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Mark Henry

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For other people named Mark Henry, see Mark Henry (disambiguation).

Mark Henry
Born (1971-06-12) June 12, 1971 (age 53)[1]
Silsbee, Texas, United States[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Mark Henry
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Billed weight380 lb (170 kg)[2]
Billed fromSilsbee, Texas[2]
Trained byStu Hart[1]
Bret Hart[1]
DebutSeptember 22, 1996
Mark Henry
Medal record
Men's Weightlifting
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place Mar del Plata 1995 + 108 kg

Mark Jerrold Henry[4] (born June 12, 1971)[1] is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment performing on its ECW brand. He is also a 1992 Olympian[2] and winner of the Arnold Schwarzenegger Strongest Man Contest.[5] Since wrestling in WWF/E, he has become a one time European Champion and is recognized by the company as a one time world champion, having held the ECW Championship in 2008.[6]

Career

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

Weightlifting and professional wrestling debut (1996)

Henry was billed as the "World's Strongest Man" after he qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics Weightlifting Competition, where he finished tenth in the super heavyweight class.[5] At the 1995 Pan American Games Henry won a gold, silver and bronze medal, and a year later, he became a North American champion, Central American champion and Caribbean Islands champion.[5] After the WWF sponsored Henry in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, he was signed to a ten-year contract, an anomaly in pro wrestling. Trained by Leo Burke, his first feud in the WWF was with Jerry Lawler who had some harsh words for Henry on a Monday Night Raw in March. At SummerSlam, Henry came to the aid of Jake Roberts who was suffering indignity at the hands of Lawler. His first television wrestling match was at In Your House: Mind Games on September 22, 1996, where he defeated Lawler.[5]

Nation of Domination and Sexual Chocolate (1998–2002)

Henry later became a villian when he joined the Nation of Domination with Farooq, The Rock, The Godfather and D'Lo Brown on January 12, 1998.[5] After The Rock usurped Farooq's position as leader, Henry switched loyalties to The Rock. He also competed at WrestleMania XIV in a tag team battle royal with Brown as his partner, but they didn't win.[7] After the Nation disbanded, he engaged in a short feud with The Rock and defeated him at Judgment Day: In Your House with help from Brown, and then formed a permanent team with Brown while also gaining Ivory as a manager.[5][8] During the next year, Henry gave himself the nickname "Sexual Chocolate", and was involved in controversial angles with Chyna and a transvestite.[5] During a match at SummerSlam between Brown and Jeff Jarrett for both the Intercontinental and European Championships (both held at the time by Brown), Henry turned on Brown and helped Jarrett win the match and the titles. The next night, Jarrett awarded Henry the European Title, giving him his first wrestling championship.[9] Henry dropped the title one month later to Brown at the Unforgiven pay-per-view.[10]

After this, Henry became a fan favorite and was seen on television romancing WWF women from Chyna to Mae Young as part of the "Sexual Chocolate" gimmick.[5] He feuded with Viscera during this time as part of a storyline where Viscera splashed Mae Young while she was carrying Henry's child. Young would go on to give birth to a hand. Along with this, Henry was made part of various other embarrassing and infamous storylines, including the admission that he was a sex addict, and that his first sexual experience was with his sister.[5]

In 2000, Henry was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to improve his conditioning and skills. In OVW, Henry teamed with Nick Dinsmore to compete in a tournament for the Southern Tag Team Championship in the summer of 2001.[5] Later that year, he went on hiatus from wrestling to concentrate on weightlifting, and on February 23, 2002, he won a strongman competition, during the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio, claiming a $75,000 Humvee as his prize.[5][11]

SmackDown! (2002)

Henry returned to the WWF the next month and was sent to the SmackDown! brand, where his "feats of strength" gimmick met with little success, competing against such superstars as Chris Jericho and Christian.[5] After being used sporadically on WWE (formerly WWF) television during 2002 as he was training for a weightlefting contest, Henry was sent back to OVW for more training.[5] During this time Henry would alter his look by growing his hair out and having it braided. Henry would also transition from a fan favorite gimmick to a villian, often playing the part of a seemingly unstoppable villian or thug for hire.

Raw (2003–2004)

In August 2003, Henry returned to WWE television on the Raw roster, where he found some success as a member of "Thuggin' And Buggin' Enterprises", a group of African Americans led by Theodore Long who worked a race angle in which they felt they were victims of racism and were being held down by the 'white man'.[5] During that time, Henry was involved in a brief program with World Heavyweight Champion Goldberg when former champion Triple H put a bounty on Goldberg. At a practive session in OVW in February 2004, Henry threw his quadriceps muscle and was out for over a year.[5] Henry was then utilized by WWE as a public relations figure during his recovery before returning to OVW to finish out 2005.[5]

Return to SmackDown! (2005–2007)

During an episode of SmackDown! taped on December 27, Henry returned to televsion as he interfered in a WWE Tag Team Championship match by helping former champions MNM defeat Rey Mysterio and then-World Heavyweight Champion Batista for the title. Acting as a villian again, Henry had seemingly joined with MNM and would be managed by Melina. A week later on SmackDown!, Henry got in the face of the Batista and would go on to interfere in a steel cage match between MNM and the team of Mysterio and Batista, helping MNM to retain their title.[12] Henry then had another match with Batista at a live event where Batista received a severely torn triceps that required surgery, forcing him to vacate his title. On the January 10, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, Henry was involved in a battle royal for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. He was finally tossed out by Kurt Angle, who won the title.[13][14]

A week later, Henry recieved assistance from Daivari, who turned on Angle and announced that he was the manager of Henry.[15] With Daivari at his side, Henry would face Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Title at the 2006 Royal Rumble, which he lost when Angle hit him with a chair (without the referee seeing) and pinned Henry with a roll-up.[16]

On the March 10 episode of SmackDown!, after putting Kurt Angle through a table with a diving splash, Mark Henry was then challenged to a casket match by The Undertaker at WrestleMania 22.[17] Henry vowed to defeat The Undertaker and end his streak at WrestleMania 22, but was unsuccessful in this quest as The Undertaker would defeat Henry at the event.[18] Henry would get a rematch against the Undertaker on the April 7 episode of SmackDown!, however it ended in a no contest when Daivari announced his new client, The Great Khali, who was also making his debut. Khali then went to the ring and started to attack the Undertaker, thus ending the feud between them.[19]

During the rest of April and May, Henry gained a pinfall victory over the World Heavyweight Champion Rey Mysterio in a non-title match.[20] Henry would also enter the newly-returned King of the Ring, in which he was defeated by Bobby Lashley in the first round.[21] He later cost Kurt Angle his World Heavyweight Title opportunity against Mysterio when he jumped off the ring apron and crushed Angle through a table. Henry was then challenged by Angle to face off at Judgment Day, Henry then sent a "message" to Angle by defeating Paul Burchill.[22] At Judgment Day, Mark Henry defeated Kurt Angle by countout.[23] Although winning, Angle got his revenge after the match by hitting Henry with a chair and putting him through a table.[23]

Henry later went on what was referred to as a "path of destruction", causing injuries to numerous superstars. Henry "took out" both Chris Benoit and Paul Burchill on this path of destruction, and attacked Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero. These events led up to a feud with the returning Batista, whom Henry put out of action with a legitimate injury several months before hand. When Batista returned, he and Henry were scheduled to face one another at The Great American Bash. However, weeks before that show, on the July 15, 2006 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Henry was involved in a six-man tag team match with King Booker and Finlay against Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Lashley.[24] During the match, Henry was injured. Doctors later found that Henry completely tore his patella tendon off the bone and split his patella completely in two.[25]

Return from injury and sporadic feuds (2007–2008)

Henry returned on the May 11, 2007 episode of SmackDown!, after weeks of vignettes hyping his return. He attacked The Undertaker after a World Heavyweight Championship steel cage match with Batista, allowing Edge to take advantage of the situation and use his Money in the Bank contract.[26] Henry then began a short feud with Kane, defeating him in a Lumberjack Match at One Night Stand.[27] Shortly after, Henry made an open challenge to the SmackDown! locker room, which nobody ever accepted. In the coming weeks he faced various jobbers and decimated all of them. On August 3, he declared that nobody accepted the open challenge to step into the ring with him by presenting footage of his assault on the Undertaker.[28] The Undertaker responded over the following weeks, playing various mind games with Henry.

Henry finally faced Undertaker again at Unforgiven, losing to him after being hit with a Last Ride.[29] Two weeks later, Henry was in a follow-up match with The Undertaker, losing to him after a chokeslam.[30]

Henry would then return to WWE programming on the October 23 edition of ECW, attacking Kane along with The Great Khali and Big Daddy V.[31] Henry would then team with Big Daddy V in his feud with Kane and CM Punk, who had begun to team with Kane. At Armageddon, Henry and Big Daddy V defeated Kane and Punk.[32]

Before WrestleMania XXIV aired, Henry participated in a 24-man battle royal to determine the number one contender for the ECW Championship. He made it to the final two, but was eliminated by Kane, who would win the title later on in the event from Chavo Guerrero.

ECW (2008–present)

Henry as ECW Champion

As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Henry was drafted to the ECW brand.[33] At Night of Champions, Henry defeated then-champion and Raw superstar Kane and SmackDown superstar Big Show in a Triple Threat match to capture the ECW Championship in his debut match as an ECW superstar.[34] Upon winning the title, it was made exclusive to the ECW brand once again. Henry's title win came nearly a full decade after he was awarded the European Championship by Jeff Jarrett, which was back in 1999 and the last title he held in the WWE.[6] A few weeks later, Hall of Famer Tony Atlas returned to WWE to act as Henry's manager. A month after Henry's title win, ECW General Manager Theodore Long debuted a new, entirely platinum ECW Championship belt design.[35] Henry defended the title against Dreamer and then Matt Hardy. Henry would lose the title twice in one night at Unforgiven in the Championship Scramble match, first to Chavo Guerrero and secondly to Finlay. Matt Hardy ultimately ended the match as the official champion.[36]

For the rest of the year, Henry would try to capture the title, but he failed. After that he started a feud with Finlay that ended in a Belfast Brawl match at Armaggedon, where Henry was defeated. For the first time on his career, Henry qualified to the anual Money in the Bank match at Wrestlemania XXV by defeating Santino Marella on an edition of ECW, however he didn`t win the match. Currently he is feuding with Evan Bourne.

Personal life

Henry currently lives in New York with his wife Jana and his young son Jacob.[3] He still drives the Hummer that he won in the 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic.[37]

He is the cousin of former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Kevin Henry.[1]

In wrestling

  • Finishing and signature moves
  • "The World's Strongest Man"
  • "The (self–proclaimed) World's Strongest Champion"
  • "Sexual Chocolate"[1]
  • "The (self–proclaimed) King of the Jungle"
  • "The Silverback" (Bestwowed upon by Michael Cole)
  • "Power" by Jim Johnston (Used while as a part of the Nation of Domination)
  • "Sexual Chocolate" by Jim Johnston
  • "Start Rockin'" by Jim Johnston
  • "Race Against Time" by Jim Johnston
  • "MacMillitant" by Jim Johnston (Used while teaming with Rodney Mack and while managed by Theodore Long)
  • "Echo" by Jim Johnston
  • "Some Bodies Gonna Get It" by Three 6 Mafia

Championships and accomplishments

Powerlifting

  • All–time world raw (unequipped) squat world record holder (430 Kilograms)[38]

Professional wrestling

  • PWI ranked him #41 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006[39]

Strongman athletics

  • First person to clean and press the inch dumbbell, 175 pounds plus, putting the bell overhead using only his right hand

Weightlifting

  • Olympic Games team member (1992, 1996)
  • Senior National Championship (1993, 1994, 1996)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Mark Henry Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Mark henry Bio". WWE. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  3. ^ a b "WWE wages war in Springfield". The Republican. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  4. ^ "Texas Births". familytreelegends.com. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Mark Henry". Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2009-03-20. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Unknown parameter |Last= ignored (|last= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c "History Of The European Championship - Mark Henry". WWE. 1999-08-23. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  7. ^ Powell, John (1998-03-29). "Austin wins WWF World Title at WrestleMania". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  8. ^ Powell, John (1998-10-19). "Austin fired?!?!?". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  9. ^ Powell, John (1999-08-23). "Foley new champ at SummerSlam". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  10. ^ Yang, Rich (1999-09-27). "HHH regains title at Unforgiven". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  11. ^ "Mark Henry, strongest man article". Critical Bench.
  12. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-01-06). "Smackdown: Mark Henry tames the Animal". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  13. ^ Brady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling". 2007 Wrestling Almanac and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 16. 2007 Edition. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  14. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-01-13). "Smackdown: Angle crowned new champ". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  15. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-01-20). "Smackdown: Surprises and celebration". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  16. ^ Plummer, Dale (2006-01-30). "Mysterio claims Rumble; Cena reigns again". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-03-10). "Smackdown: The bell tolls for Henry". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  18. ^ Plummer, Dale (2006-04-03). "WrestleMania delivers big time on PPV". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-04-07). "Smackdown: Undertaker faces a giant problem". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  20. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-05-05). "Smackdown: Bradshaw outsmarts Mysterio". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  21. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-04-18). "Smackdown: Angle-Mysterio do it again". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  22. ^ McNamara, Andy (2006-05-12). "Smackdown: Mysterio annihilated". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  23. ^ a b Elliott, Brian (2006-05-22). "Rey wins, MNM splits at Judgment Day". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  24. ^ Lawson, Amy (2006-07-16). "SNME: Hogan-Orton key on stacked show". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  25. ^ "Mark Henry's surgery highlights". WWE.
  26. ^ Waldman, Jon (2007-05-12). "Smackdown: The title's on the line..." Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  27. ^ Mackinder, Matt (2007-06-03). "One Night Stand a PPV gong show". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  28. ^ McNamara, Andy (2007-08-04). "Smackdown: Evolution reunion". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  29. ^ "Unforgiven 2007 Results". WWE. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
  30. ^ McNamara, Andy (2007-09-29). "Smackdown: The Dead Man returns". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  31. ^ Bishop, Matt (2007-10-24). "ECW: More SmackDown presence". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  32. ^ Kapur, Bob (2007-12-17). "Edge brings in the clones to win at Armageddon". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  33. ^ "Official 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft Results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  34. ^ a b "Mark Henry's first reign". WWE. Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  35. ^ Medalis, Kara A. (2008-07-22). "Going for gold". World Wrestling Entertainment.
  36. ^ Bishop, Matt (2008-09-08). "Scramble matches make for wild Unforgiven". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-29.
  37. ^ Pro wrestler Mark Henry (with his wife, Jana Perry-Henry, and their son Jacob, 21 months)
  38. ^ "900 Pound Unequipped Squat Hall of Fame - All-Time Historical World Powerlifting Records & Rankings". Powerlifting Watch. Retrieved 2007-11-03.
  39. ^ "PWI 500 2006". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
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