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The Mighty Don't Kneel

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The Mighty Don't Kneel
Tag team
MembersMikey Nicholls/Nick Miller[1]
Shane Haste/Shane Thorne[1]
Name(s)The Mighty Don't Kneel
TMDK
TM-61[2]
Billed heightsNicholls:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Haste:
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Combined
billed weight		450 lb (200 kg)
Former
member(s)		Elliot Sexton[3]
Jonah Rock[4][5][6][7][8]
Marcius Pitt[8][9]
Slex[8][10][11][12]
Debut2010
Years active2010–present

The Mighty Don't Kneel or TMDK is an Australian professional wrestling tag team consisting of Australian wrestlers Michael Nicholls and Shane Veryzer.[1]

They are best known for their work in the Japanese Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) promotion, where, under the ring names "Mikey Nicholls" and "Shane Haste", they are former two-time GHC Tag Team Champions. They have also worked for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Ring of Honor (ROH) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Though best known as a tag team, TMDK has also been a stable, which included, in addition to Nicholls and Haste, fellow Australians Elliot Sexton, Jonah Rock, Marcius Pitt and Slex.[3][8] TMDK has also been said to stand for "Torture, Murder, Destroy, Kill".[21]

In 2016, Nicholls and Veryzer signed with WWE and were assigned to its developmental territory NXT, where they were renamed Nick Miller and Shane Thorne, while their tag team was renamed TM-61.

History

Formation (2010–2011)

In the autumn of 2010, Australian wrestlers Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste passed a tryout held by Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) and World League Wrestling (WLW) in the United States, which allowed them to begin training at Noah's dojo.[22][23] They made their debut for the Japanese promotion on 23 February 2011, and began working together under the team name "TMDK".[22][23] The Mighty Don't Kneel originated in the Explosive Pro Wrestling (EPW) promotion, where it was a stable, also including Elliot Sexton, Jonah Rock, Marcius Pitt and Slex.[3][9] Rock and Slex have also represented TMDK in Noah.[4][10] Nicholls and Haste then began working regularly for Noah in the promotion's junior heavyweight tag team division, though it was questioned whether the two actually were under the 100 kg (220 lb) weight limit.[24]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2011–2016)

On 15 December 2011, Nicholls and Haste received their first shot at the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, but were defeated by the defending champions, Atsushi Aoki and Kotaro Suzuki.[25] Shortly afterwards, Nicholls and Haste left the junior heavyweight division.

Back in Noah, Nicholls and Haste also began breaking out in singles action, taking part in the 2012 Global League Tournament, where Nicholls wrestled KENTA to a draw and defeated Go Shiozaki, while Haste was victorious over Akitoshi Saito and Naomichi Marufuji.[26] In April 2013, Nicholls and Haste took part in their first Global Tag League. Though failing to advance to the finals, they picked up a win over the reigning GHC Tag Team Champions, New Japan Pro Wrestling representatives Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano.[27][28] This led to a title match between the two teams on 12 May, where Iizuka and Yano retained their title.[28][29] Earlier that day, Noah had announced that Nicholls and Haste had signed contracts to become officially affiliated with the promotion.[30] A rubber match between Nicholls and Haste and Iizuka and Yano took place on 7 July and saw TMDK emerge victorious and become the new GHC Tag Team Champions.[31][32][33] In September, Nicholls and Haste both began chasing the GHC Heavyweight Championship, but were defeated in back-to-back title matches by the defending champion, KENTA.[34][35][36][37] On 10 December, the Tokyo Sports magazine named Nicholls and Haste the 2013 tag team of the year, with the two becoming the first gaijin team to win the "Best Tag Team Award" since Stan Hansen and Vader in 1998.[38][39] On 25 January 2014, Nicholls and Haste lost the GHC Tag Team Championship to Maybach Taniguchi and GHC Heavyweight Champion Takeshi Morishima.[40][41][42]

On 10 January 2015, Nicholls and Haste defeated Dangan Yankies (Masato Tanaka and Takashi Sugiura) to win the GHC Tag Team Championship for the second time.[43] They lost the title to K.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer) on 11 February.[44] On 28 December 2015, Noah announced that Nicholls and Haste would leave the promotion following their contracts expiring at the end of the year.[45] On 11 February 2016, Noah announced that Haste and Nicholls would return to the promotion the following month to take part in a five-show-long farewell tour, entitled "Departure to the World".[46] Their final Noah match took place on 10 March and saw them defeat Naomichi Marufuji and Mitsuhiro Kitamiya.[47][48] In February 2016, it was reported that Nicholls and Haste would join WWE's NXT brand following their Noah farewell tour the following month.[49] WWE confirmed the signings on March 25, 2016.[50]

Independent circuit (2012–2016)

In early 2012, Nicholls and Haste traveled to the United States, where they worked for several promotions, including Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW),[18] Ring of Honor (ROH),[19] and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[13] In ROH, they won a one-night tournament to earn a match against the Briscoe Brothers at the Showdown in the Sun pay-per-view.[19][20]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2014–2015)

On 20 December 2014, Haste and Nicholls made their debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), when they, along with Naomichi Marufuji, were revealed as Toru Yano's tag team partners at Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome on 4 January 2015.[15] They would go on to win the match, defeating Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer, Shelton X Benjamin and Takashi Iizuka).[51]

WWE

NXT (2015–present)

In June 2015, Nicholls and Haste took part in a WWE tryout camp.[52] In February 2016, it was reported that Nicholls and Haste were scheduled to join WWE's NXT brand following their Noah farewell tour.[49]

On March 25, 2016, WWE confirmed the signings of both Nicholls and Haste. They began training at the WWE Performance Center in April, while working for the promotion's developmental branch NXT.[1] During the May 19 NXT tapings, Haste and Nicholls were renamed Shane Thorne and Nick Miller, respectively, while TMDK was renamed TM-61, where TM is derived from their respective last names (Thorne & Miller) while 61 is from Australia's dial code (+61).[2] They debuted on the May 25 episode, losing to Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa[53]

On the October 7 episode of NXT, Thorne and Miller were announced as one of the participants in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. On October 12, they defeated the team of Riddick Moss and Tino Sabbatelli to advance from the first round of the tournament. Thorne next defeated Roderick Strong in a singles match (because Strong's partner Austin Aries was unable to wrestle through injury), to proceed his team to the semi finals, where they went on to defeat SAnitY, thus setting the final against The Authors of Pain. On November 19 at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, TM61 lost in the final.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • Australian Wrestling Alliance
    • AWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Rock[58]
  • Explosive Professional Wrestling
    • EPW Championship (8 times) – Nicholls (2), Haste (1), and Pitt (5)[59]
    • EPW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – Haste and Nicholls (1), and Rock and Pitt (1)[60][61]
  • Melbourne City Wrestling
    • MCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Sexton[62]
    • MCW Intercommonwealth Championship (1 time) – Rock[63]
    • MCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Marcius Pitt and Slex[64]
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • PWI ranked Miller #154 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016[65]
    • PWI ranked Thorne #147 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016[66]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Clapp, John (25 March 2016). "Tag team specialists The Mighty Don't Kneel sign with WWE". WWE. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b Caldwell, James (19 May 2016). "Video – NXT tag team TMDK given new WWE names". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "A look at … Chris Vice". Explosive Professional Wrestling. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2014. The Smashing Machine seemed set to get a championship match, before falling at the final hurdle to TMDK's Elliot Sexton at Collision Course
  4. ^ a b "The First Navig.2014". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  5. ^ "3月10日(日)「Great Voyage 2013 in Yokohama」横浜文化体育館大会 GHC公開調印式＆公開会見の模様". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 2 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  6. ^ 「グローバル・タッグリーグ戦2013」各賞発表. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 28 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
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  8. ^ a b c d "TMDK « Stables Database". Cagematch. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Marcius Pitt and Siren Monroe vs Jay Taylor and Michelle K Hasluck in Mixed Tag Action". Explosive Professional Wrestling. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014. TMDK member, Marcius Pitt
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  28. ^ a b 悪党コンビ初防衛！矢野はＧＨＣ２冠王手. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 13 May 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
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  33. ^ ニコルス＆ヘイスト組が王座奪還／ノア. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 7 July 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
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  35. ^ 2013年9月16日(月). Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 April 2014.
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  37. ^ "KentaがGHCヘビー級Ｖ７／ノア". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 17 September 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  38. ^ 【プロレス大賞】ハンセン、ベイダー組に並んだＴＭＤＫ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 10 December 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  39. ^ "オカダが2年連続でプロレス大賞MVPを受賞！史上4人目の快挙だが、本人は「当たり前の結果」". Battle News (in Japanese). 10 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  40. ^ "The First Navig.2014". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  41. ^ "森嶋がGHCタッグ奪取でヘビー級二冠王に 新軍団名は「超危暴軍」に決定". Sports Navi (in Japanese). Yahoo!. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  42. ^ ＧＨＣタッグ奪取の森嶋「超危暴軍」を旗揚げ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 27 January 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  43. ^ "New Year Navig. 2015". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  44. ^ "Great Voyage 2015 in Nagoya". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  45. ^ "契約期間満了に関するご報告". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 28 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  46. ^ "TMDK参戦決定！【3・2ディファ有明大会～3・10後楽園ホール大会 】". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 11 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  47. ^ "Spring Navig.2016". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 March 2016.
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  49. ^ a b "Top Noah tag team heading to NXT after farewell tour". Pro Wrestling Torch. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  50. ^ "WWE signs top international team". Pro Wrestling Insider. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  51. ^ Caldwell, James (4 January 2015). "Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome show results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Wrestle Kingdom PPV - Tanahashi vs. Okada, Bullet Club, Nakamura, Jim Ross, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  52. ^ Meltzer, Dave (5 June 2015). "Fri. update: UFC vs. WWE, Ric Flair on NXT, New Japan tourney, PWG, Top NOAH team at WWE camp". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  53. ^ Plummer, Dale (25 May 2016). "NXT: With Bayley injured; Carmella, Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax face off for #1 contender spot". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  54. ^ "「The First Navig. 2014」1月23日(木)北九州パレス大会 試合後コメント". Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 24 January 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  55. ^ 「グローバル・タッグリーグ戦2013」4月21日(日) 大阪・ボディメーカーコロシアム大会 試合後コメント. Pro Wrestling Noah (in Japanese). 22 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  56. ^ "【WK9】1.4東京ドーム上陸! 実は新日本キラーな"2013年最優秀タッグ"TMDKはここが凄い!　「週プロ」ノア番・井上記者が徹底解説!". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). 29 December 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  57. ^ James, Justin (15 June 2016). "6/15 WWE NXT TV Results – James's Report on "Takeover" fall-out, Balor-Nakamura set-up, TM61, Ellering, Blanchard, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  58. ^ http://www.thewesterner.com.au/?p=2470
  59. ^ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1108
  60. ^ "The Mighty Do Climb". Explosive Professional Wrestling. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014. Rock and Pitt now join fellow TMDK stablemates Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste, currently the NOAH GHC Tag Team Champions with gold, the faction now holding championships in two continents.
  61. ^ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1109
  62. ^ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=2281
  63. ^ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=2629
  64. ^ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=2282
  65. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  66. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
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