Major Players
Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder | |
---|---|
Tag team | |
Members | Zack Ryder (formerly Brett Major) Curt Hawkins (formerly Brian Major) |
Name(s) | Brian Myers and Brett Matthews[1][2] Major Brothers[2] Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder[2] The Edgeheads |
Billed heights | 6 ft. 1 in. (185 cm) each[3][4] |
Combined billed weight | 435 lb. (198 kg)[3][4] |
Billed from | Long Island, New York[3][4] |
Debut | 2004 |
Trainer | Mikey Whipwreck DSW staff |
Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder (also known as the Edgeheads; formerly known as the Major Brothers) are an American professional wrestling tag team that are currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestling on its SmackDown! brand.
The team consists of Curt Hawkins (the former Brian Major), real name Brian Myers (born 1985 in Glen Cove, New York),[5][6] and Zack Ryder (the former Brett Major), real name Matthew Cardona (born May 14, 1985 in Merrick, New York).[7][8] They were both trained by Mikey Whipwreck.[2][6][8]
From May 1 2007 to December 16 2007, the team was known as the Major Brothers, until they were repackaged and renamed to Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder as fans and associates of Edge on December 21 2007, on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown!.[9]
Career
World Wrestling Entertainment (2006-current)
Developmental territories
On February 24 2006, Brian and Brett Majors signed developmental contracts with WWE.[10] The Majors Brothers are former 2 time Deep South Tag Champs winning the titles from the Untouchables and winning a triple threat match involving William Regal and Dave Taylor and The Samoan Fight Club. In early 2007 the Majors Brothers started working dark matches on RAW and SmackDown.
On June 15 2007 at Ohio Valley Wrestling's third Super Summer Sizzler Series event of the year at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, The Majors defeated Charles "The Hammer" Evans and Justin "The Ox" LaRouche (ironically LaRouche became their stablemate in La Familia as Bam Neely) to capture the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[11] However, on June 29 they dropped the titles to the James Boys (K.C. James and Cassidy James).
ECW (2007)
The Major Brothers (with the 's' dropped from the Majors name outside of plural reference) made their WWE television debut on the May 1 2007 edition of ECW defeating Matt Striker and Marcus Cor Von in a tag team match.[12] They were depicted as an unknown team and their initial victory was the only win the team had in ECW. Following their debut match, they lost to the team of Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von[13] as well as both losing singles matches to Burke and Striker.[14][15]
SmackDown (2007-current)
The Majors were drafted from ECW to SmackDown! on June 17 2007 as part of the 2007 Supplemental Draft as the 8th pick.[16] Vignettes aired hyping their impending debut on the brand. On their July 6 2007 SmackDown! debut, the Majors defeated Jeremy Young and Mike Fox.[17] The following week, the Majors were victorious again, defeating the team of Chavo Guerrero and Jamie Noble.[18] After a loss to Deuce 'N Domino on the August 17 2007 airing of SmackDown!,[19] The Majors would not compete on the show again until the October 12 2007 airing when the debuting Drew McIntyre defeated Brett.[20] The following week, McIntyre defeated Brian.[21] On November 9 2007, they received a tag title match after winning a #1 contender's battle royal,[22] but could not defeat the champions, MVP and Matt Hardy.[22].
At Armageddon, the Major Brothers dressed as Edge and interfered in the World Heavyweight Championship match, taking bumps in Edge's place to help him win the title and thus turning heel for the first time in WWE.[23] On the December 21 2007 airing of SmackDown!, the Major Brothers were revealed as an acquaintance to Edge and his lover, SmackDown! General Manager Vickie Guerrero. The Major Brothers were repackaged and renamed, as Brett Major was renamed to Zack Ryder, and Brian Major to Curt Hawkins.[9] They occasionally team with their mentor Edge, and associate Chavo Guerrero on Smackdown. They have even been in the main event on multiple occasions while teaming with Edge and/or Chavo as part of La Familia.
In wrestling
- Double team finishing and signature moves
- Hawkins' finishing moves
- Ryder's finishing moves
- Theme music
- "What I Want" by Daughtry[2]
- "Gasoline Upcharge"[citation needed] - FirstCom Production (As The Major Brothers)
- "In the Middle Of It Now" by Disciple - WWE The Music, Vol. 8 [24]
- Distinguishing Trademarks
Generally, to contrast who is who out of Hawkins and Ryder, Hawkins appears to be the more aloof one of the two, while Ryder seems to be more of a headbanger. Here are some examples.- Usual traits of Curt Hawkins include:
- entering the ring with a smirk.
- wearing white wrist tape.
- occasionally having his hair tied back in a ponytail.
- recently, wearing short tights and sporting a ring jacket.
- Usual traits of Zack Ryder include:
- grimacing and nodding his head during their entrance.
- wearing black wrist tape.
- coming out wearing a skull cap on his head.
- Usual traits of Curt Hawkins include:
Championships and accomplishments
- Deep South Wrestling
- DSW Tag Team Championship (2 times)[25]
- New York Wrestling Connection
- NYWC Tag Team Championship (2 times)[1]
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
References
- ^ a b "New York Wrestling Connection Title Histories". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b c d e f "Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder profile" (in German). Cagematch.de. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ a b c "Zack Ryder's WWE Profile". Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ a b c "Curt Hawkins's WWE Profile". Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "Brian Major". OnlineWorldofWrestling. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ a b "Curt Hawkins profile" (in German). Cagematch.de. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ "Brett Major". OnlineWorldofWrestling. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ a b "Zack Ryder profile" (in German). Cagematch.de. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
- ^ a b Dee, Louie (2007-12-21). "Three for All". WWE. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ^ "Major Brothers at Online World of Wrestling". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b Gerweck, Steve (2007-06-15). "OVW Six Flags Super Summer Sizzler Series #3 Results". Retrieved 2007-06-16.
- ^ Bryan Robinson (2007-05-01). "Fighting for ECW's Heart and Soul". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ Bryan Robinson (2007-06-05). "Chairman falling deeper and deeper into the abyss". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ Bryan Robinson (2007-05-08). "Spirit of ECW Splashed". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ Bryan Robinson (2007-05-22). "Experiencing painful revenge". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "SmackDown drafts up". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "A big surprise". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "Officially on". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "Hand-slotted reprisal". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "Conflicting interests". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "Interactive altercations". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ a b "Finding the way". WWE. Retrieved 2007-11-11.
- ^ "A Major revelation". WWE. Retrieved 2007-12-17.
- ^ WWE Music Volume 8 CD
- ^ Tanabe, Hisaharu. "Deep South Wrestling Tag Team Title". Retrieved 2007-06-16.