Tommy Drake
Encyclopedia
Cory R. Carey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Tommy Drake. He is best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah
in Japan and various independent
promotions
in the United States. Drake wrestled dark matches for World Wrestling Entertainment
, and made regular appearances on Monday Night Raw
and SmackDown.
, at the request of Ed "Moondog" Moretti, and attended the APW Boot Camp. There he was trained by Michael Modest
, Donovan Morgan
, and Ric Thompson. He debuted in All Pro Wrestling
on December 12, 2000 in Vallejo, California
as Tommy Blaze, scoring a victory over Kid Chrome.
Soon after his debut Drake began feuding with various APW wrestlers. In 2000, Drake and Donovan Morgan
began the training of The Great Khali. Khali lived with Drake in a small apartment in Hayward, California
, until Khali left for Japan and eventually the World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE).
After a falling out with APW, Drake jumped ship to Pro Wrestling Iron, started by Morgan and Mike Modest. Drake became an assistant trainer, and would train PWI's students
when not in Japan. In 2001 he helped further the training of Tough Enough
winner John Morrison, who went on to become the ECW Champion.
Drake's first tour of Japan came in 2001. Drake tag teamed with Scorpio
and Bison Smith
, and faced such opponets as Jun Akiyama
, Mitsuharu Misawa
, Kenta Kobashi
, and Yoshihiro Takayama
.
Drake wrestled his last match for WWE on March 27, 2003 in San Jose. He faced Sean O'Haire
on SmackDown. Drake was upset with O'Haire after dropping him on his head twice during the match. Drake felt that the companies in the United States
were about hiring wrestlers with great looks but lacking talent. Drake did not work for WWE any further.
Pro Wrestling Iron, held its first show on May 31, 2002 in Ukiah, California
. PWI negotiated a talent swap agreement with Noah that saw Japanese wrestlers such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Naoya Ogawa
, and Takao Ōmori
appear on PWI shows. Drake teamed up with Bison Smith
to face Danny Dominion and Ace Steel
. Drake and Bison scored a victory, with the match lasted for 50 minutes.
In the English dub of the anime Pani Poni Dash, Drake is the voice of Lord cat.
, and began wrestling for Impact Zone Wrestling. Drake wrestles for IZW and AZWO in Arizona from time to time, but has yet to make a full comeback. Drake was the main event in 2006 when he faced TNA Impact star Relic
at Wild West Championship Wrestling's inaugural show. The show was held at a boxing sport arena in Phoenix, Arizona. In October 2007 Drake starred in the reality show Casting Call, filming for Big Sky Motion Pictures
in New Orleans. The show is set to air next year in conjunction with writer/director Mars Callahan
's latest movie, Spring Break '83
.
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...
in Japan and various independent
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...
promotions
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
in the United States. Drake wrestled dark matches for 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...
, and made regular appearances on Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
and SmackDown.
Career
Carey grew up in rural Iowa, and began wrestling at age ten. Carey attended Canby High School in Oregon, graduating in 1997 at age seventeen. Working odd jobs after high school, Carey moved to Hayward, CaliforniaHayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, at the request of Ed "Moondog" Moretti, and attended the APW Boot Camp. There he was trained by Michael Modest
Michael Modest
Michael K. Cariglio is an American professional wrestler, better known by his stage name, Michael Modest . A Bay Area legend on the independent circuit scene, Modest ran the promotion Pro Wrestling IRON with tag partner Donovan Morgan and Frank Murdoch until its closure in 2005...
, Donovan Morgan
Donovan Morgan
Andrew Vassos is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Donovan Morgan. Best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and Ring of Honor in the United States, Morgan received tryouts with World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation in...
, and Ric Thompson. He debuted in All Pro Wrestling
All Pro Wrestling
All Pro Wrestling Gym Wars is a professional wrestling television program produced by APW which originally aired weekly on Saturday mornings on KFTY Channel 50 in the San Francisco Bay Area, beginning December 5, 2009. The series features the professional wrestlers of All Pro Wrestling competing in...
on December 12, 2000 in Vallejo, California
Vallejo, California
Vallejo is the largest city in Solano County, California, United States. The population was 115,942 at the 2010 census. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area on the northeastern shore of San Pablo Bay...
as Tommy Blaze, scoring a victory over Kid Chrome.
Soon after his debut Drake began feuding with various APW wrestlers. In 2000, Drake and Donovan Morgan
Donovan Morgan
Andrew Vassos is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Donovan Morgan. Best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and Ring of Honor in the United States, Morgan received tryouts with World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation in...
began the training of The Great Khali. Khali lived with Drake in a small apartment in Hayward, California
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, until Khali left for Japan and eventually 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...
(WWE).
After a falling out with APW, Drake jumped ship to Pro Wrestling Iron, started by Morgan and Mike Modest. Drake became an assistant trainer, and would train PWI's students
when not in Japan. In 2001 he helped further the training of Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...
winner John Morrison, who went on to become the ECW Champion.
Drake's first tour of Japan came in 2001. Drake tag teamed with Scorpio
Scorpio
-Technology:* Scorpio , Roman artillery invented in 50 BC* Scorpio ROV, a class of submersible remotely operated vehicle, including the Scorpio II and Super Scorpio operated by the US and UK navies* Mahindra Scorpio, an Indian SUV...
and Bison Smith
Bison Smith
Mark Smith was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bison Smith. He best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico...
, and faced such opponets as Jun Akiyama
Jun Akiyama
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Akiyama is known for his serious style and outstanding, time-tested work as a tag team wrestler...
, Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa
was a Japanese professional wrestler. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling . From 1984 until 1990, Misawa wrestled as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling...
, Kenta Kobashi
Kenta Kobashi
Not to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
, 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...
.
Drake wrestled his last match for WWE on March 27, 2003 in San Jose. He faced Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire
Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
on SmackDown. Drake was upset with O'Haire after dropping him on his head twice during the match. Drake felt that the companies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were about hiring wrestlers with great looks but lacking talent. Drake did not work for WWE any further.
Pro Wrestling Iron, held its first show on May 31, 2002 in Ukiah, California
Ukiah, California
The average high temperature is 73.5 °F . Average low temperature is 46.1 °F . Temperatures reach 90 °F on an average of 65.6 days annually and 100 °F on an average of 14.4 days annually. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing...
. PWI negotiated a talent swap agreement with Noah that saw Japanese wrestlers such as Mitsuharu Misawa, Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa is a Japanese former world judo champion, Olympic silver medalist, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist...
, and Takao Ōmori
Takao Omori
is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler, currently competing for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has formerly competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
appear on PWI shows. Drake teamed up with Bison Smith
Bison Smith
Mark Smith was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bison Smith. He best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico...
to face Danny Dominion and 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...
. Drake and Bison scored a victory, with the match lasted for 50 minutes.
In the English dub of the anime Pani Poni Dash, Drake is the voice of Lord cat.
Current Independent & Other Work
In 2003 Drake moved to Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, and began wrestling for Impact Zone Wrestling. Drake wrestles for IZW and AZWO in Arizona from time to time, but has yet to make a full comeback. Drake was the main event in 2006 when he faced TNA Impact star Relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
at Wild West Championship Wrestling's inaugural show. The show was held at a boxing sport arena in Phoenix, Arizona. In October 2007 Drake starred in the reality show Casting Call, filming for Big Sky Motion Pictures
Big Sky Motion Pictures
Big Sky Motion Pictures was founded in Los Angeles as film production company by C.E.O. Mars Callahan and executive producer Rand Chortkoff. Having suffered financial setbacks in late 2007, the company has reorganized and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana....
in New Orleans. The show is set to air next year in conjunction with writer/director Mars Callahan
Mars Callahan
Mars Callahan is an American actor, director, producer and writer.He is known, among other things, for the movie Poolhall Junkies where he served as director, actor and screenwriter....
's latest movie, Spring Break '83
Spring Break '83
-Plot:Four friends who were bullied by their graduating high school class seek revenge against the now freshman college students while on Spring break during 1983.-Production:...
.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Drakes Landing (Top Rope Elbow Drop)
- Latest Edition (Straight Jacket Neck Breaker)
- Spine Buster
- Russian Leg Sweep
- Power Bomb
- Moonsault
- Dropkick
- 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...
- CC Star
- Beaver Las Vegas
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- Limited Edition
- Beyond The Best
- Trainer Of Champions
Championships and accomplishments
- All Pro WrestlingAll Pro WrestlingAll Pro Wrestling Gym Wars is a professional wrestling television program produced by APW which originally aired weekly on Saturday mornings on KFTY Channel 50 in the San Francisco Bay Area, beginning December 5, 2009. The series features the professional wrestlers of All Pro Wrestling competing in...
- APW Internet Championship (1 times)
- APW Universal Championship (1 times)
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- CAC Future Legend Award Runner Up (2003)
- Midwest Championship Wrestling
- MCW T3 Tournament Finalist (1 time)- with Vinnie Massaro
- Pro Wrestling Iron
- PWI Tag Team Championship ( time)
- Arizona Wrestling Order
- AZWO Heavyweight Championship (1 time)