Connor Black

### NXT (2012-2013)

• Connor Black debuted on NXT as a heel, Black‘s NXT television debut took place on the second episode of the rebooted NXT taped at Full Sail University, where he defeated Jiro. Black entered the Gold Rush Tournament to crown the inaugural NXT Champion where he defeated Seth Rollins in
the tournament finals on the August 29 NXT (taped on July 26). Black earlier defeated Drew McIntyre in the quarter-finals and Michael McGillicutty in the semi-finals. On the October 10 NXT, Black had his first successful defense of his title after he beat McGillicutty. During the November 15 taping of NXT, Black pinned Mahal in his second successful title defense, the episode of the match aired on December 12 due to tape delay.

• On the January 2, 2013 episode of NXT, which was taped on December 6, 2012, Black successfully defended
the NXT Championship against Corey Graves, before losing it on the January 9 episode of NXT taped on the same date to Langston in a no disqualification match. After
losing the title, Black kept his feud with Graves going and attacked him during his number one contender's match for the NXT Championship with Conor O'Brian. Black then accepted Graves' challenge and defeated him in a lumberjack match to end the feud.

### Main roster (2013)

• On the May 20, 2013 episode of Raw, Black made his debut defeating Sin Cara. On June 16 at Payback, Black defeated Wade Barrett and The Miz in a triple threat match to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship, his first singles title in WWE. Black made his first televised title defense on the following episode of SmackDown, defeating Barrett in a rematch. On July 14 at Money in the Bank, Black defeated The Miz to retain the Intercontinental Championship. Black made another title defense on the following episode of SmackDown, defeating Chris Jericho. On September 15 at Night of Champions, Black would defeat Kingston and retain the title. On October 6 at Battleground he would defeat R-Truth and successfully retained the Intercontinental Championship. On the October 11 episode of SmackDown, Black once again retained the Intercontinental Championship against R-Truth. At Hell in a Cell, Black defeated Big E Langston to retain his Intercontinental Championship. On November 18 episode of Raw, where Black would lose the title to Langston in a rematch, ending his reign at 155 days. At Survivor Series, Black would challenge Langston to a title rematch in a losing effort.

### The Authority, Tag Team Champion and WWE US Champion (2014)

• He pledged allegiance to Stephanie McMahon by aiding members of The Authority, officially joining them. Black formed a team with Ryback; the team was named ‘RyBlack'. On the December 6 episode of SmackDown, RyBlack would defeat WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a non-title match, earning themselves a shot at the WWE Tag Team Championship. At TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, RyBlack would compete in a Fatal 4-Way tag team
elimination match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but they were the first team eliminated by Rhodes and Goldust. On January 26 during the Royal Rumble Kickoff Show, RyBlack beat Cody Rhodes and Goldust to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. This marks Black's 1st tag team championship reign in WWE. The next
night on Raw RyBlack retained the championship against Rhodes and Goldust. The next week on Raw RyBlack retained the championship against Rhodes and Goldust in a steel cage match. At Elimination Chamber, RyBlack retained the WWE Tag Team Championships defeating The Usos. On March 3, RyBlack lost the Tag Team Championship to The Usos. On the April 14 episode of Raw, along with nine other superstars, they would attack The Shield again under orders from Triple H. On the April 28 episode of Raw, RyBlack would challenge The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Championship in a losing effort. Black then told Ryback he wants to focus on his singles career, officially ending the team.

• On the 5 May episode of Raw, Black won a 20-man battle royal to win the United States Championship for the first time, last eliminating the previous champion Dean Ambrose. Black
then began feuding with Big E, culminating in a match between Black and Big E for the championship at Payback, which Black won. On 9 June episode of Raw, Black defeated Dean Ambrose with help from fellow Authority member Seth Rollins to retain his United States Championship and qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship; the match was won by John Cena. At Battleground, Black defeated Sheamus to retain the WWE United States Championship. At Night of Champions, Black successfully defended the title against Chris Jericho and retained the championship against Mark Henry at Hell in a Cell. Triple H started questioning Black and his place in The Authority later that night lost the title to Rusev on 3 November episode of Raw following a interference by Triple H (after Black accidentally hit Stephanie McMahon). Triple H attacking Black after the match and which caused him to be carried on a stretcher after he sustained a scripted injury so Black could have time off.

### Rise to Superstardom (2015-2016)

• Black made his return on 23 February episode of Raw, attacking Triple H turning into a fan favourite stating a feud between the two and setting a match at WrestleMania 31 in Levi’s Stadium 29 March, which Black won. Black then defeated Triple H in a Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules. Triple H announced they will face off one more time in a 30-minute Ironman match at Payback, which he accepted. Black won 4-3 on May 17 at Payback, ending their feud.

• Black continued his feud with The Authority, after Big Show and Kane’s attacked Black but Roman Reigns saved Black. Black and Roman Reigns teamed up to face the WWE Tag Team Champions Big Show and Kane at June’s Money in the Bank, which Black and Reigns won giving Black his 2nd WWE Tag Team Championship title reign. Black and Reigns retained their titles against Big Show and Kane at July’s Battleground. However, Black and Reigns lost their titles to The New Day after a interference from Brock Lesnar on a July 13 episode of Raw.

• Black challenged Lesnar to a match at Summerslam which Paul Heyman accepted on behalf of his client. Brock Lesnar defeated Black after Lesnar lowblowed Black and hit the F-5. At Night of Champions, Black teamed with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, facing The Wyatt Family in a winning effort. The following night on Raw after Night of Champions, Black attacked Heyman to draw Lesnar out in which Black also successfully attacked Lesnar and wanted a rematch at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view in a Hell in a Cell match, which Heyman accepted again on his client’s behalf which Black won after a low-blow and a Blackout.

• Black’s hand pick team defeated The Authority’s hand-pick team in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series tag team elimination match keeping his job. Black faced John Cena at December 13 at the TLC pay-per-view, which
he won. At the Royal Rumble, Black was the 23rd entrant, eliminating five competitors before being eliminated by The Wyatt Family who were already eliminated by Black. He then entered a storyline with Chris Jericho, with the two exchanging victories on both Raw
and SmackDown, which ultimately led to a encounter between the two on February 20 at Fastlane, which Black won by submission.

• He then engaged a rivalry with The Wyatt Family following his controversial elimination in the Royal Rumble by The Wyatt
Family. On the March 7 episode of Raw, Black attacked Bray Wyatt, setting up a Street Fight match at WrestleMania 32, which Black won.

• He then would reignited a feud with Chris Jericho after Jericho disrespected him on The Highlight Reel causing Black to attack Jericho this resulted in a match at Payback, where Black would defeat Jericho. They would both exchanged assaults, Black challenged Jericho to a Anything Goes Ultimate Submission match at Extreme Rules, where Black won 5-4. On May 30th episode of Raw, he was confronted by AJ Styles, only to be betrayed by Styles, who joined his former Club teammates Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in attacking Black. However would get revenge on Styles by attacking him and defeat both Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows in singles matches to ban them from ringside. This set up a match between Black and Styles at Money in the Bank, which Black won. Black then entered the WWE
Tournament of Opportunity,
Stephaine
McMahon puts his career on the line if he didn’t win the tournament, Black
ended up winning Block 1 without losing a single matches. He then defeated Kevin Owens in the Final at Battleground to earn a WWE Championship match at Summerslam.

## In wrestling

### **Finishing moves**

• *Blackout* (Jumping stunner) - Innovated

• *Spiral Tap* (Corkscrew senton bomb) - Innovated

• *Champagne Superkneebar* (Kneebar) - Innovated

### **Signature moves**

• Multiple suplex variations:

* Back
* Butterfly
* Crossface chickenwing
* Exploder, sometimes into the ring turnbuckle
* Overhead
* Belly-to-belly, sometimes to two opponents at once
* Fisherman
* Exploder
* Northern Lights
* Release Full nelson
* Half and half
* Release German
* Reverse slam
* Pumphandle
* Snap
* Saito
* Slingshot
* Super
* Tiger
* Three-quarter nelson
* Vertical

• Multiple kick variations

* Calf
* Drop, sometimes from the top rope
* Enzuigiri
* *Pelé Kick* (Backflip)
* Roundhouse
* Spin
* Spinning back
* Springboard drop
* Step-up enzuigiri
* Super

• Arm trap swinging neckbreaker

• Atomic drop

• Back body drop

• Belly-to-back inverted mat slam

• Blockbuster

• Chickenwing over-the-shoulder crossface

• Corner elbow smash

• Chop/punch combination

• Crossface chickenwing

• Double underhook Spike DDT

• Death Valley driver, sometimes onto the ring apron

• Discus clothesline

• Discus forearm smash

• Diving crossbody

• Diving moonsault

• *Drive-By Kick* (Running
big boot to a kneeling opponent while using their knee for leverage)

• Electric chair drop

• Float-over neckbreaker

• Fujiwara armbar

• Fireman's carry dropped into a kick

• Frog splash

• Hip toss, sometimes followed by a armbar

• Hangman's neckbreaker

• Heel hook

• Hurricarana

• Michinoku Driver

• Neckbreaker slam

• Powerbomb to the knee

• Piledriver, sometimes from the second rope

• *Rifle Kick* (Running
single leg front dropkick): occasionally used as a finisher

• Running one-handed bulldog

• Reverse STO

• Release powerbomb

• Reverse frankensteiner

• Samoan drop

• Soccer kick to the chest of a seated opponent

• Scissored armbar/Crossface combination

• STO

• Springboard cutter

• STF

• Spanish fly

• Snap swinging neckbreaker

• Shining wizard

• Super frankensteiner

• Suicide dive under the middle rope

• Spinebuster

• Springboard meteora

• Springboard forearm smash

• Springboard moonsault

• Standing moonsault

• Sunset flip powerbomb

• Superbomb

• Wrist-lock transitioned into a short-arm lariat

### **Nicknames**

• “The Prince of Wales” (NJPW, PROGRESS, ICW, ROH, PWG, EVOLVE)

• “The All-round Sensation” (NJPW, PROGRESS, ICW, ROH, PWG, EVOLVE)

• “The Predator” (NJPW, PROGRESS, ICW, ROH, PWG, EVOLVE)

**• “The Welshman from the M4” (WWE)**

**• “The Killer Machine” (WWE)**

**• “The Deadly Assassin” (WWE)**

### **Entrance themes**

• "The Trooper" by
Iron Maiden (NJPW, PROGRESS, ICW, ROH, PWG, EVOLVE: January 2006 – January, 2012)

• "Hell Frozen Over" by Jim Johnston (WWE, NXT: June 20, 2012 – October 27, 2014)

• "Hell on Earth" by Jim Johnston (November 3, 2014)

**• “Glass Shatter" by Disturbed (WWE: 23 February, 2015 – present)**

## Championships and accomplishments

### **Combat Zone Wrestling**

• CZW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• CZW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mark Andrews (2 times)

• CZW Wired Championship (1 time)

### **DDT Pro-Wrestling**

• Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)

### **EVOLVE Wrestling**

• Evolve World Championship (1 time)

• Open the Freedom Gate Championship (1 time)

• Evolve Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mark Andrews (1)

• Evolve Tag Team Championship Tournament (2012) – with Mark Andrews

### **Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW)**

• ICW World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• ICW Zero-G Championship (1 time)

• ICW Tag Team Championships (1 time) – Mark Andrews

### **New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)**

• IWGP Heavyweight Champion (1 time)

• IWGP Intercontinental Championship (1 time)

• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team
Championship (3 times) – with Mark Andrews (2) and Prince Devitt (1)

• IWGP Tag Team Championships (1 time) – with Mark Andrews (1)

• Best of the Super Juniors (2009)

• G1 Climax (2010)

### **Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG)**

• PWG World Championship (1 time)

• PWG World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mark Andrews

• Battle of Los Angeles (2010)

### **Progress Wrestling**

• PROGRESS World Championship (1 time)

• PROGRESS Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mark Andrews

### **Ring of Honor (ROH)**

• ROH World Championship (1 time)

• ROH World Television Championship (2
times)

• ROH World Tag Team Champion (1 time) – with Mark Andrews

### **westside Xtreme wrestling**

• wXw World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• wXw World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mark Andrews (1)

• 16 Carat Gold Tournament (2009)

### **World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)**

• WWE Championship (6 time)

• WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 time)

• WWE United States Championship (1 time)

• WWE Tag Team Championship (11 times)
– with Ryback (1), Roman Reigns (1), Dean Ambrose (2), Mark Andrews (7)

• NXT Championship (1 time)

• NXT Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mark Andrews (1)

• NXT Tag Team Championship Tournament (with Mark Andrews)

### **Wrestling Observer Newsletter**

• 5 Star Match (2006) vs. Bryan Danielson at Final Battle

• 5 Star Match (2007) vs. Nigel McGuinness at Undeniable

• 5 Star Match (2009) vs. Kota Ibushi at Wrestle Kingdom III

• 5 Star Match (2016) vs. Chris Jericho in a Anything Goes Ultimate Submission at Extreme Rules

• 5 Star Match (2016) vs. Seth Rollins at Summerslam

• 6 Star Match (2017) vs. Triple H in a Non-sanctioned match at Fastlane

•5 Star Match (2017) vs. Bray Wyatt in a 3 Stages of Hell match at Money in the Bank

• 5 Star Match (2017) vs. Samoa Joe at Summerslam

• 5 Star Match (2018)

• 5 Star Match (2019)

• 5 Star Match (2019)

• 5 Star Match (2020) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at Backlash

• 5 Star Match (2021) vs. at Summerslam

• 5 Star Match (2022)

• 5 Star Match (2023) with Mark Andrews vs. The Revival at Royal Rumble

• 5 Star Match (2023) with Mark Andrews vs. The Revival in a 2-out-of-3 falls match at Money in the Bank

• 5 Star Match (2024)

• 5 Star Match (2025)

• 5 Star Match (2026)

• 5 Star Match (2027)

• 5 Star Match (2028)

• 5 Star Match (2029)

• 5 Star Match (2030)

• 5 Star Match (2031)

• 5 Star Match (2032)

• 5 Star Match (2035)

• 5 Star Match (2036)

• Wrestler of the Year (2016)

• Most Outstanding Wrestler (2016)

• Feud of the Year (2015) vs. Triple H

• Most Charismatic (2016)

• Pro Wrestling Match of the Year (2016) vs. Seth Rollins