Steve Corino

Steve Corino

Class of 2024

Professional Wrestling Career[]

Early years (1994–1998)[]

Corino began wrestling in1994 and spent four years working on theindependent circuit. During this time, he was a part of the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts, a promotion run by Matt andJeff Hardy. Corino began an anti-hardcore gimmick on the independent circuit, because he felt he would have more chance of getting work if he did not work hardcore matches. He gained experience, working in Puerto Rico for theWWC, working under the ring nameLightning Kid (which had been agimmick previously used by Sean Waltman) and also made some appearances for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a jobber.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–2001)[]

In 1998, Corino debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as a heel manager. He stood out in ECW as a result of his "King of Old School" gimmick, where he would deride hardcore wrestlers, at one point invading a Limp Bizkit concert and protesting the immoral conduct.

In late 1999, Corino took Jack Victory on as a manager, and became an advisor for Tajiri and Rhino. He then began feuding with Dusty Rhodes, who defeated him in a gory Bullrope match at Living Dangerously 2000. At Heat Wave 2000, he lost toJerry Lynn. Corino went on to win the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on November 5, 2000 at November to Remember by defeating Justin Credible, Sandman and Champion Jerry Lynn in a DoubleJeopardy match; then to successfully defend it at Massacre on 34th Street in December against Jerry Lynn and Justin Credible in a 3-way dance.

Due to repeated failures of ECW paying Corino his salary, he left the company on January 7, 2001, the night he lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Guilty as Charged 2001 toSandman. His friend Dustin Rhodes got him a contract in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), but he never got to make an appearance despite being due to debut at the company's third to last PPV Sin. When World Wrestling Entertainment took over WCW in March 2001, they released Corino from his contract. He went on to wrestle for many of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) regional promotions. On April 24, he won theNWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Independent circuit (2001–2006)[]

Corino continued his feud with Rhodes in his Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion as well asSouthern Championship Wrestling and was part of the Extreme Horsemen with C.W. Anderson and Barry Windham. He was also part of the Extreme Horsemen in Major League Wrestling (MLW) withC.W. Anderson, Justin Credible and Simon Diamond. They were briefly managed by the legendary James J. Dillon before MLW folded. Also, Corino went on to win theMLW World Heavyweight Championship before the promotion was folded.

In 2004 Corino made a number of appearances for Frontier Wrestling Alliance in the United Kingdom, where he entered a short rivalry with Alex Shane. The feud culminated in the main event match of Hotwired, where Corino defeated Shane with the assistance of then FWA Heavyweight Champion, Doug Williams.

As Steve Corino was a major part of ECW towards the end of its run, rumors swirled surrounding Corino possibly signing withWorld Wrestling Entertainment and returning to his ECW roots as a part of the new version of ECW, but he squashed those rumors in a posting on his LiveJournal.

Instead of signing with WWE, Corino worked in various independent promotions, including Zero-One, Hustle in Japan, Ring of Honor in the United States and both One Pro Wrestling and Celtic Wrestling in the United Kingdom. He was also president of World-1 Fighting Arts, which runs shows in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002, 2003)[]

Corino also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) during its early days. Corino had matches with Low Ki and many other stars before leaving the promotion some time later.

Ring of Honor (2002–2006)[]

Responding to a challenge from The Backseat Boyz, Homicide invited anyone in the locker room to be his partner.Steve Corino made hisRing of Honor (ROH) debut and responded to his offer, resulting in the two facingthe Backseat Boys later that night. In the course of the match, Corino turned onHomicide afterHomicide accidentally hit him, Old School Kicking his partner and leaving the ring, enablingthe Backseat Boyz to easily defeatHomicide.

Homicide and Corino would then begin a four-year rivalry, with Corino criticizingHomicide's lifestyle and somewhat checkered past. The feud culminated in a match at the One Year Anniversary Show on February 8, 2003 in Queens, New York, New York.Homicide was the hometown favorite, but lost to Corino following interference from The Group (Samoa Joe, Michael Shane,C.W. Anderson and Simply Luscious), Corino's entourage. After the match, Corino applied a cobra clutch toHomicide, while the rest of The Group mocked New York City, instigating a worked riot.

Corino andHomicide had a rematch August 16, 2003, at Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies which saw Corino defeated. After twenty minutes of fighting which saw both men bleeding and carrying injuries,Homicide trapped Corino in a modified STF, prompting Corino's corner man,Guillotine LeGrande, to throw in the towel, awarding the match toHomicide. In the course of the match, Corino suffered a legitimate ruptured eardrum, and permanently lost most of the hearing in his left ear following a stiff slap to the side of the head fromHomicide.Homicide has since stated in a shoot interview that he is not sorry for costing Corino his hearing, claiming Corino had been stiff with him the whole match.

Homicide faced Corino for a third time on November 29, 2003, at War of the Wire in a barbed wire match. This time however,Julius Smokes threw in the towel forHomicide after Corino throttled him with a length of barbed wire. Corino offeredHomicide a handshake after the match, indicating that he finally respectedHomicide, butHomicide refused to shake his hand. On October 14, 2005, at Enter the Dragon, Corino returned toROH in a tag team match that saw him team with Colt Cabana to defeat Low Ki and Homicide.

On December 3 in New York City at Steel Cage Warfare,Homicide lost to Corino in a rematch from their feud of 2003 afterColt Cabana, under a mask, interfered in the match. During the match,Homicide separated his shoulder, but opted not to have surgery. As a result of his injury,Homicide was unable to compete at the following show, Final Battle 2005. He did show up, however, but with the intent on killingSteve Corino. Following Corino's match,Homicide ran down to the ring and attacked him.Colt Cabana ran down to the ring to save Corino, only to haveHomicide pour Drano down his throat.

He returned to ROH in August 2006 after a long absence, reigniting his feud withHomicide. The feud culminated on November 4 in Philadelphia, at The Bitter End whenHomicide beat Corino in a Fight Without Honor. Although the two still hated each other, they shook hands after the match and Corino allowedHomicide to shave his head.

In wrestling[]

• Finishers and signature moves
  • Superkick
  • Old School Expulsion
  • Northern Lights Bomb

• WithCW Anderson
  • Double Superkick

• Nicknames
  • "The King Of Old School"

• Tag teams and stables
  • Xtreme Horsemen
  • S.C.U.M.

Championships and accomplishments[]

• Absolute Intense Wrestling
  • AIW Absolute Championship (1 time)

• American Wrestling Association Superstars Of Wrestling
  • AWA Superstars World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - withRicky Landell
  • AWA Superstars World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• East Coast Wrestling Association
  • ECWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) - withLance Diamond

• Extreme Championship Wrestling
  • ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Ring of Honor
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - withJimmy Jacobs

• International Wrestling Federation
  • IWF World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Major League Wrestling
  • MLW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• National Wrestling Alliance
  • NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• NWA New Jersey
  • NWA New Jersey New York Championship (1 time)
  • NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• NWA 2000
  • NWA 2000 Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA 2000 American Heritage Championship (1 time)

• NWA Florida
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• NWA Pennsylvania
  • NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX
  • Zero-One United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (3 times) - withMike Rapada (1),C.W. Anderson (1), and with Yutaka Yoshie (1)

• Pure Wrestling Association
  • PWA Pure Wrestling Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• 1 Pro Wrestling
  • 1PW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• International Wrestling Association
  • IWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts
  • OMEGA Heavyweight Champion (1 time)

• Premier Wrestling Federation
  • PWF Universal Championship (4 times)
  • PWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with C.W. Anderson

• Funking Conservatory
  • FC ¡BANG! Television Championship (1 time)
  • FC Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Adam Windsor

• Pro Wrestling World-1
  • PWW-1 Tag Team Champion (1 time) - with C.W. Anderson

• Other Titles
  • IWA-PA Heavyweight Championship
  • PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • MEWF Mid-Atlantic Championship (1 time)
  • MEWF Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
  • MEWF Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Jimmy Cicero
  • IPWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • IPWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Adam Flash
  • USCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Adam Flash
  • IHPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • ESW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • SCW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • IWF American Championship (2 times)
  • KYDA Pro Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • KYDA Pro Mid-Atlantic Championship (1 time)
  • APW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • OPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • BWCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • GSW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • UXW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Improved Wrestler (2000)

External links[]

• Steve Corino Official site
• Steve Corino Profile at CAGEMATCH.net