Josh Abercrombie

Infobox Wrestler


name=Josh Raymond
names=Josh Raymond
"Josh Abercrombie"
"Josh "Jug" Raymond"
"Billy Bong"
height=5 ft 8 in
weight=190 lb
birth_date =Birth date and age|1984|4|13|mf=y
birth_place =New Haven, CT
resides=Kalamazoo, MI
trainer=Jimmy Jacobs
Frankie The Face
debut=February 2003
retired=|

Josh Abercrombie (born April 13 1984) is an American professional wrestler. Abercrombie primarily wrestles for Ian Rotten's IWA Mid-South. He also competed as Josh "Jug" Raymond in Wrestling Society X on MTV.

Career

IWA Mid South

Abercrombie debuted for Ian Rotten's IWA Mid South promotion on October 23 2003, against Steve Stone. He continued competing across the midwest independents and returned to IWA Mid South in October 2004. Between January and February 2005, he was involved in a feud against Ian Rotten, which included a match that Ian won as part of the NWA Indiana State title tournament. The feud culminated in a barbed wire rope match the next day. Abercrombie, afraid of being hurt, entered the contest covered in bubble wrap, which was removed by Ian a few minutes in. Rotten broke his hand during the match as he punched Abercrombie in the head. Abercrombie used that to his advantage, winning the bout via submission.

Abercrombie returned to traditional technical and high-flying wrestling matches, in singles competition and sometimes teaming with Brandon Thomaselli. On April 9 2005, he won the one-night "Simply The Best" tournament (the 6th edition) by beating UK's Jonny Storm in the first round, and winning a four-way one fall bout by pinning El Generico in a match also featuring "M-Dogg20" Matt Cross and Sonjay Dutt.

Abercrombie faced IWA Mid South Lightheavyweight Champion Delirious at the promotion's debut in the New Alhambra (former ECW Arena) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 10 2005. Abercrombie won the match, which opened the show, for his first title in the promotion. It was also his first win over Delirious, as the two had competed a few times earlier in the year for the promotion.

During Summer 2005, Tyler Black became Josh's rival. They had several bouts against each other, including a 2 out of 3 falls match on August 19 2005, which Josh won to retain his title. They met up again on September 9 2005, in a highly-regarded Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, where Abercrombie once again retained.

In the meantime, Abercrombie won the first round of the IWA Mid South Ted Petty Invitational on September 23 2005, pinning Jamie Noble. Abercrombie lost in the second round to Chris Sabin, but his title was not on the line.

A title defense against Tyler Black took place on October 15 2005, in a 30 Minute Iron Man Tables match. Black was able to superplex Abercrombie onto two tables as the final seconds of the match dwindled away. With Abercrombie going through both tables, Tyler was victorious and won the title. Black offered a handshake after the bout. Abercrombie accepted, but followed by spitting in Black's face. At the end of the night, Abercrombie and Brandon Thomaselli interfered in the main event, the Iron Saints (Sal and Vito Thomaselli) versus Ian Rotten and Justin Credible. Brandon and Josh turned heel, aligning themselves with the Iron Saints and put the boots to Rotten, Credible, and many of the IWA Mid South staff.

The new group of Sal, Vito, Brandon Thomaselli, and Abercrombie were joined by Eddie Kingston, and aligned for a short period with IWA Mid South World Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Jacobs. Brandon and Josh explained their actions by stating that they were the hot homegrown act in the promotion during the first half of the year, but in the Summer, Tyler Black and partner Marek Brave "took their spot" in the eyes of the fans and promoters. Annoyed by this, the pair went back to their family (specifically Brandon's) and decided to join the Iron Saints' war against the promotion.

On January 12 2006, Black retained the title by pinning Abercrombie after hitting one of Josh's own moves, the Phoenix Splash. Abercrombie demanded a rematch, seeing as Black received multiple shots at his title. Black and promoter Ian Rotten agreed, with Ian making the provision that, no matter the outcome, this next bout would be the last between the two for at least six months. It would also be a match that could only end in pinfall by one competitor immediately after he hit his opponent with the Phoenix Splash.

The match took place eight days later on January 20 2006. Abercrombie hit two consecutive Phoenix Splashes and made the cover, regaining the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship and starting the longest Light Heavyweight reign in IWA-MS history, keeping the title for 449 days.

Though still viewed as a heel, the crowd started getting more behind Josh, and he was split away from the Thomasellis and Kingston. Josh's last interaction with them occurred on February 18 2006, when Josh was forced to defend the title against Brandon. Josh pinned Brandon to retain. He held onto the title through the six month period where he and Tyler could not face each other. Their next encounter was set for the first IWA Mid South show possible, which was August 11 2006. Josh's title was not on the line, but it was a "hair versus mustache" match. Tyler mockingly grew a mustache of his own heading into the bout, and won the match. However, Abercrombie pointed out that a line in the contract for the match stipulated it was "his" hair versus Tyler's mustache. Abercrombie allowed Tyler to cut his hair, but when Black went for the mustache, Josh ran off, leaving him sporting a mullet.

Josh then challenged Tyler to one last match, with the title on the line, stiulating that this time, the loser would leave the promotion for six months. Black accepted and the match took place on September 30 2006, which effectively pulled Josh out of that weekend's Ted Petty Invitational. During the bout, IWA Mid South staff member Jim Fannin pulled the referee from the ring while Black had a pinfall. In a major surprise, Jimmy Jacobs (who had left the promotion on January 20 2006) ran in through the crowd and helped Abercrombie secure the victory. That, as well as the contract line that allowed him to keep his mustache, was part of a deal that Abercrombie and Fannin worked together, which in the same moment, allowed Fannin an opportunity to get his hands on Jacobs. Fannin's hired guns, Mitch Page and Bull Pain, attacked Jacobs, who Fannin hated for tossing the IWA World Heavyweight Championship in the trash back in Winter 2005. Abercrombie felt horrible about double-crossing his friend and trainer, but did what he felt he had to do to stay on top.

Wrestling Society X

Abercrombie was part of the first season of Wrestling Society X, a promotion that aired on MTV. He competed under the name Josh "Jug" Raymond as part of a redneck tag team with Nate Webb known as the "Trailer Park Boyz." They were managed by "White Trash" Johnny Webb.

Fight Sports Midwest

On March 17 2007, Abercrombie was part of the debut event for Fight Sports Midwest, a promotion run out of Portage, Indiana. He pinned Austin Aries in a singles bout, and later interfered in a match between Arik Cannon and Tyler Black, attacking Black. Abercrombie and Cannon were then challenged to an impromptu tag match by Black and a man in a gorilla outfit who tended to him after the beatdown. The costumed wrestler turned out to be Jimmy Jacobs. Abercrombie and Cannon won, and viciously attacked Jacobs' leg after the match.

Price Of Glory

Abercrombie captured the promotions Chaotic Championship by pinning AC Suede in a 5 way match in January 2006, stripping "Amazing" N8 Mattson from his long title reign. Mattson attempted to take the title back in a Flag Match the following month, but was denied as Abercrombie secured the flag and the title. He continued to hold the title until he was defeated at the promotions 2nd year anniversary show "Faded Glory" in June 2006.

Abercrombie's focus was then on the promotions annual 8 man tournament where he gained entry and defeated three opponents including Chance Laredo, "Old Timer" Jeff King then Jimmy Jacobs in the finals to become the 2006 Glory Cup Champion.

Abercrombie was then granted a shot against Johnny Dynamo for the promotions top title, the Price of Glory Grand Championship. He was able to defeat Dynamo and become the new POG Grand Champion. After a couple of months, Abercrombie was viciously attacked during one of the promotions training nights by an unknown attacker. He was stripped of the title due to his injuries, and "The Hype" Jimmy Shalwin defeated Jack Thriller a few nights later to become the new Heavyweight Champion. It was revealed in March of 2007 that Shalwin was the attacker.

Abercrombie then joined the team of Jayme P which consisted of Osyris, Noah Lott & Bull Wheeler to face off against Team Jimmy Jacobs (CJ Otis, N8 Mattson, $Dollar$, Idol Heinze & Frankie The Face) and ultimately was victorious in gaining power back into the hands of rightful commissioner Jayme P. It was then revealed that Jayme P had then owner of Price of Glory, Dan "The Beast" Severn sign a contract giving all rights and ownership over to Jayme P. It was just a month later when Jayme P became upset at Abercrombie for giving Heavyweight title shots to wrestlers without consulting with Jayme P himself. After a long tough fight defending the title in August of 2007 against Frankie The Face, Jayme P forced Abercrombie to defend the title yet again against former champion JT Zorin, who then defeated Abercrombie.

Abercrombie was then banned from the building when Price of Glory held the 30 Man Glory Gauntlet. The winner was to receive a title shot at the Oct. 2007 "Glorified" event. #28th entry was a newbie Mexican wrestler dressed all in green named Super Leopardo. It was this wrestler who would eliminate the powerhouse Jimmy Shalwin to win the title shot. Minutes later Jayme P entered the ring for the wrestler to unmask himself and reveal that it was Josh Abercrombie. Abercrombie went on to wrestle JT Zorin at the "Glorified" event to win the Price of Glory Heavyweight Championship for the 3rd time.

Back in IWA: Mid-South

Josh has been tag teaming with "Spyder" Nate Webb as their WSX tag team, The Trailer Park Boyz. Josh recently shaved off his signature mustache after losing to his student, Bryan Skyline. He cut a promo saying he's tired of people thinking he is a joke and he's ready to become World Heavyweight Champion. He is now going by the ring name Josh Raymond.

Underground Championship Wrestling

Abercrombie made his debut for UCW on May 25 2007 by defeating Sean Tyler.

September 1st saw the Abercrombie era begin as Josh would win a big victory over Jimmy "The Hype" Shalwin for the UCW Heavyweight Championship. He would get the pinfall after a wicked double knee backbreaker off the second rope (Taliban Backpack), and beat the only Heavyweight Champion in UCW's short history.

Insanity Pro Wrestling

Josh made his IPW debut on November 3 2007 competing in the Super Jr. Heavyweight Tournament. In the first round of the tournament, he would defeat 1/2 of the Irish Airborne, Jake Crist but would fall short in the second round of the tournament, losing to Billy Roc and Scotty Vortexz in a 3 Way Dance.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*Corkscrew 450° splash:*"Abercrombie 'N Flinch" (Rolling cutter):*"Taliban Backpack" (Double knee backbreaker, sometimes from the second rope):*Shiranui:*Split-legged moonsault:*Double jump moonsault:*Hurricanrana:*Springboard 450° splash:*Inverted overdrive:*Moonsault into a frog splash:*Torture rack neckbreaker:*Springboard implant DDT:*Wrist-clutch belly to back suplex:*Reverse piledriver:*DDT

*Entrance Themes
**"You Got It (The Right Stuff)" by New Kids on the Block

Championships and accomplishments

*Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South:*IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times):*IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mickie Knuckles and Devon Moore

*Mr. Chainsaw Pro Wrestling:*MCPW World Championship (1 time) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2007-07.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - July 2007 | accessdate=2008-07-04|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com]

*Price of Glory Wrestling:*POG Chaotic Championship (1 time):*POG Heavyweight Championship (3 times):*POG Glory Cup (2006)

*Underground Championship Wrestling (AKA: NWA-UNDERGROUND):*UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2007-09.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - September 2007 | accessdate=2008-07-04|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com]

*Westside Xtreme Wrestling:*wXw Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Absolute Andy [cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/Westside_Xtreme_Wrestling.htm | title=Westside Xtreme Wrestling Title Histories | accessdate=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com]

*Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling:*XICW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Notes

References

* [http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/joshabercrombie/ The official website of Josh Abercrombie]
* [http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/other/iwatit.htm IWA Mid-South Wrestling Title Histories]

External links

* [http://www.livejournal.com/users/j_abercrombie/ The official LiveJournal of Josh Abercrombie]
* [http://www.myspace.com/joshabercrombie The official MySpace of Josh Abercrombie]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/josh-abercrombie.html Abercrombie at Online World of Wrestling]