Tommy Cairo
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tommy" Cairo is an American
retired professional wrestler
. He is perhaps best known for his 1994 feud
with The Sandman
in Extreme Championship Wrestling
. He is the former co-owner of the New Jersey
-based Force One Pro Wrestling
promotion
and school.
before training as a professional wrestler. As a bodybuilder he placed 9th place in the Mr. America
1985 Medium group. He debuted in 1988.
In 1993, Cairo wrestled several matches with the Japan
ese UWF International
promotion
. In the same year, Cairo joined Eastern Championship Wrestling
, where he used the song
"We Will Rock You
" by Queen
as his entrance music
. On May 14, 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, Cairo won a battle royal
to become the inaugural NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Champion
. He held the title until August 7, 1993, when he was defeated by Tony Stetson
.
Cairo was originally an ally of The Sandman
, assisting him in his feud
with Jason Knight
. The alliance crumbled after The Sandman was temporarily blinded following a match and inadvertently struck his wife, Peaches
. When The Sandman regained his sight and saw Cairo assisting Peaches to her feet, he attacked Cairo. The Sandman subsequently became estranged from his wife (claiming "life's a bitch, and then you marry one"), and Peaches became the valet
of Cairo.
The Sandman, who had abandoned his "surfer
" gimmick in favour of a "pimp
" gimmick, claimed that Cairo had neglected to pay one of The Sandman's prostitutes
, Woman. The Sandman began harassing Cairo and Peaches, demanding Cairo "Pay Your Bills!" This eventually became Cairo's nickname.
Following the highly-publicised caning
of Michael P. Fay
in Singapore
on May 5, 1994, Cairo and Peaches faced The Sandman and Woman in an intergender "Singapore Caning" match on May 14, 1994. After Cairo and Peaches defeated their opponents, Peaches caned The Sandman's crotch
until Woman threw salt
in her eyes, enabling The Sandman to regroup and use his cane on both Cairo and Peaches. The feud led to a "Cane on a Pole" match on June 24, 1994 that The Sandman won after retrieving a second cane from beneath the ring, and a "Dueling Canes" match on July 16, 1994 at Heat Wave 1994 that was also won by The Sandman.
In late 1994, The Sandman was once again "blinded" after a lit cigarette
was pushed into his eye during an "I Quit" match with Tommy Dreamer
. The Sandman subsequently claimed that he would have to retire as a result, with Dreamer responding by dedicating the remainder of his career to The Sandman. Cairo began mocking The Sandman, which led to Dreamer heavily beating him in a match on November 5, 1994 at November to Remember 1994. During The Sandman's retirement ceremony, The Sandman reconciled with Peaches (Woman had abandoned him upon his blinding) before revealing that he was not in fact blinded and attacking Dreamer. The Sandman later revealed that his "blinding" had been an elaborate ruse concocted to trick Dreamer into hurting Cairo on his behalf.
Cairo left ECW in the mid-1990s. On June 24, 1995 in Williamstown, New Jersey
, Cairo defeated Devon Storm
in the finals of a tournament for the vacant NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
. He was stripped of the title in 1996 after no-showing
a defence, due to the birth of his first child.
Between 1996 and 1997 Cairo held the Ultimate Championship Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship title , he wrestled in various matches with the likes of Chris Chavis
aka "Tatanka
", Bruce Hart
son of the legendary Stu Hart
and brother of Bret Hart
and Owen Hart
, Jim Neidhart
, Falcon Coperis
and former partner of one time WWE ChampionShawn Michaels
, Marty Jannetty
.
Between 1998 and 2000, Cairo operated the Outlaws of Wrestling promotion in Atlantic City, New Jersey
. In the same time period, he appeared with USA Pro Wrestling, winning both the Heavyweight and North American championships.
In September 2001, Cairo retired from professional wrestling and began working as an electrician
. In 2007, Cairo returned to wrestling when he, former wrestling radio host Phil Varlese, and wrestlers The White Lotus (Pat Di Giacomo), and Diego DeMarco (James Pillman) opened a professional wrestling school and promotion in the Northeastern United States
known as Force One Pro Wrestling
. Force One Pro Wrestling held its inaugural event, "Pledge of Allegiance", on May 19, 2007 in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
, with Cairo, (in his capacity as commissioner) crowning Heavyweight Champion Breaker Morant and Junior Heavyweight Champion White Lotus.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired 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 perhaps best known for his 1994 feud
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 Sandman
Jim Fullington
James "Jim" Fullington better known by his ring name Sandman, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling , where he developed into a "Hardcore Icon"...
in 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...
. He is the former co-owner of the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-based Force One Pro Wrestling
Force One Pro Wrestling
NWA Force One Pro Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Jersey. It runs shows in Egg Harbor Township and in Hammonton NJ.-History:...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
and school.
Career
Cairo was a bodybuilderBodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
before training as a professional wrestler. As a bodybuilder he placed 9th place in the Mr. America
Mr. America
Mr. America may refer to:* AAU Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the Amateur Athletic Union from 1939 onwards* IFBB Mr. America, bodybuilding contest held by the International Federation of BodyBuilders in 1949 and 1959-1988...
1985 Medium group. He debuted in 1988.
In 1993, Cairo wrestled several matches with the 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...
ese UWF International
UWF International
Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International, U-Inter, or simply UWFi, was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. Although the matches were worked , the UWF-i was very convincing for its time, promoting a more hard-hitting, realistic...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
. In the same year, Cairo joined Eastern 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...
, where he used the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
" by Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
as his entrance music
Music in professional wrestling
Music 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...
. On May 14, 1993 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Cairo won a battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
to become the inaugural NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Champion
ECW Pennsylvania Championship
The ECW Pennsylvania Championship was a short-lived title in ECW when it was called Eastern Championship Wrestling. It was also known as the NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship and existed in 1993.-Title history:-References:-See also:...
. He held the title until August 7, 1993, when he was defeated by Tony Stetson
Tony Stetson
Tony Matteo is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Hitman" Tony Stetson, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s...
.
Cairo was originally an ally of The Sandman
Jim Fullington
James "Jim" Fullington better known by his ring name Sandman, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling , where he developed into a "Hardcore Icon"...
, assisting him in his feud
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 Jason Knight
Jason Knight
Ronald Jason Knight is an American professional wrestler and manager. He is best known for his stints in Eastern / Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time World Television Champion.-World Wrestling Federation :...
. The alliance crumbled after The Sandman was temporarily blinded following a match and inadvertently struck his wife, Peaches
Lori Fullington
Lori Fullington is an American retired professional wrestling manager. She is perhaps best known for her appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling under her real name and as Peaches.-Career:...
. When The Sandman regained his sight and saw Cairo assisting Peaches to her feet, he attacked Cairo. The Sandman subsequently became estranged from his wife (claiming "life's a bitch, and then you marry one"), and Peaches became the valet
Manager (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...
of Cairo.
The Sandman, who had abandoned his "surfer
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
" gimmick in favour of a "pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
" gimmick, claimed that Cairo had neglected to pay one of The Sandman's prostitutes
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, Woman. The Sandman began harassing Cairo and Peaches, demanding Cairo "Pay Your Bills!" This eventually became Cairo's nickname.
Following the highly-publicised caning
Caning in Singapore
Caning is a widely used form of legal corporal punishment in Singapore. It can be divided into several contexts: judicial, military, school, reformatory/prison, and domestic/private....
of Michael P. Fay
Michael P. Fay
Michael Peter Fay is an American who briefly shot to international notoriety when he was sentenced to caning in Singapore as an 18-year-old in 1994 for theft and vandalism...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
on May 5, 1994, Cairo and Peaches faced The Sandman and Woman in an intergender "Singapore Caning" match on May 14, 1994. After Cairo and Peaches defeated their opponents, Peaches caned The Sandman's crotch
Crotch
The term crotch may be used to describe the region of an object where it splits into two or more limbs. This can include trees, animals, buildings, in wiring diagrams, etc....
until Woman threw salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
in her eyes, enabling The Sandman to regroup and use his cane on both Cairo and Peaches. The feud led to a "Cane on a Pole" match on June 24, 1994 that The Sandman won after retrieving a second cane from beneath the ring, and a "Dueling Canes" match on July 16, 1994 at Heat Wave 1994 that was also won by The Sandman.
In late 1994, The Sandman was once again "blinded" after a lit cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
was pushed into his eye during an "I Quit" match with Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
. The Sandman subsequently claimed that he would have to retire as a result, with Dreamer responding by dedicating the remainder of his career to The Sandman. Cairo began mocking The Sandman, which led to Dreamer heavily beating him in a match on November 5, 1994 at November to Remember 1994. During The Sandman's retirement ceremony, The Sandman reconciled with Peaches (Woman had abandoned him upon his blinding) before revealing that he was not in fact blinded and attacking Dreamer. The Sandman later revealed that his "blinding" had been an elaborate ruse concocted to trick Dreamer into hurting Cairo on his behalf.
Cairo left ECW in the mid-1990s. On June 24, 1995 in Williamstown, New Jersey
Williamstown, New Jersey
Williamstown, home of brandon ciarlante, is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Monroe Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey...
, Cairo defeated 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...
in the finals of a tournament for the vacant NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
The NWA North American Heavyweight Championship is the second most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was created in 1994 after World Championship Wrestling withdrew from the NWA. There were other versions of this title before this one was created...
. He was stripped of the title in 1996 after no-showing
Absenteeism
Absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation. Traditionally, absenteeism has been viewed as an indicator of poor individual performance, as well as a breach of an implicit contract between employee and employer; it was seen as a management problem, and framed in economic...
a defence, due to the birth of his first child.
Between 1996 and 1997 Cairo held the Ultimate Championship Wrestling North American Heavyweight Championship title , he wrestled in various matches with the likes of Chris Chavis
Chris Chavis
Christopher "Chris" Chavis , is a Native American professional wrestler best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment as Tatanka from 1991 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2007...
aka "Tatanka
Tatanka
Tatanka may refer to:*Tatanka Iyotake , better known as Sitting Bull, medicine man and leader of the Hunkpapa Sioux*American bison, tatanka in the Lakota language...
", Bruce Hart
Bruce Hart
Bruce Hart may refer to:* Bruce Hart , American songwriter and screenwriter* Bruce Hart , Canadian wrestler...
son of the legendary Stu Hart
Stu Hart
Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart, CM was a Canadian amateur wrestler, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer. Hart founded Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary, Alberta, and was the father of famous wrestlers Bret and Owen Hart...
and brother of Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
and Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
, Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
, Falcon Coperis
Falcon Coperis
Falcon Coperis, real name Louis Velazquez , is a retired American professional wrestler.-Early career:Louis Velazquez grew up in the Bronx in New York City until the age of 13 when his family relocated to the borough of Queens...
and former partner of one time WWE ChampionShawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
, Marty Jannetty
Marty Jannetty
Frederick Marty Jannetty is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as part of tag team The Rockers with partner Shawn Michaels, and later as a singles competitor. While in the WWF, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion and a one time...
.
Between 1998 and 2000, Cairo operated the Outlaws of Wrestling promotion in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
. In the same time period, he appeared with USA Pro Wrestling, winning both the Heavyweight and North American championships.
In September 2001, Cairo retired from professional wrestling and began working as an electrician
Electrician
An electrician is a tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, stationary machines and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure. Electricians may also...
. In 2007, Cairo returned to wrestling when he, former wrestling radio host Phil Varlese, and wrestlers The White Lotus (Pat Di Giacomo), and Diego DeMarco (James Pillman) opened a professional wrestling school and promotion in the Northeastern United States
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
known as Force One Pro Wrestling
Force One Pro Wrestling
NWA Force One Pro Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in New Jersey. It runs shows in Egg Harbor Township and in Hammonton NJ.-History:...
. Force One Pro Wrestling held its inaugural event, "Pledge of Allegiance", on May 19, 2007 in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
Egg Harbor City, New Jersey
Egg Harbor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 4,243....
, with Cairo, (in his capacity as commissioner) crowning Heavyweight Champion Breaker Morant and Junior Heavyweight Champion White Lotus.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Reverse powerbomb
- Sitout scoop slam piledriver
- Standing powerslam
- Signature moves
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
- Moonsault
- 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...
- PeachesLori FullingtonLori Fullington is an American retired professional wrestling manager. She is perhaps best known for her appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling under her real name and as Peaches.-Career:...
- Peaches
- Nicknames
- "The Iron ManIron ManIron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
" Tommy Cairo - "Pay Your Bills"
- "The Iron Man
Championships and accomplishments
- Eastern Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme 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...
- ECW Pennsylvania ChampionshipECW Pennsylvania ChampionshipThe ECW Pennsylvania Championship was a short-lived title in ECW when it was called Eastern Championship Wrestling. It was also known as the NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship and existed in 1993.-Title history:-References:-See also:...
(1 timeECW Pennsylvania ChampionshipThe ECW Pennsylvania Championship was a short-lived title in ECW when it was called Eastern Championship Wrestling. It was also known as the NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship and existed in 1993.-Title history:-References:-See also:...
)
- Eastern States Wrestling / Eastern Shores Wrestling
- ESW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational 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...
- National
- NWA North American Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA North American Heavyweight Championship is the second most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was created in 1994 after World Championship Wrestling withdrew from the NWA. There were other versions of this title before this one was created...
(1 time)
- NWA North American Heavyweight Championship
- Regional
- NWA New York Television Championship (1 time)
- Outlaws of Wrestling
- OoW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Ultimate Championship Wrestling
- UCW North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Ultimate Wrestling Federation
- GWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Unified Championship Wrestling
- UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- USA Pro Wrestling
- UPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- UPW North American Championship (1 time)