Steve Debbes
Encyclopedia
Steve Debbes, better known by his ring name
Tornado, is a South Africa
n professional wrestler
performing for World Wrestling Professionals
. He is the current 2-time WWP Heavyweight World Champion
and the longest-reigning title holder in the championship's history.
In the early 90s, wrestling for All Stars Wrestling, he donned the Tornado II gimmick after Danie Brits
, the original Tornado, passed it onto him. In his early career he traveled extensively overseas in order to gain experience. Some of the countries he toured included Mexico, USA, Japan and Russia. In 1994, he unmasked for the first time during a match against Stone Cold Steve Austin
that took place at the Sun City
Superbowl. In 1998, he took part in South Africa's first-ever barbed-wire match against Jacques Roque. In 1999, shortly after the death of close friend Paul Lloyd, Sr., who was the promoter of All Stars Wrestling, Tornado unmasked himself permanently in honour of his passing and took over the operations of the promotion. At the time International Wrestling Federation: South Africa served as a feeder system to All Stars Wrestling, producing young talent such as Paul Lloyd Sr.'s son and current WWE wrestler Justin Angel. Tornado decided to combine All Stars Wrestling with IWF:SA under the IWF banner.
He became the IWF Heavyweight Champion in 2000 and went on to win the IWF-sanctioned All Africa Championship five times.
, securing a major national television deal with SABC2 and hiring wrestlers from all over the country, including Tornado who had close ties to the promoter of WWP, Mark Beale. Around this period Tornado was still operating the IWF training camp and he tutored many of this generation's top professional wrestlers in South Africa. Tornado captured the WWP World Heavyweight Title in 2005 on the first episode of WWP Thunderstrike. He defeated the Van Der Westhuizen brothers in a handicap match a few weeks later to win the WWP World Tag Team Titles before losing it again to the same tag team.
In 2008, he headlined WWP's Carnival City show in a Steel Cage match against Vincent Skull, a show that drew a record paid crowd for a South African wrestling show. He lost the WWP World Heavyweight Title after a multi-year reign to newcomer Dameon Duke, who is now signed to WWE. He won the WWP World Tag Team Titles for the second time in February, 2009, subsequently losing it to The French Connection in September of that same year. On July 11, 2009, in front of another record crowd of 20,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tornado defeated Dameon Duke to win the vacant WWP World Heavyweight Title, becoming a 2-time champion. Tornado had a dominant run on 100% De Dhana Dhan, a television show airing nationally in India on Colours TV.
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:...
Tornado, is a 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...
n 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...
performing for World Wrestling Professionals
World Wrestling Professionals
World Wrestling Professionals is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The internationally-televised promotion is owned by Mark Beale and Abdul Kader, and is heavily influenced by American mainstream wrestling....
. He is the current 2-time WWP Heavyweight World Champion
WWP Heavyweight World Title
The WWP Heavyweight World Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the South African professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Professionals, contested exclusively among Heavyweight wrestlers. It was created in April 2004 when WWP debuted its television...
and the longest-reigning title holder in the championship's history.
Early life
Steve Debbes was a former amateur wrestler and Judoka, starting his athletic career at the age of 11. He received Springbok Colours for his amateur wrestling achievements, becoming the youngest South African to do so at the time. He was trained by Don Charles and Wild Bill Murphy and at the age of 18 he turned professional, debuting under his real name in 1986.All Stars Wrestling/International Wrestling Federation
Danie Brits
Danie Brits is a retired South African professional wrestler and former South African Heavyweight Champion, known for his work in many of South Africa's major promotions in the past and for his 1980s stint as The Masked Tornado.-Early career:...
, the original Tornado, passed it onto him. In his early career he traveled extensively overseas in order to gain experience. Some of the countries he toured included Mexico, USA, Japan and Russia. In 1994, he unmasked for the first time during a match against Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
that took place at the Sun City
Sun City, North West
Sun City is a luxury casino and resort, situated in the North West Province of South Africa. It is located about two hours' drive from Johannesburg, near the city of Rustenburg. The complex borders the Pilanesberg Game Reserve.- History :...
Superbowl. In 1998, he took part in South Africa's first-ever barbed-wire match against Jacques Roque. In 1999, shortly after the death of close friend Paul Lloyd, Sr., who was the promoter of All Stars Wrestling, Tornado unmasked himself permanently in honour of his passing and took over the operations of the promotion. At the time International Wrestling Federation: South Africa served as a feeder system to All Stars Wrestling, producing young talent such as Paul Lloyd Sr.'s son and current WWE wrestler Justin Angel. Tornado decided to combine All Stars Wrestling with IWF:SA under the IWF banner.
He became the IWF Heavyweight Champion in 2000 and went on to win the IWF-sanctioned All Africa Championship five times.
World Wrestling Professionals
In 2004, IWF closed down due to a new Port Elizabeth-based promotion, World Wrestling ProfessionalsWorld Wrestling Professionals
World Wrestling Professionals is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The internationally-televised promotion is owned by Mark Beale and Abdul Kader, and is heavily influenced by American mainstream wrestling....
, securing a major national television deal with SABC2 and hiring wrestlers from all over the country, including Tornado who had close ties to the promoter of WWP, Mark Beale. Around this period Tornado was still operating the IWF training camp and he tutored many of this generation's top professional wrestlers in South Africa. Tornado captured the WWP World Heavyweight Title in 2005 on the first episode of WWP Thunderstrike. He defeated the Van Der Westhuizen brothers in a handicap match a few weeks later to win the WWP World Tag Team Titles before losing it again to the same tag team.
In 2008, he headlined WWP's Carnival City show in a Steel Cage match against Vincent Skull, a show that drew a record paid crowd for a South African wrestling show. He lost the WWP World Heavyweight Title after a multi-year reign to newcomer Dameon Duke, who is now signed to WWE. He won the WWP World Tag Team Titles for the second time in February, 2009, subsequently losing it to The French Connection in September of that same year. On July 11, 2009, in front of another record crowd of 20,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tornado defeated Dameon Duke to win the vacant WWP World Heavyweight Title, becoming a 2-time champion. Tornado had a dominant run on 100% De Dhana Dhan, a television show airing nationally in India on Colours TV.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Tornadosault (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,...
)
- Tornadosault (Moonsault
- Signature moves
- Asai Moonsault
- Handspring 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,...
- Jumping piledriver, sometimes from the top rope
- Kryptonite Krunch
- Multiple suplexSuplexA suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
variations- Belly to belly suplex
- Exploder suplex
- Sleeper suplex
- Spinning Elbow
- Superkick
Championships and accomplishments
- International Wrestling Federation: South Africa
- IWF Heavyweight Title (2 times)
- World Wrestling ProfessionalsWorld Wrestling ProfessionalsWorld Wrestling Professionals is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The internationally-televised promotion is owned by Mark Beale and Abdul Kader, and is heavily influenced by American mainstream wrestling....
- WWP All-Africa Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
- WWP World Heavyweight Championship (2 times, current)
- WWP World Tag Team Championship (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 #448 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in 1993.