 Callis in 2023 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Callis (1963-10-13)October 13, 1963 (age 62) |
| Alma mater | University of Manitoba (BA,MBA) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Cyrus Cyrus the Virus Don Callis Don Casablancas Lord Cyrus Sidewinder Singh The General The Jackyl The Natural |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Billed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Billed from | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Trained by | Tony Condello |
| Debut | 1989 |
Donald Callis (born October 13, 1963) is a Canadianprofessional wrestlingmanager,color commentator,actor, and formerprofessional wrestler andbusiness executive. He is signed toAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he works as the on-screen manager and leader ofThe Don Callis Family; as well as working as a backstage consultant for the company.[1] He also works forMaple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) as a color commentator.
A former wrestler, Callis spent the majority of his career performing as eitherCyrus (shortened fromCyrus the Virus) orDon Callis. He first gained international attention working under the nameThe Jackyl for theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF). While in the WWF, Callis managed a group known asThe Truth Commission and later managedThe Oddities andThe Acolytes before being released in 1999. From 1999 to 2001, he worked forExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as a manager and commentator, during which he was portrayed as a fictional "network representative" who headed a group known asThe Network. In 2003, Callis was introduced as an on-screen character forTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and held that role until 2004. He returned to the company in 2017 (the company then-named Impact Wrestling) as an executive vice president and commentator for the promotion. While with Impact, Callis also worked forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) where he served as an English language commentator onNJPW World. In 2020, through Impact's relationship with AEW, Callis began appearing on AEW programming. The following year in 2021, Callis' time as Impact executive vice president came to an end, with Callis remaining in the company as an on-air talent until October 2021 when the AEW and Impact partnership ended, after which he fully transitioned to AEW.
Callis was trained by Manitoba wrestling promoterTony Condello, debuting in 1989 in Condello'sWest Four Wrestling Alliance (WFWA) promotion under his birth name. Later that year, Callis adopted thering name "The Natural". In May 1991, The Natural won theWFWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship. Between 1991 and 1994, he held the championship a total of four times. In 1994, the West Four Wrestling Alliance was renamed the International Wrestling Alliance (IWA). Callis held the IWA Heavyweight Championship twice in 1996.
In 1992, Callis wrestled for the Quebec-based Lutte Lanaudière as "The General", teaming with El Diablero as "The Jet Set Team". The Jet Set Team held the Lutte Lanaudière Tag Team Championship for eight months.
Callis received a try-out match with theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1996 and was eventually hired to form a tag team withRick Martel, which was dubbed "The Models". When Martel officially departed from the WWF forWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW), Callis was left without agimmick and spot on WWF television. In ashoot interview with RF Video, Callis first revealed that he and Rick Martel were set to debut on WWF TV as "The Supermodels" in 1997, before he would eventually turn on Martel, turning Martel into ababyface for the first time since Martel walked out onhis former teammateTito Santana atWrestleMania V.Callis later reaffirmed that he and Martel were set to debut as a team during an interview with WWE.com in 2015.[citation needed]
On September 20, 1997, Callis debuted in the WWF as "The Jackyl", a member (and eventually leader) of a group of wrestlers known as "The Truth Commission" (a take on the South AfricanTruth and Reconciliation Commission) replacingthe Commandant for refusing to take bumps. An article inWWF Magazine claimed that he was a lower-level WWF employee during the early 1990s, and that he developed amessianic complex when he led a group of WWF wrestlers out ofKuwait when they were stranded there during theGulf War. In an effort to play up The Jackyl's gimmick as a charismatic, power-hungry fanatic, commentatorJim Ross often referred to him as the "David Koresh of the World Wrestling Federation". The Jackyl, though mainly a manager, would sometimes compete in singles matches mainly onShotgun Saturday Night and athouse shows againstSalvatore Sincere,Brakkus andScott Taylor. Notably, The Jackyl fought in his hometown,Winnipeg, as "The General", againstJim Neidhart in a losing effort. Jackyl would frequently participate in tag team matches with The Interrogator (later known as Kurrgan). The Truth Commissionstable was not particularly successful, with their biggest achievement being a victory over theDisciples of Apocalypse atSurvivor Series 1997. AtWrestleMania XIV, The Jackyl ordered Kurrgan to eliminate stablemates Recon and Sniper from the Tag Team Battle Royal, effectively disbanding the stable.
Callis returned to television in 1998, forming a stable known as "The Parade of Human Oddities" (later known as simply "The Oddities"). The group consisted of "freakish" wrestlers, including Golga (a maskedEarthquake) and Kurrgan, among others. The group had entrance music performed by theInsane Clown Posse. The stable did not last long, and Callis eventually started managing the new tag team ofFaarooq andBradshaw, "The Acolytes", until he was released by the WWF. Callis claims he was released byBruce Prichard for "getting himselfover at the expense of the talent". Shortly after being released, Callis began writing weekly wrestling columns for the Sun Media Group and co-hosted a local Winnipeg radio show called "No Holds Barred" with Joe Aiello onCITI-FM.
In mid-1999, Callis debuted inExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as "Cyrus the Virus" (a name lifted from the 1997 movieCon Air), a commentator with a gimmick similar to that of his WWF persona. He would broadcast exclusively on pay-per-view along withJoey Styles. As the real-life issues between ECW and their networkTNN heightened, Callis was then presented as working for the network, under the shortened moniker of "Cyrus". His character represented many of the real problems between ECW and TNN at that point, as he constantly criticized the violent nature of ECW programming. He would also display affection forRollerJam andRockin' Bowl, two programs on the network that ECW fans alike despised, due to the network giving them preferential treatment despite poor ratings in comparison with ECW. He singled outJoel Gertner for disciplinary measures, among other things due to Gertner "getting himself over at the expense of the talent", which was the reason given to Callis by Bruce Prichard for his WWF release.[2][3]
Cyrus then displayed authority in ECW due to his executive position with the network, working as a heel to crusade against ECW fan favorites (inkayfabe), but to also appease the network by preventing the lewd content (as ashoot). Cyrus then teamed with the anti-hardcoreSteve Corino, and eventually formed a stable with Corino, his managerJack Victory, and their hired gunsYoshihiro Tajiri andRhino. They were collectively known asThe Network. He engaged in a long-term feud with commentator Joel Gertner, which culminated in a match on October 1, 2000, atAnarchy Rulz 2000, in which Gertner was triumphant.
Following this, Cyrus (kayfabe) canceledECW on TNN (as the show was soon to be canceled legitimately, in favor ofWWF Raw). Cyrus would then go on to aid Rhino in winning his firstECW World Heavyweight Championship at the final pay-per-view,Guilty as Charged 2001. ECW would declare bankruptcy soon after.
With ECW out of business and WCW, which had expressed interest in signing Callis, purchased by the WWF, Callis returned to university, eventually earning aMaster of Business Administration (MBA).
Following ECW's closing, Callis wrestled on theindependent circuit, primarily appearing for Canadian promotions such as the Prairie Wrestling Association, Pro Outlaw Wrestling, and Top Rope Championship Wrestling. From 2001 to 2002, he appeared withBorder City Wrestling, holding the BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship withTerry Taylor.[4][5] Callis also briefly operated the No Holds Barred Wrestling Camp, a Winnipeg-based wrestling training camp.
On July 13, 2018, it was announced Callis would serve as part of the broadcast team for the September 1All In event, alongsideIan Riccaboni,Sean Mooney,Excalibur,Alicia Atout,Justin Roberts, and Bobby Cruise.[6]
In 2003, Callis debuted inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as a "Management Consultant". During this time, he claimed credit for the creation of theUltimate X match, which he said he devised to settle a dispute over who the rightfulX Division champion was.
In storyline, Callis engaged in a power struggle with then Director of AuthorityErik Watts and used his power to make life difficult forJerry Lynn, repeatedly fining and suspending him. On January 28, 2004, Callis succeeded in ousting Watts from TNA when he defeated him in a match for control of the promotion, though he quietly departed TNA soon afterward.[7]
Callis departed from TNA on good terms in 2004, having been offered a job ininternational trade that made use of his MBA. While having generally retired from professional wrestling, Callis made an appearance at the ECW reunion showHardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005.
Following his departure from TNA, Callis began writing weekly wrestling columns for theSun Media Group and co-hosted a localWinnipeg radio show calledNo Holds Barred with Joe Aiello on 92 CITI FM. On October 18, 2016, Callis debuted a new podcast with longtime friendLance Storm calledKilling the Town with Storm and Cyrus.[8]
On January 17, 2017, Callis announced that he had accepted an offer to become the new English color commentator forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) events on theNJPW World streaming service, working alongsideKevin Kelly. Callis replaced Steve Corino who had signed with WWE.[9] At the December 11World Tag League 2017 Final, Callis was attacked byChris Jericho in anangle that promoted Jericho's match withKenny Omega atWrestle Kingdom 12 – a match Callis helped NJPW to book.
Callis stopped commentating for NJPW afterDominion 2019.
On December 5, 2017,Impact Wrestling announced Callis as the promotion's new co-executive vice president, alongsideScott D'Amore.[10]
On April 22, 2018, Callis served as the color commentator for theRedemption pay-per-view event as well as on the following episode ofImpact!. During the Summer and Fall of 2018, Callis began appearing regularly alongsideJosh Mathews on commentary for Impact events, eventually becoming the permanent color commentator for the promotion. Callis was later replaced on commentary byMadison Rayne, though he would remain Impact's co-executive vice president.
In May 2021, it was reported that Callis' time as Impact executive vice president has ended, though he would remain as an on-air talent.[11] On the June 17 episode ofImpact!, Callis role as executive vice president was terminated byTommy Dreamer.
Callis made hisAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut as a special guest commentator, at the request ofKenny Omega, during the World Title Eliminator Tournament Final between Omega and"Hangman" Adam Page atFull Gear.
On December 2, 2020, atWinter Is Coming, Callis was a special guest commentator for theAEW World Championship match between the championJon Moxley and the challenger Omega. During the match, Callis helped Omega win the title. When asked about his interference, he assured everyone that their questions would get answered on the December 8 episode ofImpact!. On December 9, Callis returned toDynamite, arriving by helicopter with Omega. Callis then revealed he had been planning Omega's championship victory since both men first met in their native country ofCanada decades ago.
On the March 29, 2023 edition ofDynamite, Callis was featured in a backstage interview alongside Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks which was interrupted by an attack from theBlackpool Combat Club.[12] During the segmentJon Moxley struck Callis, who fell into a lighting rig and Callis' head caught the edge of theBarn Door portion of the rig.[13][14] This legitimately caused a large wound on Callis' head which later left him with a prominent scar.[15][16]
On the May 10, 2023 episode ofAEW Dynamite, during a steel cage match between Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley, Callis turned on Omega, stabbing him with a screwdriver which allowed Moxley to get the win. AtDouble or Nothing, Callis allied himself withKonosuke Takeshita, after he delivered a jumping knee strike to Omega.[17]
During a post-show press conference atTriplemanía XXXI Tijuana, Callis was legitimately assaulted by a man who mistook the proceedings as real. Callis was there as a continued part of the storyline in which he had turned on Kenny Omega in favour of Takeshita. The man attacked Callis from behind, punching him in the mouth and concussing his eardrum. Callis suffered further injuries to his neck and ankle and immediately went to San Diego to seek medical attention.[18][19]
AtGrand Slam, Callis recruitedSammy Guevara to his family, after he turned onChris Jericho.[20] In October 2023,Powerhouse Hobbs andKyle Fletcher joined the Don Callis Family. On the December 28, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite New Years Smash, Sammy Guevara returned and crashed The Don Callis Family's Boxing Week Celebration, Callis got Guevara a custom portrait with his new baby and his family, Guevara turned on Don Callis and the family attacked Guevara until Chris Jericho saved him from the family, Guevara reunited with Jericho until Big Bill and Ricky Starks attacked Jericho and Guevara, Sting and Darby Allin come to Jericho and Guevara's rescue.[21][22] On the May 29, 2024 episode ofDynamite,Trent Beretta joined the Don Callis Family.[23] On the July 3 episode ofDynamite, Ospreay left the Don Callis Family.[24] On the July 5 episode ofAEW Rampage, Callis recruitedRush into the Don Callis Family.[25] On the October 8 episode ofDynamite, Callis acquiredLance Archer fromJake Roberts in exchange for Rush. On the October 16 episode ofDynamite, Callis recruitedBrian Cage into the Don Callis Family. On the November 6 episode ofDynamite, Hobbs had left the Don Callis Family after teaming withRicochet against Fletcher and Takeshita. On the February 5, 2025 episode ofDynamite, Callis revealedMark Davis as the newest member of the Don Callis Family.[26] On April 16 at the Spring BreakThru special edition ofDynamite, Callis recruited the debutingJosh Alexander into the Don Callis Family.[27] On the April 17 at the Spring BreakThru episode ofCollision,Rocky Romero turned onThe Conglomeration and joined the Don Callis Family.[28] On June 4 atCollision: Fyter Fest, Callis recruited Hechicero to team with Fletcher and Takeshita to defeatBandido andThe Outrunners.[29] On June 10, Hechicero confirmed that he was now a member of the Don Callis Family.[30] In June 2025,Kazuchika Okada joined the Don Callis Family during his feud with Kenny Omega.[31][32][33] On August 24 atForbidden Door,Wardlow returned a year-long hiatus, where he attackedPrince Nana and joined the Don Callis Family.[34] On the October 1, 2025 at thesixth anniversary episode ofDynamite,Andrade El Idolo andEl Clon joined the Don Callis Family.[35]
On September 4, 2024, it was announced that Callis would join the commentary team of the revivedMaple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) alongsideMauro Ranallo.[36]
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