Davey Richards

###

Othello, Washington, United States>

**Wesley David Richards** (born March 1, 1983) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler.

Richards has also worked internationally in Pro Wrestling Noah through ROH's involvement in the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance, a global organization of cooperative promotions that allow their competitors to travel abroad to other companies, and in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Richards is a former two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (with Rocky Romero).

## Professional wrestling career

### Early career (2004-2005)

Prior to entering professional wrestling, Richards was an accomplished amateur wrestler in high school, as well as learning Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Richards began training in 2004 with Tony Kozina before making his debut in June of the same year in the Washington-based company, Pro Wrestling War against a wrestler named Mr. Sexy. Richards also spent time training with Paul Orndorff in Atlanta, while working at the same time at a Duracell factory an hour-and-a-half drive away in Cleveland, Tennessee.

### Dragon Gate and Dragon Gate USA (2009)

While on tour in Japan for Dragon Gate in December 2009, Richards lost the FIP title to Masaaki Mochizuki. He would regain the title a month later at Fearless.

In mid-2009, Richards began competing for Dragon Gate USA and performed at the promotion's Open the Untouchable Gate show, where he defeated Shingo Takagi. After his match, Bryan Danielson praised Richards and touted him as the best wrestler in the world, but Richards attacked Danielson claiming that he already deserved that title. On November 28, Richards competed in a tournament to determine the inaugural DGUSA Open the Freedom Gate Champion, but lost to YAMATO in the first round. After BxB Hulk won the championship later that night, Richards challenged him to a championship match before attacking him. He also began competing for DGUSA's parent promotion, Dragon Gate, and completed a tour with them in December 2009.

### New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2010–2012)

In 2010 Richards was invited to take part in New Japan Pro Wrestling's Best of the Super Juniors tournament along with fellow North American and ROH wrestler, Kenny Omega. Richards entered the two-week-long tournament on May 30, but although he managed to win five out of his seven matches, he finished third in his block and narrowly missed advancing to the semifinals of the tournament. After the tournament Richards began working regularly for New Japan Pro Wrestling, joining the promotion's top heel stable CHAOS, and no longer made appearances for Pro Wrestling Noah. In November 2010 Richards and Rocky Romero, reviving the No Remorse Corps name, made it to the finals of a five-day-long Super J Tag League tournament, before being defeated by their Chaos team mates Gedo and Jado. On December 11, 2010, Richards received a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Prince Devitt. On May 3, 2011, Richards and Romero unsuccessfully challenged Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi, known collectively as Apollo 55, for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On May 26, Richards entered the 2011 Best of the Super Juniors tournament and after winning six out of his eight round robin stage matches, which included a win over the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Prince Devitt, Richards finished second in his block and advanced to the semifinals of the tournament. On June 10, Richards was eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals by the eventual winner of the entire tournament, Kota Ibushi. On October 10, 2011, at Destruction '11, Richards and Romero defeated Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the first time. Richards and Romero made their first successful title defense on November 12 at Power Struggle, defeating the team of KUSHIDA and Tiger Mask. As a result of pinning Prince Devitt in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match, Richards was granted another shot at his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on December 4, but failed in his attempt to become a double champion. On January 4, 2012, at Wrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, Richards and Romero lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship back to Devitt and Taguchi. On February 12 at The New Beginning, the No Remorse Corps defeated Apollo 55 to regain the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. As a result, Richards received his third shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on March 10, but was yet again defeated by Prince Devitt. On May 2, Richards and Romero were stripped of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, after a car accident forced Richards to miss his flight to Japan and the following day's Wrestling Dontaku 2012 event, where the two were scheduled to defend the title against Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask. Despite being able to wrestle in the United States, New Japan also pulled Richards from the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, citing doctor's orders.

### Pro Wrestling Noah (2007; 2013)

Richards has also done extensive tours of Japan, debuting in 2007 with Pro Wrestling Noah. He made a tour of the company again the following summer, competing in tag team matches. Richards was scheduled to return to Noah on November 27, 2013, working an entire tour, which would culminate in him challenging Taiji Ishimori for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. However, on November 25, Richards announced that he had suffered a neck injury and would be forced to pull out of the tour.

## Personal life

In 2008, Richards married Jennifer, better known as female professional wrestler Christie Summers. In addition to a short-lived career in professional wrestling, Jennifer is also a competitive bodybuilder in the figure class. The couple separated sometime in 2010, leading Richards to reevaluate his retirement plans.

In a June 2010 interview, Richards stated that he planned to quit the wrestling business by the end of the year to concentrate on other areas of his life. However, he later withdrew those plans. Richards is a trained paramedic.

In January 2015, Richards began dating fellow TNA wrestler Lauren Williams, better known as Angelina Love. The couple announced their engagement on April 27, 2015, and were married on June 10, 2015. On July 30, Williams announced on her Twitter account that she and Richards were expecting their first child, a boy named David Vincent Richards, born on March 17, 2016.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *14:59* (Keylock)
	+ Cloverleaf
	+ *Creeping Death* (Discus/sliding roundhouse kick to a kneeling opponent) – Evolve / TNA
	+ Cross armbreaker
	+ *DR Driver* / *Tiger Driver '98* (Double underhook piledriver, sometimes from the second rope)
	+ *DR Driver II* (Double underhook brainbuster)
	+ Folding powerbomb – NJPW
	+ Kimura with neckscissors
	+ Sharpshooter – NJPW
	+ Shooting star press
* **Signature moves**
	+ Ankle lock
	+ Backbreaker
	+ Diving leg drop
	+ Double knee backbreaker
	+ Fireman's carry gutbuster
	+ *Horse Collar* (Over the shoulder single leg Boston crab)
	+ *Invader* (Diving double foot stomp)
	+ Lariat
	+ Multiple kick variations
		- *Alarm Clock* / *Go 2 Sleep II* (Pop-up roundhouse to the opponent's midsection)
		- *Damage Reflex* (Handspring enzuigiri)
		- Drop, sometimes from the top rope or while springboarding
		- Multiple shoot, sometimes to a seated opponent
	+ Multiple suplex variations
		- German, sometimes from the top rope
		- Saito
		- Snap
		- Tiger
	+ Running elbow smash to a cornered opponent
	+ Running powerslam
	+ Running sitout powerbomb
	+ Snap DDT
	+ STO
	+ Suicide dive
* **With Rocky Romero**
	+ **Double team finishing moves**
		- *Contract Killer* (Inverted Death Valley driver (Richards) / Springboard knee drop (Romero) combination) – NJPW
* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Lone Wolf" (ROH/NJPW/TNA)

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Rocky Romero
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**7** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2012
* ***Wrestling Observer Newsletter***
	+ 5 Star Match (2012) vs. Michael Elgin on March 31
	+ Most Outstanding Wrestler (2011)
	+ Tag Team of the Year (2009) with Eddie Edwards

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Davey Richards profile . *Ring of Honor*. Retrieved on 2011-09-26.
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 Davey Richards . *Online World of Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2009-05-21.
3. ↑ Davey Richards . *Evolve Wrestling*. Archived from the original on 2009-12-13. Retrieved on 2011-08-09.
4. ↑ Global Professional Wrestling Alliance . *Pro Wrestling Zero1* (2006-09-12). Retrieved on 2009-06-08.
5. ↑ "Davey Richards interview". *Declaration of Independents*.
6. ↑ Cauthron, Randy M. 2014-03-29. Davey Richards: Much more than meets the eye . *spencerdailyreporter.com*. Retrieved on 2014-03-29.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Boutwell, Josh 2009-12-11. Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly – Dragon Gate . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2009-12-13.
8. ↑ Radican, Sean 2010-03-04. Radican's DGUSA "Fearless" review – Dragon Kid-Hulk, Richards-Mochizuki . *PW Torch*. TDH Communications Inc. Retrieved on 2010-04-10.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kapur, Bob 2009-09-07. Danielson says his goodbyes at Dragon Gate Chicago . *Slam! Sports*. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved on 2009-10-10.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Magee, Bob 2009-11-28. Dragon Gate USA 11/28 results . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2009-11-29.
11. ↑ Boutwell, Josh 2009-12-04. Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly – Dragon Gate . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2009-12-13.
12. ↑ (Results) New Japan 5/30/10 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-05-30). Retrieved on 2010-06-13.
13. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 6/12/10 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-06-12). Retrieved on 2010-06-13.
14. ↑ Super J Tag League teams and lineups revealed! . *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-10-12). Retrieved on 2010-10-12.
15. ↑ New Japan Brave 2011  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
16. ↑ Boutwell, Josh 2010-11-17. Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly: Super J Tag League . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2010-11-18. “Jado & Gedo defeated Romero & Richards in the Finals ot [sic] the win the tournament.”
17. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 12/11/10 & Liger wins another title in USA . *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-12-11). Retrieved on 2010-12-11.
18. ↑ *ja:レスリングどんたく 2011* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-05-03.
19. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 5/26/11 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2011-05-26). Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
20. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 6/8/11 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2011-06-08). Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
21. ↑ Best of the Super Jr.XVIII ~ Bring it on! ~  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-06-10.
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Destruction '11  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
23. ↑ Power Struggle  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-11-12.
24. ↑ New Japan Alive 2011  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-12-04.
25. ↑ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour. レッスルキングダムⅥ in 東京ドーム  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2012-01-04.
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 The New Beginning  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2012-02-12.
27. ↑ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour New Japan Glory 2012  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2012-03-10.
28. ↑ *ja:デイビー・リチャーズ選手が交通事故により来日中止【5・3福岡大会カード変更のお知らせ】* (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2012-05-02). Retrieved on 2012-05-02.
29. ↑ Caldwell, James 2012-05-02. ROH Champ in car accident, scratched from New Japan tour . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2012-05-02.
30. ↑ デイビー・リチャーズ選手、『Super Jr.』全戦欠場のお知らせ  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2012-05-09). Retrieved on 2012-05-09.
31. ↑ Caldwell, James 2012-05-09. ROH Champ out of NJPW tourney . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2012-05-09.
32. ↑ Newswire For The Week Of June 10th . *Ring of Honor* (2007-06-11). Archived from the original on 2010-01-13. Retrieved on 2009-04-17.
33. ↑ *ja:デイビー・リチャーズ選手参戦のお知らせ＆コメント* (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah* (2013-11-15). Retrieved on 2013-11-25.
34. ↑ 「Great Voyage 2013 in Tokyo vol.2～田上明引退記念大会～」12月7日(土)有明コロシアム大会 対戦カード第5弾決定！  (in Japanese). *Pro Wrestling Noah* (2013-11-18). Retrieved on 2013-11-25.
35. ↑ Caldwell, James 2013-11-25. News: Rock in movie title battle, Video - TNA KO on Justin Credible's new "Pro Wrestling 101," Davey pulls out of Japan tour, NJPW tourney results, Evolve updates . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2013-11-25.
36. ↑ St. Louis woman places in national bodybuilding competition
37. ↑ Davey Richards interview
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Caldwell, James 2010-06-17. ROH News: One of Ring of Honor's top stars says he plans to retire this year . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2010-06-20.
39. ↑ 9/11 ROH internet PPV live results: Caldwell & Radican's coverage of "Glory by Honor IX" – ROH Title match, Haas & Benjamin debut . *Pro Wrestling Torch* (2010-09-11). Retrieved on 2010-09-11.
40. ↑ Grant, Aaron (2015-02-18). "Davey Richards Dating Angelina Love?". Retrieved 2015-02-19.
41. ↑ Johnson, Mike 2015-04-27. ANOTHER TNA DEPARTURE, TNA COUPLE ENGAGED & MORE . Retrieved on 2015-04-28.
42. ↑ Lauren/Angelina Love on Twitter .
43. ↑ Johnson, Mike 2015-07-31. TNA knockout expecting first child . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2015-07-31.
44. ↑ Johnson, Mike 2016-03-17. TNA STARS WELCOME FIRST CHILD . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-03-18.
45. ↑ Horror Business . *Pro Wrestling Guerrilla*. Retrieved on 2010-02-28.
46. ↑ Berenstein, Ari 2007-07-28. Column of Honor: 07.28.07 . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2010-02-28. “with the 14:59 Key Lock”
47. ↑ Roe, Mike 2009-04-13. 4/12 PWG in Reseda, Calif.: Mike Roe reports on Paul London vs. Joey Ryan, Chris Hero vs. Colt Cabana, Bryan Danielson birthday wishes . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-27. “Richards won with a Texas cloverleaf”
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Sempervive, Mike 2009-04-26. 4/25 ROH in Chicago: Jerry Lynn vs. Colt Cabana, Steen & Briscoe challenge for tag titles, Ric Flair announced for Chicago . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2009-12-27. “Richards used a cloverleaf after a top rope dropkick for the second fall”
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 Ford, Kevin 2013-08-03. 100 Percent Fordified: Ring of Honor Live and Let Die . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2013-09-24.
50. ↑ RADICAN'S "EVOLVE 43" iPPV REPORT 5/30 - Hero-Lee MOTYC, debut of Speedball, Galloway-Busick main event .
51. ↑ PWG Roster . *Pro Wrestling Guerrilla*. Archived from the original on 2010-08-25. Retrieved on 2009-08-17.
52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 52.2 52.3 52.4 52.5 52.6 52.7 Diot, Dylan 2013-07-25. From The Shelf- Evolve 1: Ibushi vs. Richards . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2013-10-03.
53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 Ford, Kevin 2013-09-11. 100 Percent Fordified: Ring of Honor Reclamation Night 1 . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2013-09-24.
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 Davey Richards . *Puroresu Central*. Archived from the original on 2007-12-14. Retrieved on 2009-05-29.
55. ↑ The 2nd Annual PWG Bicentennial Birthday Extravaganza – Night One . *Pro Wrestling Guerrilla*. Retrieved on 2010-02-01.
56. ↑ J Sports Crown ~ Super J Tag League ~  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
57. ↑ New Japan Brave 2011  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 Davey Richards . *Dragon Gate USA*. Retrieved on 2009-07-25.
59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 Radican, Sean 2012-04-04. Radican's ROH "Showdown in the Sun: Night 2" partial iPPV review 3/31 - Richards-Elgin MOTYC, Briscoes-WGTT . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2013-09-24.
60. ↑ J Sports Crown ~ Super J Tag League ~  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
61. ↑ Best of the Super Jr.XVIII ~ Bring it on! ~  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-06-08.
62. ↑ Mahmud, Basil 2013-07-12. Show results - 7/11 ROH "Night of Hoopla" in Chicago: Truth Martini presents random matches & out-of-character moments, plus Savage vs. Warrior re-creation . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2013-07-24.
63. ↑ Kelly, Kevin 2013-11-18. Since @KingCorino said Davey Richards killed Paul London at Border Wars, Corino now calls the Doublestomp the "Invader". . Twitter. Retrieved on 2013-12-01.
64. ↑ 64.0 64.1 64.2 Radican, Sean 2013-07-13. Radican's ROH DVD Review Series: "Border Wars 2013" 5/5 - Edwards-Ishimori, London's return to ROH, Briscoe defends ROH Title vs. Cole . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2013-09-24.
65. ↑ Vetter, Chris 2007-02-21. PWTorch review of Black Friday Fallout . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2009-10-11.
66. ↑ Berenstein, Ari 2008-09-20. Column of Honor: 09.20.08: The Wait is Over... . *411Mania*. Retrieved on 2010-02-11.
67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 67.2 Vetter, Chris 2007-12-12. DVD Review: IWC "November Pain 3" (11-10-07), w/Delirious, Reyes, Albright, Hero . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2009-11-14.
68. ↑ Vetter, Chris 2006-08-26. 8/25 ROH in St. Paul, Minn.: Dragon vs. McGuinness, Aries & Strong vs. Joe & Whitmer . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2013-09-25.
69. ↑ G1 Climax Special 2011  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2011-10-10.
70. ↑ Martin, Adam 2011-05-16. 5/15 New Japan Pro Wrestling Results: Philly, PA . *WrestleView*. Retrieved on 2011-05-17.
71. ↑ "PWI 500". *Pro Wrestling Illustrated*. **33** (7): 24. 2012. ISSN 1043-7576.
72. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (April 9, 2012). "Apr 9 Observer Newsletter: Enormous annual WrestleMania Issue, full details of all the shows this weekend, business breakdowns, history, backstage notes, Lesnar, Overeem failure, Jay Strongbow, so much more". *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Campbell, CA: 33. ISSN 1083-9593.
73. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (January 30, 2012). "Jan 30 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Gigantic year-end awards issue, best and worst in all categories plus UFC on FX 1, death of Savannah Jack, ratings, tons and tons of news". *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Campbell, CA. ISSN 1083-9593.
74. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2010-01-27. Feb. 1 2010 Observer Newsletter: 2009 Awards Issue, Possible biggest wrestling news story of 2010 . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2010-01-30.

## External links

* Ring of Honor profile
* Dragon Gate USA profile
* Full Impact Pro profile
* Online World of Wrestling profile