Phil Theis
Encyclopedia
Phillip "Phil" Theis is an American
former professional wrestler
. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation
under the ring name
Damien Demento.
, Theis made his debut in 1987 under the ring name Jonn Reinhart. He soon renamed himself to Mondo Kleen and began wrestling on the independent circuit
.
In September 1992 he had a try out match with WCW, wrestling as Mando Phil.
helped forward of a tape of Theis performing an interview, the World Wrestling Federation
signed him to a contract. Theis, under his Mondo Kleen ring name, debuted in WWF at a live event
on October 2, 1992 in a losing effort to Jeff Jarrett
. On the October 12 episode of Superstars of Wrestling
, Theis made his televised in-ring debut as Damien Demento, a villainous
character who hailed from "The Outer Reaches of Your Mind" and showed mentally disturbed behavior. He then proceeded to defeat Steve May in his televised debut match. On the October 28 episode of Wrestling Challenge, he defeated Jim Brunzell.
Demento was in the main event of the debut episode of Monday Night Raw
on January 11, 1993, losing to The Undertaker. Demento made his only pay-per-view appearance at Royal Rumble
as a participant in the 1993 Royal Rumble match
and lasted over twelve minutes before being eliminated by Carlos Colón. After this, Demento competed almost solely on house show
s before leaving the WWF in October 1993.
independent circuit
, Theis retired from wrestling. Theis, under his Damien Demento ring name, made a short return to wrestling on November 8, 2008, where he defeated The Musketeer in a match for the New York
-based World of Unpredictable Wrestling, a month later they had a rematch where Demento was on the losing end.
He made another return to the squared circle in September 24, 2011. This time portraying "Mondo Kleen" as he defeated Steven Person in a steel cage match at a show that WUW promoted for the Dumbo
Arts Festival.
On October 29th 2011, Damien Demento defeated long time WUW Trophy Champion "Izzy" Israel Joffe at the WUW October show at Gleason's gym
to win the WUW Trophy Championship.
, but instead began training for a career in wrestling. He cites King Curtis Iaukea
as his inspiration for becoming a wrestler.
After retiring from wrestling, he began working as an artist and a sculptor
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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 for his stint in 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...
under the 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:...
Damien Demento.
Early career
After training under Johnny RodzJohnny Rodz
Johnny Rodriguez is a retired American professional wrestler. He has previously worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Rodz.-World Wide Wrestling Federation:...
, Theis made his debut in 1987 under the ring name Jonn Reinhart. He soon renamed himself to Mondo Kleen 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...
.
In September 1992 he had a try out match with WCW, wrestling as Mando Phil.
World Wrestling Federation (1992–1993)
After The BushwhackersThe Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers were a professional wrestling tag team that also competed as The Sheepherders during their long career. They wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions as well as a nearly 40 year run on the independent wrestling circuit...
helped forward of a tape of Theis performing an interview, 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...
signed him to a contract. Theis, under his Mondo Kleen ring name, debuted in WWF at a live event
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
on October 2, 1992 in a losing effort to 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...
. On the October 12 episode of Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It debuted on September 6, 1986...
, Theis made his televised in-ring debut as Damien Demento, a villainous
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...
character who hailed from "The Outer Reaches of Your Mind" and showed mentally disturbed behavior. He then proceeded to defeat Steve May in his televised debut match. On the October 28 episode of Wrestling Challenge, he defeated Jim Brunzell.
Demento was in the main event of the debut episode of Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
on January 11, 1993, losing to The Undertaker. Demento made his only pay-per-view appearance at Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every January by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1988, with its inaugural event taking place on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario...
as a participant in the 1993 Royal Rumble match
Royal Rumble (1993)
Royal Rumble was the sixth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 24, 1993 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. The main event was a Royal Rumble match, a battle royal in which two wrestlers...
and lasted over twelve minutes before being eliminated by Carlos Colón. After this, Demento competed almost solely on house show
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
s before leaving the WWF in October 1993.
Retirement and return
After a stint on the East CoastEast Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
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...
, Theis retired from wrestling. Theis, under his Damien Demento ring name, made a short return to wrestling on November 8, 2008, where he defeated The Musketeer in a match for the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based World of Unpredictable Wrestling, a month later they had a rematch where Demento was on the losing end.
He made another return to the squared circle in September 24, 2011. This time portraying "Mondo Kleen" as he defeated Steven Person in a steel cage match at a show that WUW promoted for the Dumbo
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It encompasses two sections: one located between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, which connect Brooklyn to Manhattan across the East River, and another that continues...
Arts Festival.
On October 29th 2011, Damien Demento defeated long time WUW Trophy Champion "Izzy" Israel Joffe at the WUW October show at Gleason's gym
Gleason's Gym
Gleason's is a boxing gym located on the Brooklyn waterfront. Since 1937, when the gym was founded in the Bronx, boxers with their eyes on Olympic glory or a shot at the title have been training at Gleason's. Fighters who trained at the gym include Jake LaMotta, Roberto Durán, Benny "Kid" Paret,...
to win the WUW Trophy Championship.
Personal life
Theis originally wanted to become a football playerAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, but instead began training for a career in wrestling. He cites King Curtis Iaukea
King Curtis Iaukea
Curtis Piehau Iaukea, III was a professional wrestler better known as King Curtis Iaukea. Iaukea won championships in several of the major regional US promotions, both as a single and in various tag team combinations, during the 1960s. He then competed in the World Wrestling Federation where he...
as his inspiration for becoming a wrestler.
After retiring from wrestling, he began working as an artist and a sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Jumping knee drop
- Signature moves
- Hangman's neckbreaker
- PowerbombPowerbombA powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
Championships and accomplishments
- International Wrestling Federation
- IWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- International World Class Championship WrestlingInternational World Class Championship WrestlingInternational World Class Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was promoted by Angelo Savoldi and his sons Mario, Tom, and Joseph Savoldi....
- IWCCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- 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 #216 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992
Further reading
- Mazer, Sharon. Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1998. ISBN 1-57806-020-6