The Irish Airborne
Encyclopedia
The Irish Airborne is an American professional wrestling
tag team
consisting of brothers Dave Crist (born David Crist Jr on November 10, 1982) and Jake Crist (born John Crist on July 13, 1984) from Dayton, Ohio
. They are based primarily in the Midwestern United States
"indy circuit", most notably the Heartland Wrestling Association
, where they won the HWA Tag Team Championship
a record 6-times. Irish Airborne have also worked in Chikara, IWA Mid-South and Ring of Honor
as well as Canadian promotions Far North Wrestling and UWA Hardcore Wrestling. The team currently also competes for Juggalo Championship Wrestling as the Ring Rydas, where they are the former JCW Tag Team Champions
.
in the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
and the promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling
. The two brothers along with other friends from high school began a backyard wrestling
promotion. The promotion drew attention from large numbers of students from their high school and even drew the attention of the local media in a news segment. They were introduced to their trainer Bill Kovaleski who himself was in the process of forming an independent promotion and was looking for young talent. From that point on, they began formally training as singles wrestlers under the names Lotus and Crazy J. At a local promotion named UCW, there was a chance encounter with Shark Boy
, who invited the brothers to a match in his Buckeye Pro Wrestling company.
and were eventually offered a match with the HWA.
against each other in which Lotus defeated Crazy J. The following evening they were again given an opportunity to wrestle in a dark match, this time as a tag team against Shane Hagadom & Conrad Kennedy III
in which they won. On 4 March 2006, at an Insanity Pro Wrestling show in Indianapolis, Indiana
, the Airborne announced that they would be no longer be wrestling under the names of Lotus and Crazy J, but instead under their real names of Dave and Jake Crist. John decided to use the first name of "Jake" rather than John because at that moment there were too many well known Johns in professional wrestling. The name change was a way of growing up for the team and an ability to drop their older persona which in a small way had ties to the Juggalo
movement related to the music group Insane Clown Posse
. On 11 March 2006, at Arena Warfare the Crists were able to earn a roster spot with ROH as they took on and defeated Tony Mamaluke and Sal Rinauro
at the old ECW Arena.
Thomaselli Brothers
. On May 26, the duo debuted as the masked tag team Ring Rydas. Jake, as Ring Ryda Red, and Dave, as Ring Ryda Blue, lost to Thomaselli Brothers. At Oddball Wrestling 2010, Ring Rydas defeated The Daivari Brothers (Shawn
and Arya Daivari). The following night at Bloodymania IV
, the duo lost in a Fatal 4 way Tag Team match that also featured the Haters
, Briscoe Brothers
, and Kings of Wrestling. At 2011's Up in Smoke, the duo defeated Mad Man Pondo and Necro Butcher
to become JCW Tag Team Champions. At the next JCW iPPV "St. Andrews Brawl" they defeated the Haters
in their first titles defense. On July 28, the Ring Rydas lost the JCW Tag Team Championship to U-Gene
and Zach Gowen
. However, Gowen forfeited the championship after realizing that U-Gene cheated to win and gave the championships back to the Rydas.
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...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
consisting of brothers Dave Crist (born David Crist Jr on November 10, 1982) and Jake Crist (born John Crist on July 13, 1984) from Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. They are based primarily in the Midwestern United States
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
"indy circuit", most notably the 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...
, where they won the HWA Tag Team Championship
HWA Tag Team Championship
The 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:...
a record 6-times. Irish Airborne have also worked in Chikara, IWA Mid-South and 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...
as well as Canadian promotions Far North Wrestling and UWA Hardcore Wrestling. The team currently also competes for Juggalo Championship Wrestling as the Ring Rydas, where they are the former JCW Tag Team Champions
JCW Tag Team Championship
The JCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Nine teams, comprising a total of eighteen wrestlers, have held the JCW Tag Team Championship, combining for a total of thirteen title reigns....
.
Early career
Both Dave and Jake were fans of professional wrestling growing up, favoring wrestling styles of a more extreme nature such as the Hardy BoyzHardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy...
in the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
A Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, often abbreviated as a TLC, is a type of professional wrestling match originated within WWE, but can be seen under different variations in other wrestling promotions....
and the promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
. The two brothers along with other friends from high school began a backyard wrestling
Backyard wrestling
Backyard wrestling , and also referred to as yarding or backyarding is a controversial underground recreation based on the usually untrained practice of professional-style wrestling in a typically low budget environment between predominantly 12 to 30 year old males. Some practitioners have attended...
promotion. The promotion drew attention from large numbers of students from their high school and even drew the attention of the local media in a news segment. They were introduced to their trainer Bill Kovaleski who himself was in the process of forming an independent promotion and was looking for young talent. From that point on, they began formally training as singles wrestlers under the names Lotus and Crazy J. At a local promotion named UCW, there was a chance encounter with Shark Boy
Shark Boy
Dean Mathew Roll is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Shark Boy and his experience in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .-Early career:...
, who invited the brothers to a match in his Buckeye Pro Wrestling company.
Buckeye Pro Wrestling
Under the names Lotus and Crazy J, the Crists made their debut in Buckeye Pro Wrestling against Dean and Chet Jablonski in which they were defeated. The Airborne continued to wrestle their way through the ranks of BPW often feuding with the team of American Youth, ultimately defeating them on 24 February 2004 to become the BPW Tag Team Champions. During their time in BPW, the Irish Airborne had chances to work on cross promotion shows with Heartland Wrestling AssociationHeartland 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...
and were eventually offered a match with the HWA.
Heartland Wrestling Association
Now achieving their high school goal, the Irish Airborne entered HWA. They became instant fan favorites due to their performance in BPW and the shared fan base. Their first match was a four way tag match teaming with Viper and Zeta against 4BJ, J.T. Stahr & Jimmy Turner & Ala Hussein. Airborne had continued success in HWA leading to a tag team title championship victory against Necessary Roughness in May 2005. As success came quickly for the brothers, so did tension, ultimaly leading to a bloody feud that began in the Fall of 2005 and lasted through early 2006. The feud culminated in a best of seven series in which each brother would attempt to top the other in amounts of violence and wit. The feud finally ended in one of HWA's bloodiest and most gruesome ladder matches to date. Both men realizing neither could top the other ended the feud and began to wrestle as a team once again.Name change and Ring of Honor
On 27 January 2006, the Crists were given an opportunity to wrestle a dark match in 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...
against each other in which Lotus defeated Crazy J. The following evening they were again given an opportunity to wrestle in a dark match, this time as a tag team against Shane Hagadom & Conrad Kennedy III
Conrad Kennedy III
Justin Carnes better known as Conrad Kennedy III is an American professional wrestler, who is currently working for Pro Wrestling Ohio as Krimson.-Independent circuit :...
in which they won. On 4 March 2006, at an Insanity Pro Wrestling show in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, the Airborne announced that they would be no longer be wrestling under the names of Lotus and Crazy J, but instead under their real names of Dave and Jake Crist. John decided to use the first name of "Jake" rather than John because at that moment there were too many well known Johns in professional wrestling. The name change was a way of growing up for the team and an ability to drop their older persona which in a small way had ties to the Juggalo
Juggalo
Juggalo or Juggalette is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics.-History:...
movement related to the music group Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
. On 11 March 2006, at Arena Warfare the Crists were able to earn a roster spot with ROH as they took on and defeated Tony Mamaluke and Sal Rinauro
Sal Rinauro
Salvatore "Sal" Rinauro is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro in addition to being a member of The Embassy.-Ring of Honor:...
at the old ECW Arena.
Juggalo Championship Wrestling (2010-present)
The Irish Airborne debuted in Juggalo Championship Wrestling on May 16, 2010 in a losing effort to JCW Tag Team ChampionsJCW Tag Team Championship
The JCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Nine teams, comprising a total of eighteen wrestlers, have held the JCW Tag Team Championship, combining for a total of thirteen title reigns....
Thomaselli Brothers
Thomaselli Brothers
The Thomaselli Brothers are the professional wrestling stable that consists of real life brothers Pauly Thomaselli , Sal Thomaselli , and Vito Thomaselli...
. On May 26, the duo debuted as the masked tag team Ring Rydas. Jake, as Ring Ryda Red, and Dave, as Ring Ryda Blue, lost to Thomaselli Brothers. At Oddball Wrestling 2010, Ring Rydas defeated The Daivari Brothers (Shawn
Shawn Daivari
Dara Daivari is an Iranian American professional wrestler, currently performing on the American independent circuit as Shawn Daivari. He is best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment as simply Daivari and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Sheik Abdul Bashir.-Career:Daivari...
and Arya Daivari). The following night at Bloodymania IV
Bloodymania IV
Bloodymania IV was a professional wrestling event produced by Juggalo Championship Wrestling , which took place at midnight on August 15, 2010 at Hog Rock in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois. Professional wrestling is a type of sports entertainment in which theatrical events are combined with a competitive...
, the duo lost in a Fatal 4 way Tag Team match that also featured the Haters
Thomaselli Brothers
The Thomaselli Brothers are the professional wrestling stable that consists of real life brothers Pauly Thomaselli , Sal Thomaselli , and Vito Thomaselli...
, Briscoe Brothers
Briscoe Brothers
The Briscoe Brothers are the professional wrestling tag team of Jay and Mark Briscoe. They are currently wrestling for the American promotions Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as occasionally for the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah.Their wrestling careers have...
, and Kings of Wrestling. At 2011's Up in Smoke, the duo defeated Mad Man Pondo and Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher
Dylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
to become JCW Tag Team Champions. At the next JCW iPPV "St. Andrews Brawl" they defeated the Haters
Thomaselli Brothers
The Thomaselli Brothers are the professional wrestling stable that consists of real life brothers Pauly Thomaselli , Sal Thomaselli , and Vito Thomaselli...
in their first titles defense. On July 28, the Ring Rydas lost the JCW Tag Team Championship to U-Gene
Nick Dinsmore
Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler...
and 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 ....
. However, Gowen forfeited the championship after realizing that U-Gene cheated to win and gave the championships back to the Rydas.
In wrestling
- The Irish Airborne
- Finishing tag team moves
- Irish Air Raid (Diving stomp by Dave to an opponent's head followed by a fireman's carry slam by Jake onto Dave's knees)
- Irish Coffee (Diving stomp by Dave to an opponent's buttocks into a spike piledriver by Jake)
- Finishing tag team moves
- Ring Rydas
- Signature tag team moves
- Running spear in the corner by Blue followed by an aided enzuigiri by Red
- Shoot kick to the face of a leaning opponent by Red followed by a springboard moonsault by Blue
- Double knee facebreaker by Blue followed by a slingshot somersault senton by Red
- Signature tag team moves
- 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...
- Irish Airborne
- "Walking Dead" by Dropkick MurphysDropkick MurphysDropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
- "Dead To Rights" by DevilDriverDevilDriverDevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, Deathride changed its name to DevilDriver, which refers to bells Italian witches used to...
- Jake Crist - "We Are 138" by The MisfitsThe MisfitsThe Misfits are an American rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk rock and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. Founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey by singer and songwriter Glenn Danzig, the group had a fluctuating lineup...
- Dave Crist
- "Walking Dead" by Dropkick Murphys
- Ring Rydas
- "Duk Da Fuk Down" by Psychopathic RydasPsychopathic RydasPsychopathic Rydas is an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1999, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers performing under alternate stage names in the style of mainstream gangsta rap...
- "Duk Da Fuk Down" by Psychopathic Rydas
- Irish Airborne
Championships and accomplishments
- All American Wrestling
- AAW Tag Team Championship (1 time, current)
- Absolute Intense Wrestling
- AIW Tag Team Championship (1 time, current)
- Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone Wrestling is a independent wrestling promotion. In 1999, John Zandig and four of his students, Ric Blade, Lobo, Nick Gage and Justice Pain began to run backyard wrestling shows in New Jersey and Delaware, showcasing a brand of hardcore wrestling dubbed as "ultraviolence"...
- CZW Wired TV ChampionshipCZW Wired TV ChampionshipThe CZW Wired TV Championship is a championship contested in Combat Zone Wrestling .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 wrestling skill. There have been three...
(1 time, current) - Jake
- CZW Wired TV Championship
- 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 Heavyweight ChampionshipHWA Heavyweight ChampionshipThe HWA Heavyweight Championship is the heavyweight title contested in the Heartland Wrestling Association.- Title history :...
(1 time) – Jake - HWA American Luchacore Championship (1 time) - Dave
- 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:...
(6 times) - HWA Hearland Cup (2011) – Jake
- HWA Heavyweight Championship
- Insanity Pro Wrestling
- IPW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current) - Jake
- IPW Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- IPW Jr Heavyweight Championship (5 times) – Dave (2) and Jake (3)
- IPW Jr. Heavyweight Tournament (2004, 2005, 2006) – Dave (2004, 2006) and Jake (2005)
- International Wrestling Cartel
- IWC Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Juggalo Championship Wrestling
- JCW Tag Team ChampionshipJCW Tag Team ChampionshipThe JCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Nine teams, comprising a total of eighteen wrestlers, have held the JCW Tag Team Championship, combining for a total of thirteen title reigns....
(1 time)
- JCW Tag Team 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 Jake #354 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011
- PWI ranked Dave #364 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011