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Steve Corino

Steven Eugene (Steve) Corino (May 29, 1973) is a Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a trainer for their developmental territory, NXT. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion. Corino has held 50 titles in his career.

Professional Wrestling Career

Early years (1994–1998)

Corino began wrestling in 1994 and spent four years working on the independent circuit. During this time, he was a part of the Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts, a promotion run by Matt and Jeff Hardy. Corino began an anti-hardcore gimmick on the independent circuit, because he felt he would have more chance of getting work if he did not work hardcore matches. He gained experience, working in Puerto Rico for the WWC, working under the ring name Lightning Kid (which had been a gimmick previously used by Sean Waltman) and also made some appearances for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a jobber.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–2001)

In 1998, Corino debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as a heel manager. He stood out in ECW as a result of his "King of Old School" gimmick, where he would deride hardcore wrestlers, at one point invading a Limp Bizkit concert and protesting the immoral conduct.

In late 1999, Corino took Jack Victory on as a manager, and became an advisor for Tajiri and Rhino. He then began feuding with Dusty Rhodes, who defeated him in a gory Bullrope match at Living Dangerously 2000. At Heat Wave 2000, he lost to Jerry Lynn. Corino went on to win the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on November 5, 2000 at November to Remember by defeating Justin Credible, Sandman and Champion Jerry Lynn in a Double Jeopardy match; then to successfully defend it at Massacre on 34th Street in December against Jerry Lynn and Justin Credible in a 3-way dance.

Due to repeated failures of ECW paying Corino his salary, he left the company on January 7, 2001, the night he lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Guilty as Charged 2001 to Sandman. His friend Dustin Rhodes got him a contract in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), but he never got to make an appearance despite being due to debut at the company's third to last PPV Sin. When World Wrestling Entertainment took over WCW in March 2001, they released Corino from his contract. He went on to wrestle for many of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) regional promotions. On April 24, he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Independent circuit (2001–2006)

Corino continued his feud with Rhodes in his Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion as well as Southern Championship Wrestling and was part of the Extreme Horsemen with C.W. Anderson and Barry Windham. He was also part of the Extreme Horsemen in Major League Wrestling (MLW) with C.W. Anderson, Justin Credible and Simon Diamond. They were briefly managed by the legendary James J. Dillon before MLW folded. Also, Corino went on to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship before the promotion was folded.

In 2004 Corino made a number of appearances for Frontier Wrestling Alliance in the United Kingdom, where he entered a short rivalry with Alex Shane. The feud culminated in the main event match of Hotwired, where Corino defeated Shane with the assistance of then FWA Heavyweight Champion, Doug Williams.

As Steve Corino was a major part of ECW towards the end of its run, rumors swirled surrounding Corino possibly signing with World Wrestling Entertainment and returning to his ECW roots as a part of the new version of ECW, but he squashed those rumors in a posting on his LiveJournal.

Instead of signing with WWE, Corino worked in various independent promotions, including Zero-One, Hustle in Japan, Ring of Honor in the United States and both One Pro Wrestling and Celtic Wrestling in the United Kingdom. He was also president of World-1 Fighting Arts, which runs shows in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002, 2003)

Corino also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) during its early days. Corino had matches with Low Ki and many other stars before leaving the promotion some time later.

Ring of Honor (2002–2006)

Responding to a challenge from The Backseat Boyz, Homicide invited anyone in the locker room to be his partner. Steve Corino made his Ring of Honor (ROH) debut and responded to his offer, resulting in the two facing the Backseat Boys later that night. In the course of the match, Corino turned on Homicide after Homicide accidentally hit him, Old School Kicking his partner and leaving the ring, enabling the Backseat Boyz to easily defeat Homicide.

Homicide and Corino would then begin a four-year rivalry, with Corino criticizing Homicide's lifestyle and somewhat checkered past. The feud culminated in a match at the One Year Anniversary Show on February 8, 2003 in Queens, New York, New York. Homicide was the hometown favorite, but lost to Corino following interference from The Group (Samoa Joe, Michael Shane, C.W. Anderson and Simply Luscious), Corino's entourage. After the match, Corino applied a cobra clutch to Homicide, while the rest of The Group mocked New York City, instigating a worked riot.

Corino and Homicide had a rematch August 16, 2003, at Bitter Friends, Stiffer Enemies which saw Corino defeated. After twenty minutes of fighting which saw both men bleeding and carrying injuries, Homicide trapped Corino in a modified STF, prompting Corino's corner man, Guillotine LeGrande, to throw in the towel, awarding the match to Homicide. In the course of the match, Corino suffered a legitimate ruptured eardrum, and permanently lost most of the hearing in his left ear following a stiff slap to the side of the head from Homicide. Homicide has since stated in a shoot interview that he is not sorry for costing Corino his hearing, claiming Corino had been stiff with him the whole match.

Homicide faced Corino for a third time on November 29, 2003, at War of the Wire in a barbed wire match. This time however, Julius Smokes threw in the towel for Homicide after Corino throttled him with a length of barbed wire. Corino offered Homicide a handshake after the match, indicating that he finally respected Homicide, but Homicide refused to shake his hand. On October 14, 2005, at Enter the Dragon, Corino returned to ROH in a tag team match that saw him team with Colt Cabana to defeat Low Ki and Homicide.

On December 3 in New York City at Steel Cage Warfare, Homicide lost to Corino in a rematch from their feud of 2003 after Colt Cabana, under a mask, interfered in the match. During the match, Homicide separated his shoulder, but opted not to have surgery. As a result of his injury, Homicide was unable to compete at the following show, Final Battle 2005. He did show up, however, but with the intent on killing Steve Corino. Following Corino's match, Homicide ran down to the ring and attacked him. Colt Cabana ran down to the ring to save Corino, only to have Homicide pour Drano down his throat.

He returned to ROH in August 2006 after a long absence, reigniting his feud with Homicide. The feud culminated on November 4 in Philadelphia, at The Bitter End when Homicide beat Corino in a Fight Without Honor. Although the two still hated each other, they shook hands after the match and Corino allowed Homicide to shave his head.

In wrestling

  • Nicknames
    • "The King Of Old School"

Championships and accomplishments

  • NWA New Jersey
    • NWA New Jersey New York Championship (1 time)
    • NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA 2000
    • NWA 2000 Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • NWA 2000 American Heritage Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Pennsylvania
    • NWA Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Funking Conservatory
    • FC ¡BANG! Television Championship (1 time)
    • FC Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Adam Windsor
  • Pro Wrestling World-1
    • PWW-1 Tag Team Champion (1 time) - with C.W. Anderson
  • Other Titles
    • IWA-PA Heavyweight Championship
    • PCW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • MEWF Mid-Atlantic Championship (1 time)
    • MEWF Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
    • MEWF Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Jimmy Cicero
    • IPWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • IPWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Adam Flash
    • USCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Adam Flash
    • IHPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • ESW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • SCW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • IWF American Championship (2 times)
    • KYDA Pro Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • KYDA Pro Mid-Atlantic Championship (1 time)
    • APW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • OPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • BWCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • GSW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
    • UXW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

More Information

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