W. Morrissey
![]() | A request that this article title be changed to Big Cass is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
Colin Cassady | |
---|---|
![]() Big Cass in April 2014 | |
Birth name | William Morrissey[1] |
Born | [2] Queens, New York City, New York, United States[2] | August 16, 1986
Alma mater | New York University[1] |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Bill Young[3] Big Cass Colin Cassady |
Billed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)[4] |
Billed weight | 276 lb (125 kg)[4] |
Billed from | Queens, New York[5] |
Debut | 2010 |
William Morrissey[1] (born August 16, 1986)[2][6] is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Big Cass, a modification of his previous ring name Colin Cassady.[4]
Professional wrestling career
World of Unpredictable Wrestling (2010–2011)
Morrissey wrestled under the ring name Big Bill Young in the World of Unpredictable Wrestling (WUW) promotion in 2010,[3][7][8][9][10] owned by his trainer, Johnny Rodz.[5][11]
WWE
Florida Championship Wrestling (2011–2012)
In June 2011, WUW announced that Morrissey had signed with Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which was WWE's developmental territory at the time.[12][13] Morrissey made first televised FCW appearance in July 2011, portraying the dean of the University of Florida.[14] Morrissey wrestled his first televised match under the ring name of Colin Cassady on the September 4, 2011 episode of FCW TV for a disqualification loss against Richie Steamboat.[15] Cassady found no immediate success and continued to lose matches for the rest of 2011 and in early 2012.[16][17][18] Cassady finally scored his first win on the March 11, 2012 episode of FCW TV by defeating Kenneth Cameron.[19] Cassady's final FCW TV match was broadcast on July 7, 2012 and saw him defeat Aiden English.[20]
Enzo and Cass (2012–present)
When WWE rebranded its developmental territory, FCW, into NXT in August 2012,[12] Cassady's NXT television debut took place on June 5, 2013 with a loss to Mason Ryan.[21][22] Cassady then formed a tag team with Enzo Amore,[23] who had also previously lost to Ryan,[24] and they labelled themselves "the realest guys in the room".[23][25][26] In real life, Cassady first met Amore at the age of 15, when they played basketball together at West Fourth Street Courts in Manhattan, New York.[5][27] Ryan defeated Amore and Cassady in consecutive singles matches,[28] but lost to them in a handicap match.[25] Ryan ultimately had the last laugh when he caused Amore and Cassady to be attacked by Tons of Funk (Brodus Clay and Tensai).[26] Amore and Cassady then feuded with Sylvester Lefort and his stable of Alexander Rusev and Scott Dawson.[29][30] On the September 25 episode of NXT, Amore and Cassady participated in a gauntlet match for a future title shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship; they started the match and defeated Tyler Breeze and CJ Parker, then beat Rusev and Dawson, before falling to their final opponents, The Ascension (Conor O'Brian and Rick Victor).[31] Amore suffered a legit broken leg in November 2013, which led Cassady to try his hand at singles competition, feuding with Aiden English.[32] Amore returned on the June 26, 2014 episode of NXT, saving Cassady from an attack from Sylvester Lefort and Marcus Louis.[33]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Enzo_Cass_Carmella.jpg/170px-Enzo_Cass_Carmella.jpg)
In early August, Amore and Cassady participated in a NXT Tag Team Championship No. 1 contenders tournament, and they defeated Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger in the first round, but were eliminated by The Vaudevillians (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) in the second round.[34][35] Lefort and Louis then renewed their rivalry with Amore and Cassady by attacking them and shaving Amore's beard and, as a result, Amore challenged Lefort to a match with the loser's hair as forfeit at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way on September 11, where Amore won the match, but Lefort ran away, leaving his partner, Louis, to lose his hair at the hands of Amore and Cassady.[36]
Amore and Cassady proceeded to form an alliance with the debuting Carmella after the duo had accidentally cost Carmella her hairdressing job as per the storyline, causing her to demand to get a job as a wrestler.[37][38] Carmella had her televised in-ring debut on the October 16 episode of NXT.[39] In March 2015, Amore and Cassady began a rivalry with then NXT Tag Team Champions Blake and Murphy, with the champions insulting Amore and Cassady while attempting to woo Carmella. Amore and Cassady defeated The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) in a number one contender's match for a title opportunity against Blake and Murphy.[40] Amore and Cassady received their title match at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, but they would lose after Alexa Bliss interfered.[41] At NXT TakeOver: London, Amore and Cassady challenged Dash and Dawson for the NXT Tag Team Championship in a losing effort. They were granted another title opportunity against Dash and Dawson in March 2016 at Roadblock, which Amore and Cassady lost.[42]
On the Raw after WrestleMania 32, Amore and Cassady made their main roster debuts and confronted The Dudley Boyz.[43] On the April 14 episode of SmackDown, Amore and Cassady defeated The Ascension in their main roster debut match, with the win they advanced in the WWE Tag Team Championship No. 1 contenders tournament.[44] In the finals, Amore and Cassady faced The Vaudevillains at Payback, with the match ending in a no contest after Amore suffered a legitimate concussion during the match.[45] In May 2016, Cassady's ring name was changed to Big Cass.[4] On the June 6 episode of Raw, during the match between Enzo and Cass and The Vaudevillains, Cass witnessed English attempting to injure Amore in a similar manner of what Gotch did to him at Payback. This led to Cass attacking The Vaudevillains, including executing an East River Crossing on Gotch. At Money in the Bank, Enzo and Cass competed in a fatal four-way tag team match also involving The New Day, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and The Vaudevillains for the WWE Tag Team Championship, which they lost. On the July 4 episode of Raw, Enzo and Cass helped John Cena from an attack by The Club, involving themselves in the feud between Cena and The Club. At Battleground, Enzo and Cass teamed with Cena to defeat The Club in a six-man tag team match.
On July 19 at the 2016 WWE draft, Enzo and Cass were drafted to Raw.[46] Following Battleground, Enzo and Cass proceeded to feud with Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens, which culminated at SummerSlam, where Jericho and Owens defeated Enzo and Cass. On the August 22 episode of Raw, Cass qualified for the fatal four-way match for the WWE Universal Championship by defeating United States Champion Rusev by countout. The next week on Raw, he competed against Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, being eliminated by Owens, marking the first time he was pinned on the main roster. Enzo and Cass then started a feud with The Shining Stars, losing to them in tag team and singles matches.
On the November 7 episode of Raw, Enzo and Cass were announced as part of Team Raw for the 10–on–10 Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination match at Survivor Series on November 20, 2016 which Team Raw won.
Personal life
Morrissey was born and raised in Queens, New York. He attended Archbishop Molloy High School and served as a peer tutor, a homeless shelter volunteer, and a National Honor Society member. He played basketball in his senior year and was featured in the Catholic High School Athletic Association Senior Classic All-Star game.[1] He then received a scholarship to attend New York University, where he entered the pre-medical track before going on to study economics.[5] He played as a center for NYU's basketball team from the 2005–06 season to the 2008–09 season.[1] He co-captained the team for his final season.[47]
After graduating from NYU, Morrissey started a ticket brokerage company, specializing in events at Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden.[32] While performing in WWE, he claimed that he "hadn't sung in many years", but had experience with street performing in the subways of New York City.
Morrissey is in a relationship with fellow wrestler Leah Van Dale, better known by her ring name Carmella.[48]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- East River Crossing[4][49] (Sitout swinging side slam)[50][51]
- Signature moves
- Big boot[51][52][53][54]
- Empire Elbow[49] (Jumping elbow drop, with theatrics, usually preceded by a body slam)
- Fallaway slam
- High knee[52][53][54][55]
- Sidewalk slam[56][57]
- Spinning side slam
- Stinger splash[58]
- With Enzo Amore
- Double team finishing moves
- Bada-boom Shakalaka[59] (Rocket Launcher)[60][61]
- Double team finishing moves
- Managers
- Nicknames
- Entrance themes
- "SAWFT is a Sin" by CFO$ featuring Enzo Amore (NXT/WWE; used while teaming with Enzo Amore; June 6, 2014–present)[64]
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- WWE NXT
- NXT Tag Team of the Year (2015) with Enzo Amore[66]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bill Morrissey – 2008 / 2009 Men's Basketball". NYU Athletics. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Colin Cassady: Profile & Match Listing". profightdb. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
- ^ a b Johnson, Mike. "LoadedeventsetforHalloweenweekendinArizona:Dreamer,Abyss,Roley,Legendsbattleroyal,DennisRodman,SamoaJoe,Rhino,Snow,Orton,Atlasandlomore". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Big Cass". WWE.com. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d Saxton, Byron. "Colin Cassady & Enzo Amore: 'The Realest Guys in the Room' – Page 1". WWE.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Colin Cassady – old NXT profile". NXT Wrestling. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ "WUW Roster". WUW. Archived from the original on 16 July 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ "WUWHype13". WUW. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
IfyoumissedJumpoffInJulyHEAT,checkouttheATTACKCowboy"BIG"BillYoungperpetratedonWUWCommissionerMarkViola
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- ^ a b "WWE News: FCW name being phased out". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ "Wuw would like to say congrats to 7 foot tall superstar big bill young for Signing his new fcw contract go to Wuw online. Com for more info". WUW. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
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- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "Florida Championship Wrestling Television report: Will Aksana tear two brothers apart?; Maxine is back in charge". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "Florida Championship Wrestling TV report: FCW 15 Title match; the Ascension in singles action; a tease for something good to come next week". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
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- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "FCW Television report for February 12: Title Match". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "3/11 FCW Television report: Leo Kruger gets a rematch, the former Chris Hero makes his television debut, Maxine has one less thing to worry about and more". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "FCW Television report for 7/8: Steamboat and Rollins defend their titles; Ohno; Rollins; and more". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
- ^ Bongiovanni, Darren. "Looking at the WWE & TNA win/loss records: Week 23". PWInsider.com. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT results 5/29 & 6/5: Wyatts defend Tag Titles, NXT Women's Title introduced, #1 contender battle royal, Parade of released NXT wrestlers in matches". PWTorch.com. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
- ^ a b Saxton, Byron. "Colin Cassady & Enzo Amore: 'The Realest Guys in the Room' – Page 2". WWE.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 5/15 & 5/22: El Generico debuts, O'Brian beats two NXT releases in same match, Bray Wyatt debuts mask, Natalya vs. Rae, more developments". PWTorch.com. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ a b James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 7/10: Wyatts vs. Team Regal six-man main event, NXT Women's Title tourney continues, Generico (Zayn), Mason Ryan, set-up for Charlotte's debut". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
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- ^ a b Saxton, Byron. "Riding solo: Can Colin Cassady go it alone?". WWE.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
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- ^ Jason Namako. "WWE NXT Results - 8/21/14 (Rose/Zayn vs. Cara/Kalisto)". WrestleView.
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- ^ Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT Results - 9/18/14 (Hideo Itami in-ring debut)". wrestleview.com. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard. "WWE NXT report: one move to win a match; a Diva debuts; Zayn versus Kidd; and an update on Mojo Rawley". pwinsider.com. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
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- ^ Trionfo, Richard (20 May 2015). "LIVE ONGOING WWE NXT TAKEOVER UNSTOPPABLE REPORT: BAYLEY AND CHARLOTTE VERSUS DANA BROOKE AND EMMA". PWInsider. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Middleton, Marc (24 March 2016). "WWE NXT March 24, 2016". Wrestlinginc. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "4/4 WWE Raw Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Report on post-WM32". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
- ^ "WWE Smackdown TV Taping Results For Tonight *Spoilers* - Wrestlezone". Wrestlezone. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady vs. The Vaudevillains ended in a no contest". wwe.com. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ "Enzo and Cass drafted to raw in July 2016 draft". WWE.com. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
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- ^ Namako, Jason (17 April 2015). "WWE NXT RESULTS - 4/15/15 (SAMI ZAYN VS. RHYNO)". WrestleView. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ Trionfo, Richard (17 June 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: JOE VERSUS OWENS, FINN BALOR . . . THE EARLY YEARS WITH COMMENTS FROM BECKY LYNCH, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "WWE NXT results: Rhyno returns after 10-year absence at Full Sail University". Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
- ^ 10/9 Zim's WWE NXT Coverage: Sami Zayn vs. Titus O'Neil, Hideo Itami vs. Viktor, Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch, The Vaudevillains vs. Amore and Cassady, and Tyler Breeze vs. Mojo Rawley
- ^ "WWE NXT: SAWFT is a Sin (feat. Enzo Amore) – Single by CFO$". iTunes. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Zimmerman, Zack. "1/13 Zim's WWE NXT Live Coverage: Battle Royal to determine Bayley's next challenger for the NXT Women's Championship, Dash and Dawson vs. The Ascension, plus Elias Sampson and Tommaso Ciampa in action". prowrestling.net. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Colin Cassady on WWE.com
- W. Morrissey on X
- W. Morrissey on Instagram