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Grado (wrestler)

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Grado
Grado in 2018
Birth nameGraeme Stevely
Born (1988-06-02) 2 June 1988 (age 36)
Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Grado
Aidan Howlin
Matt Classic[1]
Odarg the Great
Billed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg)[2]
Billed from
Trained byConscience
Killian Dain
Drew McIntyre
Andrew Wason
Adam Shame
Debut2004

Graeme Stevely[4] (born 2 June 1988),[5] better known by the ring name Grado (/ˈɡreɪdoʊ/ GRAY-doh), is a Scottish professional wrestler and actor who plays Alan in Two Doors Down, PC Hugh McKirdy in Scot Squad and is currently signed to Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), where he is a former ICW World Heavyweight Champion.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2002–2006)

Grado first got into wrestling in 2002. He trained briefly with Red Lightning, Kid Fite, and Drew Galloway at British Championship Wrestling. A few years later he went on to train with the Scottish Wrestling Alliance. He made his debut for them in 2004, under the ring name Grant Dunbar, as part of The Lowlanders with Glen Dunbar. They achieved little success, but held the SWA Tag Team Championships on two occasions.[6]

Insane Championship Wrestling (2012–2017)

After years of wrestling sporadically and performing as lead singer of Scottish metalcore band Prezident Prime, Grado returned to training at SWA, this time with new head trainer Big Damo. He made a Facebook video to sell tickets for a Scottish Wrestling Alliance show next to his home town, leading to a promo feud with Jackie Polo which included his first time dancing along to Madonna "Like a Prayer". These videos and promos became popular and Mark Dallas from Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) hatched the "Get Grado Booked" campaign. During this time, Grado was the subject of a Vice documentary, The British Wrestler, which saw his popularity rise with American stars like Sonjay Dutt voicing their support.[7] As part of the Vice documentary, Grado appeared to defeat ICW Heavyweight Champion Red Lightning at Super Smokin' Thunderbowl to win the ICW Heavyweight Championship. The match was later restarted as Red Lightning had his leg under the bottom rope. Red Lightning would go on to retain the title.

During the ICW Fringe Tour in 2014, Grado teamed up with Colt Cabana to face the New Age Kliq (Chris Renfrew and BT Gunn) and won the first Official ICW Tag Team Championships.[8][9] Grado and Cabana are known as Irn Jew[10] and on the last night of the tour they lost their Tag Team Championships to The New Age Kliq.[9] On 15 November 2015 Fear & Loathing VIII Grado defeated Drew Galloway to win the ICW World Heavyweight Championship at the SECC.[11][12][13]

At the fifth annual Square Go on 24 January 2016, Grado lost the ICW World Heavyweight Championship to Chris Renfrew, ending his reign at just two months, the shortest reign in ICW History at that time.[14] At the event he also debuted a new theme, and a new look, coming out to a rock version of "99 Problems" replacing his long time theme "Like A Prayer", as well as ditching his long time singlet for trunks, and the flannel given to him by Mick Foley at Fear and Loathing VIII.

At Fear & Loathing IX on 20 November 2016, in the SSE Hydro, Grado teamed as a part of Team Dallas to defeat Team Black Label to reclaim ownership of ICW.[15][16][17]

On 16 April 2017 At Barramania III Grado turned heel for the first time in his career by attacking his longtime friend Sha Samuels and aligning himself with Red Lightning. At Shug's Hoose Party 4 on 30 July he lost to Samuels in a Loser Leaves ICW match forcing Grado to leave ICW.

Premier British Wrestling (2012–2016)

On 3 November 2012 Grado partnered with JD Bravo in a tag team match against The Coffey Brothers (Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey) with The Coffey Brothers winning the Match. On 14 March 2015 Grado teamed with Kenny Williams against Darkside and TJ Rage for the Premier British Wrestling Tag Team Championship. Grado and Williams won the match to become new tag champions.

Pro Wrestling Elite (2013–2018)

Grado won the PWE Elite Rumble to for earn a title shot and the opportunity to name the next event. The next PWE show was called Gradomania. He won the Pro Wrestling Elite Heavyweight Championship from Dave Mastiff at GradoMania.[2] Grado held the title for 511 days, retaining against Andy Wild, Noam Dar, Liam Thomson and Joey Hayes.[18] He lost the title to Iestyn Rees after Rees cashed in his title shot at PWE Jingle All The Galloway.[18]

In the last ever PWE show, following the passing of Adrian 'Lionheart' McCallum, Grado was to recapture the title and following a conversation with a fan presented the title to Adrian's mother.

Independent circuit (2006–present)

In addition to working in Insane Championship Wrestling, Grado also appears for various companies around the UK. He has worked for SWA, PWE, SWE, PBW and Wrestlezone among other companies. At WrestleZone's Aberdeen Anarchy event in the Beach Ballroom in front of a sold out 1,300 crowd, Grado defeated childhood hero Scotty 2 Hotty. On 27 and 28 July, Grado worked for What Culture Pro Wrestling.[19][20]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling / Impact Wrestling

Various storylines (2014–2016)

Grado in 2014

In 2014, Grado appeared on the second season of TNA British Boot Camp in an ongoing feud with judge Al Snow.[21][22] After missing the second round of the competition due to having lunch and losing track of time, Snow threw Grado out of the competition. Grado would then appear at the Manchester auditions and was once again thrown out. He reappeared in London and with some convincing from Gail Kim, Snow allowed him back into the competition. Snow would then send Sha Samuels to rough up Grado in the second round. He would make it through to the British finals and onto the U.S. finals before finally being eliminated at the Top 6. After Snow eliminated Grado from the competition, Grado challenged Snow to a match at the SSE Hydro as part of TNA's Maximum Impact Tour in January 2015. Snow accepted and Grado went on to win the match, followed by Snow shaking his hand.

Grado appeared at Destination X on 10 June, having earned another chance in TNA following his victory over Snow. Grado later appeared in several backstage segments, attempting parkour and trying to lose weight to be able to compete in the X Division. Only at the weigh-in did Jeremy Borash inform Grado that "there are no limits in the X-Division". Grado would immediately compete against Kenny King and Cruz, getting the pinfall victory over the latter. Grado fought for the TNA X Division Championship in a losing effort against Low Ki and Tigre Uno. Uno won the match and the title. During October and November (taped in July), Grado went on to participate in the new TNA World Title Series tournament, where he was placed fourth of his block in Team UK. He failed to win all the matches against Drew Galloway, Rockstar Spud, and Bram, thus failing to advance to the round of 16 from his block. On the 26 January 2016 edition of Impact Wrestling. Grado competed in the Feast or Fired match and was the first man to grab the briefcase. Unfortunately, later in the broadcast, during the reveal ceremony, the briefcase revealed that Grado contained the pink slip and as a result of that, he was immediately fired from TNA.

On 9 February 2016, Grado returned to Impact Wrestling claiming he was screwed and was going to show proof that he was screwed when Eli Drake arrived with security. His security then chased Grado out the ring, and Drake attempted to attack him only to be assaulted by Grado. Grado escaped through a tunnel. Later in the night, Billy Corgan was talking about the new UK tour when Grado complained about being screwed. After repeatedly making a rant, security escorted him away. Drake then interrupted Grado and told him "he better shut up about whatever he thinks he knows" and then attacked him.[23]

Teaming with Shera (2016–2017)

During TNA's Maximum Impact tour of the UK, Grado would make an appearance as a masked wrestler under the guise of Odarg the Great, tagging with Mahabali Shera against Eli Drake and Jessie Godderz.[24] He was billed from "Parts Unknown" and used Grado's move set and entrance theme. At Lockdown, he defeated Eli Drake in a Six Sides of Steel match. Grado would continue appearing during the Maximum Impact 8 tour claiming to have proof that he was "screwed" by Eli Drake. A week later, while showing viewers at home a proof for Grado's point of showing Drake peeking into Grado's briefcase, though it could not be seen if Drake indeed switched cases with Grado, the fact Drake opened Grado's case was enough for Grado to receive a contract ladder match against Drake, which he went on to win. Two weeks later, when he started talking to Mahabali Shera about his comeback party, both men were, with no clear reason, brutally attacked by Al Snow. More than a month after, on the 10 May 2016 episode of Impact Wrestling, Grado returned during a rematch between Snow and Shera, making sure Shera won the match. On the 24 May episode of Impact Wrestling Grado had a street fight with Snow with Shera at ringside, which he went on to lose after interference by two unknown men. At Slammiversary, Grado and Shera were defeated by the two men, who are Basile Baraka and Baron Dax, also known as The Tribunal. On 14 June edition of Impact Wrestling, Grado and Mahabali have a four-way tag team match for the TNA World Tag Team Championship against The Tribunal, The BroMans and Decay, in a losing effort. On 28 June edition of Impact Wrestling, Grado, Mahabali Shera and Tyrus defeated Al Snow and The Tribunal. On 4 August edition of Impact Wrestling, Grado and Mahabali Shera defeated Al Snow and The Tribunal in a handicap match. At Bound for Glory, he participated in the Bound for Gold but was quickly eliminated by Rockstar Spud. On the 24 November episode of Impact Wrestling, Grado lost to Robbie E in a Turkey Bowl match where he was forced to wear a turkey suit.

American deportation storyline (2017–2018)

Grado made his return to Global Force Wrestling on the 13 July 2017, where he asked Joseph Park for help because if he does not marry a United States citizen in order to avoid deportation he will be deported from the United States, so asked Laurel Van Ness on a date which was interrupted by Kongo Kong but answered yes to Grado at the backstage interview and dated Laurel Van Ness the following week. On 27 July, Grado proposed to Laurel Van Ness before Kongo Kong came out and scared Grado and Joseph Park away. On the 3 August, Grado would team with Braxton Sutter and Suicide as they defeated Fallah Bahh, KM and Mario Bokara, after the match Grado tried to propose again by was attacked by Kongo Kong. The following week, Grado and Joseph Park would face Kongo Kong in a handicap match where they were defeated, after the match Grado was saved by Tyrus. The following week on Impact Wrestling Grado announced that he was going to be deported, and would say his goodbye's on the following week. On the 24 August episode of Impact Wrestling, while Grado said farewell to America on his last night in America, Van Ness came out and proposed to Grado. On the 31 August episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Ness revealed that she is Canadian, while Grado needed to marry an American and refused to marry Van Ness because she was Canadian, leaving Van Ness in the process of becoming a maniacal villainess once again. Grado was subsequently granted a work visa by Joseph Park when he signed a sports entertainment contract with Park's law firm. Park began using Grado as a "meal ticket" to live a lavish life style and paying Grado very little. When Grado confronted Park about being underpaid, Park challenged Grado to a match at Bound for Glory for control of Grado's visa. Grado did not read the contract which stipulated a Monster Ball's match against Park's brother Abyss. Grado was defeated by Abyss at Bound for Glory after Grado was attacked by the villainous Van Ness during the match. However, on the following edition of iMPACT, Park apologized to Grado and gave him his visa papers. A mountie then took him away as the papers did not let him legally work in Canada, where iMPACT's main office was located at the time.[25]

Return and WOS Wrestling re-boot (2018–2019)

In May 2018 Grado resumed his association with World of Sport Wrestling in the UK and was part of the TV tapings in Norwich held between 10–12 May 2018. The series was later broadcast in the summer of that year on ITV. In the opening episode, Grado lost the title on his first defense in a match with Rampage Brown.

Return to ICW (2018–present)

On 29 July 2018, Grado made his return to ICW at Shug's Hoose Party V, when TNA and WWE Hall of Famer Jeff Jarrett announced Grado as Jackie Polo's opponent; Grado went on to win the match.

Acting career

Grado portrays Police Constable Hugh McKirdy in the BBC Scotland sitcom Scot Squad. He later starred as Brian Doyle / Buster on the BBC Scotland Scottish soap opera River City. The character was cut from the show after only a few months. He also starred in BBC Two Comedy pilot The Sunny as Haircut.

In 2016 and 2017 he appeared in the pantomimes "Elfie's Magical Adventure" and "The Wizard That Never Woz" at the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow. Since 2018, he has appeared in Two Doors Down, a Glasgow-based BBC sitcom. He plays Alan, who has moved from East Kilbride with his partner Michelle, played by Joy McAvoy into a house opposite the main characters.

In 2019 Grado also hosted the BBC Scotland game show Test Drive.

He appeared as wrestler Adrian Sloane in the Endeavour episode "Raga" in February 2020.

Grado is a regular contributor on the rebooted GamesMaster on E4 in 2021.[26]

He appeared as one of a pair of comic policemen in Aladdin at the Pavilion Theatre (Glasgow) in 2022–23.

Filmography

Title Date Network/channel Role Notes
The Sunny 2014 BBC Scotland Haircut Pilot[27]
Insane Fight Club 2014 BBC Grado [28]
River City 2014 BBC Scotland Brian 'Buster' Doyle
TNA British Boot Camp 2014 Challenge Grado
Scot Squad 2017 BBC Scotland PC Hugh McKirdy
Two Doors Down 2018–present BBC Two
BBC One 		Alan
Test Drive 2019, 2023 BBC Scotland Host/presenter 2 series[29]
Endeavour 2020 ITV Adrian Sloane
GamesMaster 2021 Channel 4 Himself
Scotland's Greatest Escape 2023 BBC Himself/host with JJ Chalmers[30]

Personal life

A Rangers F.C. supporter, Grado appeared as a special guest in The Legends Return match at Ibrox Stadium along with fellow River City actors Jordan Young and Stephen Purdon.[31] Grado married his fiancée Stephanie in June 2023. They held their wedding ceremony at the Lochside House in New Cumnock. The couple have a daughter together, Perrie, who was born in November 2021.[32]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ "Revolution Pro Wrestling June 14 London, England, results: AJ Styles, Nakamura, Ishii, Colt Cabana, Matt Sydal". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Grado". Pro Wrestling Elite. Archived from the original on 5 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Grado". BBC One.
  4. ^ Virtue, Graeme (19 July 2014). "Grado: Buckfast and banter with UK wrestling's new hope". The Guardian.
  5. ^ "Grado". Grado Wrestling. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  6. ^ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=28&nr=573&page=4 [bare URL]
  7. ^ "The British Wrestler – Full Length". Vice. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  8. ^ "BREAKING NEWS - Grado wins gold with his hero!". 10 August 2014 – via www.youtube.com.
  9. ^ a b https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1836&page=5&reign=7 [bare URL]
  10. ^ Semite, Yo (5 August 2014). "Grado And Colt Cabana Team Up For ICW Tag-Team Championship As "IRN JEW"".
  11. ^ "FULL MATCH - Drew McIntyre vs. Grado, ft. Mick Foley: ICW Title Match: Fear and Loathing, 15 Nov '15". June 2022 – via www.youtube.com.
  12. ^ Jones, Brad. "Mick Foley Discusses the ICW Experience: Fear and Loathing VIII, Grado and More". Bleacher Report.
  13. ^ "ICW Fear and Loathing VIII Results: Grado vs. Drew Galloway". 16 November 2015.
  14. ^ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=726 [bare URL]
  15. ^ Maheshwari, Suyash (21 November 2016). "WWE News: Finn Balor attacks Drew Galloway at ICW event Fear & Loathing XI". www.sportskeeda.com.
  16. ^ "Team Dallas VS The Black Label - 1 Year In The Making". 16 November 2016 – via www.youtube.com.
  17. ^ "WATCH: Finn Balor attacks TNA's Drew Galloway at Sunday's ICW Fear & Loathing IX show". 20 November 2016.
  18. ^ a b https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1837&page=5&reign=3 [bare URL]
  19. ^ a b c d e Strachan, Billy (22 June 2016). "Wrestler Spotlight: Grado". Scottish Wrestling Network. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "Grado". 25 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Comedy wrestler Grado lands his big break after earning a place on US-based TV show British Boot Camp". Daily Record. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  22. ^ "TNA British Boot Camp 2: The 'clown prince of wrestling' Grado tries to impress the judges". Daily Mirror. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  23. ^ Boutwell, Josh (10 February 2016). "Grado claims he was screwed". Wrestleview. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  24. ^ Carapola, Stuart (24 June 2015). "COMPLETE IMPACT WRESTLING REPORT: NEW X DIVISION CHAMPION, YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO SHOWED UP, ANGLE'S MYSTERY OPPONENT IS REVEALED". PWInsider.com. PWInsider. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Impact Wrestling Now Officially Based In Canada". WhatCulture. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  26. ^ "You Know What? The GamesMaster Reboot Is An Unexpected Delight". 22 November 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  27. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "The Sunny - BBC2 Scot Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
  28. ^ "BBC One - Insane Fight Club, Insane Fight Club". BBC.
  29. ^ "BBC Scotland - Test Drive, Series 1, Episode 1". BBC.
  30. ^ "BBC Scotland - Scotland's Greatest Escape". BBC.
  31. ^ Rangers Football Club. "Grado Lines Up Best Moves". rangers.co.uk. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  32. ^ McStay, Kirsten (14 June 2023). "Scots wrestling star Grado honeymoons in the Maldives days after lavish wedding". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  33. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "All England Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  34. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Reckless Intent Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net.
  35. ^ a b "Grado: Profile, Career, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won, Gimmick Evolution and Stats | Pro Wrestlers Database". The SmackDown Hotel.
  36. ^ "Swiss Wrestling Entertainment - Timeline - Facebook". Facebook.
  37. ^ "Grado". 24 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Feast or Fired Briefcase Reveal 3". 26 January 2016 – via www.youtube.com.
  39. ^ "411MANIA". TNA Posts Video of Grado’s Proof That He Shouldn’t Have Been Fired.
  40. ^ "PBW Tag Team Championship Title History - Premier British Wrestling". www.pbwwrestling.com.
  41. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (7 March 2014). "PWE Elite Rumble". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  42. ^ "Internet Wrestling Database - Grado: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ratings". www.profightdb.com.
  43. ^ "WOS Wrestling 12/31: Relaunch of UK-based promotion with Grado vs. Dave Mastiff for World of Sport Title, plus ladder match, battle royal". Pro Wrestling Torch. January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  44. ^ "WOS Wrestling Results (9/29/18): New WOS Heavyweight Champion, WOS Tag Team Titles Defended, More | Fightful News".
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