Chi Chi Cruz
Encyclopedia
Corey Peloquin is a Canadian professional wrestler who is known for working the independent promotions such as Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
, Real Action Wrestling, Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, IWA-Mid South, All-Star Wrestling, and United States Wrestling Association
as Chi Chi Cruz. Cruz worked in such countries as Germany
and South Africa
in addition to Canada
and United States
.
. He would also watch such wrestlers as Nick Bockwinkel
, Rick Martel
, The High Flyers, Road Warriors
, Hulk Hogan
, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura
.
Throughout high school Cruz was apart of the basketball
and baseball
teams.
.
and would work for Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling where he would he mild success by teaming up with "Bulldog" Bob Brown and capturing the AGPW Tag Team Championships. In AGPW, he would capture the AGPW Continental Championship.
at the Olympic Saddledome on July 8 taped for the July 22 episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling
. Cruz teamed with Bob Jones in a losing effort to the Beverly Brothers
. On July 9, the World Wrestling Federation
had taped three weeks of WWF Superstars of Wrestling
at Northlands Coliseum
in Edmonton, Alberta
. On the episode that aired on July 27, Cruz lost to the The Bezerker
. On the episode that aired on August 10, Irwin R. Schyster
defeated Cruz in 1:45 after hitting the Stock Market Crash.
in Memphis, Tennessee
, where he wrestled under the name Bobby Bolton. While in the USWA, he had a heated feud with Mike Samples
.
Cruz competed in a Battle Royal which included veterans and top SPW Stars to determine a new SPW Heavyweight Champion. Rob Stardom eliminated Bobby Jay to become the SPW Heavyweight Champion. Earlier in the show Cruz teamed up with Bobby Fox to defeat Big Sexy Beasts.
, Cruz beat TRCW Championship "Really Crazy" Rob Stardom in a non-title match. After Cruz's non-title victory, this started a feud with Stardom as he hit Cruz with the TRCW Championship at "Mountain Mania" on September 19 which Marius to pick up the win. Stardom and Cruz faced off against either in a match at "Hurt So Good 2009" which took place on November 21. Stardom was able to pick up the victory after Cruz was disqualified. At "Christmas Castrophe 2009" which held on December 29, Cruz and Stardom faced each other again in a No Disqualification match. Stardom once again picked up the victory after a masked man interfered in the match. At "Don't Back Down 2010" which took place on January 10, 2010, another match between Cruz and Stardom ended in a no contest due to inference from Marius, Drezden, Gibby Guerrero and Chip "The Kid" Fletcher. This led to a six man tag team match later in the show. Chip "the Kid" Fletcher, Chi Chi Cruz, and Gibby Guerrero defeated Rob Stardom, Drezden, and Marius. Six days later at "Fight Night 2010," Cruz defeated Stardom in a "Christmas Catastrophe" rematch. They continued their feud by having a dog collar match at "Raising the Stakes 2010" on February 20. The match went to a no contest after Marius interfered in the match multiple times. Cruz than challenged Stardom and Marius to a tag team match at the "SPW 2nd Anniversary Show" on April 17 in which he announced his partner would be Raven. On February 27 at "This One's Gonna Hurt," Stardom defeated Cruz. Later in the evening Matt Fairlane defeated Marius via disqualification due to Stardom interfering in the match. This led to a six man tag team match in the main event. The team of Lucky O'Shea, Matt Fairlane, and Chi Chi Cruz defeated the team of Marius, Rob Stardom, and DOOM. At "Pump Up the Volume 2010" on March 19, Cruz defeated Stardom in the main event
. The next day on March 20 at "Winnipeg Warfare 2010," the match between Cruz and Stardom went to a no content after interference by Marius, Matt Fairlane, and the rest of the SPW roster which led into battle royal. Matt Fairlane won the Main Event Battle Royal to earn a shot at the Cutting Edge Wrestling Intercities Championship. After winning the SPW Heavyweight Championship on March 27, Marius used his rematch clause to gain another opportunity at the title. The match would take place on April 3 at "War on the Shore" in Gimli, Manitoba
. Due to Stardom's interference, Marius was able to beat Cruz become the first multiple time SPW Heavyweight Champion. Gibby Guerrero and Cruz challenge Stardom and Marius to a match later in the evening. Guerrero and Cruz defeated Stardom and Marius. At the "SPW 2nd Anniversary Show," declared the main event tag team match was to be contested under Raven's Rules. Raven and Cruz defeated Stardom and Marius. At "Mayhem in Morden" on May 14, Jethro Hawg, Chi Chi Cruz, and Johnny Falcon beat Rob Stardom, Marius, and Jay Beaver in the main event. Their feud still wasn't over yet. In a match between Chip "The Kid" Fletcher and Rob Stardom at "Anarchy in Arborg," the match went to a no contest. This led to a tag team match in the main event which Cruz and Fletcher defeat Stardom and Marius. Their feud finally came to end. At "Hurt So Good 2010," Cruz defeated Stardom in a blood filled "I Quit" match.
At Thanksgiving Thunder 2009 on October 10, Cruz had another opportunity at the SPW Heavyweight Championship in a Steeltown Showdown. Marius defeated Matt Fairlane, Rob Stardom, Chi Chi Cruz, Sgt. Tom Steele and Jerin Rose in the Steeltown Showdown to become the SPW Heavyweight Champion. It would be at "Slam-O-Rama" on March 27 in which Cruz would finally win the SPW Heavyweight Champion after defeating Marius. Later in the main event Cruz won the Ernie Rheault/Emil Grenier Invitational Battle Royal.
At "Halloweenpalooza 2" on October 15, 2010, Cruz was a participant in the Kerry Brown Memorial Tournament. In the first round Cruz defeated "Beautiful" Bobby Jay. In the second round, Cruz defeated Ike Idol in a chop off. In the finals Cruz defeated SYKO to win the tournament.
NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling
Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling is a Western Canadian-based professional wrestling promotion, operating as a member of the National Wrestling Alliance...
, Real Action Wrestling, Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling, IWA-Mid South, All-Star Wrestling, and United States Wrestling Association
United States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
as Chi Chi Cruz. Cruz worked in such countries as Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in addition to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Cruz was born in Hartney, Manitoba. While growing up Cruz watched the American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
. He would also watch such wrestlers as Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Bockwinkel
Nicholas Warren Francis "Nick" Bockwinkel is a retired American professional wrestler. He mainly competed in the American Wrestling Association in the United States...
, Rick Martel
Rick Martel
Richard Vigneault is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel...
, The High Flyers, Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
, Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, and Jesse "The Body" Ventura
Jesse Ventura
James George Janos , better known as Jesse Ventura, is an American politician, the 38th Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003, Navy UDT veteran, former SEAL reservist, actor, and former radio and television talk show host...
.
Throughout high school Cruz was apart of the basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
teams.
Early career
Cruz was trained by Ernest Rheault, then went on to make his debut in 1986 for Central Canadian Pro Wrestling. In 1988 when Cruz was 20, he would move onto All-Star Wrestling out of Vancouver, British Columbia ran by Al TomkoAl Tomko
Al Tomko was a Canadian professional wrestler and wrestling promoter.-Professional wrestling career:Tomko started out as a wrestler in his hometown of Winnipeg on July 9, 1954 with the Madison Wrestling Club, losing his debut match to John DePaulo. During that same period, he ran his own promotion...
.
Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling (1990-1996)
In 1990, Cruz would make his way to Eastern CanadaEastern Canada
Eastern Canada is generally considered to be the region of Canada east of Manitoba, consisting of the following provinces:* New Brunswick* Newfoundland and Labrador* Nova Scotia* Ontario* Prince Edward Island* Quebec...
and would work for Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling where he would he mild success by teaming up with "Bulldog" Bob Brown and capturing the AGPW Tag Team Championships. In AGPW, he would capture the AGPW Continental Championship.
World Wrestling Federation (1991)
Cruz had a match in Calgary, AlbertaCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
at the Olympic Saddledome on July 8 taped for the July 22 episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
WWF Prime Time Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It aired on the USA Network from 1985-1993. A precursor to Monday Night Raw, Prime Time Wrestling was a two-hour long, weekly program that featured stars of the World Wrestling...
. Cruz teamed with Bob Jones in a losing effort to the Beverly Brothers
Beverly Brothers
The Beverly Brothers were a professional wrestling tag team comprising Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom in the World Wrestling Federation. They were also known as The Destruction Crew in the American Wrestling Association and the Minnesota Wrecking Crew 2 in the National Wrestling Alliance...
. On July 9, 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...
had taped three weeks of WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling
WWF Superstars of Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It debuted on September 6, 1986...
at Northlands Coliseum
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
in Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
. On the episode that aired on July 27, Cruz lost to the The Bezerker
John Nord
John Nord is a retired American professional wrestler. He lives in Bozeman, Montana.-Career:John Nord started wrestling in late 1984 as "The Barbarian" for Mid-South Wrestling under manager Skandor Akbar...
. On the episode that aired on August 10, Irwin R. Schyster
Mike Rotunda
Lawrence Michael "Mike" Rotunda is a former American professional wrestler, perhaps best known under the name Irwin R. Schyster or I.R.S. for short. He is currently signed with WWE working as a road agent and making occasional appearances on WWE shows as Irwin R...
defeated Cruz in 1:45 after hitting the Stock Market Crash.
United States Wrestling Association (1996)
In 1996, he went down to the United States Wrestling AssociationUnited States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
in Memphis, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, where he wrestled under the name Bobby Bolton. While in the USWA, he had a heated feud with Mike Samples
Mike Samples
Mike Samples is a former professional Canadian football player who played eleven seasons in the Canadian Football League for three different teams. He was named CFL All-Star in 1981. In August 1983 he retired as a player and became an assistant coach for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.-References:...
Return to Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling (1999)
In 1999, he would return to AGPW and feud with fellow Canadian Joe E. LegendJoe Hitchen
Joseph Edward "Joe" Hitchen is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Joe E. Legend.-Canadian independent circuit:...
.
World Wrestling Federation
Cruz has also been to a tryout with the WWF. Nothing ever materialized as a result as he was told to "keep in touch."Steeltown Pro Wrestling (2009-Present)
On June 13, 2009, SPW held Fan Appreciation Day in Transcona, ManitobaTranscona, Manitoba
Transcona is a suburb of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada located about 10 kilometres east of the downtown area. Until 1972 it was a separate municipality, having been incorporated first as the Town of Transcona in 1912 and then as the City of Transcona in 1961...
Cruz competed in a Battle Royal which included veterans and top SPW Stars to determine a new SPW Heavyweight Champion. Rob Stardom eliminated Bobby Jay to become the SPW Heavyweight Champion. Earlier in the show Cruz teamed up with Bobby Fox to defeat Big Sexy Beasts.
Feud with Rob Stardom
On August 8, 2009 at "Red River Rumble" in Selkirk, ManitobaSelkirk, Manitoba
Selkirk is a city in the western Canadian province of Manitoba, located about 22 km northeast of the provincial capital Winnipeg on the Red River, near . As of the 2006 census, Selkirk had a population of 9,515....
, Cruz beat TRCW Championship "Really Crazy" Rob Stardom in a non-title match. After Cruz's non-title victory, this started a feud with Stardom as he hit Cruz with the TRCW Championship at "Mountain Mania" on September 19 which Marius to pick up the win. Stardom and Cruz faced off against either in a match at "Hurt So Good 2009" which took place on November 21. Stardom was able to pick up the victory after Cruz was disqualified. At "Christmas Castrophe 2009" which held on December 29, Cruz and Stardom faced each other again in a No Disqualification match. Stardom once again picked up the victory after a masked man interfered in the match. At "Don't Back Down 2010" which took place on January 10, 2010, another match between Cruz and Stardom ended in a no contest due to inference from Marius, Drezden, Gibby Guerrero and Chip "The Kid" Fletcher. This led to a six man tag team match later in the show. Chip "the Kid" Fletcher, Chi Chi Cruz, and Gibby Guerrero defeated Rob Stardom, Drezden, and Marius. Six days later at "Fight Night 2010," Cruz defeated Stardom in a "Christmas Catastrophe" rematch. They continued their feud by having a dog collar match at "Raising the Stakes 2010" on February 20. The match went to a no contest after Marius interfered in the match multiple times. Cruz than challenged Stardom and Marius to a tag team match at the "SPW 2nd Anniversary Show" on April 17 in which he announced his partner would be Raven. On February 27 at "This One's Gonna Hurt," Stardom defeated Cruz. Later in the evening Matt Fairlane defeated Marius via disqualification due to Stardom interfering in the match. This led to a six man tag team match in the main event. The team of Lucky O'Shea, Matt Fairlane, and Chi Chi Cruz defeated the team of Marius, Rob Stardom, and DOOM. At "Pump Up the Volume 2010" on March 19, Cruz defeated Stardom in the main event
Main Event
Main Event is Australia's only pay-per-view channel. It transmits through Foxtel, Optus Television and Austar, which jointly own the channel...
. The next day on March 20 at "Winnipeg Warfare 2010," the match between Cruz and Stardom went to a no content after interference by Marius, Matt Fairlane, and the rest of the SPW roster which led into battle royal. Matt Fairlane won the Main Event Battle Royal to earn a shot at the Cutting Edge Wrestling Intercities Championship. After winning the SPW Heavyweight Championship on March 27, Marius used his rematch clause to gain another opportunity at the title. The match would take place on April 3 at "War on the Shore" in Gimli, Manitoba
Gimli, Manitoba
Gimli is a a rural municipality located in the Interlake region of south-central Manitoba, Canada, on the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. It is about north of the provincial capital Winnipeg...
. Due to Stardom's interference, Marius was able to beat Cruz become the first multiple time SPW Heavyweight Champion. Gibby Guerrero and Cruz challenge Stardom and Marius to a match later in the evening. Guerrero and Cruz defeated Stardom and Marius. At the "SPW 2nd Anniversary Show," declared the main event tag team match was to be contested under Raven's Rules. Raven and Cruz defeated Stardom and Marius. At "Mayhem in Morden" on May 14, Jethro Hawg, Chi Chi Cruz, and Johnny Falcon beat Rob Stardom, Marius, and Jay Beaver in the main event. Their feud still wasn't over yet. In a match between Chip "The Kid" Fletcher and Rob Stardom at "Anarchy in Arborg," the match went to a no contest. This led to a tag team match in the main event which Cruz and Fletcher defeat Stardom and Marius. Their feud finally came to end. At "Hurt So Good 2010," Cruz defeated Stardom in a blood filled "I Quit" match.
At Thanksgiving Thunder 2009 on October 10, Cruz had another opportunity at the SPW Heavyweight Championship in a Steeltown Showdown. Marius defeated Matt Fairlane, Rob Stardom, Chi Chi Cruz, Sgt. Tom Steele and Jerin Rose in the Steeltown Showdown to become the SPW Heavyweight Champion. It would be at "Slam-O-Rama" on March 27 in which Cruz would finally win the SPW Heavyweight Champion after defeating Marius. Later in the main event Cruz won the Ernie Rheault/Emil Grenier Invitational Battle Royal.
At "Halloweenpalooza 2" on October 15, 2010, Cruz was a participant in the Kerry Brown Memorial Tournament. In the first round Cruz defeated "Beautiful" Bobby Jay. In the second round, Cruz defeated Ike Idol in a chop off. In the finals Cruz defeated SYKO to win the tournament.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Cruz Control (Double knee backbreaker) – innovated
- Cruz Missile (Diving spinning wheel kick)
- Signature moves
- El Grande Dos Terminas
- Northern Lights suplex
- Rolling TKO
- SharpshooterSharpshooter (professional wrestling)The Sharpshooter, originally named Sasori-gatame, Scorpion Hold in English, is a professional wrestling submission hold. The move is also known by several other names: cloverleaf leg-lace Boston crab, standing reverse figure-four leglock, and, the most commonly known alternative, Scorpion Deathlock...
- StunnerStunner (professional wrestling)A stunner is a common term in professional wrestling referring to the seated three-quarter facelock jawbreaker maneuver, predominantly used by Stone Cold Steve Austin and named for his Stone Cold Stunner finisher...
- Quotes
- "Prepare to be Cruzified!"
Championships and accomplishments
- Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling
- AGPW Continental Championship (1 time)
- AGPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) with - "Bulldog" Bob Brown
- MainStream Wrestling Entertainment
- MSWE Championship (1 time)
- Premier Championship Wrestling
- PCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Real Action Wrestling
- RAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Rough House Rasslin'
- RHR Western Canadian Championship (1 time)
- 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 #339 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1995
- Slam! Wrestling
- Slam! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame
- Steeltown Pro Wrestling
- SPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Ernie Rheault/Emil Grenier Invitational Battle Royal
- Kerry Brown Memorial Tournament (2010)
- West Four Wrestling Alliance
- WFWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (4 times)