The Headhunters (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
The Headhunters is a professional wrestling
tag team
that consists of twin
brothers Manuel and Victor Santiago (born August 11, 1968, in New York, New York, USA), better known by their respective ring name
s, Headhunter A and Headhunter B.
and both debuted in 1987.
In the early 1990s, The Headhunters travelled to Japan
and began wrestling for W*ING. In August 1992, they were awarded the newly created W*ING International New Generation World Tag Team Championship. They held the titles until November 6, 1992, when they lost to Crash the Terminator
and Mr. Pogo
in Sapporo. The brothers regained the titles on May 19, 1993, defeating Miguelito Perez and Yukihiro Kanemura in Honjo
, and held them until the promotion closed in March 1994.
The Headhunters debuted in Eastern Championship Wrestling
in August 1993, taking part in a tournament for the vacant ECW Tag Team Championship
. The Headhunters were eliminated from the tournament after fighting their opponents, Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Koloff, to a double disqualification. At ECW UltraClash
on September 18, 1993, The Headhunters defeated Crash the Terminator and Miguelito Perez in a baseball bat match.
The Headhunters began wrestling for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
in the 1990s, and on June 30, 1995 in Mexico City
they defeated El Texano
and Silver King to win the CMLL World Tag Team Championship
. They held the titles until November 3, 1995, when they were defeated by Atlantis
and Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.
The Headhunters returned to Japan in the mid-1990s. They joined the International Wrestling Association of Japan
soon after its inception, and began the first IWA World Tag Team Champions by defeating Dick Slater
and Nobutaka Araya on November 17, 1994, in Yokohama
. They lost the titles to El Texano and Silver King on March 3, 1995, in Hiroshima
, but regained them on August 20, 1995, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa
. Their second reign ended when they lost to Cactus Jack
and Tracy Smothers
on September 29, 1995, in Yokohama.
The brothers also wrestled for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
, and on March 30, 1996, they defeated Super Leather and Jason the Terrible
in Tokyo
to win the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
. They held the titles for over a year, finally losing to Hido and Kanemura on April 25, 1997, in Osaka
. The Headhunters also held the FMW World Street Fight Six Man Tag Team Championship on two occasions in 1996, teaming with Super Leather
and Hisakatsu Oya
respectively.
The Headhunters debuted in the World Wrestling Federation
on January 21, 1996, at the WWF Royal Rumble
. Identified as Swat Team #1 and Swat Team #2 respectively, the Headhunters took part in the Royal Rumble match, but were both eliminated, with Yokozuna
eliminating Headhunter B after 24 seconds and Vader eliminating Headhunter A after 71 seconds. The Headhunters briefly appeared on WWF television as The Arabian Butchers on the June 30, 1997, episode of Raw, a tag team managed
by Jim Cornette
.
The Headhunters returned to Eastern Championship Wrestling, since renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling, on February 17, 1996, at ECW CyberSlam 1996, losing to The Bruise Brothers. They made a final appearance on March 8, 1996, at the ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash, losing to the Dudleys
(Buh Buh Ray Dudley and Dances With Dudley
) in a tag team bout and losing to The Gangstas
and the team of 2 Cold Scorpio and The Sandman
in a three way tag team match.
In the 2000s, The Headhunters began wrestling on the Mexican
independent circuit
. In 2006, they appeared briefly with Juggalo Championshit Wrestling
.
In November 2006, The Headhunters began working dates for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
. Headhunter A would become a regular in the spring, officially joining heel stable Legión Extranjera
. He quit the promotion in September 2008, choosing to return to the independent circuit. Both Headhunters have since worked regularly for IWRG and NWA Mexico. Most recently the two wrestled on the debut Perros del Mal Producciones
show promoted by Perro Aguayo Jr..
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...
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...
that consists of twin
Twin
A twin is one of two offspring produced in the same pregnancy. Twins can either be monozygotic , meaning that they develop from one zygote that splits and forms two embryos, or dizygotic because they develop from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two separate sperm.In contrast, a fetus...
brothers Manuel and Victor Santiago (born August 11, 1968, in New York, New York, USA), better known by their respective ring name
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:...
s, Headhunter A and Headhunter B.
Career
The Santiago brothers trained under Johnny RodzJohnny Rodz
Johnny Rodriguez is a retired American professional wrestler. He has previously worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Rodz.-World Wide Wrestling Federation:...
and both debuted in 1987.
In the early 1990s, The Headhunters travelled to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and began wrestling for W*ING. In August 1992, they were awarded the newly created W*ING International New Generation World Tag Team Championship. They held the titles until November 6, 1992, when they lost to Crash the Terminator
Bill DeMott
William Charles "Bill" DeMott II is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment as Hugh Morrus and Bill DeMott respectively and as Crash The Terminator in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Japan...
and Mr. Pogo
Tetsuo Sekigawa
Tetsuo Sekigawa is a Japanese professional wrestler who is very well known for his hardcore matches, competing in his most popular gimmick, Mr. Pogo.-Early years :...
in Sapporo. The brothers regained the titles on May 19, 1993, defeating Miguelito Perez and Yukihiro Kanemura in Honjo
Honjo
Honjō or Honjo can refer to:Places* Honjō, Akita* Honjō, Nagano* Honjō, Ōita* Honjō, Saitama* Honjo StadiumPeople* Shigeru HonjōFictional characters* Mika Honjō of Ginban Kaleidoscope* Ren Honjo of Nana----...
, and held them until the promotion closed in March 1994.
The Headhunters debuted in Eastern Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
in August 1993, taking part in a tournament for the vacant ECW Tag Team Championship
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
. The Headhunters were eliminated from the tournament after fighting their opponents, Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Koloff, to a double disqualification. At ECW UltraClash
ECW UltraClash
UltraClash 93 is an Eastern Championship Wrestling event that took place on September 18, 1993 from the ECW Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Results:-External links:*...
on September 18, 1993, The Headhunters defeated Crash the Terminator and Miguelito Perez in a baseball bat match.
The Headhunters began wrestling for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
in the 1990s, and on June 30, 1995 in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
they defeated El Texano
El Texano
Juan Conrado Aguilar Jáuregui , better known by his ring name El Texano, was a Mexican professional wrestler...
and Silver King to win the CMLL World Tag Team Championship
CMLL World Tag Team Championship
The CMLL World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico for Tag teams only. The title was created in 1993 and is still promoted to this day...
. They held the titles until November 3, 1995, when they were defeated by Atlantis
Atlantis (wrestler)
Atlantis is a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre where he performs as a Technico . Atlantis has held a large number of professional wrestling championships over the years, both in Mexico and in Japan...
and Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.
Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.
Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado whose real name has not been revealed, per Lucha Libre traditions. Rayo de Jalisco, Jr...
The Headhunters returned to Japan in the mid-1990s. They joined the International Wrestling Association of Japan
International Wrestling Association of Japan
International Wrestling Association of Japan, more commonly known as IWA Japan, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion operating from 1994 to 1996....
soon after its inception, and began the first IWA World Tag Team Champions by defeating Dick Slater
Dick Slater
Richard Van Slater , better known by his ring name "Dirty" Dick Slater, is a retired American professional wrestler who wrestled in the 1970s, 1980s, and mid 1990s for various promotions including Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling .Slater began wrestling with Mike...
and Nobutaka Araya on November 17, 1994, in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
. They lost the titles to El Texano and Silver King on March 3, 1995, in Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, but regained them on August 20, 1995, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
. Their second reign ended when they lost to Cactus Jack
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
and Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers is an American professional wrestler.-Early career:Tracy started his career in the Memphis promotion on Saturday morning TV. Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as The Southern Boys in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1987 where they feuded with The New Breed...
on September 29, 1995, in Yokohama.
The brothers also wrestled for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling
Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989...
, and on March 30, 1996, they defeated Super Leather and Jason the Terrible
Jason the Terrible
Jason the Terrible is a frequently used ringname used by:*Karl Moffat, the original Jason the Terrible who debuted in Stampede Wrestling*Roberto Rodriguez, wrestles using the name in the W*ing Federation...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to win the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship
The FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.-WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship :-FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship :...
. They held the titles for over a year, finally losing to Hido and Kanemura on April 25, 1997, in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. The Headhunters also held the FMW World Street Fight Six Man Tag Team Championship on two occasions in 1996, teaming with Super Leather
Michael Kirchner
Michael Penzel is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Corporal Kirchner and for competing in Japan under the ring name Leatherface.-World Wrestling Federation:After working as talent enhancement for...
and Hisakatsu Oya
Hisakatsu Oya
Kenichi Oya is a semi-retired Japanese professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Hisakatsu Oya. Although he started out for New Japan Pro Wrestling, he is well-known for his stint in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling....
respectively.
The Headhunters debuted in 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...
on January 21, 1996, at the WWF Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (1996)
Royal Rumble was the ninth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 21, 1996 at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California....
. Identified as Swat Team #1 and Swat Team #2 respectively, the Headhunters took part in the Royal Rumble match, but were both eliminated, with Yokozuna
Rodney Anoa'i
Rodney Agatupu Anoa'i was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation where he wrestled under the ring name Yokozuna. The term yokozuna refers to the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling in Japan...
eliminating Headhunter B after 24 seconds and Vader eliminating Headhunter A after 71 seconds. The Headhunters briefly appeared on WWF television as The Arabian Butchers on the June 30, 1997, episode of Raw, a tag team managed
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
by Jim Cornette
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
.
The Headhunters returned to Eastern Championship Wrestling, since renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling, on February 17, 1996, at ECW CyberSlam 1996, losing to The Bruise Brothers. They made a final appearance on March 8, 1996, at the ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash, losing to the Dudleys
Dudley family
The Dudley Family was a large professional wrestling stable of storyline half-brothers in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Gimmick:The gimmick of the group was that, despite their obvious differences in physical appearance and race, the members were all said to be the sons of the fictional Willy...
(Buh Buh Ray Dudley and Dances With Dudley
Adolfo Bermudez
Adolfo Bermudez is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Dances with Dudley, who competed in North American independent promotions including the American Wrestling Federation, International World Class Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling, most notably as an...
) in a tag team bout and losing to The Gangstas
The Gangstas
The Gangstas was a professional wrestling tag team and stable, most notably consisting of New Jack and Mustafa Saed in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
and the team of 2 Cold Scorpio and The Sandman
Jim Fullington
James "Jim" Fullington better known by his ring name Sandman, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling , where he developed into a "Hardcore Icon"...
in a three way tag team match.
In the 2000s, The Headhunters began wrestling on the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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...
. In 2006, they appeared briefly with Juggalo Championshit Wrestling
Juggalo Championshit Wrestling
Juggalo Championship Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion founded in 1999 by Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, better known as the hip-hop duo Insane Clown Posse. JCW currently runs shows throughout the country...
.
In November 2006, The Headhunters began working dates for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico...
. Headhunter A would become a regular in the spring, officially joining heel stable Legión Extranjera
Foreign Legion (wrestling)
La Legión Extranjera is the main Asistencia, Asesoría y Administración heel group, though loosely affiliated. It's a catch all for one time and irregularly scheduled foreign heels, working as Konnan's hired guns as well as a number of AAA regular Rudós...
. He quit the promotion in September 2008, choosing to return to the independent circuit. Both Headhunters have since worked regularly for IWRG and NWA Mexico. Most recently the two wrestled on the debut Perros del Mal Producciones
Perros del Mal (promotion)
Perros del Mal Producciones , often referred to as just Perros del Mal, is a Mexican professional wrestling promotion founded in October, 2007 by Perro Aguayo, Jr. when he left Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre to form his own group...
show promoted by Perro Aguayo Jr..
In wrestling
- Signature moves
- Crossbody
- Diving leg drop
- 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,...
- 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...
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Jim CornetteJim CornetteJames Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
- Joe Don Smith
- Victor QuiñonesVictor QuiñonesVictor Quiñones was a Puerto Rican professional wrestling promoter, the founder and owner of International Wrestling Association. Quiñones was primarily a manager for The Headhunters and Mr...
- Jim Cornette
Championships and accomplishments
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- CMLL World Tag Team ChampionshipCMLL World Tag Team ChampionshipThe CMLL World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico for Tag teams only. The title was created in 1993 and is still promoted to this day...
(1 time) - International Gran PrixCMLL International Gran PrixThe CMLL International Gran Prix was an annual tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , that was held from 1994 to 2008, although there was no tournament in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004. The tournament was inspired by New Japan Pro Wrestling's...
(1995) (Headhunter A) - Frontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFrontier Martial-Arts WrestlingFrontier Martial-Arts Wrestling was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded on July 28, 1989 by Atsushi Onita that specialized in hardcore wrestling involving weapons such as barbed wire and fire. They held their first show on October 6, 1989...
- FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team ChampionshipFMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team ChampionshipThe FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling.-WWA World Martial Arts Tag Team Championship :-FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship :...
(1 time) - FMW/WEW 6-Man Tag Team Championship / FMW World Street Fight Six Man Tag Team ChampionshipFMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team ChampionshipThe FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag Team Championship was a championship in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling. It was active from May 1996 until May 1999. The title was then abandoned, but it was replaced in July 1999 with the World Entertainment Wrestling Six-Man Tag Team Championship. The final...
(2 times) - with Super LeatherMichael KirchnerMichael Penzel is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Corporal Kirchner and for competing in Japan under the ring name Leatherface.-World Wrestling Federation:After working as talent enhancement for...
(1) and Hisakatsu Oya (1) - International Wrestling Association of JapanInternational Wrestling Association of JapanInternational Wrestling Association of Japan, more commonly known as IWA Japan, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion operating from 1994 to 1996....
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (IWA Japan version) (2 times)
- W*ING
- W*ING World Tag Team Championship (2 times)