Steve Blackman

Steve Blackman(born September 28, 1963) is an Americanmartial artsinstructor and formerprofessional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF, now WWE) from 1997 to 2002, where he was a frequent challenger for the promotion'smid-cardtitles. He held theWWF Hardcore Championshipsix times and holds the record for most combined days as champion, a total of 172 days.
Steve Blackman began as a competitive bodybuilder and weightlifter before entering professional wrestling in 1986 inConnecticut, training atTony Altamore's wrestling school and working forStu Hart'sStampede WrestlinginCalgaryuntil early 1989. Also around that time, in January 1988, Blackman once toured withNew Japan Pro-Wrestlingwrestling as Steve R. Blackman during theirNew Year Golden Series. He wrestled singles matches against the likes ofTatsumi Fujinami,Riki Choshu,Hiroshi Hase,Nobuhiko Takada,Kengo Kimuraand a few others. He also wrestled tag matches in that tour teaming with the likes ofTony St. Clair,Buzz Sawyer,"Dr. Death" Steve WilliamsandJohnny K-9.
Blackman made his first appearance for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) on March 9, 1988, at a house show inWatertown, New York. WrestlingDavid Sammartino, Blackman gained a victory in his first match.He then appeared on the May 8, 1988, episode ofWWF Superstarswhere he teamed withOutback JackandBrady BooneagainstThe IslandersandSivi Afi.Blackman appeared again on a WWF house show inAuburn Hills, Michiganon June 24, 1989, when he defeatedIron Mike Sharpe.He was supposed to wrestleBoris Zukhovon a Watertown, New York house show on September 2, 1989 but was replaced.Blackman was being considered for a full-time contract with the company when he contractedmalariaanddysenterywhile wrestling inSouth Africain 1989 and was essentially bedridden for two years.
After his rest, during which he lost much of his muscle mass, Blackman spent another four years in physical therapy to recover his condition, and incorporated martial arts training, specificallyescrimaandtae kwon do. Once back in working shape, he contacted his friendsBrian PillmanandOwen Hartfor a new WWF try-out. Blackman also reached out toJim Cornettewho brought him in for a tryout and presented Blackman toVince McMahon.
Blackman made his second WWF debut on the November 3, 1997, episode ofRaw is Warwhen he jumped the guardrail, to helpVaderfend off an attack fromThe Hart Foundation.Blackman was given amartial artsgimmick, and named "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman.His first pay-per view appearance was atSurvivor Series 1997, as a replacement for the injuredPatriotas the fourth member of Team USA (Vader,Goldust, andMarc Mero). Blackman was the first elimination of the match when he was counted out of the ring.Team USA lost to Team Canada (British Bulldog,Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart,Phillip Lafon, andDoug Furnas) when the British Bulldog pinned Vader.His next pay-per view appearance was atRoyal Rumble 1998in the 30-manRoyal Rumblematch. He was the tenth entrant into the Rumble, but was eliminated byKurrgan.
Blackman was undefeated for close to a year after his debut, during this time Blackman established his trademark entrance involving swinging glow-in-the-darkescrimasticks. His first loss finally came at the hands ofJeff Jarrettthanks to interference from Jarrett's manager, at the time,Tennessee Lee.
Blackman started feuding with theNation of Dominationin early 1998 and achieved great success by defeating the likes ofThe RockandFaarooq. In his attempts to combat the Nation of Domination he teamed up withKen Shamrock. Blackman and Shamrock teamed with former Nation member Faarooq atUnforgiven: In Your Houseto defeat The Rock,D-Lo BrownandMark Henry.Eventually, Blackman and Shamrock split to pursue singles success, both men entered theKing of the Ringin 1998 but would never get to face each other because Blackman lost toMarc Mero, Shamrock won the tournament.During this time he would develop a reputation for doing run-ins during matches where one of the participants would cheat by having a run-in done in his favor, thus earning him the nickname "The Peacemaker" from the announce team. Blackman competed in theWWF Brawl for Alltournament and once again came up against Marc Mero, this time however Blackman defeated him but would have to withdraw due to injury,allowing Mero to advance by default.Blackman came to the aid of Shamrock when he was being beat down byOwen HartandDan Severn. For his efforts Shamrock suplexed Blackman and in retaliation Blackman suplexed Shamrock back. This would lead to Blackman and Shamrock facing each other in the first round of theWWF Intercontinental Championshiptournament which was won by Shamrock.AtWWF Capital Carnage, Blackman took on Shamrock for the WWF Intercontinental Championship and lost.Blackman would eventuallyturnheelafter siding with then-heelShane McMahon. During his run as a heel, he brought a gym bag full of martial arts weapons with him to the ring, includingkendoshinai. Blackman would attempt to use the weapons in the bag during or after the match. After a short hiatus, Blackman returned as the hired hitman ofVince McMahonto take out Ken Shamrock and cost Shamrock theKing of the Ringin 1999.This led to an iron circle match atFully Loaded 1999and a lion's den matchatSummerSlam 1999,both of which Shamrock won.
On the Smackdown after SummerSlam, Blackman interfered in Shamrock's match againstVal Venisand afterwards Shamrock knocked Blackman out. Once Blackman regained consciousness, he destroyed Venis with his signature Nunchucks. Blackman was set to face Venis and D-Lo Brown with Mark Henry, however, Henry failed to show making it a handicap match. Annoyed by Henry, he challenged him for theWWF European Championshipand during the match Val Venis would attack Blackman with a kendo stick, costing him the match. During a match on SmackDown while Blackman was in the ring, Venis came to the ring switched Blackman's weapon bag with an identical bag. When Blackman went into what he thought was his bag for a weapon, he instead pulled out asex toy. Their feud culminated in a match atUnforgiven 1999where Venis defeated Blackman.
Blackman andAl Snowthen formed a tag team that was known unofficially as Head Cheese, as Snow made Blackman wear acheeseheadhat to complement themannequinhead that Snow carried to the ring, turningface.Blackman had a reputation for being very serious and not displaying emotion, so the two put oncomedy duoskits with Blackman as thestraight man. Many of the skits involved Snow's attempts to come up with a gimmick for their team. In one backstage scene, Snow proposed that the duo develop a TV show wherein they travel through time and solve mysteries. In that same skit Snow proposed Blackman dress up like Dracula as he already "Had the personality of a dead guy". Another memorable sketch involved Snow scheduling an unsuspecting Blackman to perform stand-up comedy at anursing home, with humorously disastrous results.Head Cheese had one opportunity to become theWWF World Tag Team Championswhen they took on theNew Age Outlaws, however, the match ended in a no contest due to the interference from the debutingRadicalz.Head Cheese also appeared on WrestleMania 2000 losing toT & A(TestandAlbert).
After the Head Cheese team went their separate ways, Blackman entered the WWF'sHardcore Division. At the time, the title was defended 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as established byCrash Holly. Because of this, WWF often ran matches wherein the champion was attacked and defeated in locations not typically associated with wrestling matches, such as backstage or in a hotel.With Blackman as champion, however, surprise attacks no longer resulted in title changes: within the matches, Blackman was so dangerous in hand-to-hand combat that surprise attacks were not effective enough to defeat him. During his stint as Hardcore Champion, Blackman's full martial arts talent was utilized. The first time he lost the title for a significant amount of time was against Shane McMahon, largely due to interference fromTest,Albert,Edge, andChristian,withMick Foleysuspending the 24/7 rule to make sure McMahon didn't try to get out of facing Blackman in a rematch.AtSummerSlam, Blackman fought McMahon for the title. During that match, they both climbed theTitanTronwith Blackman able to knock Shane off with a Singapore cane, then performed a diving elbow drop for the pinfall.Blackman would go on to defend the title on several occasions, but he would ultimately lose the title on a more permanent basis toRavenin late 2000. AtUnforgiven, he retained the WWF Hardcore Championship againstTest,Funaki,Al Snow,Crash Holly, andPerry Saturn. Later, he was ordered by Shane McMahon to come out and speak after he accused Blackman of running overStone Cold Steve AustinatSurvivor Series the previous year. Before he could speak, Austin came down to the ring and stunned both Blackman and McMahon.
Early in 2001, Blackman formed another tag team, this time withGrandmaster Sexay. Blackman again played the straight-faced man: a recurring element was that Grandmaster would always try to convince Blackman to dance with him after their matches. In the summer of 2001, Grandmaster was released from his WWF contract. Blackman was then sidelined due to an injury. He made his last TV appearance on the June 25, 2001, episode ofRawwith theAPAand other mid-card superstars planning a fight against TheWCWInvasion. In the fall of 2001, Blackman worked forHeartland Wrestling Associationa developmental  territory of the WWF. He wrestled his last match in December 2001 and sat out of his contract. Blackman left WWE in October 2002.
On September 4, 2004, Blackman made one night appearance forAfa Anoaʻi'sWorld Xtreme Wrestlingdefeating Sugaa in Bushkill, Pennsylvania.
Blackman returned to WWE for a single night on theRaw 15th Anniversary Specialon December 10, 2007, taking part in abattle royal. He was eliminated byFlash Funk.
In August 2010, Blackman was interviewed for regular WWE.com feature "Where Are They Now?", which features former superstars discussing their careers and current situations. Blackman recalled how he "loved doing hardcore matches" and that he had a "lot of good matches withBob Holly,Kane, a bunch of those guys." On the subject of a return to the ring Blackman said: "Some days when I feel really good I get tempted" and "I miss being out there".
In 2013, Blackman appeared onThe JBL and Cole Show, a show on WWE'sYouTubechannel.
Blackman opened a self-defense school inHarrisburg, Pennsylvaniacalled BlackmanMMA in mid-2003, teachingjujitsuandwrestling.Blackman andMMAfighter (UFCHall of Famer) and wrestlerKen Shamrockwere brought in to help promote a clothing line for professional fighters, called Ground 'n' Pound gear (GnP).As of July 2006, Blackman has re-opened Steve Blackman's Fighting Systems, which features MMA classes. Blackman has hosted four MMA events in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania starting in 2009 and the most recent being on November 20, 2010, at the Zembo Mosque. The events are part of the Pennsylvania Fighting Championships (PFC).
Blackman is married and has two children.He also works as abail bondsmanin the central Pennsylvania area.