Claim: Cincinnati Red, real name Gregory Scott Daves (October 17, 1974 - March 20, 2015) was a professional wrestler who debuted for Empire Wrestling Federation as a participant of the first match in the promotion's history, then went on hiatus to open up a wrestling school called The Grappler's Den, and was subsequently named the Impact Wrestling Federation.
Evidence: He was best known by his ring name Cincinnati Red. Gregory Scott Daves (October 17, 1974 – March 20, 2015) was an American professional wrestler. After a few years on the independent circuit, Daves traveled to Southern California to take part in the Empire Wrestling Federation's debut show on May 5, 1996. At the event, he debuted for the promotion under his Cincinnati Red name and had the distinction of wrestling in the first match in the promotion's history, where he competed against Brian Rodgers. While on hiatus from in-ring competition, Daves and fellow wrestler Gary Key opened up The Grappler's Den, a wrestling school based in Oxnard, California. The Grappler's Den soon expanded into a promotion and was subsequently named the Impact Wrestling Federation.