Enzo and Cass
Enzo and Cass | |
---|---|
![]() Enzo (right) and Cass (left) in March 2015 | |
Tag team | |
Members | Enzo Amore /nZo Colin Cassady / Big Cass /CaZXL |
Name(s) | Enzo and Cass[1][2] Enzo Amore and Big Cass Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady[3] FreeAgentZ |
Billed heights | Enzo Amore: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Big Cass: 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
Combined billed weight | 477 lb (216 kg) |
Billed from | Hackensack, New Jersey(Enzo Amore), Queens,New York(Big Cass) |
Former member(s) | Carmella(manager) |
Debut | July 3, 2013 |
Years active | 2013–2017 2019 2022–present |
FreeAgentZ(formerly known asEnzo and Cass)[4]are an Americanprofessional wrestlingtag teamcomposed ofnZoandCaZXL.[1][2]The duo are best known for their tenure withWWE,from 2013 to 2017, under the respectivering names,Enzo Amore and Big Cass. After their separate departures from the WWE, the two reunited in 2019, when they appeared atG1 Supercard.
History
[edit]Early years
[edit]Arndt and Morrissey first met each other whilst in their mid-teens during a game ofbasketballatThe CageinManhattan,New York,nearly ten years before reuniting inWWE'sdevelopmental territoryNXT,in July 2013.
WWE
[edit]NXT (2013–2016)
[edit]On May 22, 2013, Enzo Amore debuted onNXTtelevision, where he was quickly defeated byMason Ryan.[5]Colin Cassady debuted on NXT television on June 5, with a loss toMason Ryan.[6][7]On the July 3 episode ofNXT,Amore and Cassady went on to form an alliance,[8]and they labelled themselves "the realest guys in the room".[8][9]Despite Amore and Cassady's alliance, Ryan easily defeated them in consecutive singles matches in July,[10]but lost to them in a handicap match.[9]After the feud with Ryan, Amore and Cassady went on to feud withAlexander Rusev,Scott Dawsonand their managerSylvester Lefort,turningfacein the process.[11][12]On the September 25 episode ofNXT,Amore and Cassady participated in a gauntlet match for a future shot at theNXT Tag Team Championship;they started the match, first defeatingCJ ParkerandTyler Breeze,then beating Rusev and Dawson, but fell to their final opponents,The Ascension(KonnorandViktor).[13]In November 2013, Amore suffered a broken leg while training, which led Cassady to try his hand at singles competition.[14]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Enzo_Cass_Carmella.jpg/170px-Enzo_Cass_Carmella.jpg)
Amore returned on June 26, 2014 episode ofNXT,saving Cassady from an attack from Sylvester Lefort andMarcus Louis.[15]In early August, Amore and Cassady participated in the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament. They defeatedJason JordanandTye Dillingerin the first round but were eliminated by TheVaudevillains(Aiden EnglishandSimon Gotch) in the second round.[16][17]Lefort and Louis then renewed their rivalry with Amore and Cassady by attacking them and shaving Amore's beard. As a result, Amore challenged Lefort to a match with the loser's hair as forfeit atNXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way.Amore proceeded to win the match but Lefort ran away, leaving his partner, Louis, to lose his hair and eyebrows at the hands of Amore and Cassady.[18]Amore and Cassady then formed an alliance with the debutingCarmella.The duo had accidentally cost Carmella her hairdressing job as per the storyline, causing her to demand to get a job as a professional wrestler.[19][20]Carmella had her televised in-ring debut on the October 16, 2014 episode ofNXT.[21]On the March 11, 2015 episode ofNXT,Amore and Cassady defeated TheLucha Dragonsto become the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. AtNXT TakeOver: Unstoppable,Amore and Cassady facedBlake and Murphyfor the title in a losing effort after interference fromAlexa Bliss.In December, Amore and Cassady began a feud withDash and Dawson,where they challenged them for the NXT Tag Team Championship at bothNXT TakeOver: LondonandRoadblockunsuccessfully. On the April 20 episode of NXT, the two took on the newly crowned NXT Tag Team ChampionsAmerican Alpha,in a friendly non-title bout where they failed to defeat them, this was Amore and Cassady's last appearance in NXT.
Main roster (2016–17)
[edit]On theRawafterWrestleMania 32,Amore and Cassady debuted on the main roster and confronted TheDudley Boyz.[22]A week later onSmackDown,Amore and Cassady defeated The Ascension in their main roster debut, in a tournament to determine the number one contenders for theWWE Tag Team Championship.[23]The team went on to defeat The Dudley Boyz on the following week'sRawin the semi-final of the tag team tournament, advancing them to the finals. In the finals, they faced The Vaudevillains atPayback,with the match ending in a no contest after Amore suffered a legitimate concussion during the match.[24]Around this time, Cassady's ring name changed to his former nickname, Big Cass. At theMoney in the Bankpay-per-view, Enzo and Cass facedThe New Day,The Vaudevillains andLuke Gallows and Karl Anderson,in a fatal-four way tag team match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but The New Day retained their titles. On the July 4 edition ofRaw,Enzo and Cass helpedJohn Cena,who was getting attacked by The Club, involving themselves in the feud between Cena and The Club. As a result, Enzo and Cass teamed with Cena to face The Club in a six-man tag team match atBattleground,which they won.
On July 19 at the2016 WWE draft,Enzo and Cass were drafted toRawbrand.[25]Following Battleground, Enzo and Cass proceeded to feud withChris JerichoandKevin Owens.The feud culminated atSummerSlamin a tag team match, which would ultimately be won by Jericho and Owens. On the August 22 episode ofRaw,Cass, managed by Amore, defeatedRusevby count-out to qualify for afatal-four way elimination matchfor the vacantUniversal Championship.The next week onRaw,Cass facedSeth Rollins,Roman Reignsand Kevin Owens for the title, where he was the first man eliminated. On the November 7 episode ofRaw,Enzo and Cass were announced as part of Team Raw for the10–on–10 Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination matchatSurvivor Series,in which their team won. On the November 21 episode ofRaw,after Amore was locked out of the locker room naked by Cass as a practical joke and ran intoLanain the hallway, her husband Rusev challenged Amore to a match later that night, in which Amore was quickly defeated. On the December 5 episode ofRaw,after Amore stood up for Lana after seeing her and Rusev argue backstage, Lana invited Amore to her hotel room. Later that night, this was revealed to be a trap when Rusev attacked Amore in the hotel room. Over the following weeks, Enzo and Cass feuded with Rusev andJinder Mahal.[26]Cass lost a handicap match against Rusev and Jinder Mahal before teaming up with Amore to defeat the duo twice, ending the feud. On the February 20, 2017 episode ofRaw,they would become the number one contenders for the Raw Tag Team Championship by defeatingCesaro and Sheamus.AtFastlane,they failed to capture the titles fromLuke Gallows and Karl Anderson.On April 2 atWrestleMania 33,Enzo and Cass participated in a fatal-four way ladder match for the Raw Tag Team Championship against defending champions Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Cesaro and Sheamus, and the returningHardy Boyz,where The Hardy Boyz emerged victorious. The following night on Raw, Amore and Cass were defeated by Cesaro and Sheamus in a tag team match to determinate the number one contenders for the Raw Tag Team Championship.
Split and feud (2017)
[edit]On the May 22 episode ofRaw,when Amore was attacked, Cass would tell the General ManagerKurt Angleto find the attacker before he does. The next week, Cass would accuseCorey Graves,thenThe Revivalas Amore's attackers. On the June 5 episode ofRaw,Cass was mysteriously attacked in the same manner as Amore and blamed his attack onBig Show,but Show denied this allegation. On the June 19 episode ofRaw,it was revealed by Corey Graves that Cass was behind the attacks on Amore and that he faked his own attack in order to lure away suspicion that he was the attacker. Cass stated his frustration during his time teaming with Amore by accusing him of holding him down, calling him "dead weight". Cass then delivered a big boot to Amore, thus turningheeland disbanding the team. The following week onRaw,Amore called out Cass in order to make up and leave the attacks in the past. Cass would supposedly accept Amore's speech, but then attack him when they went up the entrance ramp. On July 9, Cass defeated Amore atGreat Balls of Fireevent.
They continued to feud for the duration of the summer, with Amore eventually befriending Big Show. Show and Cass' ensuing series of altercations culminated in a match atSummerSlamwith Amore locked inside ashark cagewhich hung over the ring. Although Amore escaped the cage, he was easily taken out by Cass, who would go on to defeat Big Show. On the August 21 episode ofRaw,Cass faced Amore in a Street Fight, which Amore won by referee stoppage after Cass suffered a legitimate knee injury.
Post-WWE (2018)
[edit]In 2018, Arndt and Morrissey were released at separate times from WWE. Arndt was released by WWE on January 23 while Morrissey was released on June 19. Arndt pursued arap musiccareer under the moniker "Real1" and later "nZo", whilst Morrissey worked limited independent wrestling bookings.
Ring of Honor (2019)
[edit]Arndt and Morrissey reunited at theG1 Supercardshow atMadison Square Garden.Following a tag team match involvingRing of HonorandNew Japan Pro-Wrestlingtalent, the two jumped the barricade and attacked several wrestlers.[27]The broadcast cameras cut away from the incident to indicate alegitoutside attack, but it was later reported the angle was aworked shoot.[27]Soon thereafter, the pair gave an interview withSports Illustratedannouncing that they had reformed as a tag team - now known as "nZo" (Arndt) and "CaZXL" (Morrissey).[4]Collectively, they would be known as "FreeAgentZ".
Other media
[edit]The team appears in threevideo games:WWE 2K16,WWE 2K17andWWE 2K18.[28][29][30][31]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Rolling Stone
- Ranked No. 10 of the 10 best WWE wrestlers of 2016[33]
- WWE
- NXT Year-End Award(1 time)
References
[edit]- ^ab"Draft rules revealed: Everything you need to know about the WWE Draft".WWE.Retrieved14 August2016.
- ^ab"WWE SMACKDOWN SPOILERS: THE CLUB VS. ENZO & CASS; CHRIS JERICHO VS. DEAN AMBROSE".Figure Four Wrestling Online. 7 June 2016.Retrieved8 October2016.
- ^"NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival def. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady".WWE.Retrieved8 October2016.
- ^ab"Enzo Amore and Big Cass are back as nZo and CazXL".SI.com.
- ^James, Justin."James's WWE NXT report 5/15 & 5/22: El Generico debuts, O'Brian beats two NXT releases in same match, Bray Wyatt debuts mask, Natalya vs. Rae, more developments".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.
- ^Bongiovanni, Darren."Looking at the WWE & TNA win–loss records: Week 23".PWInsider.com.RetrievedJune 30,2014.
- ^James, Justin."James's WWE NXT results 5/29 & 6/5: Wyatts defend Tag Titles, NXT Women's Title introduced, #1 contender battle royal, Parade of released NXT wrestlers in matches".PWTorch.com.RetrievedJuly 10,2013.
- ^abSaxton, Byron."Colin Cassady & Enzo Amore: 'The Realest Guys in the Room' – Page 2".WWE.Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2013.RetrievedJune 28,2014.
- ^abJames, Justin."James's WWE NXT report 7/10: Wyatts vs. Team Regal six-man main event, NXT Women's Title tourney continues, Generico (Zayn), Mason Ryan, set-up for Charlotte's debut".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.
- ^James, Justin."James's WWE NXT report 7/3 – WEEK 53: Bo Dallas defends NXT Title, Women's Tourney continues, Mason Ryan".PWTorch.RetrievedAugust 9,2013.
- ^James, Justin."James's WWE NXT report 9/11".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.
- ^James, Justin."James's WWE NXT report 10/9".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 4,2014.
- ^"James's WWE NXT report 9/25 – Week 65: Triple H makes" big announcement, "Ohno/Hero returns, Zayn/Generico in action, Overall Reax".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 7,2014.
- ^Saxton, Byron."Riding solo: Can Colin Cassady go it alone?".WWE.Archived fromthe originalon April 23, 2014.RetrievedJune 30,2014.
- ^Justin, James."James's WWE NXT report 6/26 – Week 104: RVD faces NXT champion Neville, Summer Rae, Overall Reax".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 3,2014.
- ^James, Justin."James's WWE NXT report 8/7 – Week 110: Rose finds his way into Zayn vs. Kidd & Gabriel issue, Overall Reax".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedAugust 23,2014.
- ^Namako, Jason."WWE NXT results – 8/21/14 (Rose/Zayn vs. Cara/Kalisto)".WrestleView. Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 8,2015.
- ^Howell, Nolan."Neville shocks, defies odds at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way".Slam! Sports.Canadian Online Explorer.Archived from the original on September 12, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^Namako, Jason (7 September 2014)."WWE NXT Results – 9/4/14 (Tag Tournament Finals)".WrestleView.RetrievedSeptember 30,2014.
- ^Namako, Jason (19 September 2014)."WWE NXT Results – 9/18/14 (Hideo Itami in-ring debut)".WrestleView.RetrievedSeptember 30,2014.
- ^Trionfo, Richard."WWE NXT report: one move to win a match; a Diva debuts; Zayn versus Kidd; and an update on Mojo Rawley".PWInsider.RetrievedOctober 17,2014.
- ^Caldwell, James."4/4 WWE Raw Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Report on post-WM32".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedApril 4,2016.
- ^"WWE SMACKDOWN RESULTS – 4/14/16 (SAMI ZAYN VS. CHRIS JERICHO IN MAIN EVENT, NO. 1 CONTENDERS TAG TEAM TOURNAMENT CONTINUES)".wrestleview.com.15 April 2016.Retrieved16 April2016.
- ^Caldwell, James."5/1 WWE Payback Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Live Report".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedMay 1,2016.
- ^Caldwell, James (July 24, 2016)."7/24 WWE Battleground Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Report".Pro Wrestling Torch.RetrievedJuly 24,2016.
- ^Hanstock, Bill (December 26, 2016)."Enzo and Cass feud with Jinder Mahal and Rusev".Uproxx.com.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
- ^ab"Enzo and Big Cass make appearance at ROH-NJPW G1 Supercard".WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results.April 6, 2019.
- ^"Superstars and Divas featured on WWE 2K16 roster list".WWE.RetrievedAugust 23,2017.
- ^"WWE 2K17 roster: All confirmed wrestlers and characters".Sportskeeda. 16 September 2016.RetrievedAugust 23,2017.
- ^"WWE 2K17 roster: All confirmed wrestlers and characters".Sportskeeda. September 16, 2016.RetrievedAugust 23,2017.
- ^Artus, Matthew (January 16, 2018)."WWE 2K18 roster: Meet the Superstars joining the list of playable characters".World Wrestling Entertainment.Archivedfrom the original on January 26, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 17,2023.
- ^ab"Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016".The Internet Wrestling Database.RetrievedAugust 31,2016.
- ^Herzog, Ken (December 21, 2016)."10 Best WWE Wrestlers of 2016".Rolling Stone.RetrievedSeptember 30,2020.
- ^Zimmerman, Zack."1/13 Zim's WWE NXT Live Coverage: Battle Royal to determine Bayley's next challenger for the NXT Women's Championship, Dash and Dawson vs. The Ascension, plus Elias Sampson and Tommaso Ciampa in action".prowrestling.net.RetrievedJanuary 13,2016.
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Big CassonWWE.com
- Enzo AmoreonWWE.com