Wikipedia

Wardlow (wrestler)

Michael Austin Wardlow(born January 19, 1988) is an Americanprofessional wrestler.He is signed toAll Elite Wrestling(AEW) where he performs under themononymousring nameWardlow,and is a member of theUndisputed Kingdomstable. He is a former three-timeAEW TNT Champion.He is currently on hiatus due to a knee injury.

Wardlow
Wardlow in 2018
Birth nameMichael Austin Wardlow[1]
Born(1988-01-19)January 19, 1988(age 36)
Middlefield, Ohio,U.S.[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Michael Wardlow
Wardlow
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[3]
Billed weight266 lb (121 kg)[3]
Billed fromCleveland, Ohio
Trained byJosh Emanuel[3]
Debut2014[1]

Early life

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Michael Wardlow was born inMiddlefield, Ohio.He was raised by a single mother and has two older sisters. He has a background inboxingandjujitsu.[1]

Professional wrestling career

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Independent circuit (2014–2019)

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Wardlow made hisprofessional wrestlingdebut on March 15, 2014, for theindependent promotion,American Revolution Wrestling, where he was defeated by Nickie Valentino.[4]In the following years, Wardlow began to wrestle in other promotions, including theInternational Wrestling Cartel(IWC).[5]In December 2016, Wardlow won his first championship by way of defeating RJ City to capture the vacantIWC Heavyweight Championship.He would win the title on two further occasions.[6]Also around this time, Wardlow had a try out to earn adevelopmental contractwithWWE,but was not offered a position. Shortly after, he started training withKurt Angle.[7]He then spent another year on the indies winning titles.[8][9]In March 2019, he won theIWC Super Indy Championship,[10]but lost it to Josh Alexander in August.[11]Also in 2019, Wardlow won the Revenge Pro Wrestling World Title.[12]

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

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Bodyguard of MJF and The Pinnacle (2019–2022)

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See also:The Pinnacle

AtAll Elite Wrestling(AEW)'sAll Outpay-per-viewon August 31, 2019, a video package aired, promoting Wardlow's impending debut.[13]Wardlow made his debut for AEW on the November 13 episode ofDynamite,attackingCody.[14]He would then align himself with Cody's rivalMJFand became his bodyguard.[15]Wardlow wrestled his AEW debut match on the February 19, 2020, episode ofDynamite,where he lost to Cody in asteel cage match.[16]In October, Wardlow would participate in a tournament to determine the number one contender for theAEW World Championship,defeatingJungle Boyin the first round before ultimately being eliminated byAdam Pagein the semi-finals.[17][18]Following this, Wardlow and MJF would joinThe Inner Circlefaction, also consisting ofChris Jericho,Sammy Guevara,Jake Hager,Santana, and Ortiz.[19]However, after months of tension within the group, Wardlow and MJF separated from The Inner Circle in March 2021 to form a new group calledThe Pinnacle,also made up ofShawn SpearsandFTR(Cash WheelerandDax Harwood), sparking a feud between the two groups.[20]At theBlood and Gutsevent on May 5, The Pinnacle defeated The Inner Circle in the inauguralBlood and Guts match.[21]At theDouble or Nothingpay-per-view later that month, The Pinnacle were defeated by The Inner Circle in aStadium Stampede match.[22]On the June 18 episode ofDynamite,Wardlow was defeated by Hager in aMMA rules cage match.[23]On the August 11 episode, Wardlow faced Jericho, but was unsuccessful.[24]On the December 8 episode, Wardlow competed in theDynamite Dozen Battle Royale,but he was inadvertently eliminated by MJF, thus beginning to tease afaceturn due to growing dissension with MJF.[25]Over the following weeks, the tension would continue to grow as Wardlow came into conflict with Shawn Spears, MJF, and other members of The Pinnacle, culminating in the March 2, 2022, episode, where MJF slapped Wardlow in a heated confrontation.

On March 6, 2022, Wardlow won the "Face of the Revolution" ladder match at theRevolutionpay-per-view, guaranteeing him a future match for theAEW TNT Championship.Later that same evening, Wardlow would helpCM Punkdefeat MJF (after helping MJF cheat his previous victory against Punk) during theirDog Collar matchby handing him theAEW Dynamite Diamond Ring,thus turning face.[26][27]On the following episode ofDynamite,Wardlow cemented his turn in a promo, declaring that he was no longer MJF's bodyguard and no longer a member of The Pinnacle.[28]On the March 16, 2022, episode, Wardlow would lose his TNT Championship match to reigning championScorpio Skyfollowing interference from MJF and Shawn Spears.[29]Wardlow also had a confrontation withAustin Vanderford,who later assisted MJF and Spears in attacking him after the match ended.[29]Within storyline, Wardlow was not employed by AEW but by MJF, who could forbid him from wrestling him or for AEW altogether. MJF set up stipulations under which he would let him out of the contract, such as being lashed 10 times.[30]On the May 25 episode, Wardlow completed the final stipulation by defeating Spears in a steel cage match, with MJF serving unsuccessfully as the special guest referee. This guaranteed him a match with MJF at theDouble or Nothingpay-per-view,[31]where if Wardlow won, he would officially be released from his contract with MJF, but if he lost, he would be banned from obtaining a new AEW contract and would be required to remain under MJF's employment.[32]At the event, Wardlow defeated MJF after hitting him with ten consecutivepowerbombsto win the match and was freed of his contract; as a result, Wardlow also earned a new AEW contract which in storyline made him an official member of the AEW roster.[33]On the June 1, 2022, episode ofDynamite,Wardlow wrestled in his first match as an official member of the AEW roster, defeating J.D. Drake.[34][35]

TNT Champion (2022–2023)

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On the July 6 episode ofDynamite,Wardlow defeated Scorpio Sky in a street fight to win the TNT Championship, his first championship in AEW. Wardlow's first defense of the title was againstOrange Cassidyon the first night of theFyter Festevent on July 13, 2022. Wardlow beat Cassidy with his powerbomb finishing move, after catching the challenger midair.[36]On the July 29, 2022, episode ofRampage,Wardlow intervened to save Cassidy from an attack byJay Lethal.On the following episode ofDynamite,Lethal's manager,Sonjay Dutt,challenged Wardlow to defend his TNT Championship against his client. Wardlow accepted the challenge,[37]and retained the title against Lethal at theBattle of the Belts IIIevent on August 6, winning with a head butt and powerbomb finish.[38]He then lost the title toSamoa Joeon November 19 at theFull Gearpay-per-view, ending his first TNT Championship reign at 136 days.[39]He won the title back from Joe at the next pay-per-view,Revolution,on March 5, 2023,[40]but his reign was cut short as 2023 Face of the Revolution ladder match winnerPowerhouse Hobbsdefeated Wardlow for the title bytechnical knockoutin aFalls Count Anywhere matchon the March 8 episode ofDynamite,ending his second reign at just three days.[41]Wardlow would then defeat Hobbs in a rematch on the April 19 episode to win back the title, becoming a record-tying three-time TNT Champion.[42]On June 17 at the premiere episode ofCollision,Wardlow lost the TNT Championship title toLuchasaurus.[43]

Undisputed Kingdom (2023–present)

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See also:Undisputed Kingdom

On the October 4 episode ofDynamite,Wardlow returned as aheeland defeatedGriff Garrisonafter 5 consecutive Powerbombs.[44] Wardlow defeatedMatt Sydalon the October 10 episode ofDynamiteby referee stoppage.[45]He then defeatedRyan Nemethon the October 18 episode of Dynamite. After the match, he motioned that he would be coming after AEW World Champion MJF.[46]On December 30 atWorlds End,Wardlow revealed himself as one of The Devil's Masked Men, along withRoderick Strong,Matt TavenandMike Bennettattacked MJF, withAdam Colerevealing himself as the Devil.[47]On the January 3, 2024 episode ofDynamite,Cole announced that the stable had changed its name toThe Undisputed Kingdomand laid out their goals, which included Wardlow capturing the AEW World Championship and give it to Cole.[48]On March 3, 2024 atRevolution,Wardlow won an All-Star Scramble match where he received a future AEW World Championship match.[49]On the following episode ofDynamite,Wardlow was scheduled to receive his AEW World Championship match against Samoa Joe the following week atDynamite:Big Business,[50]where Joe retained.[51]In September 2024, fellow Undisputed Kingdom member Matt Taven, revealed that Wardlow, who went on hiatus in late April, had suffered a knee injury.[52]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  2. ^Felstead, Scott (May 27, 2021)."AEW Heavy Hitter Wardlow Talks Wrestling and Love of the Gym".Muscle & Fitness.RetrievedJanuary 28,2022.
  3. ^abc"Wardlow".www.cagematch.net.RetrievedDecember 4,2019.
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  15. ^Woodward, Hamish (February 2, 2023)."Wardlow's AEW Debut Was In The Company's First Ever Cage Match".RetrievedFebruary 3,2023.
  16. ^Barnett, Jake (February 19, 2020)."2/19 AEW Dynamite TV results: Barnett's live review of Cody vs. Wardlow in a steel cage match, Jon Moxley vs. Jeff Cobb, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page vs. Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix for the AEW Tag Titles, Tag Team battle royal for a tag title shot at AEW Revolution".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMarch 1,2020.
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  18. ^Powell, Jason (October 28, 2020)."10/28 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Cody vs. Orange Cassidy in a lumberjack match for the TNT Championship, Hangman Page vs. Wardlow, and Kenny Omega vs. Penta El 0M in eliminator tournament semifinal matches, Serena Deeb vs. Leyla Hirsch for the NWA Women's Title, Eddie Kingston vs. Matt Sydal".Prowrestling.net.RetrievedOctober 28,2020.
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  21. ^Barnett, Jake (May 5, 2021)."5/5 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of The Inner Circle vs. The Pinnacle in a Blood and Guts match, Cody Rhodes vs. QT Marshall, SCU vs. Jurassic Express vs. The Acclaimed vs. Varsity Blonds in a four-way for a shot at the AEW Tag Titles".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMay 5,2021.
  22. ^Powell, Jason (May 30, 2021)."AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Pac for the AEW Championship, Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker for the AEW Women's Title, Miro vs. Lance Archer for the TNT Title, The Young Bucks vs. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston for the AEW Tag Titles, The Pinnacle vs. The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMay 30,2021.
  23. ^"AEW Dynamite Results for June 18, 2021".All Elite Wrestling. June 19, 2021.RetrievedJune 20,2021.
  24. ^Barnett, Jake (August 11, 2021)."8/11 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Chris Jericho vs. Wardlow, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Evil Uno and Stu Grayson for the Impact Tag Team Titles, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson vs. Matt Sydal, Mike Sydal, and Dante Martin, Nyla Rose vs. Kris Statlander".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedAugust 12,2021.
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  26. ^All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (March 7, 2022)."@RealWardlow with a convenient memory lapse during this #DogCollar match between @CMPunk and @The_MJF"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  27. ^Thomas, Jeremy (March 6, 2022)."CM Punk Beats MJF In Bloody Dog Collar Match At AEW Revolution, Wardlow Turns On MJF (Clips)".411 Mania.RetrievedMarch 7,2022.
  28. ^Rueter, Sean (March 9, 2022)."Wardlow nails his first big babyface promo".Cageside Seats.RetrievedMarch 10,2022.
  29. ^abBarnett, Jake (March 16, 2022)."3/16 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa in a cage match for the AEW Women's Title, Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy vs. Private Party, Scorpio Sky vs. Wardlow for the TNT Title, Hangman Page, Jungle Boy, and Luchasaurus vs. Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly, Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta and Chuck Taylor".Prowrestling.net.RetrievedMarch 16,2022.
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  31. ^Klyn, Parker (May 25, 2022)."AEW Dynamite live results: Double or Nothing go-home show. Wardlow faces Shawn Spears in a cage match, plus Britt Baker takes on Toni Storm on the final Dynamite before Sunday's pay-per-view".Figure Four Online.RetrievedMay 26,2022.
  32. ^Nation, Josh (May 25, 2022)."MJF vs. Wardlow officially set for AEW Double or Nothing".Figure Four Online.RetrievedMay 26,2022.
  33. ^Nation, Josh (May 28, 2022)."Wardlow defeats MJF at AEW Double or Nothing, earns contract".Figure Four Online.RetrievedJune 2,2022.
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  36. ^Blanchard, Matthew (July 13, 2022)."AEW Fyter Fest Night One Results: Wardlow Defeats Orange Cassidy To Retain TNT Championship (07/13)".The Overtimer.RetrievedAugust 4,2022.
  37. ^Staff, A. E. W. (August 4, 2022)."AEW Dynamite Results for August 3, 2022".All Elite Wrestling.RetrievedAugust 4,2022.
  38. ^"Satnam Singh Destroys Wardlow, Championship Match Graphics, More | Battle Of The Belts Fight Size | Fightful News".www.fightful.com.RetrievedAugust 7,2022.
  39. ^Powell, Jason (November 19, 2022)."AEW Full Gear results: Powell's live review of Jon Moxley vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship, The Acclaimed vs. Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee for the AEW Tag Titles, Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter for the Interim AEW Women's Title, Death Triangle vs. The Elite for the AEW Trios Titles, Saraya vs. Britt Baker".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedNovember 19,2022.
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  41. ^Powell, Jason (March 8, 2023)."3/8 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs for the TNT Title, Orange Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal for the AEW All-Atlantic Title, Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, and Sammy Guevara vs. AR Fox and Top Flight, Ruby Soho vs. Skye Blue, Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli vs. John Silver and Alex Reynolds".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMarch 9,2023.
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  49. ^Powell, Jason (March 3, 2024)."AEW Revolution results: Powell's live review of Sting and Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW Tag Titles in Sting's final match, Samoa Joe vs. Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Page for the AEW World Championship".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMarch 3,2024.
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  54. ^Powell, Jason (March 6, 2022)."AEW Revolution results: Powell's live review of Hangman Page vs. Adam Cole for the AEW Title, Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women's Title, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus vs. Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly vs. The Young Bucks for the AEW Tag Titles, CM Punk vs. MJF in a dog collar match, Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedMarch 7,2022.
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