Kings of Wrestling
Encyclopedia
The Kings of Wrestling is a professional wrestling
stable that wrestles on the independent circuit
, formed in Chikara, but also appearing in other promotions. It originally included Chris Hero
, Claudio Castagnoli
, Larry Sweeney
, Arik Cannon
, Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer
, Chuck Taylor
, Icarus
, Gran Akuma
and Shayne Hawke
. As well as being a part of the Kings of Wrestling, Icarus and Gran Akuma regularly teamed together under the name Team F.I.S.T. (Friends in Similar Tights) both in and out of Chikara.
The name is most commonly associated with the tag team
of Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. Together, Hero and Castagnoli are former CZW World Tag Team Champions
, Chikara Campeones de Parejas
, and ROH World Tag Team Champions
, having at one point held all three titles simultaneously. After an initial run from 2005 to 2007, they reformed at ROH's first internet pay-per-view Final Battle 2009
with Shane Hagadorn as their manager and Sara Del Rey
as their valet. 2010 was a marquee year for the team that saw them regain the World Tag Team Championship and reign for one day shy of a year, as well as being voted the Tag Team of the Year in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.
. Cannon left the group in December of that same year. Hero and Castagnoli continued teaming together, and in 2006, became the first ever Chikara Campeones de Parejas
by winning the 2006 Tag World Grand Prix tournament, defeating Milano Collection A.T. and Skayde
in the final round.
Hero and Castagnoli are also known for teaming in Combat Zone Wrestling
. On September 10, 2005, they won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
from The Tough Crazy Bastards, Necro Butcher
and Toby Klein. In 2005, Chris Hero became involved in a feud with Eddie Kingston
. This feud involved Hero's partner Castagnoli as well as Kingston's stablemates from BLKOUT. At Cage of Death 7, Hero and Castagnoli defended the tag titles against Kingston and Sabian, and at An Afternoon of Main Events, they teamed with Super Dragon
, with whom they formed an alliance, to face Kingston, Sabian, and Ruckus
. In February 2006, the Kings of Wrestling lost the titles to Eddie Kingston and Joker
.
. Castagnoli, who was a member of the ROH roster at the time, said he would be loyal to ROH despite his relationship with Hero. However, at the 100th Show during a CZW vs. ROH six man tag team match, Castagnoli came to the ring and turned on ROH, helping CZW win the match, and uniting with Hero for the first time in ROH. They went on to team together as the Kings of Wrestling to face and defeat B.J. Whitmer
and Adam Pearce
at How We Roll. On July 15, 2006, at Death Before Dishonor 4 Team ROH (Samoa Joe
, B.J. Whitmer, Adam Pearce, Ace Steel
, and Bryan Danielson
(later replaced by Homicide
) defeated Team CZW (Hero, Castagnoli, Necro Butcher, Nate Webb
and Eddie Kingston) in a Cage of Death match to end the feud.
In August 2006, the Ring of Honor tag title belts
were stolen and later returned from champions Austin Aries
and Roderick Strong
. Hero revealed on his LiveJournal
that he and Castagnoli were the culprits and would be challenging for the titles. On September 16, at Globy by Honor V Night 2 they successfully defeated Aries and Strong for the championship with their new KRS ONE finisher, but only after illegally smashing Aries in his bruised ribs with Castagnoli's aluminum Zero Halliburton attache case.
On October 14, 2006, the Kings of Wrestling defeated three other teams in a one night tournament at the CZW show Last Team Standing to become two-time CZW Tag Team Champions. They defeated Team Masturbation (Beef Wellington and Excalibur
) in the first round, the BLKOUT (Ruckus and Human Tornado
) in the second round, and the makeshift team of Justice Pain
and Human Tornado
(subbing for Pain's partner in the H8 Club
, Nick Gage
, who left the building before the match) in the third round. This has made the Kings of Wrestling the only Independent Triple Crown Tag Champions ever. On October 21, 2006, at Horror Business they also attempted to win the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
World Tag Team Championship
to hold four different sets of Tag Team titles simultaneously, but were unable to dethrone the champions Super Dragon and Davey Richards
.
Around this time, it was announced that Castagnoli would be going to World Wrestling Entertainment
. At Night of Infamy 5, the Kings lost the CZW tag championship to Sabian and Robbie Mireno after Eddie Kingston eliminated Hero from the match and the BLKOUT outnumbered Castagnoli for the win. On November 17, they lost the Campeonatos de Parejas to F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma
and Icarus
) Afterwards, Hero turned on Castagnoli and kicked him out of the stable. They lost the ROH Tag Team Championship to Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels
on November 25 at Dethroned. On December 22, 2006, Larry Sweeney
debuted in ROH to help the Kings of Wrestling defeat the Briscoe Brothers
. The following night at Final Battle 2006, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli lost a rematch to the Briscoes. After the match, Castagnoli announced that he would not be going to WWE, but Sweeney said he was only representing Chris Hero, for whom they had big plans, and the two walked out on Castagnoli.
In February 2007, Chikara held the first ever King of Trios
tournament. Originally, the Kings of Wrestling team was made up of Hero and F.I.S.T., but Hero was replaced with Chuck Taylor
. They lost in the semifinals of the tournament. On April 22, Hero defeated Clastagnoli in a match where if Hero won, then Claudio would have to rejoin him. On May 25 at Chikara's Aniversario? event, Hero and Sweeney aligned themselves with Mitch Ryder, while Team F.I.S.T. recruited Young Lions Cup Champion
Max Boyer
, just as Hero was about to recruit him himself. The following day at the Aniversario! event the two factions within the Kings of Wrestling, Icarus, Akuma and Taylor, accompanied by Boyer, and Hero, Castagnoli and Sweeney, accompanied by Ryder, faced each other. F.I.S.T. were victorious, but after the match all eight men joined forces, after a pep talk by Ryder. Boyer would leave the promotion two months later and his spot in the group would be filled by Shayne Hawke
. On September 22, 2007, at Cibernetico & Robin the Kings of Wrestling faced Team Mega Mucha Lucha in the annual torneo cibernetico
match. The Kings won the match with Hero, Castagnoli and Mitch Ryder as the survivors, but since the match could only have one winner, they were forced to face each other. Castagnoli forced Hero to tap out and then pinned Ryder to win not only the match, but also his freedom from the Kings of Wrestling. On December 9, 2007, Castagnoli defeated Hero to win their feud. Afterwards, Hero left the company, disbanding the Kings of Wrestling, with Team F.I.S.T. continuing as its own faction.
, Ring of Honor's first live pay-per-view, the Kings of Wrestling reunited as Hero and Castagnoli attacked the new ROH World Tag Team Champions, the Briscoe Brothers. Afterwards, The Kings of Wrestling once again became a stable with the additions of Sara Del Rey
, whom Hero and Castagnoli dubbed the "Queen of Wrestling", and their manager Shane Hagadorn. Hero and Castagnoli attacked the Brisces once more at ROH's 8th Anniversary Show, also brawling with the Dark City Fight Club. In January 2010 Hero and Castagnoli entered Pro Wrestling Noah
's Global Tag League, but ended up losing all three of their matches. On April 3, 2010, at The Big Bang!
Hero and Castagnoli defeated the Briscoes to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship for the second time.
On August 15, 2010, Hero and Castagnoli defeated the Thomaselli Brothers
, Briscoe Brothers, and Ring Rydas
at Juggalo Championship Wrestling's Bloodymania IV
to become the new JCW Tag Team Champions
. Hero and Castagnoli were stripped of the titles on February 7, 2011.
In July Ring of Honor announced the return of Tag Wars, where twelve tag teams would compete in three blocks to determine, which three would get to challenge the Kings of Wrestling in the final Ultimate Endurance match. On August 28 the Kings of Wrestling defeated The Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis
and Kory Chavis
), The All Night Express (Kenny King
and Rhett Titus
) and the Briscoes in the Ultimate Endurance match to win the 2010 Tag Wars and retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship. Hero and Castagnoli returned to Noah on November 19, 2010, for a three week long tour. The team went undefeated in tag team matches, before being defeated on December 5, the final day of the tour, by Takuma Sano and Yoshihiro Takayama
in a match for the GHC Tag Team Championship
. On December 11, 2010, the Kings of Wrestling returned to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, unsuccessfully challenging ¡Peligro Abejas! (El Generico
and Paul London
) for the PWG World Tag Team Championship. On January 4, 2011, Hero and Castagnoli became the longest reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions by breaking the previous record of 275 days, set by the Briscoe Brothers. On April 1 at Honor Takes Center Stage
, the Kings of Wrestling lost the ROH World Tag Team Championship to Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas
and Shelton Benjamin
), ending their reign at 363 days. On September 16 it was reported that Castagnoli had signed a developmental contract with WWE.
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...
stable that wrestles on the independent circuit
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...
, formed in Chikara, but also appearing in other promotions. It originally included Chris Hero
Chris Hero
Chris Spradlin is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Hero. He is a mainstay of many independent wrestling promotions, including Ring of Honor, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan...
, Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli is a Swiss professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, working in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Antonio Cesaro...
, Larry Sweeney
Larry Sweeney
Alexander K. Whybrow was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney...
, Arik Cannon
Arik Cannon
Arik Cannon is a professional wrestler known for competing in companies such as Chikara, Dragon Gate USA, IWA Mid-South, All American Wrestling and Wrestling Society X.-Career:...
, Mitch Ryder, Max Boyer
Max Boyer
Maxime "Max" Boyer is a Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his time in the Chikara and International Wrestling Syndicate professional wrestling promotions...
, Chuck Taylor
Chuck Taylor (wrestler)
Dustin Howard is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chuck Taylor. He is currently competing most notably in Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Evolve Wrestling and Dragon Gate USA...
, Icarus
Icarus (wrestler)
Icarus is a professional wrestler, who performs primarily in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion, where he is a former Campeon de Parejas and King of Trios winner...
, Gran Akuma
Gran Akuma
Gran Akuma is a professional wrestler who currently works for Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling, where he uses the ring name AKUMA. He has also worked for the Florida based Full Impact Pro. In Chikara, he was a member of the Kings of Wrestling stable, while also being a part of Team F.I.S.T. with...
and Shayne Hawke
Shayne Hawke
Shayne Hawke is an Canadian professional wrestler. Hawke is best known for his work with Chikara and International Wrestling Syndicate.-Early career:...
. As well as being a part of the Kings of Wrestling, Icarus and Gran Akuma regularly teamed together under the name Team F.I.S.T. (Friends in Similar Tights) both in and out of Chikara.
The name is most commonly associated with the tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
of Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli. Together, Hero and Castagnoli are former CZW World Tag Team Champions
CZW World Tag Team Championship
The CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
, Chikara Campeones de Parejas
Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas
The Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:The Campeonatos de Parejas were introduced in February 2006...
, and ROH World Tag Team Champions
ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute...
, having at one point held all three titles simultaneously. After an initial run from 2005 to 2007, they reformed at ROH's first internet pay-per-view Final Battle 2009
Final Battle 2009
Final Battle 2009 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Ring of Honor , which was only available online. It took place on December 19, 2009 from the Manhattan Center in New York City...
with Shane Hagadorn as their manager and Sara Del Rey
Sara Del Rey
Sara Amato is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, Sara Del Rey. She is a mainstay for Chikara and Shimmer Women Athletes. She has also appeared for many other independent promotions in the United States, including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South, All Pro Wrestling, as...
as their valet. 2010 was a marquee year for the team that saw them regain the World Tag Team Championship and reign for one day shy of a year, as well as being voted the Tag Team of the Year in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards.
Formation (2005)
This team came about on February 20, 2005, in the finals of Chikara's Tag World Grand Prix 2005, when Chris Hero turned on his Super Friends partner Mike Quackenbush and joined Claudio Castagnoli and Arik CannonArik Cannon
Arik Cannon is a professional wrestler known for competing in companies such as Chikara, Dragon Gate USA, IWA Mid-South, All American Wrestling and Wrestling Society X.-Career:...
. Cannon left the group in December of that same year. Hero and Castagnoli continued teaming together, and in 2006, became the first ever Chikara Campeones de Parejas
Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas
The Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:The Campeonatos de Parejas were introduced in February 2006...
by winning the 2006 Tag World Grand Prix tournament, defeating Milano Collection A.T. and Skayde
Skayde
Jorge Rivera Serrano is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for Lucha Libre. He has been a tecnico throughout his wrestling career. He is currently training wrestlers at Arena Xalapa.-Professional wrestling career:...
in the final round.
Hero and Castagnoli are also known for teaming in 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"...
. On September 10, 2005, they won the CZW World Tag Team Championship
CZW World Tag Team Championship
The CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
from The Tough Crazy Bastards, Necro Butcher
Necro Butcher
Dylan Keith Summers is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Necro Butcher. Throughout the years he has worked for various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling, Firestormpro, Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, IWA-Mid South, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Big Japan Pro Wrestling,...
and Toby Klein. In 2005, Chris Hero became involved in a feud with Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston
Edward "Eddie" Moore is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Eddie Kingston. He is best known for competing in Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South and Ring of Honor...
. This feud involved Hero's partner Castagnoli as well as Kingston's stablemates from BLKOUT. At Cage of Death 7, Hero and Castagnoli defended the tag titles against Kingston and Sabian, and at An Afternoon of Main Events, they teamed with Super Dragon
Super Dragon
Daniel Lyon , better known by his ring name Super Dragon, is an American professional wrestler. Beginning his career in 1997, he has competed in companies such as All Pro Wrestling, Revolution Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
, with whom they formed an alliance, to face Kingston, Sabian, and Ruckus
Claude Marrow
Claude Marrow is an American independent professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ruckus. Marrow current performs in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Maryland Championship Wrestling, Chikara and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
. In February 2006, the Kings of Wrestling lost the titles to Eddie Kingston and Joker
Joker (wrestler)
Joker is an American independent professional wrestler who works for the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, IWA Mid-South, Chikara and UWA Hardcore Wrestling.-Career:...
.
Triple Tag Team Champions (2005–2007)
In late 2005, Chris Hero began a war with Ring of HonorRing of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
. Castagnoli, who was a member of the ROH roster at the time, said he would be loyal to ROH despite his relationship with Hero. However, at the 100th Show during a CZW vs. ROH six man tag team match, Castagnoli came to the ring and turned on ROH, helping CZW win the match, and uniting with Hero for the first time in ROH. They went on to team together as the Kings of Wrestling to face and defeat B.J. Whitmer
B.J. Whitmer
Benjamin Whitmer is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, B.J. Whitmer. He is best known for his appearances with Ring of Honor between January 2003 and March 2008...
and Adam Pearce
Adam Pearce
Adam Pearce is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is the current NWA World Heavyweight Champion in his fourth reign and the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is also a former PWG Champion....
at How We Roll. On July 15, 2006, at Death Before Dishonor 4 Team ROH (Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
, B.J. Whitmer, Adam Pearce, Ace Steel
Ace Steel
Chris Guy is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ace Steel. He is perhaps best known for his time with Ring of Honor and occasional appearances for World Wrestling Entertainment, as well as his stint with its Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental territory...
, and Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
(later replaced by Homicide
Nelson Erazo
Nelson Rodriguez Erazo is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring name, Homicide...
) defeated Team CZW (Hero, Castagnoli, Necro Butcher, Nate Webb
Nate Webb
Nathan "Nate" Webb is an American professional wrestler and semi-pro football player, best known for his appearances in Combat Zone Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, Ring of Honor and MTV's Wrestling Society X. On April 22, 2008, Webb was notified that he had made the roster...
and Eddie Kingston) in a Cage of Death match to end the feud.
In August 2006, the Ring of Honor tag title belts
ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute...
were stolen and later returned from champions Austin Aries
Austin Aries
Daniel Healy "Dan" Solwold, Jr. better known by his ring name Austin Aries, is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is the current X Division Champion...
and Roderick Strong
Roderick Strong
Chris Lindsey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Roderick Strong. Strong currently competes in several independent promotions, most notably Ring of Honor , Full Impact Pro , and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla .He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian...
. Hero revealed on his LiveJournal
LiveJournal
LiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community....
that he and Castagnoli were the culprits and would be challenging for the titles. On September 16, at Globy by Honor V Night 2 they successfully defeated Aries and Strong for the championship with their new KRS ONE finisher, but only after illegally smashing Aries in his bruised ribs with Castagnoli's aluminum Zero Halliburton attache case.
On October 14, 2006, the Kings of Wrestling defeated three other teams in a one night tournament at the CZW show Last Team Standing to become two-time CZW Tag Team Champions. They defeated Team Masturbation (Beef Wellington and Excalibur
Excalibur (wrestler)
Marc Letzmann is a former American professional wrestler, best known under his ring name Excalibur. Letzmann is one of the six founders of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he continues to work as the company's "Liaison to the Board of Directors"...
) in the first round, the BLKOUT (Ruckus and Human Tornado
Human Tornado
Craig Williams , better known by his ring name, Human Tornado, is an American retired professional wrestler. His character was that of a stereotypical 1970s blaxploitation street pimp. He performed primarily on the Californian independent circuit, most prominently for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, the...
) in the second round, and the makeshift team of 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...
and Human Tornado
Human Tornado
Craig Williams , better known by his ring name, Human Tornado, is an American retired professional wrestler. His character was that of a stereotypical 1970s blaxploitation street pimp. He performed primarily on the Californian independent circuit, most prominently for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, the...
(subbing for Pain's partner in the H8 Club
H8 Club
The H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:The H8 Club has been around since the beginning of Combat Zone Wrestling. The original team was made up of Wifebeater, Justice Pain, Justin Kase, Ed O' Mac,...
, Nick Gage
Nick Gage
Nicholas W. "Nick" Wilson is a hardcore professional wrestler best known from Combat Zone Wrestling. Along with being the first-ever CZW World Heavyweight Champion, he has wrestled at nearly every CZW show and has competed in more CZW matches than anyone...
, who left the building before the match) in the third round. This has made the Kings of Wrestling the only Independent Triple Crown Tag Champions ever. On October 21, 2006, at Horror Business they also attempted to win the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
World Tag Team Championship
PWG World Tag Team Championship
The PWG World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the tag team division of the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla promotion...
to hold four different sets of Tag Team titles simultaneously, but were unable to dethrone the champions Super Dragon and Davey Richards
Davey Richards
Wesley David Richards is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Davey Richards.Richards is currently under contract with Ring of Honor, where he is the current ROH World Champion, but also wrestles for several companies on the independent circuit, including Pro Wrestling...
.
Around this time, it was announced that Castagnoli would be going to 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...
. At Night of Infamy 5, the Kings lost the CZW tag championship to Sabian and Robbie Mireno after Eddie Kingston eliminated Hero from the match and the BLKOUT outnumbered Castagnoli for the win. On November 17, they lost the Campeonatos de Parejas to F.I.S.T. (Gran Akuma
Gran Akuma
Gran Akuma is a professional wrestler who currently works for Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling, where he uses the ring name AKUMA. He has also worked for the Florida based Full Impact Pro. In Chikara, he was a member of the Kings of Wrestling stable, while also being a part of Team F.I.S.T. with...
and Icarus
Icarus (wrestler)
Icarus is a professional wrestler, who performs primarily in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion, where he is a former Campeon de Parejas and King of Trios winner...
) Afterwards, Hero turned on Castagnoli and kicked him out of the stable. They lost the ROH Tag Team Championship to Matt Sydal and 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...
on November 25 at Dethroned. On December 22, 2006, Larry Sweeney
Larry Sweeney
Alexander K. Whybrow was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney...
debuted in ROH to help the Kings of Wrestling defeat the Briscoe Brothers
Briscoe Brothers
The Briscoe Brothers are the professional wrestling tag team of Jay and Mark Briscoe. They are currently wrestling for the American promotions Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, as well as occasionally for the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah.Their wrestling careers have...
. The following night at Final Battle 2006, Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli lost a rematch to the Briscoes. After the match, Castagnoli announced that he would not be going to WWE, but Sweeney said he was only representing Chris Hero, for whom they had big plans, and the two walked out on Castagnoli.
In February 2007, Chikara held the first ever King of Trios
King of Trios
King of Trios is a three-night tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion. The tournament is a different take on the Tag World Grand Prix event that the company is known for annually promoting; in King of Trios, instead of tag teams, there are trios that will compete in six-man tag team...
tournament. Originally, the Kings of Wrestling team was made up of Hero and F.I.S.T., but Hero was replaced with Chuck Taylor
Chuck Taylor (wrestler)
Dustin Howard is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chuck Taylor. He is currently competing most notably in Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Evolve Wrestling and Dragon Gate USA...
. They lost in the semifinals of the tournament. On April 22, Hero defeated Clastagnoli in a match where if Hero won, then Claudio would have to rejoin him. On May 25 at Chikara's Aniversario? event, Hero and Sweeney aligned themselves with Mitch Ryder, while Team F.I.S.T. recruited Young Lions Cup Champion
Chikara Young Lions Cup
The Young Lions Cup is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Chikara.-History:...
Max Boyer
Max Boyer
Maxime "Max" Boyer is a Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his time in the Chikara and International Wrestling Syndicate professional wrestling promotions...
, just as Hero was about to recruit him himself. The following day at the Aniversario! event the two factions within the Kings of Wrestling, Icarus, Akuma and Taylor, accompanied by Boyer, and Hero, Castagnoli and Sweeney, accompanied by Ryder, faced each other. F.I.S.T. were victorious, but after the match all eight men joined forces, after a pep talk by Ryder. Boyer would leave the promotion two months later and his spot in the group would be filled by Shayne Hawke
Shayne Hawke
Shayne Hawke is an Canadian professional wrestler. Hawke is best known for his work with Chikara and International Wrestling Syndicate.-Early career:...
. On September 22, 2007, at Cibernetico & Robin the Kings of Wrestling faced Team Mega Mucha Lucha in the annual torneo cibernetico
Torneo cibernetico
A Torneo Cibernetico is a type of elimination tag-team match that frequently appears in Lucha Libre promotions.The match is a 16-man elimination tag team match consisting of 2 teams of 8. It uses standard Lucha Libre tag-team rules with elimination occurring with a pinfall, submission,...
match. The Kings won the match with Hero, Castagnoli and Mitch Ryder as the survivors, but since the match could only have one winner, they were forced to face each other. Castagnoli forced Hero to tap out and then pinned Ryder to win not only the match, but also his freedom from the Kings of Wrestling. On December 9, 2007, Castagnoli defeated Hero to win their feud. Afterwards, Hero left the company, disbanding the Kings of Wrestling, with Team F.I.S.T. continuing as its own faction.
Hero and Castagnoli reunion (2009–present)
On December 19, 2009, at Final Battle 2009Final Battle 2009
Final Battle 2009 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Ring of Honor , which was only available online. It took place on December 19, 2009 from the Manhattan Center in New York City...
, Ring of Honor's first live pay-per-view, the Kings of Wrestling reunited as Hero and Castagnoli attacked the new ROH World Tag Team Champions, the Briscoe Brothers. Afterwards, The Kings of Wrestling once again became a stable with the additions of Sara Del Rey
Sara Del Rey
Sara Amato is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, Sara Del Rey. She is a mainstay for Chikara and Shimmer Women Athletes. She has also appeared for many other independent promotions in the United States, including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South, All Pro Wrestling, as...
, whom Hero and Castagnoli dubbed the "Queen of Wrestling", and their manager Shane Hagadorn. Hero and Castagnoli attacked the Brisces once more at ROH's 8th Anniversary Show, also brawling with the Dark City Fight Club. In January 2010 Hero and Castagnoli entered Pro Wrestling Noah
Pro Wrestling Noah
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
's Global Tag League, but ended up losing all three of their matches. On April 3, 2010, at The Big Bang!
ROH The Big Bang!
The Big Bang! was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Ring of Honor , which was only available online. It took place on April 3, 2010 from the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte, North Carolina...
Hero and Castagnoli defeated the Briscoes to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship for the second time.
On August 15, 2010, Hero and Castagnoli defeated the Thomaselli Brothers
Thomaselli Brothers
The Thomaselli Brothers are the professional wrestling stable that consists of real life brothers Pauly Thomaselli , Sal Thomaselli , and Vito Thomaselli...
, Briscoe Brothers, and Ring Rydas
The Irish Airborne
The Irish Airborne is an American professional wrestling tag team consisting of brothers Dave Crist and Jake Crist from Dayton, Ohio...
at Juggalo Championship Wrestling's Bloodymania IV
Bloodymania IV
Bloodymania IV was a professional wrestling event produced by Juggalo Championship Wrestling , which took place at midnight on August 15, 2010 at Hog Rock in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois. Professional wrestling is a type of sports entertainment in which theatrical events are combined with a competitive...
to become the new JCW Tag Team Champions
JCW Tag Team Championship
The JCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Nine teams, comprising a total of eighteen wrestlers, have held the JCW Tag Team Championship, combining for a total of thirteen title reigns....
. Hero and Castagnoli were stripped of the titles on February 7, 2011.
In July Ring of Honor announced the return of Tag Wars, where twelve tag teams would compete in three blocks to determine, which three would get to challenge the Kings of Wrestling in the final Ultimate Endurance match. On August 28 the Kings of Wrestling defeated The Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis
Jon Davis (wrestler)
Jon Davis is an American professional wrestler, working for independent promotions including Dragon Gate USA, Full Impact Pro, and Evolve.- Professional wrestling career :...
and Kory Chavis
Kory Chavis
Kory Chavis is a professional wrestler, also known by the ring name Rainman. He currently works for several independent promotions, including Dragon Gate USA, Full Impact Pro, and Evolve.- Professional wrestling career :...
), The All Night Express (Kenny King
Kenny Layne
Kenny Layne is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Kenny King. King currently wrestles for Ring of Honor. He was a contestant in the second season of WWF Tough Enough.-Early life:...
and Rhett Titus
Rhett Titus
Everett Lawrence Titus is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rhett Titus. A student of the ROH Wrestling Academy, Titus has been competing for Ring of Honor , as well as various independent promotions, since 2006.-Career:Titus began training at the ROH Wrestling...
) and the Briscoes in the Ultimate Endurance match to win the 2010 Tag Wars and retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship. Hero and Castagnoli returned to Noah on November 19, 2010, for a three week long tour. The team went undefeated in tag team matches, before being defeated on December 5, the final day of the tour, by Takuma Sano and Yoshihiro Takayama
Yoshihiro Takayama
is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye...
in a match for the GHC Tag Team Championship
GHC Tag Team Championship
The Global Honored Crown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on October 19, 2001, when Scorpio & Vader defeated Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito in a tournament final...
. On December 11, 2010, the Kings of Wrestling returned to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, unsuccessfully challenging ¡Peligro Abejas! (El Generico
El Generico
Rami Sebei is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name El Generico. Sebei uses the gimmick of a luchador from Mexico...
and Paul London
Paul London
Paul Michael London is an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment ....
) for the PWG World Tag Team Championship. On January 4, 2011, Hero and Castagnoli became the longest reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions by breaking the previous record of 275 days, set by the Briscoe Brothers. On April 1 at Honor Takes Center Stage
Honor Takes Center Stage
Honor Takes Center Stage was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Ring of Honor . It took place over two consecutive days, on 1 and 2 April, 2011, at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, with the 1 April show at 8pm ET/5pm PT, and the 2 April show at a special matinee time of 1pm...
, the Kings of Wrestling lost the ROH World Tag Team Championship to Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
and Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton James Benjamin is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment. Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Benjamin has acted...
), ending their reign at 363 days. On September 16 it was reported that Castagnoli had signed a developmental contract with WWE.
In wrestling
- Finishing tag team moves
- Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli
- European uppercut to the back of an opponent's head (Castagnoli) / Rolling elbow to the face (Hero) combination
- Hero's Welcome Kings of Wrestling Edition (Aided rolling cutter)
- Helicopter Crash / King Swing (Giant swing by Castagnoli followed by a running dropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
to the head by Hero) - KRS ONE – Kings Reign Supreme Over Nearly Everyone (Hero and Castagnoli flip the opponent in the air before dropping them into a sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- KRS TWO – Kings Reign Supreme The World Over (Hero and Castagnoli grab the legs an opponent seated in the corner before flipping them in the air and dropping them into a release powerbomb)
- Royal Bomb (Double straight jacket sitout powerbomb pin)
- Royal Power and Glory (Modified Power-Plex, with Hero hitting a moonsaultMoonsaultA 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,...
)
- Chuck TaylorChuck Taylor (wrestler)Dustin Howard is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chuck Taylor. He is currently competing most notably in Chikara, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Evolve Wrestling and Dragon Gate USA...
and Gran AkumaGran AkumaGran Akuma is a professional wrestler who currently works for Chikara and Combat Zone Wrestling, where he uses the ring name AKUMA. He has also worked for the Florida based Full Impact Pro. In Chikara, he was a member of the Kings of Wrestling stable, while also being a part of Team F.I.S.T. with...
- Dinner 'n Drinks (Sole Food by Taylor followed into a Yoshi Tonic by Akuma)
- Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli
- Finishing triple team moves
- Hero, Castagnoli and Super DragonSuper DragonDaniel Lyon , better known by his ring name Super Dragon, is an American professional wrestler. Beginning his career in 1997, he has competed in companies such as All Pro Wrestling, Revolution Pro, Combat Zone Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
- Super Curb Stomp (Hero holds the opponent in a reverse Indian deathlock with Castagnoli holding the same opponent in a surfboard while Dragon hits a diving double foot stomp to the trapped opponent)
- Akuma, Icarus and Taylor
- Shooty McGee (Taylor holds the opponent in a backbreaker rack while Icarus hits a diving double foot stomp onto the prone opponent followed by Taylor hitting an inverted Death Valley driver onto Akuma's knees)
- Hero, Castagnoli and Super Dragon
- Signature tag team moves
- Hero and Castagnoli
- Aided senton splash
- Double big boot
- Double Cravate Cutter (Elevated corkscrew neckbreaker)
- Double elbow drop
- Electric chair (Castagnoli) / Cravate (Hero) combination
- Hero monkey flips Castagnoli, who is propelled into either a splash or a spear
- Akuma and Icarus
- Akuma powerbombPowerbombA powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
s Icarus to perform a senton on a grounded opponent
- Akuma powerbomb
- Akuma and Taylor
- Tombstone piledriver hold by Akuma flipped into a cutterCutter (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a cutter is a common term that refers to the three-quarter facelock bulldog maneuver. The move is also described as an inverted neckbreaker, though it is not one, it only bears an inverted style to it...
by Taylor
- Tombstone piledriver hold by Akuma flipped into a cutter
- Icarus and Taylor
- Jumping big boot by Taylor into a double knee backbreaker by Icarus
- Hero and Castagnoli
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "We Are the ChampionsWe Are the Champions"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
" by QueenQueen (band)Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
(Kings of Wrestling) - "Sharp Dressed ManSharp Dressed Man"Sharp Dressed Man" is a song performed by ZZ Top from their album Eliminator released in 1983. The song was produced by band manager Bill Ham, and recorded and mixed by Terry Manning....
" by ZZ TopZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
(Kings of Wrestling) - "Blue Monday" by OrgyOrgy (band)Orgy is an American synth rock band formed in 1996, from Los Angeles, California. Orgy described their music as "death pop".-History:Orgy was formed in 1996 by vocalist Jay Gordon and guitarist Ryan Shuck. Bassist Paige Haley, guitarist Amir Derakh, and drummer Bobby Hewitt soon completed the line-up...
(Team F.I.S.T.) - "KoW (Kings)" by Cody B. Ware, Emilio Sparks and J. Glaze
- "We Are the Champions
Championships and accomplishments
- Chikara
- Campeonatos de ParejasChikara Campeonatos de ParejasThe Campeonatos de Parejas is a professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based promotion Chikara.-History:The Campeonatos de Parejas were introduced in February 2006...
(2 times) – Hero and Castagnoli (1) and Icarus and Akuma (1) - Young Lions CupChikara Young Lions CupThe Young Lions Cup is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Chikara.-History:...
(2 times) – Boyer (1) and Taylor (1) - Tag World Grand PrixTag World Grand PrixThe Tag World Grand Prix was a tag team professional wrestling tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion.-2003:Tag World Grand Prix 2003 was the first Tag World Grand Prix tournament held by Chikara. The tournament ran over two nights, with the preliminary rounds being held on July 5,...
(2006) – Hero and Castagnoli - Torneo Cibernetico (2007) – Castagnoli
- Campeonatos de Parejas
- Combat Zone WrestlingCombat Zone WrestlingCombat 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"...
- CZW World Tag Team ChampionshipCZW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe CZW World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned and copyrighted by the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion; it is contested for in their tag team division. It was created and debuted on February 13, 1999 at CZW's Opening Night event, where Jon Dahmer...
(2 times) – Hero and Castagnoli - Last Team Standing (2006) – Hero and Castagnoli
- CZW World Tag Team Championship
- Juggalo Championship Wrestling
- JCW Tag Team ChampionshipJCW Tag Team ChampionshipThe JCW Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Juggalo Championship Wrestling. Nine teams, comprising a total of eighteen wrestlers, have held the JCW Tag Team Championship, combining for a total of thirteen title reigns....
(1 time) – Hero and Castagnoli
- JCW Tag Team Championship
- Pro Wrestling GuerrillaPro Wrestling GuerrillaPro Wrestling Guerrilla is a professional wrestling promotion that is run by wrestlers themselves as it was created by Southern California wrestlers Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar...
- PWG World ChampionshipPWG World ChampionshipThe PWG World Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla professional wrestling promotion. It was first introduced in 2003 as the PWG Championship...
(1 time) – Castagnoli
- PWG World Championship
- Ring of HonorRing of HonorRing of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
- ROH World Tag Team ChampionshipROH World Tag Team ChampionshipThe Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute...
(2 times) – Hero and Castagnoli - Tag Wars (2010) – Hero and Castagnoli
- ROH World Tag Team Championship
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Tag Team of the Year (2010) – Hero and Castagnoli