Richard Slinger

Infobox Wrestler
name=Richard Acelinger

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img_capt=
names=Richard Slinger
Chuck Slinger
Tornado
height= height|ft=5|in=11
weight= convert|218|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = birth date and age|1971|10|16
death_date =
birth_place = Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
death_place =
resides=
billed=
trainer=AJPW Dojo
debut=1989
retired=
website=|

Richard Acelinger (born September 16, 1971) is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Richard Slinger, who was a longtime mainstay of All Japan Pro Wrestling and later Pro Wrestling NOAH where he is one of two "gaijin heels" to compete in the promotion. He is also one of several NOAH wrestlers to be featured in the Japanese video game "King of Colosseum II".

Career

All Japan Pro Wrestling

The nephew of All Japan Pro Wrestling legend, the late Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy, Slinger became a trainee in All Japan Pro Wrestling dojo cite web |url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/slinger.html |title=Richard Slinger |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2006 |month= |format= |work=Freelancers |publisher=PuroresuCentral.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and was a regular there for much of the 1990s. He toured Japan with AJPW and a number of American wrestlers including André the Giant, Abdullah the Butcher & Giant Kimala II, Stan Hansen & Dan Spivey, Terry Gordy & Steve Williams, Johnny Ace, Dynamite Kid & Johnny Smith, Doug Furnas, Joe & Dean Malenko and Well Dunn (Timothy Well & Steven Dunn) from September 29 to October 12, 1990. [ cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/smokyrobmoore/jp081699.htm |title=View from the Rising Sun: The Beast Is A Human Being, Too |accessdate= |author=Horie, Masanori |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=1999-08-16 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Rob Moore, Texas Wrestling Announcer |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

During the next year, he would continue to team with Gordy & Williams in matches against Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue and Yoshinari Ogawa. In August 1991, he and Jim Brunzell also faced The Blackharts (Apocalypse & Distraction) during their first Japanese tour. [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestletapes.net/ajpwtv1991.html |title=All Japan Pro Wrestling's 1991 TV Season |accessdate= |author=Long, Matt |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work=Best Of Wrestling Compilations |publisher=WrestleTapes.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] He also teamed with Stan Hansen and Dan Spivey defeating Toshiaki Kawada, Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi in Honjo, Japan on October 16, 1991. cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/hansen-stan.html |title=Wrestlers Results Archive: Stan Hansen |accessdate= |author=Nevada, Vance |authorlink= |coauthors=Matt Farmer, George Lentz, Mike Rodgers, Rich Tate, Scott Teal and Jim Zordani |date=2008-05-19 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Sports |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In early 1992, Slinger won the Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal held at Korakuen Hall on January 3, 1992. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/junior.html |title=Junior Heavyweight Battle Royals |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work=All Japan Junior Heavyweight Events |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] That same month, he and Johnny Ace competed in the "New Year's Giant Series" [ cite web |url=http://www.puroresumission.com/ajpw/tornei/junior_battle.html |title=All Japan Pro Wrestling New Year's Giant Series Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2006 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=PuroresuMission.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] facing The Youngbloods (Chris & Mark Youngblood) on January 26, 1992. [ All Japan: New Year's Giant Series 1992 (1/26/92). Perf. Richard Slinger, Johnny Ace, Mark and Jay Youngblood. 1992. Videocassette. All Japan Pro Wrestling.] He also participated in the '92 Excite Series teaming with Terry Gordy & Steve Williams in a 6-man tag team match against Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue and Yoshinari Ogawa at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall on February 23, 1992. cite web |url=http://www.quebrada.net/videos/AJ1992.html |title=Zen Nihon Puroresu Tapes Videos |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=AJPW All Japan Pro-Wrestling 1992 DVD VHS |publisher=Quebrada.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] The next night, they lost to Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace and Buddy Lee Parker in Kuraiki, Japan and against Hansen, Ace and James Earl Wright in Kisarazau, Japan two days later. They also lost to Hansen, The Patriot & The Eagle in Oita, Japan on April 10.

He again teamed with Gordy and Williams during the "'92 Super Power Series" returning to Korakuen Hall to face Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Toshiaki Kawada on May 17 [ Best of Japan TV April/May 1992 (4/20/92). Perf. Richard Slinger, Terry Gordy, Steve Williams, Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Toshiaki Kawada. 1992. Videocassette. Blue Thunder Video. ] and, on May 25, they faced Jumbo Tsuruta, Akira Taue and Yoshinari Ogawa in a rematch at the Sendai Miyagi-ken Sports Center. This match was later aired on Japanese television at the end of the month. On June 2, the three would lose to Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace and The Patriot in Fukushima, Japan and, the following night, faced Misawa, Kawada and Kikuchi at the Niigata Shi Taiikukan.

In the "'92 Summer Action Series", he teamed with The Patriot against Misawa & Kawada at Korakuen Hall on July 5. On October 4, he would team with Gordy & Williams against Mitsuhara Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. [ cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/statmark/japan.html |title=Japan 1992 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2002 |month= |format= |work=Statmark's Video Library |publisher=Statmark Video Library & Production |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] For the rest of the month, he would team with Gordy and Williams several more times trading matches with Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace and several different partners including Dan Kroffat and Johnny Smith in Fuji, Okiyama, Nagaoka and Mito, Japan.

On January 4, 1993, Slinger and Terry Gordy faced Akira Taue & Masa Fuchi in Tokyo cite web |url=http://www.wrestletapes.net/ajpwtv1993.html |title=All Japan Pro Wrestling's 1993 TV Season |accessdate= |author=Long, Matt |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work=Best Of Wrestling Compilations |publisher=WrestleTapes.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and, on January 31, he teamed with Gordy and Williams to defeat Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace and Barry Horowitz. They lost to Stan Hansen, Johnny Ace and Dan Kroffat in Toyota, Japan on April 1 but defeated them in Honjo on May 15.

During the fall, he would also team with Steve Williams against Akira Taue & Toshiaki Kawada on September 3. He would also team with Williams and Bubba Rogers in 6-man tag team matches against Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase and Dan Spivey (and later Kendall Windham) All Japan TV (Oct-Nov 1993). Perf. Richard Slinger, Steve Williams, Big Bossman, Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase and Kendall Windham. 1993. Videocassette. Highspots.com. ] in Shizuoka, Kasumigaura and Matsumoto. They also wrestled Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama in Yokosuka on November 13.

From November 13 to December 3, Slinger and Tracey Smothers competed in the "1993 Real World Tag League" coming in last place with no points. Among the tournament's participants included Patriot & Eagle, Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas, Danny Spivey & Johnny Ace, Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue, Stan Hansen & Giant Baba and winners Mitsu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi. [ cite web |url=http://ajpw.puroresufan.com/history/rwtl93.php |title=Real World Tag League 1993 (11/13/93 to 12/2/93) |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=PuroresuFan.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/tag90.html#93 |title=Real World Tag League 1993 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work=Real World Tag League 1990s |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] During the tournament, he teamed with Steve Williams and Big Bubba against Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama at the Niigata City Gym on November 29. [ cite web |url=http://www.shootangle.com/kandd/ajtv93.html |title=All Japan on Nippon TV 1993 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=K & D's Matchlists |publisher=Shootangle.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In January 1994, Slinger finished third place behind Takao Ōmori and Jun Akiyama for the "Asunaro Cup tournament". [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/asunaro.html#1994 |title=Asunaro Cup 1994 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=All Japan Asunaro Cup |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] On August 5, Slinger made a one-time appearance in Smoky Mountain Wrestling where he wrestled and was pinned by Chris Walker at the "Night of Legends" supercard in Knoxville, Tennessee. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/smw/results/1994c.html#080594 |title=Night of Legends |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work=Smoky Mountain Wrestling (July-September 1992) |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Returning to Japan, he teamed with Stan Hansen and Bobby Duncum, Jr. to defeat Johnny Ace, Patriot, & The Eagle in Takaoka, Japan on September 4, 1995. During the "1997 Super Power Series", he faced Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi and Kentaro Shiga in a 6-man tag team match with Steve Williams & The Lacrosse on May 31 and teamed with Satoru Asako against Daisuke Ikeda & Yoshinobu Kanemaru at Budokan Hall on June 6, 1997. [ cite web |url=http://www.shiningwizard.com/tapes/tapes.php?category=1 |title=All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) Tapes |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2004 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ShiningWizard.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] In front of 16,300 fans, Slinger won the match when he pinned Kanemaru. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/bud00.html#0697 |title=Budokan Hall 6/97 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work=All Japan Budokan Hall Shows 1996-2000 |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Pro Wrestling NOAH

In mid-2000, after Mitsuharu Misawa left the promotion and took all but two of All Japan's natives to form NOAH, Slinger was given a chance as one of the foreign regulars. On October 7, he and Scorpio faced Naomichi Marufuji & Kenta Kobayashi at the Differ Ariake in Tokyo. He and Scorpio also teamed with Vader against Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinari Ogawa and Naomichi Marufuji at the Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan the following night. On October 20, he wrestled Yoshinari Ogawa at the Kenei Taiikukan. He teamed with Scorpio and Vader at the last event for NOAH's "Voyage Navigation in November" facing Takao Ōmori, Yoshihiro Takayama and Satoru Asako at Korakuen Hall on November 16. At the Differ Ariake during the next few weeks, he and Vader would team against Akira Taue & Jun Izumida and with Makoto Hashi against Tamon Honda & Masao Inoue. [ cite web |url=http://www.shootangle.com/kandd/noahsam00.html |title=NOAH Noah's Ark on Samurai TV |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work=K & D's Matchlists |publisher=Shootangle.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On February 17, 2002, Slinger and Scorpio lost to Yoshinari Ogawa & Naoki Sano when Slinger was pinned by Ogawa at Budokan Hall with 16,500 in attendance. cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/noah/bud05.html |title=Pro Wrestling Noah Budokan Hall 2001-2005 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] On September 7, Slinger teamed with IZU, Scorpio and Vader to defeat Kenta Kobashi, Kentaro Shiga, Daisuke Ikeda and Mohammed Yone at NOAH's "Navigation Over The Date Line" after a near-20 minute match. [ cite web |url=http://www.bigvanvader.com/results.htm |title=Results |accessdate= |author=Cooper, Brian |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month=December |format= |work= |publisher=BigVanVader.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

At the "2003 Navigation Over the Date Line", Slinger and Masaji Aoyagi beat Haruka Eigen & Kishin Kawabata at Budokan Hall when Slinger pinned Eigen on September 12, 2003. On September 14, Slinger participated in a one-night 6-man tag team tournament at the sold-out Hakata Star Lanes in which he joined with Maxx Justice and Superstar Steve as Team Sternness to advance to the finals against Team Burning (Akira Taue, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi). Slinger's team lost after Kikuchi used the fireball against Superstar Steve. [ cite web |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2002_/articles/1034603036.php |title=Puroresu: NJPW "THE SPIRAL", NOAH, & AJPW results (10-14-02) |accessdate= |author=Rowland, Justin |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2002-10-14 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=LordsofPain.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] On September 17, during the NOAH's "Navigation Against The Current" tour, he and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi lost to KENTA & Takashi Sugiura at the Hiroshima Sports Center when he was pinned by Sugiura after a 10 minute match. Two days later, he teamed with IZU and Maxx Justice in a 6-man tag team match against Scorpio, Michael Modest and Donovan Morgan at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. These matches were later shown on Nippon TV. [ cite web |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2002_/articles/1034866249.php |title=Puroresu: NOAH 10-17 results, Kobashi’s new finisher, NJPW upcoming lineups |accessdate= |author=Rowland, Justin |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2002-10-17 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=LordsofPain.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On October 12, 2003, Slinger & Ricky Marvin lost to Mohammed Yone & Makoto Hashi at the sold-out Koshigaya Katsura Studio in Saitama, Japan. [ cite web |url=http://www.pwbts.com/messages/24262.htm |title=Picksi's Puroresu World 10/12: Pro Wrestling NOAH, Zero-One, World Japan, Michinoku Pro, Toryumon, Osaka Pro, K-Dojo, Pro, A to Z, LLPW |accessdate= |author=Picksi, Stefan |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2003-10-12 |year= |month= |format= |work=Pro Wrestling Between the Sheets |publisher=Pwbts.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] At NOAH's "Navigation Against The Current", Slinger defeated Marufuji, KENTA and Kotaro Suzuki in a 6-man tag team match with Juventud Guerrera and Ricky Marvin on October 24. [ cite web |url=http://www.puroresucentral.com/NOAHPDWNavigationCurrent03.html |title=NOAH "Navigation, Against The Current" |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=NOAH Event Reviews |publisher=PuroresuCentral.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

On January 10, 2004, Slinger and Donovan Morgan defeated Masaji Aoyagi & Mitsuo Momota at Budokan Hall attended by 16,000 fans. On July 10, at NOAH’s first show at the legendary Tokyo Dome, Slinger and Scorpio defeated Akitoshi Saito & Makoto Hashi at NOAH PPV "Departure 2004" when Slinger pinned Hashi in front of 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/noah/ppv.html#0704 |title=July 2004 PPV |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2004 |month=August |format= |work=Pro Wrestling Noah PPVs |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.gumgod.com/kevin_noah_departure_2004.htm |title=NOAH: Departure 2004 - Tokyo Dome, July 10, 2004 |accessdate= |author=Burgan, Derek |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2005 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=GumGod.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/09/19/635924.html |title=SLAM! Wrestling: NOAH Departure show a must-see |accessdate= |author=Clevett, Jason |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2004-09-21 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=SLAM! Sports |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] At the November 28, 2004 Sapporo show, Slinger aligned himself with Mitsuharu Misawa, Yoshinari Ogawa & Kotaro Suzuki by helping them fend off the post-match attack orchestrated by Scorpio. That same year, he was one of several NOAH wrestlers to appear as a playable character in the Japanese video game "King of Colosseum II".

On April 24, 2005, Slinger lost to former ally Scorpio, Michael Modest and Donovan Morgan when he teamed against them in a 6-man tag team match with Yoshinari Ogawa & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi at Budokan Hall. On May 29, Slinger teamed with Yoshinari Ogawa to defeat KENTA & Tsuyoshi Kikuchi. In a 6-man tag team match with Yoshinari Ogawa and Mitsuharu Misawa two days later, he lost to Akitoshi Saito, Masao Inoue and Takashi Sugiura. In August, he and Lo Ki received a shot against GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Takashi Sugiura but failed to win the titles.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Chattanooga Choo Choo"
**German suplex
**Double-arm suplex
**Thrust kick

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/richard-slinger.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=1252&gimmick=Richard+Slinger CageMatch.de - Richard Slinger] ger