Ian Harrison (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Ian Harrison better known by his ring name
, "British Storm" Ian Harrison, is a British born former professional wrestler
and bodybuilder
.
In professional wrestling, Harrison is best known for his time in the short lived XWF promotion ran by Jimmy Hart
. While in the XWF, Harrison held his first and only singles professional wrestling championship, the XWF Heavyweight Championship. Harrison was awarded the championship in preparation for a storyline "XWF Invasion" of Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council
promotion. Working under the name "Awe" he was also awarded the XWF World Tag Team Titles with his partner Shock (Del Rios
) in Memphis Wrestling
but would vacate the title when he left the promotion.
As a bodybuilder, Harrison competed in many competitions and picked up wins as Mr. Britain (Junior) and Mr. Universe (Junior) in 1988. He turned professional in 1989 (competing until 1998) and was known for his immense physical strength and his ability to do ten or more reps with a set of 200 pound dumbbells.
In 2001 the American Professional Wrestling scene had witnessed the fall of two of the biggest and most influential promotions of the modern era as Extreme Championship Wrestling
filed for bankruptcy, and World Championship Wrestling
was acquired by the World Wrestling Entertainment
. Looking to fill the void left with just one major promotion running the show, wrestling manager Jimmy Hart
and a number of other famous wrestlers formed the XWF. Harrison was signed to the promotion with high hopes that his unique look and incredible physique would help make him become one of the company's homegrown stars. Since the XWF didn't have a television deal, all matches were taped in hopes of using the footage to secure a deal with a network.
He debuted on XWF programming as a heel, professional wrestling terminology for a "bad guy," or villain" and sported trunks with Britain's Union Jack across the front and the back. In his debut, he made short work of Horace Hogan
, dominating his opponent with a powerslam and mounted strikes before finishing him off with a leg scissors submission hold placed around the head and neck of Horace who was forced to submit at one minute and thirty five seconds into the contest. During his time with the promotion he also competed against Norman Smiley
, and worked with Curt Hennig
against Buff Bagwell
and Vampiro
. He was undefeated during his time with the promotion.
Though the taped episodes never made the airwaves in the United States, they were aired in Puerto Rico where a storyline "XWF Invasion" was written to take place in Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council
in order for the company to receive some exposure. In preparation for this planned invasion, the XWF Heavyweight Championship was awarded to Harrison in August 2002.
Harrison briefly wrestled for Memphis Wrestling
on behalf of the XWF, who were running yet another invasion angle. In Memphis, he would compete under the name "Awe" and primarily wrestle in tag team matches with his partner Shock
. "Shock & Awe" were announced as the XWF World Tag Team Champions on an edition of Memphis Wrestling's television show May 31, 2003 and would hold onto the titles until Harrison left the promotion.
. Harrison claims that the objective of City Fitness "is helping a person train injury free and be as efficient as possible in training and diet in order to obtain maximum results in the minimum amount of time."
Signature moves
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
, "British Storm" Ian Harrison, is a British born former professional wrestler
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 bodybuilder
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
.
In professional wrestling, Harrison is best known for his time in the short lived XWF promotion ran by 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...
. While in the XWF, Harrison held his first and only singles professional wrestling championship, the XWF Heavyweight Championship. Harrison was awarded the championship in preparation for a storyline "XWF Invasion" of Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
promotion. Working under the name "Awe" he was also awarded the XWF World Tag Team Titles with his partner Shock (Del Rios
Harry Del Rios
Harry Del Rios is an American professional wrestler. Rios is best known as the Spellbinder, however, he has competed under many other ring names during his career....
) in Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:Memphis Wrestling evolved from an earlier short-lived promotion called Memphis Championship Wrestling.-Television:...
but would vacate the title when he left the promotion.
As a bodybuilder, Harrison competed in many competitions and picked up wins as Mr. Britain (Junior) and Mr. Universe (Junior) in 1988. He turned professional in 1989 (competing until 1998) and was known for his immense physical strength and his ability to do ten or more reps with a set of 200 pound dumbbells.
Early life and Bodybuilding
According to Harrison's official website, "Ian was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England in 1969. He began studying Judo when he was 8 years old and began weight training at the age of 15. He competed in the bodybuilding industry from the age of 16 when he won the U-17 Mr. Yorkshire and then at 19 he won Junior Mr. Universe in London, England. In 1989 Ian won the Heavyweight and Overall titles at the IFBB British Championship at the age of 20 therefore achieving Professional status. He was the youngest ever to do so. He then started his first gym, Body Balance, in Leeds and trained at that facility throughout his bodybuilding career, 1993-1998. Ian competed 3 years in the Arnold Classic, Mr. Olympia in ’95, and guest posed worldwide. 13 magazine covers, and a plethora of training articles Ian was ranked top 10 in the world for 5 years straight and became known as an authority in training and nutrition."Professional wrestling career
In a 1999 interview with Anabolic Extreme's Jason Mueller, Harrison revealed that in his time away from the bodybuilding scene he had been spending time traveling all over Wales and Scotland learning how to wrestle. Stating that he was still a bodybuilder at heart, he wasn't opposed to pursuing a career in wrestling if it really took off.In 2001 the American Professional Wrestling scene had witnessed the fall of two of the biggest and most influential promotions of the modern era as 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...
filed for bankruptcy, and 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...
was acquired by the World Wrestling Entertainment
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...
. Looking to fill the void left with just one major promotion running the show, wrestling manager 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...
and a number of other famous wrestlers formed the XWF. Harrison was signed to the promotion with high hopes that his unique look and incredible physique would help make him become one of the company's homegrown stars. Since the XWF didn't have a television deal, all matches were taped in hopes of using the footage to secure a deal with a network.
He debuted on XWF programming as a heel, professional wrestling terminology for a "bad guy," or villain" and sported trunks with Britain's Union Jack across the front and the back. In his debut, he made short work of Horace Hogan
Horace Hogan
Michael Bollea is an American professional wrestler. In wrestling, he is best known by his ring name, Horace Hogan. He is the nephew of professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and cousin of the late Mike Awesome....
, dominating his opponent with a powerslam and mounted strikes before finishing him off with a leg scissors submission hold placed around the head and neck of Horace who was forced to submit at one minute and thirty five seconds into the contest. During his time with the promotion he also competed against Norman Smiley
Norman Smiley
Norman Anthony Smiley is a British professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling...
, and worked with Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
against Buff Bagwell
Buff Bagwell
Marcus Alexander Bagwell is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Buff Bagwell. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling between 1991 and 2001, where he was a five time World Tag Team Champion.-Professional wrestling career: Bagwell...
and Vampiro
Vampiro
Ian Richard Hodgkinson , better known by his ring name Vampiro, is a Canadian professional wrestler currently working as a wrestler and a consultant for Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Hodgkinson is semi-retired and is a member of the citizen crime patrol organization Guardian Angels, acting as...
. He was undefeated during his time with the promotion.
Though the taped episodes never made the airwaves in the United States, they were aired in Puerto Rico where a storyline "XWF Invasion" was written to take place in Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
in order for the company to receive some exposure. In preparation for this planned invasion, the XWF Heavyweight Championship was awarded to Harrison in August 2002.
Harrison briefly wrestled for Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:Memphis Wrestling evolved from an earlier short-lived promotion called Memphis Championship Wrestling.-Television:...
on behalf of the XWF, who were running yet another invasion angle. In Memphis, he would compete under the name "Awe" and primarily wrestle in tag team matches with his partner Shock
Harry Del Rios
Harry Del Rios is an American professional wrestler. Rios is best known as the Spellbinder, however, he has competed under many other ring names during his career....
. "Shock & Awe" were announced as the XWF World Tag Team Champions on an edition of Memphis Wrestling's television show May 31, 2003 and would hold onto the titles until Harrison left the promotion.
Personal life
Harrison is married to Jane and has a daughter names Christie and son named Mac. He is retired from professional wrestling and currently operates "City Fitness" gym in Bradenton, FloridaBradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
. Harrison claims that the objective of City Fitness "is helping a person train injury free and be as efficient as possible in training and diet in order to obtain maximum results in the minimum amount of time."
In wrestling
Finishing moves- Head Scissors Submission
Signature moves
- PowerslamPowerslamA powerslam is a professional wrestling body slam move in which the wrestler performing the slam falls face-down on top of his/her opponent. The use of the term "powerslam" usually refers to the front powerslam and the scoop powerslam.-Emerald Flowsion:...
Championships and accomplishments
- Xcitement Wrestling Federation
- XWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- XWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) with ShockHarry Del RiosHarry Del Rios is an American professional wrestler. Rios is best known as the Spellbinder, however, he has competed under many other ring names during his career....