Damian O'Connor

Damian O'Connor
Birth name Damian Mackle
Born (1985-02-20) 20 February 1985
Belfast, Northern Ireland,
United Kingdom
Residence Orlando, Florida,
United States
Website https://twitter.com/BigBeardDamo
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Damian O'Connor
Damo Connor
Big Damo
Damo
Billed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight 322 lb (146 kg)
Billed from Belfast, Northern Ireland
Trained by Robbie Brookside
Finn Bálor
Paul Tracy
Debut October 1, 2005

Damian Mackle (born 20 February 1985) is a Northern Irish professional wrestler signed to WWE, competing in their developmental territory NXT, known by his ring names: Damian O'Connor, Damo O'Connor, Big Damo and Damo.[1] He currently resides in the Glens of Antrim, Northern Ireland. He is perhaps best known for his work with What Culture Pro Wrestling and Insane Championship Wrestling where he is the inaugural WCPW World Champion and a one-time ICW World Heavyweight Champion.[2][3][4] He also wrestled for numerous promotions in the British Independent Circuit, around Europe, and in the USA including PROGRESS Wrestling, Revolution Pro Wrestling, Westside Xtreme Wrestling, Absolute Intense Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling, Premier British Wrestling, Scottish Wrestling Alliance, IPW:UK.[5][6][7][8][9]

In December 2014, O'Connor unsuccessfully challenged Drew Galloway for the EVOLVE Championship in Inverness, Scotland.[10] In October 2015, O'Connor debuted for Global Force Wrestling (GFW) on their UK Invasion tour, losing to Bram.[11] In January 2016, O'Connor appeared for TNA as part of their Maximum Impact tour of the UK, where he unsuccessfully challenged for the TNA King of the Mountain Championship on two occasions.[12][13]

On October 19, 2016, it was announced by WWE that Mackle had signed a developmental contract with the company and had arrived at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.[14]

Early life

Damo is the grandson of Irish athlete Danny McAllister

He played as a goalkeeper in football for his University.[15] He also played rugby and basketball.

He cites fellow countryman Fit Finlay as a huge influence on his wrestling style and inspiration for his success.[16]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2005–2010)

After training at NWA Scotland and NWA UK Hammerlock, O'Connor debuted for SWA in 2005 at the age of 20. He originally wrestled in Scotland and the North of England as a tag team called "Britain's Most Wanted" with Scott Renwick. Together the two won a variety of tournaments and Tag Team Titles including SWA (4 times), W3L (2 times), SSW and 3CW. While they never officially split up, they would both focus on singles competition around 2009. This proved to be fruitful for both and O'Connor started touring his native Ireland, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and the United States. O'Connor would win the Heavyweight Titles in SWE, W3L, XWA, Pride as well as the Laird of the Ring Title in SWA. In 2009, O'Connor took over the SWA training school. He eventually named this the "Source Wrestling School". O'Connor has trained numerous wrestlers, including Joe Coffey, Joe Hendry and recent WWE NXT star Nikki Storm.[17]

Independent circuit

Insane Championship Wrestling (2013-2016)

O'Connor wrestled sporadically for ICW between 2009-2012 under various gimmicks but with his return November 2013 in Edinburgh he debuted as "Big Damo". That same show, ICW commentator Billy Kirkwood named Damo the "Beast of Belfast". Damo became a regular roster member and would go on to feud with Joe Hendry and Jamie Kennedy, as well as Darkside and the NAK, and various others and find himself mostly in the Zero G division.

Drew Galloway had taken on and beaten everyone on the ICW roster as the ICW World Champion, but there was a glaring omission. Even though Damo had an undefeated streak he could not get a championship match with Galloway. Damo felt there was a conspiracy between Drew Galloway and ICW management - most notably GM Red Lightning.

Damo managed to finally get his opportunity at Shugs House Party 2, and had defeated Galloway only for Red Lightning and Jack Jester getting involved and over turning the decision, cheating Damo. The three formed the faction "The Black Label" and Damo would feud with the three, alongside Grado and defeated Jack Jester at Fear and Loathing 8 at the SECC Glasgow.

As the Black Label feuded with Mark Dallas over the ownership of ICW, Damo made a deal with Dallas to get a World Title shot in his home town of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Damo went on to defeat Chris Renfrew for the title in Belfast,[18] marking the first time the title changed hands outside of Glasgow and making Damo the first ever Irish-born champ.

During his time as champion, he defended the belt ten times in no less than six countries.[19] On 31 July 2016 at Shug's Hoose Party III, Damo would be defeated by Joe Coffey for the ICW World Heavyweight Championship, who would then lose the belt within minutes to 2016 Square Go! Winner Wolfgang.[20]

Revolution Pro Wrestling (2014−2016)

Big Damo debuted in Revolution Pro Wrestling in 2014.[21] In 2015 he wrestled NJPW greats Tomohiro Ishii,[22] Hiroshi Tanahashi[23] and recent NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura[24] as well as NXT star Tommaso Ciampa.[25] In 2016 he wrestled international wrestlers "Speedball" Mike Bailey,[26] Roderick Strong,[27] Dalton Castle,[28] Big Daddy Walter[29] and Matt Sydal.[30]

WhatCulture Pro Wrestling (2016)

Damo made his debut with WhatCulture Pro Wrestling on the 28 June episode of Loaded, defeating Joe Hendry in a number one contenders match for the WCPW Heavyweight Championship.[31] On 25 July at Built to Destroy, Damo defeated Rampage to become the first ever WCPW Heavyweight Champion, aligning himself with Adam Blampied, turning heel in the process.[32] After successfully defending the title against Joe Coffey[33] and Aron Stevens,[34] Damo would lose the title to Joseph Conners (though was not pinned) in a four-way match also involving Rampage and Joe Hendry at Stacked on 3 September. In this match, Conners pinned Hendry after Rampage suplexed Damo on the entrance ramp. On the 24 September episode of Loaded, Damo would be defeated by Alberto El Patrón, where following the stipulation made by WCPW General Manager Adam Pacitti, Damo was fired from WCPW.[35] Despite being fired, Damo appeared at the WCPW Refuse to Lose iPPV in an attempt to support Adam Blampied in his match against Rampage, in which he was unsuccessful after Adam Pacitti sent out security allowing Rampage to win the match.[36]

On the 22 October episode of Loaded, Damo returned to WCPW after announcing that Adam Pacitti allowed him back, where he would issue an open challenge, which was accepted by Joe Coffey. Coffey would defeat Damo after interference by Martin Kirby.[37] On 12 November at True Legacy, Damo would face Kirby in a losing effort.[38] This would be Damo's final appearance for the company, where he would show his respect to Kirby and announcing he will be heading to Orlando, much to Pacitti's outrage.

WWE

NXT (2016–present)

In June 2016, the Wrestling Observer reported that Mackle had signed with WWE to perform on their NXT brand. Various websites then reported that he is due to start in October.[39][40] WhatCulture confirmed Mackle to be an NXT recruit.[41] On October 19, 2016, it was announced by WWE that Mackle had signed a developmental contract with the company and had arrived at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.[14] On November 4, Mackle appeared on a NXT house show and cut a promo. On November 11, at a house show in St. Augustine, Florida, Mackle made his in-ring debut, defeating Rich Swann. He then defeated Kishan Raftar on November 12 in Cocoa Beach.

Damo made his official NXT debut as a heel during the November 30 NXT tapings where he attacked No Way Jose and aligned himself with the group SAnitY.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  2. ↑ "Insane Championship Wrestling "The Big Elbowski" FULL Results". 27 February 2016.
  3. ↑ "ICW: Damo".
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Titles « Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  5. ↑ "Roster". 18 November 2014.
  6. ↑ Bean, Martin. "Big Damo — Revolution Pro Wrestling".
  7. ↑ "Big Damo: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)".
  8. ↑ "Career « Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  9. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Career « Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database".
  10. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Matches « Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database".
  11. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Matches « Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database".
  12. ↑ "Five reasons you must check out TNA's 2016 UK Tour". The News Hub. 29 January 2016.
  13. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Matches « Damian O'Connor « Wrestlers Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  14. 1 2 Clapp, John. "Tommy End, Big Damo and "Crazy" Mary Dobson join WWE Performance Center". WWE. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  15. ↑ http://www.wrestlingnewsworld.com/the-beast-unleashed-an-interview-with-icws-big-damo/
  16. ↑ http://www.wrestlingfever.de/damian-o-connor-im-wrestlingfever-de-interview-english-19-03-2015/
  17. ↑ "Meet WWE NXT's next breakout star, Nicola Glencross". WWE.
  18. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=140014
  19. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Title Reigns « ICW World Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database".
  20. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=142465
  21. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=120097
  22. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=125360
  23. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=133072
  24. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=130983
  25. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=134250
  26. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=138932
  27. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=145607
  28. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=147494
  29. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=149571
  30. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=147150
  31. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=156799
  32. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=157848
  33. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=159261
  34. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=160503
  35. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=161477
  36. ↑ http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2016/10/07/wcpw-refuse-to-lose-results-review/
  37. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=162659
  38. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=162653
  39. ↑ http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/08/23/wwe-talent-recruiting-updates-cedric-alexander-signed-tommy-end-big-damo-start-dates-zack-sabre-jr-status/
  40. ↑ http://uproxx.com/prowrestling/wwe-signs-moose-noam-dar-tommy-end-and-big-damo/
  41. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP8-VITxUXA
  42. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Reckless Intent Wrestling - Timeline - Facebook".
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