Jay Bradley

Jay Bradley
Bradley in February 2012
Birth name	Bradley Jayden Thomas
Born	(1980-11-17) November 17, 1980[1] Dekalb, Illinois, United States[1][2]
Residence	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Aiden O'Shea[3] Brad Bradley[1] Bradley Jay[1] Jay Bradley[1] Ryan Braddock[1]
Billed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1][2]
Billed weight	260 lb (120 kg)[1]
Billed from	Chicago, Illinois Southside of Chicago
Trained by	Steel Domain Wrestling[1] Ace Steel[1] Danny Dominion[1] Kevin Quinn[1] Deep South Wrestling[1]
Debut	1999

Bradley Jayden "Brad" Thomas^[4] (born November 17, 1980) is an American professional wrestler competed for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under the ring name Aiden O'Shea he also wrestled under the ring name, Jay Bradley. He also appeared in WWE as Ryan Braddock in 2008.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1999–2005)

Bradley started his wrestling training at the Steel Domain Wrestling school in Chicago, where he trained with wrestlers including CM Punk and Colt Cabana. Bradley suffered several setbacks in his career as he suffered from an overactive thyroid.^[5] He worked for several independent promotions in the Mid-West, most notably for IWA Mid-South, before signing a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

World Wrestling Entertainment

Deep South Wrestling (2005–2007)

^[6] He debuted in WWE's then-developmental territory Deep South Wrestling (DSW) as "The Monster of the Midway" Bradley Jay. During his time in DSW he won the Deep South Heavyweight Championship on three occasions.^[1] He also wrestled dark matches for both the Raw and SmackDown! brands.^[7] Occasionally, he made appearances on Heat as well.^[8] When WWE ended their relationship with DSW he was then sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) to continue his development.^[1]

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2007–2009)

On May 16 he debuted in OVW under the name "Jay Bradley", defeating former OVW Heavyweight Champion, Chet the Jett.^[9] He defeated Paul Burchill and Idol Stevens in a three-way match via two Lariats to win the OVW Heavyweight Championship on June 1 at OVW's first Summer Sizzler Series event at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky to become the first man to hold both the OVW and DSW heavyweight titles.^[10][11] On June 15, 2007, at Ohio Valley Wrestling's third Super Summer Sizzler Series event of the year at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, he defeated Idol Stevens to retain the OVW title.^[12]

He then lost the title to Paul Burchill in a match taped on June 27 and aired on June 30. He also wrestled at Raw house shows on August 11 and 12 and September 1 (losing to "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan). He wrestled in a dark match against D'Lo Brown before a SmackDown television taping in August 2007.^[1] On December 19, in OVW, he won the "Love Thy Neighbor" four corners tag team match to win a future OVW Heavyweight title shot.^[13]

He then was starting a feud with Matt Sydal and had defeated him in a tag team match where he and Mike Kruel defeated Sydal and Charles Evans.^[14] Unfortunately, before Bradley could exercise his title opportunity, OVW was dropped by World Wrestling Entertainment as a development territory.^[15]

SmackDown! (2008)

Bradley debuted on the main SmackDown! roster on the August 15, 2008 episode of the show, under the name "Ryan Braddock".^[16] He was easily defeated by Big Show after a knockout hook.^[16] At the August 14, 2008, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) television taping, Bradley wrestled under the Ryan Braddock name once again, making it his permanent and new ring name. On the August 22 episode of SmackDown!, Braddock competed in a battle royal to qualify for the WWE Championship Scramble match at Unforgiven, but was eliminated by Big Show, who was not officially in the match.^[17] On the September 2 episode of ECW, Braddock faced Ricky Ortiz in a losing effort after being pinned by Ortiz's Big O finisher.^[18] On September 19 episode of SmackDown!, Braddock competed in a one fall match-up with Festus, who was accompanied by Jesse.^[19] Braddock won the match as a result of a disqualification, after Jesse and Festus wrapped him in bubble wrap and duct tape.^[19]

Following this match, Braddock returned to FCW before being released from WWE in March 2009.^[20]

Independent circuit (2009–present)

After his release from WWE, Bradley began working for the Berwyn, Illinois based All American Wrestling promotion and on March 28, 2009, defeated Tyler Black, Chandler McClure and Egotistico Fantastico to win the AAW Heavyweight Championship.^[21] He held the title for five months, before losing it to Jimmy Jacobs on September 5.^[21] He also worked for Florida-based Full Impact Pro, losing to T.J. Perkins in his debut match on June 6, 2009.^[22]

In 2011, Bradley joined Billy Corgan's wrestling promotion, Resistance Pro.^[23] At the promotion's debut show he defeated Icarus.^[24]

In November 2012, Bradley made his debut for Extreme Rising at their iPPV debut show Remember November defeating Christian York.^[25]

At RPW Draw the Line, Bradley and Mad Man Pondo won the RPW Tag Team Championship.^[26] they were stripped of the titles on the same day.

On July 9, 2015, Bradley competed in a triple threat match against Joey Avalon and Matt Cage for Global Force Wrestling for their GFW Grand Slam Tour in Appleton, Wisconsin, Avalon won after pinning Cage.^[27]

Wrestle-1 (2013)

As part of a working relationship between TNA and Wrestle-1 it was announced on November 6, 2013, that Bradley would be working a tour for the Japanese promotion between November 16 and December 1.^[2][28] In their debut match for the promotion, Bradley and fellow TNA worker Rob Terry defeated Kaz Hayashi and Shuji Kondo in a tag team match.^[29] Bradley and Terry remained undefeated in tag team matches for the entire tour, but Bradley's tour ended with a three match losing streak in singles matches against his fellow TNA worker.^[30][31][32]

Return to OVW (2013–2014)

Bradley returned to OVW after his appearance on TNA Gut Check. Bradley's first match since returning to OVW was against Tommy Gunn on March 6 which he won.^[33] On May 8, Bradley teamed with Rob Terry to face The Coalition (Raul LaMotta & Shiloh Jonze) they ended up getting the victory by DQ after the other members of The Coalition interfered.^[34] On May 22, 2013, Bradley defeated the OVW Heavyweight Champion Jamin Olivencia in a non-title match.^[35] On June 19, 2013, Bradley was defeated by Rob Terry in a number one contenders match for the OVW Heavyweight Championship.^[36] On September 7, 2013, Bradley unsuccessfully challenged Jamin Olivencia for the OVW Heavyweight Championship in a loaded boomstick on a pole match.^[37] On December 11, 2013, Bradley and Terry began teaming again getting wins over The Rockstars (Rockstar Spud and Ryan Howe) on two separate occasions.^[38] On January 1, 2014, Bradley defeated Deonta Davis and Leon Shelly in a two on one handicap match during an OVW Live Event.^[39] on January 4, 2014, Bradley faced Ryan Howe that ended in a no contest they had a rematch where Howe defeated Bradley in a street fight. on January 11, Bradley defeated Leon Shelly. on January 18, at OVW TV, Bradley defeated Bud Dwight. on January 25, Bradley defeated Robbie Walker. on February 1, 2014 at OVW TV, Bradley competed in the Nightmare rumble won by Johnny Spade. on February 1, 2014 at OVW Saturday Night Special, Bradley faced Ryan Howe in a losing effort.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2013–2014)

On the January 10, 2013 episode of Impact Wrestling, Bradley appeared as part of the TNA Gut Check, defeating Brian Cage.^[40] The following week, Bradley was chosen over Cage by the storyline Gut Check judges to earn a contract in TNA.^[41]

Bradley returned on the May 16 episode of Impact Wrestling, defeating Christian York in the first qualifying round for the Bound for Glory Series Gut Check Tournament.^[42] On June 2 at Slammiversary XI, Bradley defeated Sam Shaw to qualify for the 2013 Bound for Glory Series.^[43] Bradley would go to lose all of his beginning matches in the BFG series to the likes of Austin Aries, Hernandez, and Joseph Park.^{[44][45][46][47]} Bradley ended his participation in the tournament on the August 28 episode of TNA Xplosion, with a pinfall victory over Joseph Park, finishing eleventh out of the ten other wrestlers in a tie with Hernandez in the tournament.^[48] On January 13, 2014, Bradley was released from his TNA contract ^[49]

Return to TNA (2015–present)

On October 4, 2015, at Bound for Glory, Bradley made his return to TNA under the ring name Aiden O'Shea (and began using an Irish ruffian gimmick) and competed in a twelve-man Bound For Gold Gauntlet match which was won by Tyrus.^[50] During October and November, O'Shea also competed in the first TNA World Title Series tournament that was taped in July 2015 as a member of Group Wildcard, where he ended third of his block by only defeating Crazzy Steve to receive 3 points. On January 8, 2016, at One Night Only: Live, O'Shea was defeated by Rockstar Spud after they had a confrontation in the ring.^[51]

On the October 6, 2016 episode of Impact Wrestling, O'Shea made his return to TNA after his hiatus, accompanying TNA President Billy Corgan to the ring and serving as muscle/representative.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Barrel Roll Driver^[52] / Second City Slam^[1][2] (Rolling fireman's carry slam)
  • Boomstick^[2][40] (Lariat)^[1]
• Signature moves
  • Ankle lock^[52]
  • Gory special^[52]
  • Sidewalk slam^[52]
  • Single leg Boston crab^[1]
  • Sitout scoop slam piledriver^[52]
• Nicknames
  • "Lonesome"^[52]
  • "The Ass Kicker"^[1]
  • "The Monster of the Midway"^[1]
  • "The Thug"
• Entrance themes
  • "Debonaire" by Dope (IWA MS; February 8, 2002 – July 30, 2005 / CZW; August 9, 2003 – May 1, 2004 / AAW; September 10, 2005 – October 22, 2005, March 28, 2009 – April 17, 2010)
  • "Ich Bin Ein Auslander" by Pop Will Eat Itself (OVW; April 28, 2007 – February 28, 2009)
  • "Doomsday Clock" by The Smashing Pumpkins (RPW; November 25, 2011 – September 12, 2014 / OVW; March 7, 2013 – November 21, 2015 / Independent circuit; August 11, 2012 – present)
  • "Fight of the Irish" by Dale Oliver (TNA; October 4, 2015 – present)

Championships and accomplishments

• All American Wrestling
  • AAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2][53]
• Blitz Pro Wrestling
  • Blitz Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)^[54]
• Deep South Wrestling
  • Deep South Heavyweight Championship (3 times)^[1][2]
• Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
  • IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ryan Boz (2) and Tirk Davis (1)^[1][55]
• Mid American Wrestling
  • MAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[56]
• Ohio Valley Wrestling
  • OVW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[2][10]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #137 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2012^[57]
• Resistance Pro Wrestling
  • RPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mad Man Pondo^[58]
• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA Gut Check winner^[59]
  • TNA Gut Check Tournament (2013)^[60]

References

External links

• Wrestle-1 profile
• Jay Bradley on Twitter
• Aiden O'Shea on Twitter
• Jay Bradley on Facebook
• Jay Bradley at the Internet Movie Database