Sam Loman
Encyclopedia
Sam Loman is an American
former professional wrestler
. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling
in 2001 under the ring name
Kid Romeo, where he was one half of the first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions
alongside Elix Skipper
.
, Loman started wrestling in 1999 in World Championship Wrestling
after being trained by Paul Orndorff
at the WCW Power Plant
. He debuted later that year at a house show
on September 3 under the ring name Kid Romeo, where he defeated Triple A
. Two days later, Triple A defeated Romeo in a rematch. After Triple A began using his real name (Alan Funk), the two exchanged victories on Saturday Night
before Romeo began wrestling against fellow Power Plant graduates in dark matches through the rest of 1999 and into early 2000.
On the January 24, 2000 episode of Nitro
, Romeo made his televised debut and was easily defeated by The Wall
. Two days later on Thunder
, Romeo lost to Prince Iaukea
in a Cruiserweight Championship
tournament quarterfinal match. After winning a few consecutive dark matches, Loman left WCW and traveled to Japan
to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling
in order to further hone his skills.
in a dark match before Superbrawl Revenge. On the March 5 episode of Nitro, Romeo was introduced as Elix Skipper
's mystery tag team partner against A.J. Styles
and Air Paris. With Skipper, Romeo won his redebut match and they both advanced to the semi-finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions
. Upon returning, Romeo adopted a heel
gimmick loosely based on Ricky Martin
, which was further emphasized with his entrance music being a cover of Martin's song "The Cup of Life". The following week on Nitro, Skipper and Romeo defeated the Jung Dragons
to advance to the finals of the tournament. On March 18 at Greed
, WCW's final pay-per-view
, Romeo and Skipper defeated the Filthy Animals
(Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Kidman) in the tournament finals to become the promotion's first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions
, which also gave Romeo the first championship of his career. Romeo and Skipper began feuding
with the Animals over the title, and on the final episode of Thunder
on March 21, Romeo and Skipper's undefeated streak was broken as they and Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
lost to Mysterio, Jr. Kidman and Shane Helms
. On the final episode of Nitro on March 26, their feud culminated as Romeo and Skipper lost the Cruiserweight Tag Team Title to Mysterio, Jr. and Kidman in what turned out to be the second to last match in WCW's history.
to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council
. He also made some appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
, making his debut there on July 10, 2002 in a six-way elimination match that included Tony Mamaluke, Christopher Daniels
, Elix Skipper
, Jerry Lynn
, and Low Ki
, although Loman was eliminated after Low Ki forced him to submit. He returned to TNA on May 21 as Romeo, competing in a four-way match against CM Punk
, Jason Cross
and Paul London
, the latter of whom won the match and became the number one contender to the X Division Championship
. From 2003 to 2004, Loman would continue to be used as a jobber
, losing to the likes of Raven
, Jeff Hardy
, Kid Kash and Chris Sabin
. During his time with TNA, Loman's only victory was a tag team dark match where he and Sonjay Dutt
defeated The Naturals
. In addition to TNA, Loman also wrestled in Championship Wrestling from Florida for a short time, where he feuded with Tyree Pride. He returned to TNA for the final time on May 17, 2005, where he lost to Zach Gowen
. Loman then took a hiatus from wrestling and subsequently began working as an exterminator
.
In 2008, Loman returned to wrestling as Romeo and joined NWA South Atlantic
. On May 10, he teamed with Benny Blanco as the Casanova Cartel to defeat Manson and Black Knight (the latter substituting for Manson's partner Rico Moon) to win the territory's Tag Team Championship. The Cartel would go on to hold the title for over six months before being defeated by the SWAT Patrol on November 15. Following the title loss, Loman retired from wrestling.
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 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...
in 2001 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:...
Kid Romeo, where he was one half of the first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions
WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title created in 2001 just prior to World Championship Wrestling being sold to the World Wrestling Federation.-History:...
alongside Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a four-time NWA World Tag Team...
.
Debut and departure
After a briefly working as a male stripperStriptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
, Loman started wrestling in 1999 in 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...
after being trained by Paul Orndorff
Paul Orndorff
Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff...
at the WCW Power Plant
WCW Power Plant
The WCW Power Plant was a professional wrestling school located in Atlanta, Georgia and owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling. The Power Plant, which was developed from a school operated by Jody Hamilton, was in operation throughout the 1990s...
. He debuted later that year at a 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...
on September 3 under the ring name Kid Romeo, where he defeated Triple A
Alan Funk
Alan Eric Funk is an American professional wrestler, who has previously worked in promotions such as World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, often with comedic personas...
. Two days later, Triple A defeated Romeo in a rematch. After Triple A began using his real name (Alan Funk), the two exchanged victories on Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
before Romeo began wrestling against fellow Power Plant graduates in dark matches through the rest of 1999 and into early 2000.
On the January 24, 2000 episode of Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
, Romeo made his televised debut and was easily defeated by The Wall
Jerry Tuite
Jerry Tuite was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring names, The Wall in World Championship Wrestling and Malice while performing for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Career:...
. Two days later on Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
, Romeo lost to Prince Iaukea
Michael Haynes III
Michael Hayner is a professional wrestler best known as Prince Iaukea in World Championship Wrestling. Haynes has also made a career performing and coordinating stunts for major motion pictures...
in a Cruiserweight Championship
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
tournament quarterfinal match. After winning a few consecutive dark matches, Loman left WCW and traveled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to compete 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...
in order to further hone his skills.
Return and Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion
After losing a match against Essa Ríos on the February 10, 2001 episode of Jakked, Loman returned to WCW, where he resumed his Kid Romeo name and lost to Chris HarrisChris Harris (wrestler)
Christopher Eric "Chris" Harris is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he was formerly one-half of the tag team America's Most Wanted along with partner & Former TNA World Heavyweight Champion James Storm.-World Championship...
in a dark match before Superbrawl Revenge. On the March 5 episode of Nitro, Romeo was introduced as Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a four-time NWA World Tag Team...
's mystery tag team partner against A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and Air Paris. With Skipper, Romeo won his redebut match and they both advanced to the semi-finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions
WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title created in 2001 just prior to World Championship Wrestling being sold to the World Wrestling Federation.-History:...
. Upon returning, Romeo adopted a heel
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...
gimmick loosely based on Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
, which was further emphasized with his entrance music being a cover of Martin's song "The Cup of Life". The following week on Nitro, Skipper and Romeo defeated the Jung Dragons
Jung Dragons
The Jung Dragons were a professional wrestling faction and tag team. Originally formed in World Championship Wrestling, the Dragons consisted of Kaz Hayashi, Yang, and Jamie-San and their manager Leia Meow. The Jung Dragons were notable for their high-flying, cruiserweight wrestling style and...
to advance to the finals of the tournament. On March 18 at Greed
WCW Greed
Greed was the final pay-per-view event from World Championship Wrestling. It took place on March 18, 2001 from the Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida. The pay-per-view took place eight days before the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro....
, WCW's final pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, Romeo and Skipper defeated the Filthy Animals
Filthy Animals
The Filthy Animals was a professional wrestling faction in World Championship Wrestling from 1999 until 2001.-Concept:The Filthy Animals was a group conceived after Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara were hired by WCW. The plan for the stable was to be WCW's version of the World Wrestling Federation's...
(Rey Mysterio, Jr. and Kidman) in the tournament finals to become the promotion's first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions
WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title created in 2001 just prior to World Championship Wrestling being sold to the World Wrestling Federation.-History:...
, which also gave Romeo the first championship of his career. Romeo and Skipper began feuding
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with the Animals over the title, and on the final episode of Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
on March 21, Romeo and Skipper's undefeated streak was broken as they and Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Salvador "Chavo" Guerrero IV also known as Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero, Jr., is a third generation Mexican-American professional wrestler and member of the famed Guerrero wrestling family who was well known for working with World Wrestling Entertainment and World Championship Wrestling...
lost to Mysterio, Jr. Kidman and Shane Helms
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
. On the final episode of Nitro on March 26, their feud culminated as Romeo and Skipper lost the Cruiserweight Tag Team Title to Mysterio, Jr. and Kidman in what turned out to be the second to last match in WCW's history.
Independent circuit, hiatus and retirement (2002–2005, 2008)
Following WCW's closure, Loman traveled to Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
. He also made some appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
, making his debut there on July 10, 2002 in a six-way elimination match that included Tony Mamaluke, Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
, Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a four-time NWA World Tag Team...
, Jerry Lynn
Jerry Lynn
Jeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, and Low Ki
Low Ki
Brandon Silvestry is an American professional wrestler. He is best known under his ring names Low Ki, Senshi in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and Kaval in World Wrestling Entertainment. He is a former one-time PWG World Champion and a former ROH Champion...
, although Loman was eliminated after Low Ki forced him to submit. He returned to TNA on May 21 as Romeo, competing in a four-way match against CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
, Jason Cross
Jason Cross
William Jason Massengale is an American professional wrestler. He is best known by his ring name Jason Cross and for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-NWA Wildside :...
and Paul London
Paul London
Paul Michael London is an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment ....
, the latter of whom won the match and became the number one contender to the X Division Championship
TNA X Division Championship
The TNA X Division Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. It is primarily defended in TNA's X Division—a style based on a fast-paced, daredevil type of wrestling...
. From 2003 to 2004, Loman would continue to be used as a jobber
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
, losing to the likes of Raven
Scott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
, Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy
Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is a former two–time TNA World Heavyweight Champion...
, Kid Kash and Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin
Joshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
. During his time with TNA, Loman's only victory was a tag team dark match where he and Sonjay Dutt
Sonjay Dutt
Retesh Bhalla is an American professional wrestler of Indian Punjabi descent, better known by his ring name, Sonjay Dutt. He is best known working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is also known for his stints with Combat Zone Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and other various independent...
defeated The Naturals
The Naturals
The Naturals were a professional wrestling tag team made up of Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens. They are best known for their work in TNA, where they are multi-time former tag team champions.- History :...
. In addition to TNA, Loman also wrestled in Championship Wrestling from Florida for a short time, where he feuded with Tyree Pride. He returned to TNA for the final time on May 17, 2005, where he lost to 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 ....
. Loman then took a hiatus from wrestling and subsequently began working as an exterminator
Pest control
Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy.-History:...
.
In 2008, Loman returned to wrestling as Romeo and joined NWA South Atlantic
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...
. On May 10, he teamed with Benny Blanco as the Casanova Cartel to defeat Manson and Black Knight (the latter substituting for Manson's partner Rico Moon) to win the territory's Tag Team Championship. The Cartel would go on to hold the title for over six months before being defeated by the SWAT Patrol on November 15. Following the title loss, Loman retired from wrestling.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Last Kiss (Over the shoulder belly to back piledriver)
- Romeo Relaxer (Scoop brainbuster)
- Sitout scoop slam piledriver
- Signature moves
- Ankle lock
- Arm drag
- Backhand chop
- Bulldog
- Diving clothesline
- Diving crossbody, sometimes while performing a slingshot
- Diving hurricanrana
- Diving shoulder block
- Diving Thesz press
- Headscissors takedown
- Multiple kick variations
- DropDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
, sometimes from the top rope - Enzuigiri
- Spinning heel
- Drop
- Northern Lights suplex
- Overhead belly to belly suplex
- Plancha
- Powerslam
- Reverse powerbomb
- Running leg drop
- Short-arm clothesline
- Spinebuster
- Tornado DDT
- Victory roll
Championships and accomplishments
- NWA South AtlanticNational Wrestling AllianceThe 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 South Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Benny Blanco
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld 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...
- WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team ChampionshipWCW Cruiserweight Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship was a short-lived title created in 2001 just prior to World Championship Wrestling being sold to the World Wrestling Federation.-History:...
(1 time) – with Elix SkipperElix SkipperElix Skipper is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a four-time NWA World Tag Team...
- WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship