UltraMantis Black
Encyclopedia
UltraMantis Black is a professional wrestler
, who performs primarily in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion
, where he is the leader of the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple, while also regularly commentating on matches in which he is not competing. Throughout his career he has also worked for promotions such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling
, Combat Zone Wrestling
, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
and Jersey All Pro Wrestling
. As part of his gimmick, he wears a mantis
mask. As UltraMantis, his original red and green attire was based on the main protagonist
from the Kamen Rider
series, while his ring name
was derived from another Japan
ese television program, Ultraman
. In May 2004 he renamed himself UltraMantis Black and adopted a new mask and a red and black attire, while also beginning to express communist
views. In June 2006 he formed his own stable, the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple and adopted the dark look he uses to this day. UltraMantis Black, Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush, Hallowicked
and Icarus
are the only wrestlers who performed on Chikara's first ever show on May 25, 2002, and are still working for the promotion today.
. He trained on the first term of the school alongside the likes of Hallowicked
and Icarus
.
superhero
on the promotion's first show, where he was defeated by fellow Wrestle Factory graduate Blind Rage. Afterwards, he teamed up with another Wrestle Factory graduate, Mr. ZERO, to form the tag team Ultra/Zero, and together they would feud
with The Wildcards (Eddie Kingston
and BlackJack Marciano) for most of 2003. The long feud ended on July 5, 2003, when Ultra/Zero defeated The Wildcards in the semifinals of the inaugural Tag World Grand Prix. The duo would lose in the finals against Night Shift (Blind Rage and Hallowicked) after ZERO suffered an injury. On September 27, 2003, UltraMantis received a shot at the Chikara Young Lions Cup
, but was defeated by the defending champion Hallowicked.
after adopting a more aggressive style and attacking fellow wrestlers after they had managed to defeat him. Finally, on April 9, 2004, UltraMantis turned on ZERO and abandoned him during a tag team match against Joker
and Sabian
. At the following show on May 15, he debuted a new black mask and declared that UltraMantis was dead before announcing the birth of UltraMantis Black. He would then form a tag team with Hallowicked, known collectively as the Dark Breed, and together they would feud with Mr. ZERO and his new tag team partner Shane Storm
. For the 2004 torneo cibernetico
, the Dark Breed joined Larry Sweeney
's faction Sweet 'n' Sour International, but after neither of them managed to win the match, they left the faction. In early 2005, UltraMantis Black began suffering from injuries that would force him to take on the roles of a commentator, a role he continues to hold, and a manager
for Hallowicked.
Incoherence with tecnico wrestler Delirious
. Beginning in 2006, Ultramantis debuted an entirely new mantis mask. Later on in June of that year, during the Young Lions Cup tournament, UltraMantis attacked Hallowicked and then announced the death of the Dark Breed and the birth of The Order of the Neo–Solar Temple. In October of that same year, Crossbones joined UltraMantis and Hydra as the third member of the stable. The feud between the Neo–Solar Temple and Incoherence would end during the season five finale weekend, where Incoherence first defeated UltraMantis and Hydra in a tag team match on November 17 and then UltraMantis, Hydra, Crossbones and Blind Rage in an eight man tag team match, where they teamed up with Cheech and Cloudy
, the following day.
UltraMantis, Hydra and Crossbones spent 2007 wrestling together on the undercards of Chikara events. Towards the end of the year, the team started to grow apart and on November 17, UltraMantis inexplicably helped Shane Storm, who had been on a long losing streak, defeat Hydra. On April 19, 2008, UltraMantis defeated Tim Donst
, whom he had dropped on his head in Donst's debut the previous year, with the Praying Mantis Bomb. After the match, the Neo–Solar Temple kidnapped the concussed Donst and managed to convince him to become the fourth member of the faction. However, this would all be revealed a plan by Mike Quackenbush as he had sent Donst to infiltrate the Neo–Solar Temple in order to find out who had leaked the secret of the Chikara Special to Chris Hero
. Quackenbush had been feuding with Hero and in the course of the feud, Quackenbush invented a move which Hero could not break. After defeating him in a singles match, Quackenbush taught the move to every tecnico on the Chikara roster. However, on November 17, 2007, Hero had been able to break the hold and use it himself to win his feud against Equinox
. On June 18, 2008, Donst left the Neo–Solar Temple and with information gathered undercover, he was able to reveal to Quackenbush that Shane Storm, Quackenbush's longtime tag team partner, had been the one who had leaked the move and the counter to it to UltraMantis Black, who in turn taught the move to Hero. After being given an ultimatum by UltraMantis, Hydra left the Order with Donst and together they would form the tag team known as the Sea Donsters, resulting in the Neo–Solar Temple being dwindled down to a tag team. UltraMantis and Crossbones would feud the rest of the year with Donst and Hydra. On December 12, 2008, the Sea Donsters defeated the Neo–Solar Temple in a tag team match after Donst pinned Crossbones with the Donstitution. Two days later, at the season seven finale, UltraMantis and Hydra faced each other in a singles match, which Hydra was able to win after forcing his former mentor to tap out to the Hydra Lock, effectively ending their feud.
were given chances, but neither of them could help the Neo–Solar Temple to qualify for the 2009 King of Trios. In early 2009 UltraMantis, after being threathened by Quackenbush, revealed that the reason he had wanted the Chikara Special from Shane Storm the previous year was that with it he could get his hands on the Eye of Tyr, a mysterious artifact that could be used to control minds. The artifact, which had gone missing from Switzerland
, had suddenly appeared in possession of Dr. Cube over at Kaiju Big Battel
. Cube was a fan of Chris Hero's and was ready to swap the Eye of Tyr for him. Shane Storm came to UltraMantis and offered to teach him the move in order to get back to his winning ways and this is why UltraMantis had helped him defeat Hydra back in November 2007. After learning the move, UltraMantis taught it to Hero, who then, after winning his feud with Equinox, agreed to leave Chikara for Kaiju Big Battel and in exchange, Dr. Cube handed the Eye of Tyr to UltraMantis.
In April 2009, UltraMantis saw a chance to finally get revenge on his former Dark Breed partner Hallowicked and on April 26, he and Crossbones kidnapped Delirious after Incoherence's match. On May 23, 2009, UltraMantis Black and Crossbones debuted the new third member of the Neo–Solar Temple, Delirious, who had been brainwashed with the Eye of Tyr and was now under the control of UltraMantis. With their newest recruit, the Order went on a winning streak, which included tag team victories over The Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno
and Player Dos
), The Roughnecks (Eddie Kingston
and Grizzly Redwood) and The Colony (Carpenter Ant and Green Ant)
and a trios victory over Mike Quackenbush, Claudio Castagnoli
and Skayde
. According to a legend, once the Eye of Tyr is used, it must be given away, or the user would face bad luck and tragedy. However, UltraMantis did not believe this and refused to let go of the Eye. On August 16, 2009, during the third night of the annual Young Lions Cup, a man dressed in a white mask and clothes confronted UltraMantis Black in the ring and gave him a box. Inside of the box was a message stating that a war was coming. That same man would then begin sending messages over the internet to UltraMantis saying that he and his Temple would be destroyed if he did not return the Eye of Tyr to the "family". On October 18, 2009, at Cibernetico Increible the man was joined by another larger man dressed in similar fashion and together they appeared in the crowd and confronted UltraMantis, who proceeded to flee the arena. Following the event a cyborg named Vökoder, who had debuted during the Young Lions Cup, came to UltraMantis and offered to protect the Eye of Tyr and to convince him of his sincerity, Vökoder started interfering in UltraMantis' matches in order to help him win. Eventually, UltraMantis made Vökoder the fourth member of The Order of the Neo–Solar Temple.
On November 22, 2009, during the season eight finale titled Three-Fisted Tales, UltraMantis and Delirious defeated Hallowicked and his new Incoherence partner Frightmare
to earn their third point, which meant that they could now challenge for the Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas
. At the conclusion of the event the two masked men once again confronted UltraMantis, calling him the man with the real power in Chikara. This time both men removed their masks and revealed themselves as Ares
and Tursas. Immediately following this, Vökoder, who had been given the Eye of Tyr for safekeeping, attacked UltraMantis, while Claudio Castagnoli, Carpenter Ant, Sara Del Rey
and Daizee Haze
all turned rudo and helped Ares and Tursas beat down the tecnicos, who had gathered around the ringside area. Once the fight had subdued with the new group on top, Carpenter Ant unmasked as Pinkie Sanchez and Vökoder unmasked as Tim Donst, both of whom had a history with UltraMantis Black. After a salute, the group fled the arena with the Eye of Tyr intact. Following the event, UltraMantis met with Quackenbush and claimed that in order to defeat the new group, named Bruderschaft des Kreuzes
, tecnicos and rudos would have to join forces as they now had a common enemy.
Despite the events that took place at the season eight finale and Tim Donst, Ares and Claudio Castagnoli taking shots at the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple on Chikara's official website, UltraMantis Black announced at the beginning of season nine his intentions of staying away from BDK in order to protect his team ahead of the upcoming match for the Campeonatos de Parejas and the 2010 King of Trios tournament. On February 28, 2010, at A World of Comforting Illusions UltraMantis Black and Delirious used their three points and challenged The Colony
of Fire Ant and Soldier Ant for the Campeonatos de Parejas. The Colony retained their titles in two straight falls, after Ares came out and used the Eye of Tyr to release Delirious, who then proceeded to go crazy and run out of the arena, abandoning UltraMantis. The following day Ares declared victory over UltraMantis and announced that now that he had gained revenge on him by destroying his dream of winning, not only the Campeonatos de Parejas, but also the King of Trios, he would be returning the Eye of Tyr to Switzerland and his father's collection.
On April 25 Chikara announced that UltraMantis Black would star in the company's first video game, titled Rudo Resurrection, to be released later in the year.
On May 22 at Aniversario Zehn UltraMantis Black finally entered the ring with a member of BDK, when he faced Ares in a singles match. Ares managed to score the pinfall, when Delirious, now aligned with BDK, made his return to the company and cost UltraMantis the match. During the match Delirious also attacked Crossbones, which left him sidelined with a clavicle
injury, leaving UltraMantis Black standing as the last surviving member of the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple. Following the event UltraMantis took responsibility for causing the formation of BDK, before declaring that it was now his job to take the stable down. His change in attitude could also be seen in him adopting a new pink mask. On June 26 at We Must Eat Michigan's Brain he defeated his former protégé, Delirious, in a singles match. The following day at Faded Scars and Lines UltraMantis continued his tecnico turn by saving Mike Quackenbush and Frightmare from BDK. On July 23 UltraMantis Black announced that he would lead Chikara into a final battle with BDK in the torneo cibernetico match on October 23. Two days later at Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show he was joined by two hooded individuals by his side, while doing commentary for the show. On August 11 Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush answered UltraMantis' call to arms by joining his cibernetico team and he was followed a week later by another Chikara original, Eddie Kingston, who had been feuding with Claudio Castagnoli for over a year. On August 31 Quackenbush's regular tag team partner Jigsaw
joined UltraMantis' cibernetico team. On September 10 UltraMantis Black announced that he had recruited rudo STIGMA, formerly Shane Storm, to his cibernetico team and sent out an invitation to another Chikara original, longtime rival Hallowicked, to join them, while also expressing his concern that Eddie Kingston, whom he dubbed a loose cannon, might not be a right fit for the team. On September 19 at Through Savage Progress Cuts the Jungle Line UltraMantis Black defeated Hallowicked in a singles match, but did not get an answer on whether he would join his cibernetico team or not. On September 28 UltraMantis reached out to Quackenbush to help him get Hallowicked to join the cibernetico team, while also announcing that he had recruited Icarus, the last of the four Chikara wrestlers, who performed on the promotion's first ever show, to join the team. On October 12 Hallowicked finally joined the cibernetico team on the condition that Eddie Kingston was allowed to remain on the team, which UltraMantis Black accepted. With Mike Quackenbush, Eddie Kingston, Jigsaw, STIGMA, Hallowicked and Icarus having joined UltraMantis Black, his cibernetico team was left just one man short. The final spot on Team Chikara was filled on October 19 by a new incarnation of Vökoder, who had been stalking Pinkie Sanchez since July. On October 23 UltraMantis Black led his team to the torneo cibernetico match, where they faced BDK, represented by captain Ares, Claudio Castagnoli, Daizee Haze, Delirious, Pinkie Sanchez, Sara Del Rey, Tim Donst and Tursas. During the match Vökoder was unmasked as Larry Sweeney, who then proceeded to eliminate Sanchez from the match, before being eliminated himself. UltraMantis managed to gain a measure of revenge on BDK by eliminating both its captain, Ares, and his former tag team partner, Delirious, from the match, before being eliminated himself by Tursas. In the end Eddie Kingston pinned Tursas to win the match. On November 21 UltraMantis Black was defeated by Ares in a Falls Count Anywhere match. During the match the two hooded figures, who had debuted in July, revealed themselves as Kodama and Obariyon, two Chikara newcomers, and attempted to interfere in the match to negate an interference from Tursas, but were summoned away by a third hooded figure.
. Bodhi then revealed that UltraMantis Black had come to him asking for his help against BDK and he had given him Obariyon and Kodama and now he had come for his payment, the Eye of Tyr. When UltraMantis was unable to produce the Eye of Tyr he was attacked by Obariyon, Kodama and the debuting Kobald. In the end, Hallowicked and Frightmare made the save for UltraMantis and chased Bodhi's group, later named The Batiri, out of the ring. Two days later UltraMantis revealed in a blog that after the debut of BDK, he had gone soul searching and ran into three strange beings, who while a possible asset to the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple, needed training. UltraMantis could not send them to the Chikara Wrestle Factory, which was run by BDK leader Claudio Castagnoli and turned to his old acquaintance Sinn Bodhi for help. Bodhi not only trained the three, but also made them obey him, not UltraMantis and with his actions cost him his match against Ares the previous month. At the season ten premiere, Chaos in the Sea of Lost Souls, on January 23, 2011, UltraMantis Black defeated Bodhi via disqualification, after being attacked by The Batiri. A rematch between UltraMantis Black and Bodhi took place on March 13, with Bodhi emerging victorious, while also tearing his opponent's mask to shreds. On April 11 UltraMantis Black announced his intention of righting his past wrongs and named his manipulation of Delirious in particular. On April 15, during the first night of the 2011 King of Trios, UltraMantis Black, Hallowicked and Frightmare, now known collectively as the Spectral Envoy, confronted the BDK trio of Tim Donst, Delirious and Jakob Hammermeier after their first round match. Delirious, seemingly remembering his former tag team partner Hallowicked, ran out of the building, after which the Spectral Envoy brawled backstage with BDK. Later in the night, the Spectral Envoy was eliminated from the King of Trios tournament in the first round by Team Dragon Gate
(Akira Tozawa
, KAGETORA
and Super Shisa
). On July 30, UltraMantis vowed to eliminate each member of BDK in order to get a one-on-one rematch with Ares and started by attacking Jakob Hammermeier during his match with Gregory Iron and followed that up by defeating Pinkie Sanchez on August 27. On September 18, Crossbones made his return to Chikara joining the Spectral Envoy in an eight man tag team match, where they defeated Sinn Bodhi, Kobald, Kodama and Obariyon, when UltraMantis pinned Bodhi. With his feud with Bodhi behind him, UltraMantis sought to end his long rivalry with Ares by challenging him to a match at Chikara's first ever Internet pay-per-view
, offering to put his mask on the line against Ares' Eye of Tyr. On November 13 at High Noon
, UltraMantis and Hallowicked Ares and Tim Donst in a No Disqualification match with UltraMantis pinning Ares to regain the Eye of Tyr. In winning the match, UltraMantis and Hallowicked also picked up their third point, earning the right to challenge for the Campeonatos de Parejas.
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...
, who performs primarily in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion
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...
, where he is the leader of the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple, while also regularly commentating on matches in which he is not competing. Throughout his career he has also worked for promotions such as Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling
Big Japan Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1995. It is most famous for its deathmatch style contests.-History:...
, 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"...
, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.- History :...
and Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
. As part of his gimmick, he wears a mantis
Mantis
Mantis is the common name of any insect in the order Mantodea, also commonly known as praying mantises. The word itself means "prophet" in Latin and Greek...
mask. As UltraMantis, his original red and green attire was based on the main protagonist
Kamen Rider 1
is a fictional character and main superhero or henshin character featured in Japanese tokusatsu. He first appeared in the television series Kamen Rider, the first in the famous Kamen Rider franchise of tokusatsu programmes. The primary protagonist of the series, Kamen Rider 1 is a motorcycle-riding...
from the Kamen Rider
Kamen Rider
, is a weekly science fiction story created by Japanese manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori. It debuted as a tokusatsu television series on April 3, 1971 and ran until February 10, 1973, airing on the Mainichi Broadcasting System and NET TV . A manga adaptation was also featured in Shōnen Magazine...
series, while his 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:...
was derived from another 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...
ese television program, Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
. In May 2004 he renamed himself UltraMantis Black and adopted a new mask and a red and black attire, while also beginning to express communist
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
views. In June 2006 he formed his own stable, the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple and adopted the dark look he uses to this day. UltraMantis Black, Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush, Hallowicked
Hallowicked
Hallowicked is a professional wrestler, who performs primarily in the Chikara, Dragon Gate USA and Evolve Wrestling professional wrestling promotions. Throughout his career he has also worked for promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling...
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...
are the only wrestlers who performed on Chikara's first ever show on May 25, 2002, and are still working for the promotion today.
Professional wrestling career
UltraMantis started his professional wrestling training in 2002 at the brand new Chikara Wrestle Factory, where he was trained by Mike Quackenbush and Reckless YouthReckless Youth
Thomas Carter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Reckless Youth. He has competed in numerous North American independent promotions including the East Coast Wrestling Association, Combat Zone Wrestling and Chikara, where he was one of the original founders alongside...
. He trained on the first term of the school alongside the likes of Hallowicked
Hallowicked
Hallowicked is a professional wrestler, who performs primarily in the Chikara, Dragon Gate USA and Evolve Wrestling professional wrestling promotions. Throughout his career he has also worked for promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling...
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...
.
Debut and alliance with Mr. ZERO (2002–2003)
On May 25, 2002, UltraMantis made his Chikara debut as a tecnicoFace (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
on the promotion's first show, where he was defeated by fellow Wrestle Factory graduate Blind Rage. Afterwards, he teamed up with another Wrestle Factory graduate, Mr. ZERO, to form the tag team Ultra/Zero, and together they would feud
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with The Wildcards (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...
and BlackJack Marciano) for most of 2003. The long feud ended on July 5, 2003, when Ultra/Zero defeated The Wildcards in the semifinals of the inaugural Tag World Grand Prix. The duo would lose in the finals against Night Shift (Blind Rage and Hallowicked) after ZERO suffered an injury. On September 27, 2003, UltraMantis received a shot at the Chikara Young Lions Cup
Chikara Young Lions Cup
The Young Lions Cup is a professional wrestling championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Chikara.-History:...
, but was defeated by the defending champion Hallowicked.
Turning rudo (2004–2005)
In early 2004, UltraMantis began showing signs of a becoming a rudoHeel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
after adopting a more aggressive style and attacking fellow wrestlers after they had managed to defeat him. Finally, on April 9, 2004, UltraMantis turned on ZERO and abandoned him during a tag team match against 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:...
and Sabian
Sabian (wrestler)
Sabian is an American professional wrestler, currently performing for Combat Zone Wrestling, where he was a founding member of The Blackout / BLKOUT with Ruckus. In addition to CZW, he also competes for several other American independent promotions, most notably Chikara.-Debut:Born in...
. At the following show on May 15, he debuted a new black mask and declared that UltraMantis was dead before announcing the birth of UltraMantis Black. He would then form a tag team with Hallowicked, known collectively as the Dark Breed, and together they would feud with Mr. ZERO and his new tag team partner Shane Storm
Stigma (wrestler)
Stigma is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion, where he is a former Young Lions Cup Champion and King of Trios winner...
. For the 2004 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,...
, the Dark Breed joined Larry Sweeney
Larry Sweeney
Alexander K. Whybrow was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name Larry Sweeney...
's faction Sweet 'n' Sour International, but after neither of them managed to win the match, they left the faction. In early 2005, UltraMantis Black began suffering from injuries that would force him to take on the roles of a commentator, a role he continues to hold, and a manager
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...
for Hallowicked.
Alliance and feud with Hydra (2005–2008)
On November 13, 2005, UltraMantis Black debuted his newest protégé, Hydra. With UltraMantis out with an injury, Hallowicked became a tecnico after forming the tag teamTag 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...
Incoherence with tecnico wrestler Delirious
Delirious (wrestler)
Hunter Johnston is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Delirious. He is currently wrestling for Ring of Honor, International Wrestling Cartel, Chikara, Pro Wrestling Noah, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
. Beginning in 2006, Ultramantis debuted an entirely new mantis mask. Later on in June of that year, during the Young Lions Cup tournament, UltraMantis attacked Hallowicked and then announced the death of the Dark Breed and the birth of The Order of the Neo–Solar Temple. In October of that same year, Crossbones joined UltraMantis and Hydra as the third member of the stable. The feud between the Neo–Solar Temple and Incoherence would end during the season five finale weekend, where Incoherence first defeated UltraMantis and Hydra in a tag team match on November 17 and then UltraMantis, Hydra, Crossbones and Blind Rage in an eight man tag team match, where they teamed up with Cheech and Cloudy
The Miracle Ultraviolence Connection
The Miracle Ultraviolence Connection is an American professional wrestling stable consisting of Cheech, Cloudy, and Brodie Lee. The team has gone by several names and are known for their work in Combat Zone Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Chikara and other independent promotions.-In wrestling:*Brodie...
, the following day.
UltraMantis, Hydra and Crossbones spent 2007 wrestling together on the undercards of Chikara events. Towards the end of the year, the team started to grow apart and on November 17, UltraMantis inexplicably helped Shane Storm, who had been on a long losing streak, defeat Hydra. On April 19, 2008, UltraMantis defeated Tim Donst
Tim Donst
Timothy "Tim" Donst is an American professional wrestler, performing primarily in Chikara, where he is a former Young Lions Cup holder. He is known for his amateur wrestling background, which became the focal point of his persona....
, whom he had dropped on his head in Donst's debut the previous year, with the Praying Mantis Bomb. After the match, the Neo–Solar Temple kidnapped the concussed Donst and managed to convince him to become the fourth member of the faction. However, this would all be revealed a plan by Mike Quackenbush as he had sent Donst to infiltrate the Neo–Solar Temple in order to find out who had leaked the secret of the Chikara Special to 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...
. Quackenbush had been feuding with Hero and in the course of the feud, Quackenbush invented a move which Hero could not break. After defeating him in a singles match, Quackenbush taught the move to every tecnico on the Chikara roster. However, on November 17, 2007, Hero had been able to break the hold and use it himself to win his feud against Equinox
Vin Gerard
Vince "Vin" Gerard Durling is an American professional wrestler currently competing in the American-based promotion Chikara.-Equinox:...
. On June 18, 2008, Donst left the Neo–Solar Temple and with information gathered undercover, he was able to reveal to Quackenbush that Shane Storm, Quackenbush's longtime tag team partner, had been the one who had leaked the move and the counter to it to UltraMantis Black, who in turn taught the move to Hero. After being given an ultimatum by UltraMantis, Hydra left the Order with Donst and together they would form the tag team known as the Sea Donsters, resulting in the Neo–Solar Temple being dwindled down to a tag team. UltraMantis and Crossbones would feud the rest of the year with Donst and Hydra. On December 12, 2008, the Sea Donsters defeated the Neo–Solar Temple in a tag team match after Donst pinned Crossbones with the Donstitution. Two days later, at the season seven finale, UltraMantis and Hydra faced each other in a singles match, which Hydra was able to win after forcing his former mentor to tap out to the Hydra Lock, effectively ending their feud.
The Eye of Tyr and BDK (2009–2010)
In 2009 UltraMantis and Crossbones began looking for a third member in the Neo–Solar Temple. Pinkie Sanchez and Sami CallihanSami Callihan
Sam Johnston is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "The New Horror" Sami Callihan. He competes for promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, Dragon Gate USA, NWA Force One Pro Wrestling, EVOLVE Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Absolute Intense Wrestling, and Insanity Pro...
were given chances, but neither of them could help the Neo–Solar Temple to qualify for the 2009 King of Trios. In early 2009 UltraMantis, after being threathened by Quackenbush, revealed that the reason he had wanted the Chikara Special from Shane Storm the previous year was that with it he could get his hands on the Eye of Tyr, a mysterious artifact that could be used to control minds. The artifact, which had gone missing from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, had suddenly appeared in possession of Dr. Cube over at Kaiju Big Battel
Kaiju Big Battel
Kaiju Big Battel is a performance by the Boston, Massachusetts based performance entertainment troupe Studio Kaiju created by Rand Borden and David Borden. The performances are parodies of both professional wrestling and the tokusatsu kaiju movies of Japan...
. Cube was a fan of Chris Hero's and was ready to swap the Eye of Tyr for him. Shane Storm came to UltraMantis and offered to teach him the move in order to get back to his winning ways and this is why UltraMantis had helped him defeat Hydra back in November 2007. After learning the move, UltraMantis taught it to Hero, who then, after winning his feud with Equinox, agreed to leave Chikara for Kaiju Big Battel and in exchange, Dr. Cube handed the Eye of Tyr to UltraMantis.
In April 2009, UltraMantis saw a chance to finally get revenge on his former Dark Breed partner Hallowicked and on April 26, he and Crossbones kidnapped Delirious after Incoherence's match. On May 23, 2009, UltraMantis Black and Crossbones debuted the new third member of the Neo–Solar Temple, Delirious, who had been brainwashed with the Eye of Tyr and was now under the control of UltraMantis. With their newest recruit, the Order went on a winning streak, which included tag team victories over The Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno
Player Uno
Nicolas Dansereau is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ringname Player Uno, who currently competes most notably for the Chikara and Inter Species Wrestling promotions. He bases his gimmick, moveset, and attire around video games, more specifically games for the NES and SNES...
and Player Dos
Stupefied
Marc Dionne is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ringnames Stupefied and Player Dos. He currently competes most notably for the American-based promotion Chikara. He bases his gimmick, moveset, and attire around video games, more specifically games for the NES and SNES consoles...
), The Roughnecks (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...
and Grizzly Redwood) and The Colony (Carpenter Ant and Green Ant)
The Colony (professional wrestling)
The Colony is a professional wrestling stable wrestling for Chikara. Their gimmick is, as their name suggests, a colony of ants.-Debut:After being trained by both Mike Quackenbush and Chris Hero, Fire Ant and Soldier Ant debuted as Team Colony at the 2006 Tag World Grand Prix, where they lost in...
and a trios victory over Mike Quackenbush, 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...
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:...
. According to a legend, once the Eye of Tyr is used, it must be given away, or the user would face bad luck and tragedy. However, UltraMantis did not believe this and refused to let go of the Eye. On August 16, 2009, during the third night of the annual Young Lions Cup, a man dressed in a white mask and clothes confronted UltraMantis Black in the ring and gave him a box. Inside of the box was a message stating that a war was coming. That same man would then begin sending messages over the internet to UltraMantis saying that he and his Temple would be destroyed if he did not return the Eye of Tyr to the "family". On October 18, 2009, at Cibernetico Increible the man was joined by another larger man dressed in similar fashion and together they appeared in the crowd and confronted UltraMantis, who proceeded to flee the arena. Following the event a cyborg named Vökoder, who had debuted during the Young Lions Cup, came to UltraMantis and offered to protect the Eye of Tyr and to convince him of his sincerity, Vökoder started interfering in UltraMantis' matches in order to help him win. Eventually, UltraMantis made Vökoder the fourth member of The Order of the Neo–Solar Temple.
On November 22, 2009, during the season eight finale titled Three-Fisted Tales, UltraMantis and Delirious defeated Hallowicked and his new Incoherence partner Frightmare
Frightmare (wrestler)
Frightmare is a professional wrestler, who performs primarily in the Chikara professional wrestling promotion, where he is a former Young Lions Cup Champion. He has also worked for promotions such as Evolve Wrestling, International Wrestling Cartel, IWA East Coast and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
to earn their third point, which meant that they could now challenge for the Chikara Campeonatos 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...
. At the conclusion of the event the two masked men once again confronted UltraMantis, calling him the man with the real power in Chikara. This time both men removed their masks and revealed themselves as Ares
Marco Jaggi
Marco Jaggi is a Swiss professional wrestler and wrestling trainer, known by his ring name Ares , who primarily competes in European and American independent promotions. For much of his career, Jaggi teamed with Claudio Castagnoli and Marc Roudin as part of Swiss Money Holding...
and Tursas. Immediately following this, Vökoder, who had been given the Eye of Tyr for safekeeping, attacked UltraMantis, while Claudio Castagnoli, Carpenter Ant, 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...
and Daizee Haze
Daizee Haze
Daizee Haze is an American professional wrestler. Whilst wrestling for many companies Daizee Haze is also the head trainer for the Shimmer Women Athletes promotion.-Training and Gateway Championship Wrestling:...
all turned rudo and helped Ares and Tursas beat down the tecnicos, who had gathered around the ringside area. Once the fight had subdued with the new group on top, Carpenter Ant unmasked as Pinkie Sanchez and Vökoder unmasked as Tim Donst, both of whom had a history with UltraMantis Black. After a salute, the group fled the arena with the Eye of Tyr intact. Following the event, UltraMantis met with Quackenbush and claimed that in order to defeat the new group, named Bruderschaft des Kreuzes
Bruderschaft des Kreuzes
Die Bruderschaft des Kreuzes is a professional wrestling stable in the Chikara promotion.-Background :...
, tecnicos and rudos would have to join forces as they now had a common enemy.
Despite the events that took place at the season eight finale and Tim Donst, Ares and Claudio Castagnoli taking shots at the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple on Chikara's official website, UltraMantis Black announced at the beginning of season nine his intentions of staying away from BDK in order to protect his team ahead of the upcoming match for the Campeonatos de Parejas and the 2010 King of Trios tournament. On February 28, 2010, at A World of Comforting Illusions UltraMantis Black and Delirious used their three points and challenged The Colony
The Colony (professional wrestling)
The Colony is a professional wrestling stable wrestling for Chikara. Their gimmick is, as their name suggests, a colony of ants.-Debut:After being trained by both Mike Quackenbush and Chris Hero, Fire Ant and Soldier Ant debuted as Team Colony at the 2006 Tag World Grand Prix, where they lost in...
of Fire Ant and Soldier Ant for the Campeonatos de Parejas. The Colony retained their titles in two straight falls, after Ares came out and used the Eye of Tyr to release Delirious, who then proceeded to go crazy and run out of the arena, abandoning UltraMantis. The following day Ares declared victory over UltraMantis and announced that now that he had gained revenge on him by destroying his dream of winning, not only the Campeonatos de Parejas, but also the King of Trios, he would be returning the Eye of Tyr to Switzerland and his father's collection.
On April 25 Chikara announced that UltraMantis Black would star in the company's first video game, titled Rudo Resurrection, to be released later in the year.
On May 22 at Aniversario Zehn UltraMantis Black finally entered the ring with a member of BDK, when he faced Ares in a singles match. Ares managed to score the pinfall, when Delirious, now aligned with BDK, made his return to the company and cost UltraMantis the match. During the match Delirious also attacked Crossbones, which left him sidelined with a clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
injury, leaving UltraMantis Black standing as the last surviving member of the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple. Following the event UltraMantis took responsibility for causing the formation of BDK, before declaring that it was now his job to take the stable down. His change in attitude could also be seen in him adopting a new pink mask. On June 26 at We Must Eat Michigan's Brain he defeated his former protégé, Delirious, in a singles match. The following day at Faded Scars and Lines UltraMantis continued his tecnico turn by saving Mike Quackenbush and Frightmare from BDK. On July 23 UltraMantis Black announced that he would lead Chikara into a final battle with BDK in the torneo cibernetico match on October 23. Two days later at Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show he was joined by two hooded individuals by his side, while doing commentary for the show. On August 11 Chikara founder Mike Quackenbush answered UltraMantis' call to arms by joining his cibernetico team and he was followed a week later by another Chikara original, Eddie Kingston, who had been feuding with Claudio Castagnoli for over a year. On August 31 Quackenbush's regular tag team partner Jigsaw
Jigsaw (wrestler)
Jigsaw is an American professional wrestler currently competing in the Chikara and Dragon Gate USA professional wrestling promotions...
joined UltraMantis' cibernetico team. On September 10 UltraMantis Black announced that he had recruited rudo STIGMA, formerly Shane Storm, to his cibernetico team and sent out an invitation to another Chikara original, longtime rival Hallowicked, to join them, while also expressing his concern that Eddie Kingston, whom he dubbed a loose cannon, might not be a right fit for the team. On September 19 at Through Savage Progress Cuts the Jungle Line UltraMantis Black defeated Hallowicked in a singles match, but did not get an answer on whether he would join his cibernetico team or not. On September 28 UltraMantis reached out to Quackenbush to help him get Hallowicked to join the cibernetico team, while also announcing that he had recruited Icarus, the last of the four Chikara wrestlers, who performed on the promotion's first ever show, to join the team. On October 12 Hallowicked finally joined the cibernetico team on the condition that Eddie Kingston was allowed to remain on the team, which UltraMantis Black accepted. With Mike Quackenbush, Eddie Kingston, Jigsaw, STIGMA, Hallowicked and Icarus having joined UltraMantis Black, his cibernetico team was left just one man short. The final spot on Team Chikara was filled on October 19 by a new incarnation of Vökoder, who had been stalking Pinkie Sanchez since July. On October 23 UltraMantis Black led his team to the torneo cibernetico match, where they faced BDK, represented by captain Ares, Claudio Castagnoli, Daizee Haze, Delirious, Pinkie Sanchez, Sara Del Rey, Tim Donst and Tursas. During the match Vökoder was unmasked as Larry Sweeney, who then proceeded to eliminate Sanchez from the match, before being eliminated himself. UltraMantis managed to gain a measure of revenge on BDK by eliminating both its captain, Ares, and his former tag team partner, Delirious, from the match, before being eliminated himself by Tursas. In the end Eddie Kingston pinned Tursas to win the match. On November 21 UltraMantis Black was defeated by Ares in a Falls Count Anywhere match. During the match the two hooded figures, who had debuted in July, revealed themselves as Kodama and Obariyon, two Chikara newcomers, and attempted to interfere in the match to negate an interference from Tursas, but were summoned away by a third hooded figure.
The Spectral Envoy (2010–present)
At the season nine finale, Reality is Relative, on December 12, Hallowicked defeated UltraMantis Black in a singles match. After the match the third hooded figure from the previous month entered the arena and revealed himself as Sinn BodhiNick Cvjetkovich
Nicholas "Nick" Cvjetkovich is a Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his stint in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he worked on its SmackDown brand as Kizarny.-Training and beginning:...
. Bodhi then revealed that UltraMantis Black had come to him asking for his help against BDK and he had given him Obariyon and Kodama and now he had come for his payment, the Eye of Tyr. When UltraMantis was unable to produce the Eye of Tyr he was attacked by Obariyon, Kodama and the debuting Kobald. In the end, Hallowicked and Frightmare made the save for UltraMantis and chased Bodhi's group, later named The Batiri, out of the ring. Two days later UltraMantis revealed in a blog that after the debut of BDK, he had gone soul searching and ran into three strange beings, who while a possible asset to the Order of the Neo–Solar Temple, needed training. UltraMantis could not send them to the Chikara Wrestle Factory, which was run by BDK leader Claudio Castagnoli and turned to his old acquaintance Sinn Bodhi for help. Bodhi not only trained the three, but also made them obey him, not UltraMantis and with his actions cost him his match against Ares the previous month. At the season ten premiere, Chaos in the Sea of Lost Souls, on January 23, 2011, UltraMantis Black defeated Bodhi via disqualification, after being attacked by The Batiri. A rematch between UltraMantis Black and Bodhi took place on March 13, with Bodhi emerging victorious, while also tearing his opponent's mask to shreds. On April 11 UltraMantis Black announced his intention of righting his past wrongs and named his manipulation of Delirious in particular. On April 15, during the first night of the 2011 King of Trios, UltraMantis Black, Hallowicked and Frightmare, now known collectively as the Spectral Envoy, confronted the BDK trio of Tim Donst, Delirious and Jakob Hammermeier after their first round match. Delirious, seemingly remembering his former tag team partner Hallowicked, ran out of the building, after which the Spectral Envoy brawled backstage with BDK. Later in the night, the Spectral Envoy was eliminated from the King of Trios tournament in the first round by Team Dragon Gate
Dragon Gate
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion formerly known as Toryumon Japan. Most of Dragon Gate's wrestlers are graduates from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion is based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers, flashy technical grappling,...
(Akira Tozawa
Akira Tozawa
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, mainly performing for Dragon Gate, where he is currently one half of the Open the Twin Gate Champions...
, KAGETORA
Fumiyuki Hashimoto
, known by his stage name Kagetora , is a Japanese professional wrestler who works for Dragon Gate. He wrestles in independent wrestling leagues all around Japan and has wrestled in the United States for Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla...
and Super Shisa
Super Shisa
Yoshiyuki Saito is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his ring name Super Shisa, currently wrestling for Dragon Gate. His gimmick is inspired by the Ryukyuan Shisa...
). On July 30, UltraMantis vowed to eliminate each member of BDK in order to get a one-on-one rematch with Ares and started by attacking Jakob Hammermeier during his match with Gregory Iron and followed that up by defeating Pinkie Sanchez on August 27. On September 18, Crossbones made his return to Chikara joining the Spectral Envoy in an eight man tag team match, where they defeated Sinn Bodhi, Kobald, Kodama and Obariyon, when UltraMantis pinned Bodhi. With his feud with Bodhi behind him, UltraMantis sought to end his long rivalry with Ares by challenging him to a match at Chikara's first ever Internet pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
, offering to put his mask on the line against Ares' Eye of Tyr. On November 13 at High Noon
Chikara High Noon
High Noon was a professional wrestling internet pay-per-view event produced by the Chikara promotion, that took place on November 13, 2011 at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event marked Chikara's first ever live pay-per-view and it was headlined by the finals of a tournament...
, UltraMantis and Hallowicked Ares and Tim Donst in a No Disqualification match with UltraMantis pinning Ares to regain the Eye of Tyr. In winning the match, UltraMantis and Hallowicked also picked up their third point, earning the right to challenge for the Campeonatos de Parejas.
Personal life
UltraMantis is a vegan. He is close friends with his former tag team partner Mr. ZERO and served as best man at his wedding.In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Multiple piledriverPiledriver (professional wrestling)A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. The most common piledrivers are the basic belly-to-back, or Texas piledriver, and the...
variations
-
-
- Cosmic Disaster (Reverse)
- Cosmic Doom (Vertical suplex)
- Praying Mantis Bomb (Double underhook)
-
- Signature moves
- Backbreaker rack spun out into a full nelson facebuster
- Brainwashing Effect (Reverse STO)
- Bridging straight jacket electric chair drop
- Divinity Cove (Pumphandle Death Valley driver)
- Double knee backbreaker
- Full nelson slam
- Guatemala (Muscle Buster)
- La Safarina (Inverted three–quarter figure four surfboard)
- 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 - "Part Insect, Part Superhero"
- "The Angry Insect Evildoer"
- "The Great and Devious"
- 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...
- "Mermaid Love" by Man or Astro-man?Man or Astro-man?Man or Astro-man? is a surf rock group that formed in Auburn, Alabama, in the early 1990s and came to prominence over the following decade.Primarily instrumental, Man or Astro-man? blended the surf rock style of the early 1960s like that of The Spotnicks with the new wave and punk rock sounds of...
- "Satori, Pt. 1″ by Flower Travellin' BandFlower Travellin' Bandis a Japanese heavy psych outfit that was first active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They reunited in 2007. Vocalist Joe Yamanaka died on August 7, 2011 after a battle with lung cancer.-History:...
- "Tearing the Veil from Grace" by Cradle of FilthCradle of FilthCradle of Filth are an English extreme metal band, formed in Suffolk in 1991. The band's musical style evolved from black metal to a cleaner and more "produced" amalgam of gothic metal, symphonic black metal, and other extreme metal styles, while their lyrical themes and imagery are heavily...
Championships and accomplishments
- 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 #289 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2009