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Alex Wright

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For other people with the same name, seeAlexander Wright.
Alex Wright
Wright in 1995
Birth nameAlexander Wright
Born(1975-05-17)May 17, 1975(age 49)[1]
Nuremberg,West Germany[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Alex Wright[1]
Berlyn[1]
Billed height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[2]
Billed weight225 lb (102 kg)[2]
Billed fromNuremberg, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Trained bySteve Wright[1]
Debut1991[1]
RetiredMay 31, 2003

Alexander Wright[3](born May 17, 1975) is a German formerprofessional wrestlerandprofessional wrestling promoter.[3]He wrestled professionally in Germany andJapanbefore signing withWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW) in 1994.[1]He remained a prominent mid-card performer during his seven-year tenure with WCW, including reigns as aone time Cruiserweight Champion,[4]aone time World Television Champion[5]and aone time World Tag Team Champion(withDisco Inferno).

He was the owner, founder and CEO of New Sport Entertainment GmbH[6]which is the company that ownsNew European Championship Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career[edit]

Early career (1991–1994)[edit]

Alex was trained by his father Steve Wright, a British professional wrestler.[1]He wrestled his first match in 1991 inGermanywhen he was sixteen years old.[1]He wrestled in his hometown during his early career and also worked in Japan.[7]

World Championship Wrestling (1994–2001)[edit]

Das Wunderkind (1994–1996)[edit]

Wright was discovered byWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW) in mid-1994 when WCW toured through Germany.[1]He signed a contract with Time Warner, the parent company of WCW, and went through more training at theWCW Power Plant.Wright made his WCW debut, defeating Brady Boone on the September 3rd edition of Saturday Night. He originally wrestled as ababyfaceand was known as "DasWunderkind"Alex Wright. His entrance music (" Warped Mind "byDominic Glynn), was of the techno genre, which was popular in some American and German dance clubs at the time, and he often danced as he walked to the ring or once he got in the ring. His firstfeudwas withJean-Paul Levesque,whom he defeated atStarrcadein December in both men's pay-per-view debut.[1][8]In his early career, Wright went undefeated in matches against several WCW superstars includingBobby Eatonin January 1995 atClash of the Champions XXX[1][9]andPaul RomaatSuperBrawl Vin February '95. However, the latter saw Roma's contract later terminated by WCW because of hisstiffperformance and his disregard of instructions to put Wright over during the match.[10]WCW had Wright feud on and off withDisco Inferno,another wrestler who danced in or on his way to the ring, with Wright representing modern dancing and music, and Disco representing older styles. Wright would win all of the matches in this feud.

Wright wrestledArn Andersonfor theWCW World Television Championshipon an episode ofWCW Saturday Nightand beat Anderson by DQ. A rematch was scheduled for the next pay-per-view,Slamboree,where Wright suffered his first loss.[1][11]

Due to WCW's partnership withNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW), Wright participated in NJPW'sBest of the Super Juniorsand finished third in the tournament.[1]He started wrestling against fellowcruiserweightand babyfaceBrian Pillman,whom he defeated in the opening match atThe Great American Bash.[1][12]On the July 16 edition ofMain EventbeforeBash at the Beach,Wright teamed withMarcus Bagwellto faceDick SlaterandBunkhouse Buckin a losing effort.[13]He had encounters with other up and coming WCW stars such asDiamond Dallas Pagein August atClash of the Champions XXXI.[14]In September 1995 onNitro,Wright wrestledSabu.Sabu won the match but continued to attack Wright, even putting him through a table. RefereeNick Patrickthus reversed his decision, disqualifying Sabu for his violence and giving the win to Wright. Wright had several matches againstEddie Guerrero,with a very notable match taking place onThe Main EventbeforeFall Brawl 1995: War Games,[15]which resulted in a draw. Wright also had several matches in '95 and '96 againstDean Malenko.In January 1996, atClash of the Champions XXXII,Malenko defeated Wright by pinfall.[16]

AtWorld War 3,Wright took part in the first-everthree-ring 60-man battle royalfor the vacantWorld Heavyweight Championship,which was won byRandy Savage.[17]AtStarrcade,WCW wrestlers faced NJPW wrestlers in a World Cup of Wrestling. Wright represented WCW against NJPW'sKoji Kanemoto(for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championshipeven though WCW never announced it as such) but ended up losing the bout to Kanemoto.[18]Wright then began a feud with Dick Slater, to whom he lost atUncensoredin a singlesdark match.[19]AtSlamboree,Wright was forced by WCW to be teamed with his wrestling and dancing nemesis Disco Inferno in a tag team match against Slater and Eaton. Wright and Disco lost when Disco was pinned.[20]In June of '96, famed Japanese wrestlerAntonio Inokihelped put together theWorld Wrestling Peace Festival,which was held in Los Angeles. Wright wrestled and lost toChris Benoiton that card. On the August 10 edition ofSaturday Nightthat aired immediately beforeHog Wild,Wright defeated Bobby Eaton in a rematch.[21]

AtWorld War 3,Wright again participated in a three-ring, 60-man battle royal, with the winner getting a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship. The battle royal was won byThe Giant.[22]In January '97 onClash of the Champions XXXIV,Wright lost toMasa Chono,who had recently come to the U.S. and joined thenWo.[23]

Championship reigns (1997)[edit]

WCW had Wright wrestle in several tag team matches with fellow midcarders, mostly on the losing side. On the May 12, 1997, edition ofNitro,Wright partnered withIce TrainagainstKonanandHugh Morrusof theDungeon of Doom,a match in which Wright openly displayedheelishbehavior such as teasing the return of his dance routine that he had temporarily shelved as a babyface, and clashing with Train's managerTeddy Longduring the match. This culminated in Wright claiming to be unable to continue due to a sudden unexplainable knee injury, angrily confronting Long and then abandoning Ice Train, leaving him to lose the match by submission. Wright was thenpushedas a heel for the remainder of 1997, which led to his first championship gold: on the July 28 edition ofNitro,he defeatedChris Jerichoto win theCruiserweight Championship.[4][24]Wright feuded with Jericho thereafter, including a successful title defense against Jericho atRoad Wild,[25]beforedroppingthe title back to Jericho on August 16 edition ofSaturday Night.[24]However, five days later, he defeatedÚltimo Dragónon the August 21Clash of the Champions XXXVto win theWorld Television Championship.[24][5]Wright was able to successfully defend the TV title against Lord Steven Regal on an episode onNitro.

AtFall Brawl,Wright made a successful title defense against Último Dragón in a rematch[26]beforedroppingthe title to rival Disco Inferno on September 22 edition ofNitro.[24]Wright feuded withSteve McMichaelafter McMichael'svaletDebraleft him and became Wright's valet. She ordered the feud and in the rivalry, Wright defeated McMichael atHalloween Havoc,[24][27]with help fromGoldberg,who promptly attacked Wright postmatch. The next month atWorld War 3,McMichael took out Goldberg prior to their match and Wright was literally dragged to the ring by Debra to wrestle McMichael again, and this time suffered a defeat.[28]

Wright would go on to be managed by Debra for a little while longer. Debra would often try to illegally interfere in matches to help him win, but the plan would usually backfire, causing Wright to lose. He then cut ties with Debra after a string of losses that Wright claimed was her fault.

The Dancing Fools (1998)[edit]

Wright would then begin to patch things up with former rival Disco Inferno as they began teaming in 1998 to form a moderately successful tag team called theDancing Fools,which at times also featured Japanese wrestlerTokyo Magnumin the role of a tag-along who regularly attempted to imitate their dancing styles.[24]Wright and Inferno feuded withThe Public Enemy(Johnny GrungeandRocco Rock), including a loss to Grunge and Rocco atRoad Wild.[29]Wright then began ananglewhere he claimed that he was the best WCW wrestler to come out ofEurope.[24]British Bulldog,however, disputed Wright's proclamation,[24]leading to a feud between Wright and Inferno against Bulldog andJim Neidhart.The feud culminated atFall Brawl,where the Dancing Fools lost to Bulldog and Neidhart.[30]After suffering losses, Wright and Inferno split and began singles careers again.

Wright feuded with another fellow European wrestler,Fit Finlay,because he blamed Finlay for ending his father's career.[24]Wright took his father's revenge from Finlay by beating him atHalloween Havoc.[24][31]

Wright again competed in the60-man battle royalat the '98 edition ofWorld War III,with that year's battle royal being won byKevin Nash.

Berlyn (1999–2000)[edit]

At the beginning of 1999, Wright was kept off WCW television for an extended length of time until May, when Wright came up with his own idea for a gimmick.[32]Promotional spots began appearing on WCW television featuring Wright as a surprising newRivethead-style character named Berlyn (an intentional misspelling of the cityBerlin,the capital of Wright's home country Germany), with a black Mohawk and goatee replacing his blond hair. He was clad entirely in black with a long trench coat and arrogantly refused to speakEnglish.He spoke through an interpreter—Uta Ludendorff—and was accompanied to the ring by a large wrestler known asThe Wall.The promos coincided with the aftermath of theColumbine school massacre,which threw a hitch in WCW's plans.[citation needed]Sensing the unintentional similarities in dress between Berlyn and the teenage killers, WCW delayed the debut of Berlyn for several months.[citation needed]During his debut on August 30 onNitro,he quickly insulted Americans, debuting the character as aheel.[33]

Wright wasbookedto faceBuff BagwellatFall Brawlshortly after his debut, but the match did not take place. While WCWclaimedthat Bagwell had missed his flight, Bagwell was in the arena but did not want tolose.[citation needed]WCW replaced Bagwell withHacksaw Jim Duggan,and Wright's problems continued as Dugganno-soldall of Wright's offense and did not cooperate in the ring. Berlyn instead wrestled and defeated Bagwell on the next night'sNitro.[24]Afterwards, Berlyn attackedScott Armstrongand began a feud withBrad Armstrong.Alex (as Berlyn) and Brad Armstrong had a match atHalloween Havoc,which Berlyn lost. After the match, Berlyn and The Wall attacked Armstrong.[24][34]Although Berlyn had been given a push after the fiasco with Duggan and Bagwell, his gimmick was unpopular.[35]WCW furthered the damage by giving The Wall a singlespush,leaving Wright to flounder in the mid-card.[24]

On the October 25 edition ofNitro,it was announced that a tournament would be held for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship and the finals would occur atMayhem.[24]On the following edition ofNitro,Berlyn participated in the tournament but lost his first round match toVampiro.[24]Berlyn began a small feud with Vampiro and cost him his second round match in the tournament against Buff Bagwell.[24]At Mayhem, Vampiro defeated Berlyn in aDog Collar matchafter the Wallturnedon Berlyn.[24][36]Berlyn then feuded with the Wall before again disappearing from WCW television again.

Boogie Knights (2000–2001)[edit]

After several months off from wrestling, Wright returned under his real name on the September 27, 2000, edition ofThunderduring a match between former partner, Disco Inferno, now renamed "Disqo" (a pun on the name of then-popularR&BsingerSisqó), andKonnan.Wright helped Disqo in getting the victory and the duo reunited as the Boogie Knights.[24]Wright was now completely bald but had returned to his previous dancing mannerisms. The Boogie Knights began a feud withThe Filthy Animalswhile they also feuded with two members ofThe Natural Born Thrillers(Sean O'HaireandMark Jindrak), who were the World Tag Team Champions at the time. AtHalloween Havoc,the three teams participated in atriangle matchbut O'Haire and Jindrak won the match.[24][37]Disqo and Wright would then go on to win theWorld Tag Team Championshipfrom O'Haire and Jindrak atMillennium Germanyon November 16.[38][24]However, four days later onNitro,due to Disqo being out with an injury, Wright and substituteElix Skipperlost the titles toChuck PalumboandShawn Stasiak,two other members of the Natural Born Thrillers.[24]

Wright then started an angle where he keptKroniK(Brian AdamsandBryan Clark) as his bodyguards tosquashother cruiserweights. AtMayhem,Wright and KroniK facedBilly KidmanandRey Misterio, Jr.in a 3-on-2handicap match.However, KroniK abandoned Wright after the 15 minutes they were paid for expired, leading to him being pinned.[24][39]Disqo eventually returned from his injury and the Boogie Knights gimmick lasted until WCW was purchased byWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF) in March 2001. Wright remained under contract withAOL Time Warner,as his contract was not bought out by the WWF.

Retirement[edit]

Wright fell out of the spotlight after the folding of WCW and has not appeared on American television since then. Wright stated in an interview that WWE could not sign him as he was one of the few who was under contract withAOL Time Warnerat the time.[40]He also stated that he took a break from wrestling as he was not happy with the backstage politics in WCW that were happening at the time.[40]In the years following, Wright has stayed away from regular active competition, only wrestling on rare occasions for German wrestling promotions NAWA and GWP.

He wrestled his last match on May 31, 2003 defeatingChris the Bambi Killerfor NAWA in Uelzen, Germany.

After working as a banker and fitness instructor, he opened a pro-wrestling school called "The Wright Stuff" inNuremberg,Germany. Notable students include current WWE wrestlerGiovanni Vinci.[41][42]In 2009, he started his own wrestling promotion calledNew European Championship Wrestling(NEW).

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

Other media[edit]

Wright appears in the wrestling themed episode ofLouis Theroux's Weird Weekends.In this episode, Wright mentions that he was to debut his new gimmick (Alexander Wright) that night in WCW. He later renamed the gimmick "Berlyn".

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghijklmno"Alex Wright Profile".Online World of Wrestling. Archived fromthe originalon 20 March 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
  2. ^ab"Wrestlingdata.com – The World's Largest Wrestling Database".WrestlingData.
  3. ^ab"The Wright Stuff – Pro Wrestling School – Impressum".Retrieved12 June2012.
  4. ^abc"WWE Cruiserweight Championship official title history".WWE.Archivedfrom the original on 13 March 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
  5. ^abc"N.W.A./W.C.W. World Television Title".The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo.Archivedfrom the original on 26 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
  6. ^Alex Wright."New European Championship Wrestling".New Sports Entertainment GmbH. Archived fromthe originalon 7 April 2013.Retrieved1 April2013.
  7. ^"Statistics for Professional wrestlers".PWI Presents: 2000 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts.Kappa Publications. pp. 61–75. 2000 Edition.
  8. ^"Starrcade 1994: Triple Threat results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.Alex Wright pinned Jean Paul Levesque
  9. ^"Clash of the Champions XXX results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
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  13. ^"Bash at the Beach 1995 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 28 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
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  15. ^"Fall Brawl 1995: War Games results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Retrieved2011-02-07.
  16. ^"Clash of the Champions XXXII results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
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  18. ^"Starrcade 1995: World Cup of Wrestling results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
  19. ^"Uncensored 1996 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 24 March 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
  20. ^"Slamboree 1996: Lord of the Ring results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
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  23. ^"Clash of the Champions XXXIV results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-14.
  24. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvCawthon, Graham (2015).the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995–2001.CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.ISBN978-1499656343.
  25. ^"Road Wild 1997 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 20 April 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
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  28. ^"World War 3 1997 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.RetrievedMay 17,2012.
  29. ^"Road Wild 1998 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 20 April 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
  30. ^"Fall Brawl 1998: WarGames results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 21 April 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
  31. ^"Halloween Havoc 1998 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
  32. ^"Alex Wright shoots on the Berlyn gimmick and Vince Russo".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved2018-06-21.
  33. ^"Monday Nitro August 30, 1999".pWw--Everything Wrestling.August 30, 1999.Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 22,2023.
  34. ^"Halloween Havoc 1999 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
  35. ^"6 Great WWE/WCW Wrestlers Who Were Held Back by Terrible Gimmicks".
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  37. ^"Halloween Havoc 2000 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.RetrievedMay 17,2012.
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  39. ^"Mayhem 2000 results".Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2008.Retrieved2008-03-15.
  40. ^ab"Alex Wright Wrestling Shoot Interview".YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-12-21.Retrieved2012-10-10.
  41. ^"Fabian Aichner aka Adrian Severe at facebook".
  42. ^"NEW-star Adrian Severe at WWE as Fabian Aichner".
  43. ^"Reference at www.cagematch.net".
  44. ^"PWI 500 of the PWI Years".RetrievedJanuary 16,2019.

External links[edit]

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