Steve Bradley
Encyclopedia
Steven Richard Bisson (December 10, 1975 – December 4, 2008) was an American
professional wrestler
who had competed on North American independent promotions throughout the 1990s including East Coast Wrestling Association
, IWA Puerto Rico and the National Wrestling Alliance
as well as spending over three years in World Wrestling Entertainment
developmental territories including Power Pro Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association
, Memphis Championship Wrestling
and Ohio Valley Wrestling
under the ring name Steve Bradley.
He was also the owner and head trainer of the Top Rope Wrestling Academy, a wrestling school in the New England area whose graduates include Alex Arion
, Antonio Thomas, Brandon Locke, Brian Fury, Matt Spectro, Scott Reed and Nicole Raczynski
.
at WWF Headquarters in Stanford, Connecticut with Kurt Angle
.
Assigned to Memphis-based Power Pro Wrestling, both he and Angle began feuding with each other over the PPW Heavyweight title eventually defeating Angle for the title in early 1999 and becoming the first man to pin Angle in his professional career. Their feud would be voted "Underrated Feud of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated
that same year.
In March 1999, he won the third annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament defeating Ace Darling and Devon Storm
, before beating Christopher Daniels
in the finals.
He later feuded with Vic Grimes
, defeating him for the PPW Young Guns title on July 19. He lost the PPW Heavyweight title to Grimes on September 18 before regaining it a week later on September 25, 1999.
and won the IWA Tag Team titles twice with "Lone Wolf" Andy Anderson
as Club WWF.
He was eventually assigned to Memphis Championship Wrestling, a new developmental territory, in early 2001 and began wrestling with Essa Ríos
and Lita
on WWF house shows and dark matches on television tapings throughout the United States. He appeared at WrestleMania X-Seven
to take part in Wrestlemania Axxcess. He also participated in a spot at Wrestlemania X-Seven as a golf cart driver thrown from his cart.
Spending the next two years in Ohio Valley Wrestling and the Heartland Wrestling Association, Bradley would win the HWA Tag Team titles four times with Val Venis and Lance Cade
and eventually became involved in booking for the promotion before he was released from his developmental contract in July 2002.
. Bradley's cause of death has yet to be determined.
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...
who had competed on North American independent promotions throughout the 1990s including East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
, IWA Puerto Rico and 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...
as well as spending over three years in World Wrestling Entertainment
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...
developmental territories including Power Pro Wrestling, Heartland Wrestling Association
Heartland Wrestling Association
The Heartland Wrestling Association is a Midwestern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A former developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, it was listed as one of the top independent...
, Memphis Championship Wrestling
Memphis Championship Wrestling
Memphis Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion run by Terry Golden, based in Memphis, Tennessee. The promotion's first event was on February 20, 2000, and it remained active up until mid-2001...
and Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
under the ring name Steve Bradley.
He was also the owner and head trainer of the Top Rope Wrestling Academy, a wrestling school in the New England area whose graduates include Alex Arion
Alex Arion
Alex Pliakos is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "The Golden Greek" Alex Arion. He competes in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions including Chaotic Wrestling, the East Coast Wrestling Alliance, Eastern Pro Wrestling, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, New...
, Antonio Thomas, Brandon Locke, Brian Fury, Matt Spectro, Scott Reed and Nicole Raczynski
Nicole Raczynski
Nicole Raczynski is an American professional wrestler, best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Roxxi...
.
Early career and Power Pro Wrestling
At the age of 15, Bradley made his professional debut in 1991 becoming a mainstay of various East Coast promotions during the 1990s. In 1998, Bradley signed a 3-year developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation and began training under Tom PrichardTom Prichard
Thomas Prichard is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, working in their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling as a trainer using his ring name Tom Prichard...
at WWF Headquarters in Stanford, Connecticut with Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
.
Assigned to Memphis-based Power Pro Wrestling, both he and Angle began feuding with each other over the PPW Heavyweight title eventually defeating Angle for the title in early 1999 and becoming the first man to pin Angle in his professional career. Their feud would be voted "Underrated Feud of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Pro 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...
that same year.
In March 1999, he won the third annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament defeating Ace Darling and Devon Storm
Devon Storm
Christopher "Chris" Ford is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Crowbar, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion, a one time World Tag Team Champion with David Flair and a one time Cruiserweight Champion, which he...
, before beating 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...
in the finals.
He later feuded with Vic Grimes
Vic Grimes
Victor "Vic" Grimes is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling, Xtreme Pro Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation.-All Pro Wrestling:...
, defeating him for the PPW Young Guns title on July 19. He lost the PPW Heavyweight title to Grimes on September 18 before regaining it a week later on September 25, 1999.
World Wrestling Federation
After the WWF ended their developmental agreement with Power Pro Wrestling, Bradley was brought into IWA Puerto Rico where he feuded with Savio VegaSavio Vega
Juan Rivera is a professional wrestler best known under the name Savio Vega. During the mid-late 1990s, he was an active wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation...
and won the IWA Tag Team titles twice with "Lone Wolf" Andy Anderson
Andy Anderson
Andy Anderson is a drummer, notably for the band The Cure. He was born in West Ham, East London, England on 30 January 1951.-Life and work:Anderson worked on Hawkwind's Nik Turner's Sphynx album in 1978...
as Club WWF.
He was eventually assigned to Memphis Championship Wrestling, a new developmental territory, in early 2001 and began wrestling with Essa Ríos
Mr. Águila
José Seldano is a Mexican professional wrestler or luchador currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre...
and Lita
Amy Dumas
Amy Christine Dumas , known by her primary stage name Lita, is the lead singer for the band The Luchagors as well as a retired professional wrestler and WWE Diva active from 1999 to 2006....
on WWF house shows and dark matches on television tapings throughout the United States. He appeared at WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven
WrestleMania X-Seven was the seventeenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 1, 2001 at the Reliant Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The event was the first WrestleMania held in the state of Texas...
to take part in Wrestlemania Axxcess. He also participated in a spot at Wrestlemania X-Seven as a golf cart driver thrown from his cart.
Spending the next two years in Ohio Valley Wrestling and the Heartland Wrestling Association, Bradley would win the HWA Tag Team titles four times with Val Venis and Lance Cade
Lance Cade
Lance Kurtis McNaught was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment where he performed under the ring names Garrison Cade and Lance Cade....
and eventually became involved in booking for the promotion before he was released from his developmental contract in July 2002.
Death
Bradley was found dead on December 4, 2008 in a parking lot across the street from where he once operated a pro wrestling school in Manchester, New HampshireManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. Bradley's cause of death has yet to be determined.
In wrestling
- ManagerManager (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...
s- Downtown Bruno
Championships and accomplishments
- East Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
- Super 8 TournamentECWA Super 8 TournamentThe Super 8 Tournament is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by the East Coast Wrestling Association. The tournament is contested by eight wrestlers in a one-night single-elimination format.-History:...
(1999)
- Heartland Wrestling AssociationHeartland Wrestling AssociationThe Heartland Wrestling Association is a Midwestern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A former developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, it was listed as one of the top independent...
- HWA Tag Team ChampionshipHWA Tag Team ChampionshipThe HWA Tag Team Championship is the tag team titles contested for in the Heartland Wrestling Association. It was established in 1996 when the Head Bangers became the first champions.-Title history:...
(4 times) - with Sean MorleySean MorleySean Allen Morley is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name Val Venis, during his time with World Wrestling Federation, later known as World Wrestling Entertainment...
(1) Lance CadeLance CadeLance Kurtis McNaught was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment where he performed under the ring names Garrison Cade and Lance Cade....
(3)
- International Wrestling AssociationInternational Wrestling AssociationThe International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
- IWA World Tag Team ChampionshipIWA World Tag Team ChampionshipIWA World Tag Team Championship is a tag team titles being defending in the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico. It has been an active wrestling championship since January 6, 2000.-Title history:-References:*General...
(2 times) - with "Lone Wolf" Andy Anderson
- Memphis Championship WrestlingMemphis Championship WrestlingMemphis Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion run by Terry Golden, based in Memphis, Tennessee. The promotion's first event was on February 20, 2000, and it remained active up until mid-2001...
- MCW Southern Heavyweight ChampionshipAWA Southern Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship is a major professional wrestling title in the Memphis Wrestling promotion. The title is part of a long lineage that is best known while the title was named the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship for Continental Wrestling Association during...
(2 times)
- Power Pro Wrestling
- PPW Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
- PPW Young Guns Championship (2 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 # 83 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002.
- Yankee Pro Wrestling
- YPW Interstate Championship (1 time, first)