Dave Prazak
Encyclopedia
Dave Prazak is a professional wrestling
manager
and commentator. He works for many independent wrestling
promotions in America. He is the founder of the all female wrestling promotion Shimmer Women Athletes
.
from 1996 until 2002, at one point managing Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
(IWA Mid-South) IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
CM Punk
.
In late 2004, he began making appearances for Full Impact Pro
(FIP) as a manager, forming the stable (faction), DP Associates. He first recruited Jimmy Rave
and Eddie Vegas at Fallout: Part 1 in November, and recruited Insane Dragon later that same month. In January 2005, LaDuke Jakes was announced as the newest member of DP Associates. On April 22, 2005, at The Usual Suspects, Prazak was in the corner of Rave and Vegas, when they became the first FIP Tag Team Champions
. Two months later in June, CM Punk announced that he had made a deal with Prazak, and had sold his stable, consisting of Samoa Joe
and Azrieal to DP Associates, although Azrieal refused to join. Throughout 2005, more wrestlers, including Adam Pearce
, Jay Lethal
, Bryan Danielson
, and Austin Aries
became associated with Prazak. Mr. Milo Beasley became the Vice president
of DP Associates in late 2005. In 2006, B.J. Whitmer
and Jack Evans
joined DP Associates.
On May 26, 2006, at Hotter Than Hell, Jay Lethal left DP Associates, claiming Prazak was not a good manager. As a result, a tag team match
was scheduled between DP Associates, and Lethal and Davey Richards
, which Lethal and Richards won. This provoked a scripted feud
between Richards and DP Associates, which saw Richards stop DP Associates attacking other wrestlers and numerous matches between the opposing sides. In the midst of the feud with Richards, Prazak announced two new members of DP Associates, Delirious
and Cyber Kong
, who were both quickly included in matches against Richards. The feud ended when Roderick Strong
won the FIP World Heavyweight Championship
, for which Richards began challenging. As a result, Richards briefly teamed with DP Associates in order to get a match against Strong. In December 2006, Austin Aries left DP Associates, as a result of Delirious eliminating him from the Florida Rumble
. The following month, Jack Evans also left DP Associates. Throughout 2007, wrestlers including Shingo
and Nigel McGuinness
became affiliated with DP Associates. In late 2007, Delirious left DP Associates, leading to Prazak allying with Necro Butcher
. In September 2007, Larry Sweeney
was announced as a member as well, and soon afterwards Davey Richards also joined. In February 2008 at Redefined, however, Richards was defeated by Austin Aries, and as a result of the pre-match stipulation, Prazak was no longer allowed to manage in FIP.
in 1996.
In 2004, he began to work with Ring of Honor
and Full Impact Pro
. Prazak provides play-by-play commentary for Ring of Honor
(ROH), FIP and Shimmer Women Athletes
, as well as other independents in the past. Prazak worked primarily with Lenny and Carl#Lenny Leonard for ROH DVD
s, but Leonard was replaced with Chris Hero
in October 2009. HDNet
retained Prazak's services for ROH's television show, Ring of Honor Wrestling, alongside Mike Hogewood
. Prazak previously commentated for SHIMMER with Allison Danger, but is now partnered by Portia Perez
, and also by Kellie Skater whenever Perez is wrestling.
In 2005 Prazak founded Shimmer Women Athletes
, along with Allison Danger, because he thought wrestling fans wanted to see female wrestlers do more than strip in the ring. He credits his experience with IWA Mid-South in helping him promote and book Shimmer.
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...
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...
and commentator. He works for many independent wrestling
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...
promotions in America. He is the founder of the all female wrestling promotion Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...
.
Managing
Prazak worked as a managerManager (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...
from 1996 until 2002, at one point managing Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.- History :...
(IWA Mid-South) IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship
The IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship was the major title in the Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South based in Louisville, Kentucky...
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....
.
In late 2004, he began making appearances for Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Florida. Their shows are taped and then sold as DVDs. Full Impact Pro was the sister promotion of Ring of Honor until 2009...
(FIP) as a manager, forming the stable (faction), DP Associates. He first recruited Jimmy Rave
Jimmy Rave
James Guffey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Jimmy Rave. He is best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and Eddie Vegas at Fallout: Part 1 in November, and recruited Insane Dragon later that same month. In January 2005, LaDuke Jakes was announced as the newest member of DP Associates. On April 22, 2005, at The Usual Suspects, Prazak was in the corner of Rave and Vegas, when they became the first FIP Tag Team Champions
FIP Tag Team Championship
The FIP Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the independent professional wrestling promotion Full Impact Pro . It is currently the third ranked championship in FIP, where it is conteted for in their tag team division...
. Two months later in June, CM Punk announced that he had made a deal with Prazak, and had sold his stable, consisting of Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
and Azrieal to DP Associates, although Azrieal refused to join. Throughout 2005, more wrestlers, including Adam Pearce
Adam Pearce
Adam Pearce is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is the current NWA World Heavyweight Champion in his fourth reign and the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is also a former PWG Champion....
, Jay Lethal
Jay Lethal
Jamar "Jay" Shipman better known by his ring name Jay Lethal, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Ring of Honor , where he is the ROH World Television Champion...
, Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
, and Austin Aries
Austin Aries
Daniel Healy "Dan" Solwold, Jr. better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is the current X Division Champion...
became associated with Prazak. Mr. Milo Beasley became the Vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of DP Associates in late 2005. In 2006, B.J. Whitmer
B.J. Whitmer
Benjamin Whitmer is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, B.J. Whitmer. He is best known for his appearances with Ring of Honor between January 2003 and March 2008...
and Jack Evans
Jack Evans
Jack Edward Miller is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jack Evans. He currently performs for the Mexican-based promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, where he is the current World Cruiserweight Champion and a former World Tag Team Champion. He is the cousin...
joined DP Associates.
On May 26, 2006, at Hotter Than Hell, Jay Lethal left DP Associates, claiming Prazak was not a good manager. As a result, a 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...
was scheduled between DP Associates, and Lethal and 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...
, which Lethal and Richards won. This provoked a scripted feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
between Richards and DP Associates, which saw Richards stop DP Associates attacking other wrestlers and numerous matches between the opposing sides. In the midst of the feud with Richards, Prazak announced two new members of DP Associates, Delirious
Delirious (wrestler)
Hunter Johnston is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Delirious. He is currently wrestling for Ring of Honor, International Wrestling Cartel, Chikara, Pro Wrestling Noah, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
and Cyber Kong
Cyber Kong
Takashi Yoshida is a Japanese wrestler better known by his ring name, Cyber Kong. He currently wrestles for Dragon Gate.-Biography:...
, who were both quickly included in matches against Richards. The feud ended when 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...
won the FIP World Heavyweight Championship
FIP World Heavyweight Championship
The FIP World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the Full Impact Pro promotion. It is currently the highest ranked championship in FIP. The title was introduced on September 25, 2004 at FIP's "Emergence: Part Two" event as the FIP...
, for which Richards began challenging. As a result, Richards briefly teamed with DP Associates in order to get a match against Strong. In December 2006, Austin Aries left DP Associates, as a result of Delirious eliminating him from the Florida Rumble
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...
. The following month, Jack Evans also left DP Associates. Throughout 2007, wrestlers including Shingo
Shingo Takagi
Shingo Takagi is a former Japanese bodybuilder, turned professional wrestler. Shingo is currently competing for the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate and American promotion Dragon Gate USA...
and Nigel McGuinness
Nigel McGuinness
Steven Haworth is an English professional wrestler, better known by the ring names Desmond Wolfe and Nigel McGuinness. As McGuinness he first gained notoriety working for Ring of Honor in the United States and Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
became affiliated with DP Associates. In late 2007, Delirious left DP Associates, leading to Prazak allying with Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher
Dylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
. In September 2007, Larry Sweeney
Larry Sweeney
Alexander K. Whybrow was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney...
was announced as a member as well, and soon afterwards Davey Richards also joined. In February 2008 at Redefined, however, Richards was defeated by Austin Aries, and as a result of the pre-match stipulation, Prazak was no longer allowed to manage in FIP.
Commentary
Prazak began his career in the professional wrestling industry as a ring announcerRing announcer
A ring announcer is a paid in-ring employee for a boxing, professional wrestling, or mixed martial arts event or promotion...
in 1996.
In 2004, he began to work with Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
and Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Florida. Their shows are taped and then sold as DVDs. Full Impact Pro was the sister promotion of Ring of Honor until 2009...
. Prazak provides play-by-play commentary for Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
(ROH), FIP and Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...
, as well as other independents in the past. Prazak worked primarily with Lenny and Carl#Lenny Leonard for ROH DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s, but Leonard was replaced with 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...
in October 2009. HDNet
HDNet
HDNet is a men's interest television channel in the United States, broadcasting exclusively in high-definition format and available via cable and satellite television...
retained Prazak's services for ROH's television show, Ring of Honor Wrestling, alongside Mike Hogewood
Mike Hogewood
Michael "Mike" Hogewood is an American sportscaster. He is a freelance play-by-play announcer who is primarily associated with Raycom Sports . Hogewood is best known for his work on ACC football games, ACC men's and women's basketball, as well as for anchoring Raycom's coverage of Nextel Cup...
. Prazak previously commentated for SHIMMER with Allison Danger, but is now partnered by Portia Perez
Portia Perez
Jenna Grattan is a Canadian professional wrestler best known under the stage name Portia Perez. Perez currently teams with Nicole Matthews as The Canadian NINJAs.-Professional wrestling career:...
, and also by Kellie Skater whenever Perez is wrestling.
Booking
In 2003, he became a booker for IWA Mid-South.In 2005 Prazak founded Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...
, along with Allison Danger, because he thought wrestling fans wanted to see female wrestlers do more than strip in the ring. He credits his experience with IWA Mid-South in helping him promote and book Shimmer.
In wrestling
- Wrestlers managedManager (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...
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CM PunkPhillip 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....- The Cold Brothers
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