 Steiner in 2025 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Scott Rechsteiner (1962-07-29)July 29, 1962 (age 63) Bay City, Michigan, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relative(s) | Rick Steiner (brother) Bron Breakker (nephew) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Scott Rechsteiner[1] Scott Steiner[2] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[3][2] |
| Billed weight | 276 lb (125 kg)[3][2] |
| Billed from | Detroit, Michigan[3] |
| Trained by | Dr. Jerry Graham Jr. The Sheik |
| Debut | August 14, 1986 |
Scott Rechsteiner (born July 29, 1962), better known by thering nameScott Steiner, is an Americanprofessional wrestler.
Steiner is known for his time inWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW), and has also wrestled forJim Crockett Promotions (JCP),World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/WWE),Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, later Impact Wrestling), andExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). He is a four-timeworld champion in wrestling, being aone-timeWCW World Heavyweight Champion, aone-timeWWA World Heavyweight Champion, and aone-timeWWC Universal Heavyweight Champion and a one-timeWWA World Heavyweight Champion (Indianapolis version). He is the eighthWCW Triple Crown Champion.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Steiner wrestled alongside his older brotherRick asThe Steiner Brothers. He has won several tag team titles, including theWWF Tag Team Championship,WCW World Tag Team Championship,IWGP Tag Team Championship, and theTNA/Impact World Tag Team Championship. He headlined multiplepay-per-viewevents for WCW andTNA, as well as the WWF'sSurvivor Series in 1993.
Scott Rechsteiner was born inBay City, Michigan, on July 29, 1962.[4][5] He was a folkstyle wrestler at 156 lbs during his time at theUniversity of Michigan. He became a three-timeBig 10 runner-up after finishing fifth as a freshman. In 1986, he became anNCAA Division IAll-American and placed sixth in the nation his senior year. His brother,Rick Steiner, also wrestled for Michigan and became a professional wrestler.
Rechsteiner trained under Dr. Jerry Graham Jr. at Torio's Health Club inToledo, Ohio, as well asThe Sheik,[6] and debuted under his real name in theIndianapolis-based World Wrestling Association in 1986. On August 14, 1986, inDearborn, Michigan, Rechsteiner defeatedThe Great Wojo for theWWA World Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until May 3, 1987, when he lost it to Wojo in Toledo. He then formed atag team with his trainer, Graham. On October 6, 1987, they defeated Chris Carter and Mohammad Saad for the WWA World Tag Team Championship. On December 6, they lost the title to Carter andDon Kent.[7]
In 1988, Rechsteiner joined theMemphis-basedContinental Wrestling Association (CWA) under his real name. He formed a tag team with Billy Joe Travis and defeated the Cuban Choir Boys for the CWA World Tag Team Championship on May 29. On June 6, they lost the title to Gary Young and Don Bass. Rechsteiner and Travis regained the title on June 27 and lost it to theRock 'n' Roll RPMs (Mike Davis andTommy Lane) on August 15. Rechsteiner formed a new tag team with Jed Grundy, and on February 18, 1989, they dethroned CWA World Tag Team ChampionsRobert Fuller andJimmy Golden. Rechsteiner's third and final CWA reign ended on February 25, when Fuller and Golden regained the title. He left the CWA soon after.
Rechsteiner, under the ring name Scott Steiner, debuted inWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) during a backstage interview atChi-Town Rumble, later accompanying his brotherRick to the ring as he lost theNWA World Television Championship toMike Rotunda. Scott would begin wrestling in singles bouts on WCW programming before the Steiners beganteaming together. The Steiners lost their first high-profile bout toKevin Sullivan & Rotunda atClash of the Champions VII but defeated them in a rematch at theGreat American Bash 1989. The Steiners also competed in the "King of the Hill" two-ring battle royal earlier in the show but were unsuccessful.
During this time, the Steiners were managed byMissy Hyatt and often brought their pitbull Arnold to the ring. Rick nervously began a relationship with a shy fan named "Robin Green" who eventually received a make-over and transformed intoWoman. Green was responsible for tripping up Scott atClash of the Champions VIII and costing the Steiners theNWA World Tag Team Championship as well as luring Scott into a parking lot assault by Sullivan and her new masked tag team,Doom. Doom, with Woman in their corner, defeated the Steiners atHalloween Havoc '89 after Woman interfered.
On November 1, 1989, inAtlanta, Georgia, The Steiner Brothers defeatedThe Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes andJimmy Garvin) for theNWA World Tag Team Championship. They held the title for over five months before losing it toDoom (Butch Reed andRon Simmons) inWashington, D.C., atCapital Combat.[7] The Steiner Brothers defeatedThe Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton andStan Lane) for theNWA United States Tag Team Championship on August 24, inEast Rutherford, New Jersey. During their title reign, WCW withdrew from theNational Wrestling Alliance (in January 1991) and the title was renamed the WCW United States Tag Team Championship. The Steiner Brothers competed in aWarGames match atWrestleWar 1991. After winning theWCW World Tag Team Championship on February 18, they vacated the United States Tag Team Championship, on February 20. After they won theIWGP Tag Team Championship fromHiroshi Hase andKensuke Sasaki at theWCW/New Japan Supershow on March 21, announcers began referring to them as "Triple Crown Champions".[7]
In 1990, Steiner began wrestling in singles matches. WCW's weekend TBS shows (Power Hour,Saturday Night, andMain Event), featured the NWA/WCW Gauntlet Series, in which a wrestler was selected to face a different top star on each show that weekend, winning $10,000 if they defeated all three. Steiner was the first to successfully "run the gauntlet" from September 21–23, defeatingBobby Eaton,Ric Flair andArn Anderson. On January 30, 1991, Steiner had aWCW World Heavyweight Championship match against Flair atClash of the Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite, which ended in a time limit draw. In late 1992 the Steiners temporarily disbanded when Rick suffered a torn pectoral muscle. Scott then started wrestling single matches, and then later teased a heel turn when he teamed withMarcus Bagwell againstSteve Austin andBrian Pillman on an October 10, 1992, episode ofWCW WorldWide. During the match Bagwell was injured when he was attacked by Arn Anderson and when Steiner went to tag Bagwell, he was unable to. An angry Steiner then kicked Bagwell and slammed him into the ring where he was attacked by Austin and Pillman who then won the match.[8] Shortly after he won theWCW World Television Championship on October 17, 1992.[9] Steiner later vacated the title when The Steiner Brothers left WCW for theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) that November, after a contract dispute with WCW Executive Vice PresidentBill Watts.[7][10]
WWF talent relation officialsPat Patterson andBruce Prichard were enamored with Scott Steiner and pitched an idea toVince McMahon for Scott to come in as a surprise entry into theRoyal Rumble in 1993 and win the event, then moving on to win the world championship atWrestleMania IX. However Vince was not keen on the idea and both the Steiners themselves voiced their desire to remain as a tag team, therefore Vince began booking them as such.[11] The Steiner Brothers made their WWF television debut with apromo on the December 21, 1992, episode ofPrime Time Wrestling. They appeared on the debut episode ofRaw on January 11, 1993. Theirpay-per-view debut came on January 24, at the1993 Royal Rumble, where they defeatedThe Beverly Brothers (Blake andBeau). At WrestleMania IX on April 4, The Steiner Brothers defeatedThe Headshrinkers (Samu andFatu).[7]
After WrestleMania, The Steiner Brothers feuded withMoney Inc. (Ted DiBiase andIrwin R. Schyster). AtKing of the Ring on June 13, The Steiner Brothers andThe Smokin' Gunns (Billy andBart) defeated The Headshrinkers and Money Inc. in an eight-man tag match. The following evening inColumbus, Ohio, in an untelevised match at aRaw taping, The Steiner Brothers defeated Money Inc. for theWWF World Tag Team Championship. Money Inc. regained the title on June 16, at ahouse show inRockford, Illinois, and lost it back to The Steiner Brothers at another house show, on June 19, inSt. Louis, Missouri.[7]
The Steiner Brothers defended the title againstThe Heavenly Bodies (Tom Prichard andJimmy Del Ray) atSummerSlam on August 30 in their home state of Michigan and walked away victoriously with a pinfall win.
On the September 13 episode ofRaw inNew York, New York, The Steiner Brothers defended the title againstThe Quebecers (Jacques andPierre) in a "Province of Quebec Rules" match, wherein the title could change hands via disqualification. The match ended when themanager of The Quebecers,Johnny Polo, threw ahockey stick into the ring and Scott caught it. When the referee saw Scott holding theforeign object, he disqualified The Steiner Brothers and awarded the title to The Quebecers. Scott defeated Pierre in a singles match the following week onRaw.[7] Steiner competed in the elimination match main event ofSurvivor Series, marking his only headlining WWF pay-per-view appearance. On January 22, 1994, Scott Steiner was the first entrant in theRoyal Rumble. After nine minutes, he was eliminated byDiesel. Following this, the Steiner Brothers left the WWF in mid-1994.[7]
In 1991, the Steiners worked forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling while under contract with WCW and WWF. On March 21, 1991, they defeated Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. They dropped the titles to Hase andKeiji Muto on November 5. Then On June 26, 1992, they defeatedBig Van Vader andBam Bam Bigelow for the titles. They dropped them toScott Norton andTony Halme on November 22. During their time in the WWF, they only did a few matches.
In 1994 after leaving the WWF, they returned to Japan as full-time workers until the end of 1995.
On July 28, 1995, The Steiner Brothers debuted inExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), at The Orange County Fairgrounds inMiddletown, New York, defeatingD'Von Dudley andVampire Warrior. Rick had been in ECW by himself since April 1995. On August 4, in The Flagstaff inJim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, they defeated D'Von Dudley and2 Cold Scorpio. They made theirECW Arena debut on August 5, atWrestlepalooza, teaming withEddie Guerrero to lose to Scorpio,Dean Malenko, andCactus Jack. On August 25, in Jim Thorpe, they defeated Scorpio and Malenko, and defeated Scorpio andChris Benoit the following evening. On August 28, they defeated Dudley Dudley andDances with Dudley in the Big Apple Dinner Theater inKennett Square, Pennsylvania.[12] AtGangstas Paradise on September 16, they teamed withTaz and lost toThe Eliminators (John Kronus andPerry Saturn) andJason. On September 23, in Middletown, they defeatedRaven andStevie Richards. Scott Steiner made his final ECW appearance on October 28, teaming with Taz and losing to The Eliminators.
The Steiner Brothers rejoined WCW in 1996, debuting on the March 11 edition ofMonday Nitro. They won the World Tag Team Championship fromHarlem Heat on July 24, but proceeded to lose it back to them just three days later. After the formation of theNew World Order (nWo), the Steiner Brothers feuded withThe Outsiders, who had won the World Tag Team Championship from Harlem Heat.[7] The Steiners won the tag belts atSouled Out on January 25, 1997. The following Nitro,Eric Bischoff stripped them of the titles and returned them to The Outsiders due to WCW refereeRandy Anderson, who was not an official referee for Souled Out, counting the fall. Harlem Heat would challenge the Steiners for their spot as contenders for the tag belts. The Steiners eventually won and earned a match with the Outsiders atRoad Wild on August 9. Scott would coverScott Hall for the fall butKevin Nash pulled refereeNick Patrick out of the ring and Patrick ended the match as disqualification. The Steiners finally won the belts on October 13, defeating Hall andSyxx, who wrestled in the injuired Nash's place via "Wolfpac Rules".
From mid 1997 into early 1998, Scott Steiner underwent noticeable physical changes, such as massively increasing his muscle mass, cutting his signaturemullet and growing a goatee.[13] During this period, Steiner feuded with nWo memberBuff Bagwell over who had the better physique. In early 1998, he began leaving Rick in the ring by himself during tag team matches, or starting the match without ever tagging his brother in.
On February 22, 1998, Steiner joined the nWo atSuperBrawl VIII, by attacking his brother Rick while they were defending the WCW World Tag Team Championship against The Outsiders, whom he personally handed the belts to. The next night, on Nitro he adopted a newgimmick,dyeing his hair and beardblond, and further increasing his muscle mass over the ensuing months.[7] Scott then adopted the nicknames "White Thunder", in reference to his bleached hair and goatee and his all-white singlet, and "Superstar", as a homage to"Superstar" Billy Graham. However, he soon discarded both nicknames, and instead proclaimed himself as "Big Poppa Pump". Steiner further altered his attire as he began wearing sunglasses andchain mail headgear as part of his ring entrance outfit.[14] He then began teaming with Buff Bagwell and feuded with Rick for much of 98. At the same time, the nWo would split into rival factions, nWo Wolfpack led by Nash and nWo Hollywood led byHollywood Hogan. Steiner and Bagwell established themselves as members of the latter. In November, Steiner would become leader of nWo Hollywood after Hogan went on hiatus.
In early 1999, Steiner would become a prominent member of a newly reunited nWo elite following theFingerpoke of Doom. He feuded withGoldberg,Diamond Dallas Page,Booker T, andThe Four Horsemen and won theUnited States Heavyweight Championship andWorld Television Championship. In March, he turned on Bagwell, kicking him out of the group, and eventually reunited with his brother. In mid-1999, he was sidelined with a back injury and stripped of the United States Heavyweight Title. On a December 1999 episode ofNitro, Steiner cut apromo to announce hisretirement from professional wrestling due to this injury. Later that evening, he revealed himself to, in fact, be in fine health, turning on and attackingSid Vicious. He continued to be a topheel into 2000 and joined the reformed nWo.[7]
After the nWo disbanded again, Steiner briefly joinedVince Russo and Eric Bischoff'sNew Blood stable before switching toThe Millionaire's Club, turning face for a brief time. AtSpring Stampede on April 16, 2000, he competed in a tournament for the United States Championship, defeatingThe Wall by disqualification when he blinded him, which caused Wall to accidentallychokeslam the referee through a table instead. He then defeatedMike Awesome by submission with his finisher, theSteiner Recliner before ultimately winning the tournament after defeatingSting in the finals, albeit due to interference from Sting's previous opponentVampiro. Steiner would also feud withTank Abbott and his brother, a now-heel Rick. Steiner would turn heel again on former nWo teammate Kevin Nash atBash at the Beach on July 9 by helping Goldberg defeat him in a match where fellow nWo alumnus Scott Hall's contract was on the line, joining the New Blood in the process.
On November 26 atMayhem, Steiner defeated Booker T to win theWCW World Heavyweight Championship, becoming aTriple Crown Champion in the process. In January 2001, Steiner became the centerpiece of Ric Flair'sMagnificent Seven stable.[15] He feuded with Booker T over several months and pay-per-views until losing the WCW World Heavyweight Championship back to him on the final episode ofNitro on March 26. After WCW was purchased by the WWF, Rechsteiner, unlike many of his colleagues, did not join the WWF and instead opted to wait until his contract withAOL Time Warner expired later that year before seeking other opportunities.[16]
After his contract with AOL Time Warner expired in November 2001, Rechsteiner joined theWorld Wrestling All-Stars, where he was reunited with his former WCW valetMidajah. He appeared at WWA house shows in Europe andAustralia throughout 2001 and 2002. At the third WWA pay-per-view,The Eruption, on April 12, 2002, at theRod Laver Arena inMelbourne, Steiner challengedNathan Jones for theWWA World Heavyweight Championship. Despite the presence ofWWA CommissionerSid at ringside, Steiner was able to cheat his way to victory, striking Jones with the title belt and making Jones submit with the Steiner Recliner. Steiner held the belt for several months (although never defending it) before vacating it in November 2002 and leaving WWA forWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[16] Before joining WWE, Steiner teamed with his brother Rick to defeatHiroshi Tanahashi andKensuke Sasaki on May 2, 2002, inJapan, on New Japan Pro-Wrestling's 30th Anniversary show.
In October 2002, Steiner signed a three-year contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, and returned to WWE television after an eight-year absence atSurvivor Series inMadison Square Garden on November 17. There, Steiner attackedMatt Hardy andChristopher Nowinski after they delivered a promo insulting New York City, establishing him as aface.
Over the following weeks,General Managers Eric Bischoff andStephanie McMahon both courted Steiner, each trying to sign him to their respective brand,Raw orSmackDown!. Bischoff was ultimately successful, after McMahon rejected Steiner's sexual advances.[16]
OnRaw in January 2003 Steiner began feuding withWorld Heavyweight ChampionTriple H, and his faction Evolution. They began competing against one another for strength and muscle conditioning leading to world title matches at theRoyal Rumble on January 19 andNo Way Out on February 23. Steiner won the first match by disqualification after Triple H attacked him with a sledgehammer, but lost the second match at No Way Out via pinfall. Both matches were not well received by fans with the first going on to win theWrestling Observer Newsletter's "Worst Worked Match" award.
On the April 14 episode ofRaw, Steiner faced off against Nowinski in a debate over theIraq War.[17] Later that year, Steiner formed atag team withTest, withStacy Keibler as theirmanager. The team lasted several months, and feuded withLa Résistance, losing to them atJudgment Day on May 18. They broke up after Testturned heel and beganmisogynistically treating Keibler. On June 15, Steiner defeated Test in a grudge match to win the managerial services of Keibler atBad Blood, but lost her back to Test in a rematch on the August 18 episode ofRaw. AtUnforgiven on September 21, Steiner faced Test with Keibler's managerial services again on the line with the extra stipulation that, if Steiner lost, he would become Test'smanservant. Steiner lost after Keibler's interference backfired, and the tag team was reunited at Test's behest. After another mistake by Keibler cost the team a match on the September 29 episode ofRaw, Steinerbelly to belly suplexed her, resulting in Steiner turning heel and teaming on better terms with Test as Keibler was forced to remain their reluctant manager. AtSurvivor Series on November 16, Steiner and Team Bischoff defeated Team Austin in a 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination match in which he was first man eliminated. On the December 1 episode ofRaw,Mick Foley fired(kayfabe) Steiner and Test, freeing Keibler as their manager. AtArmageddon on December 14, Steiner and Test competed in a Tag Team Turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship which was won byEvolution (Batista andRic Flair). On the January 19, 2004 episode ofRaw, Steiner lost to Goldberg in a triple threat match also involving Test. Steiner's last WWE match was as a part of theRoyal Rumble match at theRoyal Rumble on January 25, lasting six minutes before being eliminated by Booker T. Steiner suffered an injury, sidelining him for two months. While injured, he was released from WWE on August 17.
Rechsteiner underwent foot surgery in July 2004, having six screws inserted into his foot, a tendon transplant, and abone graft. He then convalesced in acast for eight months. Scott Steiner returned to the ring on August 28, 2005, inAsheville, North Carolina for theindependentpromotion, Universal Championship Wrestling, teaming with his brother Rick in 2006. On June 10, 2006, they defeatedDisco Inferno and Jeff Lewis. He wrestled briefly in LAW, alongside Buff Bagwell, and feuded with the tag team Fame and Fortune.[18][19][20]
On March 11, 2006, the Steiner Brothers defeated Eddie Venom and Elvis Elliot at a UCW wrestling show in Bay City, Michigan.
On June 2, 2006, the Steiner Brothers defeated Elvis Elliot andOriginal Sinn (Sinn Bodhi) at a UCW wrestling show at Bay City Western High School in Auburn, Michigan entitled "Steiner Brothers Return Home."
Steiner debuted inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) atDestination X on March 12, 2006, as a heel, before making hisImpact! debut on March 18, identifying himself asJeff Jarrett'sbodyguard. In subsequent weeks, he attacked TNA wrestlers and staff, demanding to be hired.
AtLockdown on April 23, Steiner, Jarrett, andAmerica's Most Wanted lost to Sting,A.J. Styles,Ron Killings, andRhino in aLethal Lockdown match. Steiner and Jarrett then challengedSting and a partner of his choosing to face them atSacrifice on May 14. Sting hinted at three potential partners (Buff Bagwell,Lex Luger and Rick Steiner) before choosingSamoa Joe. Sting and Joe defeated Steiner and Jarrett.
After failing to defeat Sting to qualify for the thirdKing of the Mountain match, Steiner lost to Samoa Joe atSlammiversary on June 18. AtVictory Road on July 16, he faced Joe, Sting, andChristian Cage in a four-way bout to decide the number one contender for Jarrett'sNWA World Heavyweight Championship. Sting pinned Steiner to win, and Steiner resumed his role as Jarrett's bodyguard. He then faced Christian Cage on the August 10Impact and was in Jarrett's corner atHard Justice on August 13 before disappearing from TNA.
On February 8, 2007, Steiner returned as NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage's "special consultant", in Cage's match withKurt Angle atAgainst All Odds on February 11, interfering to cost Angle the match and joiningChristian's Coalition. Steiner eliminated Angle in a gauntlet match to determine a number one contender, then lost to him atDestination X on March 11. AtLockdown on April 15, Steiner was part of Team Cage, which lost to Team Angle in a Lethal Lockdown match.
AtSacrifice on May 13, the Steiner Brothers reunited. They were scheduled to wrestleTeam 3D in a "dream match" atSlammiversary on June 17, but Scott was replaced byRoad Warrior Animal after suffering a severe throat injury.[21] Steiner returned on July 15, atVictory Road, costingBrother Ray a match. AtBound for Glory on October 14, The Steiner Brothers defeated Team 3D in a 2-out-of-3 Tables Match. AtGenesis on November 11, they unsuccessfully challenged the tag team champions, Tomko and A.J. Styles.
AtTurning Point on December 2, Steiner competed in the "Feast or Fired Battle Royal", winning a briefcase containing a contract for aTNA World Heavyweight Championship match. On the December 13 episode ofImpact!, he beatPetey Williams,B.G. James, andChristopher Daniels. Following the match,Jim Cornette offered him$50,000 for his briefcase, which he refused. Steiner then switched briefcases with Petey Williams (which contained anX Division Title contract), stating afterwards he would get his original briefcase back the next week. AtAgainst All Odds on February 10, 2008, Steiner defeated Williams to win both briefcases, after a distraction from an unknown woman later introduced asRhaka Khan. After winning both cases, Steiner issued a challenge to anyone, which Williams answered. Williams lost after more interference by Khan. Steiner then took Williams as hisprotégé and gave him the X Division briefcase on the April 17 edition ofImpact!. Later that night, Williams cashed in the opportunity, beatingJay Lethal for the X Division title with the Canadian Destroyer. AtSacrifice on May 11, Steiner cashed in his briefcase and faced Samoa Joe for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. During the lead-up to the match, Steiner would make his now-infamous "Scott Steiner math" promo by saying that Samoa Joe had "8 and a1⁄3% chance of winning" while Steiner had "141 and2⁄3% chance of winning".[22] However, Kurt Angle fell out of the mix by suffering an injury, which rendered Professor Steiner's arithmetic obsolete. He lost, and tore his ACL, sidelining him and requiring surgery.
On the October 30Impact!, Steiner returned, joiningThe Main Event Mafia and attacking several wrestlers with a lead pipe. On the November 13Impact!, he turned on former protégé Petey Williams after Williams tried to talk with him about the Main Event Mafia situation. Steiner threw him off a ladder and the Main Event Mafia attacked him backstage.
AtGenesis on January 11, 2009, Mick Foley, A.J. Styles andBrother Devon defeated Steiner, Booker T, andCute Kip when Foley pinned Steiner after adouble underhook DDT onto asteel chair. AtAgainst All Odds on February 8, Steiner pinned Williams after aSteiner Screwdriver to end their feud.
Steiner and Booker T then formed a tag team. AtVictory Road on July 19, they defeatedBeer Money, Inc. (James Storm andRobert Roode) for theWorld Tag Team Championship. AtBound for Glory on October 18, they lost the titles toThe British Invasion in afour wayFull Metal Mayhem Tag Team match (which also included Team 3D and Beer Money).[23]
On the following episode ofImpact!, Angle announced the disbanding of the Main Event Mafia, which Steiner refused to accept.[24] Steiner then feuded withBobby Lashley, defeating him in a Falls Count Anywhere Match atTurning Point on November 15.[25] The next month, atFinal Resolution on December 20, Lashley defeated Steiner in aLast Man Standing match.[26]
On February 4, 2010, Steiner's profile was removed from TNA's official website.[27] His departure from TNA was confirmed the following week.[28]
Steiner joined the Puerto Rican promotionWorld Wrestling Council (WWC) in March 2010, debuting in an angle where he attackedUniversal Heavyweight ChampionRay González.[29] On April 3, atCamino a la Gloria 2010, Steiner wrestled his first match for WWC, losing to González in a championship match.[30] On April 24, he defeated González in a rematch to become the new Universal Heavyweight Champion.[31] On May 29, he was stripped of the title, after a defense against González ended in a no contest.[32] On July 11, González defeated Steiner (in a match refereed byRicky Banderas) to regain the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship.[33]
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On the January 27, 2011, episode ofImpact! (taped January 12), Steiner returned to TNA as a face, saving Kurt Angle,Matt Morgan, andCrimson fromFortune andImmortal.[34][35][36] The next week, Fortune turned on Immortal and aligned themselves with Steiner, Angle and Crimson.[37] On February 13, atAgainst All Odds, Steiner, James Storm and Robert Roode defeated Immortal membersRob Terry,Gunner andMurphy in a six-man tag match. Steiner pinned Gunner after theFrankensteiner.[38] Steiner then began feuding with Rob Terry after Terry attacked him on the February 24Impact!, during a "posedown" between the two.[39] The following week, Steiner defeated Terry in a singles match.[40]
On the March 24Impact!, Steiner formed a tag team with Crimson and defeatedInk Inc. (Jesse Neal andShannon Moore). After the match, Moore disrespected Steiner. This led to a match between the two the following week, which Steiner won.[41][42] On April 17, atLockdown, Steiner and Crimson lost a four-way tag team number one contenderscage match to Ink Inc.[43]
On the next episode ofImpact!, Steiner turned heel by attacking Matt Morgan, after they had each announced their intention to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[44] The two brawled backstage on the April 28Impact!. On the May 26 episode of the now renamedImpact Wrestling, Steiner interfered in and cost Morgan his match with Jeff Jarrett. On the June 2Impact Wrestling, Steiner and Jarrett defeated Morgan and Kurt Angle, when Steiner pinned Morgan. AtSlammiversary IX on June 12, Morgan defeated Steiner in a singles match to end the feud.[45] On the June 30 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Steiner joined Immortal.[46] AtHardcore Justice on August 7, Immortal (Steiner,Abyss and Gunner) lost to Fortune (A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, andKazarian). AtTurning Point on November 13, Steiner andBully Ray lost to former Immortal stablematesMr. Anderson and Abyss in a tag team match.[47]
After three months of inactivity, Rechsteiner was released from TNA in March 2012.[48][49]
In 2010, Steiner defeatedBrutus Beefcake to become Canadian Wrestling International (CWI)'s first Heavyweight Champion in Caledonia, Ontario. He retained the title in matches against Kevin Nash and Big Van Vader.
Following his departure from TNA, Steiner began performing for various European promotions on a European tour. On May 31, 2013, the Steiner Brothers won the Preston City Wrestling Tag Team Championship before losing it the following day. On June 2, Steiner won the Dutch Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.[50] On June 23, the Steiner Brothers defeatedEddie Kingston andHomicide at theHouse of Hardcore 2 event.[51]
On June 7, 2015, Steiner was pinned byRob Van Dam atCiti Field`s Legends of Wrestling show. After the match Steiner andDoc Gallows attacked Van Dam leading toGoldberg coming to the aid of Van Dam and spearing Steiner.[52][unreliable source?]
On April 23, 2017, Steiner returned to TNA (by then, renamedImpact Wrestling), aligning himself withJosh Mathews.[53] On July 2, 2017, atSlammiversary XV Steiner returned to action teaming with Josh Mathews in a losing effort toJoseph Park andJeremy Borash.[54]
At the April 22, 2018, television tapings Steiner was announced asEli Drake's partner for theImpact World Tag Team Championship match againstThe Latin American Xchange atRedemption.[55] Steiner and Drake went on to win the tag team titles. A few weeks later, Steiner and Drake retained the Impact World Tag Team Championships in a rematch against LAX.[56][57] On the May 17, 2018, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Steiner and Drake lost the Impact World Tag Team Championships toAndrew Everett andDJZ.[58] On the May 31, 2018, episode ofImpact Wrestling: Under Pressure, Steiner was defeated by his former partner Eli Drake ending their partnership following their title loss.[59][60] On the January 11, 2019, episode of Impact Wrestling, Steiner made a special return duringScarlett Bordeaux's Smoke Show segment attacking TheDesi Hit Squad.[61] On the August 2, 2019,Unbreakable event, he teamed up with Petey Williams andJordynne Grace defeated Dicky Mayer,Gentleman Jervis andRyan Taylor this was Steiner's last match in TNA.[62]
Steiner made a surprise appearance at the December 17 tapings ofNWA Powerrr.[63] He was next seen on the January 7 episode where he was revealed to be the third member ofNick Aldis' team.[64] He made his in ring debut on the following weeks episode, coming up short against teamMorton.[65] Steiner challengedAron Stevens for theNWA National Championship at theHard Times PPV. He defeated Stevens via Disqualification, meaning Stevens retained the championship.[66]
On April 1, 2022, the Steiner Brothers were inducted in theWWE Hall of Fame[67]
During his early years working with his brother Rick, they used an athletic style mixed with amateur background focused on suplex-based moves.[68] He also created and popularized the Frankensteiner move, aHuracánrana where the opponent does not hit the ring with their back, but with their head instead.[69][70] He also created the Steiner Screwdriver, a vertical suplex transitioned into a reverse piledriver.[71][72]
Talking about his time as WCW World Champion, Eric Bischoff praised Steiner's skills and said, "I liked what he could do in the ring and his in-ring abilities were nothing short of amazing [but] he was volatile in and out of the ring."[73]
On May 1, 2008, during the build up to that year'sSacrifice, before his match against Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle, Steiner cut a promo talking about his chances of winning. This promo is notable due to Steiner's humorous abuse of numbers, percentages, and math.[74][75] His "Steiner Math" promo has been parodied several times by wrestlers and other people not associated with wrestling.[76][77][78]
In 2000 Steiner made an appearance inCharmed season 3 “Wrestling with Demons”
In 2001 Steiner appeared in an episode ofThe Jersey calledThe Sadie Incident alongsideBooker T
In 2017, Steiner made acting debut in Costa Rican-Indian film1 Chor 2 Mastikhor.[79]
In 2022 Steiner made an appearance onJudge Steve Harvey with wrestling promoter Ronnie Gossett.[80]
From April 2016 until August 2020, Rechsteiner and his wife operated aShoney's restaurant inAcworth, Georgia.[81]
Steiner has been married to Christa Podsedly since June 7, 2000. They have two children together, Brandon and Brock. Brandon is apoint guard on theVirginia Tech men's basketball team,[81] while Brock playsfootball forJacksonville State and is aWWE NIL prospect.[82] His nephewBronson Rechsteiner is also a professional wrestler and is currently signed to WWE, performing under the name Bron Breakker.[83]
Rechsteiner's weight gain in the late 1990s led to allegations ofsteroid abuse, which he denied. Upon returning to WWE in late 2002, he was asked to undergo a steroid test, and agreed on the condition thatTriple H take one as well; he claims that WWE did not follow through with either test.[84]
On April 21, 1998, inCherokee County, Georgia, Rechsteiner threatenedGeorgia Department of Transportation employee Paul Kaspereen after Kaspereen informed him that anexit ramp leading offInterstate 575 was closed. He then hit Kaspereen twice with hisFord F-250 pickup truck. Kaspereen was not seriously hurt. Rechsteiner was subsequently arrested and pleaded guilty on March 17, 1999, toaggravated assault and making terroristic threats, both of which arefelonies carrying a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Under Georgia's first-offender rules, which stipulate that a first-time offender will be foundnot guilty if they do not violate the terms of their probation, Judge C. Michael Roach sentenced Rechsteiner to 10 days inCherokee County Jail. He also placed Rechsteiner on seven years'probation; ordered him to pay$25,000 in fines, restitution, and legal fees; and made him perform 200 hours ofcommunity service.[13][16]
In December 2005, Rechsteiner,Lex Luger, andBuff Bagwell were removed from a flight fromMinneapolis toWinnipeg following a disturbance on board the plane. They were detained for several hours before Rechsteiner and Bagwell were released and permitted to continue on their journey; Luger, however, was held without bail and later charged and jailed. Rechsteiner would later refer to the incident during his in-character interviews, describing himself as a violent criminal with little regard for the forces of law and order.[85]
Following his departure from TNA, Rechsteiner began expressing his disdain with TNA management viaTwitter, specificallyHulk Hogan andEric Bischoff.[86] As a result, he was contacted by TNA's attorneys.[87] After he continued making similar remarks, TNA filed a legal complaint against him in June 2012.[88] He responded by filing a countersuit against TNA on September 10, claiming he was owedroyalties.[89] It was reported in November that a second lawsuit was filed by Rechsteiner, claiming he was injured as a result of TNA officials such as Hogan allowingJeff Hardy to wrestle him while intoxicated.[90] TNA's lawsuit against Rechsteiner was dismissed by a judge in February 2016.[91]
Rechsteiner was banned from attending the 2015WWE Hall of Fame ceremony after Hogan's wife accused him of accosting her at aSan Jose airport. Hogan's wife alleged that he threatened to kill Hogan, and the couple subsequently reported the incident to police. Rechsteiner denies making the death threat.[92]
At a TNAhouse show inSan Juan on June 3, 2007, Rechsteiner was kicked in the throat by his opponentApolo. After he begancoughing up blood, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with atorn trachea and given five hours to live. He was put in aninduced coma for two days, while doctorscut through his ribs and lung to repair the tear, then begandraining fluid from his lungs for the next two weeks. Unable to fly because the change in air pressure would have caused his lungto collapse, he eventually left on acruise ship and arrived in the Mainland U.S. one week later.[93]
On March 6, 2020, during anImpact! taping in Atlanta it was reported that Reichsteiner had collapsed backstage and hadstopped breathing, requiring his heart to be shocked with adefibrillator and being rushed to the hospital.[94] He subsequently had a heart procedure after the health scare.[95][96]
1 This Mid-Atlantic promotion, while currently operating out of the same region of the United States and having revised some of the championships used by the original Mid-Atlantic promotion, is not the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett Jr. and was sold to Ted Turner in 1988. It is just another NWA affiliated promotion.
2 Had won a match with the other Feast or Fired winners for an opportunity to trade his unopened case with someone else choosingPetey Williams' case and when his new case was opened it contained the X Division Title match. Later gave the case to back to Williams.
3 Defeated Petey Williams to reclaim his original briefcase
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