Chris Raaber

Chris Raaber (September 5, 1981) is an Austrian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Bambikiller (occasionally spelled Bambi Killer), He runs his own promotion European Wrestling Association.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Europe===
In 1997, Chris Raaber met with Michael Kovac who was wrestling in Europe by then Raaber accepted Kovac's offer to teach him to wrestle. At the age of 16, Raaber made his debut in Independent Wrestling World wrestling in Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany against Gary Mountain as he lost by disqualification. Not even into a year of his career, Raaber won the WFU Rookie Trophy by defeating German Kid in the finals of the tournament. During his early years, Raaber would wrestle for several German promotions including German Wrestling Association, German Wrestling Federation and NWA Germany.
After a short stint in North America, Raaber would return to Germany, making his debut for Westside Xtreme Wrestling in May 2001. After winning a number one contenders tournament, Raaber would face Mad Cow for the vacant wXw World Heavyweight Championship which he would lose. However, on February 3, 2002, he would win another number one contenders tournament and would defeated Thomas Blade for the wXw World Heavyweight Championship. He would later vacate the title in July 2002. During his time as champion, he won the ACW International Championship from Aykut in May and in June he made his Ireland debut where he won the EWA World Heavyweight Championship. Raaber would lose his ACW International Championship back to Aykut in September only to win it back in December, he would lose the title to Mr. Natural Wonder in March 2003. As the EWA World Heavyweight Champion, Raaber would wrestle throughout western Europe, even making his debut in France. On December 14, 2004, Raaber lost the championship to Cannonball Grizzly but would regain it on April 3, 2005. On April 2, 2006, Raaber won the ICW Italian Championship in a fatal four way but would lose it a month later to Kaio. In December, he would lose to Joe E. Legend in the semi final of the EPW Iron Man Tournament and the next day would defeat him by DQ in a match for the EPW Heavyweight Championship. In August 2007, Raaber would make his debut in Finland and would take on Finland's top star, Starbuck and would retain his World Championship. In September, Raaber would win the Königsschlacht Battle Royal at the European Wrestling Association. On April 5, 2008, Raaber made it to the final of the King Of Kutenholz Tournament before losing to Karsten Kretschmer. In the spring of 2009, Raaber had to vacate the EWA World Heavyweight Championship when he signed a development contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.
Raaber returned to Europe in early 2010 and made a sudden impact the EWA Iron Man Cup 2010 on April 24. In November he would tour with American Wrestling Rampage. On April 9, 2011, Raaber won his fourth EWA World Heavyweight Championship when he defeated Tiny Iron for the vacant title. In October 2012, Raaber won the Catch Wrestling World Grand Prix by last defeating Nelson Frazier, Jr..
===Americas===
As he was wrestling throughout Europe and he met with Ian Rotten during one of their shows in Germany then started training the American style of wrestling, Raaber was sent on a learning excursion to the United States where he enter the Funking Conservatory a professional wrestling school in Ocala, Florida run by Dory Funk Jr. and became the FC International Champion. While in the US he appeared on World Championship Wrestling as part of R and B Security with James Storm, Cassidy O'Reilly and Chris Harris, although he didn't have any matches his memorable moment was being chokeslammed to a table by Scott Steiner on Nitro.
In 2007, Raaber participated in the Campeonato Internacional De Lucha Libre X-Trema CWS 2007 for Colombian Wrestling Superstars and made it to the final before losing a battle royal to Lloyd Anoaʻi.
In the spring of 2009 it was revealed that Raaber had signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and was sent to Florida Championship Wrestling. He made his debut on May 28, losing to Eric Escobar. Raaber went on to change his in ring name to Christoph Herzog and made several FCW TV appearances before being released in late 2009.
===Japan===
Throughout Raaber's career, he has toured Japan on several occasions under the name Bambikiller for the most part. Raaber debuted for Pro Wrestling Zero1 in the summer of 2005 when he participated in the Fire Festival and would gain four points, not enough for advancement. In 2006, Raaber became a representative member for an interpromotional company called Global Professional Wrestling Alliance which is run by the founder Mitsuharu Misawa and joined along with other wrestling organizations. On October 27, 2006, he lost the EWA World Heavyweight Championship to Takao Ōmori but would regain it on November 11. In October 2008, he participated in the Continent Confrontation Tournament. On July 11, 2010, Raaber defeated Kohei Sato to become the Zero1 World Heavyweight Champion and would lose the title on September 9, 2010 to Daisuke Sekimoto. In 2012, Raaber participated in that years Real World Tag League, paired with Franz Dynamite and only managed to win one match. In November 2013, Bambi Killer came together with D'Lo Brown and Kenso to form the DK (Dark Kingdom) stable. Bambikiller faced New Japan Pro Wrestling star Hiroshi Tanahashi at GL1 Gloucester Leisure Centre Oct 4th in England for Superstars Of Wrestling.
==In wrestling==
*Finishing moves
**Bambi Death Shot (Kneeling back to belly piledriver)
**Killer Bottom (Cradle kneeling back to belly piledriver)
*Nicknames
**Bambikiller (when competing under his real name)
==Personal life==
Raab is married and has a daughter and a son, since November 2008 he run his own gym in his home town of Leoben that is attached to his wrestling school called Catch Wrestling dojo. His biggest influence growing up was Otto Wanz
==Championships and accomplishments==
*Athletik Club Wrestling
**ACW International Championship (2 times)
*European Wrestling Association
**EWA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
**Catch Wrestling World Grand Prix (2012)
**Iron Man Cup (2010)
*Funking Conservatory
**FC International Championship (1 time)
*Independent Wrestling World
**WFU Rookie Championship Trophy
*Italian Championship Wrestling
**ICW Italian Championship (1 time)
*Pro Wrestling Zero1
**Zero1 World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Qatar Pro Wrestling
**QPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*westside Xtreme wrestling
**wXw World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**wXw #1-Contender Tournament (2001, 2002)
==External links==
* Profile
* Profile
Category:Austrian wrestlers
Category:1981 births
Category:1998 debuts
Category:1 Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:All Star Wrestling alumni
Category:American Wrestling Rampage alumni
Category:Athletik Club Wrestling alumni
Category:Bullhead City Wrestling alumni
Category:Colombian Wrestling Superstars alumni
Category:Crazy Wrestling Club alumni
Category:Danish Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Deutsche Wrestling Allianz alumni
Category:Dubai Wrestling Entertainment alumni
Category:European Professional Wrestling alumni
Category:European Wrestling Association current roster
Category:European Wrestling Federation alumni
Category:European Wrestling Promotion alumni
Category:Eventos de Wrestling Europeo alumni
Category:Federation Francaise de Catch Professionnel alumni
Category:Fiend Wrestling Germany alumni
Category:Fight Club Finland alumni
Category:Florida Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:Funkin' Conservatory alumni
Category:German Stampede Wrestling alumni
Category:German Wrestling Federation alumni
Category:German Wrestling Promotion alumni
Category:Independent Wrestling World alumni
Category:International Catch Wrestling Alliance alumni
Category:Irish Whip Wrestling alumni
Category:Italian Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:Italian Wrestling Superstar alumni
Category:Mad Wrestling Association alumni
Category:New Alliance of Wrestling Athletes alumni
Category:Norwegian Wrestling Federation alumni
Category:NWA Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Power Of Wrestling alumni
Category:Premier Wrestling League alumni
Category:Pro Wrestling ZERO1 alumni
Category:Professional Wrestling Alliance alumni
Category:Qatar Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Rings of Europe alumni
Category:Riotgas Wrestling Alliance alumni
Category:Saarland Wrestling Organisation alumni
Category:TopCatch alumni
Category:Total Blast Wrestling alumni
Category:Union Of European Wrestling Alliances alumni
Category:Westside Xtreme Wrestling current roster
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment alumni
Category:World Xtreme Wrestling alumni
Category:Wrestling Alliance Revolution alumni
Category:Xtreme Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:Living people
Category:Male wrestlers
Category:Bologna Wrestling Team alumni