 Rhyno in 2017 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Terrance Guido Gerin (1975-10-07)October 7, 1975 (age 50) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Holb[1] Rhino[1] Rhino Richards[1] Rhyno[1] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 295 lb (134 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | Detroit, Michigan[3] |
| Trained by | Scott D'Amore |
| Debut | March 10, 1995[4] |
Terrance Guido Gerin[5] (born October 7, 1975) is an Americanprofessional wrestler better known by thering nameRhyno (orRhino). He is afreelancer, appearing for various promotions such asAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) and sister's promotionRing of Honor (ROH),National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and on theindependent circuit. He is best known for his tenures inExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW),WWE, andTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is a 2024 TNA Hall of Fame inductee.
Gerin started his career in the Canadian independent circuit as Rhino Richards. He was signed by the American promotion ECW in 1999, where he shortened his name to Rhino. He remained with ECW until it closed in 2001, where he was the finalWorld Heavyweight andWorld Television Champion. He then joined the World Wrestling Federation (later renamed WWE) with several other ECW wrestlers and was involved inthe Invasion angle, in which ECW andWCW alumni joined forces against WWF wrestlers. He worked as Rhyno for WWE until 2005, when he signed withTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and defeatedJeff Jarrett to win theNWA World Heavyweight Championship. He lost it two days later and remained with TNA until 2010.
In 2015, Rhyno returned to WWE. He initially worked inNXT, its developmental territory, and was promoted to the main roster in December. During his time on theSmackDown brand, heteamed withHeath Slater and won a tournament to become the inauguralSmackDown Tag Team Champions. He left WWE again in 2019 and returned to TNA.
Gerin was born on October 7, 1975, inDetroit,Michigan. He is of Italian descent, with his ancestry beingVenetian. He graduated fromAnnapolis High School inDearborn Heights, Michigan where he was on the wrestling team. Gerin trained inWindsor, Ontario, Canada.[6][7][8]
Gerin trained as a wrestler at theCan-Am Wrestling School located inWindsor, Ontario underScott D'Amore, with whom he later reunited inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[9][10] He began training on September 24, 1994, and had his first match on March 10, 1995.[4] Gerin made four appearances inWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) asenhancement talent under the ring name Terry Richards. Richards lost to "Hacksaw"Jim Duggan on the August 5, 1995, edition ofWCW Saturday Night.WCW Television ChampionThe Renegade defeated Richards on the September 9 edition ofWCW Pro. Richards and Johnny Swinger lost tothe Nasty Boys on the September 16 edition ofWCW Saturday Night. His final appearance was a loss toRoad Warrior Hawk on the September 23, 1995, edition ofWCW WorldWide.[11]
In theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF), Gerin lost toHenry O. Godwinn on the November 6, 1995, episode ofMonday Night Raw (wrestling under the name "Terry Richards"). He was part of the losing team in a six-man tag team match againstThe Truth Commission at the June 23, 1997WWF Shotgun Saturday Night taping (aired June 28).[12] Gerin then adopted the ring name Rhino Richards and began wrestling in Canada, where he formed astable known as "THUG Life" withJoe Legend, Zakk Wyld (Keith Assoun),Christian Cage, Bloody Bill Skullion, Brett Kimball, andSexton Hardcastle (later named Edge).[9] He wrestled adark match at the June 29, 1998WWF Shotgun Saturday Night taping, defeating Breyer Wellington.[12]
In 1997, Gerin relocated toHanover, Germany, where he began competing for theCatch Wrestling Association (CWA) under the ring name "Rhino Richards". On October 10, 1998, he teamed withXL Legend to win the vacantCWA World Tag Team Championship, defeating Rico de Cuba andAugust Smisl. The titles were vacated in October 1998 when Gerin left the promotion after signing withExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
Gerin debuted in ECW on February 19, 1999, at alive event as "Rhino Richards", teaming withNova to defeat theFull Blooded Italians (Tracy Smothers andLittle Guido). After working a few live events during his early months in the promotion, Gerin made his televised debut as aheel on the June 25 episode ofECW Hardcore TV as "Rhino", a comically aggressive, psychotic, and unstable powerhouse wrestler who reveled in extremely violent wrestling and ferocious brutality. He was introduced bySteve Corino andJack Victory asTaz's opponent in a match, which Rhino quickly lost.
Rhino made his firstpay-per-view appearance atHeat Wave, where he aided Corino and their new allyYoshihiro Tajiri during their matches. When ECW debuted on national television with aweekly show onTNN, the alliance of Rhino, Corino, Victory and Tajiri joinedCyrus to form a group called The Network. Cyrus represented TNN and was viewed as criticizing thehardcore wrestling style of ECW. Rhino's first match at a pay-per-view took place atAnarchy Rulz, where Rhino and Corino unsuccessfully challengedTommy Dreamer andRaven for theECW World Tag Team Championship, but were defeated. On the October 1 episode ofECW on TNN, Rhino received his first opportunity for theECW World Heavyweight Championship againstMike Awesome, which he failed to win. In late 1999, Rhino beganfeuding withThe Sandman, and atNovember to Remember he teamed with theImpact Players to defeat Dreamer, Raven, and Sandman.[1]
On January 29, 2000, Rhino competed againstRob Van Dam for theECW World Television Championship. Van Dam retained the title but fractured his ankle which forced him to vacate the title. A tournament was set up to crown the new champion and Rhino participated in the tournament for the vacant title. He defeatedSpike Dudley on the March 10 episode ofECW on TNN and advanced to the tournament final atLiving Dangerously after The Sandman was eliminated by forfeit. Rhino facedSuper Crazy in the finals of the tournament later that night, which headlined the show. Rhino lost after interference by RVD. However, Rhino won the World Television Championship on April 22 by defeatingYoshihiro Tajiri atCyberSlam, thus beginning his first title reign in ECW.[13] Throughout mid-2000, Rhino continued to feud with The Sandman, defeating him in a title match atHardcore Heaven. During that match, Rhino performed aRhino Driver to the Sandman's wife andvalet,Lori. Rhino would then defend the title against Sandman, a second time atHeat Wave. Before the match, Rhino attacked the couple and attempted to force Lori's head into atoilet. Rhino would go on to retain the title.[14]
He lost the title toKid Kash on August 26 atMidtown Massacre, but regained it a little over two weeks later on September 9.[15] After winning his second World Television Championship, Rhino resumed his feud with Rob Van Dam, defeating him to retain the title atAnarchy Rulz. Rhino continued his title reign by successfully defending the title againstNew Jack atNovember to Remember and Spike Dudley atMassacre on 34th Street.
Rhino won theECW World Heavyweight Championship on January 7, 2001, atGuilty as Charged, defeating Sandman in asquash match immediately after The Sandman had won the title fromSteve Corino in a three-waytables, ladders, chairs, and canes match.[16] He defended the title twice, defeating Sandman on January 12 andSpike Dudley on January 13, 2001, on the last two ECW shows and was the final World Heavyweight Champion and World Television Champion as the company folded in April.
Following the closure of ECW, Gerin signed a contract with theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF). He debuted on the March 19, 2001, episode ofWWF Raw is War, inAlbany, New York at the Pepsi Arena, under the ring name Rhyno as a heel, aligning himself withEdge and Christian.[1] Rhyno went on to help Edge and Christian defeat TheHardy Boyz and TheDudley Boyz for theWWF Tag Team Championship in aTables, Ladders, and Chairs match atWrestleMania X-Seven on April 1.[17] On the April 19 edition ofSmackDown!, Rhyno defeatedKane to win theWWF Hardcore Championship. AtBacklash on April 29, he defeatedRaven to retain the title. AtJudgment Day on May 20, Rhyno, Edge, and Christian formed a stable withKurt Angle known asTeam RECK, with all four members reaching the semi-finals of theKing of the Ring tournament.[18] Rhyno was eliminated from the event by the eventual winner, Edge atKing of the Ring on June 24.[19] He won the Hardcore Championship a total of three times in mid-2001.[20]
On the July 9 episode ofRaw is War, Rhyno "invaded" the WWF along with other ECW wrestlers. The group, led by former ECW ownerPaul Heyman, went on to merge with rival organizationWCW later that night, formingThe Alliance. AtInvasion on July 22, Rhyno competed in the main event the Inaugural Brawl match; five-on-five tag team match where Team WCW/ECW (Booker T,Diamond Dallas Page, (WCW) Rhyno and the Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley) (ECW)) defeated Team WWF (Stone Cold Steve Austin,Kurt Angle,Chris Jericho,The Undertaker andKane). Rhyno feuded withChris Jericho due to Jericho insultingStephanie McMahon, the on-screen owner of ECW, on numerous occasions. One notable moment during the feud saw RhynoGore Jericho through the SmackDown! stage set on the August 9 episode ofSmackDown!.[21] This culminated in a match between the two atSummerSlam on August 19, in which Rhyno lost to Jericho. On September 23 atUnforgiven, he defeated fellow ECW alumnusTajiri for theWCW United States Championship.[22] He held the title for just under a month before losing to Kurt Angle on the October 22 episode ofRaw.[22] As a result of his loss, Rhyno was "suspended" from The Alliance on the October 25 episode ofSmackDown!. The suspension was anangle concocted to explain Rhyno's absence while he underwent cervical fusionsurgery for two herniated discs in his neck. The surgery was successfully performed on November 12.[1]
Rhyno returned to WWE television sixteen months later on the February 27, 2003, episode ofSmackDown!, aligning himself withChris Benoit and turning into aface as they defeatedMatt Hardy andShannon Moore. He subsequently joined theSmackDown!brand. Rhyno and Benoit went on to unsuccessfully challengeTeam Angle for theWWE Tag Team Championship in a triple threat tag team match also involvingLos Guerreros atWrestleMania XIX on March 30.[23] AtJudgment Day on May 18, Rhyno teamed withSpanky and Chris Benoit to lose toJohn Cena andThe Full Blooded Italians (Chuck Palumbo andJohnny Stamboli). After losing to Benoit in the opening round of theUnited States Championship tournament on the June 19 episode ofSmackDown!, Rhyno turned on Benoit during Benoit's match againstEddie Guerrero for the United States Championship atVengeance on July 27, thus turningheel once again. AtSummerSlam on August 24, Rhyno competed in a fatal four-way match for the United States Championship against Guerrero, Benoit and Tajiri, but failed to win the title. Rhyno's feud with Benoit was resolved in a singles match between the two on the September 11 episode ofSmackDown!, which Rhyno lost.
Rhyno made his first appearance in theRoyal Rumble match at theRoyal Rumble on January 25, 2004, by entering at #6 but was eliminated by the eventual winner Chris Benoit. On the February 12 episode ofSmackDown!, Rhyno got disqualified in a match againstHardcore Holly for shoving the referee. It led to a rematch between the two atNo Way Out on February 15, which Rhyno lost. On the March 22 episode ofRaw, Rhyno was drafted to theRaw brand in the2004 WWE Draft Lottery. Later that night, he unsuccessfully faced Chris Benoit for theWorld Heavyweight Championship. The next week onRaw, he turned face once again by first squashingLance Storm in a match and then forming a tag team with Tajiri. The duo defeatedJonathan Coachman andGarrison Cade in a tag team match atVengeance on July 11. In the fall, Rhyno and Tajiri began pursuing theWorld Tag Team Championship and entered a feud with the championsLa Résistance (Sylvain Grenier andRobért Conway), unsuccessfully challenging them for the titles atUnforgiven on September 12. Rhyno and Tajiri received another title shot against La Résistance on the November 15 episode ofRaw in a triple threat match, also involvingWilliam Regal andEugene. Regal and Eugene won the titles.
On the January 10, 2005, episode ofRaw, Rhyno lost a Royal Rumble qualifying match toEdge.[1] Rhyno was released from his WWE contract on April 9, along with his friendMatt Hardy due to a public argument with his wife that took place at theWrestleMania 21 afterparty.[24] He made his final appearance on WWE television at the WWE-produced ECW reunion pay-per-viewOne Night Stand on June 12, where he lost toSabu.[25]
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After time on the independent circuit, Gerin made his debut inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) on July 17, 2005 atNo Surrender, as Rhino, reverting to the ECW spelling of his wrestling name. He debuted by hitting then-NWA World Heavyweight ChampionRaven with theGore following a match withAbyss, thus debuting as both a heel and a member ofPlanet Jarrett.[26]
These events led to a match being scheduled between the team of Rhino andJeff Jarrett and the team of Raven and the returningSabu atSacrifice on August 14. During the Sacrifice preshow,Director of AuthorityLarry Zbyszko informed Jarrett, who had lobbied for a title shot for several weeks, that if he could pin Raven, he would receive a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship atUnbreakable on September 11. If Jarrett lost the match, he would be prohibited from receiving an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match for one year.[27] Later that night, during the tag match,Jeff Hardy returned to TNA, attacking Jarrett and enabling Rhino to Gore and pin Raven. An irate Jarrett, furious at having lost his shot at the title, watched as Zbyszko announced Rhino to be the new number one contender immediately after the pay-per-view went off the air.[28] Rhino faced Raven at Unbreakable in a match which saw him accidentallyGore ashopping cart in homage to hisWWF Hardcore Championship bout with Raven atBacklash in the WWF. Despite interference from Jarrett, Raven retained his title after hitting Rhino with anEven Flow DDT.[29]
Rhino foughtJeff Hardy in the main event of the debut episode ofImpact! onSpike TV on October 1. The match was declared a no-contest after both Abyss and Sabu interfered. AtBound for Glory on October 23, Rhino, Abyss, Sabu, and Hardy faced each other in aMonster's Ball match, which Rhino won after hitting a second ropeRhino Driver on Hardy. Later that night, Rhino won a 10-manGauntlet match to determine who would face Jeff Jarrett for his NWA World Heavyweight Championship afterKevin Nash, Jarrett's scheduled opponent, was rushed to the hospital due to alegitimate injury.[30][31] Rhino went on to defeat Jarrett and win the title, turning face in the process. Rhino lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship back to Jarrett on a 2-hourprime time special episode ofImpact! on November 3.[32]
Starting with the November 26 episode ofImpact!, TNA started airing promos about Rhino's career and personal life in preparation for his title rematch atTurning Point on December 11. He lost the rematch to Jarrett after aguitar shot and interference from all ofTeam Canada.[33]
In 2006, Rhino then wrapped up a brutal feud withAbyss, who (due to his alignment withPlanet Jarrett) halted Rhino's war onTeam Canada. The feud saw AbyssBlack Hole Slam Rhino on to several chairs, and Rhino smash Abyss through a steel wall with theGore.[34] Their singles feud ended atAgainst All Odds on February 12 when Rhino Gored Abyss off of a fifteen-foot ramp on to four tables.[35] Rhino became a member ofSting's four-man team of "Warriors", joiningA.J. Styles andRon Killings to fight Jeff Jarrett's "Army" in aLethal Lockdown match atLockdown on April 23, which Rhino's team won.[36]
On June 9, after Rhino defeated Jeff Jarrett at a TNAhouse show in the oldECW Arena inPhiladelphia, he publicly acknowledged that he had been offered a contract to come back to WWE and wrestle for thenew ECW. He stayed with TNA.[1][37] On July 11, Rhino made an open challenge against WWE for their currentincarnation of ECW. The shocking revelation was that he did not like the direction of the new ECW and threw the "real"ECW World Heavyweight Championship (hidden in a burlap sack as Rhino stated WWE threatened legal action if he showed it) into an oil drum and burned it (he later admitted that it was a replica, and he still has the original belt at his home).[10][38]
He then feuded withMonty Brown andSamoa Joe. This resulted in the three men competing atHard Justice on August 13, which ended with Samoa Joe winning by pinning Monty Brown after slamming Brown through a table.[39] Rhino then entered into a feud withChristian Cage, playing off their former history together in WWE,Japan, andCanada.[40] The feud continued when Christian and Rhino faced off in anEight Mile Street Fight atBound for Glory on October 22. Christian won after acon-chair-to with a ladder, a broken table, a street sign, and some chairs on top of Rhino. This feud culminated on the November 16 episode ofImpact!, where he faced Cage in a six-sides of steel barbed wire match. Cage won the match after Rhino'sGore sent him through the door of the cage.[41]
Near the end of 2006, Rhino entered into a program withA.J. Styles. This started with Rhino trying to help Styles with his situation withChristopher Daniels, only to have Styles pull away and accuse Rhino of getting into his business, thus turning himheel.[42] Rhino lost to Styles atTurning Point on December 10 after Styles faked a knee injury and then pinned Rhino with aroll-up.[43] AtFinal Resolution on January 14, 2007, Rhino defeated Styles in aLast Man Standing match. Rhino set up tables in anticipation of sending Styles through them with a Gore. Styles saw what was happening and declined to get up, thus losing. After the match, Rhino swore he was not through with Styles and gave him aRhino Driver on the entrance ramp.[44]
AtAgainst All Odds on February 11, Styles defeated Rhino in aMotor City Chain match after dodging a Gore and rolling up Rhino for the pin.[45] Styles then challenged any wrestler in TNA to wrestle him atDestination X on March 11 in the debut of theElevation X match and Rhino accepted the challenge. At Destination X, Rhino defeated Styles in the Elevation X match after a Gore, and stomping on Styles' fingers.[46] On March 22, Rhino was chosen as the third member ofKurt Angle's team for theLethal Lockdown match atLockdown on April 15, along with Samoa Joe and eventually Jeff Jarrett andSting. Team Angle was successful at Lockdown after defeatingChristian's Coalition in the Lethal Lockdown match. Rhino had a bigspot in the match when he GoredTomko through the cage door.[47]
Rhino went through short feuds with Christopher Daniels andThe Latin American Xchange before moving on to his next big feud withJames Storm. On the June 21Impact!, Storm andRobert Roode defeated Rhino andEric Young. Following the match, Storm pouredbeer on Rhino, causing him to snap.[48] Two weeks later, Rhino had a sit-down interview withMike Tenay and revealed that he was arecovering alcoholic, and that caused him to snap after being covered with beer.[49]
The feud between Rhino and Storm resulted in a match atVictory Road on July 15. Storm won the match after hitting Rhino with a beer bottle. After the match was over Storm andJackie Moore attacked Rhino and poured beer into his mouth and left him bleeding in the ring.[50] AtHard Justice on August 12, Rhino lost aBar Room Brawl to Storm, after Storm smashed a beer bottle into the back of Rhino's head, but Rhino beat him atNo Surrender on September 9.[51] After the match, he gored Moore. Rhino then feuded withRaven, resulting in aMonster's Ball match atBound for Glory on October 14 between Rhino,Raven,Abyss, andBlack Reign which Abyss won.
AtTurning Point on December 2, he was scheduled to participate in a match teaming with Abyss to take on Black Reign andRellik, but he was replaced by Raven due to injury. After battling akayfabe alcoholism relapse (brought on by theJames Storm storyline), Rhino officially made his return atAgainst All Odds on February 10, 2008 when he Gored Storm, which causedEric Young to retain his World Drinking Championship. On March 9, Rhino defeated Storm atDestination X, in the second official Elevation X Match, making Rhino 2-0 in Elevation X.
The next week,Christian Cage had to find a tag partner to help him fightA.J. Styles and Tomko and asked Rhino to join him, but Rhino refused due to their past history (Cage had since turnedface). Tomko, Styles, andTeam 3D attacked Cage after his tag team match withKevin Nash. The following week onImpact!, Cage managed to get Rhino on his side during an interview withJeremy Borash. AtLockdown on April 13 in the Lethal Lockdown match, Rhino pinned Storm to get the win for Cage's team.[52] Rhino went on to form a tag team with Cage and they competed in theDeuces Wild Tag Team Tournament to crown newtag team champions by beatingThe Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin andAlex Shelley) to qualify. The tournament took place atSacrifice on May 11 where they beat the team of Robert Roode andBooker T, but lost in the second round to Team 3D afterBrother Ray hit Rhino with akendo stick. Rhino beat James Storm to qualify for theKing of the Mountain match atSlammiversary on June 8, whereSamoa Joe retained theTNA World Heavyweight Championship. Since then, Rhino formed a tag team with Christian Cage. AtHard Justice on August 10, Rhino and Christian Cage defeatedTeam 3D to end their feud.
Rhyno and Christian quietly went their separate ways, with Cage going to main events and Rhino along with thenTNA Women's ChampionTaylor Wilde starting a feud withThe Beautiful People andCute Kip shortly after Hard Justice. AtBound for Glory IV on October 12, Rhino along withODB andRhaka Khan (who recently turned face) defeated The Beautiful People and Cute Kip in a Bimbo Brawl. On the October 23 episode ofImpact!, Rhino confrontedSheik Abdul Bashir over political views. He was later attacked by Bashir. The feud ended after Rhino got revenge and defeated Sheik atTurning Point on November 9.
On the November 20 episode ofImpact!, Rhino attacked TheMain Event Mafia, but the Main Event Mafia fought back and placed him in a casket. The next week, Rhino officially joined A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe, naming the group theTNA Front Line. Rhino decided the Front Line had to have more members if they wanted to beat the Main Event Mafia, and, much to the surprise and questioning of the group, asked Team 3D to join the Front Line. Later in the night, Team 3D agreed to join the Front Line, helping Styles and Joe attack the Main Event Mafia. AtGenesis on January 11, 2009, Rhino lost to Sting in a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match.
At theLockdown pre-show on April 19,Eric Young defeatedDanny Bonaduce. After the bout, Bonaduce attacked Young, but Rhino came to the ring to aid Young and then gored Bonaduce. He then began an angle in which he trainedJesse Neal, a former member of the military, to become a pro wrestler. Rhino became frustrated and short-tempered. This led to a tag match on the August 13 episode ofImpact!, which Neal lost after a rookie mistake, refusing a hot tag to Rhino. Rhino turnedheel by goring his protege. His former mentors, Team 3D, realized what a selfish man Rhino was, thus leading to a feud between them.
Rhino appeared atNo Surrender on September 20 to face new signeeBobby Lashley. Despite goring him twice, Rhino was defeated following a knockout punch.[53] On the October 15 episode ofImpact!, he lost a stretcher match to Bobby Lashley. The following week, Rhino claimed that TNA was favoring the younger talent of TNA, while trying to force veterans like himself out of TNA.[54] After weeks of persuasion, on the November 5 episode ofImpact! Team 3D turned heel and joined Rhino in his cause.[55][56][57]
AtTurning Point on November 15, Rhino along with Team 3D defeatedMatt Morgan,Hernandez andD'Angelo Dinero after aGore by Rhino.[58] On the November 19 episode ofImpact! Jesse Neal turned heel and joined Rhino and Team 3D.[59] Two weeks later,Suicide joined Morgan, Hernandez and Dinero to level the playing field.[60] AtFinal Resolution on December 20, Morgan, Hernandez, Dinero and Suicide defeated Neal, Team 3D and Rhino in an eight-man elimination tag team match.[61] WhenHulk Hogan andEric Bischoff took over TNA at the beginning of 2010, Rhino's angle was discontinued and Team 3D reverted to being faces and began feuding withThe Nasty Boys.
After being absent from television for four months, Rhino returned on the July 1 episode ofImpact!, appearing in the Impact! Zone crowd beside fellow ECW alumniTommy Dreamer,Raven andStevie Richards, thus seemingly turning back into a face.[62] On the July 15 episode ofImpact! Rhino, Dreamer, Raven, Richards,Brother Devon,Pat Kenney andAl Snow, led byMick Foley, aligned themselves with theTNA World Heavyweight ChampionRob Van Dam by attackingAbyss and the rest of the TNA locker room.[63][64][65] The following week, TNA presidentDixie Carter agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event,Hardcore Justice: The Last Stand on August 8, as a celebration of hardcore wrestling and a final farewell to ECW.[66] At Hardcore Justice, Rhino defeated Al Snow andBrother Runt in a three-way match.[67]
On the following episode ofImpact!, the ECW alumni, known collectively asEV 2.0), were assaulted byA.J. Styles,Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm,Douglas Williams andMatt Morgan ofRic Flair'sFourtune stable, who thought they did not deserve to be in TNA.[68][69] 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.[70] On the August 26 episode ofImpact! Rhino called out Abyss for what he had done and then laid him out with a Gore.[71] AtNo Surrender on September 5, Abyss defeated Rhino in aFalls Count Anywhere match.[72]
AtBound for Glory on October 10, Rhino, Dreamer, Raven, Richards and Sabu defeated Fourtune members Styles, Kazarian, Morgan, Roode and Storm in a Lethal Lockdown match.[73] Shortly after, his contract with TNA expired, but he remained with TNA on a per night deal.[74][75][76] AtTurning Point on November 7, 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.[77] On the following episode ofImpact!, Rhino revealed himself as the man within EV 2.0, who had been calling Eric Bischoff, trying to get to be a part of hisImmortal stable, which had led to dissension between Rob Van Dam, who wanted to find out the traitor, and the rest of EV 2.0, by costing Van Dam his match against Kazarian and hitting Tommy Dreamer with a chair, turning heel again in the process.[78]
On the November 18 episode ofImpact! Rhino explained that Bischoff had agreed to re–sign him as long as he turned on the rest of EV 2.0.[79] The following week Dreamer defeated Rhino in a Street Fight. After the match Rhino attacked Dreamer, but was then chased away by Rob Van Dam, who challenged him to aFirst Blood match atFinal Resolution on December 5, which Van Dam ended up winning.[80][81] On the following episode ofImpact! Bischoff refused to give Rhino a contract with TNA and had Fortune and Immortal remove him from the arena.[82][83]
Since his departure from TNA, Rhino has appeared in several independent promotions across the United States and Canada. In May 2011, Rhino took part inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling's (NJPW) first tour of the United States, theInvasion Tour 2011. In the main event of the first night on May 13 inRahway, New Jersey, Rhino teamed withCharlie Haas in a tag team match, where they defeatedIWGP Heavyweight ChampionHiroshi Tanahashi andTogi Makabe after Rhino pinned Makabe.[84][85] At the following day's event inNew York City, Rhino pinnedKazuchika Okada in a six-man tag team match, where he teamed withDavey Richards andHomicide against Okada, Makabe andRyusuke Taguchi.[86] On the third and final day of the tour, Rhino was defeated by Makabe in the main event, a "South Philadelphia Street Fight", at the former ECW Arena.[87] On May 29 Rhyno appeared in Dutch Pro Wrestling beating Kenzo Richards in an Extreme rules match.
He also wrestled in Resistance Pro Wrestling. On February 17, 2012, at Vicious Circle, he was defeated by the RPW Heavyweight Champion Harry Smith.[88] Rhino had another chance for the title at Obsession, where Smith put on the line his RPW title and Rhino, his ECW World Heavyweight Championship, but the match ended without a winner.[89] The last match between them took place on May 11, 2012, at A Small Deadly Space, where Rhino was defeated by Smith, with Raven as Special Referee.
On September 1, he was defeated in a match against Bill Collier for the PWR Heavyweight Championship inWattsburg, Pennsylvania.[90] On October 4, he wrestled against the FWE Heavyweight Champion Tommy Dreamer at the Family Wrestling Entertainment's first PPV, Back 2 Brooklyn, but was defeated.[91] On October 6, 2012, Rhino participated in theHouse of Hardcore's first show, defeatingSami Callihan.[92]
On May 30, 2014, Rhino won the UCW (Universal Championship Wrestling) Heavyweight title. He faced "The Natural" Chase Stevens in a street fight after "The Headliner" Chris Michaels was a no-show.
On November 17, Rhino reached a tournament final to crown the firstExtreme Rising World Championship,[93] he reached the final round on December 29 but was defeated byStevie Richards.[94] On June 6, 2014, Rhino and Abyss were defeated by Tommy Dreamer and Devon at Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore.[95] On July 18, 2015, atHouse of Hardcore IX,Austin Aries beat him.
Rhino made a surprise appearance for Glasgow'sInsane Championship Wrestling promotion at Long Before Wesley Snipes on July 25, 2015,[96] when he called outDrew Galloway for a shot at theICW World Heavyweight Championship. Rhino was unsuccessful in this match[97] and was also defeated byWolfgang the following day at Shug's Hoose Party.[98] On November 15, Rhino returned to ICW to Fear & Loathing VIII, losing toJoe Coffey before a 4,000 person capacity crowd.[99]
On November 1, 2015, Rhino challenged thePro Wrestling Pride Heavyweight Champion Big Grizzly, in a championship match inPaignton,Devon. Grizzly successfully defended his title, and again in December in a four-way match inExeter also featuring the UK Dominator and Chris Andrews.[100] Rhino had four more matches in the company; completing three victories before a loss to 'Man Mountain' Lomaxx.[101]
Rhino was revealed to be the bodyguard hired byPrince Nana to protectThe Embassy from Homicide on June 13, 2011. In his debut match for the promotion on June 26 atBest in the World 2011, Rhino was defeated by Homicide in a Street Fight.[102] In his next ROH appearance at theDeath Before Dishonor IX pay-per-view on September 17, Rhino and fellow Embassy memberTommaso Ciampa defeated Homicide andJay Lethal in a tag team match.[103] In late 2011, after not appearing in ROH events for a couple of months, Rhino was removed from the ROH roster on the ROH website, signifying his departure from the company. Gerin returned to Ring of Honor television in April 2012 being traded from the Embassy toTruth Martini'sHouse of Truth and was announced as the opponent of "Die Hard" Eddie Edwards for the ROH Border Wars pay per view on May 12. Edwards pinned him. On September 15 atDeath Before Dishonor X: State of Emergency, Rhino unsuccessfully challengedKevin Steen for theROH World Championship.[104] Soon after, he was hired by the members of S.C.U.M. to attack the #1 contenderJay Lethal, but was stopped by Steen. At ROH 11th Anniversary Show, Rhino attacked Lethal after his match against Steen.[105] At the June 23 tapings ofRing of Honor Wrestling, S.C.U.M. was forced to disband, after being defeated by Team ROH in aSteel Cage Warfare match.[106] Gerin left ROH, shortly thereafter.
On June 20, 2014, Rhino returned to TNA during theImpact Wrestling tapings, as he attackedBully Ray on behalf ofEthan Carter III to help him win aTables match, re-establishing himself as a heel in the process. On the July 24 episode of Impact Wrestling, Rhino, Ethan Carter III andRockstar Spud defeated Tommy Dreamer, Bully Ray, and Devon in a 6-man New York City street fight. On the August 7 episode of Impact Wrestling, Rhino, Ethan Carter III,Snitsky, andRycklon facedTeam 3D, Tommy Dreamer andAl Snow in an Eight-Man Hardcore War but lost the match. On the August 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, EC3 blamed Rhino for Dixie Carter being put through a table two weeks prior and viciously attacked him. This turned Rhino face once again.[107] On the August 28 episode, Ethan Carter III defeated him. On the September 18 episode, he did it again in an NYC Street Fight. Rhino's profile was moved to the Alumni section of TNA's website on February 13, 2015, following his departure.
Rhyno made an unannounced return to WWE on February 18, 2015, during the taping ofNXT, defeatingElias Samson.[108][109] After a few weeks of defeating jobbers, Rhyno explained he was in NXT to win theNXT Championship. On the April 15 episode ofNXT, he lost toSami Zayn. On the May 6 episode ofNXT, after defeatingBull Dempsey, Rhyno challengedBaron Corbin to a match atNXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, which he lost. On the June 3 episode, following his loss toFinn Bálor, he gored Bálor on the stage, turning heel. On the July 1 episode, he teamed withKevin Owens and lost to Bálor andSamoa Joe.
In September, Rhyno and Baron Corbin entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeatingThe Ascension in the first round andJohnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in the quarterfinals. AtNXT TakeOver: Respect, they beatJason Jordan and Chad Gable in a semifinal before losing to Finn Bálor and Samoa Joe in the final. On the October 14 episode ofNXT, Rhyno competed in a battle royal to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Championship, where he was eliminated by Corbin. The following week onNXT, Rhyno lost to Corbin.
On the December 7, 2015, episode ofRaw, Rhyno made a main roster appearance as a face, where he joinedThe Dudley Boyz andTommy Dreamer as part of a revamped incarnation ofThe ECW Originals, confrontingThe Wyatt Family before competing in a 16-man elimination fatal 4-way tag team match, where they were eliminated byThe League of Nations.[110] AtTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, the ECW Originals lost to the Wyatt Family in an 8-man elimination tag team tables match and in an 8-man Extreme Rules match the following night onRaw.[111][112]
Rhyno made a surprise return on the July 6, 2016, episode ofNXT, interrupting a match betweenThe Hype Bros andBlake and Murphy.[113] On the July 20 episode ofNXT, Rhyno lost to NXT ChampionSamoa Joe by submission.[114]
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On the July 26 episode ofSmackDown Live, Rhyno returned to attack "free agent"Heath Slater with a Gore.[115][116] On the August 9 episode ofSmackDown Live, the two wrestled each other with the stipulation that if Slater won, he would be signed to theSmackDown roster. Rhyno defeated Slater. On the August 23 episode ofSmackDown, Slater was offered a spot in the tournament for the newly instatedSmackDown Tag Team Championship if he found a partner. After struggling to find a partner, Rhyno approached Slater and agreed to be his partner for the tournament.[117] Rhyno and Slater defeatedThe Headbangers in the first round andThe Hype Bros in the semi-finals to advance to the finals atBacklash,[118] where they defeatedThe Usos to become the inaugural champions, while also granting Slater a contract.[119][120] On the September 13 episode ofSmackDown Live, Rhyno and Slater defeatedThe Ascension to successfully retain the titles in their first defense following Slater's official live contract signing.[121] AtNo Mercy, Rhyno and Slater retained the titles against The Usos. AtSurvivor Series, Rhyno and Slater were the team captains for Team SmackDown in the10–on–10 Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination match, where they were defeated by Team Raw.[122] AtTLC on December 4, Rhyno and Slater's tag team championship reign came to an end at 84 days after they were defeated byThe Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt andRandy Orton).[123] Two days later onSmackDown Live, Rhyno and Slater received their rematch, but failed to regain the titles. AtElimination Chamber on February 12, 2017, the duo were the first entrants into the tag team turmoil match for the titles, eliminating Breezango and TheVaudevillains before being eliminated by The Usos.[124] AtWrestleMania 33, Rhyno competed in theAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which was won byMojo Rawley.
On April 10, both Rhyno and Slater were traded to Raw brand as part of theSuperstar Shake-up. On the June 5 episode ofRaw, Rhyno and Slater failed to win theRaw Tag Team Championship againstCesaro and Sheamus.[125] On the October 30 episode ofRaw, Rhyno and Slater defeatedThe Club in anAll Hallow's Eve Trick or Street Fight.[126] At theRoyal Rumble on January 28, 2018, Rhyno participated in the Royal Rumble match as the third entrant, this was Rhyno's first appearance in14 years at the namesake pay-per-view match but was eliminated byBaron Corbin. AtWrestleMania 34, Rhyno competed in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but was unsuccessful.On the December 3 episode ofRaw, General Manager Baron Corbin created a match between Rhyno and Slater, where the loser would be fired from Raw. Rhyno lost the match and was subsequently forced to leave the brand.[127] After Corbin was removed from power, he returned to Raw to aid Slater against an attack fromJinder Mahal on the December 24 episode ofRaw.[128] The following week onRaw, Rhyno and Slater lost to Mahal andThe Singh Brothers.[129]
Following the December 31 episode ofRaw, Rhyno again disappeared from WWE television. Over January and February 2019, he wrestled a handful of matches at WWE house shows, with the most recent being on February 24.[130][131] He made a few cameo appearances onRaw without wrestling.[132] His profile on WWE.com was moved to the Alumni section around this time. He returned to action in theAndre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal atWrestleMania 35,[133] but following that he did not return to live events.[131] On May 1, International Wrestling Cartel (IWC) announced that Rhyno would return there in 2019.[134]
Rhyno later revealed that he decided to leave the company once his contract expired on July 17. This was his decision even though WWE offered him more than double his current downside guarantee. He declined the offer because he was not being used by the promotion and wanted to wrestle more often.[135][136]
Rhyno showed up at anImpact Wrestling pay per view in a mask on July 7, while still under contract with WWE.[137] Reports indicated that WWE did not have a significant issue with him doing this, and he would not be punished for it.[138] Part of the reason for Rhyno's departure from the WWE, was the founding of his business, Big Daddy's Boat Yard.[139]
Rhino's first match back on the independent circuit was on July 26, forSami Callihan's promotion The Wrestling Revolver.[140] In the match he teamed with Tommy Dreamer,Eddie Edwards andJimmy Jacobs againstOhio Versus Everything (Sami Callihan,Jake Crist,Dave Crist andMadman Fulton) in an Extreme rules Tornado tag match.[141]
On October 10, 2020, at Xtreme Intense Championship Wrestling, Heath and Rhino defeated DBA and Jaimy Coxxx to become XICW Tag Team Champions, their first title win since becoming the inauguralSmackDown Tag Team Champions in 2016.[142]
On July 7, 2019, (whilst still under contract with WWE) he returned to TNA, now known asImpact Wrestling atSlammiversary XVII under disguise in all black and a black mask.[143] Here, he attacked theheelMichael Elgin, who was assaulting Impact commentator and Executive Vice-PresidentDon Callis.[137][144] Following his release from WWE, he was then advertised for the August television tapings ofImpact.[145] On the July 26 episode ofImpact, Rhino made his first Impact appearance since 2014, attacking Michael Elgin once again.[146] On October 20, 2019, onBound for Glory, he teamed withRob Van Dam where they challenged for theImpact World Tag Team Championship. At the climax of the match, Van Dam turned heel by attacking Rhino,Willie Mack, andRich Swann, losing the match in the process.[147] AtHard To Kill he was defeated byMoose in a No Disqualification match.
In 2020, after the debut of his former WWE tag team partnerHeath atSlammiversary, Rhino and Heath began a campaign to convince the company to sign Heath. AtVictory Road, Rhino and Heath teamed for the first time in Impact where they defeatedReno Scum. After the match, Scott D'Amore offered Heath a contract, then talks broke down. D'Amore eventually allowed Heath and Rhino to enter the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match atBound for Glory, and if either man won, Heath would get his contract. If neither won, Rhino would be fired. At Bound for Glory Rhino won after entering from number 1 position. According to backstage reports, Heath was planned to win the match, but an injury suffered during the match forced Impact to change the finish with the same outcome.
AtSacrifice on March 13, 2021, Rhino joinedViolent By Design (Eric Young,Deaner, andJoe Doering) by helping them defeatChris Sabin andJames Storm, turningheel.[148][149] On the May 20 episode ofImpact!, Rhino invoked hisCall Your Shot Gauntlet championship privilege as he and Doering defeatedFinJuice to win theImpact World Tag Team Championship.[150] AtSlammiversary, they lost the titles toThe Good Brothers in afour-waytag team match.[151] The following month atEmergence, they failed to regain the tag titles in athree-way tag team match.[152] After that, Young blamed Rhino for failing to recapture the titles[153] and they tortured him to cure him of "the sickness".[154][155] On the September 16 episode ofImpact!, Rhino was attacked by Young, Deaner, and Doering, thus kicking him out of the VBD.[156][157] At Bound for Glory, after weeks of indecisiveness and silence, Rhino finally broke free from Violent By Design and rejoined his old tag team partnerHeath.[158][159] Following Bound for Glory, the two teams continued to wage war with each other, especially after Young revealed he recovered from his knee injury.[160][161]Heath and Rhino decided to challenge VBD to one more match at Turning Point, which was accepted.[162][163][164] At the event Rhino and Heath were defeated. On October 8, 2022, during theImpact! taping, Heath and Rhino defeatedThe Kingdom to become to the newImpact World Tag Team Champions.[165] On the December 15, 2022 episode of Impact!, Rhino and Heath lost the titles toThe Motor City Machine Guns.
AtBound for Glory, Rhino competed in a Monster's Ball match which was won byPCO. On theTurning Point preshow, Rhino andGrado defeated Ryan Richards andMike D Vecchio. atFinal Resolution, Rhino defeatedMoose by disqualification which led to another match where Moose defeated Rhino in a Street Fight. AtHard To Kill, Rhino,Jake Something and PCO defeated Alpha Bravo,Oleg Prudius andDirty Dango. On theUnder Siege preshow, Rhino defeated VSK. AtBound for Glory, Rhino competed in the 20-personIntergenderCall Your Shot Gauntlet where he made it to the final two being eliminated byFrankie Kazarian during the show he was also inducted into theTNA Hall of Fame. atTurning Point, Rhino competed in theSix-way Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl match which was won byJoe Hendry.
On December 13, 2024, Rhino announced that he would be parting ways with TNA and his final TNA match took place at the Impact TV taping from the next day.
AtHard Times V, Rhino made his debut in theNational Wrestling Alliance by confronting Thom Latimer after his match against Carson Bartholomew Drake.[166] The NWA later announced that Rhino would challenge Latimer for the world title at theCrockett Cup, which was taking place at the2300 Arena. In which he was unsuccessful alongsideColby Corino who cash in his World title shot[167]
On the May 7, 2025 episode ofDynamite, Rhino made his debut inAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), unsuccessfully challengingNick Wayne for theROH World Television Championship.[168]
Rhyno has been featured as an intimidating powerhouse with combined feats of strength and speed, known by various nicknames such as "The Rookie Monster", "The Big F'n Deal", "The Man Beast", "The War/Gore Machine"[169] and "Dr. Kill".[170] His finishing move during his early career was aspike piledriver called theRhino Driver or theRhino Spike,[171][1][172] which he also used sometimes from thesecond rope[173] or the ring apron.[174] He later began using theGore as his finishing move which has been associated with his career since then.[3]
Rhyno made his film debut in the 2011 horror filmDeath from Above, alongside fellow wrestlerKurt Angle.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ECW Hardcore Revolution | First video game appearance |
| 2000 | ECW Anarchy Rulz | Cover athlete |
| 2001 | WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It | First WWF/E video game appearance |
| 2002 | WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth | |
| 2003 | WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain | |
| 2004 | WWE Day of Reckoning | |
| 2004 | WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw | |
| 2005 | WWE WrestleMania 21 | |
| 2008 | TNA Impact! | |
| 2017 | WWE 2K18 | First appearance in a WWE game in 12 years |
| 2019 | WWE 2K19 | Last video game appearance |
Gerin announced on March 4, 2016, thathe would run for theMichigan House of Representatives,[175] running for the15th District seat, which encompasses his hometown ofDearborn.[176] He said he was a Republican and had the approval of Vince McMahon,[177] whose wife, former WWE CEOLinda McMahon, had run in Connecticut for a United States Senate seat. IncumbentGeorge Darany, a Democratic state representative, was not eligible to run for reelection due to term limits. On August 2, 2016, it was reported that Gerin had won the Republican primary and would face Democratic primary winnerAbdullah Hammoud inNovember's general election.[178] Gerin was defeated by Hammoud in the election, 21,739 to 13,452, a margin of 8,297 votes.[179][180]On March 31, 2020, Gerin announced his run for Monroe Township Board of Trustee[181] forMonroe Township, Michigan.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Terrance Guido Gerin | 13,452 | 38.23% | |
| Democratic | Abdullah Hammoud | 21,739 | 61.77% | |
| Total votes | 35,191 | 100.00% | ||
| Turnout | 35,191 | |||
Gerin is close friends withAdam Copeland andJay Reso, best known by theirring namesEdge and Christian. Following theSmackDown taping on September 16, 2011, Gerin made a one-night return to WWE as a part of an "Appreciation Night" to celebrate Edge's career.[182] He also made an appearance at Edge's induction ceremony into theWWE Hall of Fame Class of 2012.[183]
I'm running under my real name, Terrance Guido Gerin.
Rhino came into the office and asked about his new contract now that he turned on EV 2. Bischoff handed him a piece of paper, which was not a contract, but simply the word "No" and had Fortune toss him out of the building. That was written to be his farewell, although that was certainly one with an open ending. It's a matter of agreeing to terms and he may not be able to find a better deal elsewhere and in that case, he could be brought back.
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