Paul Lloyd Jr

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Paul Lloyd, Jr

Paul Lloyd, Jr.[2] (born March 3, 1981)[2] is a second-generation South African professional wrestler. He is currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment, and wrestles both at its Florida Championship Wrestling training territory and on WWE NXT, under the name Justin Gabriel.[1] [2] [3] He is a former FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.

[edit] Professional wrestling career

[edit] Early career
Lloyd made his professional wrestling debut at the age of 16 and was originally trained by his father Paul Lloyd, Sr., a promoter and wrestler in South Africa who also went by the ring name "The Pink Panther".[2] His grandfather was a professional boxer and amateur wrestler.[2] Lloyd grew up watching his father wrestle and in the early part of his training he used to practice in the backyard of his home, which had two rings positioned. Lloyd went by the ring name PJ Black. He formed a regular tag team with Ray Leppan (who went by the name Presley Jackson, now known as Dameon Duke) called Pure Juice.[2] During Lloyd's final year in high school his father died and a year later he moved to the United Kingdom for five years.[4] [5]

[edit] Frontier Wrestling Alliance and United Kingdom (2000–2005)
Lloyd spent five years in the United Kingdom, where he trained with the FWA Academy as well as acquiring diplomas in Graphic Web Design, Personal Training, Sports Nutrition and Body Massage. He was trained by Alex Shane and Mark Sloan. In 2003 he made his FWA debut. He also made an appearance in International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom.[4]

[edit] World Wrestling Professionals (2006–2008)
In 2006, he returned to South Africa and wrestled for World Wrestling Professionals (WWP), which is nationally televised on SABC 2 in South Africa and Colours TV in India with the shows WWP Thunderstrike and 100% De Dhana Dhan, respectively.[4] His most notable feuds during his tenure in WWP were against Tornado, Dameon Duke, Mikey Whiplash and Joe E. Legend. In 2007, he became the promotion's inaugural World Cruiserweight Champion. After a few weeks of holding the championship, he lost it in a triple threat match.

Lloyd challenged unsuccessfully for the WWP World Heavyweight Championship against Joe E Legend on a WWP Thunderstrike episode that aired on January 10, 2009. During the match he suffered minor burns to the face after a fireball spot didn't go as originally planned and he had to be treated at a local hospital. His final match in South Africa took place on November 8, 2008 at WWP's bi-annual Carnival City Casino show, where he was defeated by Terri Middoux in front of a record attendance.[6]

[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment (2009–present)
Lloyd as FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.In 2008, Lloyd signed a three-year developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment, becoming the first South African person in history to sign a WWE contract. He debuted in early 2009 in WWE's development territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, under his real name. His ring name was eventually changed to Justin Angel.[2]

On the July 23, 2009 FCW television tapings, Angel and Kris Logan defeated Trent Beretta and Caylen Croft to become the Florida Tag Team Champions, but lost it on the same night to The Rotundos (Bo and Duke).[7]

Angel won the Florida Heavyweight Championship from Heath Slater in a two out of three falls match at the September 24, 2009 television tapings.[2] At the March 18, 2010, tapings of FCW Gabriel lost the Florida Heavyweight Championship to Alex Riley in a three-way match, which also included Wade Barrett.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7">[8]

[edit] NXT (2010)
On February 16, 2010, it was announced that Angel was going to be competing on WWE NXT, under the name Justin Gabriel, with Matt Hardy as his storyline mentor.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Justin_Gabriel_0-3">[1] He made his in-ring debut on the March 2 episode of NXT in a tag team match with his mentor Hardy, against the team of William Regal and Skip Sheffield. Gabriel and Hardy won the match when Gabriel pinned Regal, making him the first rookie to pin a pro on the show. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NXTdebut_8-0">[9] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pinpro_9-0">[10] He went on to defeat Wade Barrett the following week, before suffering his first defeat on the March 16 episode of NXT, when he and Hardy were defeated by CM Punk and Darren Young.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-pinpro_9-1">[10] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10">[11] On March 30, in the first Pros Poll, Gabriel was ranked third behind Daniel Bryan (first) and Wade Barrett (second).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11">[12] Before the first elimination, Gabriel won the Rookie Challenge which makes him immune to elimination in the next Pros Poll.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-12">[13] In that Poll, Gabriel remained in third place behind Wade Barret (who was moved to first) and David Otunga (second).<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13">[14]

Modeling career
Lloyd has competed in numerous modeling contests as well. He placed first in the Male Fitness Model Search held by FAME SA,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14">[15] sixth in the 2008 Mr Body Classic contest held by Mr & Ms Body Beautiful SA,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15">[16] eighth in the 2007 Men's Model Search held by Mr & Ms Fitness SA,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-16">[17] and reached the top five in the Mr Physique Division in the 2008 Men's Model Search.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-17">[18] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-18">[19]

In wrestling

 * Finishing moves
 * 450° splash<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NXTdebut_8-1">[9] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FCWTV_19-0">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-V_20-0">[21]
 * Signature moves
 * Discus elbow smash<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FCWTV_19-1">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-V_20-1">[21]
 * Spin kick<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FCWTV_19-2">[20]
 * Springboard crossbody<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FCWTV_19-3">[20]
 * STO<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FCWTV_19-4">[20] <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-V_20-2">[21]
 * Superkick<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-FCWTV_19-5">[20]
 * Entrance themes
 * "Live for the Moment" by Monster Magnet - Used while in NXT with Matt Hardy
 * "Wild & Young" by American Bang<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Theme_21-0">[22] - Used while in NXT by himself or while with the other NXT Rookies

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

 * Florida Championship Wrestling
 * FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-22">[23]
 * FCW Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kris Logan<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-23">[24]
 * World Wrestling Professionals
 * WWP World Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-24">[25]