and Nick Massie from Southern California...
and Alex Shelley
Alex Shelley
Patrick Martin , is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Alex Shelley. He wrestles for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he currently teams with Chris Sabin as The Motor City Machine Guns. He previously gained fame on the independent circuit, working most notably for...
to advance to the semifinals, where he was defeated by Roderick Strong
Roderick Strong
Chris Lindsey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Roderick Strong. Strong currently competes in several independent promotions, most notably Ring of Honor , Full Impact Pro , and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla .He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian...
.
On January 30, 2010, at Kurt Russellmania, Gatson, billed as the PWG breakout star of 2009, defeated Brandon Bonham, the breakout star of 2008, in a singles match. In the 2010 Battle of Los Angeles Gatson once again made it to the semifinals, after defeating Ryan Taylor and Brandon Bonham, but was there defeated by Chris Hero
Chris Hero
Chris Spradlin is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Hero. He is a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
. When Davey Richards
Davey Richards
Wesley David Richards is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Davey Richards.Richards is currently under contract with Ring of Honor, where he is the current ROH World Champion, but also wrestles for several companies on the independent circuit, including Pro Wrestling...
was after the tournament stripped of the PWG World Championship
PWG World Championship
The PWG World Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla professional wrestling promotion. It was first introduced in 2003 as the PWG Championship...
, Gatson and the three other Battle of Los Angeles semifinalists, Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli is a Swiss professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Antonio Cesaro...
and Joey Ryan, were placed in a four–way match to determine a new champion. On October 9, 2010, at The Curse of Guerrilla Island, Gatson was defeated in his first PWG World Championship match by Claudio Castagnoli.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- 450° splash
- Backbreaker rack dropped into a DDT
- Front flip sidewalk slam into a sitout side facebuster
- Signature moves
- CartwheelCartwheel (gymnastics)In gymnastics, a cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement performed by bringing the hands to the ground while the body inverts and the legs travel over the body, coming down to a standing position.-Terminology:...
into an over the top rope corkscrew suicide senton or suicide plancha - CartwheelCartwheel (gymnastics)In gymnastics, a cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement performed by bringing the hands to the ground while the body inverts and the legs travel over the body, coming down to a standing position.-Terminology:...
into a corner bodypress - Flowing snap DDT
- Slingshot into a cutterCutter (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a cutter is a common term that refers to the three-quarter facelock bulldog maneuver. The move is also described as an inverted neckbreaker, though it is not one, it only bears an inverted style to it...
- 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 - "Nitro"
- "300%"
Championships and accomplishments
- Empire Wrestling FederationEmpire Wrestling FederationThe Empire Wrestling Federation is an independent wrestling promotion based in San Bernardino, California. It is owned and operated by Jesse Hernandez). The EWF is also tied to Hernandez's wrestling school, The School Of Hard Knocks. The EWF is the longest running promotion in Southern California,...
- EWF Heavyweight ChampionshipEWF Heavyweight ChampionshipThe EWF Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in the Southern California-based Empire Wrestling Federation independent promotion. It was established in 1996, with Bobby Bradley as the first champion, who defeated Zuma to win it. There have been a total of 30 recognized...
(3 times) - EWF Tag Team ChampionshipEWF Tag Team ChampionshipThe EWF Tag Team Championship is the tag team professional wrestling title in the Southern California-based Empire Wrestling Federation independent promotion. It was established in 1996, when John Black and Johnny Love, The Ghetto Boyz, were declared the first champions. There have been a total of...
(1 time) - with Johnny Dynamite - Inland Title Series (2007)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational 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...
- NWA Arizona Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Arizona Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Arizona Heavyweight Championship is a National Wrestling Alliance-controlled championship for the state of Arizona. It has been primarily defended in Rising Phoenix Wrestling and Impact Zone Wrestling. The current champion is Brandon Gatson, who won the title on July 31, 2011.-Title...
(1 time) - NWA Arizona Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Arizona Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Arizona Tag Team Championship is a National Wrestling Alliance-controlled championship in Arizona, USA. It has been primarily defended in Rising Phoenix Wrestling and Impact Zone Wrestling. It was first introduced on on November 10, 2007 when Brandon Nitro and Johnny Dynamite became the...
(1 time) - with Johnny Dynamite
- West Coast Wrestling Company
- WCWC Wild Card Championship (1 time, current)