Billy Fives
Encyclopedia
Billy Fives is an American professional wrestler
and former shoot fighter
who has competed in North American independent
promotions
including Combat Zone Wrestling
, East Coast Wrestling Alliance, Major League Wrestling
and the X Wrestling Federation
as well as toured South America, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and Japan. He has also made appearances for World Championship Wrestling
and the World Wrestling Federation
.
During the late 1990s, he was considered one of the most popular wrestlers in the Florida independent circuit until joining Chris Charger and Wildside (Anthony Michaels
and Jeff Roth
) to form the "heel
" stable Animal House which appeared in a number of independent wrestling promotions including Future of Wrestling
, Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida. He later became part of Kevin Kelly
's Alliance of Defiance stable with Rod Steel, Mike Sullivan
and Scoot Andrews
.
and later moved to southern Florida where he grew up in Miami Beach. He often watched Championship Wrestling from Florida hosted by Gordon Solie
and was a later fan of Barry Windham
, Rick Steamboat and Ric Flair
. He also attended weekly wrestling events at the Miami Beach Convention Center
. He graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1987 and attended Mount Aloysius College
until 1989.
He studied martial arts
during his teenage years, earning six black belts in three disciplines, and was involved in shootfighting
. He competed in Japan for three years prior to becoming a professional wrestler. Growing up with Norman Smiley
, he was brought into the business by Smiley who was involved in his training at Rusty Brooks
' School of Hard Knocks along with Brooks, David Heath
, Bruno Sassi
and others. In April 1997, Fives made his debut against Flex Magnum in Hollywood, Florida.
Fives spent a year in various promotions on the independent circuit until joining Future of Wrestling
. Six days after a WWF tryout match at the National Car Rental Center, he accompanied FOW in the promotion's first international tour to Lima, Peru from May 17–25. On May 18, he appeared with Bobby Rogers, Mike Monroe, Marshall Law, The Postman, Cyborg, Phi DeKapp U, Yuel Lovett and his valet Montana on the daytime talk show The Monica Show. During the next two days, he faced J-Dawg and Anthony Adonis in back-to-back appearances at the Coliseo Amauta
. He eventually defeated J-Dawg for the FOW International Heavyweight Championship on September 25, 1999. Losing the title three months later to Warlock in Davie, Florida
on December 30, that same night he joined Tony Apollo and Anthony Adonis to form the stable FP&L (Florida Power and Lovin') and won the FOW Tag Team Championship from Wildside (Anthony Michaels and Jeff Roth). In January 2000, Fives faced his tag team partner Anthony Adonis on a televised match for Ted DiBiase
's WXO Wrestling in Lakeland, Florida
. FP&L broke up immediately after losing the tag team titles to Suicidal Tendencies (Dennis
and Sean Allen) on February 12.
On March 4, Fives won a battle royal at an event for the Independent Professional Wrestling Association in Homestead, Florida
. A month later, he appeared on the April 15th edition of WWF Jakked where he faced Essa Ríos in the opening match. He was pinned by Rios after a moonsault
. On February 24, 2001, Fives competed in the 2001 Super 8 Tournament in Wilmington, Delaware
and lost to Lo Ki in the opening rounds. On April 22, he defeated "Mr. Extreme" Pat McGuire to win the FOW Heavyweight Championship
. He would go on to win the title a record 5 times. Two days later at the Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Fives and Pepe Prado represented NWA Florida in a tag team match against Mike Sullivan
and Scoot Andrews
during an interpromotional event between IPW Hardcore vs. NWA Florida.
He also lost to Scoot Andrews in the tournament finals for the ECWA Heavyweight Championship
on May 5. On June 23, he made a second appearance on WWF Jakked losing to Haku. He also made an appearance in Jimmy Hart
's X Wrestling Federation
where he was one of several wrestlers to compete in a battle royal
to decide the first XWF Cruiserweight Champion at Universal Studios
in Orlando, Florida
on November 13, 2001. Among the participants included Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera
, A.J. Styles
, Low Ki, Prince Iaukea, Christopher Daniels
and the winner Kid Kash.
At the end of the year, Fives defeated A.J. Styles for the IPW Heavyweight Championship on December 8, 2001. It was during this time that he formed the stable Animal House with Chris Charger and Wildside (Anthony Michaels
and Jeff Roth
). The stable was named after Fives' gym in Hollywood, Florida
where a number of independent wrestlers trained, most notably, David Babylon and Maximum Capacity
.
He and Bruno Sassi
defeated the Badstreet Boys (Christian York
and Joey Matthews
) on February 9, 2002. He also feuded with Scoot Andrews facing him in a memorable ladder match
at the 2002 ECWA Super 8 Tournament for his ECWA Heavyweight Championship
. On April 13, he faced his mentor Norman Smiley in a match for the FOW Heavyweight Championship and lost the title after submitting to the crossface chickenwing. On May 24, he finally lost the IPW Heavyweight title to Mike Sullivan in Deltona, Florida
. He was scheduled to face Mark Briscoe in the opening rounds of the Jersey J-Cup tournament, but was replaced by Shawn Sheridan at the last moment.
On August 10, he also challenged CZW World Heavyweight Champion
Justice Pain
at No Excuses. In December, he and Scoot Andrews defeated Sly Grenier and Blake Gale in a dark match on SmackDown. According to Kevin Kelly
, he originally brought Fives to the attention of the WWF after receiving a tape of a three-way match involving Scoot Andrews and Billy Fives. He described showing the tape to then WWF official Terry Taylor
,
Although Fives was reportedly in discussions signing with the WWF, he ultimately decided he was not interested in the offer. He was later critical of Vince McMahon
's monopoly on the professional wrestling industry following the buyout of World Championship Wrestling
and Extreme Championship Wrestling
in 2001, although he also pointed out that this also gave independent promotions more attention as a result.
In early 2003, he also toured Japan with Riki Chōshū
's World Japan Pro Wrestling
before returning to face Danny Doring
for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
at the interpromotional IPW/NWA Florida supercard The Aftermath on January 25. At the last major IPW supercard Rage in the Cage V, his daughter accompanied him to the ring prior to his match against Agent Steele at the Pinellas Expo Center on April 18.
After the close of IPW Hardcore and Future of Wrestling, he returned to the Florida independent circuit. On June 12, he was defeated in a four-way match against Antonio Banks
, Scoot Andrews and NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Mike Sullivan at the Davie Police Athletic League. The following month at Pro Wrestling Fusion's Heatstroke '04, he and Scoot Andrews fought over the vacant NWA Southern Heavyweight title at Pro Wrestling Fusion's Heatstroke '04 at the Davie Police Athletic League complex on August 21. Fives was one of many former wrestlers to find work in NWA Florida and defeated Vordell Walker in one of his first matches in the promotion on October 9, 2004. The next month, he and Lex Lovett
lost to Scoot Andrews & Antonio Banks on November 20. while competing for Major League Wrestling
that same year, he and other independent wrestlers gained a great deal of exposure in high-profile appearances with the company. His match with Christopher Daniels
at Hybrid Hell was considered one of the best matches on the card and later released on DVD.
On January 22, 2005, he also teamed with Lovett and Buck Quartermain in a 6-man tag team match against Vordell Walker, Scoot Andrews and Antonio Banks which was declared a no-contest. On February 26, he fought to a 30 minute time limit draw against Mike Sullivan and Scoot Andrews in his retirement match. In June, he appeared at the 3rd annual Peterson Memorial Cup tournament to present the winner with a trophy. During 2007, he feuded with "The Marquee" Bruce Santee in several Florida independent promotions including Florida United 2 and Division-1 Pro Wrestling.
In Early 2011, Bobby Rogers, the owner of the original Future of Wrestling, announced the promotion would be relaunching. At the first show in Davie Florida, Fives won a tournament to be crowned the new FOW Heavyweight Champion, making him a 6 time champion.
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...
and former shoot fighter
Shootfighting
Shootfighting is a combat sport and martial art, with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association . Shootfighting incorporates techniques from a multitude of traditional martial arts, the most principle of these being Muay Thai and Catch Wrestling.Shootfighting was...
who has competed in North American independent
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
promotions
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...
including Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat Zone Wrestling
Combat 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"...
, East Coast Wrestling Alliance, Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion that markets its presentation around hybrid wrestling, which encompasses and showcases many different forms of wrestling. MLW's mission is to present itself as an alternative to sports entertainment...
and the X Wrestling Federation
X Wrestling Federation
Xtreme Wrestling Federation was an American professional wrestling promotion. The organization's heyday was from early November of 2001 to late February of 2002. Its birth coincided with the World Wrestling Federation's acquisition of AOL Time Warner's World Championship Wrestling. XWF's slogan...
as well as toured South America, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia and Japan. He has also made appearances for World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
.
During the late 1990s, he was considered one of the most popular wrestlers in the Florida independent circuit until joining Chris Charger and Wildside (Anthony Michaels
Anthony Michaels
Anthony Michaels is an American professional wrestler, also known as Snot Dudley and Tony Carlone. He is best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling as a member of the Dudley family in the mid-1990s.-Career:...
and Jeff Roth
Jeff Roth
Jeff Roth is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who has competed in North American independent promotions throughout the 1990s including Florida Championship Wrestling, Future of Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance...
) to form the "heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
" stable Animal House which appeared in a number of independent wrestling promotions including Future of Wrestling
Future of Wrestling
Future of Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in southern Florida starting during the late 1990s. Founded by Bobby Rogers, the promotion was a predecessor of Full Impact Pro, Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida and featured several top independent wrestlers...
, Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida. He later became part of Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly (announcer)
Kevin Foote is an American professional wrestling manager, pundit, sportscaster and ring announcer, better known by his ring name, Kevin Kelly...
's Alliance of Defiance stable with Rod Steel, Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan (wrestler)
Mike Sullivan is an American professional wrestler who competes in Southeastern independent promotions including Full Impact Pro, Future of Wrestling, International Professional Wrestling and NWA Florida...
and Scoot Andrews
Andrew Warner
Andrew Warner is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "The Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews.After debuting in 1994, Andrew competed for numerous independent promotions throughout his career...
.
Career
Fives was born in Cherokee, North CarolinaCherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S...
and later moved to southern Florida where he grew up in Miami Beach. He often watched Championship Wrestling from Florida hosted by Gordon Solie
Gordon Solie
Jonard Frank Labiak , better known as Gordon Solie, was a Florida-based professional wrestling play-by-play announcer working for World Championship Wrestling...
and was a later fan of Barry Windham
Barry Windham
Barry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
, Rick Steamboat and Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
. He also attended weekly wrestling events at the Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach Convention Center
Miami Beach Convention Center is an indoor arena in Miami Beach, Florida and it is currently the largest convention center in the Miami area. It now features 4 large rooms each holding about 12,000 people.- History :...
. He graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School in 1987 and attended Mount Aloysius College
Mount Aloysius College
Mount Aloysius College is a Catholic, private college in Cresson, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a liberal arts college that awards bachelor’s, associate’s, and master’s degrees in the arts and sciences fields...
until 1989.
He studied martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
during his teenage years, earning six black belts in three disciplines, and was involved in shootfighting
Shootfighting
Shootfighting is a combat sport and martial art, with competitions governed by the International Shootfighting Association . Shootfighting incorporates techniques from a multitude of traditional martial arts, the most principle of these being Muay Thai and Catch Wrestling.Shootfighting was...
. He competed in Japan for three years prior to becoming a professional wrestler. Growing up with Norman Smiley
Norman Smiley
Norman Anthony Smiley is a British professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling...
, he was brought into the business by Smiley who was involved in his training at Rusty Brooks
Rusty Brooks
Kurt Koski is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Rusty Brooks. He has competed in several North American independent promotions, including International World Class Championship Wrestling, Florida Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance...
' School of Hard Knocks along with Brooks, David Heath
David Heath (fighter)
David Alan Heath is an American mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he made his debut at UFC 62, defeating Cory Walmsley by first-round submission...
, Bruno Sassi
Bruno Sassi
Bruno Sassi is an American professional wrestler best known for being a member of the tag team Phi Delta Slam, as well as his appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and others. In April 1997, Fives made his debut against Flex Magnum in Hollywood, Florida.
Fives spent a year in various promotions on the independent circuit until joining Future of Wrestling
Future of Wrestling
Future of Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in southern Florida starting during the late 1990s. Founded by Bobby Rogers, the promotion was a predecessor of Full Impact Pro, Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida and featured several top independent wrestlers...
. Six days after a WWF tryout match at the National Car Rental Center, he accompanied FOW in the promotion's first international tour to Lima, Peru from May 17–25. On May 18, he appeared with Bobby Rogers, Mike Monroe, Marshall Law, The Postman, Cyborg, Phi DeKapp U, Yuel Lovett and his valet Montana on the daytime talk show The Monica Show. During the next two days, he faced J-Dawg and Anthony Adonis in back-to-back appearances at the Coliseo Amauta
Coliseo Amauta
The Coliseo Amauta is the biggest multi-use indoor arena in Peru, located in the southern zone of the Lima District in Lima-Peru.The arena has a capacity for 20,000 people, which can vary depending on use. It was the most important arena in Peru, today it has been left to its luck, no one gives...
. He eventually defeated J-Dawg for the FOW International Heavyweight Championship on September 25, 1999. Losing the title three months later to Warlock in Davie, Florida
Davie, Florida
Davie is a town in Broward County, Florida, United States. The town's population was 91,992 at the 2010 census.- History :Davie was founded by Jake Tannebaum and Tamara Toussaint. The original name of the town was Zona. In 1909 R.P. Davie assisted then Governor Broward by draining the swamplands...
on December 30, that same night he joined Tony Apollo and Anthony Adonis to form the stable FP&L (Florida Power and Lovin') and won the FOW Tag Team Championship from Wildside (Anthony Michaels and Jeff Roth). In January 2000, Fives faced his tag team partner Anthony Adonis on a televised match for Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
's WXO Wrestling in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
. FP&L broke up immediately after losing the tag team titles to Suicidal Tendencies (Dennis
Dirty Dennis Allen
Dirty Dennis Allen is an American professional wrestler. Allen trained at the legendary Monster Factory in the late 1980s. Allen worked closely with Larry Sharpe and Charlie Fulton.-Career:...
and Sean Allen) on February 12.
On March 4, Fives won a battle royal at an event for the Independent Professional Wrestling Association in Homestead, Florida
Homestead, Florida
Homestead is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States nestled between Biscayne National Park to the east and Everglades National Park to the west. Homestead is primarily a Miami suburb and a major agricultural area....
. A month later, he appeared on the April 15th edition of WWF Jakked where he faced Essa Ríos in the opening match. He was pinned by Rios after a moonsault
Moonsault
A 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,...
. On February 24, 2001, Fives competed in the 2001 Super 8 Tournament in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
and lost to Lo Ki in the opening rounds. On April 22, he defeated "Mr. Extreme" Pat McGuire to win the FOW Heavyweight Championship
FOW Heavyweight Championship
The FOW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in American independent promotion Future of Wrestling. The title was created when "Ram Man" Johnny Evans won the title in Miami, Florida on May 1, 1998. It was defended throughout southern Florida, most often in Davie, Oakland Park,...
. He would go on to win the title a record 5 times. Two days later at the Homer W. Hesterly Armory, Fives and Pepe Prado represented NWA Florida in a tag team match against Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan (wrestler)
Mike Sullivan is an American professional wrestler who competes in Southeastern independent promotions including Full Impact Pro, Future of Wrestling, International Professional Wrestling and NWA Florida...
and Scoot Andrews
Andrew Warner
Andrew Warner is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "The Black Nature Boy" Scoot Andrews.After debuting in 1994, Andrew competed for numerous independent promotions throughout his career...
during an interpromotional event between IPW Hardcore vs. NWA Florida.
He also lost to Scoot Andrews in the tournament finals for the ECWA Heavyweight Championship
ECWA Heavyweight Championship
ECWA Heavyweight Championship is the top title contested in the independent professional wrestling promotion East Coast Wrestling Association.-References:...
on May 5. On June 23, he made a second appearance on WWF Jakked losing to Haku. He also made an appearance in Jimmy Hart
Jimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
's X Wrestling Federation
X Wrestling Federation
Xtreme Wrestling Federation was an American professional wrestling promotion. The organization's heyday was from early November of 2001 to late February of 2002. Its birth coincided with the World Wrestling Federation's acquisition of AOL Time Warner's World Championship Wrestling. XWF's slogan...
where he was one of several wrestlers to compete in 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 decide the first XWF Cruiserweight Champion at Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
on November 13, 2001. Among the participants included Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera
Juventud Guerrera
Eduardo Aníbal González Hernández , better known as Juventud Guerrera, is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for his work in many wrestling promotions worldwide, including all the major American wrestling promotions, such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship...
, A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Low Ki, Prince Iaukea, Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
and the winner Kid Kash.
At the end of the year, Fives defeated A.J. Styles for the IPW Heavyweight Championship on December 8, 2001. It was during this time that he formed the stable Animal House with Chris Charger and Wildside (Anthony Michaels
Anthony Michaels
Anthony Michaels is an American professional wrestler, also known as Snot Dudley and Tony Carlone. He is best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling as a member of the Dudley family in the mid-1990s.-Career:...
and Jeff Roth
Jeff Roth
Jeff Roth is a semi-retired American professional wrestler who has competed in North American independent promotions throughout the 1990s including Florida Championship Wrestling, Future of Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance...
). The stable was named after Fives' gym in Hollywood, Florida
Hollywood, Florida
-Demographics:As of 2000, there were 59,673 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 34.4% of all households were made up of...
where a number of independent wrestlers trained, most notably, David Babylon and Maximum Capacity
Maximum Capacity
Michael Stanco is an American professional wrestler, better known as Maximum Capacity, and is billed in many independent promotions as the "World's Largest Athlete".-Wrestling career:...
.
He and Bruno Sassi
Bruno Sassi
Bruno Sassi is an American professional wrestler best known for being a member of the tag team Phi Delta Slam, as well as his appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
defeated the Badstreet Boys (Christian York
Christian York
Jason Spence is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Christian York.-York and Matthews:...
and Joey Matthews
Adam Birch
Adam Birch is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment , and training in WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling, as Joey Mercury...
) on February 9, 2002. He also feuded with Scoot Andrews facing him in a memorable ladder match
Ladder match
A ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling that is most commonly used to describe a match where an item is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item...
at the 2002 ECWA Super 8 Tournament for his ECWA Heavyweight Championship
ECWA Heavyweight Championship
ECWA Heavyweight Championship is the top title contested in the independent professional wrestling promotion East Coast Wrestling Association.-References:...
. On April 13, he faced his mentor Norman Smiley in a match for the FOW Heavyweight Championship and lost the title after submitting to the crossface chickenwing. On May 24, he finally lost the IPW Heavyweight title to Mike Sullivan in Deltona, Florida
Deltona, Florida
Deltona is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida and is the largest city in Volusia County. It is located east of DeBary and north of Lake Monroe. It is the twenty-ninth largest city in Florida, with a 2010 Census population of 85,182...
. He was scheduled to face Mark Briscoe in the opening rounds of the Jersey J-Cup tournament, but was replaced by Shawn Sheridan at the last moment.
On August 10, he also challenged CZW World Heavyweight Champion
CZW World Heavyweight Championship
The CZW World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned and copyrighted by the professional wrestling promotion Combat Zone Wrestling . It was created and debuted on March 27, 1999 at CZW's The Staple Gun event.The championship is generally contested...
Justice Pain
Justice Pain
Christopher Wilson is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Justice Pain. Pain is best known for his time in Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as Xtreme Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged...
at No Excuses. In December, he and Scoot Andrews defeated Sly Grenier and Blake Gale in a dark match on SmackDown. According to Kevin Kelly
Kevin Kelly (announcer)
Kevin Foote is an American professional wrestling manager, pundit, sportscaster and ring announcer, better known by his ring name, Kevin Kelly...
, he originally brought Fives to the attention of the WWF after receiving a tape of a three-way match involving Scoot Andrews and Billy Fives. He described showing the tape to then WWF official Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor , is an American retired professional wrestler best known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation...
,
Although Fives was reportedly in discussions signing with the WWF, he ultimately decided he was not interested in the offer. He was later critical of Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
's monopoly on the professional wrestling industry following the buyout of World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and 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...
in 2001, although he also pointed out that this also gave independent promotions more attention as a result.
In early 2003, he also toured Japan with Riki Chōshū
Riki Choshu
Mitsuo Yoshida , better known by his stage name Riki Chōshū , is a Korean-Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his longtime work in New Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and a booker...
's World Japan Pro Wrestling
Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling
Fighting World of Japan Pro-Wrestling, frequently shortened to World Japan or WJ, and also known as "Riki Pro", was a professional wrestling promotion formed in Japan in 2003....
before returning to face Danny Doring
Danny Doring
Dan Morrison is an American wrestler better known as Danny Doring, most known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling, as the tag team partner of Roadkill...
for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
The NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA and is now the major title in NWA Florida. It started in 1937 and was abandoned in 1949. It was picked back up in 1966 by CWF and lasted until 1987 when the company was purchased by Jim Crockett...
at the interpromotional IPW/NWA Florida supercard The Aftermath on January 25. At the last major IPW supercard Rage in the Cage V, his daughter accompanied him to the ring prior to his match against Agent Steele at the Pinellas Expo Center on April 18.
After the close of IPW Hardcore and Future of Wrestling, he returned to the Florida independent circuit. On June 12, he was defeated in a four-way match against Antonio Banks
Antonio Banks
Hassan Hamin Assad , better known by his ring name Montel Vontavious Porter , is an American professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling , where he was the inaugural IWGP Intercontinental Champion...
, Scoot Andrews and NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Mike Sullivan at the Davie Police Athletic League. The following month at Pro Wrestling Fusion's Heatstroke '04, he and Scoot Andrews fought over the vacant NWA Southern Heavyweight title at Pro Wrestling Fusion's Heatstroke '04 at the Davie Police Athletic League complex on August 21. Fives was one of many former wrestlers to find work in NWA Florida and defeated Vordell Walker in one of his first matches in the promotion on October 9, 2004. The next month, he and Lex Lovett
Lex Lovett
Wayne Meyer is an American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Lex Lovett, who competes in Southeastern independent promotions such as Independent Pro Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated NWA Florida as well as having toured the Middle East, Europe and Asia.From 2003...
lost to Scoot Andrews & Antonio Banks on November 20. while competing for Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling
Major League Wrestling is a professional wrestling promotion that markets its presentation around hybrid wrestling, which encompasses and showcases many different forms of wrestling. MLW's mission is to present itself as an alternative to sports entertainment...
that same year, he and other independent wrestlers gained a great deal of exposure in high-profile appearances with the company. His match with Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels
Daniel Christopher Covell is an American professional wrestler, best known in the United States by his ring name "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He is also known for performing under the ring name Curry Man. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , while also...
at Hybrid Hell was considered one of the best matches on the card and later released on DVD.
On January 22, 2005, he also teamed with Lovett and Buck Quartermain in a 6-man tag team match against Vordell Walker, Scoot Andrews and Antonio Banks which was declared a no-contest. On February 26, he fought to a 30 minute time limit draw against Mike Sullivan and Scoot Andrews in his retirement match. In June, he appeared at the 3rd annual Peterson Memorial Cup tournament to present the winner with a trophy. During 2007, he feuded with "The Marquee" Bruce Santee in several Florida independent promotions including Florida United 2 and Division-1 Pro Wrestling.
In Early 2011, Bobby Rogers, the owner of the original Future of Wrestling, announced the promotion would be relaunching. At the first show in Davie Florida, Fives won a tournament to be crowned the new FOW Heavyweight Champion, making him a 6 time champion.
Media
- NWA Florida: Rage in the Cage 2005. Perf. Billy Fives, Mike Sullivan and Scoot Andrews. 2005. DVD. Highspots.com
- MLW Hybrid Hell. Perf. Billy Fives and Christopher Daniels. 2004. DVD. Highspots.com
- NWA Florida: The Aftermath. Perf. Billy Fives and Danny Doring. 2002. DVD. Highspots.com
- NWA Florida: Tradition Is About To Change. Perf. Billy Fives and David Johnson. 2002. Videocassette. Highspots.com
- IPW Hardcore Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup Tournament. Perf. Billy Fives. 2005. DVD. Highspots.com
- IPW Best of Hardcore Recap, Vol. 1: Emergence!. Perf. Billy Fives, Adam Jacobs and David Young. 2003. DVD. Highspots.com
- King of Carnage: Fatal Fourway. Dir. Michael Rapuano. Perf. Billy Fives and Norman Smiley. 2003. DVD. D3 Entertainment.
- Future of Wrestling TV, Vol. 1. Perf. Billy Fives. 2002. Videocassette. Highspots.com
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
-
- Fifth Dimension
- Frog splash
Championships and accomplishments
- Florida Championship Wrestling
- FCW Caribbean Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- FCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Anthony Adonis
- Florida Wrestling Association
- FWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Future of WrestlingFuture of WrestlingFuture of Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in southern Florida starting during the late 1990s. Founded by Bobby Rogers, the promotion was a predecessor of Full Impact Pro, Independent Pro Wrestling and NWA Florida and featured several top independent wrestlers...
- FOW Heavyweight ChampionshipFOW Heavyweight ChampionshipThe FOW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in American independent promotion Future of Wrestling. The title was created when "Ram Man" Johnny Evans won the title in Miami, Florida on May 1, 1998. It was defended throughout southern Florida, most often in Davie, Oakland Park,...
(6 times, Current) - FOW International Heavyweight ChampionshipFOW International Heavyweight ChampionshipThe FOW International Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling title in American independent promotion Future of Wrestling. The title was created when Cyborg won the title in Lima, Peru on April 24, 1999. It was defended throughout southern Florida, most often in Davie, Plantation,...
(1 time) - FOW Tag Team ChampionshipFOW Tag Team ChampionshipThe FOW Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in American independent promotion Future of Wrestling. The title was created when The Masked Assassins won the titles in Miami, Florida on May 20, 1998. It was defended throughout southern Florida, most often in Davie,...
(1 time) - with Tony Apollo and Anthony Adonis
- Independent Pro Wrestling
- IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Florida
- NWA Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA and is now the major title in NWA Florida. It started in 1937 and was abandoned in 1949. It was picked back up in 1966 by CWF and lasted until 1987 when the company was purchased by Jim Crockett...
(2 times)
- 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 him # 201 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2002