Stephon Strickland is an American professional wrestler currently signed for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the NXT brand, under the ring name Isaiah Scott. For most of his early career on the independent circuit, he has used the ring name Shane Strickland. He also appeared in Lucha Underground under the ring name Killshot.
Professional wrestling career
Combat Zone Wrestling (2012-2019)
Strickland debuted in Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) on February 4, 2012. On March 8, 2014 Strickland won his first championship in CZW at CZW High Stakes 5 where he defeated Devon Moore to win the CZW Wired Championship. Strickland would go on to feud with Joe Gacy over the CZW Wired Championship which saw them win and lose the championship back and forth from each other until Gacy defeated Strickland one last time for the championship at CZW Cage Of Death XVI. Strickland would go one to achieve his greatest success in CZW by winning the CZW World Heavyweight Championship when he defeated Gacy, Lio Rush and Davey Richards in a four-way match. He held the championship for over four months before losing it to Gacy.
Evolve (2012-2019)
In 2012 Strickland debuted in Evolve. Strickland wrestled on and off in Evolve until achieving his biggest success on August 4, 2018 when he defeated Matt Riddle to win Evolve Championship at EVOLVE 108. Strickland successfully defended the Evolve Championship at EVOLVE 111 against DJ Z and at EVOLVE 113 against Tracy Williams before losing it to Fabian Aichner at EVOLVE 114.
Lucha Underground (2015-2018)
In 2015 Strickland debuted in Lucha Underground under a mask as Killshot. The character of Killshot was he was a military veteran who wore camouflage and dog tags. He formed a team with Big Ryck and The Mack but the team saw little success. Kilshot received a letter from a former friend named Dante Fox who came to Lucha Underground to challenge Killshot. Killshot would feud with Fox and ultimately defeat him at Ultima Lucha 3. The Mack brokered peace between the two rivals and led them to win the Lucha Underground Trios Championship. However, Fox faded away from the team leaving Killshot and The Mack without a partner to defend the Lucha Underground Trios Championship. This led to Son of Havoc joining the team and successfully defending the trios championships. Tensions within the team began to build as Killshot believed The Mack favored Son of Havoc over him. This led to the team losing the trios championships to The Reptile Tribe (Kobra Moon, Daga and Jeremiah Snake). Frustrated over the loss Killshot began a feud with Son of Havoc, splitting up the team in the process. This led to a mask vs. mask match at Ultima Lucha Cuatro Part 1 which Son of Havoc won. As a result, Killshot unmasked and left Lucha Underground forever.
Major League Wrestling (2017-2019)
When Major League Wrestling (MLW) returned in late 2017 Strickland joined their roster. In January 2018 MLW announced there would be an eight-man tournament to crown a new MLW World Heavyweight champion. Strickland won the tournament and the championship, going on to hold it for over three months before losing it to Low Ki.
World Wrestling Entertainment
NXT (2019-present)
Strickland debuted in a dark match before the May 15 episode of NXT, losing to fellow recruit Trevor Lee. After two more house matches, Strickland debuted his new ring name as Isaiah Scott during a June 6 house show, teaming with Brennan Williams in a tag match defeating Elliot Sexton & Jonah Rock.
In wrestling
- Finishing and Signature moves
- Swerve Stomp (Diving Foot Stomp to a seated opponent)
- JML Driver / Storm Cradle Driver (Half Nelson Wheelbarrow Driver) ~Sometimes preceded by an Electric Chair Hold~
- Calamity Trigger (Volador Spiral)
- Jumping DDT
- Axe Kick
- Space Jam (Tombstone Lungblower)
- House Call (Running Single leg dropkick to the back of the opponents head)
- Nicknames
- "The New Flavor"
- "King of Swerve" / "King of Swerve Style"
- Weapon of Mass Destruction (as Killshot)
- Entrance music
- "I Want You Back" by The Jackson Five
- "Swerve" by Monteasy
- "Ain't Nobody" by Chaka Khan
- "Light Up The Night" by PRS (2019)
- "Swervin On 'Em" by DJDPT (2020)
- Teams and stables
- The Unwanted - with Eddie Kingston, Joe Gacy and Colby Corino
Championships and accomplishments
- DEFY Wrestling
- DEFY 8xGP Championship (2 times)
- Evolve
- Evolve Championship (1 time)
- Lucha Underground
- Lucha Underground Trios Championship (1 time) with The Mack and Dante Fox
- PCW ULTRA
- PCW ULTRA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- PCW ULTRA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WrestleCircus
- WC Ringmaster Championship (1 time)
