Jeff Farmer (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Farmer is a professional wrestler best known as Fake Sting, and later nWo Sting. A mainstay of World Championship Wrestling
during the 1990s, he led a Japanese faction of the heel stable New World Order
in New Japan Pro Wrestling
competing in the promotion until WCW's close in 2001. Farmer is the brother of Dr. Paul Farmer
.
. In 1993, they moved to World Championship Wrestling
and had a small feud with Harlem Heat
. Farmer left WCW and toured Europe but returned to WCW in 1995 as Cobra to feud with Craig Pittman
.
Cobra made his WCW debut on September 9, 1995 edition of WCW Worldwide
, defeating Bobby Starr
with his Cobra clutch slam finisher. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
and "Mean" Gene Okerlund
explained Cobra's kayfabe
back story of having served in the Gulf War
. Sgt. Craig Pittman, a legit Marine
sergeant
, abandoned Cobra in the desert, then reported him AWOL back at camp. Cobra lost all rank and respect, learned to wrestle, and came to WCW seeking revenge on Pittman.
put one over on the fans of WCW by having Farmer dress as Sting
and attack Lex Luger
. The WCW wrestlers and fans were fooled into thinking that Sting had joined the nWo. It finally came out that there was a "fake Sting," played by Farmer. He was often referred to as "Stink" by the WCW announcers, and it was never acknowledged that he and Cobra were one and the same. In one instance where the nWo Sting emerged from the ring canvas, the character was played by someone else wearing a Sting mask. He was confronted and attacked by the real Sting.
The highlight of Farmer's WCW
stint came on September 15, 1996 at the Fall Brawl pay-per-view where he participated in the main event WarGames match. Farmer, as the nWo Sting, along with Hulk Hogan
, Kevin Nash
, and Scott Hall
defeated Lex Luger
, Ric Flair
, Arn Anderson
and the real Sting
when Farmer made Luger submit to the scorpion death lock
.
In 1997, he traveled back and forth to New Japan Pro Wrestling
where he was a part of nWo Japan and regularly teamed with Masahiro Chono
. The nWo Sting was at the time much more popular than the real Sting in Japan. As a result, Farmer spent more time in NJPW.
In 2004, Farmer went back to the nWo Sting gimmick on the independent circuit in the Carolina's until he started wrestling exclusively for Ultimate Championship Wrestling on January 8, 2005 when he won the title.
. The program aims to identify how "people's genetic background influences their response to physical activity."
Farmer appeared in the video game WCW vs. nWo: World Tour
as nWo Sting, labeled in the game as "Sting".
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
during the 1990s, he led a Japanese faction of the heel stable New World Order
New World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
in New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
competing in the promotion until WCW's close in 2001. Farmer is the brother of Dr. Paul Farmer
Paul Farmer
Dr. Paul Edward Farmer is an American anthropologist and physician. He is currently the Kolokotrones University Professor at Harvard University, formerly the Presley Professor of Medical Anthropology in the Department of Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician and Chief...
.
Early days
Farmer started wrestling in 1991 as Lightning in the tag team of "Thunder and Lightning" in the IWF promotion in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In 1993, they moved to World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and had a small feud with Harlem Heat
Harlem Heat
Harlem Heat was a professional wrestling tag team made up of two real-life brothers, Booker and Lane Huffman. Booker Huffman took the ring name of Booker T, and Lane Huffman took the ring name of Stevie Ray...
. Farmer left WCW and toured Europe but returned to WCW in 1995 as Cobra to feud with Craig Pittman
Craig Pittman
Craig Pittman is a retired United States Marine and professional wrestler. He served in the Marine Corps until the early 1990s. He then wrestled professionally as Sgt. Craig "Pitbull" Pittman in World Championship Wrestling...
.
Cobra made his WCW debut on September 9, 1995 edition of WCW Worldwide
WCW WorldWide
WCW WorldWide was a syndicated TV show produced by World Championship Wrestling.-Wide World Wrestling:The show began in 1975 , a syndicated one-hour program produced by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promotions...
, defeating Bobby Starr
Bob Starr (wrestler)
Robert A. "Bob" Starr is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and manager who has competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States since his debut in 1988...
with his Cobra clutch slam finisher. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
and "Mean" Gene Okerlund
Gene Okerlund
Eugene "Mean Gene" Okerlund is a semi-retired American professional wrestling interviewer and announcer. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 by Hulk Hogan...
explained Cobra's kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
back story of having served in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Sgt. Craig Pittman, a legit Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, abandoned Cobra in the desert, then reported him AWOL back at camp. Cobra lost all rank and respect, learned to wrestle, and came to WCW seeking revenge on Pittman.
nWo Sting
In September 1996, the nWoNew World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
put one over on the fans of WCW by having Farmer dress as Sting
Sting (wrestler)
Steven James "Steve" Borden , better known by his ring name Sting, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and attack Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
. The WCW wrestlers and fans were fooled into thinking that Sting had joined the nWo. It finally came out that there was a "fake Sting," played by Farmer. He was often referred to as "Stink" by the WCW announcers, and it was never acknowledged that he and Cobra were one and the same. In one instance where the nWo Sting emerged from the ring canvas, the character was played by someone else wearing a Sting mask. He was confronted and attacked by the real Sting.
The highlight of Farmer's WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
stint came on September 15, 1996 at the Fall Brawl pay-per-view where he participated in the main event WarGames match. Farmer, as the nWo Sting, along with Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
, and Scott Hall
Scott Hall
Scott Hall is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name...
defeated Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
, Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, Arn Anderson
Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW...
and the real Sting
Sting (wrestler)
Steven James "Steve" Borden , better known by his ring name Sting, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
when Farmer made Luger submit to the scorpion death lock
Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)
The Sharpshooter, originally named Sasori-gatame, Scorpion Hold in English, is a professional wrestling submission hold. The move is also known by several other names: cloverleaf leg-lace Boston crab, standing reverse figure-four leglock, and, the most commonly known alternative, Scorpion Deathlock...
.
In 1997, he traveled back and forth to New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
where he was a part of nWo Japan and regularly teamed with Masahiro Chono
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
. The nWo Sting was at the time much more popular than the real Sting in Japan. As a result, Farmer spent more time in NJPW.
Team 2000
In May 1999, Farmer left nWo Japan and formed "TEAM 2000" with Chono as Super J. The Super J gimmick went over very well with the NJPW audience. The team made a couple of appearances in WCW with this gimmick, and they teamed together through 2001 before TEAM 2000 disbanded.In 2004, Farmer went back to the nWo Sting gimmick on the independent circuit in the Carolina's until he started wrestling exclusively for Ultimate Championship Wrestling on January 8, 2005 when he won the title.
Late 2000s
As of late 2010, Farmer is project manager of a research program known as GEAR (Genetics, Exercise, and Research) at the University of Miami Miller School of MedicineLeonard M. Miller School of Medicine
The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is the school of medical education of the University of Miami. The main medical campus is located in the Civic Center, Miami, Florida within the UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center complex...
. The program aims to identify how "people's genetic background influences their response to physical activity."
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- ChokeslamChokeslamA chokeslam refers to a type of body slam in professional wrestling in which the wrestler grasps their opponent's neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. It is common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe, yet looks powerful on camera...
- Cobra clutch slam
- Chokeslam
- Signature moves
- Backbreaker
- Delayed vertical suplex
- Drop toe-hold
- Diving lariat
- Fireman's carry takeover
- Flapjack dropped into a hangman
- Reverse belly to belly piledriver
- Scorpion Death Drop (Inverted DDT) – adopted from StingSting (wrestler)Steven James "Steve" Borden , better known by his ring name Sting, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
- Scorpion DeathlockSharpshooter (professional wrestling)The Sharpshooter, originally named Sasori-gatame, Scorpion Hold in English, is a professional wrestling submission hold. The move is also known by several other names: cloverleaf leg-lace Boston crab, standing reverse figure-four leglock, and, the most commonly known alternative, Scorpion Deathlock...
– adopted from Sting
- ManagersManager (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...
- Ted DiBiaseTed DiBiaseTheodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
- Jimmy HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
- Ted DiBiase
- 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...
- "Man Called Sting" by D.Conort, M.Seitz, and J.Papa (WCW; 1996)
- "Tear It Up" by J.HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
and H.Helm (used while a part of the New World OrderNew World Order (professional wrestling)The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
)
Championships and accomplishments
- 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 #130 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1999
- Other titles
- UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- IWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Thunder
In popular culture
The Black Scorpion gimmick was so popular, his particular brand of face paint was used in video games, cartoons and even modern interpretations of Kabuki makeup.Farmer appeared in the video game WCW vs. nWo: World Tour
WCW vs. nWo: World Tour
WCW vs. nWo: World Tour proved to be one of THQ's biggest hits and was awarded the title of "Fighting Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. It gained Player's Choice status with over a million copies sold and its 1998 re-release was instrumental in THQ's 59% revenue...
as nWo Sting, labeled in the game as "Sting".