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| Chris Masters | |
|---|---|
 Masters at the2005Tribute to the Troops event | |
| Birth name | Christopher Todd Mordetzky[1] |
| Born | (1983-01-08)January 8, 1983 (age 42)[2] Santa Monica, California, U.S.[3][2] |
| Spouse | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | American Adonis[4] Chris Adonis[5] Chris Masters[3] Chris Moore Chris Mordetzky Concrete[6] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[7] |
| Billed weight | 270 lb (120 kg)[7] |
| Billed from | Los Angeles, California[3][2] |
| Trained by | Rick Bassman Ohio Valley Wrestling Ultimate Pro Wrestling[2] |
| Debut | August 15, 2002[3][2] |
Christopher Todd Mordetzky[1] (born January 8, 1983)[2] is an Americanprofessional wrestler, currently wrestling under thering nameChris Adonis. He is a former two-timeNational Champion in NWA. He is best known for his time inWWE, under the ring nameChris Masters. He is also known for his time inImpact Wrestling, under the ring name Chris Adonis and for his appearances for Qatar Pro Wrestling.
After being trained in Ultimate Pro Wrestling, Mordetzky signed a development contract with WWE and was sent to WWE's farm territoryOhio Valley Wrestling. In 2005, he debuted in WWE as "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters, a wrestler in a great body shape, using "The Masterlock" as finisher, afull nelson hold. During his early career in WWE, Masters had a storyline around the Masterlock, a submission nobody could break. He would challenge several wrestlers to the Masterlock Challenge, where he rewarded the winner with a prize if they could break it. The Masterlock Challenge storyline ended afterBobby Lashley broke the hold on March 20, 2007. Masters was released in 2007 and worked on the independent circuit for two years, making his return to WWE in 2009. Masters would spend the next two years in WWE, until he was released again in 2011. Since then, he has worked on the independent circuit and had notable stints inGlobal Force Wrestling (GFW) andTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Christopher Todd Mordetzky was born on January 8, 1983, inSanta Monica, California, to Diane Mordetzky.[3][2][1] Mordetzky isJewish.[8][9] He dropped out of high school the age of sixteen. During this time he idolized professional wrestlerShawn Michaels.[10]
Mordetzky began training for a wrestling career at the age of 16 inUltimate Pro Wrestling.[3] He trained there for one year and suffered an injury, leaving him out of action for three months. During this time, Mordetzky learned that WWE was recruiting talent from UPW, and he took time off from wrestling for nearly three years to pursue a powerful physique that would interestWorld Wrestling Entertainment.[11]
His work paid off, as WWE offered him a developmental contract in 2003, training him at its developmental territory,Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). At OVW, he developed his wrestling skills and refined his character, achieving success in both the singles and tag team divisions. When Mordetzky was called up to the main roster,[3] WWE showedvignettes outlining him as "The Masterpiece", touting him as having a body so perfect, it would appear he was sculpted out of stone. Mordetzky creditsMatt Morgan for creating the "Masterpiece" gimmick, and saidVince McMahon encouraged him to emulate former wrestlerPaul Orndorff.[12]
"The Masterpiece" Chris Masters made his debut in WWE onRaw as avillain, drawing attention to his physique in bodybuilding poses during his entrance to the ring. On the February 21, 2005 episode ofRaw, Masters made his debut by defeatingStevie Richards. During the contest, Masters broke Richards' nose performing thePolish Hammer.[3][13] The Polish Hammer continued to be a signature move of Masters' for months after this first match, but with warning that it would only be used in striking an opponent's chest.[3]
Masters made a claim that his version of thefull nelson hold, which he dubbed the Master Lock, was unbreakable.[3] Masters began a series of contests he would call "Master Lock Challenges" where Masters would put an opponent in the Master Lock and the opponent would try to break free before Masters made him submit or pass out. Masters would go on to log more full nelson submission victories than any wrestler in WWE history, breaking the record previously held byKurt Angle.[3][14] Originally he would call outplants from the crowd, placing a $1,000 prize of his own money to be paid to anyone who could break free from the Master Lock.[3] AtBacklash, he defeatedMelissa Coates in a Master Lock Challenge.[3][15] He engaged in feuds with lower-card wrestlers,Val Venis[3][16] andSgt. Slaughter, who both failed to break the Master Lock.[3][17] Using villainous tactics, he often attacked the wrestlers beforehand and frequently cheated (for example using a low-blow to escape Sgt. Slaughter'scobra clutch). Masters increased the offered reward each week up to $20,000 and sometimes threw in a bonus. After defeating the 400-poundRosey on July 18, Masters defiantly stated "it doesn't matter how big they are!", prompting TheBig Show to accept a Master Lock Challenge.[18] In accordance with his villainous persona, Masters fled, refusing a match with the Big Show.[18]
In late August, Masters entered afeud withShawn Michaels, leading to a tag match between himself andCarlito againstRic Flair and Michaels.[19] During the match, Masters defeated Ric Flair by submission. Masters regularly teamed with Carlito, albeit in a rigid business relationship. Michaels competed in a Master Lock Challenge on September 5.[20] Masters, upset at the vigorous resistance of Michaels, released the hold and beat him with asteel chair before re-applying the hold.[20] The Master Lock Challenge, which had not decided a clear victor between the two, led to a match atUnforgiven which Michaels won.[21]
Masters, alongside fellow Raw wrestler,Edge, was one of several wrestlers to "invade"SmackDown! in preparation for the match between theSmackDown! andRaw brands atSurvivor Series. The two ambushedRey Mysterio, leading to a tag match atTaboo Tuesday against Mysterio andMatt Hardy.[22] Edge chose not to participate, so Masters teamed with Edge's replacement,Gene Snitsky.[22] Masters and Snitsky lost when Mysterio pinned Masters.[22] AtSurvivor Series, Masters competed in a five-on-fiveSurvivor Series match between SmackDown! and Raw wrestlers.[23] During the match, there appeared to be a near-break in the Master Lock byBobby Lashley, who "powered out" of the hold.[23] As the hold was never completely locked in, however, the "Master Lock" had not been officially broken. Masters was eliminated by Rey Mysterio.
Masters then set his sights on WWE ChampionJohn Cena, attacking him after a match and forcing him to pass out with the Master Lock.[24] This set up aTriple ThreatSubmission match for the November 28 edition ofRaw with Cena defending his title against Masters and Kurt Angle, with whom he had already been feuding. The idea was to put Cena at a major disadvantage and guarantee a new champion; Masters and Angle, who used the ankle lock as a submission finisher, both were submission experts while Cena did not employ a submission hold as part of his repertoire at the time. On that night, however, Cena emerged victorious by making Masters tap out to his new submission finisher, the STFU.[24]
Masters portrayed the role of a bailiff during the mock trial for thenGeneral ManagerEric Bischoff on the December 5 episode ofRaw, with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as judge. Upon being called to the stand to testify for Bischoff's defense, he was asked to give his name, which he did saying his name was Chris Masters. He was immediately accused of perjury and disqualified as a witness, as McMahon brokekayfabe and stated that Masters' real name was Chris Mordetzky.
On December 12, Chris Masters defeatedViscera on an episode ofRaw to gain a spot in theElimination Chamber match for John Cena's WWE Championship atNew Year's Revolution.[25][26] Viscera was shown to be too big to cinch on the Master Lock until being grounded. On the December 26 episode ofRaw, Masters facedChavo Guerrero, in aBeat the Clock match to determine who would be the final entrant to be released from his pod in the Elimination Chamber.[27] Masters had to defeat Guerrero in 5 minutes and 56 seconds, which was the time set by Michaels (when he defeated Snitsky in the opening match of the show).[27] Guerrero managed to survive the Master Lock long enough so that Masters was unable to beat the clock.[27] At New Year's Revolution (which also took place on Masters' 23rd birthday), Masters was eliminated from the Elimination Chamber match when Carlito double-crossed him by delivering alow blow while he had Cena in the Master Lock and then used aroll-up for the pin.[26] On January 9, after some heated words with Carlito, both men had a tag match against two men who were also having difficulties, Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels.[28] During the match, Michaels walked backstage, leaving Angle to fend for himself. Masters saw the opportunity and applied the Master Lock to Angle, thus gaining the victory.[28] On January 16, Masters challenged Cena to take part in a Master Lock Challenge.[29] Cena accepted the challenge and displayed signs thathe might in fact break out of the hold, until Edge attacked Cena with his title belt and ended the challenge.[29]
At theRoyal Rumble, Masters again worked together with Carlito, but Carlito again double-crossed him and eliminated him from the match.[26] On the February 6 episode ofRaw both men were entered into a Road to WrestleMania Tournament, to determine the number one contender for a WWE Championship match atWrestleMania 22.[30][31] In Masters' first round matchup, he would use the ropes for leverage in a victory againstKane to secure himself a place in the second round against the winner of a later match between Carlito andRob Van Dam. Van Dam won that match.[32] The next week onRaw, Van Dam was able to beat Masters and advance to the tournament final.[33] After this, Masters continued to feud with one half of theWorld Tag Team Champions, Big Show, while Masters' on and off teammate Carlito would feud with Kane. On the February 27 episode ofRaw, McMahon offered Shawn Michaels' former tag team partnerMarty Jannetty a WWE contract in exchange for kissing his exposed buttocks in the middle of the wrestling ring. When Jannetty hesitated, McMahon changed the condition to winning a Master Lock Challenge, and summoned Masters to the ring. After applying the Master Lock, McMahon ordered Masters to force Jannetty's face against his buttocks. Masters failed to complete this instruction as Shawn Michaels interrupted and knocked out Masters. Michaels was then attacked by Shane McMahon, who forced him to kiss Mr. McMahon's buttocks instead. On the March 6 episode ofRaw, McMahon publicly thanked everyone who encouraged the previous week's events, and officially awarded Masters and Carlito a World Tag Team Championship match at WrestleMania 22.[34] At WrestleMania 22, the pair, known as "The Masters of Cool", lost the match toBig Show and Kane. The pair argued amongst themselves after the match. Even though Carlito had repeatedly betrayed Masters over the previous months, it was Carlito who turned face.[26] During the nextRaw, Masters began to feud with Carlito after Carlito attacked him from behind.[35] This led to a match between the two men atBacklash which Carlito won.[26]
After this, Masters pursued theWWE Intercontinental Championship but would leave for several months to go to drug rehab due to an addiction of painkillers. Before leaving, Masters was on the May 22 episode ofRaw, losing a match to John Cena despite low blowing John Cena for two times in a row.[36] He returned to the ring during an OVW television taping on August 6. He had lost much of his muscle mass, appearing much slimmer, although he still had some definition in his arms and abdomen. On the August 28 episode ofRaw, Masters made his return against Cena.[37] Along with less muscle mass, he sported a goatee and mustache leadingJerry "The King" Lawler to refer to him as a "leaner and meaner" Chris Masters. This change of image was short-lived, however, as Masters shaved the goatee and regained some of his muscle mass. When Masters returned, he was put in lower-card matches including a short feud withSuper Crazy, who had moved fromSmackDown!, with Masters coming out on the losing end of their matches.[38] The pair would also compete in a losing effort, along with four other Superstars, in aSix-Pack Challenge for the Intercontinental Championship.[39] Masters gained his first victory since his return against Jerry Lawler on the November 6 episode ofRaw in a match where Eric Bischoff, General Manager for the night, forced Lawler to be firsthandcuffed to the top rope.[40] Masters continued the feud with Lawler for a few weeks with Lawler also losing a Master Lock Challenge before defeating Masters.[41]
On the December 4 episode ofRaw,Jonathan Coachman set up a Master Lock Challenge against John Cena for the WWE Championship.[42] Masters appearing to have the challenge won but he released the hold for a short time, allowing Cena to reverse the hold into his own Master Lock, forcing Masters to submit, retaining his title, and making Cena the first to win the Master Lock Challenge.[42] At the start of 2007, Masters would restart his feud with Carlito, which led to several matches between the two. The first was a one-on-one contest atNew Year's Revolution won by Masters.[43] In a rematch the next night onRaw, Carlito came out victorious.[44] On the January 15 episode ofRaw,Ron Simmons, with interference from Super Crazy, almost "won" the Master Lock Challenge.[45] An attempted Master Lock Challenge forThe Great Khali on the February 26 episode ofRaw did not occur when Masters was unable to apply the hold to Khali.[46] The Master Lock was first officially broken on the March 19 episode ofRaw, byECW World ChampionBobby Lashley.[47] after Masters debuted it more than two years ago.[7]
In May and June, Masters challengedSantino Marella for the Intercontinental Championship, losing four times via roll-up.[48][49][50] However, on the May 28 episode ofRaw, he defeated Marella in the Master Lock Challenge.[51]
On the June 11 episode ofRaw, Masters was drafted to the SmackDown! brand as part of the2007 WWE draft.[52] While onSmackDown! he was used sporadically including a few Master Lock Challenges.[53] He had entered into a feud withChuck Palumbo competing in several matches and an attempted Master Lock Challenge that did not begin as Masters fled the ring after Palumbo realized Masters was trying to trick him.[54] Following this, Masters was suspended for 30 days for failing a drug test.[55] Masters returned toSmackDown! on October 5, applying the Master Lock to Palumbo.[56] Masters suffered a dislocated elbow during his last match, which would have sidelined him for four months.[57][58] On November 2, 2007, it was reported that Masters had been suspended for 60 days for having violated WWE's Substance Abuse and Drug Policy a second time.[59] Six days later, Mordetzky was released from his WWE contract on November 8, 2007.[60]
On December 20, 2007, Mordetzky made his first wrestling appearance since his departure from WWE, competing under the name Chris Moore forAntonio Inoki'sInoki Genome Federation at the event Genome2: Inoki Fighting Xmas in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Ryuji Yanagisawa.[61] Mordetzky also appeared under his Chris Masters ring name and gimmick atHarley Race'sWorld League Wrestling show on December 29, during aLumberjack match between Branden Tatum and Dinn T. Moore. Tatum pinned Moore after Masters applied the Master Lock behind the referee's back. He soon won theWLW Heavyweight Championship, his first singles title, on February 9, 2008, fromKeith Walker. He later lost the title to Derek McQuinn on May 25. In May 2008, news reports revealed that Mordetzky had signed a one-year contract with Nu-Wrestling Evolution.[12][62]
Mordetzky wrestled on theindependent circuit inAustralia andNew Zealand appearing forNew Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling on April 23, 2009, inLower Hutt. He defeated Adam Avalanche and Rufguts in a Triple Threat match at the show Power Play 6.[63]
Masters also competed in Europe for American Wrestling Rampage, in the UK for Varsity Pro Wrestling and Puerto Rico for theWorld Wrestling Council.
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Mordetzky returned to World Wrestling Entertainment on July 27, 2009, reprising his character as "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters.[64] He entered the ring with both an abridged Titantron and entrance theme, displaying his signature poses as he walked down the ring. He also used this titantron in 2007.[64] Mordetzky did not take the mic and little commentary was made on his absence.[65] He facedMontel Vontavious Porter in a match that resulted in adouble-countout after he applied the Master Locksubmission to MVP outside the ring.[66] A mini feud continued between the two as Porter was able to score a pinfall victory over Masters the following week to end the feud.
In November 2009, Mordetzky began a face turn, entertaining fans with aTony Holland-style pec dance.[67] On the November 2 episode ofRaw, Mordetzky entered theRaw's Got Talent show hosted by guest hostOzzy Osbourne,Sharon Osbourne, and The Great Khali, where he performed a "special performance art piece"; he flexed his pecs to the beat of Ozzy's song "Crazy Train", earning a positive crowd reaction.[68] Masters later recalled that he was not a fan of the "pec dancing" gimmick, but made the best of it for the company.[69] On the December 7 episode ofRaw, Masters cemented his face turn by savingEve Torres andHornswoggle from Chavo Guerrero after applying the Master Lock.[70][71] After that, Masters and Torres began an on-screen relationship.[72][73]
Masters mostly engaged in lower-card feuds throughout 2010 and 2011. Some wrestling observers have speculated that his character was being reduced to a comedic role because WWE hoped to avoid negative publicity tied to his pastTalent and Wellness Violations.[74] FollowingWrestleMania XXVI, Masters was not active on-screen for over 30 days.[75]
Masters was drafted back to theSmackDown brand on April 26 during theSupplemental Draft. In his first match on the brand, he defeated Chavo Guerrero. Masters found himself lossless in singles matches from May to September, winning eleven singles matches during that period, where all the matches took place onSuperstars.[76] Masters was announced as one of the men to compete in theTraditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team match as part of Team Mysterio, teaming with Rey Mysterio, Big Show,Kofi Kingston and Montel Vontavious Porter to take on Team Del Rio (Alberto Del Rio,Tyler Reks,Jack Swagger,Drew McIntyre and "Dashing"Cody Rhodes). On the November 19 episode ofSmackDown, Masters lost to Swagger in a Survivor Series Showdown match. Later that same night, he competed in a 10-Man Survivor Series Showdown Battle Royal where he eliminated Rhodes, though later on in the match he was eliminated, the Battle Royal was won by Mysterio and Big Show (as it was a team vs team battle royal). At theSurvivor Series pay-per-view, Masters was eliminated by Del Rio, but his team still went on to win. In late 2010, Masters mentoredByron Saxton onNXT. In February and March 2011, Masters would feud with Tyler Reks onSuperstars, and Masters won all four matches they had with each other.[76] Apush and possible gimmick change was rumored, but never materialized.[69]
On April 26, 2011, Masters was drafted back to the Rawbrand as part of the2011 supplemental draft but never wrestled onRaw in his four months as a Raw wrestler.[77] His last appearance on WWE programming was against Jack Swagger on the August 4, 2011 episode ofSuperstars in a losing effort. On August 5, 2011, Mordetzky was released from his contract by WWE.[78] His release (as well as the releases ofVladimir Kozlov andDavid Hart Smith) was referenced in aworked shoot moment on the August 8 episode ofRaw byWWE ChampionCM Punk.
In December 2011, Mordetzky joined theRing Ka King promotion, a branch ofTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling forIndia under the name American Adonis.[79][80] There he defeatedRoscoe Jackson, but was defeated by Indian wrestler Mahabali Veera. In December 2011, Mordetzky was also revealed to be involved in theWrestling Retribution Project under thering name "Concrete".[81] Mordetzky appeared on the World Wrestling Fan Xperience (WWFX) Champions Showcase Tour inManila,Philippines on February 4, 2012, where he wrestled under the name Chris Master.[82] There he was defeated against fellow WWE alumni MVP. In April 2012, Mordetzky participated in the Revolution event forInternational Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom (IPW:UK) inLondon. Other wrestlers at the event wereWWE Tough Enough Season 5 contestantMatt Cross and WWE alumni and friend Carlito.
In June 2012, Mordetzky was defeated byRobbie E in a dark match forImpact Wrestling. Mordetzky has also been involved in many other wrestling events since his release from WWE such as Southside Wrestling (UK) beatingEl Ligero, Dutch Pro Wrestling (DPW), Fire Star Pro Wrestling, Big Time Wrestling (BTW), World Star Wrestling (WSW), Vendetta Pro Wrestling andTommy Dreamer'sHouse Of Hardcore (HOH). On October 26, 2012, Masters was defeated by Matt Hardy in the Big Time Wrestling 16th Anniversary Show. On October 27, 2012, Masters defeated Rik Luxury,Sean Casey and then-Champion Chavo Guerrero Jr. in a Four-Way Elimination match for the Vendetta Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.[83]
On December 9, 2012, Masters made hisPreston City Wrestling (PCW) debut losing toKris Travis at PCW Festive Fury 2012.[84] On March 1, 2014, Masters won the Road to Glory Tournament, earning the right to a match for the PCW Heavyweight Championship.[85] On August 1, 2014, Masters defeated Joey Hayes to become PCW Heavyweight Champion at Preston City Wrestling's third anniversary show with Lionheart as the special referee.[86]
On April 20, 2013, Masters unsuccessfully challengedRob Conway for theNWA World Heavyweight Championship.[87] On January 24, 2014, Masters won theReal Canadian Wrestling (RCW) Canadian Heavyweight Championship.[88] Masters lost the title the next day.[89] On March 29, 2014, at International Wrestling Federation's Breaking Ground, Masters was defeated byChris Hero.[90] On June 26 Masters defeated Ken Kerbis & Kronus in a triple threat match for the AWO Championship at theAll Wrestling Organization annual show Wrestlefest inTira, Israel. On 1 November 2014, Masters faced 'The One' Simon Lancaster at the RDW 10th Anniversary Show, the match ended in a draw when the RDW champion, Spyda, attacked both men. Masters then went on to aid Lancaster in a match against Spyda, winning Lancaster the championship.[91] On May 6, 2015,Global Force Wrestling (GFW) announced Mordetzky as part of their roster.[92] He made his debut for the promotion on June 12, defeating Dustin Starr.[93]
On November 29, 2014, Masters lost the PCW Heavyweight Championship in a three-way elimination match toUhaa Nation during a PCW/ROH Supershow of Honor event the match also included Dave Mastiff.[94] On March 14, 2015, Masters defeated Uhaa Nation in a loser leaves PCW no disqualification match to regain the PCW Heavyweight Championship at PCW Road To Glory 2015.[95] On July 11, 2015, Masters lost the PCW Heavyweight Championship to Dave Mastiff at the PCW Tribute To The Troops 2 event.[96]
In 2015, Mordetzky initially made hisTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) debut on the July 27, 2015 episode ofImpact Wrestling, where he competed in aKing of the Mountain match for the vacantTNA King of the Mountain Championship. Robbie E,Eric Young, Lashley and the winner of the match,P. J. Black were the other participants.[97] On the followingImpact Wrestling the Global Force stable cut a promo in the ring challenging TNA. Mordetzky took the microphone and demanded a TNA opponent, revealed to be Lashley. The match ended in a "no contest" after the Global Force stable interrupted the match. On the September 9th episode ofImpact Wrestling, Mordetzky defeatedDrew Galloway in aLumberjack match. On the September 16 edition ofImpact Wrestling, Team GFW (Mordetzky,Brian Myers,Jeff Jarrett,Eric Young andSonjay Dutt) lost to Team TNA (Drew Galloway, Lashley,Eddie Edwards,Bram andDavey Richards) in aLethal Lockdown match.
On the April 6 episode ofImpact, Mordetzky returned to TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling under the ring name Chris Adonis. In his debut he competed in an eight-man tag team match by teaming withMatt Morgan,Magnus andAlberto El Patron against Lashley, Bram,Eli Drake andTyrus in a winning effort. On the April 20 episode ofImpact, Adonis attackedMoose from behind, establishing himself as a heel in the process. During the following weeks, Adonis formed an alliance with Drake against Moose. On the June 8 episode ofImpact, Adonis lost a GFW Global Title Match to Alberto El Patron. AtSlammiversary XV, Adonis and Drake were defeated by Moose andDeAngelo Williams.
Afterwards, he frequently helped Drake to retain hisImpact Global Championship. On the July 27 episode ofImpact, Adonis, Eli Drake andEthan Carter III defeated Eddie Edwards,Naomichi Marufuji and Moose in a six-man tag team match. On August 24, onImpact, Adonis competed in the Gauntlet for the Gold match for the GFW Global Championship, which Drake won. Adonis and Drake then transitioned into a storyline withJohnny Impact, facing him in tag team and singles matches. On January 13, 2018, Mordetzky officially confirmed on his Twitter account that he had officially parted ways with Impact Wrestling.[98] According to Mordetzsky, he left the promotion due to the low salary and the fact that the company did not have any plans for him besides being a manager for Eli Drake.[99]
On March 12,National Wrestling Alliance announced on their social media, that Mordetzky would make his NWA debut atNWA Back For The Attack.[100] Adonis defeatedTrevor Murdoch on the March 30 episode ofNWA Power, in aNo Disqualification match, to win theNWA National Championship.[101] After this, Adonis turned heel when he aligned withThom Latimer andNWA World Heavyweight ChampionNick Aldis, as the new member of Strictly Business.
On May 25, 2021, Adonis vacated the NWA National Championship to participate in the battle royal to receive an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match atNWA When Our Shadows Fall; the match was won by Trevor Murdoch.[102] Adonis would defeatJTG in the tournament final to win the National Championship.[103] AtNWA 73rd Anniversary Show, Adonis successfully defended his title in his first title defense againstJames Storm. He would lose the title againstAnthony Mayweather on the February 11, 2022 episode ofPower, ending his reign at 249 days.[104]
On the February 28, 2023 episode ofPowerrr, Adonis announced that he will utilize his Champions Series title opportunities atNWA 312, challenging NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Tyrus.[105] He would then go on to unsuccessfully challenge Tyrus for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[106] On June 3, during night one of theCrockett Cup, Adonis teamed with Tyrus under the name "The Midnight Riders" to compete in the namesake tournament, defeating The Warriors from the Wasteland (Judais andMax the Impaler) in the second round,[107] and The Immortals (Kratos and Odinson) in the quarterfinal but lost to Knox and Murdoch (Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch) in the semifinal.[108]
During Adonis and Latimer's match against Knox and Murdoch on the August 22, 2023 episode ofPowerrr, Adonis turned on Latimer and attacked him, thus giving Knox and Murdoch the victory. AtNWA 75th Anniversary Show, Adonis was unsuccessful at winning the NWA World Television Championship. On the October 17Powerrr, Adonis defeatedZyon bydisqualification to earn an opportunity at "Thrillbilly" Silas Mason's NWA National Heavyweight Championship atSamhain in aBurning Lake Brawl.[109] At the event, Adonis unsuccessfully challenged Mason for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.[110]
Known for his large body reaching 270 lbs, he was listed among the "Most Freakishly Muscular WWE Superstars of All Time" by theBleacher Report.[111]WhatCulture observed that Masters "had one of the most impressive WWE physiques of all time when he debuted in 2005", "[...] like another version ofBatista orLex Luger, only even bigger."[112] In the official write-up for the World Wrestling Entertainment website, Masters’ physique has been called "the kind of you usually only seen in comic books", and he was praised for his "unbelievable build and his devastating finishing maneuver".[113] In addition, the organization noted that "although he parted ways with WWE in 2011, 'The Masterpiece' more than lived up to his self-aggrandizing nickname as one of the most impressive physical specimens in WWE history."[113]
Writing forThe Sportster, Matthew Wilkinson ranked Masters at number three on his list of the ten WWE wrestlers with the most incredible physiques, writing that "while he was completely jacked all across his body, there’s no doubt that his pectoral muscles were the highlight of his physique."[114] Wilkinson added that Masters was known for his wrestling entrances when he flexed and "did pectoral dances to amuse fans, which also proved how impressive his body was,"[114] a sentiment shared by Travis Wakeman fromTNT Sports, who thought that the wrestler was memorable because of his "great physique, as well as an arrogant personality".[115]IGN's Greg Miller praised Masters as a WWE Superstar, and wrote: "Carving an impressive body out of muscle, there is no denying that Masters is truly a masterpiece. Flaunting his self-proclaimed flawless physique, 'The Masterpiece' has quickly made a name for himself as a top up and coming Superstar, and his impressive power has forced many top WWE Superstars to submit to his devastating Master Lock finisher along the way."[116] In 2016, fitness-related siteGym Junkies highlighted that "Chris Masters’ physique was unmatched. It was as though he was chiseled out of granite."[117]
He has stated thatThe Ultimate Warrior andShawn Michaels were two of his favorite wrestlers while growing up.[118] When asked what it was like wrestling Michaels, Mordetzky replied, "It was a dream come true. That's something I'll take with me to my grave. He was my childhood idol, I idolize the guy, and I still trip out that I got to wrestle him on a pay-per-view. How many people get to do that? How many people get to wrestle their idol?"[118]
Mordetzky claims that the biggest misconception that most people have about him is that he's just a bodybuilder.[11]
John Cena went on record to say that Chris Masters is the strongest competitor he has faced in his career. Though Masters never defeated Cena in the ring, Masters defeated Cena in an arm-wrestling match. Masters put Cena out in the Master Lock hold on three separate non-match occasions. Masters is one of only two competitors (the other beingRusev) to bring John Cena to unconsciousness once, let alone three times as he did.[119]
Mordetzky is good friends with WWE wrestlersRandy Orton andCarlito, along with WWE alumniBobby Lashley,Shelton Benjamin,John Morrison,[11]Chavo Guerrero Jr., andRob Van Dam. Mordetzky has appeared on both Van Dam's radio showRVD-Radio and internet-basedreality television showRVD-TV.[119] The Wrestling Observer reported that Vince McMahon only re-hired Masters in 2009 at the recommendation of Randy Orton.[120]
In March 2013, Mordetzky saved his mother's life from a neighbor who held her hostage and committedarson at her home. It was reported that he had pulled a 10 foot (3.0 m) tree from the ground with his bare hands and used it to open a path to his mother's windows, freeing her.[121][122][123]
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Big Time Rush | Himself | [10] |
| 2011 | Silent Library | Himself | [10] |
Jeff Katz's Wrestling Revolution Project taped its first season in Los Angeles this past week. [...] Kenny Omega, known as Scott Carpenter, was the star, with strong matches against Chris Masters (Known as Concrete) and Killshot (Karl Anderson).
,Internet Wrestling Database