Spirit Squad

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=Spirit Squad
type=T

---

members=Kenny
Johnny
Mitch
Nicky
Mikey
names= Spirit Squad
heights=Kenny:
height|ft=6|in=4
Johnny:
height|ft=6|in=0
Mitch:
height|ft=6|in=2
Nicky:
height|ft=6
Mikey:
height|ft=5|in=6

weights=Varies, depending on the combination
billed=
hometown=
former_members=
debut=January 23, 2006
promotions=OVW
WWE
disbanded=November 27, 2006
trainer=OVW staff|

The Spirit Squad was a five member stable who wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand, as well as in developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling. The team consisted of Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky, and Mikey with the gimmick of an all-male cheerleading squad, developed from an idea suggested by Paul HeymanFact|date=February 2007. They are former World Tag Team Champions and, by "executive decision", were all collectively recognized as champion and internally decided which two defended the belts at any given time (see Freebird Rule). Their reign marked the first time five wrestlers had been simultaneously recognized as World Tag Team Champions.

History

The group made their first appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) at house shows and in dark matches.cite web|url=http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/s/spirit-squad.php|title=The Spirit Squad|accessdate=2007-12-26] On January 23, 2006 they had their television debut, appearing on "Raw" and helping Jonathan Coachman win a "Royal Rumble" qualifying match against Jerry "The King" Lawler by performing cheers for the Coach and distracting Lawler. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/01232006/|title=Ready to Rumble|date=2006-01-23|accessdate=2007-12-26|publisher=WWE] In subsequent weeks, the team was hired by several wrestlers to perform cheers for them. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/01302006/|title=Wasted opportunity?|date=2006-01-30|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE|quote=Mickie brought out the Spirit Squad to give Trish a cheer]

They eventually became a part of the on-going feud between WWE chairman Vince McMahon and Shawn Michaels. The heel McMahon brought in the Squad to perform disrespectful cheers about Michaels and attack him on numerous occasions, including placing them in multiple handicap matches. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02202006/|title="Big Time" Pedigree|date=2006-02-20|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/03132006/|title=Sneak Attack|date=2006-03-13|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE]

While involved in the Michaels/McMahon feud they also continued wrestling in the tag team division, and on the April 3, 2006 edition of "Raw", won the World Tag Team Championship when Kenny and Mikey -- with outside help from the other three Squad members -- defeated Kane and The Big Show. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04032006/|title=The Champ bows down to the “King of Kings”|date=2006-04-03|accessdate=2008-01-05|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/2448432|title=Spirit Squad|date=2006-04-03|accessdate=2008-01-05|publisher=WWE] After winning the titles an "executive edict" was declared stating that all five members were recognized as the champions, with any two members allowed to defend the titles at once (see Freebird Rule).

On May 1, the night after Backlash, the five members of the Spirit Squad were jointly named "Co-General Managers" of "Raw".cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05012006/|title=Chaos in Columbus|date=2006-05-01|author=Ed Williams III|accessdate=2007-12-30|publisher=WWE] During the night, after drawing "spirit straws", they placed Kenny into a title match with WWE Champion John Cena. Before the match they ordered play-by-play analyst Joey Styles in their office to instruct him on how to call Kenny's upcoming win (which never did come to pass), instructing him to do it "with spirit" or they would force him to call all of the next "Raw" while wearing a (female) cheerleading uniform. This led to Styles confronting color-commentator Jerry Lawler and eventually quitting the show (and WWE) in a worked shoot promo. Kenny lost the match after special referee Triple H, who was conspiring with the Squad, walked out on the match.

Three weeks later, from "Raw" in Las Vegas, Nevada, Vince McMahon signed another Handicap Match pitting the Spirit Squad against Shawn Michaels.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05222006/|title=Apology Accepted?|date=2006-05-22|author=Louie Dee|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] The match never started, however, because the Spirit Squad brutally beat down Michaels, ripping apart his ring attire and kayfabe shattering his knee with a steel chair as he was going for his Sweet Chin Music. McMahon then called Triple H to the ring to finish Michaels off with a sledgehammer shot, however, Kenny snatched the sledgehammer away, disrespecting Triple H, which led to him attacking the group.

Triple H and Shawn Michaels revived D-Generation X (DX)cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06192006/|title=DX breaks it down|date=2006-06-19|author=Louie Dee|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] and as a team began a feud with the Spirit Squad.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06262006/|title=It happens|date=2006-06-26|author=Louie Dee|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] DX played various sophomoric pranks on the Squad and the McMahons,cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/07032006/|title=Stolen Championship|date=2006-07-03|author=Ed Williams III|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] as well as defeating the Spirit Squad in handicap tag matches at Vengeance [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/2006/matches/25900123/results/|title=DX breaks down the Spirit Squad|date=2006-06-25|author=Louie Dee|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] and a clean sweep in an elimination handicap match at "Saturday Night's Main Event". [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/july152006/matches/25815981/results/|title=DX dismantles the Spirit Squad|date=2006-07-15|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE]

At the same time as their feud with DX and their alignment with McMahon, the team also wrestled other teams in "Raw's"' tag division over their World Tag Team Title. The Squad successfully defended the titles against the teams of Jim Duggan and Eugene, Charlie Haas and Viscera, Snitsky and Val Venis before entering a lengthy feud with The Highlanders, [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/07242006/|title=Samoan Sabotage|date=2006-07-24|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/07312006/|title=HBK gets smoked|date=2006-07-31|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-16|publisher=WWE] whom they eventually defeated to retain the titles at Unforgiven.

At the end of September and into October the Squad as a whole began a losing streak with separate members losing singles matches to Ric Flair on consecutive episodes of "Raw". [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/09182006/|title=Winning the war|date=2006-09-18|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/09252006/|title=SmackDown beatdown|date=2006-09-25|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/10092006/|title=Cyber Sunday Blockbuster|date=2006-10-09|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-21|publisher=WWE] After Johnny and Mikey lost to the debuting Cryme Tyme on October 16, Kenny started yelling at the other members of the Spirit Squad in the ring and walked off shouting "I'm tired of losing".cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/10162006/|title=Let the voting begin|date=2006-10-16|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-01|publisher=WWE] Tensions further escalated the next week, when the Spirit Squad lost to Cryme Tyme a second consecutive week.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/10232006/|title=On the same page?|date=2006-10-23|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-02-01|publisher=WWE] After the defeat Kenny attacked Mikey then announced that he would take on Flair, and win, since no other member of the group could do it. Later in the night he made good on his promise with help from the rest of the Squad, despite Flair bringing a number of fellow "Legends" (Dusty Rhodes, Sgt. Slaughter, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper) to the ring with him to even the odds. It was then decided that Flair and one of the legends, of the fans choosing, would wrestle the Squad at "Cyber Sunday" for the Tag Team championship. At "Cyber Sunday" the fans chose Piper and he and Flair defeated Kenny and Mikey to win the title. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/cybersunday/history/2006/matches/329344214/results/|title=Golden Legends|date=2006-11-05|author=Zack Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-29|publisher=WWE] At the time of their loss the team had held the title for 216 days, the longest since Owen Hart and The British Bulldog held it for 241 days in 1996 and 1997.

The group was "killed off" on the November 27 "Raw" after they were defeated in a 5 on 3 match by DX and Ric Flair.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11272006/|title=R-K-Anarchy|date=2006-11-27|author=Louie Dee|accessdate=2008-02-01|publisher=WWE] After a triple submission, and being buried in a backstage segment, DX dumped them into a large crate stamped "OVW, Louisville, Kentucky", a reference to the WWE farm territory the members had all come from.

Aftermath of breakup

Kenny is the only member to remain on WWE television, gaining the last name "Dykstra" and continuing the feud with Ric Flair that led to the Spirit Squad's break up. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/kennydykstra/|title=Kenny Dykstra Profile|accessdate=2008-02-01|publisher=WWE] In Ohio Valley Wrestling, Nicky and Mikey were repackaged as a tag team, called The Frat Pack (which disbanded in the early parts of 2007). Johnny also returned to OVW since the breakup of the Spirit Squad, save for an appearance during a battle royal on an episode of Raw. Nick "Mitch" Mitchell was released from WWE on May 18, 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/scottyarielnickreleased|title=Ariel, Scotty 2 Hotty & Nick Mitchell released|date=2007-05-18|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=WWE] Kenny has since been moved to the SmackDown! brand as a result of the WWE Draft in June 11, 2007.

Nick Nemeth and Mike Mondo continued their development with Florida Championship Wrestling wrestling as "The Natural" Nick Nemeth and "The Professional" Mike Mondo, respectively. Johnny Jeter wrestled house shows with SmackDown/ECW as part of the ECW brand for a time but soon returned to OVW. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/johnny-jeter.html|title=Johnny Jeter Profile|accessdate=2008-02-01|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] Mondo was released from his WWE contract on June 13, 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/mikemondoreleased|title=Mike Mondo released|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-07-26|publisher=WWE] Nicky returned to TV as Dolph Ziggler.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*Simultaneous Diving leg drop (Kenny) / High-angle senton bomb (Mikey) combination:*"High Spirits" (Four or five man sky lift slam)::*In the four-man version, Kenny performs a leg drop so that his leg drops across the opponent's throat at the same time as the rest of the Squad lift him into the air.:*Four man step-up "Poetry in Motion" move:*Spirit Squad also used a mini-trampoline and perform various aerial moves after bouncing off of it to gain air.

*Ring entrance:Spirit Squad had a unique entrance in which Mitch stood in the middle of the ring and the other four members on the apron, at each corner, and simultaneously did a springboard somersault over the ropes and into the ring. Pyro was later added in the form of golden sparks "raining down" behind them.

*Signature taunts:*Jumping from a trampoline to enter the ring - All five members:*Jumping jacks - All five members:*Various breakdance moves - All five members:*Blowing an air horn - All five members (usually only one or two during a match):*Sits and hopping across the ring - Mitch:*Michael Jackson impersonation - Johnny:*Spinning in a circle - Nicky:*High pitched scream - Nicky:*Martial arts moves - Johnny

*Common cheers:*"Kenny!" "Johnny!" "Mitch!" "Nicky!" "Mikey!" "And we are...The Spirit Squad!":*"Ready, OK!":*"Let's hear it for Spirit Squad!":*"Who's got spirit!":*"2,4,6,8, who do you appreciate?":*"1,2,3 Spirit Squad!":*"Let's see those spirit fingers!":*"We are the spirit squad!"

Championships and accomplishments

*World Wrestling Entertainment

:*World Tag Team Championship (1 time)

References

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/kennydykstra/ Kenny Dykstra's WWE Profile]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/spirit-squad.html The Spirit Squad on Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kenny-dykstra.html Spirit Squad Kenny on Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/johnny-jeter.html Spirit Squad Johnny on Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/n/nick-nemeth.html Spirit Squad Nicky on Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/mike-mondo.html Spirit Squad Mikey on Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/n/nick-mitchell.html Spirit Squad Mitch on Online World of Wrestling]