Elias Samson

Jeffrey Daniel Sciullo (born November 22, 1987) is an American professional wrestler and musician. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Elias.

Under the name Elias, shortened from Elias Samson, he portrays a musician who often uses music to mock his opponents or the fans in attendance. Sciullo began his WWE career on the NXT brand, appearing there from 2014 to 2017 where he developed his "Drifter" ring character. Prior to joining WWE, he worked for various companies on the independent circuit under the ring name Logan Shulo. In 2018, the album '' WWE: Walk with Elias'' was released by the WWE Music Group featuring Sciullo followed by ''Universal Truth'' in 2020.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2008–2014)

Sciullo wrestled extensively on the independent circuit for various promotions in the Northeastern USA, primarily for the International Wrestling Cartel (IWC) under the ring name Heavy Metal Jesus, Logan Shulo. While in the IWC, Shulo won the promotion's Super Indy Championship and World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE

NXT (2014–2017)

In early 2014, Sciullo was signed to a developmental deal by WWE under the ring name Elias Samson. He made his ''NXT'' debut at the April 24, 2014, tapings, working as an enhancement talent and teaming with Buddy Murphy in a losing effort against The Ascension. Samson was then used sporadically on television throughout 2014 and early 2015, mostly appearing as enhancement talent to wrestlers such as Baron Corbin.

In August 2015, Samson debuted a new drifter musician character in a match taped prior to NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, approaching the ring with a guitar before defeating Bull Dempsey, and established himself as a heel at the same time. Samson then entered the '' Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic'' tournament, where he was paired with Tucker Knight, but the two were eliminated from the tournament by Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson. On the December 23 episode of ''NXT'', taped before NXT TakeOver: London, Samson defeated Bull Dempsey with a diving elbow drop, which he would dub as a finishing move onwards. In the following weeks, Samson would rack up victories over various competitors such as Steve Cutler and Jesse Sorensen. On the March 23, 2016, episode of ''NXT'', after he suffered a loss to Johnny Gargano, Samson would attack him only to be fended off by Apollo Crews. This led to a match between Samson and Crews that took place at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, where Samson was defeated. Throughout the rest of the year, Samson would compete in different matches against competitors such as Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Bálor, but he would be on the losing side.

In what would be his final feud in NXT, Samson faced Kassius Ohno (whom he mocked after he had just lost an NXT Championship match against Bobby Roode) in the first ever "loser leaves NXT" match that took place on the March 29, 2017, episode of ''NXT'', where Samson was defeated. Just a week later, on the April 5 episode of ''NXT'' (which was taped as part of NXT TakeOver: Orlando prior to the beginning of the event), Samson wrestled his final match on NXT as the masked "El Vagabundo" (Spanish for "The Vagabond"), where he lost to Oney Lorcan, who unmasked him afterwards.

Main roster beginnings (2017–2019)

On the April 10, 2017, episode of '' Raw'', Samson made his main roster debut, appearing on the stage briefly during an eight–man tag team match, as well as walking through the crowd during another match later that night. Samson continued to appear in the background playing his guitar during backstage segments over the next few weeks. In his in–ring debut match on the May 22 episode of ''Raw'', Samson defeated Dean Ambrose by disqualification after The Miz intentionally attacked him. In June, Samson started his first feud as part of the main roster with Finn Bálor, who interrupted him during one of his performances. This led to a match between the two, where Samson defeated Bálor in a No Disqualification match after interference from Bray Wyatt. In the end of July, WWE shortened his ring name to "Elias".

Elias was then placed in a feud with Jason Jordan, after Jordan would interrupt Elias during his songs by throwing vegetables at him at No Mercy. This would lead to a match between the two at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, where Elias was defeated by Jordan. On the November 6 episode of ''Raw'', Elias was defeated by Jordan in a Guitar–on–a–Pole match, ending their feud. Two weeks later, Elias competed in his first title match as he unsuccessfully challenged Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Championship.

On January 28, 2018, at the Royal Rumble, Elias entered his first Royal Rumble match at No. 6, lasting 26 minutes before being eliminated by John Cena. A month later, Elias competed for the first time in an Elimination Chamber match at the namesake pay–per–view, where he entered last, but was the second participant eliminated by Braun Strowman. Elias also appeared at WrestleMania 34, where he was attacked by Cena. Three weeks later, Elias competed at the Greatest Royal Rumble event, where he entered at No. 20, lasting over 30 minutes and eliminating five wrestlers before being eliminated by Bobby Lashley. Shortly after, Elias started a feud with Seth Rollins, whom he attacked with his guitar after interrupting his performance. The two eventually faced off for the Intercontinental Championship at the Money in the Bank, where Elias lost.

In October, Elias turned face for the first time in his career, as he attacked Baron Corbin with his guitar. Throughout November, Elias started a feud with Bobby Lashley, who would defeat him in different matches via count–out, disqualification or a distraction by his manager Lio Rush. This led to a match at the TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs event, where Elias defeated Lashley in a ladder match with a guitar hanging over the ring, after which Lashley would attack him with the guitar after the match. The following night on ''Raw'', Elias would gain revenge as he would attack Lashley with a guitar. This sparked a Miracle on 34th Street Fight between the two, in which Elias was victorious.

At the Royal Rumble on January 27, 2019, Elias entered the Royal Rumble match at entrant 1 and was prepared for a concert before being interrupted by Jeff Jarrett, who proposed a duet. After seemingly accepting, Elias attacked Jarrett with his guitar. Afterwards, as the match officially began, Elias lasted fifteen minutes before being eliminated by the eventual winner Seth Rollins. The following night on ''Raw'', Elias turned heel after insulting the crowd, proclaiming that they disappointed him for lackluster reactions towards him, and was subsequently interrupted by Jeff Jarrett and Road Dogg, who proceeded to sing "With My Baby Tonight" until Elias attacked both men, smashing a guitar over both Jarrett and Road Dogg. On the February 4 episode of ''Raw'', Elias defeated Jeff Jarrett, who wrestled in his first match on ''Raw'' since Jarrett left WWE after No Mercy. After the match, Jarrett smashed Elias with his guitar as payback for the previous week. Elias was attacked on both WrestleMania 35 and the Raw after the event by John Cena and The Undertaker respectively during his musical performances.

Various alliances and feuds (2019–2021)

During the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up, Elias was drafted to the SmackDown brand. Just before Elias was to have a musical performance, he was interrupted and attacked by Roman Reigns who was also making his SmackDown debut. The following week, Shane McMahon challenged Reigns to a fight for attacking his father. Reigns came out and was attacked from behind by Elias, who assisted McMahon in beating up Reigns. Elias then challenged Reigns to a match at Money in the Bank, and Reigns accepted. At the event, Elias was defeated by Reigns in 8 seconds. On the May 28 episode of ''SmackDown Live'', Elias pinned R-Truth with the help of McMahon and Drew McIntyre, winning the 24/7 Championship, his first title in WWE. He lost the title in the same night against R-Truth, after a tag team match that also involved Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre. R-Truth pinned him after the match with the help of Roman Reigns.

The following week at ''SmackDown Live'' he defeated again R-Truth in a Lumberjack match for the 24/7 Championship, but in the same episode, while the lumberjacks brawled with each other, Truth pinned him under the ring ending his second reign. Elias participated at the 51-Man Battle Royal at the 2019 Super Showdown but he was the last competitor eliminated by the eventual winner Mansoor. After this, Elias continued his alliance with Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre, helping them in various feuds and matches. During the special episode WWE Smackville, he was defeated by Shane's new rival Kevin Owens. On August 12, 2019, during the '' Raw'' episode post-SummerSlam, Elias pinned R-Truth in the backstage after hitting him with his guitar, regaining the 24/7 Title.

One week later, at ''SmackDown'', Elias participated in the King of the Ring tournament, defeating Kevin Owens during the first match thanks to the help of Shane, who made himself the special referee while the match was in progress and distracted the latter. Elias then lost and regained the 24/7 title on August 23 during the Fox Sports Founder's Day events in Los Angeles, ultimately pinning Fox Sports host Rob Stone on the set of the Fox College Football pregame show immediately after Stone had pinned R-Truth (who had pinned Elias earlier in the day while Elias was doing a concert to kick off the Founder's Day festivities). On August 27 at ''SmackDown Live'', Drake Maverick defeated Elias for the title after the latter was attacked by Kevin Owens. It was announced on September 10, 2019, that Elias was suffering from an ankle injury and was not able to compete in the 2019 King of the Ring semi-final match against Chad Gable. After a two-month hiatus, He returned on November 29, 2019, edition of SmackDown making fun of Drake Maverick, turning face in the process. The next week, he cemented his face turn when he sang with Dana Brooke and attacked Maverick.

Elias participated in the Royal Rumble match at the namesake pay-per-view and entered at No. 2 but was eliminated by the WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. Elias would then begin a feud with King Corbin defeating him at Wrestlemania 36 at Night 1 of the event with a roll-up pin. On the May 15 episode of ''SmackDown'', Elias defeated Corbin again during the first round of the tournament for the vacant Intercontinental Championship. On the May 29 episode of ''SmackDown'', he was unable to continue the tournament when he suffered an injury caused, in storyline, by a car incident. In reality, Elias had suffered a torn pectoral muscle and required surgery rendering him out of action for 6–9 months. As part of the 2020 Draft in October, Elias was drafted to the Raw brand. On the October 12 episode of ''Raw'', he returned from injury and attacked Jeff Hardy by bashing his guitar, turning heel once again. At Hell in a Cell, Elias defeated Hardy by disqualification after Hardy smashed him with his guitar. On the November 2 ''Raw'', Elias was defeated by Hardy in a Guitar on a Pole match and a few weeks later would again be defeated in a Symphony of Destruction match, ending the feud.

In December 2020, Elias formed an alliance with Jaxson Ryker. At the Royal Rumble, Elias would enter his fourth Rumble match at No. 13, eliminating Carlito before being eliminated by Damian Priest. At Fastlane, Elias would replace Shane McMahon in his match against Braun Strowman, in which he was defeated. On the May 31, 2021 episode of ''Raw'', after challenging AJ Styles and Omos for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship in a losing effort, Elias split up with Ryker. The two would briefly feud until the July 19 episode of ''Raw'', where in a match between the two Ryker was victorious. In August, WWE aired vignettes where Elias burned his guitar, ending the musician character.

Ezekiel debut and return of Elias (2022–present)

On the April 4, 2022 episode of '' Raw'', Sciullo, Elias’s younger brother Ezekiel, returned to WWE television as a face, a look consisting of a clean shaven face, shorter hair, and trunks, and said that he was the younger brother of Elias. In the following weeks on ''Raw'', Ezekiel entered a feud with Kevin Owens, who refused to believe Ezekiel was really Elias's brother, and thought he was actually Elias himself. At Hell in a Cell, Ezekiel lost to Owens. On the June 20 episode of ''Raw'', the two brothers "reunited" in a doctored backstage segment. Later that night, Elias appeared to perform a concert, before being interrupted by Owens. Still refusing to believe that the brothers were different people, Owens challenged Ezekiel, Elias or their "even younger brother Elrod" to a match. On the August 8 episode of ''Raw'', Owens stretchered Ezekiel out of the arena after attacking him with an Apron Powerbomb, thus ending their feud.

Elias then returned on the October 17 episode of ''Raw''.

Discography

Extended plays

*'' WWE: Walk with Elias'' (2018)
*'' WWE: Universal Truth'' (2020)

Championships and accomplishments

* International Wrestling Cartel
** IWC Super Indy Championship (1 time)
** IWC World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* '' Pro Wrestling Illustrated''
** Ranked No. 69 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the '' PWI 500'' in 2018
* WWE
** WWE 24/7 Championship ( 4 times)
** Slammy Award (1 time)
*** Musical Performance of the Year ( 2020)
** WWE Year-End Award (1 time)
*** Breakout Superstar of the Year (2018)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elias
1987 births
Living people
American male professional wrestlers
Sportspeople from Pittsburgh
Professional wrestlers from Pennsylvania
American people of Italian descent
American professional wrestlers of Italian descent
Musicians from Pittsburgh
Masked wrestlers
WWE 24/7 Champions
21st-century professional wrestlers