| Abyss | |
|---|---|
 Abyss in 2018 | |
| Birth name | Christopher Joseph Park[1] |
| Born | (1973-10-04)October 4, 1973 (age 51)[2] Washington, D.C., U.S.[1] |
| Alma mater | Ohio University |
| Spouse | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Abyss Chris Justice[1] Chris Parks Joseph Park Joseph Park Esq.[3][4] Justice[2] The Original Terminator[1][2] Prince Justice[1][2] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 8 in (203 cm)[5] |
| Billed weight | 350 lb (159 kg)[5] |
| Billed from | Parts Unknown[5] Chicago, Illinois[6] |
| Trained by | Roger Ruffen[1] |
| Debut | January 19, 1995[7] |
| Retired | January 2019[8] |
Christopher Joseph Park (born October 4, 1973) is an American retiredprofessional wrestler, who is signed toWWE as aproducer. He is best known for his time withTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under thering nameAbyss.
He became aone-timeNWA World Heavyweight Champion. He is the heaviest wrestler to hold theX Division Championship and was the longest reigningTelevision Champion. In thetag team division, he held theNWA World Tag Team Championshiponce withA.J. Styles, and theTNA World Tag Team Championshiptwice, once withJames Storm asThe Revolution, and once withCrazzy Steve asDecay.
Having won all the required championships, he was the fourth man to complete theTriple Crown Championship and the second to complete theGrand Slam Championship. He also wrestled in Impact Wrestling as Abyss'sstoryline brother/split personality, Joseph Park. He was also the longest-tenured member of the Impact Wrestling roster, having remained with the company from 2002 to 2019. In 2018, he was inducted into theImpact Hall of Fame by his longtime manager,James Mitchell.
Christopher Joseph Park was born inWashington, D.C.[1][9] He attended St. Joseph High School inCleveland, Ohio, where he playedfootball.[1] He attendedOhio University, where he playedoffensive tackle for theBobcats and eventually earned two degrees,[10] the latter being a master's degree in sports administration.[11]
Park was trained by Roger Ruffin of the Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF).[1] He won his debut match by disqualification.[1] For the first few years of his career, Park worked in the NWF as theOriginal Terminator,Chris Justice, and thenPrince Justice.[1] In 2001, Parks worked forNWA Wildside, where he won the NWA Wildside Tag Team Championship withA.J. Styles.[1] He also wrestledJerry Lawler in Memphis Power Pro Championship Wrestling.[1]
Park was then discovered byDutch Mantel, who at the time was booking theIWA Puerto Rico, when Mantel attended the first everTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) pay-per-view inHuntsville, Alabama on June 19, 2002. Park appeared at the pay-per-view in theGauntlet for the Gold match under the ring nameJustice. Mantel then booked Park to appear in the IWA. TheAbysscharacter was given by Mantel[12] and first appeared in IWA at Golpe de Estado in July 2002 in front of 13,000 fans at the Roberto Clemente baseball park inCarolina, Puerto Rico, when he attacked and disabledShane the Glamour Boy, who was scheduled to appear in the main event that night versusSavio Vega. While working for the company, Park held theIWA Hardcore Championship,IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, andIWA World Tag Team Championship.[1] Park worked in the IWA under Mantel for approximately one year until he rejoined TNA in 2003.
Chris Park appeared on TNA's first ever weekly Pay-Per-View show on June 19, 2002, under the moniker Justice. He took part in the Gauntlet For The Gold match to crown a newNWA World Heavyweight Champion but was eliminated.
Park returned to TNA as "The Monster" Abyss in June 2003, debuting as avillain and attacking Erik Watts, although the feud was short lived. Afterward, Park was brought in as a bodyguard toKid Kash. They continued to be allies until October, when Kash betrayed Abyss for losing a match and Abyss turned on and attacked Kash.[1] Abyss gained a victory over Kash, but then lost aFirst BloodSteel Chair on a Pole match to his former partner. Soon after the loss the feud between the two ended. Soon after, Abyss aligned himself withDon Callis. With this new alliance, Abyss soon feuded withRaven. The feud lasted for the rest of 2003, with the final match pitting Abyss and theRed Shirt Security (Kevin Northcutt andLegend) against Raven andThe Gathering in aSteel Cage match. Abyss and his team came out victorious when the Gathering turned on Raven.
Going into 2004, Abyss entered his first major feud withAJ Styles. On one show, Abyss was forced to team with Styles in anNWA World Tag Team Championship match against champions Red Shirt Security, with Abyss and Styles winning the title.[1] Abyss later defeated Styles to gain control of the title.[1] Afterward, both men fought to a no-contest in aFalls Count Anywhere match. The next show, Abyss defeated Styles again, this time in aladder match to become the top contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[1] Abyss lost the right to Raven in a match that also involved Styles andRon Killings.
About a month after the feud with Styles, Abyss received a new manager,Goldy Locks.[1] She used Abyss to defeat her ex-boyfriendErik Watts to win his contract.[1] She kept using Abyss to win contracts for her, while also addingAlex Shelley to her group to assist.[1] Watts later returned for revenge, with Abyss, Shelley, and Goldy Locks taking on Watts,Sonny Siaki, andDesire in aSix-Person Mixed Tag Team match.[1] During the match, Abyss turned on his team by attacking Goldy Locks.[1] Not long after separating from Goldy Locks, Abyss began to feud withMonty Brown and Raven. The feud escalated into the first-everMonster's Ball match at TNA's first monthly pay-per-view,Victory Road on November 7. At Victory Road, Brown won the match when he pinned Raven. Abyss and Brown continued to feud until they met in aSerengeti Survival match atTurning Point on December 5, when Brown again came out victorious.
Abyss then appeared atFinal Resolution on January 16, 2005, attackingJeff Hardy.[1] This attack led to aFull Metal Mayhem match between the two atAgainst All Odds on February 13 with the winner becoming the top contender to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Abyss won the match.[1] In the rematch atDestination X on March 13 in a Falls Count Anywhere match, Hardy won.[1] Abyss then set his sights on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and he wrestled A.J. Styles for the #1 contendership atLockdown on April 24 in a Six Sides of Steel match.[1] Styles won the match and the contendership, and Park suffered a separated shoulder.[1] He, however, returned to action in theGauntlet for the Gold match atHard Justice on May 15.[1] With this win, he gave himself entry into theKing of the Mountain match atSlammiversary on June 19, pitting him against NWA World Heavyweight Champion A.J. Styles,Monty Brown, Raven, andSean Waltman with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on the line, which Raven won.[1]
Abyss, not happy with the loss, attacked Raven on the followingImpact!, and got Raven's old nemesis,James Mitchell as Abyss's new manager. After weeks of attacks, Raven attempted to gain revenge on Abyss in aSteel Chain Dog Collar match under No Surrender rules atNo Surrender on July 17 with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on the line. In the end, Raven pinned Abyss to retain the title.[1] Abyss was not happy and showed it by attackingLance Hoyt on the followingImpact, setting up a match atSacrifice on August 14. Abyss defeated Hoyt at Sacrifice, and during the main event, attackedSabu. With the war beginning, Abyss and Sabu met in aNo Disqualification match atUnbreakable on September 11, with Abyss defeating Sabu.[1] They battled again atBound for Glory on October 23 in theMonster's Ball II match that also involved Jeff Hardy andRhino, with Rhino winning the encounter. During the match, Jeff Hardy gave Abyss aSwanton Bomb through a table from approximately 22 ft 0in.[1] Abyss and Sabu continued to fight, leading to another No Disqualification match atGenesis on November 13, with Abyss again defeating Sabu.[1] Due to interference from Sabu, Abyss lost to Jeff Hardy on the November 26 episode ofImpact!.[13] A Barbed Wire Massacre match atTurning Point on December 11 ended the feud.[1] The match was voted TNA's 2005 Match of the Year. In the end, Sabu won the contest, getting his first pinfall over Abyss.
To close out the year, Abyss and Mitchell joinedPlanet Jarrett. As a favor toScott D'Amore, Mitchell agreed to have Abyss take care of Rhino. Abyss and Rhino wrestled atFinal Resolution on January 15, 2006, with Abyss coming out victorious.[1] They had another match atAgainst All Odds on February 12 in a Falls Count Anywhere match, which Rhino won.[1] The feud ended atDestination X on March 12, with Abyss teaming withJeff Jarrett andAmerica's Most Wanted against Rhino,Ron Killings, andTeam 3D in anEight Man Tag Team War match. Abyss and his allies won when Jarrett pinned Killings. Now that Rhino was out of the way, Abyss and Mitchell set their sights on NWA World Heavyweight ChampionChristian Cage, including stalking his wife for several weeks.[1] This storyline set up an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match atLockdown on April 23 in a Six Sides of Steel match in the main event.[1] Cage won and retained the title, but Abyss attacked him and stole the belt.[1] AtSacrifice on May 14 in a Full Metal Mayhem match, Abyss lost to Cage, who regained his belt.[1] Abyss got one more title shot, however, by qualifying for theKing of the Mountain match atSlammiversary on June 18 by defeating Rhino in a qualifying match.[1] The match also included NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage, Ron Killings, Jeff Jarrett, andSting. At Slammiversary, Jarrett won the match.[1]
After Abyss dropped out of the title picture, his services were requested byThe James Gang to help them take onTeam 3D, which Mitchell accepted on Abyss's behalf. The two teams faced off atVictory Road on July 16 in a Six-Man Tag Team match. Abyss and The James Gang won after Abyss pinnedBrother Runt.[2] Brother Runt continued to feud with Abyss, challenging him to a match atHard Justice on August 13, which Abyss accepted. In the end, Abyss came out the winner.[2] Abyss and Runt still battled after this match, with Abyss defeating Runt in aThumbtacks match onImpact!.[2] After the match, Abyss was attacked by Raven, which led to aHangman's Horror match on another episode ofImpact!, in which Abyss came out as the winner.[2] Abyss went on to defeat Raven and Runt atNo Surrender on September 24 in a No Disqualificationthree-way match.[2] Abyss continue to feud with Runt and Raven, while also going afterSamoa Joe. Joe stole the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt, and Abyss's services were offered by James Mitchell to TNA Management to retrieve the belt, which they accepted. Abyss failed to retrieve the belt, but a match was set atBound for Glory on October 22: aMonster's Ball match featuring Abyss, Brother Runt, Raven, and Samoa Joe. Soon after the announcement,Jake "The Snake" Roberts was announced as thespecial guest referee for the match. At Bound for Glory, Abyss lost when Joe pinned Raven.[2] Abyss once again had his eyes on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, competing in theFight for the Right Tournament, winning the tournament to face Sting atGenesis on November 19 for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[1] Abyss defeated Sting at Genesis via disqualification to become the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion.[1] Following Genesis, Sting tried to reason with Abyss and turn him away from Mitchell, referring to Abyss as "Chris".[2] Christian Cage soon interjected himself into this, claiming to know a secret from Abyss's past and attacked both him and Sting.[2] Abyss successfully defended the NWA World Heavyweight Championship atTurning Point on December 10 against Sting and Cage in a three-way match.[2]
AtFinal Resolution on January 14, 2007, Abyss lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in athree-way elimination match against Sting and Christian Cage, after being the first man eliminated from the match and afterwards cost Sting the match.[1] On the January 24 episode ofImpact!, Sting revealed (after looking through public records, and once again using Abyss' real name) that Abyss had been in prison for shooting his father in the back three times, sending him into a coma which he survived.[1] AtAgainst All Odds on February 11, Abyss lost to Sting in aPrison Yard match, with Sting taking out Mitchell after the match.[2] AtDestination X on March 11, Abyss again lost to Sting in aLast Rites match.[2] On the March 22 episode ofImpact!, Abyss teamed with Sting to face Christian Cage and A.J. Styles. During the match, Mitchell returned with a woman who Abyss recognized. Abyss left with Mitchell and the woman, leaving Sting alone to fight Cage and Styles.[2] The following week onImpact!, during a meeting between Sting and James Mitchell, it was revealed that the woman was Abyss's mother,[1] and that she was the one who had actually shot Abyss's father, but Abyss took the blame to protect his mother. With Mitchell threatening to call the police and tell them the truth, Abyss was forced to obey him. As a result, atLockdown on April 15, Abyss joined "Team Cage" (Christian Cage, A.J. Styles,Scott Steiner, andTomko) to face Team Angle (Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Rhino, Sting, and Jeff Jarrett) in aLethal Lockdown match, which Team Angle won.[14] On the followingImpact!, after Abyss and Cage failed to win theNWA World Tag Team Championship from Team 3D, Abyss finally had enough, andturnedface by giving James Mitchell aBlack Hole Slam. But after Abyss got his bag of tacks and dumped them on the mat to chokeslam Mitchell on to them Cage, Styles, Steiner and Tomko attacked Abyss, beating him with a chair and a barbed wire baseball bat, which in the storyline, put him out of action.[2]
On the June 14 episode ofImpact!, Abyss returned, losing a King of the Mountain qualifying match to Cage by disqualification.[2] Following the match, Abyss attacked the referee, security, and several members of TNA staff while Cage escaped. AtSlammiversary on June 17, Abyss gained a measure of revenge on Cage, defeating his ally Tomko in aNo Disqualification match that ended after he gave Tomko theBlack Hole Slam onto glass.[15] After Slammiversary, Abyss aligned himself with former rival Sting and spoke for the first time in TNA, saying "Tomko... Styles... 3 days... Click... DOOMSDAY!", the phrase used by former manager James Mitchell. Abyss and Sting defeated Tomko and A.J. Styles atVictory Road on July 15, but not without receiving a message from James Mitchell himself, telling the two that his son,Judas Mesias, was coming to TNA.[2] Abyss and Sting continued to feud withChristian's Coalition after the event. On the July 26 episode ofImpact Abyss battled Styles in a No Disqualification match. During the match Abyss was dragged under the ring and when he re-appeared, he was covered in blood. Styles pinned Abyss after Tomko had slammed him onto a pile of thumbtacks and broken glass.[16] The following week Abyss and Sting defeated Cage and Styles in aladder match, after an assist from the debutingAndrew Martin.[2] By winning the match, Abyss could make a match against Cage, picking aDoomsday Chamber of Blood match atHard Justice on August 12 with Abyss teaming with Sting and Martin to face Cage, Tomko, and Styles.[17] At Hard Justice, Abyss's team would win the match when Abyss pinned Styles, thus earning Abyss the number one contendership to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[17] The followingImpact!, Abyss successfully defended his contendership against Cage in aFirst Blood match, but was attacked by TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Kurt Angle.[2] The lastImpact! before the event had Abyss score a pinfall victory over Angle in a tag team match, where he teamed withJay Lethal to face Angle and Sting.[2] AtNo Surrender on September 9, Abyss fell to Angle after tapping out to theankle lock.[18] Following the bout, James Mitchell appeared, and a hand ripped through the ring and dragged Abyss into the ring.[18] Abyss faced Angle in a rematch on the followingImpact!, this time in a Six Sides of Steel match. Abyss had Angle in Angle's ankle lock maneuver, when Judas Mesias appeared, coming out through the ring and attacking Abyss. Angle escaped, while Mesias choked out Abyss with barbed wire in the ring.[2] Two weeks later Abyss returned to attack Mesias and Angle, who were assaulting Sting and Rhino.[2]
Mesias then suffered an injury outside TNA, leaving Mitchell to enlist the aid of Raven andBlack Reign to feud with Abyss and Rhino. The four battled atBound for Glory on October 14 in aMonster's Ball match, with Abyss picking up the victory with a pinfall over Raven.[19] Following the event, Abyss battled against Mitchell and Black Reign, with Black Reign and Abyss attacking each other on several occasions.[2] Black Reign, after an attack by Abyss, challenged Abyss to aShop of Horrors match atGenesis on November 11, which Abyss accepted and won.[2] After the match, Abyss was attacked and thrown off the stage by Black Reign and a mysterious wrestler, later identified asRellik.[2] Following the event, Abyss continued to feud with Black Reign and Rellik and brought in Rhino to help him even. This rivalry led to aMatch of 10,000 Tacks with Abyss and Rhino teaming up to take on Black Reign and Rellik booked forTurning Point on December 2. Rhino could not make the event due to a legitimate neck injury caused by Rellik during a match onImpact!, so Abyss chose Raven as his new partner.[2] Abyss and Raven won the match after Abyss performed theBlack Hole Slam on Rellik on the thumbtacks.[2]
During the weeks following Turning Point, Mitchell threatened to reveal "a dark secret" of Abyss's past.[2] When Mitchell demanded Abyss tell the world the dark secret of his past, Abyss refused stating "The secret lives with me and it dies with me!".[2] Abyss then went to chokeslam Mitchell, which prompted the return of Judas Mesias. Following this event, Abyss and Mesias had ahardcore match atFinal Resolution on January 6, 2008, which Mesias won after aStraight to Hell onto a steel chair wrapped in barbed wire.[2] After the match, Father James Mitchell ordered Mesias to restrain Abyss. Mitchell again demanded Abyss tell the world the dark secret of his past. Abyss refused yet again, and Mitchell attempted to set him on fire. The storyline continued when Mitchell revealed on the January 17 episode ofImpact! that he was Abyss's father and Judas Mesias was his half-brother.[2] The next week, Abyss issued a challenge to face Mitchell and Mesias in a Barbed Wire Massacre atAgainst All Odds on February 10, where Abyss defeated his on-screen half-brother by performing aBlack Hole Slam onto a barbed wire board.[2]
On the February 14 episode ofImpact!, Abyss, who was scheduled for a match againstScott Steiner, left the ring before the match, because of the beating he took at Against All Odds, but before leaving through the tunnel, Abyss, without showing his face, took off his mask.[2] The official TNA website then took Abyss off the roster list. In the following weeks, vignettes of Abyss were shown where he was locked in anasylum.[2] Abyss returned to action atSlammiversary on June 8 after theX Division Championship match wearing a white asylum uniform with his inmate number and his last name 'Park' on the back and a new gray and black mask. He came to the ring attacking X Division ChampionPetey Williams, Scott Steiner, andRhaka Khan by performing a Black Hole Slam on each of them, and then carryingKaz out of the arena.[2]
Subsequently, Abyss did not have any matches, but made after-match run-ins to save other faces from assaults by heels.[2] He issued an open challenge on the September 4 episode ofImpact! to anyone in the locker room, which was accepted by Team 3D on behalf ofJohnny Devine in a hardcore match.[2] After nailing Devine with a chokeslam, Team 3D attacked Abyss, which causedMatt Morgan, whom Abyss had previously saved, to make a rescue. He handed Abyss a chair to attack Team 3D, but Abyss threw it away and left the ring. Abyss and Morgan though would unite as a team to counter the attacks of Team 3D.[2] The two teams met atNo Surrender on September 14 in a match, which Morgan and Abyss won.[2] AtBound for Glory IV on October 12, Abyss and Morgan competed in a four-way tag team Monster's Ball for the Tag Team Championship against Team 3D,The Latin American Xchange andBeer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode andJames Storm), but came up short after Roode pinned Hernandez.[2] During the match Abyss was powerbombed through a flaming table by Team 3D, which in storyline, caused Abyss to have third-degree burns and was sent to the hospital later that night and was treated for the burns.[2] On the November 6 episode ofImpact!, Abyss along with Matt Morgan won a four-team ladder match to earn a future shot at TNA World Tag Team Champions Beer Money, Inc.[2] AtGenesis on January 11, 2009, they lost in a three-way title match, which also included new championsLethal Consequences (Jay Lethal andConsequences Creed), when Abyss accidentally hit Morgan with a chair.[2] On the January 23 episode ofImpact!, Morgan hit Abyss in the head with a steel chair, which allowed Beer Money Inc. to retain the tag team titles, thus ending their partnership.[2] Abyss defeated Morgan in a match atAgainst All Odds on February 8,[2] but lost the subsequent rematches: a Match of 10,000 Tacks atDestination X on March 15,[2] and a Doomsday Chamber of Blood Match atLockdown on April 19.[2]
The latter ended in a loss when Abyss's "therapist",Dr. Stevie, interfered in the match, by attacking Abyss when he was on the verge of using weapons against Morgan.[2] Dr. Stevie had appeared in many therapy segments with Abyss up to that point, in which he would attempt to help Abyss get over his addiction to violence; sometimes going as far as to beat him.[2] At the following pay-per-view,Sacrifice on May 24, Dr. Stevie booked the first ever Knockout'sMonster's Ball match, in which Abyss would be in the corner ofDaffney, another patient of Stevie's, oppositeTaylor Wilde, the best friend of Abyss's "girlfriend",Lauren. Abyss turned on Dr. Stevie after the match, after Stevie first told him to attack Wilde and then threatened Lauren, at which point he grabbed Dr. Stevie andchokeslammed him onto a pile of tacks.[2] Abyss went on later to team up with Taylor Wilde atSlammiversary on June 21 to defeatRaven and Daffney in the first ever mixed tag teamMonster's Ball match.[2] Over the following month the feud between Abyss and Dr. Stevie continued, with Stevie kidnapping Lauren and shocking Abyss with a taser.[2] AtVictory Road on July 19, Abyss came to the ring in a new costume, having discarded the Asylum patient attire. Abyss went on to defeat Dr. Stevie by hitting a Shock Treatment, a Black Hole Slam and by shocking Stevie with his own taser.[2] On the July 30 episode ofImpact! enraged Stevie announced that he was not done with Abyss and placed a $50,000 bounty on his head.[2] After Lethal Consequences andJethro Holliday tried and failed to collect the bounty,Kevin Nash successfully defended hisTNA Legends Championship against Abyss atNo Surrender on September 20 and claimed the $50,000 bounty in the process.[20] On the September 24 episode ofImpact! Abyss's mentorMick Foley turned on him during and after aTNA World Tag Team Championship match against Booker T and Scott Steiner.[2] Foley revealed Abyss as the one who tore up his picture and beat him to a bloody pulp with a video tape and the baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire.[2] Abyss then challenged Foley to aMonster's Ball match which Foley accepted, but only after adding Dr. Stevie as the referee of the match.[21] AtBound for Glory on October 18, Abyss defeated Foley in the Monster's Ball match after counting the pinfall with the hand of the unconscious Dr. Stevie.[22] Two weeks later Abyss defeated Dr. Stevie via pinfall.[2] After the match Dr. Stevie attacked Abyss with a kendo stick when Mick Foley came to the ring to assist Dr. Stevie. Foley had Stevie hold up Abyss while Foley aligned himself up with a shot at Abyss with a kendo stick when Foley intentionally hit Dr. Stevie instead. Foley walked up the ramp without any reasoning for assisting Abyss.[23] The following week, Foley explained that he had played Dr. Stevie all along and had challenged Abyss to a match at Bound for Glory in order to test how tough he really was, seemingly returning to being a face. Afterwards Foley booked a match between Abyss and Stevie for the following week with the added stipulation that if Stevie lost the match, he would have to leave TNA.[24] On the November 12 episode ofImpact! Raven returned to TNA, saved Stevie's future in the company, by costing Abyss a match against him and threw a fireball on Foley's face.[25] During Abyss and Foley's feud with Stevie and Raven TNA shot an angle, in which Stevie set Abyss on fire, thatSpike wouldn't let them air on the channel and therefore had to be aired on the company's website.[2] AtFinal Resolution on December 20 Abyss and Foley defeated Stevie and Raven in a "Foley's Funhouse" tag team match to end the feud.[26]
WhenHulk Hogan andEric Bischoff took over TNA at the beginning of 2010, Abyss's TNA career was thrown into question by Bischoff, when Mick Foley refused to work with him.[27] When Foley finally agreed to work with Bischoff, he was booked to face Abyss atAgainst All Odds on February 14 in a No Disqualification match as part of the8 Card Stud Tournament, with the added stipulation that if a barbed wire baseball bat was not used during the match, Abyss would lose his mask on the following episode ofImpact!.[28] Abyss defeated Foley with the Black Hole Slam, just as he was going to use the bat.[28] In the semifinals of the tournament, Abyss was defeated byMr. Anderson.[28]
On the following episode ofImpact! Bischoff, with help fromDesmond Wolfe,Homicide, Raven, Rhino and Tomko, tried to remove Abyss's mask, only for him to be saved by Hulk Hogan.[29] An exasperated Hogan took Abyss to his office, gave him a pep talk about how he once was the most feared man in the company, and how sick he is of him being a neurotic mess. He offered his guidance and then his Hall of Fame ring and said that it would make Abyss a god of wrestling.[29] On the March 8 Monday night episode ofImpact! Abyss teamed up with Hogan in his in-ring TNA debut, a tag team match against Styles and Flair, who was also making his in-ring TNA debut. Abyss won the match by pinning Styles with a Black Hole Slam.[30] Afterwards, the returning Jeff Hardy saved Abyss and Hogan from a beatdown at the hands of Styles, Flair and Desmond Wolfe.[30] AtDestination X on March 21, Abyss failed in his attempt to win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Styles, when refereeEarl Hebner threw the match out after Abyss chokeslammed Styles through the ring.[31]
The following day onImpact! Abyss was announced as the captain of Team Hogan in the annual Lethal Lockdown match, where they would meet Team Flair, captained by Sting.[32] AtLockdown on April 18, Abyss, Jeff Jarrett,Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy defeated Sting, Desmond Wolfe, Robert Roode and James Storm.[33] On the April 26 episode ofImpact! Abyss defeated Ric Flair in a match, where Flair's and Hogan's Hall of Fame rings were at stake and as a result Flair lost possession of his ring to Hogan.[34] On the May 3 episode ofImpact!, Abyss aided Jay Lethal, who had been given possession of Flair's ring, Rob Van Dam, Team 3D, and Hulk Hogan fight off Ric Flair, AJ Styles, Beer Money, and Desmond Wolfe. Later that night, Abyss lost a Monster's Ball match to AJ Styles, after Flair and Desmond Wolfe's valet Chelsea interfered in the match.[35] The following week Abyss was given a shot at theTNA Global Championship, but was unable to compete after being arrested for allegedly assaulting Chelsea. Later in the night it was revealed that Chelsea and Wolfe, who was scheduled to face Abyss atSacrifice on May 16, had set Abyss up.[36] At Sacrifice Abyss defeated Wolfe to win Chelsea's services for 30 days.[37] The following month atSlammiversary VIII on June 13, Chelsea turned on Wolfe and helped Abyss defeat him in a Monster's Ball match.[38]
On the following episode ofImpact!, Abyss was forced to give Chelsea's custody back to Desmond Wolfe, much to the reluctance of Chelsea. Later in the night, he competed in a three-way match against Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy to determine a number one contender to Rob Van Dam's TNA World Heavyweight Championship, which ended in a triple countout. After the match, Abyss turned heel by destroying both of his opponents and having a heated confrontation with Hogan.[39] The following week Abyss revealed that he was being controlled by an entity, who was coming to TNA, before returning Hogan's Hall of Fame ring to him, shoving it down his throat.[40] On the July 15 episode ofImpact! the new top ten rankings were revealed with Abyss picking up the top spot to become the new number one contender to Rob Van Dam's TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[41] Abyss then began going after Van Dam with a new weapon, a board filled with nails, which he named Janice,[41] which led to Eric Bischoff booking him and Van Dam to face each other in aStairway to Janice match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, with Bischoff himself serving as the referee of the match.[42] The match took place on the August 12 episode ofImpact!, when Van Dam defeated Abyss to retain the title. After the match Abyss joinedFourtune members A.J. Styles, Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm,Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan in assaulting Van Dam and the rest of EV 2.0, a stable consisting of formerExtreme Championship Wrestling performers, during which he apparently hit Van Dam with Janice.[43] As a result of the attack Van Dam was sidelined with a storyline injury, which forced him to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship the following week.[44] This led to people like Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan and members of EV 2.0 targeting Abyss in order to avenge their fallen friend.[44][45] AtNo Surrender on September 5, Abyss defeated EV 2.0 member Rhino in a Falls Count Anywhere match.[46] Rob Van Dam returned on the September 23 episode ofImpact!, confronting Abyss and demanding a match against him atBound for Glory on October 10, which Eric Bischoff agreed to give him. Later that same night Abyss attacked Jeff Hardy, trying to make an example out of him, while also beating down the heavily taped up Van Dam, when he tried to make the save.[47] On the October 7 live episode ofImpact! Abyss was about to be fired by Bischoff for manhandling TNA presidentDixie Carter, but was saved by Van Dam, who threatened to quit the company if he wasn't allowed to face Abyss at Bound for Glory. Later in the night Carter agreed to let Van Dam face Abyss, but signed papers to have Abyss fired from TNA the day following the pay–per–view.[48] At Bound for Glory Van Dam defeated Abyss in a Monster's Ball match, after using Janice on him. At the end of the event it was revealed that the entity, who had been controlling Abyss, was an alliance of Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Jeff Jarrett and the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy, all of whom turned heel and aligned themselves with Abyss.[49] On the following episode ofImpact! the stable was namedImmortal, as it formed an alliance with Ric Flair's Fortune.[50] Afterwards, Abyss began attackingplanted fans, which led toD'Angelo Dinero challenging him to aLumberjack match.[51] The match took place atTurning Point on November 7, where Dinero's own brother and the rest of his lumberjacks turned on him, after being bought out by Eric Bischoff, and helped Abyss pick up the win.[52] The following month atFinal Resolution on December 5, Abyss defeated Dinero in acasket match.[53] On January 9, 2011, atGenesis Abyss replaced an injured A.J. Styles and defeated Douglas Williams, with help from an interfering Styles, to win theTNA Television Championship for the first time.[54] On the January 20 episode ofImpact!, as Immortal was attacking Kurt Angle,Crimson made the save for him and hit Abyss in the back with Janice, causing him storyline injuries, which indefinitely sidelined him from TNA.[55]
During his time away from TNA, Abyss was stripped of the TNA Television Championship on March 14 at the tapings of the March 17 episode ofImpact!.[56][57] Abyss returned at the following day's tapings of the March 24 episode ofImpact!, attacking Fortune, who had recently turned on Immortal.[58][59] On the April 14 episode ofImpact!, Abyss took revenge on Crimson, interfering in his match and chokeslamming him onto a guardrail.[60] On April 17 atLockdown, Immortal, represented by Abyss,Bully Ray,Matt Hardy and Ric Flair, was defeated by Fortune members James Storm, Kazarian and Robert Roode andChristopher Daniels, replacing an injured A.J. Styles, in a Lethal Lockdown match.[61] AtSacrifice on May 15, Abyss was defeated by Crimson in a singles match.[62] On May 16 at the tapings of the May 19 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss defeated Kazarian to win the TNA X Division Championship for the first time, continuing Eric Bischoff's war on the X Division. The win also made him aTriple Crown andGrand Slam Champion.[63][64] With his new title, which he dubbed the Xtreme Championship, Abyss dropped Janice, claiming to no longer need it, and started a newgimmick, which involved him reading and quotingSun Tzu'sThe Art of War.[65][66] On June 12 atSlammiversary IX, Abyss successfully defended the title in a three-way match against Kazarian andBrian Kendrick.[67] On July 10 atDestination X, Abyss lost the X Division Championship to Brian Kendrick.[68] Abyss received his rematch for the title in anUltimate X match on the July 28 episode ofImpact Wrestling, but was unable to regain the title.[69] Abyss's X Division storyline concluded two weeks later onImpact Wrestling, when Eric Bischoff, at the orders of "The Network", ended his war with the division and introduced a 225 lb (102 kg) weight limit to it.[70] Abyss's losing streak continued on August 7 atHardcore Justice, where he was pinned by A.J. Styles in a six-man tag team match between Immortal and Fortune, after which his stablemates abandoned him in the ring.[71] On the October 13 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss turned on Immortal and was afterwards beaten down by his former stablemates.[72]
Abyss wrestled his first match back as a face on the October 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, defeating former stablemateGunner via countout, when he fled the ring.[73] On November 13 atTurning Point, Abyss and Mr. Anderson defeated their former Immortal stablemates Bully Ray and Scott Steiner in a tag team match.[74] In December, a random draw placed Abyss and Steiner in the same team for theWild Card Tournament. After defeating Hernandez andRob Terry in their first-round match, the team was eliminated from the tournament, after Abyss turned on Steiner in their semifinal match against A.J. Styles and Kazarian. Afterwards, Abyss agreed to rejoin Immortal, should Bully Ray be able to defeat him in a Monster's Ball match.[75][76] On January 8, 2012, atGenesis, Abyss defeated Ray in the Monster's Ball match, but was assaulted backstage following the victory.[77]
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On the March 8 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park made an appearance without his mask, introducing himself as Joseph Park, Abyss's brother, and saying he was looking for his brother, who had not been seen since Genesis.[4][78] Park continued making appearances during the following weeks, eventually blaming Bully Ray for his brother's disappearance, which led to Abyss making his return on the May 10 episode ofImpact Wrestling and warning his brother that he was "getting too close to the fire".[79][80] On the June 7 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park agreed to wrestle Bully Ray atSlammiversary for his brother, which led to Abyss making an appearance through a video, threatening both Park and Ray.[81] Three days later at Slammiversary, Park defeated Ray in an Anything Goes match, following interference from Abyss.[82] Park and Ray had a rematch on the July 12 episode ofImpact Wrestling in an Anything Goes match, which Ray won after hitting his opponent with a chain. After the match, Park, at the sight of his own blood, attacked Ray and hit him with Abyss's signatureBlack Hole Slam.[83] On the September 20 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park was kidnapped by theAces & Eights stable, who used him to force Hulk Hogan into allowing the group to wrestle for TNA roster spots atBound for Glory.[84][85] On the October 25 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park and Hogan had a discussion in which Park wanted revenge on Aces & Eights, even going so far as showing Hogan a legal contract that allowed him to take whatever measures he feels are necessary against the group.[86] On the November 1 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park got a measure of revenge of his kidnappers by unmasking one of the members of Aces & Eights during a brawl between the stable and the TNA locker room. However, immediately afterwards, the now unmaskedDOC put Park through a table, which led to Park asking for a match against a member of the stable the following week.[87][88] Park received his match against DOC on November 11 atTurning Point, where he was unsuccessful.[89] On the following episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park announced he was going toOhio Valley Wrestling and train to become a wrestler.[90] Park returned on the January 10, 2013, episode ofImpact Wrestling, asking Hulk Hogan for a match against a member of Aces & Eights, which he was granted.[91] Three days later atGenesis, Park was defeated by Aces & Eights member and Television ChampionDevon in a non-title match.[92] On the January 31 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park won his first televised match when he defeatedRobbie E.[93] On March 10 atLockdown, Park defeatedJoey Ryan in a singles match.[94]
Park returned under his Abyss persona on the May 9 episode ofImpact Wrestling, joining Sting and Kurt Angle as their partner in the main event six-man tag team match against Aces & Eights' Bully Ray, Devon, and Mr. Anderson; Abyss chokeslammed Anderson through a table before hitting theBlack Hole Slam on Devon and pinning him for the victory.[95] The following week, Hulk Hogan called out Abyss to thank him for his services, however, Joseph Park came out and claimed he was continuing the search for his brother. During his promo, Devon interrupted and claimed he was out for Abyss. Later that night, Park defeated Aces & Eights'D'Lo Brown to earn a shot at Devon's TNA Television Championship.[96] On June 2 atSlammiversary XI, Park was attacked by Aces & Eights before his scheduled match with Devon, who was then awarded a count-out victory. Following this, Abyss returned and defeated Devon to win his second Television Championship.[97] However, he never defended the title and the title was retired one year later, on July 3, 2014.[98] On the June 13 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park defeated Crimson to qualify for the2013 Bound for Glory Series.[99] On the July 4 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park lost to Jeff Hardy in a BFG Series match via disqualification, after he started bleeding from the mouth, causing him to snap and attack the referee, which also cost Park ten points in the tournament.[100] Park claimed that he had no recollection of the incident.[101] On the August 1 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park defeatedJay Bradley via pinfall to earn seven points in the tournament.[102] On the August 22 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Park defeated Christopher Daniels,Hernandez, and Jay Bradley in a street fight to earn twenty points in the series, after again snapping at the sight of his own blood.[103] Park's participation in the tournament ended on the August 28 episode ofTNA Xplosion, when he was defeated by Bradley, leaving him outside a spot in the semi-finals.[104] After failing to win the BFG series Park formed a tag team withEric Young. On October 20, 2013, atBound for Glory Abyss made his return coming to the aid of Eric Young after he was attacked byBad Influence. On October 31, 2013, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss came to the aid of Eric Young again after he was attacked byBad Influence, and proved he is no threat to Eric Young. However, on December 5, 2013, Bad Influence revealed the Park' Law Firm closed 15 years ago. Next week, Park and Young defeated Bad Influence. After the match, Young said to Park that he was Abyss. On December 26, 2013, Young booked a Monster Balls match between Bad Influence and Park and gave Janice to Park. Joseph won the match when he turned into Abyss. At theTNA One Night Only: Hardcore Justice 3 event, Park and Young defeated Bad Influence in a Full Metal Mayhem match and later on in the main event, Abyss was revealed as the fourth and mystery member of Team Angle in the Lethal Lockdown, which his team would go on to win.
On the February 6, 2014, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss defeated Eric Young in a Monster's Ball match. However, Young ripped off Abyss's mask during the match, revealing that Abyss and Joseph Park are the same person. On the February 13 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss confronted Young while saying that he was leaving to fix Young's mistake. On March 9 atLockdown, Abyss turnedheel again upon emerging from beneath the ring and attacking Samoa Joe during Joe'sWorld Heavyweight Championship match againstMagnus, allowing Magnus to defeat Joe and retain the title. It was revealed on the following episode ofImpact Wrestling that Abyss, now wearing a new mask, was Magnus' new "insurance policy". On the April 24 episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss broke up with Magnus and was later attacked by Magnus with a chair after he defeated him by DQ, Abyss turnedface again. The pre-match stipulation for this match was that if Abyss could beat Magnus, then he would gain a TNA contract, but due to the DQ result, it has been left unclear as to whether he earned a contract or not. Abyss returned on the July 24 episode ofImpact Wrestling where he savedMr. Anderson andSamuel Shaw from a beatdown and clearing the ring. On the August 7 episode ofImpact Wrestling,Bram defeated Abyss in a hardcore match. Two weeks later, at Hardcore Justice, Bram beat Abyss in a 'Stairway to Janice' match. AtBound for Glory, Abyss teamed withTommy Dreamer, but they were defeated byTeam 3D.
On the November 12, 2014, edition ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss turned heel again by joiningThe Revolution and teaming withJames Storm and they defeatedThe Wolves to win theTNA World Tag Team Championship. On January 30, 2015, The Revolution lost the titles against The Wolves. On September 23, 2015, Abyss announced that he left The Revolution. AtBound for Glory, he participated at the Bound for Gold, but was eliminated by the eventual winnerTyrus. During October and November, he participated in theTNA World Title Series. Abyss ended third of his block, failing into advance to the finals.
On the January 26, 2016, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Abyss, once again as a heel, returned to side withCrazzy Steve andRosemary to form a newstable calledDecay. They attacked TNA World Tag Team Champions The Wolves and stole their titles. On March 19, 2016, Decay defeated Beer Money to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship. This was Abyss's second reign individually. On the May 3, 2016, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Rosemary spit green mist into his face before his match with James Storm. It was also that night that Abyss revealed his new look, with zombie-style face paint after removing his mask.[105] Decay received an invitation from the Broken Hardys, to go to the Hardy Compound for a plotted brawl dubbed, "Delete or Decay." At Bound for Glory, Decay lost the titles against The Hardys. Decay would have their rematch the following episode ofImpact Wrestling taking on the Hardys in a "Wolf Creek cage match," in a losing effort. On the December 15 episode of Impact Wrestling dubbed "Total Nonstop Deletion," Decay was one of the many tag teams to answer The Broken Hardys open invitational known as Tag Team Apocalypto. Losing to The Broken Hardys as the last eliminated tag team. After defeating The Helms Dynasty on the January 5, 2017, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Decay's celebration was cut short by the sudden arrival of the DCC, who ambushed Abyss and Crazzy Steve by smashing beer bottles over their heads, with Bram issuing a threat to Rosemary afterwards. On the January 6 One Night Only: Live PPV, Abyss and Crazzy Steve would ambush the DCC after James Storm's victory over Jessie Godderz, misting Storm and Bram, incapacitating them while Abyss chokeslammed Kingston. On April 20, 2017, Crazzy Steve announced that he was no longer with Impact Wrestling, and Decay disbanded soon after with Rosemary focusing on defending the Knockouts Championship.
On April 23, 2017, at the taping for the May 18, 2017, episode ofImpact Wrestling, Joseph Park made his Impact Wrestling return, interruptingJosh Mathews to announce that he would be the tag partner ofJeremy Borash atSlammiversary XV in his match against Mathews andScott Steiner. At Slammiversary, Park turned into Abyss midway through the match through the help of a returning Father Mitchell and went on to win the match for his team. Park subsequently returned multiple times to helpGrado stay in the United States, only to turnheel for the first time as Joseph Park by revealing that he had taken advantage of Grado by skimming most of his earnings. The feud between Park and Grado culminated atBound for Glory in a Monster's Ball Match; at the event, Park, in his Abyss persona, defeated Grado, who was forced to leave the country due to the match's stipulations.[106]
In early 2018,Jimmy Jacobs broughtKongo Kong to Impact, calling him the "new monster of Impact", calling out Abyss. After refusing for weeks to "let out Abyss" as Joseph Park, leading to increasing attacks on Park's law office and family, Abyss returned, accompanied again by James Mitchell, leading to a Monster's Ball match on the March 22 episode ofImpact!. Kong won the match. On October 18, Mitchell inducted Abyss into theImpact Hall of Fame.[107] On January 23, 2019, it was reported that Abyss had been granted his release from Impact Wrestling, ending his 17-year tenure with the promotion.[108]
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Abyss first appeared inRing of Honor (ROH) in 2004, brought in as a bodyguard to the stable Special K, but was limited to a single appearance as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling subsequently pulled all of their contracted talent from ROH.[2] Abyss returned in the summer of 2005, this time as a member ofPrince Nana's heel stableThe Embassy as they feuded withGeneration Next. The feud between the Embassy and Generation Next lasted through the rest of 2005, with several matches and brawls taking place between both teams. The feud culminated in aSteel Cage Warfare match at December'sSteel Cage Warfare, where Abyss teamed withAlex Shelley,Jimmy Rave, and Prince Nana to take onAustin Aries,Roderick Strong,Jack Evans, andMatt Sydal. Abyss was eliminated in the match by Jack Evans after amoonsault, and Generation Next eventually won the match and the stables' war.[2] In January 2006, Abyss teamed with fellow Embassy members Jimmy Rave and Alex Shelley to win ROH's Trios Tournament, with all three Embassy members earningROH World Championship shots; however, Abyss left ROH before he could use the privilege.[2]
On October 28, 2006, Abyss defeated Michael Sain in a Casket Match for URW in Somerset, Massachusetts
On the July 25, 2018, episode ofOVW TV, Abyss defeated Amon to win theOVW Heavyweight Championship. On August 1, 2018, Abyss was stripped of the championship by Dean Hill. On October 10, Abyss defeated Justin Smooth to win the OVW Championship for the second time. On the January 30, 2019, episode ofOVW TV, Abyss lost the OVW Heavyweight Championship to Tony Gunn.
From April to June 2004, Abyss made four appearances for Mexican promotionAAA, which included a six-man tag team match atTriplemanía XII, where he,Abismo Negro andChessman were defeated byGronda,Héctor Garza andLatin Lover.[109]
Abyss returned to the promotion on September 17, 2006, atVerano de Escándalo, where he and fellow TNA workers Jeff Jarrett andKonnan, representingLa Legión Extranjera ("The Foreign Legion"), were defeated via disqualification by the team of Gronda,La Parka andOctagón.[110]
Abyss's following appearance for AAA took place four years later on June 6, 2010, atTriplemanía XVIII, where he, now working as a face, teamed withCibernético to defeatEl Zorro andVampiro Canadiense in a tag team match.[111]
In May 2011, AAA started a storyline, where wrestlers from TNA, led by Jeff Jarrett, announced their intention of taking over the promotion.[112] The first major development of the storyline took place on May 18, when Jarrett and Abyss invaded a AAA event and eventually revealed that they were working together with the heel groupLa Sociedad, whose leader Dorian Roldán announced his intention of replacing the letters AAA with TNA.[113] Later that same show, Abyss teamed with Jarrett and fellowLa Sociedad memberSuper Crazy in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated byDr. Wagner, Jr.,Joe Líder andNicho el Millonario.[114] On June 18 atTriplemanía XIX, Abyss and Mr. Anderson unsuccessfully challengedExtreme Tiger and Jack Evans for theAAA World Tag Team Championship in a steel cage match.[115] On July 20, Abyss teamed with Chessman andÚltimo Gladiador in a six-man tag team match, where they faced Joe Líder, Extreme Tiger and Jack Evans. Abyss won the match forLa Sociedad by pinning Líder after Black Hole Slamming him onto a pile of thumbtacks and afterwards also slammed Tiger onto them.[116] This led to a Monster's Ball match on July 31 atVerano de Escándalo, where Chessman defeated Abyss, Líder and Tiger.[117] On September 11,La Sociedad co-leader Konnan announced that on October 9 atHéroes Inmortales, Abyss and Chessman would challenge Extreme Tiger and Jack Evans for the AAA World Tag Team Championship.[118] At the pay-per-view, Abyss and Chessman defeated Tiger and Evans in aTables, Ladders, and Chairs match to become the new AAA World Tag Team Champions.[119] Abyss and Chessman made their first successful title defense on May 6, 2012, defeated the Mexican Powers (Joe Líder andJuventud Guerrera).[120]
Abyss returned to AAA on July 13, unsuccessfully challengingL.A. Park for theAAA Latin American Championship.[121] On October 7 atHéroes Inmortales, Abyss and Chessman lost the AAA World Tag Team Championship to Joe Líder and Vampiro, ending their reign at 364 days.[122] Following the loss, Abyss turned on Chessman, ending the partnership between the two.[123] This would be the final appearance for Abyss for the promotion and would later retire from professional wrestling.[8]
In January 2019, Park signed with WWE as aproducer.[124][8] On the August 14, 2020, episode ofSmackDown, Park made his on screen WWE debut, appearing as the statistician forAJ Styles.[125]
Abyss has appeared in the video gamesTNA Impact!,TNA Wrestling,TNA Wrestling Impact! andWWE 2K25.[126]
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