James Duffy Esquire

**James Duffy** (born August XX, XXXX) is a fictional American professional wrestler better known by the ring name **James Duffy Esquire**. He is currently working for the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) as the on-screen general manager of the company.

Duffy has the distinction of being the inaugural AWF World Champion, a title he has won two times. All throughout his career, Duffy has been a consistent presence in the AWF and been involved in some of the biggest AWF angles (storylines) since the company's inception. Using his real-life law degree and the verbal skills that earning it gave him to get heat from the crowd as a heel (villain), Duffy has often been called the AWF's most valuable asset due to his ability to elevate the babyfaces (heroes) that he works with. His gimmick has often been described as consisting of "the wrestling of Brock Lesnar with the verbiage of Paul Heyman."

## Professional wrestling career

Duffy's ring name originated from his real-life law degree.

### **American Wrestling Federation**

> "*James grew up in Newark, Delaware, a small college-town where nothing much happened. Attending college and law school in D.C., Duffy developed a taste for power and wealth. Initially joining AWF as legal consultant, he took to the ring as a way to feed his ego and since it seemed like the best way to cut through the red tape. Viewing himself as superior to many of the people around him, Duffy prefers to use legal maneuvering and manipulation to get his way. However when he has to fight he is a powerhouse in the ring, crushing anyone and anything that tries to get in his way.*"
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James Duffy Esquire is one of the AWF Originals, working the independent circuit in Florida from 2014 to mid 2015. Upon the group's return to Washington, D.C., the Originals worked various indie shows in the DMV area, including shows for NOVA Pro Wrestling. Duffy then headlined the first ever AWF show *School of Pain* on August 30, 2015 with fellow AWF Original The Lexbot in a match to become the inaugural AWF World Heavyweight Champion, which he won after hitting Lex with a foreign object behind the referee's back. After the show, Lex released a video on social media where he cut an impassioned promo where he promised all the fans who he let down at *School of Pain* that he would never lose another match "for them" and that he would become AWF Champion. The video gained so much attention that the storyline between The Lexbot and James Duffy Esquire would continue into several more AWF-branded shows that were taped at Bender Arena, which would become the home of the AWF.

#### **Championship pursuits (2015–2016)**

At the second live-streamed AWF show, *Midterm Mania*, The Lexbot had a rematch against James Duffy Esquire for the AWF World Heavyweight Championship after repeatedly having to jump through hoops to earn a shot. Lex defeated Duffy with the help of referee Jon Silver, who prevented Duffy from cheating to keep the championship. Stepping away from the title pictures, Duffy joined forces with Trevor Gruen against El Flying Diablo, who found an ally in Silver. They would have the first AWF tag team match on February 28, 2016 at *Capitol Hill*, which Duffy and Gruen won. On March 13, Duffy invoked his rematch clause for the AWF World Heavyweight Championship, making the main event of *Graduation I* a triple threat match between him, The Lexbot and Capitol Hill match winner Ben the Unhinged. On May 29, Duffy was pinned by Lex in the main event of *Graduation*.

#### **Feud with El Flying Diablo (2016–2017)**

On August 28 at *School of Pain*, Diablo defeated James Duffy Esquire in an unannounced match. Seeking revenge for this humiliation, Duffy used his legal pull to acquire the rights to Diablo's likeness, allowing him to alter or modify Diablo’s persona as he pleased. Duffy would overhaul Diablo's entire character, changing his name to Eric Bessette and forcing him to wrestle in dress pants & shirts. The change hindered Bessette in the ring and rendered him incapable of performing aerial moves. Bessette and Duffy would face off on November 27 at *Midterm Mania*, with Duffy putting the rights to Bessette's likeness on the line. Impeded by his new ring attire, Bessette lost the match to Duffy.

Rather than give up, Bessette began training to adapt to the circumstances, developing a more technical and grounded wrestling style. On February 26 at *Capitol Hill*, Bessette eliminated Duffy from the titular match. In retaliation, on March 17, Duffy assaulted Bessette with his signature sledgehammer. He then refused to approve Bessette being inserted into the ladder match to crown the first AWF Pan-American Champion. Bessette then challenged Duffy to a match at *Graduation*, putting his sacred mask on the line against the rights to his likeness. The two faced off one final time at *Graduation II* on May 28, where Bessette emerged victorious and earned back his name as well as the respect of Duffy.

Duffy formed an alliance and a friendship with his longtime rival Diablo, teaming up with him on July 30 at *Summer Breakdown*, defeating J.T. Flairs & Sam Bates and turning face in the process. On September 8, Ben the Unhinged brutally assaulted Diablo throughout and after their match, resulting in him being taken to the back by Duffy and medical officials. Duffy would continue to oppose J.T. Flairs and his cohorts until Diablo made his return on November 3, teaming with Duffy against Deadbeat to become #1 contenders to the AWF Tag Team Championship, which they won. On November 26 at *Midterm Mania*, Diablo and Duffy faced Ben and Jeff for the Tag Team Titles in a losing effort. Diablo and Duffy continued to feud with The Conspiracy, narrowly winning a 3 on 2 handicap match against them on February 9. The two then competed in the second AWF Tag Team Tournament, losing to Big Ty and Sam Bates on March 9 after The Conspiracy's Brian Halligan attacked Diablo outside the ring.

#### **AWF general manager (2018–2019)**

Duffy took part in the 2018 Capitol Hill match at *Capitol Hill* on April 1, but was eliminated by Halligan. After the show ended, J.T. Masters attempted to flee the arena in a limousine but found Duffy and Mr. McPatz waiting for him. At the following show on April 6, Duffy revealed that Masters would be facing off against him at *Graduation* in a traditional Loser Leaves Town match where to the winner would go control over the AWF. However, Duffy then made an agreement with The Nightmare to make the match a "Sleep Paralysis" Cell match. On May 27 at *Graduation III*, Duffy and Masters faced off in the cell, with McPatz and Booker D supporting them. After a fight broke out at ringside between McPatz and D, Duffy defeated Masters to end his reign of terror over the AWF. On June 8 at the show after *Graduation*, Duffy and McPatz officially fired Masters and threw him out in the back of a garbage truck driven by The Trash Man. In exchange for his help in overthrowing Masters, McPatz appointed Duffy as the new general manager of the AWF. At *Summer Breakdown* on July 29, Duffy faced off against a disgruntled Brian Halligan, wanting to send a message to authority that he wouldn't be chained down. Duffy was defeated by Halligan, but learned a valuable lesson about him in the process.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Injunction* (Spinebuster) – 2015–present
	+ *Judgment* (Fireman’s carry facebuster) – 2016–present
* **Signature moves**
	+ Backbreaker
	+ Big boot
	+ Boston crab
	+ Camel clutch
	+ Clothesline
	+ Fallaway slam
	+ Falling powerslam
	+ *Irish Curse* (Side slam backbreaker), sometimes triple
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- Belly-to-back
		- Vertical
		- Snap
		- Release/Rolling German
		- Overhead belly-to-belly
		- Fisherman, sometimes while delaying
	+ Powerbomb
	+ Standing double leg takedown followed by mounted punches
* **Managers**
	+ Benjamin McPatz

* **Wrestlers managed**
	+ El Flying Diablo

* **Nicknames**
	+ **“The Lawyer”**
	+ **“The Lawyer from Hell”**

* **Entrance themes**
	+ **“Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked”** by Cage the Elephant

## Championships and accomplishments

* **American Wrestling Federation**
	+ AWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, inaugural)
	+ AWF Year-End Award (2 times)
		- Rivalry of the Year (2016) – vs. El Flying Diablo
		- Match of the Year (2016) – with The Lexbot & Ben the Unhinged in a Triple threat match for the AWF World Heavyweight Championship at Graduation I