Billy Reil
Encyclopedia
Billy Reil is a former American
professional wrestler
currently working the Northeastern Independent circuit
in the United States
. A longtime veteran of the Tri-State area, he was a mainstay of Jersey All Pro Wrestling
during the late 1990s. A former JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion
, his 18-month title reign is currently the longest in the promotion's history.
He is also a guest writer for wrestling websites such as Wrestling-News.com, most notably his "Reil World" and "Billy Reil Uncut" columns.
events at The Spectrum
during the late 1980s. As a teenager, he began hanging out at the ECW Arena attempting to make contacts in the professional wrestling business and eventually met Angel, who then introduced Reil to Reckless Youth. He soon made his in-ring debut on May 19, 1995 in a match against his childhood friend Trent Acid
. During the summer of 1996, Reil began training with The Pit Bulls before leaving for college the following year.
In 1997, he was given a four-year scholarship
to Penn State University
for his athletic skills on the baseball
diamond
. While at Penn State, Reil continued to wrestle outside the university. Unfortunately, his baseball career was cut short when he was released for pitching an ERA of 16.3.
, the National Wrestling Alliance
(NWA) New Jersey
territory, and Grande Wrestling Alliance.
He would team with Trent Acid to defeat Homicide
and Kane D for the JAPW Tag Team titles in Bayonne, New Jersey
on January 29. The two would defend the titles for a month before losing the titles to Dave Desire and Rick Silver on February 26, 1999.
Reil attended Dory Funk, Jr.
's Dojo in 1999. By 2000, Reil had gained a considerable following in the Northeastern United States
and had notable matches including a 3-way dance against Sabu and Lo-Ki in a "Three-Way Dance" on April 7, 2000.
Later that year, while wrestling at an event for the Central Wrestling Coalition, Reil suffered a separated shoulder
and neck injuries in a match against Breaker Morant in South Philadelphia in November.
's UXW teaming with Mike Tobin as "Knight Life" to defeat the Christopher Street Connection
for the vacant UXW Tag Team titles on April 15, 2005 and was scheduled to defend their titles against Papadon and Havok, the Solution at the Chris Candido Memorial Show in Long Island, New York on May 21 however Reil failed to show up for the event. During the show, Reil's partners Mike Tobin and Trent Acid criticized Reil during an interview in which they mentioned his staged retirement via the Internet earlier that year and introduced Trinity
and Justin Credible
to the "Knight Life" stable.
The following year at an event for National Wrestling Superstars, Reil defeating Corey Havoc, Dan Petit and J.R. in a Four-Way Match on December 29, 2006.
In January 2007, he began feuding with Danny Demanto and, while their first encounter on January 26 resulted in a no contest, Reil defeated Demanto and Bison Bravado in a tag team match with Jim Neidhart
the following day. The following month, in a match for the vacant UXW X-Treme Championship, he would participate in a 7-way match with Chasyn Rance, Kirby Mack
, T.J. Mack
, Naphtali
, Greatness
, Jerrelle Clark later losing to Kirby Mack in Orlando, Florida
on February 24.
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...
currently working the Northeastern 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 the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A longtime veteran of the Tri-State area, he was a mainstay of Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
during the late 1990s. A former JAPW Light Heavyweight Champion
JAPW Light Heavyweight Championship
The JAPW New Jersey State Championship is a title in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. Being a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via direct competition; it is instead won via a predetermined ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a...
, his 18-month title reign is currently the longest in the promotion's history.
He is also a guest writer for wrestling websites such as Wrestling-News.com, most notably his "Reil World" and "Billy Reil Uncut" columns.
Early life and career
Born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reil was a wrestling fan growing up and often attended World Wrestling FederationWorld 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...
events at The Spectrum
Wachovia Spectrum
The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
during the late 1980s. As a teenager, he began hanging out at the ECW Arena attempting to make contacts in the professional wrestling business and eventually met Angel, who then introduced Reil to Reckless Youth. He soon made his in-ring debut on May 19, 1995 in a match against his childhood friend Trent Acid
Trent Acid
Michael Verdi was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Trent Acid. Verdi had worked as a tag team wrestler for most of his career, primarily as part of The Backseat Boyz with Johnny Kashmere, in several independent promotions in America, including Combat Zone Wrestling,...
. During the summer of 1996, Reil began training with The Pit Bulls before leaving for college the following year.
In 1997, he was given a four-year scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to Penn State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
for his athletic skills on the baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
diamond
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
. While at Penn State, Reil continued to wrestle outside the university. Unfortunately, his baseball career was cut short when he was released for pitching an ERA of 16.3.
Jersey All Pro Wrestling and the independents
Reil continued to wrestle and was honing his craft working in Jersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
, the National Wrestling Alliance
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...
(NWA) New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
territory, and Grande Wrestling Alliance.
He would team with Trent Acid to defeat Homicide
Nelson Erazo
Nelson Rodriguez Erazo is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name, Homicide...
and Kane D for the JAPW Tag Team titles in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
on January 29. The two would defend the titles for a month before losing the titles to Dave Desire and Rick Silver on February 26, 1999.
Reil attended Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional...
's Dojo in 1999. By 2000, Reil had gained a considerable following in the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
and had notable matches including a 3-way dance against Sabu and Lo-Ki in a "Three-Way Dance" on April 7, 2000.
Later that year, while wrestling at an event for the Central Wrestling Coalition, Reil suffered a separated shoulder
Separated shoulder
A separated shoulder , is a common injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation as that involves a dislocation of the glenohumeral joint...
and neck injuries in a match against Breaker Morant in South Philadelphia in November.
Recent years
During the next two years he would continue competing in independent promotions including Frank GoodmanFrank Goodman
Frank Goodman was an American Broadway theatre publicist.Goodman began in theatre during the Great Depression, when he worked for the Federal Theater Project under the Works Projects Administration. From 1939, when he started his career, to 1961, Mr. Goodman represented more than 50 Broadway...
's UXW teaming with Mike Tobin as "Knight Life" to defeat the Christopher Street Connection
Christopher Street Connection
The Christopher Street Connection are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Buff E and Mace Mendoza. They primarily compete in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions, most notably, World-1 South, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor and Frank Goodman's United States...
for the vacant UXW Tag Team titles on April 15, 2005 and was scheduled to defend their titles against Papadon and Havok, the Solution at the Chris Candido Memorial Show in Long Island, New York on May 21 however Reil failed to show up for the event. During the show, Reil's partners Mike Tobin and Trent Acid criticized Reil during an interview in which they mentioned his staged retirement via the Internet earlier that year and introduced Trinity
Stephanie Finochio
Stephanie Finochio is an American stuntwoman and retired professional wrestler and valet better known by her ring name Trinity...
and Justin Credible
Peter Polaco
Peter Joseph Polaco is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Justin Credible. He is also known for his earlier stint with the WWF under the ringname Aldo Montoya...
to the "Knight Life" stable.
The following year at an event for National Wrestling Superstars, Reil defeating Corey Havoc, Dan Petit and J.R. in a Four-Way Match on December 29, 2006.
In January 2007, he began feuding with Danny Demanto and, while their first encounter on January 26 resulted in a no contest, Reil defeated Demanto and Bison Bravado in a tag team match with Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
the following day. The following month, in a match for the vacant UXW X-Treme Championship, he would participate in a 7-way match with Chasyn Rance, Kirby Mack
Kirby Mack
Kirby Mack is an American professional wrestler. He currently wrestles on the independent circuit. He has also wrestled for mainstream promotions such as World Wrestling Entertainment, Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
, T.J. Mack
T.J. Mack
T.J. Mack , is an American professional wrestler. He currently wrestles for Wrestling Superstars Live and various other independent promotions. He has also wrestled for mainstream promotions such as World Wrestling Entertainment, Ring of Honor and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Naphtali
Naphtali
According to the Book of Genesis, Naphtali was the second son of Jacob with Bilhah. He was the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali. However, some Biblical scholars view this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the...
, Greatness
Greatness
Since the publication of Francis Galton’s Hereditary Genius in 1869, and especially with the accelerated development of intelligence tests in the early 1900s, there has been a vast amount of social scientific research published relative to the question of ‘greatness’...
, Jerrelle Clark later losing to Kirby Mack in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
on February 24.
Championships and accomplishments
- Grande Wrestling Alliance
- GWA Cruiserweight Championship (2 times)
- Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling
- ISPW Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Jersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
- JAPW Light Heavyweight ChampionshipJAPW Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe JAPW New Jersey State Championship is a title in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. Being a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via direct competition; it is instead won via a predetermined ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a...
(3 times) - JAPW Tag Team ChampionshipJAPW Tag Team ChampionshipThe JAPW Tag Team Championship is a championship in the Jersey All Pro Wrestling promotion. Being a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via direct competition; it is instead won via a predetermined ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a wrestling angle...
(1 time) - with Trent Acid
- JAPW Light 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 #430 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2000
- Trademark Wrestling
- TMF Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
- USA Pro Wrestling
- USA Pro United States Championship (1 time)
- USA Pro Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Mike Tobin