William Welch

Infobox Wrestler
name=William Welch


names=Iron Mike Ehrhardt
The Blunatic
(The) Messiah
height=6 ft
weight=220 lb
birth_date = Birth date and age|1977|12|18|mf=y
death_date =
birth_place = Detroit, Michigan
trainer=Carlito Montana
Slam U Training School
debut=
retired=|

William C. Welch [http://www.csulb.edu/%7Ed49er/archives/2000/fall/diversions/v8n5-wrestling.html] (born December 18, 1977 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name (The) Messiah.

On August 1, 2002, Welch was attacked by two unknown assailants in his home, who subsequently cut off his right thumb. His former promoter, Rob Black was named as a suspect on an episode of America's Most Wanted about the incident. Since the episode's airing, nobody has been accused or arrested by police in connection to the attack and the case remains unsolved. [http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2002_/articles/1032670940.php]

Career

Welch's professional career began modestly after being trained at the Slam U Wrestling Gym in Sun Valley, California. He worked for the school's parent company the Slammers Wrestling Federation for a time, losing his first professional match there to El Sprito. In the Slammers Wrestling Federation, he worked under the name Iron Mike Ehrhardt. Recognition came for Welch after he joined Xtreme Pro Wrestling. Working his way up the card with his new gimmick, Messiah, he eventually became a main eventer who wrestled with well known former Extreme Championship Wrestling stars like Sabu, Chris Candido and New Jack.

While XPW folded, Messiah continued to compete in the CZW promotion. Messiah has also competed in IWA Mid-South, Pro Pain Pro Wrestling (3PW), as well as other promotions. He has competed in Italy twice, as well as been in a world wide video game. ("" for Xbox and PlayStation 2) He has held the CZW World Heavyweight Championship three times; having a nearly one-year long run with the belt from March 6, 2004 to February 5, 2005. After losing the CZW Heavyweight Title to Ruckus in February 2005, The Messiah slowly faded away from CZW.

In April 2007, Messiah officially left CZW and returned as a regular member of Pro Wrestling Unplugged, feuding with Adam Flash.

On December 8, 2007, Messiah returned to CZW at their biggest event of the year, Cage of Death IX. He faced Ruckus and a returning Nick Gage in a three-way dance for Ruckus' CZW World Heavyweight Championship.

In Wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Fall From Grace" (Inverted Death Valley driver)
**"Carlito's Way" (Elevated cutter) - Named as a tribute to his trainer, Carlito Montana
**"Godsmack" (Spinning fireman's carry stunner)
**"Cross Factor" (Sitout facebuster, sometimes from the top rope)
**Arm drag followed into an armbar
**Belly to belly suplex, sometimes into the turnbuckle
**Elevated Boston crab with a knee to the back
**Facewash
**Figure four leglock
**Headscissors takedown into a DDT
**Leg lariat
**Springboard moonsault
**Spinning side slam
**Back mounted full nelson
**Suicide dive
**Sunset flip powerbomb

*Entrance themes
**"Falling Away from Me" by Korn
**"Messiah" by Fear Factory
**"Prayer" by Disturbed
**"The Clincher" by Chevelle

Championships and accomplishments

*Combat Zone Wrestling:*CZW Heavyweight Championship (1)::Won from Justice Pain on May 11 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.::Lost to Justice Pain on June 8 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

:*CZW Iron Man Championship (1)::Won from Adam Flash on October 12 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA::Lost to Nick Mondo on February 8 2003 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

:*CZW World Heavyweight Championship (2)::Won from Justice Pain on December 14 2002 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA::Lost to John Zandig on October 25 2003 in Pistoia, Italy

:*CZW World Heavyweight Championship (3)::Won from John Zandig on March 6 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA::Lost to Ruckus on February 5 2005 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

*NWA Florida:*NWA Florida King of the Deathmatch Championship (1)::Defeated Madman Pondo, Prime Evil and Chaos on November 30 2002 in Pinellas Park, Florida, USA (first and final champion)

*Insane Wrestling Federation:*IWF Tag Team Champion (1)::with Adam Flash::Defeated The Lynch Mob on June 27th 2003 in Hamtramck, Michigan USA ::Lost to Corporal Robinson & "The Dangerous One" The DBA on September 26th 2003 in::Hamtramck, Michigan USA

*Millennium Pro Wrestling:*MPW Heavyweight Championship (1)::Defeated Tech IX, Samoa Joe, B-Boy, Frankie Kazarian, & Super Dragon in a Gauntlet Tag Match on March 23 2002 in West Hills, California, USA (final champion)

*Pacific Championship Wrestling:*PCW Heavyweight Championship (1) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2003-01.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - January 2003 | accessdate=2008-07-05|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com] ::Defeated B-Boy on January 25 2003 in City of Industry, California, USA::Stripped on March 2 2004 for being unable to defend

*River City Wrestling:*RCW Tag Team Championship (1) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2007-01.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - January 2007 | accessdate=2008-07-04|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com] ::with Scott McKenzie (known as The Country of Caucasian Knights or C.o.C.K)::Defeated The Texas Treats on January 27 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, USA

*Xtreme Pro Wrestling:*XPW King of the Deathmatch Championship (1)::Won from Supreme on November 11 2000 in Reseda, California, USA::Stripped after being fired from XPW on August 25 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA

:*XPW World Heavyweight Championship (1)::Defeated New Jack (who was not the champion) on May 26 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA::Stripped after being fired from XPW on August 25 2001 in Los Angeles, California, USA

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him # 241 in the 2001 PWI 500

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/markrose/messiah.html Wrestling Columns: The Story of The Messiah] by Mark Rose
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/messiah.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/messiah.html Other Superstars - The Messiah]
* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=987&gimmick=The+Messiah CageMatch.de - ] ger
*imdb name|id=0582097 |name=The Messiah