 Storm in 2015 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | James Allen Cox[5][6] (1977-06-01)June 1, 1977 (age 48)[5] Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.[4] |
Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | sorryaboutyourdamnluck |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | James Storm[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (104 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | Leipers Fork, Tennessee, U.S.[2] |
| Trained by | Jerry Jarrett[3] Shane Morton[1] Wolfie D[4][3] James Roberts[4][3] |
| Debut | 1997[4] |
James Allen Cox[5][7] (born June 1, 1977) is an Americanprofessional wrestler better known by thering nameJames Storm. He currently competes on theindependent circuit. He is best known for his time inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
He started his career in 1997 and after working on severalindependent promotions, he began to wrestle for the newly createdNWA: Total Nonstop Action promotion. Storm participated in TNA's first event and became atag team withChris Harris,America's Most Wanted (AMW). AMW became one of the best tag teams in the promotion, winning 6 times theNWA World Tag Team Championship. He also won the NWA World Tag Team Championship one more time withChristopher Daniels. After the team disbanded in 2006, Storm started a singles career, crowning himself as theTNA World Beer Drinking Champion.
In 2008, Storm formedBeer Money, Inc. withBobby Roode. Together they became4 timeTNA World Tag Team Champions and joined theFortunestable. In 2011, Storm defeatedKurt Angle to win theTNA World Heavyweight Championship, his firstworld title. During the following years, Storm won the TNA World Tag Team Championship two more times withGunner in 2013 andAbyss in 2014, as well as theTNA King of the Mountain Championshiponce. He would leave TNA in 2015. Storm returned in 2016, winning the TNA World Tag Team Championship one more time with Bobby Roode as Beer Money. After leaving TNA in 2018, Storm worked for several independent promotions, most notably National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he won the NWA World Tag Team Championship once (withEli Drake), andNWA National Championship once.
James Allen Cox was anamateur wrestler while inhigh school. In addition, he was a talentedbasketball player, and was awarded ascholarship toAustin Peay State University.
Cox's professional wrestling career began when he was trained byWolfie D, a veterantag team wrestler, in 1995. His training was hampered by a broken shoulder, and Cox eventually dropped out of Slash'straining school. He resumed training with Shane Morton after his shoulder had healed.
Cox toured thesouth-eastindependent circuit before being signed to aWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) developmental deal in 2000. Cox made several appearances for World Championship Wrestling onWCW Worldwide andWCW Saturday Night in 2000 as anenhancement talent, where he assumed the ring name "James Storm".
Storm returned to the independent circuit after WCW was sold to theWorld Wrestling Federation in March 2001.
Storm wrestled his future tag team partner,Chris Harris, on a "Legends Night" show on June 1, 2002. As a result of the match, both wrestlers were hired by the upstartTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)promotion. The pair were expected to wrestle as singles wrestlers, but were instead placed into a tag team. They named themselves "America's Most Wanted" (AMW) because, according to Storm the name was a reference to his "little trouble with the law".
On the inaugural TNApay-per-view on June 19, 2002, Storm and Harris were in two different matches in their TNA debuts (Storm teamed up with Psicosis againstThe Johnsons, while Harris took part in the Gauntlet for the Gold battle royal for the vacantNWA World Heavyweight Championship). The pair wrestled together for the first time on the second ever TNA pay-per-view a week later. Storm and Harris quickly became mainstays of the promotion and teamed regularly over the next few years. Splits were teased in early 2003 and again in 2004, but nothing came of them.
America's Most Wanted turned heel in late 2005 by helpingJeff Jarrett defeatRaven for theNWA World Heavyweight Championship. They went on to joinJarrett's Army, acquiring themanagerial skills ofGail Kim in the process. AtBound for Glory, AMW successfully retained their titles againstThe Naturals. Storm's penchant for wearing cowboy hats resulted in the team often being jeered as "Brokeback Mountain", a reference to the movie about homosexual cowboys, during their heel run. In mid-2006, they again teased their split due to miscommunication during their matches, most notably when Harris accidentally hit Storm with a garbage can during a No Disqualification match againstTeam 3D (Brother Ray andBrother Devon). During their run as a team, the duo won theNWA World Tag Team Championship six times.
On the December 14, 2006 episode ofImpact!, America's Most Wanted came to an end after a feud-ending match withThe Latin American Xchange (Homicide andHernandez) when Storm hit Harris with a beer bottle, temporarily "blinding" Harris's right eye. Storm went on to feud withPetey Williams before turning on Gail Kim and aligning himself with the returningJacqueline Moore. He then went on a huge winning streak, coming out victorious in matches againstPetey Williams,Eric Young, and former partner Chris Harris in his return match, among several others. At theSacrifice pay-per view, Storm was defeated by Harris in a Texas Death Match, which ended his long-running winning streak. The two faced each other again in aKing of the Mountain qualifying match, in which both men hit each other withweapons and caused each other to bleed from the head. Harrisspeared Storm through the tunnel and both men were counted out.
At Lockdown, Storm and Chris Harris wrestled in a Steel Cage Blindfold match, which had negative reception, winning the Worst Match of the Year award by Wrestling Observer Newsletter. After the match, TNA booker Vince Russo apologized with Storm and Harris and gave them the opportunity to had another match to end their feud, which was a Texas Death match at Sacrifice.[8]
Storm was able to defeat Rhino at theVictory Road 2007 after hitting Rhino with a beer bottle. Their feud continued with Storm again defeating Rhino in aBar Room Brawl atHard Justice. For several weeks, Storm would be included invignettes where he would try to find Rhino at local bars. Rhino then challenged Storm to a match atNo Surrender. Rhino defeated Storm by pinfall after hegored Storm through atable.
After Rhino was injured, Storm started a feud with Eric Young over who was the better drinker. Young won Storm'sWorld Beer Drinking Championship (a title unrecognised by TNA, actually aWWE Championship toy belt decorated with beer bottles) and held it for two months before losing it back to Storm in aladder match. Following this, Rhino made his return from injury and proceeded to deliver a Gore to Storm, challenging him to anElevation X match. As the ladder match with Eric Young had demonstrated, Storm had a (kayfabe) fear of heights, a major disadvantage in Elevation-X. After teasing a walk-out Storm did in fact compete in the match and after attempting to hide inside of the scaffold structure, Storm ended up losing the match and falling through a table in the ring below. Following a couple of weeks off to (kayfabe) heal his injuries, Storm returned on the live March 27 episode ofImpact! and attackedSting with a beer bottle. On the April 4 episode ofImpact!,Matt Morgan allowed Storm to join TeamTomko making it a five on four match (until Matt Morgan himself joined TeamCage). AtLockdown, Storm, along with Team Tomko lost their match against Team Cage. Storm was then announced as one of the "Egotistical Eight" to participate in theDeuces Wild Tournament, and he would have to team up with a random partner, who was later to be revealed as his bitter rival, Sting. Storm then faced Sting in a "No Disqualification" match that Sting won. AtSacrifice, Sting and Storm lost toTeam 3D.
On the June 12 episode ofImpact, Storm, alongside Robert Roode, challenged LAX for theTNA World Tag Team Championship.[9] Storm and Roode were successful in winning the match following aLast Call from Storm to Hernandez with a belt wrapped around his boot.[9]Hector Guerrero (LAX's manager), who was at ringside however, informed the referee about what happened and the match was restarted. LAX ended up retaining the titles following aBorder Toss from Hernandez to Storm.[9] After the match, Storm, Roode and Jacqueline handcuffed LAX to the ring posts, and then proceeded to whip them with leather belts.[9] The next week onImpact!, LAX challenged Storm and Roode to a Fan's Revenge Match atVictory Road for the titles.[10] The team of Storm and Roode (now known as "Beer Money") lost toThe Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley andChris Sabin) in one match andSamoa Joe andKevin Nash in another match later in the July 3 episode ofImpact!. At Victory Road, LAX retained the titles.[11] AtHard Justice, Beer Money defeated LAX after Storm hit Homicide with a beer bottle and won theTNA World Tag Team Championship for the first time individually and as a team.[12] AtNo Surrender Beer Money, Inc. defeated LAX to retain the titles[13] and two weeks later onImpact! they defeated LAX in a six-person tag team match and as a result Hector Guerrero was forced to leave LAX.[14] AtBound for Glory IV, Beer Money, Inc. won the Monster's Ball Match against Matt Morgan and Abyss, Team 3D and LAX to retain the titles. On the January 8 episode ofImpact! they lost the titles to Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed, after Lethal cashed in his"Feast or Fired" briefcase.[15] AtGenesis Beer Money Inc. won back the TNA World Tag Team Championships when James Storm and Robert Roode defeated Matt Morgan and Abyss and Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed in a 3-way match.[16] Beer Money, Inc. faced Creed and Jay Lethal atAgainst All Odds, after Lethal and Creed won a number one contenders match against Matt Morgan and Abyss. Eventually Beer Money retained the title after Storm hit theLast Call on Lethal.[17] AtLockdown 2009, Beer Money lost the TNA Tag Team titles to Team 3D in a PhiladelphiaStreet Fight, where Team 3D'sIWGP Tag Team Titles were also on the line.
On May 15, 2009,Jeremy Borash announced that Cox had signed a new multi-year deal with TNA the previous day.[18] That same month, Beer Money entered theTeam 3D Invitational Tag Team Tournament, during which they turnedface. AtSacrifice, Beer Money defeatedThe British Invasion (Brutus Magnus andDoug Williams) to win the tournament and earn the right to challenge Team 3D for the TNA World Tag Team Championship.[19] AtSlammiversary, Beer Money defeated Team 3D to win the World Tag Team Title for the third time. The following month atVictory Road, Beer Money lost the titles toBooker T andScott Steiner ofThe Main Event Mafia. The two teams would see their feud intervene with that of Team 3D and The British Invasion, causing a four-way war that would last the next three months. Beer Money would go on to lose to the British Invasion in an IWGP Tag Team Championship match atHard Justice,[20] win aLethal Lockdown match atNo Surrender (teaming with Team 3D against the Mafia and the Invasion),[21] and lose a four-wayFull Metal Mayhem match atBound for Glory for both the TNA and IWGP Tag Team Championships, with Team 3D winning the IWGP Tag Team Title and the British Invasion winning the TNA World Tag Team Title.[22] Beer Money were permitted one last title shot the followingImpact!, where they fought the British Invasion in aSix Sides of Steel match. Brutus Magnus would have his team disqualified by punching the referee, causing him and Doug Williams to retain the championship.[23] On the November 12 episode ofImpact! Beer Money defeated the British Invasion in a non-title match to join the Motor City Machineguns in the Tag Team Title match atTurning Point.[24] At the Pay-Per-View The British Invasion managed to retain their titles after Kevin Nash nailed Storm with theTNA Global Championship belt.[25] AtGenesis Storm and Roode scored an upset victory overThe Band of Kevin Nash andSyxx-Pac.[26]
WithHulk Hogan andEric Bischoff taking over TNA at the beginning of 2010, Beer Money's TV time was significantly reduced.[27] Upon their return toImpact!, Beer Money turned heel on the March 8 episode ofImpact! by first volunteering to face Jeff Jarrett in a handicap match and then defeating him after a low blow and the DWI, claiming it was the only way they were going to get noticed by the new management.[28] Storm and Roode have since acted as Bischoff's henchmen, taking on wrestlers he's had problems with, often in two-on-one situations.[29][30] AtDestination X Beer Money challenged Matt Morgan and Hernandez for the TNA World Tag Team Championship, but were unable to dethrone the defending champions.[31] AtLockdown Beer Money, along withSting andDesmond Wolfe, represented Team Flair in the annualLethal Lockdown match, where they were defeated by Team Hogan (Abyss, Jeff Jarrett,Rob Van Dam andJeff Hardy).[32] They then started a feud with the newly formed team of Jeff Hardy andMr. Anderson, known collectively as The Enigmatic Assholes, who would go on to defeat them atSlammiversary VIII.[33] On the following episode ofImpact! Ric Flair, who had aligned himself with Storm, Roode,A.J. Styles, Desmond Wolfe andKazarian, announced that he would reform theFour Horsemen under the new nameFourtune, stating that each of them would have to earn their spots in the group and that in order for Storm and Roode to earn their spots, they needed to become theOle Anderson andTully Blanchard of the group.[34][35] After the TNA World Tag Team Championship was vacated in June, Beer Money entered a four–team, two–week-long tournament to decide who would get to face The Motor City Machine Guns for the titles atVictory Road. Beer Money advanced to the title match at the pay-per-view by defeating Team 3D andInk Inc. (Jesse Neal andShannon Moore).[35][36] At Victory Road Beer Money was defeated by the Motor City Machine Guns in the match for the World Tag Team Championship.[37] After Victory Road Beer Money entered a Best of Five Series with the Motor City Machine Guns, contested for the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Beer Money won the first two matches, a ladder match and a Street Fight, after knocking their opponents out with beer bottles.[38][39] On the July 29 episode ofImpact!, Ric Flair announced that Storm and Roode, who were just one victory away from becoming four–time TNA World Tag Team Champions, had earned the right to join himself, Styles and Kazarian to become the final two members of Fourtune.[40][41] However, Shelley and Sabin came back to win the two following matches in the Best of Five Series, asteel cage match and anUltimate X match, to even the score to 2–2 and set up a deciding match for the August 12 episode ofImpact!.[41][42] On the August 12 episode ofImpact! Beer Money, Inc. was defeated in aTwo Out of Three Falls match and as a result lost the Best of Five Series 2–3.[43] Later that night Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan were added to Fourtune, as the stable attackedEV 2.0, a stable consisting of formerExtreme Championship Wrestling performers.[43] In the weeks leading toBound for Glory, the stable's name was tweaked to Fortune to represent the expansion in the number of members in the group.[44][45] At Bound for Glory Storm, Roode, Styles, Kazarian and Morgan were defeated in a Lethal Lockdown match by EV 2.0 membersTommy Dreamer, Raven, Rhino,Sabu andStevie Richards.[46] On the following episode ofImpact! Fortune formed an alliance with Hulk Hogan's and Eric Bischoff's new stable,Immortal.[47] AtTurning Point Fortune defeated EV 2.0 in a ten-man tag team match and, as a result, EV 2.0's Sabu was released from TNA.[48] The following month atFinal Resolution, Storm and Roode returned to the TNA World Tag Team Championship picture by defeating Ink Inc. in a number one contender's match.[49] On January 9, 2011, atGenesis, Beer Money, Inc. defeated the Motor City Machine Guns to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship for the fourth time.[50]
On the February 3 episode ofImpact!, Fortune turned face by attacking Immortal, when they interfered in aTNA World Heavyweight Championship match between Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy.[51][52] Ric Flair, who did not take part in Fortune's turn due being out with a torn rotator cuff, returned at the February 14 tapings of the February 17 episode ofImpact!, turning on Fortune and jumping to Immortal.[53][54] On April 17 atLockdown, Storm, Roode, Kazarian andChristopher Daniels, who replaced an injured A.J. Styles, defeated Immortal representatives Ric Flair, Abyss,Bully Ray andMatt Hardy in a Lethal Lockdown match.[55] The following month atSacrifice, Beer Money, Inc. successfully defended the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Immortal representatives Matt Hardy and Chris Harris, who had made his surprise return to TNA on the previous episode ofImpact!.[56] On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Immortal assaulted Roode, sidelining him with a storyline shoulder injury.[57] Two weeks later, Eric Bischoff attempted to strip Beer Money, Inc. of their TNA World Tag Team Championship due to Roode's injury, but was interrupted by the champions' former rival Alex Shelley, who agreed to take Roode's spot in the title defense against the British Invasion atSlammiversary IX.[58] At the pay-per-view, Storm and Shelley were successful in their title defense.[59] Roode made his in-ring return on the June 23 episode ofImpact Wrestling, in a tag team match, where he and Storm were defeated byCrimson and Matt Morgan.[60] On July 13, Beer Money, Inc. became the longest reigning TNA World Tag Team Champions in the title's history, breaking the previous record of 184 days set by A.J. Styles and Tomko in 2007. On August 7 atHardcore Justice, Beer Money, Inc. successfully defended the TNA World Tag Team Championship againstMexican America (Anarquia and Hernandez).[61] Two days later, at the tapings of the August 18 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Mexican America defeated Beer Money, Inc. in a rematch, following interference from Jeff Jarrett, to win theTNA World Tag Team Championship, ending Storm's and Roode's record-setting reign at 212 days.[62][63]
From June to September, Storm was one of the twelve participants in theBound for Glory Series to determine the number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. When thegroup stage of the tournament concluded, Storm finished in the top four and thus advanced to the finals atNo Surrender along with Robert Roode, Bully Ray andGunner.[64] On September 11 at No Surrender, Storm was disqualified in his match against Bully Ray, eliminating him from the tournament.[65] After Roode, who went on to win the tournament, had failed to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship fromKurt Angle atBound for Glory, Storm received his shot at the title and on October 18 at the tapings of the October 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, defeated Angle to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion.[66][67] Just eight days later, at the tapings of the November 3 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm lost the title to Bobby Roode, after he used Storm's own beer bottle against him, turning heel in the process and effectively dissolving Beer Money, Inc.[68][69] Storm and Roode had a rematch for the title the following week. As a result of a backstage attack, Storm came into the match bleeding and eventually lost, after passing out due to blood loss.[70] On the November 17 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm was attacked by the returning Kurt Angle, who in the process revealed that he had also attacked him prior to the previous week's title match.[71] On December 11 atFinal Resolution, Storm defeated Angle in a singles match.[72] On January 8, 2012, atGenesis, Storm was defeated by Angle in a rematch.[73] On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm defeated Angle to become the number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[74] However, the following week Storm was entered into another number one contender's match with Jeff Hardy, which ended in a no contest, following interference from Bully Ray and Bobby Roode.[75] On February 12 atAgainst All Odds, Storm was unable to capture the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Roode in a four-way match, which also included Bully Ray and Jeff Hardy.[76] On the February 16 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm defeated Bully Ray to become the number one contender to Roode's TNA World Heavyweight Championship atLockdown.[77] On March 18 atVictory Road, Storm defeated Bully Ray in a rematch to retain his spot as the number one contender.[78] On April 15 at Lockdown, Storm failed to regain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in a steel cage match, after accidentally superkicking Roode out of the cage for the win.[79]
After a two-month break from TNA, Storm returned on June 10 atSlammiversary, answering Crimson's open challenge, defeating him in a singles match and ending his undefeated streak in TNA.[80] On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm entered the2012 Bound for Glory Series to get another shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, defeating ten other men to win agauntlet match and take the early lead in the tournament.[81] On the August 30 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm wrestled his final group stage match and, for the second year in a row, finished in the top four, advancing to the finals of the tournament.[82] On September 9 atNo Surrender, Storm was eliminated from the tournament, after losing to Bully Ray in his semifinal match, following interference from Bobby Roode.[83] On the September 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm challenged Roode to a match as part of the Open Fight Night. The match ended in a no contest, when referee Brian Hebner was unable control the two brawling rivals.[84] The rivalry between Storm and Roode culminated on October 14 atBound for Glory in a street fight, withKing Mo serving as thespecial guest enforcer, which was won by Storm.[85] On November 11 atTurning Point, Storm defeated A.J. Styles and Bobby Roode in a three-way match to become number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[86] However, on the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm lost his number one contendership to Roode.[87]
On December 9 atFinal Resolution, Storm defeated Kazarian in a singles match,[88] and again on the January 3, 2013, episode ofImpact Wrestling, beginning a rivalry with himand Christopher Daniels.[89] On January 13 atGenesis, Storm was defeated by Daniels in a number one contenders match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[90] On March 10 atLockdown, Team TNA, consisting of Storm, Eric Young, Magnus, Samoa Joe, and Sting defeated theAces & Eights, consisting of Devon,DOC,Garett Bischoff,Mike Knox, and Mr. Anderson in a Lethal Lockdown match.[91] On the March 14 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm defeated former rival Christopher Daniels in a singles match. Afterwards, he was attacked by both Daniels and Kazarian before being saved and ultimately assaulted by the returning A. J. Styles.[92] In the following weeks, Storm demanded Styles to explain his actions, but Styles remained mute.[93] Storm finally faced Styles in singles competition on the April 18 episode ofImpact Wrestling, where Styles won via submission.[94] On April 26, 2013, Storm unsuccessfully challengedDevon for theTNA Television Championship during a house show inErie, Pennsylvania.[95]
AtSlammiversary, Storm was paired withGunner to face the teams of Bad Influence, Aries and Roode, and the TNA World Tag Team ChampionsChavo Guerrero Jr. and Hernandez in a four-way elimination match for the title, where they won, giving Storm his fifth individual reign.[96] They would held the titles until on October 20 atBound for Glory, where they lost it toThe BroMans in their first title defense.[97] Storm and Gunner received their rematch on the October 31 episode ofImpact Wrestling, but were again defeated.[98]
After losing the TNA World Tag Team Championships, Storm began a feud with Gunner when Gunner pulled the Feast or Fired briefcase from Storm, which contained the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match. On the January 2 episode ofImpact Wrestling, for the first time in over two years, Storm teamed with his former Beer Money partner, Bobby Roode, to defeat Gunner and Kurt Angle in a tag team match. After the match, Storm further taunted Gunner. On the January 30 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm apologized to Gunner for his previous actions, and later won a tag team match that night with Gunner against Bad Influence. On the February 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm cost Gunner his Feast or Fired match against Magnus for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, turning heel in the process. Storm would be defeated by Gunner atLockdown in a steel cage Last Man Standing match andSacrifice in an"I Quit" match.
On the May 1 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm started a feud withMr. Anderson after he cost Anderson a TNA World Heavyweight Championship opportunity when Storm tried to attack Anderson's opponent Gunner and inadvertently hit Anderson, culminating atSlammiversary, Storm lost to Anderson. But in a rematch on the June 26 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm defeated Anderson after reversing the Mic Check in a Last Call.
In June 2014, Storm would begin a program where he would confront, and verbally run downSanada. Following Sanada's loss of theX Division Championship to Austin Aries, Storm would confront Sanada backstage, berate Sanada's mentorThe Great Muta, while slapping him in the face as a way to break Sanada down, multiple weeks in a row. On the July 24, 2014 edition ofImpact, Storm would confront The Great Muta, calling him a fraud, and proclaim himself to be "The Legend" (which in the following weeks replaced his longtime nickname of "The Cowboy"). After spitting beer in Muta's face, Sanada would run Storm out of the ring, before attacking Muta himself with a steel chair, and bowing to Storm, revealing an unknown alliance between them.[99] The following week Storm would proclaim himself as Sanada's new mentor, and master. In the following weeks, TNA would air vignettes of Storm having a cult like hold over Sanada, portraying Storm having him tied up, breaking him down physically and mentally, and proclaiming that "The Revolution is coming".[100] On the August 27Impact Wrestling, Sanada accompanied by Storm debuted the new ring name "The Great Sanada" and a look inspired by The Great Muta, before defeating Austin Aries with help from Storm.[101] On the September 3 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm and Sanada abducted former X Division ChampionManik following his loss in a 6-man #1 Contendership match for the X Division Championship.[102] On the followingImpact, Storm was shown initiating Manik, much like he did Sanada into his new faction. On the September 17, 2014 edition ofImpact Wrestling, Storm and The Great Sanada attacked X Division Champion Samoa Joe, and were joined by Manik, now sporting an all new look, joining Storm's group. On the October 8, 2014 edition ofImpact Wrestling it was announced that James Storm and The Great Sanada would battle The Great Muta and Tajiri in the main event ofBound for Glory. This marked James Storm's first appearance in the Bound For Glory main event, as well as the first time in company history that the main event was not contested for the company'sWorld Heavyweight Championship.[103] At Bound For Glory, Storm and The Great Sanada were defeated by Tajiri and The Great Muta. After the match Manik joined in attacking Muta until Team 3D made the save.[104]
Following Bound For Glory, the stable, now known as The Revolution began to recruit members of the TNA roster, beginning with one half of theWorld Tag Team ChampionsDavey Richards. After teasing tension between Richards and his partnerEddie Edwards, on the November 12, 2014 edition of Impact Wrestling, The Revolution demanded Davey's decision. When Davey turned down the Revolution's offer to join, they would attack The Wolves, leaving them vulnerable for Storm to bring out his forgotten Feast or Fired Briefcase, guaranteeing him a Tag Team Championship opportunity, anytime, anyplace. In a further twist, Abyss would reveal himself as Storm's partner, and the newest pledge to The Revolution, subsequently defeating The Wolves for the TNA World Tag Team Championships, making Storm a record six-time champion. AtLockdown, The Revolution successfully retained their titles againstThe Hardys. On January 30, 2015, The Revolution lost the titles against The Wolves. On April 3, 2015, Storm seemingly broke character and confrontedBram when he attempted to attackMickie James with a steel chair during Bram's match against Magnus, hinting a possible face turn. However, Magnus and Mickie James confronted Storm after the match, to which Storm replied he was merely looking out for an old friend, hinting he was still a heel. However, this all turned out to be a ruse, as Storm wanted Mickie James to join his Revolution stable. She refused, and security cameras recorded him nudging her onto train tracks, causing a concussion, and fully retaining his status as a heel. Storm defeatedMagnus atSlammiversary in a non-sanctioned match.[105] On the July 29 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm revealed the new member of The Revolution, who wasSerena Deeb. However, Storm and Serena were defeated by Magnus and Mickie James. Later, James Storm entered in a feud against his former partner Khoya, now known asMahabali Shera, by attacking him after having failed him over and over. AtNo Surrender, Storm defeated Shera by disqualification. On the September 30 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm was defeated by Shera in a No Disqualification match, after an interference ofAbyss andManik. Storm's contract with TNA expired on June 30,[106] but he continued making appearances for the promotion until September 30, 2015, under a pay-per-appearance deal. During October and November (taped in July, before his departure), he participated in theTNA World Title Series. Storm ended third of his block, failing into advance to the finals.[107]
Through TNA's working relationships with various Japanese promotions, Storm has competed in Japan numerous times, beginning in 2009 when he and Roode, as Beer Money, debuted inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), defeating Legend (Akira andMasahiro Chono).[108] They returned to New Japan in October 2010, first defeatingBad Intentions (Karl Anderson andGiant Bernard),[109] and thenNo Limit (Tetsuya Naito andYujiro Takahashi).[110] Storm and Roode made their debuts in theTokyo Dome on January 4, 2011, atWrestle Kingdom V, taking part in a three-way tag team match for theIWGP Tag Team Championship, won by Bad Intentions.[111]
Storm debuted inWWE'sdevelopmental branchNXT during the October tapings, which aired on the October 21 episode ofNXT, defeatingDanny Burch. Storm also appeared on the December 2 episode ofNXT, defeatingAdam Rose. In late December 2015, Storm opted to not sign with WWE, in favor of returning to TNA.
On January 5, 2016, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm returned toTNA, helping his long-time tag team partnerBobby Roode fight offEric Young andBram, before reuniting asBeer Money, Inc., after Storm telling Roode that he wanted to "get back to having fun" and drink beer with him, turning Storm face in the process. AtOne Night Only: Live! event, Beer Money defeated Eric Young and Bram and once again atLockdown in a Six Sides of Steel match, thus ending the feud. On the January 26 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm grabbed theTNA World Tag Team Championship briefcase during theFeast or Fired match. On February 9 episode ofImpact Wrestling Beer Money attempted to cash in their title shot against championsThe Wolves, but in their attempt to cash in,Decay (Abyss,Crazzy Steve,Rosemary) stopped them and mysteriously asked them to join their path.[112] They eventually challenged the group to a match, but it ended in disqualification when Abyss pulled the referee out of the ring and began choking him.[112] Beer Money cashed in their Feast or Fired contract and defeated The Wolves to re-capture the titles on the March 8 episode ofImpact Wrestling. They successfully retained their titles against theBroMans on the March 22 episode ofImpact Wrestling and against Decay, The BroMans and Eric Young and Bram on the April 12 episode ofImpact Wrestling. Their feud against Decay culminated atSacrifice in a Valley of Shadow match, which Decay won, winning the TNA World Tag Team Championship. In late-March, Beer Money were disbanded upon Roode leaving TNA.
On the May 10 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm announced that he would return to singles competition. AtSlammiversary he challenged and defeatedBraxton Sutter. On the June 28 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm was the guest of theEli Drake segmentFact of Life, who resulted by Storm hitting Drake with a Superkick. On the August 4 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm defeated Eli Drake to win theTNA King of the Mountain Championship. The following week, he lost the King of the Mountain Championship in a Title vs. Title match againstLashley. On the August 18 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm called the official for that match Brian Hebner to the ring to show him how he missed a three-count on Lashley that should have amounted to Storm winning all the titles instead, while complaining to Hebner, TNA PresidentBilly Corgan came down to the ring and interjected himself into the discussion with Storm. Corgan insulted Storm and suggested that Storm "may not be able to win the big one." This set Storm off and he confronted and cornered Corgan, threatening to use Corgan to satisfy his bucket list goal of "kicking a rockstar's ass". Storm then left the ring and on the way up the ramp, Corgan yelled "James Storm is suspended indefinitely".
In October, Storm turned heel when he was revealed as one of the masked wrestlers of the newest group known asDeath Crew Council (DCC), withBram andKingston.[113] Death Crew Council made their debut on the October 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, when they attackedThe Tribunal, following the latter's loss toTNA World Tag Team Champions,The Broken Hardys. DCC continued their assault on TNA wrestlers, including a 3-on-2 Handicap match against Jeff Hardy and TNA World Champion Eddie Edwards.[114] On December 15, Storm would appear at the Hardy Compound as a participant in the Tag Team Apocalypto match forTotal Nonstop Deletion. DCC would be eliminated by Decay, when a man whom Decay assault during "Delete or Decay" claimed to be Storm's partner and was knocked unconscious by Crazzy Steve and pinned by Abyss.
On the January 5, 2017 episode ofImpact Wrestling, DCC started a feud with Decay when Storm andBram smashed beer bottles over Abyss and Crazzy Steve's heads, with Bram issuing a threat to Rosemary afterwards.[115] On the January 12 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Bram and Kingston would face Decay in a losing effort, after James Storm attacked Abyss, resulting in a disqualification.[116] After TNA was bought by Anthem Media and renamed Impact Wrestling, they were defeated by new tag teamsReno SCUM andLAX, disbanding the team.
On the March 30 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm interruptedEthan Carter III saying that he wanted a world title shot. The following week onImpact Wrestling, Storm was interrupted by Bram and Kingston as Kingston spat in Storm's face, and Storm laid both guys out with superkicks, turning him face in the process. On the April 13 episode ofImpact Wrestling,Bruce Prichard came out to announce the number one contender for theImpact World Championship. It was determined by a fan vote which was agreed upon the previous week by Storm andEthan Carter III. Prichard announced that the fans decided that Storm will be facingLashley for the Impact World Championship. The following week, Storm failed to win the title after he was hit with a beer bottle by Carter, allowing Lashley to win the match. On the May 11 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Carter came out dressed as a cowboy and proceeded to berate Storm. Storm then tried to attack Carter, but Carter retaliated by lashing Storm over 30 times with a leather belt causing significant injury to the back of Storm. The following week, Storm defeated Carter by disqualification after Carter brutally lashed the referee. AtSlammiversary, Storm was defeated by Carter in a Strap match. During the match, Storm suffered a 3rd grade concussion.[117]
Storm would return on the September 21 episode ofImpact Wrestling, by saving Eddie Edwards and Ethan Carter III fromEl Hijo del Fantasma,Pagano andTexano. Storm shook Eddie Edwards's hand but refused to shake Carter's hand. During the specialVictory Road episode ofImpact Wrestling on September 28, EC3 made the save for Storm after the latter was attacked by Fantasma and Texano. Storm offered to shake Carter's hand, at first Carter refused and walked away, but soon returned to the ring and shook Storm's hand. On the October 4 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Storm and Ethan Carter III lost to El Hijo del Fantasma and Texano. AtBound for Glory, Storm, Edwards and Carter defeated Team AAA (El Hijo del Fantasma, Pagano and Texano) in a six-man tag team match. On the November 16 episode ofImpact Wrestling, James Storm savedMoose from Lashley and theAmerican Top Team and says that he is tired of Dan Lambert causing chaos on Impact and disrespecting professional wrestling. Two weeks later, after his victory against Texano, Storm was attacked and beaten down by Lashley andAmerican Top Team, but he was saved by Moose. This led to a tag-team match the following week, which Storm and Moose were defeated by Lashley and Lambert. On the November 9 taping ofImpact Wrestling which aired on January 4, 2018, Storm was defeated byDan Lambert after being assaulted by the entire American Top Team and was forced to leave Impact Wrestling.
On March 12, 2017, Storm debuted inPro Wrestling Noah, defeatingKaito Kiyomiya.[118]
Storm facedKeith Lee in Whatculture Pro Wrestling's Pro Wrestling World Cup USA 1st Round, which resulted in Storm losing the match, and therefore being eliminated from the tournament.
Storm made his ICW in ring debut as a face on February 11 againstJack Jester at the 7th Annual Square Go in a number one contender's match for theICW World Heavyweight Championship, in which Storm came out victorious. It was announced on April 4 that Storm would compete on April 29 at Barramania 4, teaming up with Ravie Davie against Bram and Iestyn Rees. During that match Storm turned on Davie, hitting him with two beer bottles and aLast Call superkick, turning him heel in the process.
On July 9, 2018,Amazon Video released a series called Dojo Pro Wrestling which features a tournament of 12 pro wrestlers, including James Storm.[119]
After Billy Corgan purchased National Wrestling Alliance, Storm became a regular member of the roster. He wrestledNick Aldis for theNWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship atNWA New Year Clash, but he was defeated.[120] After Colt Cabana defeated Willie Mack and won the NWA National Heavyweight Championship, Storm challenged him to a title match. The match happened during the ROH television program on June 29, 2019, with Storm winning the title.[121] However, he lost the title against Cabana on October 1, 2019, during the NWA Power television tapings.[122] On January 24, 2020, at theHard Times PPV Storm and his tag team partnerEli Drake won theNWA World Tag Team Championship.[123] On September 18, 2020, Storm's contract expired with NWA and he became afree agent.[124] On November 10, 2020, Storm and Drake lost the NWA World Tag Team Championships toAron Stevens and JR Kratos at UWN Primetime Live.
At73rd Anniversary Show, Storm lost toChris Adonis in a match for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship failing to win the title. on the October 5 episode of NWA Power, Storm defeated Judais.
On October 24, 2020, atBound for Glory, Storm made an unannounced appearance as a participant in theCall Your Shot gauntlet match, which he failed to win as he was eliminated bySami Callihan.[125] AtTurning Point on November 14, Storm teamed withChris Sabin to defeat XXXL (Acey Romero andLarry D).[126][127] On the January 19, 2021 episode ofImpact, Storm returned as a tag team partner for Chris Sabin in a loss toPrivate Party in a number one contender's match.[128] AtNo Surrender, Storm and Sabin competed in a three-way tag team match for theImpact World Tag Team Championship, which was won byThe Good Brothers.[129] On the March 9 episode ofImpact, Storm and Sabin defeatedRohit Raju andMahabali Shera. AtSacrifice, Storm and Sabin lost to Violent By Design (Deaner andJoe Doering) due toRhino interfering in the match.[130][131] On the March 30 episode ofImpact, Storm competed in his 1000th Match where he defeated Eric Young. AtRebellion, Storm, Chris Sabin, Eddie Edwards and Willie Mack lost toViolent By Design (Deaner, Joe Doering,Rhino andW. Morrissey).
AtSlammiversary, Storm and long-time tag team partner Chris Harris made his return after the tag team title match confronting theGood Brothers and theBriscoes. atAgainst All Odds,America's Most Wanted,Heath and the Good Brothers defeatedHonor No More (Eddie Edwards,Kenny King,Matt Taven,Mike Bennett, andPCO). On the July 14 episode ofImpact, Storm lost toSteve Maclin.
AtImpact 1000,America's Most Wanted (Storm and Harris) andTeam Canada (Scott D'Amore andEric Young) defeatedThe Design (Deaner andKon),Kenny King, and Sheldon Jean in an eight-man tag team match.
On July 7, 2022, Storm made hisOhio Valley Wrestling debut, where he defeatedMahabali Shera to become the newOVW National Heavyweight Champion.[132] On 27 August, Storm defeated Omar Amir atOVW The Big One to become the newOVW Heavyweight Champion. On October 17, edition of OVW, Storm lost both titles to Ca$h Flo.
Cox starred in the 2011 horror filmDeath from Above, alongside fellow wrestlers Kurt Angle,Sid Eudy, Matt Morgan,Terry Gerin andJessica Kresa.[133]
In 2011, Cox starred in the music video for his theme "Longnecks & Rednecks," which also featured country music duoMontgomery Gentry.[134]
He is a playable character inTNA Impact!,TNA Impact!: Cross The Line,TNA Wrestling Impact! andRetroMania Wrestling" "[135]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Death from Above | Gunnar Halgrim | |
| 2020 | Hotel Underground | Tommy Majic |
Cox married Dani McEntee on March 30, 2011.[6] They have two sons.[136] He has a daughter from a previous relationship.[137]
1 Championship not officially recognized by TNA.2 Storm won the Championship with Riley, but defended it with Chris Harris.
Storm talked about starting out at the Fairgrounds training under Wolfie D and Jerry Jarrett.
I have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter
,Wrestlingdata,Internet Wrestling Database
