Jason Cross
Encyclopedia
William Jason Massengale (born June 13, 1979) is an American
professional wrestler
. He is best known by his ring name
Jason Cross and for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
.
in mid-2001 where he, Adam Jacobs, Jon Phoenix and Prince Justice
defeated A.J. Styles
, Onyx
, Air Paris and Stone Mountain. Soon after his debut, Cross became a villain
and was managed
by Jeff G. Bailey, Styles' former manager. Cross' gimmick was that of a "clone" of Styles, in which Cross copied him in every aspect, such as attire and wrestling moves. After David Young
defeated Styles for the Heavyweight Title, Cross left Bailey and became a fan favorite
before beginning a feud
with Young over the championship. Three months later, he defeated Young the championship on June 1, 2002. Cross held the title just under month before losing it to Adam Jacobs. After Onyx
won the Heavyweight Title, Cross began a feud with him and defeated Onyx for the belt on September 4, 2004 for his second and final reign. Cross held the title for exactly one month before losing it to Ray Gordy
and soon afterwards, he left NWA Wildside after the promotion closed in 2005.
. He made his Pay-Per View debut on December 11, 2002 in a losing effort against Tony Mamaluke following an 'impressive' appearance the week previously on TNA's syndicated programme TNA Xplosion
. On January 15, 2003, Massengale, under his Jason Cross ring name, suffered a broken hand and a crushed knuckle in a losing effort against David Young. However, he recovered soon afterwards and he began appearing regularly in TNA as a part of its X Division
. On February 26, Cross wrestled then-X Division Champion
Kid Kash in a match for the title, which Cross lost. After this, he wrestled in a few more matches sparingly throughout 2003. On August 11, 2004 at a weekly pay-per-view, Cross wrestled in a 22-man gauntlet match for the X Division Title, but was the sixth competitor eliminated as Petey Williams
would go on to win the match and the title. He then wrestled in a few six-man tag team matches before competing in a 20-man gauntlet match at TNA's first-ever official pay-per-view event, Victory Road
, which he lost.
in his homestate of Georgia
under his Jason Cross ring name, including Georgia Championship Wrestling, the Independent Wrestling Network and Rampage Pro Wrestling.
.
1This Georgia-based promotion, which was eventually renamed Great Championship Wrestling, has no connection to the Georgia Championship Wrestling that was a prominent NWA affiliate until it was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions
in 1985
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...
. He is best 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:...
Jason Cross and for his tenure in 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...
.
NWA Wildside (2002–2005)
After training under Roger Ruffen, Massengale made his professional wrestling debut in 1998. Under the ring name Jason Cross, he made his NWA WildsideGeorgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
in mid-2001 where he, Adam Jacobs, Jon Phoenix and Prince Justice
Chris Parks
Christopher J. "Chris" Parks , better known by his ring name "The Monster" Abyss, is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
defeated A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Onyx
Onyx (wrestler)
Kyle McNeely is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Onyx and for his stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a member of The Elite Guard.-World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment :...
, Air Paris and Stone Mountain. Soon after his debut, Cross became a villain
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
and was managed
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...
by Jeff G. Bailey, Styles' former manager. Cross' gimmick was that of a "clone" of Styles, in which Cross copied him in every aspect, such as attire and wrestling moves. After David Young
David Young (wrestler)
David Williams , better known by his ring name, David Young, is an American professional wrestler. Though he has mainly appeared with NWA Wildside and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, Young has also competed for Ring of Honor, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración and ZERO-ONE...
defeated Styles for the Heavyweight Title, Cross left Bailey and became a fan favorite
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...
before beginning a 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...
with Young over the championship. Three months later, he defeated Young the championship on June 1, 2002. Cross held the title just under month before losing it to Adam Jacobs. After Onyx
Onyx (wrestler)
Kyle McNeely is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Onyx and for his stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a member of The Elite Guard.-World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment :...
won the Heavyweight Title, Cross began a feud with him and defeated Onyx for the belt on September 4, 2004 for his second and final reign. Cross held the title for exactly one month before losing it to Ray Gordy
Ray Gordy
Terry Ray Gordy, Jr. is an American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment appearing on its SmackDown brand under the ring names Jesse and Slam Master J...
and soon afterwards, he left NWA Wildside after the promotion closed in 2005.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2004)
In addition to wrestling for NWA Wildside, Cross also began competing for Total Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal 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...
. He made his Pay-Per View debut on December 11, 2002 in a losing effort against Tony Mamaluke following an 'impressive' appearance the week previously on TNA's syndicated programme TNA Xplosion
TNA Xplosion
TNA Xplosion is a television program produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , featuring both highlights from Impact Wrestling and exclusive taped matches. It is now produced only for international markets, no longer airing in the United States...
. On January 15, 2003, Massengale, under his Jason Cross ring name, suffered a broken hand and a crushed knuckle in a losing effort against David Young. However, he recovered soon afterwards and he began appearing regularly in TNA as a part of its X Division
X Division
The X Division is a high-flying, high-risk, fast-paced style of professional wrestling seen originally in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and since then in various NWA member promotions...
. On February 26, Cross wrestled then-X Division Champion
TNA X Division Championship
The TNA X Division Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. It is primarily defended in TNA's X Division—a style based on a fast-paced, daredevil type of wrestling...
Kid Kash in a match for the title, which Cross lost. After this, he wrestled in a few more matches sparingly throughout 2003. On August 11, 2004 at a weekly pay-per-view, Cross wrestled in a 22-man gauntlet match for the X Division Title, but was the sixth competitor eliminated as Petey Williams
Petey Williams
Peter "Petey" Williams III is a Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a two time X Division Champion and a former captain of Team Canada. Williams Currently Wrestles for Lucha Libre USA...
would go on to win the match and the title. He then wrestled in a few six-man tag team matches before competing in a 20-man gauntlet match at TNA's first-ever official pay-per-view event, Victory Road
Victory Road (2004)
Victory Road was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , which took place on November 7, 2004 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida. It was the first event under the Victory Road chronology, which became an annual event in 2006...
, which he lost.
Independent circuit (2005–2008)
After leaving TNA, Massengale began wrestling for various independent promotionsIndependent 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...
in his homestate of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
under his Jason Cross ring name, including Georgia Championship Wrestling, the Independent Wrestling Network and Rampage Pro Wrestling.
Personal life
Massengale is married to Tara Lyn Tapley. In October 2007, Massengale's two-month old son Jason died from a congenital heart defectCongenital heart defect
A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels which is present at birth. Many types of heart defects exist, most of which either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it, or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern. Other...
.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Crossfire (Shooting star leg drop)
- Signature moves
- 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...
- Corkscrew plancha
- Cross Star Press (Shooting star press)
- Inverted swinging neckbreaker
- Spin kick
- Spinning wheel kick
- Brainbuster
- 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...
s- Jeff G. Bailey
- 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- "The Role Model"
- 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...
- "Figure.09" by Linkin ParkLinkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
- "Figure.09" by Linkin Park
Championships and accomplishments
- Georgia Championship Wrestling1
- GCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- GCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with John Bogey
- GCW Television Championship (2 times)
- GCW United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- New Alliance Wrestling
- NAW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA WildsideNWA WildsideNWA 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....
- NWA Wildside Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Georgia Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship was the major title in the Georgia Championship Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. It started in 1964 and was unified in 1981 with the NWA National Heavyweight Championship....
(2 times)
- NWA Wildside 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 #246 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2003
1This Georgia-based promotion, which was eventually renamed Great Championship Wrestling, has no connection to the Georgia Championship Wrestling that was a prominent NWA affiliate until it was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
in 1985