William Welch
3115531
225765995
2008-07-15T08:41:07Z
69.235.48.198
/* In Wrestling */
{{unreferenced|date=March 2007}}
{{otherpeople|William Welch}}
{{Infobox Wrestler|
name=William Welch
|image=
|names=Iron Mike Ehrhardt<br>The Blunatic<br>'''(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<br>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 [[United States|American]] [[Professional wrestling|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 Zicari|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 [[Terry Brunk|Sabu]], [[Chris Candido]] and [[New Jack]].
While XPW folded, Messiah continued to compete in the [[Combat Zone Wrestling|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. (''[[Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes The Neighborhood]]'' for [[Xbox]] and [[PlayStation 2]]) He has held the [[CZW Heavyweight Title]] 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 of 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''''' ([[Professional wrestling throws#Inverted death valley driver|Inverted Death Valley driver]])
**'''''[[Carlito's Way]]''''' ([[Diamond Cutter#Elevated cutter|Elevated cutter]]; named as a tribute to his trainer, Carlito Montana)
**'''''[[Godsmack]]''''' ([[Stunner (professional wrestling)#TKO|Spinning fireman's carry stunner]])
**''Cross Factor'' ([[Facebuster#Sitout facebuster|Sitout facebuster]], sometimes from the [[Facebuster#Diving facebuster|top rope]])
**[[Professional wrestling throws#Arm drag|Arm drag]] followed into an [[Professional wrestling holds#Fujiwara Armbar|armbar]]
**[[Suplex#Belly to belly suplex|Belly to belly suplex]], sometimes into the turnbuckle
**[[Boston crab|Elevated boston crab with a knee to the back]]
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Facewash|Facewash]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Figure four leglock|Figure four leglock]]
**[[Professional wrestling throws#Headscissors takedown|Headscissors takedown]] into a [[DDT (professional wrestling)|DDT]]
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Leg lariat|Leg lariat]]
**[[Moonsault#Springboard moonsault|Springboard moonsault]]
**[[Powerslam#Spinning side slam|Spinning side slam]]
**[[Professional wrestling holds#Sugar hold|Back mounted full nelson]]
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Suicide|Suicide dive]]
**[[Powerbomb#Sunset flip powerbomb|Sunset flip powerbomb]]
*'''[[Music in professional wrestling|Entrance themes]]'''
**''[[Falling Away from Me]]'' by [[Korn]]
**''Messiah'' by [[Fear Factory]]
**''[[Prayer (song)|Prayer]]'' by [[Disturbed]]
**''[[The Clincher]]'' by [[Chevelle]]
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[Combat Zone Wrestling]]'''
:*[[CZW World Heavyweight Championship|CZW Heavyweight Championship]] (1)
::Won from Justice Pain on [[May 11]] [[2002]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], [[United States|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 Corso|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
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida#Offshoots|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 [[Doug Becker|Adam Flash]]
::Defeated [[2 Tuff Tony & Corporal Robinson|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, [[Joe Seannoa|Samoa Joe]], [[Benny Cuntapay|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)<ref>{{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}}</ref>
::Defeated [[Benny Cuntapay|B-Boy]] on [[January 25]] [[2003]] in [[Industry, California|City of Industry, California]], USA
::Stripped on [[March 2]] [[2004]] for being unable to defend
*'''River City Wrestling'''
:*RCW Tag Team Championship (1) <ref>{{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}}</ref>
::with Scott McKenzie (known as The Country of Caucasian Knights or C.o.C.K)
::Defeated [[Don Juan & Chris Marvel|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 Top 500 2001|PWI 500]]
==External links==
{{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Welch, William}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Detroit, Michigan]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers]]