Ricky Landell
Encyclopedia
Ricky Landell is an American
former professional wrestler
. He is best known for competing in various independent promotions
, the most notable being Ring of Honor
, Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX / Pro Wrestling Zero1 and AWA Superstars of Wrestling / Wrestling Superstars Live.
, Landell made his professional wrestling debut on November 1, 2003 where he wrestled fellow debuting wrestler Alex Law to a ten minute draw. After both debuted, Landell and Law began teaming with each other to compete in several tag team matches for Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 beginning in 2004. Following a six-man tag team where he, Law and their partner Greg Spitz lost to the Extreme Horsemen (C.W. Anderson, Justin Credible
and Simon Diamond
) on April 10, Landell was inducted into the Horsemen as its newest member.
In mid-2004, Landell made an excursion to Japan to receive further training and began training under Tatsuhito Takaiwa
while touring with Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX. Landell made his debut for the promotion on July 9, where he competed in his first championship match and lost to Tommy Wilson in a cage match to determine who would win the vacant BS American Championship. The following day, Landell teamed with Wilson to defeat Fuyuki Takahashi and Shinsuke Z Yamagasa in a tag team cage match.
debut on January 15 at their event It All Begins, where he and four other men lost to Roderick Strong
in a four-on-one handicap match. He returned to the promotion on February 19 at their event Do Or Die IV, where he teamed with his old partner Alex Law to defeat Anthony Franco and Davey Andrews. On March 12, Landell made his third and final ROH appearance as he and Law lost to The Ring Crew Express
at the event Back To Basics.
On January 29, 2006, Landell defeated Masato Tanaka
to win Pro Wrestling WORLD-1's Heavyweight Championship, giving Landell the first championship of his career. Upon becoming champion, Landell became the face of promotion and would go on to defend the title in WORLD-1, including a notable victory over his trainer and mentor Steve Corino
on April 9. Landell would ultimately become the longest reigning champion in the promotion's history, as he held the title for 1279 days with his reign only ending due to his retirement from wrestling in early 2009.
Landell would continue his championship success as he teamed with Corino to win the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Tag Team Championship on June 14, 2006 after defeating Team MackTion (Kirby Mack
and T.J. Mack
). Despite holding two titles simultaneously, Landell won a battle royale on July 22 to become the number one contender for the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Heavyweight Championship. Later on that day, he wrestled then-champion Ric Converse for the title in a losing effort. Landell and Corino would later lose the World Tag Team Titles to Converse and Xsiris on March 23, 2007.
Landell soon began competing more frequently for AWA Superstars of Wrestling and would become the promotion's first United States Champion on June 13, 2007 after defeating Zach Gowen
. The win also simultaneously made him Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX's new United States Heavyweight Champion due to the AWA and ZERO1-MAX splitting from each other. His reign with the AWA's version of the title ended on March 29, 2008 after the title was deactivated and Landell became the first Fighting World Champion of the now-renamed Wrestling Superstars Live following a victory over Keith Walker
. On August 13, Landell lost the Fighting World Title to Walker in a rematch.
Aside from WORLD-1 and WSL, Landell returned to the now-renamed Pro Wrestling Zero1 in early May 2008 and defeated Sterling James Keenan
on June 1 to win the promotion's United States Heavyweight Title for the second time. He would go on to hold the title for over two months before losing it to King Kaluha on August 22.
After several attempts, Landell finally won the WSL World Heavyweight Championship on October 11 after defeating Larry Zbyszko
, whom he had previously lost to in a title match back on May 3 when the championship was under the AWA Superstars banner.
. Soon afterwards, Landell's official Myspace
profile page and website were taken down and it was later announced that he had retired from wrestling due to falling out with his trainer and former mentor Steve Corino
. His retirement resulted in the Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 Heavyweight Championship being vacated and thus ending his reign at 1279 days, the longest reign of any kind in the promotion's history.
On June 12, 2011, Landell made a one time return as he wrestled against and lost to Corino at Pro Wrestling WORLD-1's event The Last Stampede.
with a bachelor's degree
in business
.
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 competing in various independent promotions
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...
, the most notable being Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX / Pro Wrestling Zero1 and AWA Superstars of Wrestling / Wrestling Superstars Live.
Debut (2003–2004)
After training under Steve CorinoSteve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
, Landell made his professional wrestling debut on November 1, 2003 where he wrestled fellow debuting wrestler Alex Law to a ten minute draw. After both debuted, Landell and Law began teaming with each other to compete in several tag team matches for Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 beginning in 2004. Following a six-man tag team where he, Law and their partner Greg Spitz lost to the Extreme Horsemen (C.W. Anderson, 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...
and Simon Diamond
Pat Kenney
Patrick Joseph Michael "Pat" Kenney , known also by his ring name, Simon Diamond, is a retired American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent...
) on April 10, Landell was inducted into the Horsemen as its newest member.
In mid-2004, Landell made an excursion to Japan to receive further training and began training under Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Tatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH....
while touring with Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX. Landell made his debut for the promotion on July 9, where he competed in his first championship match and lost to Tommy Wilson in a cage match to determine who would win the vacant BS American Championship. The following day, Landell teamed with Wilson to defeat Fuyuki Takahashi and Shinsuke Z Yamagasa in a tag team cage match.
Indepenent circuit and championship success (2005–2008)
Beginning in 2005, Landell made his Ring of HonorRing of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
debut on January 15 at their event It All Begins, where he and four other men lost to Roderick Strong
Roderick Strong
Chris 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 .He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian...
in a four-on-one handicap match. He returned to the promotion on February 19 at their event Do Or Die IV, where he teamed with his old partner Alex Law to defeat Anthony Franco and Davey Andrews. On March 12, Landell made his third and final ROH appearance as he and Law lost to The Ring Crew Express
The Ring Crew Express
The Ring Crew Express is the professional wrestling tag team of Kevin Dunn and Kirby Marcos, better known simply as Dunn and Marcos. They are best known for their work in Ring of Honor but have also wrestled for other promotions, such as Full Impact Pro, Chikara, Buffalo Championship Wrestling,...
at the event Back To Basics.
On January 29, 2006, Landell defeated Masato Tanaka
Masato Tanaka
Masato Tanaka is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling in Japan and in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the United States where he was a one-time world champion, having won the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once...
to win Pro Wrestling WORLD-1's Heavyweight Championship, giving Landell the first championship of his career. Upon becoming champion, Landell became the face of promotion and would go on to defend the title in WORLD-1, including a notable victory over his trainer and mentor Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
on April 9. Landell would ultimately become the longest reigning champion in the promotion's history, as he held the title for 1279 days with his reign only ending due to his retirement from wrestling in early 2009.
Landell would continue his championship success as he teamed with Corino to win the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Tag Team Championship on June 14, 2006 after defeating Team MackTion (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....
and 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...
). Despite holding two titles simultaneously, Landell won a battle royale on July 22 to become the number one contender for the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Heavyweight Championship. Later on that day, he wrestled then-champion Ric Converse for the title in a losing effort. Landell and Corino would later lose the World Tag Team Titles to Converse and Xsiris on March 23, 2007.
Landell soon began competing more frequently for AWA Superstars of Wrestling and would become the promotion's first United States Champion on June 13, 2007 after defeating Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen
Zach Gowen is an American professional wrestler. Gowen has competed for World Wrestling Entertainment on their SmackDown! brand, as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
. The win also simultaneously made him Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX's new United States Heavyweight Champion due to the AWA and ZERO1-MAX splitting from each other. His reign with the AWA's version of the title ended on March 29, 2008 after the title was deactivated and Landell became the first Fighting World Champion of the now-renamed Wrestling Superstars Live following a victory over Keith Walker
Keith Walker
Keith Walker is an American professional wrestler who competes in North American and international promotions including Ring of Honor, Harley Race's World League Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah....
. On August 13, Landell lost the Fighting World Title to Walker in a rematch.
Aside from WORLD-1 and WSL, Landell returned to the now-renamed Pro Wrestling Zero1 in early May 2008 and defeated Sterling James Keenan
Sterling James Keenan
Matt Polinsky is an American professional wrestler known better by his ring name, Sterling James Keenan, the second part of which is taken from Maynard James Keenan of Tool...
on June 1 to win the promotion's United States Heavyweight Title for the second time. He would go on to hold the title for over two months before losing it to King Kaluha on August 22.
After several attempts, Landell finally won the WSL World Heavyweight Championship on October 11 after defeating Larry Zbyszko
Larry Zbyszko
Lawrence "Larry" Whistler is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Larry Zbyszko. Zbyszko is perhaps best known for his feud with his mentor, wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino during the early 1980s....
, whom he had previously lost to in a title match back on May 3 when the championship was under the AWA Superstars banner.
Retirement
On February 21, 2009, Landell lost the World Heavyweight Title to Keith WalkerKeith Walker
Keith Walker is an American professional wrestler who competes in North American and international promotions including Ring of Honor, Harley Race's World League Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah....
. Soon afterwards, Landell's official Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
profile page and website were taken down and it was later announced that he had retired from wrestling due to falling out with his trainer and former mentor Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
. His retirement resulted in the Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 Heavyweight Championship being vacated and thus ending his reign at 1279 days, the longest reign of any kind in the promotion's history.
On June 12, 2011, Landell made a one time return as he wrestled against and lost to Corino at Pro Wrestling WORLD-1's event The Last Stampede.
Personal life
Prior to wrestling, Landell graduated from Plymouth State UniversityPlymouth State University
Plymouth State University, formerly Plymouth State College, is a regional comprehensive university located in Plymouth, New Hampshire and part of the University System of New Hampshire....
with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
.
In wrestling
- Finishing 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...
- Bridging cradle suplex
- Brainbuster
- 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 New Generation Ace"
- "The Trademark of Excellence"
Championships and accomplishments
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling / Wrestling Superstars Live
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling United States Championship (1 time)
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling / WSL World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling / WSL World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Steve CorinoSteve CorinoSteven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
and Jonnie Stewart - WSL Fighting World Championship (1 time)
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Future Legend Award (2008)
- Premier Wrestling Federation
- PWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kid America
- PWF Universal 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 #275 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2009
- Pro Wrestling WORLD-1
- WORLD-1 Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX / Pro Wrestling Zero1
- Zero1 United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)