Chad Collyer (born December 12, 1974 in Liberty, Indiana) is an American professional wrestler.

Career

Collyer attended Manchester College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was an accomplished amateur wrestler, winning multiple championships over an eleven year period, but decided to turn professional rather than continue his amateur career during his freshman year.

Upon graduation, Collyer travelled to Tampa to train at the Malenko Pro Wrestling School under Dean Malenko and Jeff Bradley. Collyer trained under Malenko between August 3 and December 23, 1997, debuting on December 6, 1997, at Kahuna's Bar and Grill in St. Petersburg, Florida against Jet Jaguar. When Dean Malenko retired in 2001, he faced Collyer in his last ever match.

In 2000, Collyer toured England twice with Scott Conway's Wrestling Alliance. He returned to England in 2001 and September 2002, competing for Brian Dixon's All Star Promotions.

Heartland Wrestling Association

Collyer worked for Les Thatcher's Ohio-based Heartland Wrestling Association immediately after debuting. On April 5, 2002, Collyer was signed to a developmental deal by World Wrestling Entertainment, and was sent back to HWA, which was by then a WWE developmental territory. However, just three months later the WWE ended its relationship with HWA, releasing multiple HWA developmental workers (including Collyer).

Collyer achieved considerable success in HWA. He won the HWA Heavyweight Championship for the first time on January 26, 2001, defeating Race Steel in Rising Sun, Indiana in the Grand Victoria Casino. He held the title for just over month before he was stripped of it on February 27 when he went to England for a six week tour.

On February 13, 2002 Collyer defeated the incumbent champion, Shannon Moore, and Matt Stryker in a three way match for the HWA Cruiserweight Championship, with Moore regaining the title on March 24 in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

On May 2, 2003 on Aurora, Indiana, Collyer won a Royal Rumble match with the HWA Heavyweight Championship on the line. He lost the title to Nigel McGuinness on September 6 in Batavia.

On January 11, 2005 in Cincinnati Collyer defeated Brian Beech for the HWA Television Championship. He lost the title to "High IQ" Quinten Lee on January 18.

On August 29, 2006 in Cincinnati, Collyer defeated Jon Moxley via submission to become the new HWA Heavyweight champion. He lost the title a few weeks later.

Japan

Immediately after his release from contract, Collyer returned to Japan, where he had worked previously in 1999, facing Tiger Mask. He wrestled for Michinoko Pro Wrestling between June 2002 and March 2003 as Metal Master, a masked gladiator. He feuded with The Great Sasuke over the NWA World Middleweight Championship, but was unable to defeat the veteran. Collyer also appeared for MPW as The Stealth, and for New Japan Pro Wrestling as Chad Malenko.

Ring of Honor

In late-2002, Collyer joined Ring of Honor, and became a semi-regular performer, engaging in several technical bouts with Matt Stryker. During the feud between Ricky Steamboat, an advocate of technical wrestling, and Mick Foley, a proponent of hardcore wrestling, Collyer took the side of Steamboat along with other mat-based wrestlers such as Nigel McGuinness, with whom he would form a semi-regular tag team.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Collyer had previously appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as part of the X Division, and on June 16, 2004 he returned to TNA as one-third of The Elite Guard, a stable of mercenaries working for Jeff Jarrett consisting of Collyer, Hotstuff Hernandez and Onyx. The Elite Guard briefly feuded with the 3Live Kru but were released from TNA within two months.

Wrestling facts

• Finishing and signature moves

• Texas cloverleaf
• Northern Lights suplex
• Butterfly suplex
• Release German suplex
• Full nelson suplex
• Side figure four leglock
• The Courtesy Flush (Gedo clutch)

• Managers

• Helena Heavenly

Championships and accomplishments

• Collegiate

• National Collegiate Athletic Association

• 1995 NCAA National Finalist (150 lb)
• 1997 NCAA National Finalist (158 lb)
• 1995 NCAA West Regional Champion (150 lb)

• ICAC

• 3-time ICAC Conference Champion

• Manchester College personal awards

• 1997 Jim Gratz Leadership Award
• 1997 Spartan Desire Award

• Professional wrestling

• Heartland Wrestling Association

• 2-time HWA Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time HWA Television Champion
• 1-time HWA Cruiserweight Champion

• Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling

• 1-time CAPW Heavyweight Champion

• Ringside Wrestling Federation

• 1-time RWF Heavyweight Champion

References

External links

• The official website of Chad Collyer
• Chad Collyer at Online World of Wrestling
• TV.com Profile