Martin Stone (wrestler)

Martin Stone

Martin Stone in May 2010
Birth name Martin Harris
Born (1981-12-31) December 31, 1981
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Danny Burch[1]
Joe Riot
Martin Stone
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1]
Billed weight 213 lb (97 kg)[1]
Billed from London, England[1]
Trained by Dropkixx
Debut 2003

Martin Harris (born December 31, 1981) is a British professional wrestler better known by his ring name Martin Stone. Stone works in the British independent circuit with promotions such as Insane Championship Wrestling, Frontier Wrestling Alliance and International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom. Between 2011 and 2014, he was signed with professional wrestling promotion WWE and worked in its developmental territory, WWE NXT, under the ring name Danny Burch.[1]

Professional wrestling career

European independent circuit (2003–2012)

Harris trained in the FWA Academy and Dropkixx Academy in 2003/04; competing under the ring name Joe Riot in various shows, including a match for All Star Wrestling in Croydon in Summer 2003;[2] making his first appearance at FWA:A's Revenge – Chapter IV in losing effort to Leroy Kincaide on 29 November 2003 in Portsmouth. Harris made his first main roster appearance under the name "Martin Stone" on 4 September 2004, in a losing effort to Jack Xavier at a Live in Morecambe show. Stone would soon be paired with fellow FWA:A trainee Stixx and manager "Twisted Genius" Dean Ayass to form the tag team Stixx and Stone.

While still in the FWA, Stone travelled all over the United Kingdom, competing in several other promotions including: IPW:UK, One Pro Wrestling, LDN Wrestling, and Real Quality Wrestling. Stone won several top titles in these promotions the most notable of which would be his 15-month title reign as IPW:UK Champion.

Back in the FWA, Stixx and Stone would quickly capture the FWA Tag Team Championships from the team of Hampton Court (Duke of Danger and Simmons) on 18 June 2005 at FWA NOAH Limits. Stone would be stripped of the title 16 months later after being unable to make a mandatory title defence on 19 November 2006 due to commitments with IPW:UK.

The tag title strip happened at the height of FWA's "Civil War" with IPW:UK, which would quickly see then-IPW:UK champion Stone officially leave FWA to stay on the side of IPW:UK. Stone would lead the war against the FWA and is in preparation to face semi-retired FWA star Alex Shane in a Promotion v Promotion – Winner Takes All Match at Broxbourne on 16 March 2007. This match however ended up taking place in Orpington several weeks later, with Flash Barker replacing an injured Alex Shane.

In late April 2007, Stone represented Real Quality Wrestling in the prestigious King of Europe Cup where he was defeated by Go Shiozaki in the first round.

During this time Stone would compete in and win an RQW tournament at Not Just For Christmas to become RQW's Heavyweight Champion. Stone defeated Iceman and Aviv Maayan in the first two rounds before defeating Pac in the final to win the vacant championship.

In September 2007, Stone began to compete regularly for the German promotion westside Xtreme wrestling. On 26 July 2008, Stone won the wXw Tag Team Championship alongside Doug Williams when the pair beat AbLas (Absolute Andy and Steve Douglas) at wXw Broken Rulz VIII in Oberhausen.[3]

In February 2008, Stone competed Chikara's King of Trios tournament in Philadelphia, United States, teaming with The Kartel as Team IPW:UK, but were defeated in the second round of the tournament by the Golden Trio (Delirious, Hallowicked and Helios). On 28 August 2008, Stone defeated Eamon O'Neill and James Tighe to win the Premier Promotions Worthing Trophy.

On 13 February 2010 at the British Uproar event in Broxbourne, Martin Stone defeated Andy Simmonz in the tournament finals to become the first FWA World Heavyweight Champion.[4] In a speech after the match he turned against the fans and claimed that he was only using British wrestling as a stepping stone to a big-money contract in the US. A month later he became the leader of "The Agenda", a faction of FWA wrestlers with aims along the same lines.

On 14 March 2010 at PW101 Unstoppable at The Hubs in Sheffield. Martin Stone defeated 11 other men in the 101 Championship Rush match last defeating Martin Kirby to become Pro Wrestling 101's first and only Heavyweight Champion. Upon returning to Britain in 2014, Stone challenged for Jack Jester's ICW Heavyweight Championship but was defeated.[5]

WWE

NXT (2011–2014)

In late 2011, Harris signed with WWE and reported to its developmental territory in June 2012.[6] He was given the ring name Danny Burch,[7] and he made his televised debut for NXT Wrestling on 15 May 2013, episode of NXT with a loss to Bray Wyatt.[8] From then on, Burch was used sporadically as enhancement talent until it was reported on 30 April 2014 that he was released by WWE.[9]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014–2015)

In 2014 Harris, under his Martin Stone name, appeared on the second season of TNA British Boot Camp. On 16 February 2015 Harris competed at the TNA One Night Only: Gut Check, where he defeated Jessie Godderz to qualify for the final match later that night. He then competed in a five-way elimination match where the winner of that match would earn an appearance on the next episode of Impact Wrestling, though he was unsuccessful as the match was won by Tevita Fifita.

Return to WWE

Return to NXT (2015–2016)

On July 16, 2015, though not resigned to WWE, Stone made an appearance on an NXT television taping, where he lost to Kevin Owens. He made a second appearance on the August 13, 2015 taping of NXT, where he lost to Apollo Crews. He made a third appearance on 16 September, where he was referred to as his old NXT name Danny Burch, losing to Tye Dillinger. He made a fourth appearance on the October 21, 2015 taping of NXT, where he lost to James Storm. Burch made a further appearance on NXT on January 13, 2016 in a losing effort against Tommaso Ciampa. He again faced Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, teaming up with Rob Ryzin on the May 18 taping of NXT, losing again. On September 14, 2016, during the Cruiserweight Classic Finale he teamed up with Sean Maluta and lost to The Bollywood Boyz, Gurv Sihra and Harv Sihra, in a dark match.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Burch with the FWA World Heavyweight Championship in May 2010.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Danny Burch". WWE. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Shows featuring Joe Riot from the cagematch.net show database. Retrieved 17/12/06.
  3. ↑ "wXw "Broken Rulz VIII" show report". wxw-wrestling.com. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  4. ↑ Rothstein, Simon (16 February 2010). "FWA are back causing Uproar". The Sun. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  5. ↑ "ICW Shug's Hoose Party".
  6. ↑ "FORMER PBW AND BRITISH STAR HEADS OUT TO WWE". Premier British Wrestling. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "THURS. UPDATE: SummerSlam activities, Hint on WWE network, Japanese tag champs face off on U.S. TV tonight, TNA notes for tonight, Rousey on all sorts of subjects, Big Fight Odds, Rock & Carano, A.J. talks current role, new WWE guys, Angle, Tenay". Wrestling Observer. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  8. ↑ James, Justin. "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/15 & 5/22: El Generico debuts, O'Brian beats two NXT releases in same match, Bray Wyatt debuts mask, Natalya vs. Rae, more developments". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Former Nexus Member, Second Generation Diva and more released by WWE". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "X Wrestling Alliance Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  11. ↑ GSW Night In Motion XVIII – Royal Business (German)
  12. ↑ "International Professional Wrestling UK Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  13. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=2201
  14. ↑ "1-Pro Wrestling 2009 Results". 1pwonline.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
  15. ↑ "1-Pro Wrestling 2007 Results". 1pwonline.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  16. ↑ ""PWI 500": 101–200". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  17. ↑ "Real Quality Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  18. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1977
  19. ↑ "wXw Tag Team Title Histories". wxw-wrestling.com. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  20. ↑ "The new WXW Champions! Television Champion Big O, Tag Team Champions the Sons of the Atlantic, Hardcore Champion The Beast!".
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