Edward Dennis (born 22 March 1986) is a Welsh retiredprofessional wrestler and formerhead teacher. He is currently signed toWWE as a writer andproducer onNXT. During his time as an in-ring performer in the company, he wrestled inNXT UK and on theindependent circuit under his real name, stylized asEddie Dennis. Originally amathematics teacher, Dennis retired from teaching to wrestle full-time until 2023, when he transitioned to a producer role after retiring from in-ring competition.
Dennis began his wrestling career in 2008, whilst working full-time as a mathematics teacher inCardiff, and later atLVS Ascot inBerkshire, where he became head teacher.[2][3][4] In 2016, he left his job to become a full-time wrestler.[5] Despite an unsuccessful first try-out with theWWE in 2017,[6] he later would wrestle on the firstNXT UK show at thePlymouth Pavilions.[7][8][9]
Dennis's debut match was a live Attack! event held on 12 August 2011, where he defeated by fellow WelshmanWild Boar. Along with Wild Boar, Dennis shared the Attack! ring withMark Andrews,Pete Dunne andFlash Morgan Webster, who would all joinNXT UK. On 21 December 2013, Dennis won his first title, winning theAttack! 24:7 Championship. After losing the title within minutes, he has held the Attack! 24:7 Championship on a further three occasions. On 20 November 2016, Dennis defeated Mike Bird to become the inauguralAttack! Champion, holding the championship until 25 February 2017, where he lost it to Damian Dunne. On 18 November, Dennis became the first wrestler to hold the Attack! Championship on two occasions by defeating Wild Boar on 19 September 2018. On 15 December, Dennis would once again lose the Championship to Damian Dunne.[citation needed]
Eddie Dennis made his RevPro debut in 2014, on 10 May, where he teamed withMark Andrews andPete Dunne against Josh Bodom,Sha Samuels andTerry Frazier in a 6-person tag match. On 30 August 2015, Dennis was defeated by James Castle.[10] On 1 May 2016, Dennis lost againstSha Samuels[11] On 6 November 2016, Dennis was defeated by Josh Bodom.[12] The pair had a rematch on 8 January 2017, where Dennis lost against to Bodom.[13] On 5 February 2017, Dennis faced off and eventually lost againstDave Mastiff.[14] On 5 May 2017,Zack Gibson defeated Dennis.[15] On 9 April 2017, Dennis lost against Rob Lias.[16] On 7 May 2017, Dennis lost against Gideon Grey.[17] On 4 June 2017, Dennis lost againstDonovan Dijak.[18] On 2 July 2017, Dennis was defeated bySami Callihan.[19] On 6 August 2017, Dennis lost against T.K Cooper.[20] On 17 August 2017, Dennis lost to Martin Stone.[21] On 3 September 2017, Dennis was defeated byEl Phantasmo.[22] On 1 October 2017,David Starr won against Eddie Dennis.[23] On 15 October 2017, Dennis was defeated byChris Brookes.[24] On 22 October 2017, Dennis was beaten byMoose.[25] On 5 November 2017, Rob Lias won against Dennis due to a disqualification.[26] On 8 December 2017, Dennis lost againstPete Dunne.[27] On 7 January 2018, Gideon Grey defeated Dennis by disqualification.[28] On 27 March 2023 at the Revolution Rumble event, Dennis announced his retirement from in-ring competition.[29]
Dennis debuted on 31 March 2013, at Chapter Six: We Heart Violence, where he andMark Andrews went under the tag team name Team Defend, losing to The Bhangra Knights (Darrell Allen & RJ Singh). At Chapter Seven: Every Saint Has A Past, Every Sinner Has A Future, Dennis would defeat Darrell Allen, Joey Lakeside and Xander Cooper in afour-way elimination match.[30] At Chapter Eight: The Big Boys Guide To Strong Style, Dennis would compete in aThree-Way match against Darrell Allen andDoug Williams, where Dennis would be defeated by Williams.[31] At Chapter Nine: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kick Me, Kill Me, Dennis would be defeated by Paul Robinson.[32] At Chapter Eleven: To Fight War, You Must Become War, Eddie Dennis and Mark Andrews defeated Paul Robinson andWill Ospreay[33] Dennis won his first championship on 30 March 2014, during Chapter Twelve: We're Gonna Need A Bigger Room. Dennis and Andrews under the team name FSU won a tournament final three-way, defeating teamsMark Haskins &Nathan Cruz and Project Ego (Kris Travis & Martin Kirby).[34] At Chapter 13: Unbelievable Jeff, Dennis was defeated byMichael Gilbert.[35] At Chapter 14: Thunderbastard, FSU (Mark Andrews and Eddie Dennis) would successfully defend their tag team championships against The London Riots (James Davis and Rob Lynch).[36] On Chapter 15: Just Because You're Paranoid, Doesn't Mean They Aren't Out To Get You, Dennis teamed up withMark Andrews,Noam Dar andWill Ospreay to defeat James Davis,Jimmy Havoc, Paul Robinson and Rob Lynch in an 8-man tag match.[37] They would retain the tag titles over the course of the year, successfully defending them on 30 November, at Chapter 16, defeating team Screw Indy Wrestling (Martin Stone &Sha Samuels). On 25 January 2015, Dennis would face off against his partner,Mark Andrews where Dennis would defeat Andrews and deliver a promo about Andrews' contract atTNA and his own application to be a headmaster. Five days later, on 30 January 2015, at Chapter 17, Team FSU lost the tag titles to the team referred to as The Faceless. On 23 July 2017, Dennis faced off againstPete Dunne, where Dennis would lose the match. On 8 May 2018, whilst on a tour in the US, Eddie Dennis would face off againstRicky Shane Page, where Dennis defeated RSP.[38] On 30 September 2018, Dennis would faceMark Andrews at aTLC match, with the winner earning an opportunity to compete on the next Unboxing event, which ended in Dennis winning the match. On 12 November 2018, Dennis faced "Speedball" Mike Bailey, where Dennis defeated Bailey. On 26 November 2018, Dennis facedMark Haskins, the match ending with Dennis winning the match. On 12 December 2018, at Unboxing 3, Dennis facedMarcel Barthel, where Dennis would beat Barthel. In later matches during the course of his time in Progress Wrestling, Dennis would wrestle with individuals all of whom would become future WWE NXT UK roster members includingZack Gibson,Mark Andrews, "Wild Boar" Mike Hitchman,El Ligero,Dave Mastiff,Nixon Newell and others.
Dennis made his televised debut during the 7 November 2018 episode NXT UK, during which he defeated Sid Scala.[39] His final match of the year was during the 26 December episode of NXT UK, defeating Dan Moloney by disqualification.[40]
Dennis returned the following year on the 2 January 2019 episode of NXT UK, during which his match againstDave Mastiff ended in double-disqualification. On 12 January atNXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Dennis met Mastiff in a rematch underNo Disqualification rules, but lost to Mastiff.[41] On the 23 January episode, 2019, of NXT UK, Dennis defeated Jamie Ahmed. On the 20 March 2019, episode of NXT UK, Dennis defeatedLigero.[42] On 12 January 2020, atTakeover: Blackpool 2, Dennis defeatedTrent Seven.[43] The way he won the match at Takeover caused a rematch between the two in a Steel Corners Street Fight on 6 February, where Seven defeated Dennis.[44]
On 18 August 2022, Dennis was released from his WWE contract.[45] However, on 3 May 2023, less than two months after retiring from in-ring competition, Dennis was signed again by WWE as a writer and producer for the US-basedNXT brand.[46]
Dennis is the co-founder of "Defend Indy Wrestling", a clothing brand forindependent wrestling fans. Inspired by the "Defend Pop Punk" message propagated by American bandMan Overboard, Dennis created the brand in 2011 with fellow British wrestlersPete Dunne and Mark Andrews, producing t-shirts, hoodies and other accessories.[47][48][49]
,Cagematch,Wrestlingdata,Internet Wrestling Database
