Wolfgang (wrestler) explained
Wolfgang |
Birth Name: | Barry Young |
Birth Date: | 3 December 1986 |
Birth Place: | Glasgow, Scotland |
Spouse: | Molly Spartan |
Names: | Wolfgang |
Weight: | 255lb |
Trainer: | British Championship Wrestling WWE UK Performance Center |
Debut: | 2003 |
Barry Young (born 3 December 1986) is a Scottish professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand, under the ring name Wolfgang. He is a member of Gallus and is a former NXT Tag Team champion with stable mate Mark Coffey, as well as being a former tag team champion in now defunct NXT UK brand alongside Mark Coffey.[1] [2]
Young is also known for his tenure with Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), where he was a former ICW World Heavyweight champion and a former ICW Zero-G champion.
Professional wrestling career
Insane Championship Wrestling
Wolfgang debuted on Insane Championship Wrestling's debut show in 2006 and challenged Drew Galloway for the ICW Heavyweight Championship at the next event.[3]
Wolfgang captured his first championship in ICW at ICW: Tramspotting in 2013 when he defeated Andy Wild for the ICW Zero-G Championship.[4] On 31 October 2017, Wolfgang defeated Joe Coffey for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship. He held the title for 189 days before losing it to Trent Seven.[5]
WWE (2016–present)
NXT UK (2016–2022)
See main article: Gallus (professional wrestling). On 15 December 2016, it was revealed that Young would be one of 16 men competing in a two-night tournament to crown the first ever WWE United Kingdom Champion on 14 and 15 January 2017.[6] Young defeated Tyson T-Bone in the first round, advancing to the quarter-finals.[7] In the quarter-finals, he went on to defeat Trent Seven before losing to Seven's tag team partner Tyler Bate in the semi-finals.[8]
On the 13 September 2017 episode of NXT, Wolfgang faced Pete Dunne for the WWE United Kingdom Championship in a losing effort. After the match, Wolfgang was brutally attacked by The Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O'Reilly). This attack ended when Trent Seven and Tyler Bate came out to help Wolfgang.[9] On 18 June 2018, it was announced that Young would fight Adam Cole on the 2nd night of the UK Championship Tournament, for the NXT North American Championship.[10] He would go on to lose the match.
Young turned heel on the 31 October edition of NXT UK after a losing match against Mark Andrews, allying himself with brothers Mark and Joe Coffey against Andrews, Flash Morgan Webster, and Travis Banks. On the first 5 December episode of NXT UK, the trio of Wolfgang and the Coffey brothers was officially dubbed Gallus (Scottish slang for daring or confident) during a segment calling out British Strong Style, as well as the returning Travis Banks.
NXT (2022–present)
On NXT Heatwave, Gallus made their NXT 2.0 debut, attacking Diamond Mine.[11] On 23 August 2022, Gallus made their tag team debut on NXT facing NXT UK Tag Team Champions Brooks Jensen and Josh Briggs, which they would go on to win via countout. At Worlds Collide, Gallus became the second team eliminated from the Fatal four-way tag team elimination match for the NXT and NXT UK Tag Team Championship. Gallus would go on to have a rivalry with Briggs and Jensen, with the latter winning a No Disqualification tag team match between the teams. Gallus was later suspended in September for attacking officials.[12]
At New Year's Evil on January 10, 2023, Gallus returned from their suspension and won a gauntlet match to become the #1 contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship, which Coffey and Wolfgang won on Vengeance Day the month after.[13] [14] On the 14 March episode of NXT, Gallus retained their titles against Pretty Deadly. At NXT Stand & Deliver, Gallus defeated the Creed Brothers and The Family to retain the tag titles with help from a returning Joe Coffey.[15] Gallus would defend against the Creeds and The Dyad in the next months including a triple-threat on the 14 April episode of NXT and against the Creeds at NXT Battleground.[16] At NXT Gold Rush, Gallus defeated Malik Blade and Edris Enofe.[17] At NXT: The Great American Bash, Gallus lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to Tony D'Angelo and Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo, ending their reign at 176 days.[18]
In April 2024, ESPN reported that Gallus helped train The Rock for his tag team match with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins at Night 1 of WrestleMania XL.[19] On the May 14, 2024 episode of NXT, and as the show was going off the air, the cameras went backstage, showing Wes Lee, Josh Briggs and Ivar assaulted backstage. The attackers were then revealed to be Gallus, making their first televised appearance on NXT since the February 13, 2024 episode of NXT.[20]
Iron Girders Pro Wrestling
Young is the owner, operator and head coach of the Iron Girders Pro Wrestling Gym[21] and Iron Girders Pro Wrestling (IGPW) and wrestling promotion in Glasgow.[22] Trainers include former ICW World Heavyweight Champions Stevie Boy and BT Gunn.[23]
IGPW began running events on 26 March 2022[24] [25] [26] In addition to trainee talent and coaches, IGPW events have featured Eric Young, Leyton Buzzard and Kenny Williams.[27] [28] [29]
IGPW has also collaborated with other events and promotions in Scotland. In March and April 2022, they hosted two Scottish Interpromotional Championship title changes.[27] [30] In September 2022, IGPW participated in the ACME Comic Con by hosting a two-night tournament[31] to crown the inaugural ACME Comic Con Interpromotional Championship, which was won by Eddie Castle.[32]
In June 2023, IGPW promoted two events with Fife Pro Wrestling Asylum, which featured FPWA's Andy Roberts defending the Union of European Wrestling Alliances European Heavyweight Championship against IGPW's BT Gunn and Kez Evans.[33] [34] [35] [36] On 22 July 2023, IGPW presented a wrestling card for the Alexandra Park Festival Day.[22] [37] [38]
Championships and accomplishments
- British Championship Wrestling
- BCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- BCW Openweight Championship (2 times)[39]
- BCW Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Darkside (3),[40] Red Lightning (1),[40] and James Scott (1)[40] [39]
- Insane Championship Wrestling[41]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 203 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2019[43]
- Rock N Wrestling
- Highland Rumble (2016)[44]
- Showcase Pro Wrestling
- SPW British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[45]
- Scottish Wrestling Alliance
- Wrestle Zone Wrestling
- wZw Interpromotional Championship (1 time)[39]
- WWE
- Scottish Wrestling Network
- SWN Award (1 time)[50]
- Outstanding Recognition Award for Extraordinary Service (2017)
- Hall of Fame (2017)[51]
Notes and References
- Web site: Wolfgang .
- Web site: NXT Tag Team Championship .
- Web site: ICW Fear & Loathing - Debut Show. 2023-09-30.
- Web site: Title Reigns. 2023-09-30.
- Web site: Title Reigns. 2023-09-30 .
- News: First-ever United Kingdom Champion to be crowned in January. www.wwe.com. 2016-12-20.
- Web site: Soucek. Andrew. SOUCEK'S WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REPORT 1/14: Ongoing coverage of night one of UK Championship tournament. Pro Wrestling Torch. 14 January 2017. 14 January 2017.
- Web site: Soucek. Andrew. SOUCEK'S WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REPORT 1/15: Ongoing coverage of night two of UK Championship tournament. Pro Wrestling Torch. 15 January 2017. 15 January 2017.
- Web site: WWE NXT results, Sept. 13, 2017: Cole, O'Reilly & Fish find new targets in NXT.
- Web site: Cole battles Wolfgang in NXT North American Title Match in London.
- Web site: 8/16 NXT 2.0 Heatwave results: Moore's review of Bron Breakker vs. JD McDonagh for the NXT Title, Mandy Rose vs. Zoey Stark for the NXT Women's Title, Carmelo Hayes vs. Giovanni Vinci for the NXT North American Title, Tony D'Angelo vs Santos Escobar in a Street Fight, Cora Jade vs. Roxanne Perez. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Moore. John. August 16, 2022. August 17, 2022.
- Web site: Gallus Arrested, Suspended For Attacking Referees And Security Guards On 9/27 WWE NXT. Colin. Tessier. Fightful. September 27, 2022. February 6, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20220928025651/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/gallus-arrested-suspended-attacking-referees-and-security-guards-927-wwe-nxt. September 28, 2022. live.
- Web site: Moore. John. NXT Vengeance Day results: Moore's live review of Bron Breakker vs. Grayson Waller in a cage match for the NXT Title, Roxanne Perez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Gigi Dolin for the NXT Women's Title, New Day vs. Gallus vs. Pretty Deadly vs. Chase U for the NXT Tag Titles, Carmelo Hayes vs. Apollo Crews in a best of three falls match. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. February 4, 2023. February 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230205174938/https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/02/04/nxt-vengeance-day-results-moores-live-review-of-bron-breakker-vs-grayson-waller-in-a-cage-match-for-the-nxt-title-roxanne-perez-vs-jacy-jayne-vs-gigi-dolin-for-the-nxt-womens-title-new-day-v/. February 5, 2023. live.
- Web site: Gallus Win NXT Tag Team Championships At NXT Vengeance Day. Jeremy. Lambert. Fightful. February 4, 2023. February 5, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230205040355/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/gallus-wins-nxt-tag-team-championships-nxt-vengeance-day. February 5, 2023. live.
- Web site: McGuire. Colin. NXT Stand & Deliver results: McGuire's live review of Bron Breakker vs. Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Title, Roxanne Perez vs. Zoey Stark vs. Gigi Dolin vs. Tiffany Stratton vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Indi Hartwell in a ladder match for the NXT Women's Title, Wes Lee vs. Dragon Lee vs. JD McDonagh vs. Ilja Dragunov vs. Axiom for the NXT North American Title, Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. April 1, 2023. April 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230401231041/https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/04/01/nxt-stand-deliver-results-mcguires-live-review-of-bron-breakker-vs-carmelo-hayes-for-the-nxt-title-roxanne-perez-vs-zoey-stark-vs-gigi-dolin-vs-tiffany-stratton-vs-lyra-valkyria-vs-indi-ha/. April 1, 2023. live.
- Web site: NXT Battleground 2023: Carmelo Hayes is the hometown hero as he overcomes Bron Breakker at NXT Battleground. WWE. May 28, 2023. May 29, 2023.
- Web site: Moore. John. 6/20 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Gold Rush night one featuring Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Championship, Wes Lee vs. Tyler Bate for the NXT North American Title with Mustafa Ali as special referee, Dana Brooke vs. Cora Jade, a Triple Threat for an NXT Tag Team Title shot. June 20, 2023. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. June 20, 2023.
- Web site: KEVIN . BERGE . WWE NXT Great American Bash 2023 Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights . Bleacher Report . July 31, 2023 . en-US.
- Web site: Coppinger . Mike . Raimondi . Marc . 4 April 2024 . 'Like riding a bike': Inside The Rock's return at WrestleMania 40 . 4 April 2024 . .
- Web site: Gallus Lays Carnage Backstage In Their Return on 5/14 WWE NXT. Nikunj. Walia. Ringside News. May 14, 2024. May 15, 2024.
- Web site: About – Iron Girders Gym .
- Web site: Free family-friendly festivals to take over two Glasgow parks . 19 July 2023 .
- Web site: Trainers – Iron Girders Gym .
- Web site: Iron Girders Gym announce first wrestling show . 29 January 2022 .
- Web site: Iron Girders Pro Wrestling 11 . 2 April 2022 .
- Web site: Iron Girders Pro Wrestling 4 at Iron Girders Gym, Glasgow East End .
- Web site: Full Results: Iron Girders Wrestling 'Live' (26 Mar 2022) . 26 March 2022 .
- Web site: First match confirmed for Iron Girders Pro Wrestling (@IronGirdersGym) 'IGPW9' (5 Feb 2023) . January 2023 .
- Web site: All-Time Roster. 2023-09-30.
- Web site: Full Results: Iron Girders Wrestling 'Live' (16 Apr 2022) . 16 April 2022 .
- Web site: Full Results: Iron Girders Pro Wrestling 'at ACME Comic Con' Day One . 24 September 2022 .
- Web site: Full Results: Iron Girders Pro Wrestling 'at ACME Comic Con' Day Two . 25 September 2022 .
- Web site: Full Results: Iron Girders Pro Wrestling (@IronGirdersGym) 'vs Fife Pro Wrestling Asylum (@FPWAsylum)' (2 Jun 2023) . 2 June 2023 .
- Web site: Make Your Own Moments: Four Years of UEWA European Heavyweight Champion Andy Roberts . 20 July 2023 .
- Web site: Full Results: Fife Pro Wrestling Asylum (@FPWAsylum) 'vs Iron Girders Pro Wrestling (@IronGirdersGym)' (1 Jun 2023) . June 2023 .
- Web site: Wrestling: Crowd enthralled as Fife Pro Wrestling Asylum boss Andrew Inch defends heayweight crown for 19th time.
- Web site: MSN . .
- Web site: Glasgow wrestling stars give East End festival a 'lift' . 24 July 2023 .
- Web site: Titles « Wolfgang « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database . Cagematch.net . 2017-01-03.
- Web site: The World's Largest Wrestling Database . Wrestlingdata.com . 2017-01-03.
- Web site: ICW: Wolfgang . Insanewrestling.co.uk . 2017-01-03 . 13 January 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170113012833/http://insanewrestling.co.uk/profile.php?id=40 . dead .
- Web site: PBW Breaking Limits « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database . Cagematch.net . 2006-03-31 . 2017-01-03.
- Web site: Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2019 - the Internet Wrestling Database.
- http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=166140
- Web site: SPW British Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database . Cagematch.net . 2009-10-16 . 2017-01-03.
- Web site: SWA Laird Of The Ring « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database . Cagematch.net . 2017-01-03.
- Web site: W3L Seven Deadly Sins « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database . Cagematch.net . 2017-01-03.
- Web site: Official NXT Tag Team Championship Title History. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
- Web site: Official NXT UK Tag Team Championship History. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
- Web site: 14 March 2017. SWN Year End Awards Results . https://web.archive.org/web/20230128221504/https://swnscotland.com/year-end-awards-results/ . 28 January 2023 . 30 March 2023 . Scottish Wrestling Network.
- Web site: Scottish Wrestling Network Hall of Fame. 2023-09-30.