Ian Harrison (born 3 January 1969),
better known by his
ring name
A ring name is a type of stage name used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons, or projecting ...
, "British Storm" Ian Harrison, is an English former
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
and
bodybuilder
Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses o ...
.
In professional wrestling, Harrison is best known for his time in the short lived
XWF promotion ran by
Jimmy Hart
James Ray Hart (born January 1, 1944) is an American professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE in a Legends deal. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World ...
. While in the XWF, Harrison held his first and only singles professional wrestling championship, the
XWF Heavyweight Championship. Harrison was awarded the championship in preparation for a storyline "XWF Invasion" of Puerto Rico's
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council (WWC) (Spanish: "Consejo Mundial de Lucha"), is a Puerto-Rican professional wrestling promotion based in Puerto Rico. It was originally established as Capitol Sports Promotions in 1973 by Carlos Colón Sr., Victor J ...
promotion.
Working under the name "Awe" he was also awarded the XWF World Tag Team Titles with his partner Shock (
Del Rios) in
Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee.
History
Memphis Wrestling evolved from an earlier short-lived promotion called Memphis Championship Wrestling.
In 2019, Dustin & Maria Starr with th ...
but would vacate the title when he left the promotion.
As a bodybuilder, Harrison competed in many competitions and picked up wins as Mr. Britain (Junior) and Mr. Universe (Junior) in 1988. Ian was an IFBB pro and competed at the Mr Olympia and Arnold Classic, he retired after not placing top 5 at the Arnold Classic in 1998.
He turned professional in 1989 (competing until 1998) and was known for his immense physical strength and his ability to do ten or more reps with a set of 200 pound dumbbells.
Early life and Bodybuilding
According to Harrison's official website, "Ian was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England in 1969. He began studying
Judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponi ...
when he was 8 years old and began weight training at the age of 15. He competed in the bodybuilding industry from the age of 16 when he won the U-17 Mr. Yorkshire and then at 19 he won Junior Mr. Universe in London, England. In 1989 Ian won the Heavyweight and Overall titles at the IFBB British Championship at the age of 20 therefore achieving Professional status. He was the youngest ever to do so. He then started his first gym, Body Balance, in Leeds and trained at that facility throughout his bodybuilding career, 1993-1998. Ian competed 3 years in the Arnold Classic, Mr. Olympia in ’95, and guest posed worldwide. 13 magazine covers, and a plethora of training articles Ian was ranked top 10 in the world for 5 years straight and became known as an authority in training and nutrition."
In 1991, Harrison starred in a set of commercials produced by
Sega
is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...
France to promote the
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis, known as the outside North America, is a 16-bit Fourth generation of video game consoles, fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master Syst ...
, playing the character of a post-apocalyptic punk who is blown away by the power of the console.
Professional wrestling career
In a 1999 interview with Anabolic Extreme's Jason Mueller, Harrison revealed that in his time away from the bodybuilding scene he had been spending time traveling all over Wales and Scotland learning how to wrestle.
Stating that he was still a bodybuilder at heart, he wasn't opposed to pursuing a career in wrestling if it really took off.
In 2001 the American Professional Wrestling scene had witnessed the fall of two of the biggest and most influential promotions of the modern era as
Extreme Championship Wrestling
HHG Corporation, doing business as Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), was a professional wrestling promotion and media company that was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The promotion was founded in 1992 by Tod Gordon as National Wrest ...
filed for bankruptcy, and
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Ted Turner in 1988, after Turner Broadcasting System, through a subsidiary named Universal Wrestling Corporation, purchased the assets of Nation ...
was acquired by the
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
. Looking to fill the void left with just one major promotion running the show, wrestling manager
Jimmy Hart
James Ray Hart (born January 1, 1944) is an American professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE in a Legends deal. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World ...
and a number of other famous wrestlers formed the
XWF. Harrison was signed to the promotion with high hopes that his unique look and incredible physique would help make him become one of the company's homegrown stars. Since the XWF didn't have a television deal, all matches were taped in hopes of using the footage to secure a deal with a network.
He debuted on XWF programming as a heel, professional wrestling terminology for a "bad guy," or "villain" and sported trunks with Britain's Union Jack across the front and the back. In his debut, he made short work of
Horace Hogan
Michael Allan Bollea (born October 21, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler. The nephew of fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan, he is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s under the ring name Hora ...
, dominating his opponent with a powerslam and mounted strikes before finishing him off with a leg scissors submission hold placed around the head and neck of Horace who was forced to submit at one minute and thirty five seconds into the contest.
During his time with the promotion he also competed against
Norman Smiley
Norman Anthony Smiley (born February 28, 1965) is an English-American retired professional wrestler and vocalist specializing in Gregorian Chants. He is best known for his appearances with the Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre fro ...
, and worked with
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael Hennig (March 28, 1958 – February 10, 2003) was an American professional wrestler. He performed under his real name for promotions including the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF; now WWE) ...
against
Buff Bagwell
Marcus Alexander Bagwell (born January 10, 1970) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Buff Bagwell. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1991 to 2 ...
and
Vampiro
Ian Richard Hodgkinson (born May 31, 1967), better known by his ring name Vampiro, is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler who most recently served as director of talent for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). He also worked for Lucha Unde ...
.
He was undefeated during his time with the promotion.
Though the taped episodes never made the airwaves in the United States, they were aired in Puerto Rico where a storyline "XWF Invasion" was written to take place in Puerto Rico's
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council (WWC) (Spanish: "Consejo Mundial de Lucha"), is a Puerto-Rican professional wrestling promotion based in Puerto Rico. It was originally established as Capitol Sports Promotions in 1973 by Carlos Colón Sr., Victor J ...
in order for the company to receive some exposure. In preparation for this planned invasion, the
XWF Heavyweight Championship was awarded to Harrison in August 2002.
Harrison briefly wrestled for
Memphis Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee.
History
Memphis Wrestling evolved from an earlier short-lived promotion called Memphis Championship Wrestling.
In 2019, Dustin & Maria Starr with th ...
on behalf of the XWF, who were running yet another invasion angle. In Memphis, he would compete under the name "Awe" and primarily wrestle in tag team matches with his partner
Shock
Shock may refer to:
Common uses Collective noun
*Shock, a historic commercial term for a group of 60, see English numerals#Special names
* Stook, or shock of grain, stacked sheaves
Healthcare
* Shock (circulatory), circulatory medical emergen ...
. "Shock & Awe" were announced as the XWF World Tag Team Champions
on an edition of Memphis Wrestling's television show 31 May 2003 and would hold onto the titles until Harrison left the promotion.
Harrison appeared in
TNA on their sixth weekly PPV, having a backstage altercation with
Jeff Jarrett
Jeffrey Leonard Jarrett (born July 14, 1967) is an American professional wrestler and promoter. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he also serves as Director of Business Development.
Beginning his career in his father J ...
and defeating
Bo Dupp
William Murray Happer (born October 4, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and trainer, best known by his ring name Otto Schwanz. He competed primarily in the Carolinas since the mid-2000s, and has wrestled for many promotions including CW ...
by DQ.
Personal life
Ian is married to Jane and has a daughter named Christie and son named Mack.
He has retired from professional wrestling and used to operate "City Fitness" gym in
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Manatee County, Florida, Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the city's population is 55,698.
History
Late 18th and early 19th centuries ...
. Ian now devotes himself full time to running PCA USA. Physical Culture Association, a bodybuilding federation whose core aim is to put the athlete first. Ian suffered several heart attacks over the years having to undergo open heart surgery. "
Championships and accomplishments
*
Xcitement Wrestling Federation
The X Wrestling Federation (XWF) (later referred to as the Xcitement Wrestling Federation) was an American professional wrestling promotion that operated from 2001 to 2002.
The previous number two and three American promotions, World Champio ...
**XWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
References
External links
*
List of Bodybuilding Accomplishments
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, Ian
1969 births
English bodybuilders
English male professional wrestlers
Living people
Martial artists from Leeds