Team Filthy is a professional wrestling stable currently competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). The stable was formed by Tom Lawlor in Major League Wrestling (MLW).
History[]
Formation and Major League Wrestling (2017-2021)[]
At Major League Wrestling (MLW) event One Shot, Tom Lawlor was accompanied in his match against Jeff Cobb by two hooded cornermen dressed like Lawlor. The cornermen assisted Lawlor in winning the bout, passing him something to rub in the face of Cobb. Following the match, Lawlor called out Matt Riddle before Lawlor faced Riddle in a losing effort at Never Say Never despite interference from the cornermen. Lawlor would partner with Seth Petruzelli, who had joined Lawlor's group, to take on Cobb and Riddle at Zero Hour, however, Lawlor and Petruzelli were defeated. Soon after, Simon Gotch joined Lawlor and Petruzelli, with the group being dubbed Team Filthy. Gotch debuted at Road To The World Championship, partnering with Petruzelli to defeat Jason Cade and Jimmy Yuta. In May, Gotch began holding "Simon Gotch Prize Fight Challenge" matches, a challenge where if Gotch's opponent lasted five minutes with him in the ring, their prize would be money.
On the July 20, 2018 episode of Fusion, Lawlor and Gotch recruited Fred Yehi into Team Filthy after they sent away the Stud Stable, who were confronting Yehi. Lawlor earned a future MLW World Heavyweight Championship opportunity after he won the Battle Riot match on the July 27, 2018 episode of Fusion. Following Lawlor's victory over Parrow in a Dojo Challenge match on the August 17, 2018 episode of Fusion, Seth Petruzelli was attacked by the Stud Stable, an attack which saw Petruzelli being removed from Team Filthy and written off MLW programming. The following week, Gotch and Yehi defeated Leo Brien and Mike Patrick of the Stud Stable, with Team Filthy planning to end their rivalry with the group. Lawlor defeated Stud Stable member Jake Hager on the August 31, 2018 episode of Fusion to end the feud between the collectives. Following a victory over Shane Strickland on the October 19, 2018 episode of Fusion, Lawlor announced that he would cash in his Battle Riot victory to challenge Low Ki for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at Superfight.
At an MLW Media Day before Fightland, Lawlor confronted MLW World Heavyweight Champion Low Ki. However, Lawlor was attacked from behind by Sami Callihan, who had been hired by Low Ki's manager, Salina de la Renta, to take out Lawlor. After Lawlor got revenge on Callihan by defeating him in a Chicago Street Fight at Fightland, Lawlor met up with fellow Team Filthy member Simon Gotch, who was supposedly leading him to a press conference. However, Gotch would lead Lawlor into an ambush executed by the rest of Salina de la Renta's entourage. As a result, Gotch's time as part of Team Filthy came to an end. Upon his return from excursion, Fred Yehi, along with new Team Filthy member Ariel Dominguez, were attacked by Low Ki, El Hijo de L.A. Park, and Ricky Martinez on the December 14, 2018 episode of Fusion. Later that night, Low Ki called out Lawlor, leading to a brawl breaking out between the two. The following week, Lawlor defeated Simon Gotch, who had been paid off by Salina de la Renta, in a No Ropes No Holds Barred match. After a losing effort against Low Ki on the January 11, 2019 episode of Fusion and a loss to Ricky Martinez on the February 1, 2019 episode of Fusion, Yehi was next to leave Team Filthy after he departed MLW. After avoiding further ambushes from Sami Callihan and Salina de la Renta's entourage, Lawlor defeated Low Ki to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at Superfight. Lawlor held the championship until July, being dethroned by Jacob Fatu, a member of Contra Unit, the stable Simon Gotch had joined. To combat Contra Unit, Lawlor joined forces with former rival Low Ki after Ki saved Lawlor from a Contra Unit beatdown, as well as Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich. On the September 14, 2019 episode of Fusion, Lawlor, Low Ki, and the Von Erichs defeated Contra Unit's Ikuro Kwon, Jacob Fatu, Josef Samael, and Simon Gotch in a War Chamber match. Following a loss to Dominic Garrini on the October 5, 2019 episode of Fusion, Dominguez left MLW, along with Team Filthy.
Feeling that the Von Erichs had stolen the spotlight he deserved, Lawlor turned on the brothers on the November 28, 2019 episode of Fusion, costing Ross a match against Jacob Fatu after Lawlor hit him with a chair. On the January 4, 2020 episode of Fusion, Lawlor faced off against Rip Von Erich, who Lawlor dubbed "the greatest Von Erich." After quickly defeating Rip Von Erich, Lawlor was confronted by Marshall and Ross Von Erich, however, the Von Erichs were attacked from behind by Kenny Doane and Mike Mondo of the Spirit Squad. The following week, Marshall and Ross defended their MLW World Tag Team Championship against Doane and Mondo, a pairing Lawlor dubbed the Filthy Squad. Following the Filthy Squad's loss, Lawlor blindsided the Von Erich brothers. Afterwards, the Filthy Squad disappeared from MLW. On the January 25, 2020 episode of Fusion, Lawler announced that Dominic Garrini had joined Team Filthy. In the following weeks, Lawlor would continue to taunt the Von Erich brothers before Lawlor faced Ross on the February 22, 2020 episode of Fusion. After knocking down Team Filthy's cornerman, Ross signalled for his Iron Claw hold but was attacked by Garrini. The attack brought out Marshall Von Erich, however, Erick Stevens, who had defeated Douglas James earlier in the night, attacked the Von Erichs from behind, joining Team Filthy. Lawlor would take on Killer Kross on the March 14, 2020 episode of Fusion, losing the match by disqualification after Stevens attacked Kross. Following the bout, Team Filthy attacked Kross until the Von Erichs, along with Davey Boy Smith Jr., who had defeated Stevens the week before, made the save, challenging Team Filthy to an eight man tag team match.
The eight man tag team match took place on the March 21, 2020 episode of Fusion, with the Von Erichs, Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Killer Kross emerging victorious over Team Filthy's Tom Lawlor, Erick Stevens, Dominic Garrini, and Kit Osbourne. Following the match, a brawl continued between the two teams, which saw King Mo attack Kross to join Team Filthy. The following week, King Mo, accompanied by Dan Lambert, who had also joined Team Filthy, defeated Low Ki after Lambert threw in Low Ki's towel. After the May 9, 2020 episode of Fusion, MLW ceased holding events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the intermission, Kit Osbourne quietly left Team Filthy while Erick Stevens retired. To take Stevens' place, Kevin Ku was recruited into Team Filthy. Soon after defeating Low Ki to win the Opera Cup, Lawlor, acting as guest referee as a result of Salina de la Renta, screwed the Von Erichs in their MLW World Tag Team Championship match with a fast count. On the Filthy Island-themed episode of Fusion, King Mo was quickly defeated by Low Ki, who Mo had previously defeated thanks to help from Lambert and Team Filthy. Following the match, Lawlor, Garrini, and Ku attacked Low Ki. However, the Von Erichs helped Low Ki fend off Team Filthy.
New Japan Pro Wrestling (2020-present)[]
Following his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in a victory over Rocky Romero at Lion's Break Collision - Episode 3, Tom Lawlor observed JR Kratos and Rust Taylor take on Jeff Cobb and Romero on the November 6, 2020 episode of STRONG. The following week, it was made official that Kratos and Rust had joined Team Filthy, with Lawlor's goal being to assemble the strongest fight team ever seen. Danny Limelight was next to join Team Filthy after he turned on his mentor Rocky Romero. The betrayal led to an eight man tag team match on the November 27, 2020 episode of STRONG, which saw Team Filthy defeat Fred Rosser, Jeff Cobb, PJ Black, and Rocky Romero. However, Taylor would be removed from Team Filthy after Lawlor was disappointed with his loss to Jeff Cobb on the December 18, 2020 episode of STRONG. Taylor was replaced by Chris Dickinson. Following Lawlor's victory over Brody King on the April 23, 2021 episode of STRONG to win the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship, Dickinson answered Lawlor's request for his first challenger. Surprised by Dickinson accepting the challenge, Team Filthy turned on Dickinson following an eight man tag team match on the May 14, 2021 episode of STRONG. Lawlor would go on to successfully defend the STRONG Openweight Championship against Dickinson, holding the title until the June 25, 2022 episode of STRONG.
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Major League Wrestling
- MLW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - Lawlor
