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Fit Finlay

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Dave Finlay
File:Dave finlay.jpg
BornOctober 20, 1958
Belfast
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Belfast Bruiser
Dave Finlay
Fit Finlay
Finlay
Sir Finlay
Billed height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Billed weight107 kg (235 lb)
Trained byTed Betley
DebutOctober 1978

David Edward Finlay (born October 20, 1958) is a Northern Irish professional wrestler and road agent currently wrestling on the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name Finlay.

Wrestling career

Finlay began his wrestling career in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, being trained by his father (also a professional wrestler), before moving over to mainland Britain in 1978. While in England, Finlay wrestled for various companies under the Joint Promotions banner, with his then manager and wife Paula Finlay by his side. Finlay defeated Alan Kilby on June 9, 1982 to win his first title, the Joint Promotions British Heavy Middleweight title. The belt was traded back and forth with various opponents over the rest of the year, but in early 1983, Finlay lost it for the last time. He then won a tournament to crown a new British Light Heavyweight champion, a vacant belt at the time, defeating British Legend Ringo Rigby in the finals.

Finlay soon lost that belt, but gained another, beating Marty Jones to win the "World Mid-Heavyweight title" (although said belt never left Great Britain) which he traded back and forth with Jones for over two years losing it a final time to Jones via disqualification[1]. Later, Finlay once again defeated Marty Jones en route to winning Joint Promotions' British Light Heavyweight title. Through 1983 and into 1984, Finlay was always fighting for a title or defending a title. He achieved notoriety by winning a major British title; All-Star's British Heavyweight Championship. Finlay often competed on ITV's World of Sport programme as David "Fit" Finlay.

During this time, Finlay also began to wrestle in Germany for one of the biggest companies in Europe, the Catch Wrestling Association. While holding the All-Star title, he teamed with his old foe Marty Jones to win the CWA tag titles from Tony St. Clair (the man from whom he won the All-Star title) and his partner, Miles Zrno. After losing the All-Star title to Dave Taylor, Finlay began to focus more on CWA, winning many of their titles and becoming much more recognised. With this recognition came trips to both Japan and Mexico, and on one Japanese trip Finlay teamed successfully with The Pegasus Kid.

World Championship Wrestling

Until his current run in WWE, Finlay was best known in the United States for his run in WCW from 1995–2000, first as The Belfast Bruiser; a nickname he had previously used while in the UK, and later as "Fit" Finley. His momentum began picking up after his surprising defeat of Eddie Guerrero on WCW Thunder via count-out. Soon after, he cut his dark, greased mullet in exchange for a short, blonde crew cut and began to pursue championship gold. He found some success in 1998, winning the WCW World Television Championship and feuding with the likes of Chris Benoit and Booker T. Before long, he was a well established midcarder with his newly modified name, both in spelling and pronunciation, Fit Finlay.

Near the end of his WCW run, he won the "Hardcore Junkyard Invitational" at Bash at the Beach, winning a "hardcore trophy". However, he suffered a badly lacerated nerve in his leg during a hardcore match at a house show in July 1999, which nearly cost him use of the leg. As he was wrestling Brian Knobbs, he was thrown into a table in the corner of the ring, causing it to shatter and the shards to cut his leg. He managed to regain use of the limb and came back later in the year, but by that point, all momentum he had from the Junkyard Invitational win was lost. In 2000, Finlay formed a trio of "Hardcore Soldiers" with Brian Knobbs and Al Green. After the return of Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo to power in WCW, he was virtually forgotten on TV.

World Wrestling Entertainment

After leaving WCW, Finlay wrestled in independent promotions before retiring to become a road agent and trainer for the Divas in WWE.

Finlay began work on a comeback in 2004, even wrestling in a match against Jamie Noble at a show in Glasgow, Scotland, and promos began airing for his impending in-ring return in December 2005. His gimmick is that of a proud native Irishman who loves to fight. His first televised WWE match was on the January 20, 2006 airing of SmackDown! against Matt Hardy, which ended in a disqualification loss for Finlay. After the match, Finlay dragged Hardy to the steel ring steps and smashed Hardy's face into them with his boot, quickly establishing himself as a heel. This helped to give him the nickname, "The Fighting Irish Bastard".

Finlay continued to establish himself on the SmackDown! roster. During February and March of 2006, Finlay was involved in an intense feud with Bobby Lashley which began when Finlay cost Lashley his unbeaten streak by interfering in Lashley's match with JBL at No Way Out. This feud would see the pair brawl on many occasions, including a parking lot segment in which Lashley tried to overturn a car onto Finlay. Later, the pair competed in a Money in the Bank qualifier Lumberjack Match that Finlay won. During this time, Finlay began to wield a shillelagh as a weapon.

On April 2, 2006 Finlay competed in his first WrestleMania, WrestleMania 22. He faced five other WWE Superstars, from both the WWE RAW and SmackDown! brands in a Money in the Bank ladder match. This match was eventually won by then-RAW' superstar and current ECW extremist Rob Van Dam.

Finlay next entered into the King of the Ring tournament on Smackdown!, defeating his first round opponent Chris Benoit before being beaten by his rival Lashley, who advanced to the finals at WWE Judgment Day 2006. Finlay helped the other finalist, Booker T, to defeat Lashley in the final.

Beginning on the May 26 episode of SmackDown!, Finlay was joined by The Little Bastard character who came out from under the ring to attack Finlay's opponents. The Little Bastard continued to attack Finlay's opponents with or without Finlay's permission for several weeks. Finlay joined forces with William Regal as loyal subjects of the newly renamed King Booker and his Court. Both men were later "knighted" by the King, and Finlay used the name Sir Finlay.

File:FinlayUSChamp.jpg
Finlay as the U.S. Champion

During his time as part of the court, Finlay picked up a win against World Champion Rey Mysterio in a non-title match before defeating the court's main foe Bobby Lashley to take Lashley's WWE United States Championship. Finlay defended the championship on several occasions, often with help from Little Bastard, and even defended it against fellow court member William Regal at The Great American Bash before losing the title to Mr. Kennedy on the September 1, 2006 edition of SmackDown! in a triple threat match that also involved Bobby Lashley.

After the title loss, Finlay continued to attack and wrestle threats to court leader King Booker and his newly won World Heavyweight Championship; including Lashley and Batista. However, during this time Finlay was placed in several matches with the King; defeating King Booker in a non-title singles match and losing in a four way match at No Mercy 2006 for the title. After leaving the court Finlay continued to feud with Batista. On the November 10, 2006 edition of SmackDown he returned to fight Batista in a singles match which he lost after Batista pinned him after a Spinebuster.

On December 13, 2006, Finlay legitimately punched Josh Matthews in the mouth during the Armageddon 2006 press conference, drawing blood. At Armageddon, Finlay and King Booker faced Batista and his partner, the WWE Champion John Cena from RAW, but were defeated.

At Royal Rumble 2007, Finlay participated in his first Royal Rumble match. He drew number 2 and started out against the number one entry, Ric Flair. He lasted 32:31, eliminated 12th by Shawn Michaels.

Wrestling facts

File:FinlayFrosion.jpg
Finlay performing the Celtic Cross on Brian Kendrick.
  • Finishing and signature moves
  • Managers
  • Princess Paula
  • Wrestlers managed by Finlay
  • Nicknames
  • The Man Who Loves To Fight
  • The Fighting Irishman

Championships and accomplishments

  • World Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
  • CWA World Middleweight Championship (4 times)
  • CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Marty Jones
  • CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • CWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Irish National Championship (1 time)
  • Joint Promotions
  • British Heavy Middleweight Championship (5 times)
  • British Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • PWI ranked him # 278 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.

References

  1. ^ International Professional Wrestling (Issue #24 1984). International Professional Wrestling: Official Programme. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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