- For the short-lived TNA stable, see Kings of Wrestling (TNA)
The
Kings of Wrestling was the
professional wrestlingProfessional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is an athletic performing art where matches are prearranged by the promotion's booking staff. It is a non-competitive sport which contains strong elements of theatre, mock combat, and catch wrestling. Wrestling's origins date to 19th-century carnival...
stable of
Chris HeroChris 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, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
,
Claudio CastagnoliClaudio Castagnoli is a Swiss professional wrestler. He performs primarily on the American independent circuit in promotions such as Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and Chikara...
,
Larry SweeneyAlex Whybrow is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney. He performs primarily on the American independent circuit in promotions such as Chikara, Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro, but has also competed in Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe.-Life...
, Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer,
Chuck TaylorDustin Howard is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chuck Taylor. He is currently competing most notably in Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.-Career:...
, Icarus,
Gran AkumaGran Akuma is a professional wrestler who currently works for the Pennsylvania-based Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling and the Florida based Full Impact Pro. He was a member of the Kings of Wrestling stable along with Chris Hero and Icarus in Chikara. In addition to this Gran Akuma and Icarus form...
and
Shayne HawkeShayne Hawke is an Canadian professional wrestler. Hawke is best known for his work with Chikara and International Wrestling Syndicate.-Early career:...
from the Chikara wrestling promotion. As well as being a part of the Kings of Wrestling, Icarus and Gran Akuma regularly team together under the name
Team F.I.S.T. both in and out of Chikara. Outside of Chikara, however, the Kings of Wrestling is known only as the
tag teamIn professional wrestling, a tag team consists of two wrestlers who are working together as a team . Often, they are close partners and backstage friends who team with each other almost exclusively, while other times they are singles competitors who are booked together for just one match...
of Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. Together, Hero and Castagnoli are former
CZW World Tag Team ChampionsThe CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
,
Chikara Campeonatos de ParejasThe Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:...
, and
ROH World Tag Team ChampionsThe Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor.-History:...
, and at one point, held all three titles simultaneously.
History
This team came about at Chikara's
Tag World Grand Prix 2005 show when Chris Hero turned on his
Super Friends partner Mike Quackenbush and joined Claudio Castagnoli and
Arik CannonArik Cannon is a professional wrestler known for competing in companies such as Chikara, IWA Mid-South, All American Wrestling and Wrestling Society X.-Career:...
. Cannon has since left the group. Hero and Castagnoli continued teaming together, and in 2006, became the first ever
Chikara Campeonatos de ParejasThe Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:...
by winning the Tag World Grand Prix tournament, defeating
Milano Collection ATAkihito Terui , also known as Milano Collection A.T., is a Japanese professional wrestler.-Career:Terui made his debut in 2000 in Toryumon, and gained success. He later adopted the persona of Milano Collection A.T. Akihito Terui (born August 27, 1976), also known as Milano Collection A.T., is a...
and
SkaydeJorge Rivera Serrano is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for Lucha Libre. He has been a tecnico throughout his wrestling career. He is currently wrestling in Chikara and training wrestler at Arena Xalapa....
in the final round.
Hero and Castagnoli are also known for teaming in
Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone Wrestling is an American based professional wrestling promotion, based around the 'ultraviolent' style of professional wrestling. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware,...
. On September 10, 2005, they won the
CZW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
from Tough Crazy Bastards,
Necro ButcherDylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his stage name Necro Butcher. Primarily wrestling for Ring of Honor, which travels around the country; Summers also competes in Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, and Combat Zone...
and Toby Klein. In 2005, Chris Hero became involved in a feud with
Eddie KingstonEddie Moore is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Eddie Kingston. He is best known for competing in Chikara, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South and for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling.- Chikara :...
. This feud involved Hero's partner Claudio as well as Kingston's stablemates from Blackout. At
Cage of Death 7, Hero and Castagnoli defended the tag titles against Kingston and Sabian, and at
An Afternoon of Main Events, they teamed with
Super DragonDaniel Lyon , better known by his ring name Super Dragon, is an American former professional wrestler. Beginning his career in 1997, he has competed in companies such as All Pro Wrestling, Revolution Pro, and Combat Zone Wrestling...
, with whom they formed an alliance, to face Kingston, Sabian, and
RuckusClaude Marrow is an American independent professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ruckus. Marrow current performs in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
. In February 2006, the Kings of Wrestling lost the titles to Eddie Kingston and
JokerBill Posada, better known as Joker is an American independent professional wrestler who works for the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South, Chikara and UWA Hardcore Wrestling.-Career:...
.
In late 2005, Chris Hero began a war with
Ring of HonorRing of Honor is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein, and owned by Cary Silkin. ROH usually holds several shows each month throughout the midwest and east coast of North America. It has also held shows on the west coast, in Great Britain, Japan and ...
. Castagnoli, who was a member of the ROH roster at the time, said he would be loyal to ROH despite his relationship with Hero. However, at the
100th Show during a CZW vs. ROH six man tag team match, Castagnoli came to the ring and turned on ROH, helping CZW win the match, and uniting with Hero for the first time in ROH. They went on to team together as the Kings of Wrestling to face and defeat BJ Whitmer and
Adam PearceAdam Pearce , is an American professional wrestler. Since his debut, he has become one of the most hated heel wrestlers on the independent circuit. He is a two-time holder of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. He is currently the head booker of Ring of Honor.-Early life and career:Pearce was...
. During the final match in their feud against ROH, Hero and Castagnoli teamed together once again with partners Eddie Kingston, Nate Webb, and Necro Butcher to unsuccessfully challenge ROH's
Samoa JoeNuufolau Joel Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
, BJ Whitmer, Adam Pearce,
Ace SteelChris Guy is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ace Steel. He is perhaps best known for his time with Ring of Honor and occasional appearances for World Wrestling Entertainment, as well as his stint with its Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental territory.-Career:Chris...
, and
Bryan DanielsonBryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment. He is also known by his alias, and later nickname, the American Dragon....
(later replaced by
HomicideNelson Rodriguez Erazo is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name, Homicide...
) in a Cage of Death match.
In August 2006, the
Ring of Honor tag title beltsThe Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor.-History:...
were stolen and later returned from champions
Austin AriesDan Solwold better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler currently performing in Ring of Honor, where he is the reigning ROH World Champion and the first wrestler ever to win it twice...
and
Roderick StrongChris 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.-Career:Lindsey was born in Wisconsin, but relocated to Florida...
. Hero revealed on his
LiveJournalLiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community...
that he and Castagnoli were the culprits and would be challenging for the titles. On September 16, they successfully defeated Aries and Strong for the championship with their new
KRS ONE finisher, but only after illegally smashing Aries in his bruised ribs with Castagnoli's aluminum Zero Halliburton attache case.
On October 14, 2006, the Kings of Wrestling defeated three other teams in a one night tournament at the CZW show
Last Team Standing to become 2 time CZW Tag Team Champions. They defeated Team Masturbation (Beef Wellington and
ExcaliburMarc Letzmann is an American former professional wrestler, best known under his ring name Excalibur. Letzmann is one of the six founders of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he continues to work as the company's "Commissioner of Food & Beverage"...
) in the first round, the BLKOUT (Ruckus and
Human TornadoCraig Williams better known by his ring name, Human Tornado, is an American professional wrestler. His gimmick is that of a stereotypical 1970s blaxploitation street pimp...
) in the second round, and the makeshift team of
Justice PainChristopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
and Human Tornado (subbing for Pain's partner in the
H8 ClubThe H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:...
,
Nick GageNick Gage is an ultraviolent professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
, who left the building before the match) in the third round. This has made the Kings of Wrestling the only Independent Triple Crown Tag Champions ever.
Around this time, it was announced that Claudio would be going to
World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly-traded, privately-controlled integrated media and sports entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. At
Night of Infamy 5, the Kings lost the CZW tag championship to Sabian and Robbie Mireno after Eddie Kingston eliminated Hero from the match and the Blackout outnumbered Claudio for the win. On November 17, they lost the Campeonado de Parejas to F.I.S.T.. Afterwards, Hero turned on Castagnoli and kicked him out of the stable. They lost the ROH Tag Team Championship to
Matt SydalMatthew Joseph Korklan is an American professional wrestler currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its Raw brand under the ring name Evan Bourne....
and
Christopher DanielsDaniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling wrestling as Daniels. He has also wrestled as Curry Man and Suicide...
on November 25. On December 22, 2006,
Larry SweeneyAlex Whybrow is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney. He performs primarily on the American independent circuit in promotions such as Chikara, Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro, but has also competed in Canada, Mexico, Japan and Europe.-Life...
debuted in ROH to help the Kings of Wrestling defeat the
Briscoe BrothersThe Briscoe Brothers are the professional wrestling tag team of Jay and Mark Briscoe. They are currently wrestling for the American promotions Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro, as well as occasionally for the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah....
. The following night at Final Battle 2006, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli lost a rematch to the Briscoes. After the match, Claudio announced that he would not be going to WWE, but Sweeney said he was only representing Chris Hero, and the two walked out on Castagnoli.
In February 2007, Chikara held the first ever
King of Trios tournament. Originally, the Kings of Wrestling team was made up of Hero and F.I.S.T., but Hero was replaced with
Chuck TaylorDustin Howard is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chuck Taylor. He is currently competing most notably in Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.-Career:...
. They lost in the semifinals of the tournament. On April 22, Hero defeated Claudio in a match where if Hero won, then Claudio would have to rejoin the team. Internal problems within the Kings of Wrestling lead to a division of the stable into two teams: the team of Chris Hero, Claudio Castagnoli, and Larry Sweeney, and the team of Icarus, Gran Akuma, and Chuck Taylor. The two teams faced off on May 26 at Chikara's
Aniversario! event. Icarus, Akuma, and Taylor were victorious, and after the match, all six men joined forces. Also joining them were new members in Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer and
Shayne HawkeShayne Hawke is an Canadian professional wrestler. Hawke is best known for his work with Chikara and International Wrestling Syndicate.-Early career:...
. The stable broke up in late 2007 when Hero left the company after losing his feud against Castagnoli, with Team F.I.S.T. continuing as its own faction.
In wrestling
- Finishing tag team moves
- Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli
- Hero's Welcome Kings of Wrestling Edition (Aided rolling cutter)
- KRS ONE – Kings Reign Supreme Over Nearly Everyone (Hero and Castagnoli flip the opponent in the air before dropping them into a sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- KRS TWO – Kings Reign Supreme The World Over (Hero and Castagnoli grab the legs an opponent seated in the corner before flipping them in the air and dropping them into a release powerbomb)
- Royal Bomb (Aided straight jacket sitout powerbomb)
- Chuck Taylor
Dustin Howard is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chuck Taylor. He is currently competing most notably in Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla.-Career:...
and Gran AkumaGran Akuma is a professional wrestler who currently works for the Pennsylvania-based Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling and the Florida based Full Impact Pro. He was a member of the Kings of Wrestling stable along with Chris Hero and Icarus in Chikara. In addition to this Gran Akuma and Icarus form...
- Dinner 'n Drinks (Sole Food by Taylor followed into a Yoshi Tonic by Akuma)
- Finishing triple team moves
- Hero, Castagnoli and Super Dragon
Daniel Lyon , better known by his ring name Super Dragon, is an American former professional wrestler. Beginning his career in 1997, he has competed in companies such as All Pro Wrestling, Revolution Pro, and Combat Zone Wrestling...
- Super Curb Stomp (Hero holds the opponent in a reverse Indian deathlock with Castagnoli holding the same opponent in a surfboard while Dragon hits a diving double foot stomp to the trapped opponent)
- Taylor, Akuma and Icarus
- Shooty McGee (Taylor holds the opponent in a backbreaker rack while Icarus hits a diving double foot stomp onto the prone opponent followed by Taylor hitting an inverted Death Valley driver onto Akuma's knees)
- Signature tag team moves
- Hero and Castagnoli
- Aided senton splash
- Double big boot
- Double Cravate Cutter (Elevated corkscrew neckbreaker)
- Double elbow drop
- Electric chair (Castagnoli) / Cravate (Hero) combination
- Hero performs a monkey flip Castagnoli, who is propelled into either a splash or a spear
- Entrance themes
Music 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 the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it has since become an anthem for sporting victories and has been often used or referenced in popular culture...
" by QueenQueen were an English rock band. Formed in London in 1970 following the demise of the band Smile, Queen consisted of vocalist Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May, bassist John Deacon and drummer Roger Taylor. The band became popular with audiences via their hit songs, live performances,...
(Kings of Wrestling)
- "Sharp Dressed Man
"Sharp Dressed Man" is a song performed by ZZ Top from their album Eliminator released in 1983.The song is featured in the 2005 video game Guitar Hero, as well as a brief appearance on an episode of Beavis and Butt-Head entitled "Radio Sweethearts," in which it can be heard on a radio, as well in...
" by ZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock trio, formed in late 1969 in Houston, Texas, by Billy Gibbons , Dusty Hill , and Frank Beard...
(Kings of Wrestling)
- "Blue Monday" by Orgy
Orgy is a synth rock band from Bakersfield, California. Orgy describes their music as "death pop".-History:Orgy was formed in 1996 by vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck, once of Jonathan Davis' original band Sexart, assisting in their eventual signing to Korn's label Elementree...
(Team F.I.S.T.)
Championships and accomplishments
- Chikara
- Campeonatos de Parejas
The Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:...
(2 times) – Hero and Castagnoli (1) and Icarus and Akuma (1)
- Tag World Grand Prix (2006)
Tag World Grand Prix 2006 was the third Tag World Grand Prix tournament held by Chikara. The tournament ran over three nights, from February 24 through 26, 2006, and crowned Chikara's first-ever Campeones de Parejas ....
– Hero and Castagnoli
- Young Lions Cup IV
The Young Lions Cup is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Chikara.-History:...
– Boyer
- Young Lions Cup V – Taylor
- Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling is an American based professional wrestling promotion, based around the 'ultraviolent' style of professional wrestling. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware,...
- CZW World Heavyweight Championship
The CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling...
(1 time) – Hero
- CZW World Tag Team Championship
The CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
(2 times) – Hero and Castagnoli
- CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in the Philadelphia-based promotion Combat Zone Wrestling , designed for junior heavyweights; wrestlers under . It was established in 1999 at CZW's first show, Opening Night with The Sensational One as the...
(1 time) – Taylor
- Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein, and owned by Cary Silkin. ROH usually holds several shows each month throughout the midwest and east coast of North America. It has also held shows on the west coast, in Great Britain, Japan and ...
- ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor.-History:...
(1 time) – Hero and Castagnoli