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'''Michael Manna'''<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=rfecw88>{{cite book|title=The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling|last=Loverro|first=Thom|coauthors=Paul Heyman, Tazz, Tommy Dreamer|year=2006|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=1416510583|page=88}}</ref> (October 9, 1971)<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/stevie-richards.html|title=Stevie Richards Profile|accessdate=2008-03-06|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> is an American [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], currently signed to [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) under the [[ring name]] '''Stevie Richards'''. Also known by his ring names, '''Dr. Stevie''' and '''Big Stevie Cool''', Manna previously worked for [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW), [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] and, briefly, [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW). He held the [[WWE Hardcore Championship]] 22 times<ref name=core/> and was a two-time holder of the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name=ECW/>
'''Michael Manna''' (October 9, [[1971]]) is an American wrestler best known for his appearances in [[World Wrestling Entertainment]], [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] and [[World Championship Wrestling]]. He currently works for [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] as Dr. Stevie Richards.
 
   
 
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==Professional wrestling career==
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Stevie Richards was trained at [[Mike Sharpe|Iron Mike Sharpe]]'s wrestling school in Brick Township, New Jersey after being discovered by Dan Haney of the [[World Wide Wrestling Alliance]] based out of Colmar/Hatfield, Pennsylvania.<ref>[http://www.gerweck.net/stevierichards.htm Profile at gerweck.net]</ref>
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===Extreme Championship Wrestling===
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On February 25, 1992, Richards participated in the first ever [[Eastern Championship Wrestling]] (Extreme eventually replaced the Eastern) match, in a 20-minute time limit draw with Jimmy Jannetty. When it was announced that [[Scott Levy]], then known by relatively lightweight gimmicks (i.e., Scotty 'the Body' Anthony, Scotty Flamingo, and Johnny Polo), was coming to ECW, Richards began adopting and mocking those gimmicks. One of the first things Levy did in ECW in his new gimmick as Raven was thrash "Stevie Flamingo" soundly. From that point on, Richards acted as a flunky for Raven in ECW, calling him "Boss". While teaming with Raven, Richards won the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]] on two occasions.<ref name=ECW/> The team lost a dog collar match against [[The Pitbulls]].
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Richards was also part of the [[Blue World Order]] (bWo), a parody of the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|New World Order]]. Richards, with the [[Blue World Order]] (bWo), was one of the first ECW performers to perform on [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) programming during a cross-promotional appearance for [[Barely Legal (1997)|Barely Legal]] in 1997. He would defeat [[James Maritato|Little Guido]] in a one-on-one match from the Manhattan Center.
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The highlight of his ECW career was perhaps participating in the main event of the first ECW pay-per-view, [[ECW Barely Legal|Barely Legal]]. He wrestled Terry Funk and The Sandman in a Three Way Dance to determine the number one contender to the [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]]. Richards lost. Richards suffered a neck injury in a Fatal Four-Way match against Terry Funk, Sandman and Raven, which would require numerous surgeries to fix.
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Richards would also do a telephone line for ECW under the name, Lloyd Van Buren with former [[Ring of Honor]] booker [[Gabe Sapolsky]].<ref name=rfecw214>{{cite book|title=The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling|last=Loverro|first=Thom|coauthors=Paul Heyman, Tazz, Tommy Dreamer|year=2006|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=1416510583|page=214}}</ref> However, he did not wrestle under that name.
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===World Championship Wrestling===
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In May 1997, Richards suffered a neck injury so severe that he announced his retirement, before recovering and signing with WCW. He wrestled briefly as a member of Raven's [[Raven's Nest#The Flock|Flock]] but failed his physical exams and left WCW in December of the same year. Richards commented on ''[[The Rise and Fall of ECW]]'' DVD that Raven had told him that he was only there to be his "bitch lackey", and that he would get him fired if he pushed for more of a larger role, knowing both would suffer for demanding more than what was above their current status.
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===World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment===
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====Imitations; Right to Censor (1999–2001)====
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In 1999, Richards would sign with the WWF in a full-time capacity. He made his WWF debut on the August 15, 1999 episode of ''[[WWE Heat|Sunday Night Heat]]'', helping out his old tag team partner, [[Brian Heffron|The Blue Meanie]]. The two briefly became a tag team before Richards took on the gimmick of an impersonator. Mocking various then-current characters, he appeared as an Acolyte, a Dudley Boy, and a member of the Brood until briefly settling on [[Mick Foley]]'s old Dude Love persona. Once he was done with the Dude Love character, Richards would go on to portray [[Andrew Martin|Test]], [[Chyna]], and [[Chris Jericho]] before suffering an ankle injury. He returned to a stint on WWF's tertiary shows (''Jakk'ed'' and ''Metal''), in which he largely found himself on the losing end of several matches.
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Richards returned to the main roster later that year with an entirely new look and gimmick, cutting his hair short and wearing a suit and tie, and cutting promos condemning the risque content of WWF's programming and preaching conservative values (mocking the WWF's then-problems with the Parents Television Council organization). He became a full fledged [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villain]] forming a [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stable]] known as the [[Right to Censor]], changing his ring name to Steven Richards and becoming a manager and partner for his recruits, including [[The Godfather]] (renamed the Goodfather), [[Bull Buchanan]], [[Lisa Moretti|Ivory]], and [[Val Venis]]. When [[Chyna]] was featured in ''Playboy'' magazine, Richards demanded a match between Chyna's associate [[Eddie Guerrero]] and Val Venis. After Chyna had pantsed Richards leaving him in his white socks and blue briefs, costing Venis the match, Richards and his stable feuded against her.
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====Stevie Night Heat (2002–2004)====
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After the Right to Censor stable broke up, Richards found himself off programming for a short time. Not long afterward, he cut a promo condemning [[The Undertaker]] for brutally attacking the Right to Censor, causing the group to disband. When Undertaker confronted Richards, [[KroniK]] attacked him. He quickly confirmed his alliance with the WCW tag team, thus becoming a de facto member of [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|The Alliance]] and managed them briefly before they were quickly released. Richards remained on the brand's "B" shows until Team Alliance lost at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] in 2001. Richards was fired along with the rest of the alliance roster by [[Vince McMahon]] until [[Ric Flair]] was able to save his job and get him drafted over to the [[WWE Raw|Raw]] brand. There, Steven Richards began using the gimmick of a psychotic [[job (professional wrestling)|jobber]] and became a twenty-two-time Hardcore Champion trading it several times with [[Mark LoMonaco|Bubba Ray Dudley]], [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]], [[Mike Lockwood|Crash Holly]], [[Shawn Stasiak]], [[Peter Polaco|Justin Credible]], [[John Layfield|Bradshaw]], [[Terri Runnels|Terri]], and [[Tommy Dreamer]].<ref name=core/> Richards would team with Justin Credible to lose to The Big Show in a 2 On 1 Handicap Match on the ''Heat'' before [[Backlash 2002|Backlash]] in 2002.
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Richards eventually formed an alliance with [[Lisa Marie Varon|Victoria]] in late 2002 as a psychotic couple helping each other win their matches. Richards also helped Victoria retain her [[WWE Women's Championship]]. It was also around this time that Richards would first proclaim himself the General Manager of ''Heat''. During a match on ''Heat'' with [[Heidenreich]] in November 2003, Richards almost broke his neck when Heidenreich botched an [[Professional wrestling holds#Electirc chair|Electric chair]] maneuver, but Richards was not seriously injured and continued to compete on ''Heat'' and occasionally on ''Raw'' in late 2003-early 2004. As Victoria started to make her latest [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] turn, the duo quietly separated. In August 2004, Richards began dressing in drag as "The Mystery Woman" and helping Victoria win matches.<ref name=ih115>Ian Hamilton. ''Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition'' (p.115)</ref> He was finally unmasked at [[Unforgiven (2004)|Unforgiven]] when saving Victoria from [[Travis Tomko|Tyson Tomko]] and then heel [[Trish Stratus]], but ended up being squashed in an impromptu match to Tomko.<ref name=ih115/> Richards would then go on a long losing streak on ''Heat'' in late 2004 into early 2005.
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====Reunion of the bWo (2005–2006)====
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Richards's role as a jobber has been at times physically tasking and he was legitimately injured during the ''Raw'' debut match of [[Chris Mordetzky|Chris Masters]] in February 2005, after a botched [[Polish hammer]]. After returning from injury, Richards faced Masters in a rematch but lost to Masters for a second time.
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Richards made an appearance at the ECW reunion event [[ECW One Night Stand (2005)|ECW One Night Stand]] in 2005, reuniting with his bWo comrades and proclaiming "We have only three words for you. We're – taking – over!" Richards then went on to drop The Sandman with a Stevie Kick. Richards was traded to [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] on June 30, 2005 and reprized the bWo group with [[Mike Bucci|Nova]] and The Blue Meanie. At the [[The Great American Bash 2005|Great American Bash]], the bWo lost to [[The Mexicools]] ([[Juventud Guerrera]], [[Psicosis]], and [[Super Crazy]]) in a six-man tag team match. Richards went on to become the main eventer of ''[[WWE Velocity]]'' (much like his time on ''Heat'') and began slowly dropping the bWo gimmick as he jobbed to the likes of [[Bob Holly|Hardcore Holly]], [[Vito LoGrasso|Vito]], and [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]]. After a while, Richards would not be used on ''SmackDown!'' or even ''Velocity'' as he seemingly disappeared for over half a year. Richards made his return to the ring during an 18-Man pre-show [[Battle royal (professional wrestling)|Battle Royal]] before [[WrestleMania 22]].
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====ECW (2006–2008)====
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Shortly after the introduction of the [[ECW on Sci Fi|ECW]] [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]] in 2006, Richards left the [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] brand to join the ECW brand, starting with the WWE versus ECW Head to Head show on June 7, 2006. Richards went on to appear on ECW's weekly show under his old [[ring name]] of Stevie Richards. Richards soon returned to his [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] persona, selling out the other [[ECW Originals]] and siding with the newer stars. He picked up his first win on ECW's weekly show on September 5, 2006, against [[Balls Mahoney]], after interference from [[Kevin Fertig|Kevin Thorn]], who was feuding with Mahoney at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/09052006/|title=D-Generation extreme|date=September 5, 2006|author=Jen Hunt|accessdate=2008-01-03|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
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Richards was part of the new ECW brand's first pay-per-view, [[December to Dismember 2006 |December to Dismember]], defeating [[René Goguen|Rene Dupree]] in a pre-show dark match.<ref>{{cite web|title=December to Dismember 2006 results|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/december2dismember06.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref> Other than this contest Richards did not appear on ECW between September 2006 (when he joined up with the first version of ECW's [[The New Breed |New Breed]] - Test, Mike Knox and Hardcore Holly) and February 2007 (when he lost to CM Punk for a second time). Richards appeared as a Lumberjack in the pre-[[WrestleMania 23]] Lumberjack Tag Team match. He would then go on to lose to CM Punk a further three times. In mid-2007, Richards turned [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] again due to fan reaction, and teamed with [[Tommy Dreamer]] against the New Breed on [[house show]]s, replacing [[Jim Fullington|The Sandman]] (who was drafted to Raw) in the ECW Originals.
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====Return to SmackDown! and departure (2008)====
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Richards returned to SmackDown in November 2007. He only competed in two matches before being released.
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On July 24, Richards defeated Thorn in an upset after reversing a [[Powerbomb#Crucifix powerbomb|crucifix powerbomb]] into a [[Pin (professional wrestling)#Back slide|backslide pin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/07242007/|title=The face of extreme|date=2007-07-24|last=Rote|first=Andrew|accessdate=2008-03-08|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> This was Richards' first victory on WWE television since September 2006. A week later a re-match took place throughout which Richards was dominated, however he defeated Thorn once again via roll-up. On August 7, he was ambushed by Thorn while giving an interview backstage. He would once again defeat Thorn on August 14 by [[Professional wrestling#Disqualification|disqualification]] after the [[Referee (professional wrestling)|referee]] declared a disqualification when Thorn continued to massively "destroy" Richards after Thorn had already won. He would then get revenge by ambushing Thorn while giving an interview the next week. Their [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] would continue with Richards teaming up with Dreamer and CM Punk on different occasions against Thorn and [[Elijah Burke]] with Richards losing and winning a match. Richards was eliminated from the [[Professional wrestling match types#Elimination Chase|Elimination Chase]] for the [[ECW Championship]] on the September 18 edition of ''ECW''. He was then absent from WWE programming due to having throat surgery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/joeystyles/styles/122807mep|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080114011801/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/joeystyles/styles/122807mep|archivedate=2008-01-14|title=Most Extreme Player for 12/28/07|date=2007-12-28|author=[[Joey Styles]]|accessdate=2008-01-05|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|quote=in October, Stevie endured the first of five surgeries that would continue through the remainder of 2007}}</ref>
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Almost five months later, Richards made his return on the February 12, 2008 edition of ''ECW'', defeating a jobber with his signature [[DDT (professional wrestling)#Double underhook DDT|Stevie-T]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/02122008/|title=Finding the way into No Way Out|date=2008-02-12|last=Rote|first=Andrew|accessdate=2008-03-06|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> He would then go on to beat another jobber, followed by a victory over Mike Knox (this was Richards last victory on WWE Television). In the following months Richards would compete in the pre-WrestleMania 24-Man Battle Royal, lose to Shelton Benjamin and The Great Khali, team with Kelly Kelly to lose to Mike Knox and Layla, lose to Mike Knox in a singles match and appeared as one of the fourteen ECW Superstars who faced Triple H and Mr. Kennedy in a 14 On 2 Handicap Match on ''Raw''. Richards would commentate on the Extreme Rules match between Mike Knox and Tommy Dreamer on the 100th episode of ECW. He would remain with ECW in the June 2008 Draft, however would wrestle his last three matches with the company on ''SmackDown!''. He lost to [[Vladimir Kozlov]] twice in July 2008. He wrestled what turned out to be his last match in the company, as he lost to [[Brian Kendrick|The Brian Kendrick]] and was released from his WWE contract shortly thereafter on August 15, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/WWErelease0815|title=WWE releases several Superstars, referee Wes Adams|date=2008-08-15|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
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===Independent circuit===
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Before returning to the independent circuit, Richards suffered a collapsed lung that resulted when doctors were trying to diagnose a lung infection, causing him to have a chest tube inserted for several days. After recovering, Richards returned to wrestling for the [[National Wrestling Alliance#Promotions|NWA No Limits]] territory on January 9, 2009.
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He also periodically wrestles for [[Maryland Championship Wrestling]]. Richards won the Force One Championship Wrestling Heavyweight championship on February 28, 2009 in Barnegat, NJ, defeating [[Danny Doring]].<ref name="Varlese">{{cite web|url=http://www.indywrestlingnews.com/newswire/5038-force-one-pro-wrestling-results-from-228-in-barnegat-nj-featuring-stevie-richards.html|title=Stevie Richards Wins Force One Gold|date=2009-03-02|last=Varlese|first=Phil|accessdate=2009-03-03|publisher=Indy Wrestling News}}</ref>
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===Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2009–present)===
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On the February 12, 2009 edition of ''[[TNA Impact!]]'', Manna made his [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) debut as [[Chris Parks|Abyss]]'s therapist, Dr. Stevie.<ref name="Dr. Stevie">{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/8363/|title=TNA Impact TV report|date=2009-02-12|last=Hamlin|first=Jeff|accessdate=2009-02-15|publisher=Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online}}</ref> For two months as Dr. Stevie, Manna's face did not appear on television, as the camera was always positioned behind him during his sessions with Abyss and eventually [[Daffney]].<ref name="OWOW"/> His identity became officially known to the world when he interfered in Abyss's match against [[Matt Morgan (wrestler)|Matt Morgan]] at [[Lockdown 2009|Lockdown]] in order to prevent him from using a chair, causing him to lose the match as a result.<ref name="OWOW"/> Stevie's role as a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] was solidified in the following month, when his sessions with Abyss started turning more and more abusive.<ref name="OWOW"/> At [[Sacrifice 2009|Sacrifice]] Abyss turned on Stevie and [[chokeslam]]med him onto a pile of thumbtacks, after he threatened [[Lauren Brooke]], Abyss' girlfriend.<ref name="OWOW"/> On the May 28 edition of ''Impact!'' [[Scott Levy|Raven]] made his return to TNA by attacking Abyss and aligning himself with Stevie and Daffney.<ref name="OWOW"/>
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Stevie lost to his former patient, Abyss, at the 2009 [[Victory Road 2009|Victory Road]] pay-per-view.<ref name="OWOW"/> Stevie would then claim his first victory in TNA on July 19 by defeating [[Cody Deaner]] with his new finishing move General Anesthesia in a match broadcast on ''[[TNA Xplosion]]'' and the TNA website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/110860/Complete-TNA-Impact-Taping-Results-%28SPOILERS%29.htm|title=Complete TNA Impact Taping Results (SPOILERS)|last=Csonka|first=Larry|date=2009-07-20|work=411Mania|accessdate=2010-03-23}}</ref> On the July 30 edition of ''Impact!'' Stevie announced that he was not done with Abyss and placed a $50,000 bounty on his head.<ref name="OWOW"/> Stevie would claim his second TNA victory on September 1 by defeating [[Jay Lethal]] via submission in another webmatch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1251910769.php|title=SPOILERS: Impact tapings on 9/1|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2009-09-02|work=WrestleView|accessdate=2010-03-23}}</ref> After [[Lethal Consequences]] (Jay Lethal and [[Consequences Creed]]) and [[Trevor Murdoch|Jethro Holliday]] had tried and failed to collect the bounty on Abyss' head,<ref name="OWOW"/> [[Kevin Nash]] claimed the bounty at [[No Surrender (2009)|No Surrender]] by pinning Abyss in a [[TNA Global Championship|Legends Championship]] match, even though the bounty was supposed to be paid for ending his career.<ref name="OWOW"/> Afterwards, Stevie tried to explain this, only to receive a Jackknife Powerbomb from Nash.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_35493.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA NO SURRENDER PPV REPORT 9/20: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Kurt Angle vs. Sting vs. Matt Morgan vs. A.J. Styles|date=2009-09-20|last=Caldwell|first=James |accessdate=2009-09-20|publisher=PWTorch}}</ref> On the following edition of ''Impact!'' Stevie managed to steal the money back after using a taser on Nash, but the short feud came to an end a week later, when Nash defeated Stevie in a Non-title match.<ref name="OWOW"/> On the October 8 edition of ''Impact!'', [[Mick Foley]] announced that Stevie would serve as the [[Referee (professional wrestling)#Special referees|special guest referee]] in the [[Monster's Ball match]] between Foley and Abyss at [[Bound for Glory (2009)|Bound for Glory]].<ref name="OWOW"/> This match ended when Abyss pushed the interfering Daffney off the top rope through a barbed-wire board (giving her a legit concussion), chokeslammed the enraged Dr. Stevie onto a pile of thumbtacks and slammed Foley onto the barbed wire board, after which he covered Foley, pulled Dr. Stevie (still kayfabe knocked out) over, and used his hand to count the pinfall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_36109.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA BOUND FOR GLORY PPV REPORT 10/18: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of the second-half of the show with Styles vs. Sting|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2009-10-18|work=PWTorch|accessdate=2009-11-09}}</ref>
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Two weeks later Stevie assaulted Abyss, after losing a match against him, only to have Foley turn on him and save Abyss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_36419.shtml|title=WILKENFELD'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 10/29: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date=2009-10-29|work=PWTorch|accessdate=2009-11-13}}</ref> The following week, Foley explained that he had played Dr. Stevie all along and had challenged Abyss to a match at Bound for Glory in order to test how tough he really was. Foley then booked Stevie in a match for the following week, where if Abyss was able to pin Stevie, he would have to leave TNA for good.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_36579.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 11/5: Complete coverage of Dixie Carter addressing TNA roster, Styles vs. Daniels|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2009-11-05|work=PWTorch|accessdate=2009-11-13}}</ref> On the November 12 edition of ''Impact!'' Stevie defeated Abyss to save his TNA career, when during the match the lights suddenly went out and when they came back on Abyss had been laid out.<ref name=November12>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_36725.shtml|title=WILKENFELD'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 11/12: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date=2009-11-12|work=PWTorch|accessdate=2009-11-13}}</ref> After the match Foley, who had been doing commentary during the match, entered the ring and attacked Stevie, when the lights went out for the second time. In the darkness someone threw a fireball on Foley's face and when the lights came back on it was revealed that the returning Raven had been the one, who had interfered in the match.<ref name=November12/> Afterwards Stevie, Raven and Daffney re-formed their alliance and feuded with the duo of Abyss and Foley.<ref name="OWOW"/> During the feud TNA shot an angle, in which Stevie set Abyss on fire, that Spike wouldn't let them air on the channel and therefore had to be aired on the company's website.<ref name="OWOW"/> At [[Final Resolution (2009)|Final Resolution]] Abyss and Foley defeated Stevie and Raven in a "Foley's Funhouse" tag team match to end the feud.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_37540.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S TNA FINAL RESOLUTION PPV REPORT 12/20: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of A.J. Styles vs. Daniels, Angle vs. Wolfe|date=2009-12-20|accessdate=2009-12-21|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=PWTorch}}</ref>
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In 2010, Stevie had competed in only one match in TNA, a number one contender's tag team match, where he and Raven were [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Squash|squashed]] by the team of [[Matt Morgan (wrestler)|Matt Morgan]] and [[Shawn Hernandez|Hernandez]], and only two other appearances in which he has tried to calm down an out-of-control Daffney.<ref name="OWOW"/> After months of being off television, Richards, now billed simply as Stevie Richards, returned on the June 24 edition of ''Impact!'', appearing in the Impact! Zone crowd beside Raven and Tommy Dreamer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_42170.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 6/24: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=2010-06-24|accessdate=2010-06-24|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following week the three were joined by [[Rhino]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_42295.shtml|title=TNA Impact results 7/1: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show - Abyss vs. Hardy, RVD refs|last=Keller|first=Wade|date= 2010-07-01|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-07-02}}</ref> On the July 15 edition of ''Impact!'' Richards, Raven, Dreamer, Rhino, [[Devon Hughes|Brother Devon]], [[Pat Kenney]] and [[Al Snow]], led by Mick Foley, aligned themselves with the [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship|TNA World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Rob Van Dam]] by attacking Abyss and the rest of the TNA locker room, thus turning face.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_42456.shtml|title=TNA News: TNA Impact TV taping "virtual-time coverage" for Thursday's episode|date=2010-07-12|accessdate=2010-07-13|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279001038|title=Spoilers: TNA Impact for this Thursday|date=2010-07-13|accessdate=2010-07-13|last=Martin|first=Adam|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279252015|title=Impact Results - 7/15/10|date=2010-07-15|last=Martin|first=Adam|work=WrestleView|accessdate=2010-07-16}}</ref> The following week, TNA president [[Dixie Carter-Salinas|Dixie Carter]] agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event, [[Hardcore Justice 2010|Hardcore Justice: The Last Stand]], as a celebration of hardcore wrestling and a final farewell to the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_42665.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 7/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|date=2010-07-22|accessdate=2010-07-23|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At the event Richards defeated [[Peter Polaco|P.J. Polaco]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42979.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=2010-08-08|accessdate=2010-08-08|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following edition of ''Impact!'', the ECW alumni, known collectively as [[ECW Originals|Extreme, Version 2.0 (EV 2.0)]], were assaulted by [[A.J. Styles]], [[Frankie Kazarian|Kazarian]], [[Robert Roode]], [[James Storm]], [[Doug Williams (wrestler)|Douglas Williams]] and Matt Morgan of [[Ric Flair]]'s [[Fourtune]] stable, who thought they didn't deserve to be in TNA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43008.shtml|title=TNA News: Spoilers - detailed Impact TV taping report for "Whole F'n Show" featuring new angle, MOTY candidate?, three title matches|first=Kevin|last=Tomich|date=2010-08-09|accessdate=2010-08-12|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/08/12/15010951.html|title=TNA's 'The Whole F'n Show': Beer Money, Machine Guns put on match of year candidate; Fortune makes statement|first=Matt|last=Bishop|date=2010-08-12|accessdate=2010-08-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> During the assault Abyss came out, fought Rob Van Dam backstage and caused him storyline injuries, which forced him to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and led to EV 2.0 looking for revenge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43238.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 8/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=2010-08-19|accessdate=2010-08-29|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the August 26 edition of ''Impact!'' Richards volunteered to take out Abyss, but ended up beaten himself, when he attacked his former patient backstage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43385.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 8/26: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast (updated)|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=2010-08-26|accessdate=2010-08-29|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following week on ''Impact!'', Richards defeated Abyss in a singles match. After the match, Abyss was about to attack Richards with a board filled with nails, but was saved by EV 2.0's newest member [[Brian Kendrick]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43519.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 9/02: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast (updated)|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date= 2010-09-02|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-09-03}}</ref> In late August Richards began writing a weekly health and fitness column for TNA's website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnawrestling.com/news/item/2134-blog-stevie-richards-fitness-column|title=Blog: Stevie Richards Fitness Column|last=Manna|first=Michael|accessdate=2010-09-06|work=[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]}}</ref> At [[Bound for Glory 2010 |Bound for Glory]] Richards, Dreamer, Raven, Rhino and Sabu defeated Fourtune members Styles, Kazarian, Morgan, Roode and Storm in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Lethal Lockdown|Lethal Lockdown match]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_44417.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10-10-10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Angle vs. Anderson vs. Hardy, "they" reveal|date=2010-10-10|accessdate=2010-10-10|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Turning Point 2010|Turning Point]] EV 2.0 faced Fortune in a ten man tag team match, where each member of EV 2.0 put their TNA careers on the line. In the end, EV 2.0 lost the match and Sabu was released from TNA. After the match Richards challenged Fortune member and reigning [[TNA Television Championship|TNA Television Champion]] A.J. Styles to a match on the following edition of ''Impact!''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_45110.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Turning Point PPV results 11/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Hardy vs. Morgan, EV2 vs. Fortune, Team 3D "retirement" match|date=2010-11-07|accessdate=2010-11-07|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the November 11 edition of ''Impact!'' Richards failed in his attempt to bring the Television Championship to EV 2.0 and was afterwards taken out of the ring in a neck brace, after suffering a storyline injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_45232.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact results 11/11: Styles vs. Stevie, Turning Point fallout, New TNA belt introduced by Hogan|date=2010-11-11|accessdate=2010-11-12|last=Keller|first=Wade|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
  +
  +
===Garden State Wrestling (2010)===
  +
  +
On August 28th, 2010, Stevie Richards competed at Garden State Wrestling's "Blackjack Brawl" event in Newton, NJ, facing "Sweet" Bobby G in a match for the final spot in that night's main event, a "BlackJack Brawl" for the promotion's top title, the Garden State Championship. Richards was unable to defeat "Sweet" Bobby G, who went on to win the title in the main event.
  +
[http://www.gardenstatewrestling.com/828results.htm GSW Black Jack Brawl Results]
   
 
==Wrestling facts==
 
==Wrestling facts==
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*'''Wrestlers managed'''
 
*'''Wrestlers managed'''
 
:*[[Brian Adams]] ('''[[WWF]]''') (''[[2001]]'')
 
:*[[Brian Adams]] ('''[[WWF]]''') (''[[2001]]'')
:*[[Bryan Clarke]] ('''[[WWF]]''') (''[[2001]]'')
+
:*[[Bryan Clark]] ('''[[WWF]]''') (''[[2001]]'')
 
:*[[Daffney]] ('''[[TNA]]''') (''[[2009]]-present'')
 
:*[[Daffney]] ('''[[TNA]]''') (''[[2009]]-present'')
 
*'''Theme music'''
 
*'''Theme music'''

Revision as of 05:40, 29 November 2010

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Michael Manna[1][2] (October 9, 1971)[1] is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Dr. Stevie and Big Stevie Cool, Manna previously worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Wrestling Entertainment and, briefly, World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He held the WWE Hardcore Championship 22 times[3] and was a two-time holder of the ECW World Tag Team Championship.[4]

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Professional wrestling career

Stevie Richards was trained at Iron Mike Sharpe's wrestling school in Brick Township, New Jersey after being discovered by Dan Haney of the World Wide Wrestling Alliance based out of Colmar/Hatfield, Pennsylvania.[5]

Extreme Championship Wrestling

On February 25, 1992, Richards participated in the first ever Eastern Championship Wrestling (Extreme eventually replaced the Eastern) match, in a 20-minute time limit draw with Jimmy Jannetty. When it was announced that Scott Levy, then known by relatively lightweight gimmicks (i.e., Scotty 'the Body' Anthony, Scotty Flamingo, and Johnny Polo), was coming to ECW, Richards began adopting and mocking those gimmicks. One of the first things Levy did in ECW in his new gimmick as Raven was thrash "Stevie Flamingo" soundly. From that point on, Richards acted as a flunky for Raven in ECW, calling him "Boss". While teaming with Raven, Richards won the ECW World Tag Team Championship on two occasions.[4] The team lost a dog collar match against The Pitbulls.

Richards was also part of the Blue World Order (bWo), a parody of the New World Order. Richards, with the Blue World Order (bWo), was one of the first ECW performers to perform on World Wrestling Federation (WWF) programming during a cross-promotional appearance for Barely Legal in 1997. He would defeat Little Guido in a one-on-one match from the Manhattan Center.

The highlight of his ECW career was perhaps participating in the main event of the first ECW pay-per-view, Barely Legal. He wrestled Terry Funk and The Sandman in a Three Way Dance to determine the number one contender to the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. Richards lost. Richards suffered a neck injury in a Fatal Four-Way match against Terry Funk, Sandman and Raven, which would require numerous surgeries to fix.

Richards would also do a telephone line for ECW under the name, Lloyd Van Buren with former Ring of Honor booker Gabe Sapolsky.[6] However, he did not wrestle under that name.

World Championship Wrestling

In May 1997, Richards suffered a neck injury so severe that he announced his retirement, before recovering and signing with WCW. He wrestled briefly as a member of Raven's Flock but failed his physical exams and left WCW in December of the same year. Richards commented on The Rise and Fall of ECW DVD that Raven had told him that he was only there to be his "bitch lackey", and that he would get him fired if he pushed for more of a larger role, knowing both would suffer for demanding more than what was above their current status.

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

Imitations; Right to Censor (1999–2001)

In 1999, Richards would sign with the WWF in a full-time capacity. He made his WWF debut on the August 15, 1999 episode of Sunday Night Heat, helping out his old tag team partner, The Blue Meanie. The two briefly became a tag team before Richards took on the gimmick of an impersonator. Mocking various then-current characters, he appeared as an Acolyte, a Dudley Boy, and a member of the Brood until briefly settling on Mick Foley's old Dude Love persona. Once he was done with the Dude Love character, Richards would go on to portray Test, Chyna, and Chris Jericho before suffering an ankle injury. He returned to a stint on WWF's tertiary shows (Jakk'ed and Metal), in which he largely found himself on the losing end of several matches.

Richards returned to the main roster later that year with an entirely new look and gimmick, cutting his hair short and wearing a suit and tie, and cutting promos condemning the risque content of WWF's programming and preaching conservative values (mocking the WWF's then-problems with the Parents Television Council organization). He became a full fledged villain forming a stable known as the Right to Censor, changing his ring name to Steven Richards and becoming a manager and partner for his recruits, including The Godfather (renamed the Goodfather), Bull Buchanan, Ivory, and Val Venis. When Chyna was featured in Playboy magazine, Richards demanded a match between Chyna's associate Eddie Guerrero and Val Venis. After Chyna had pantsed Richards leaving him in his white socks and blue briefs, costing Venis the match, Richards and his stable feuded against her.

Stevie Night Heat (2002–2004)

After the Right to Censor stable broke up, Richards found himself off programming for a short time. Not long afterward, he cut a promo condemning The Undertaker for brutally attacking the Right to Censor, causing the group to disband. When Undertaker confronted Richards, KroniK attacked him. He quickly confirmed his alliance with the WCW tag team, thus becoming a de facto member of The Alliance and managed them briefly before they were quickly released. Richards remained on the brand's "B" shows until Team Alliance lost at Survivor Series in 2001. Richards was fired along with the rest of the alliance roster by Vince McMahon until Ric Flair was able to save his job and get him drafted over to the Raw brand. There, Steven Richards began using the gimmick of a psychotic jobber and became a twenty-two-time Hardcore Champion trading it several times with Bubba Ray Dudley, Booker T, Crash Holly, Shawn Stasiak, Justin Credible, Bradshaw, Terri, and Tommy Dreamer.[3] Richards would team with Justin Credible to lose to The Big Show in a 2 On 1 Handicap Match on the Heat before Backlash in 2002.

Richards eventually formed an alliance with Victoria in late 2002 as a psychotic couple helping each other win their matches. Richards also helped Victoria retain her WWE Women's Championship. It was also around this time that Richards would first proclaim himself the General Manager of Heat. During a match on Heat with Heidenreich in November 2003, Richards almost broke his neck when Heidenreich botched an Electric chair maneuver, but Richards was not seriously injured and continued to compete on Heat and occasionally on Raw in late 2003-early 2004. As Victoria started to make her latest face turn, the duo quietly separated. In August 2004, Richards began dressing in drag as "The Mystery Woman" and helping Victoria win matches.[7] He was finally unmasked at Unforgiven when saving Victoria from Tyson Tomko and then heel Trish Stratus, but ended up being squashed in an impromptu match to Tomko.[7] Richards would then go on a long losing streak on Heat in late 2004 into early 2005.

Reunion of the bWo (2005–2006)

Richards's role as a jobber has been at times physically tasking and he was legitimately injured during the Raw debut match of Chris Masters in February 2005, after a botched Polish hammer. After returning from injury, Richards faced Masters in a rematch but lost to Masters for a second time.

Richards made an appearance at the ECW reunion event ECW One Night Stand in 2005, reuniting with his bWo comrades and proclaiming "We have only three words for you. We're – taking – over!" Richards then went on to drop The Sandman with a Stevie Kick. Richards was traded to SmackDown! on June 30, 2005 and reprized the bWo group with Nova and The Blue Meanie. At the Great American Bash, the bWo lost to The Mexicools (Juventud Guerrera, Psicosis, and Super Crazy) in a six-man tag team match. Richards went on to become the main eventer of WWE Velocity (much like his time on Heat) and began slowly dropping the bWo gimmick as he jobbed to the likes of Hardcore Holly, Vito, and Booker T. After a while, Richards would not be used on SmackDown! or even Velocity as he seemingly disappeared for over half a year. Richards made his return to the ring during an 18-Man pre-show Battle Royal before WrestleMania 22.

ECW (2006–2008)

Shortly after the introduction of the ECW brand in 2006, Richards left the SmackDown! brand to join the ECW brand, starting with the WWE versus ECW Head to Head show on June 7, 2006. Richards went on to appear on ECW's weekly show under his old ring name of Stevie Richards. Richards soon returned to his heel persona, selling out the other ECW Originals and siding with the newer stars. He picked up his first win on ECW's weekly show on September 5, 2006, against Balls Mahoney, after interference from Kevin Thorn, who was feuding with Mahoney at the time.[8]

Richards was part of the new ECW brand's first pay-per-view, December to Dismember, defeating Rene Dupree in a pre-show dark match.[9] Other than this contest Richards did not appear on ECW between September 2006 (when he joined up with the first version of ECW's New Breed - Test, Mike Knox and Hardcore Holly) and February 2007 (when he lost to CM Punk for a second time). Richards appeared as a Lumberjack in the pre-WrestleMania 23 Lumberjack Tag Team match. He would then go on to lose to CM Punk a further three times. In mid-2007, Richards turned face again due to fan reaction, and teamed with Tommy Dreamer against the New Breed on house shows, replacing The Sandman (who was drafted to Raw) in the ECW Originals.

Return to SmackDown! and departure (2008)

Richards returned to SmackDown in November 2007. He only competed in two matches before being released.

On July 24, Richards defeated Thorn in an upset after reversing a crucifix powerbomb into a backslide pin.[10] This was Richards' first victory on WWE television since September 2006. A week later a re-match took place throughout which Richards was dominated, however he defeated Thorn once again via roll-up. On August 7, he was ambushed by Thorn while giving an interview backstage. He would once again defeat Thorn on August 14 by disqualification after the referee declared a disqualification when Thorn continued to massively "destroy" Richards after Thorn had already won. He would then get revenge by ambushing Thorn while giving an interview the next week. Their feud would continue with Richards teaming up with Dreamer and CM Punk on different occasions against Thorn and Elijah Burke with Richards losing and winning a match. Richards was eliminated from the Elimination Chase for the ECW Championship on the September 18 edition of ECW. He was then absent from WWE programming due to having throat surgery.[11]

Almost five months later, Richards made his return on the February 12, 2008 edition of ECW, defeating a jobber with his signature Stevie-T.[12] He would then go on to beat another jobber, followed by a victory over Mike Knox (this was Richards last victory on WWE Television). In the following months Richards would compete in the pre-WrestleMania 24-Man Battle Royal, lose to Shelton Benjamin and The Great Khali, team with Kelly Kelly to lose to Mike Knox and Layla, lose to Mike Knox in a singles match and appeared as one of the fourteen ECW Superstars who faced Triple H and Mr. Kennedy in a 14 On 2 Handicap Match on Raw. Richards would commentate on the Extreme Rules match between Mike Knox and Tommy Dreamer on the 100th episode of ECW. He would remain with ECW in the June 2008 Draft, however would wrestle his last three matches with the company on SmackDown!. He lost to Vladimir Kozlov twice in July 2008. He wrestled what turned out to be his last match in the company, as he lost to The Brian Kendrick and was released from his WWE contract shortly thereafter on August 15, 2008.[13]

Independent circuit

Before returning to the independent circuit, Richards suffered a collapsed lung that resulted when doctors were trying to diagnose a lung infection, causing him to have a chest tube inserted for several days. After recovering, Richards returned to wrestling for the NWA No Limits territory on January 9, 2009.

He also periodically wrestles for Maryland Championship Wrestling. Richards won the Force One Championship Wrestling Heavyweight championship on February 28, 2009 in Barnegat, NJ, defeating Danny Doring.[14]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2009–present)

On the February 12, 2009 edition of TNA Impact!, Manna made his Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) debut as Abyss's therapist, Dr. Stevie.[15] For two months as Dr. Stevie, Manna's face did not appear on television, as the camera was always positioned behind him during his sessions with Abyss and eventually Daffney.[1] His identity became officially known to the world when he interfered in Abyss's match against Matt Morgan at Lockdown in order to prevent him from using a chair, causing him to lose the match as a result.[1] Stevie's role as a heel was solidified in the following month, when his sessions with Abyss started turning more and more abusive.[1] At Sacrifice Abyss turned on Stevie and chokeslammed him onto a pile of thumbtacks, after he threatened Lauren Brooke, Abyss' girlfriend.[1] On the May 28 edition of Impact! Raven made his return to TNA by attacking Abyss and aligning himself with Stevie and Daffney.[1]

Stevie lost to his former patient, Abyss, at the 2009 Victory Road pay-per-view.[1] Stevie would then claim his first victory in TNA on July 19 by defeating Cody Deaner with his new finishing move General Anesthesia in a match broadcast on TNA Xplosion and the TNA website.[16] On the July 30 edition of Impact! Stevie announced that he was not done with Abyss and placed a $50,000 bounty on his head.[1] Stevie would claim his second TNA victory on September 1 by defeating Jay Lethal via submission in another webmatch.[17] After Lethal Consequences (Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed) and Jethro Holliday had tried and failed to collect the bounty on Abyss' head,[1] Kevin Nash claimed the bounty at No Surrender by pinning Abyss in a Legends Championship match, even though the bounty was supposed to be paid for ending his career.[1] Afterwards, Stevie tried to explain this, only to receive a Jackknife Powerbomb from Nash.[18] On the following edition of Impact! Stevie managed to steal the money back after using a taser on Nash, but the short feud came to an end a week later, when Nash defeated Stevie in a Non-title match.[1] On the October 8 edition of Impact!, Mick Foley announced that Stevie would serve as the special guest referee in the Monster's Ball match between Foley and Abyss at Bound for Glory.[1] This match ended when Abyss pushed the interfering Daffney off the top rope through a barbed-wire board (giving her a legit concussion), chokeslammed the enraged Dr. Stevie onto a pile of thumbtacks and slammed Foley onto the barbed wire board, after which he covered Foley, pulled Dr. Stevie (still kayfabe knocked out) over, and used his hand to count the pinfall.[19]

Two weeks later Stevie assaulted Abyss, after losing a match against him, only to have Foley turn on him and save Abyss.[20] The following week, Foley explained that he had played Dr. Stevie all along and had challenged Abyss to a match at Bound for Glory in order to test how tough he really was. Foley then booked Stevie in a match for the following week, where if Abyss was able to pin Stevie, he would have to leave TNA for good.[21] On the November 12 edition of Impact! Stevie defeated Abyss to save his TNA career, when during the match the lights suddenly went out and when they came back on Abyss had been laid out.[22] After the match Foley, who had been doing commentary during the match, entered the ring and attacked Stevie, when the lights went out for the second time. In the darkness someone threw a fireball on Foley's face and when the lights came back on it was revealed that the returning Raven had been the one, who had interfered in the match.[22] Afterwards Stevie, Raven and Daffney re-formed their alliance and feuded with the duo of Abyss and Foley.[1] During the feud TNA shot an angle, in which Stevie set Abyss on fire, that Spike wouldn't let them air on the channel and therefore had to be aired on the company's website.[1] At Final Resolution Abyss and Foley defeated Stevie and Raven in a "Foley's Funhouse" tag team match to end the feud.[23]

In 2010, Stevie had competed in only one match in TNA, a number one contender's tag team match, where he and Raven were squashed by the team of Matt Morgan and Hernandez, and only two other appearances in which he has tried to calm down an out-of-control Daffney.[1] After months of being off television, Richards, now billed simply as Stevie Richards, returned on the June 24 edition of Impact!, appearing in the Impact! Zone crowd beside Raven and Tommy Dreamer.[24] The following week the three were joined by Rhino.[25] On the July 15 edition of Impact! Richards, Raven, Dreamer, Rhino, Brother Devon, Pat Kenney and Al Snow, led by Mick Foley, aligned themselves with the TNA World Heavyweight Champion Rob Van Dam by attacking Abyss and the rest of the TNA locker room, thus turning face.[26][27][28] The following week, TNA president Dixie Carter agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event, Hardcore Justice: The Last Stand, as a celebration of hardcore wrestling and a final farewell to the company.[29] At the event Richards defeated P.J. Polaco.[30] On the following edition of Impact!, the ECW alumni, known collectively as Extreme, Version 2.0 (EV 2.0), were assaulted by A.J. Styles, Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm, Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan of Ric Flair's Fourtune stable, who thought they didn't deserve to be in TNA.[31][32] During the assault Abyss came out, fought Rob Van Dam backstage and caused him storyline injuries, which forced him to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and led to EV 2.0 looking for revenge.[33] On the August 26 edition of Impact! Richards volunteered to take out Abyss, but ended up beaten himself, when he attacked his former patient backstage.[34] The following week on Impact!, Richards defeated Abyss in a singles match. After the match, Abyss was about to attack Richards with a board filled with nails, but was saved by EV 2.0's newest member Brian Kendrick.[35] In late August Richards began writing a weekly health and fitness column for TNA's website.[36] At Bound for Glory Richards, Dreamer, Raven, Rhino and Sabu defeated Fourtune members Styles, Kazarian, Morgan, Roode and Storm in a Lethal Lockdown match.[37] At Turning Point EV 2.0 faced Fortune in a ten man tag team match, where each member of EV 2.0 put their TNA careers on the line. In the end, EV 2.0 lost the match and Sabu was released from TNA. After the match Richards challenged Fortune member and reigning TNA Television Champion A.J. Styles to a match on the following edition of Impact!.[38] On the November 11 edition of Impact! Richards failed in his attempt to bring the Television Championship to EV 2.0 and was afterwards taken out of the ring in a neck brace, after suffering a storyline injury.[39]

Garden State Wrestling (2010)

On August 28th, 2010, Stevie Richards competed at Garden State Wrestling's "Blackjack Brawl" event in Newton, NJ, facing "Sweet" Bobby G in a match for the final spot in that night's main event, a "BlackJack Brawl" for the promotion's top title, the Garden State Championship. Richards was unable to defeat "Sweet" Bobby G, who went on to win the title in the main event. GSW Black Jack Brawl Results

Wrestling facts

  • Finishing and signature moves
  • Stevie Kick
  • Stevie T
  • Nicknames
  • "Dancin'"
  • "Superstar"
  • "Stevie Night Heat"
  • " Fake Dude Love"
  • Tag teams and stables
  • Managers
  • Wrestlers managed
  • Theme music
  • "Dead And Bloated" by Stone Temple Pilots (ECW)
  • "Jesus Christ Superstar" by Andrew Lloyd Webber (ECW)
  • "Nitro" by The Offspring (ECW)

Championships and accomplishments

  • Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation
  • MEWF Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • Pro Wrestling Xpress

See also

  • Stevie Richards’ event history
  • Stevie Richards’ gimmicks

External links and references


TNA Roster

Ace AustinAlex HammerstoneBrian MyersCody DeanerChris BeyCrazzy SteveEddie EdwardsFrankie KazarianJoe DoeringJohnny SwingerJonathan GreshamJosh AlexanderMike BaileyMoosePCORhinoRich SwannSteve MaclinTrey MiguelZachary Wentz

Knockouts

Alisha EdwardsAsh By EleganceGisele ShawHavokJordynne GraceKiller KellyKiLynn KingMasha SlamovichRosemarySavannah EvansTasha SteelzXia Brookside

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15
  2. .
  3. 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named core
  4. 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named ECW
  5. Profile at gerweck.net
  6. .
  7. 7.0 7.1 Ian Hamilton. Wrestling's Sinking Ship: What Happens to an Industry Without Competition (p.115)
  8. 22.0 22.1