RAVEN
The most Depressed, the most violent and the most Mysterious man in not only ECW history but wrestling History RAVEN.
Height:6'1 Weight:237
In 1988, Levy started to train at Larry Sharpe's "Monster Factory" wrestling training facility. After months of training Levy joined Don Owen's Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which was part of the National Wrestling Alliance, under the name of Scotty the Body. His gimmick was that he was a super stud who had women all over him because of his good looks. It didn't take long for Scotty to progress in the PNW and win some gold. At July 8, 1989, Scotty teamed up with Top Gun to take on the Southern Rockers (Scott Peterson and Steve Doll) for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title, surprisingly Scotty and Top Gun won the match and the title, even though there were problems between the two. By winning the title the problems between Scotty and Top Gun became bigger, since Scotty took the credits for winning the title. It didn't take long for Top Gun to become tired of this, so two weeks later, the two split and the title was vacated. Scotty and Top Gun settled on a match, where the winner would pick a partner of his choice to become NWA PNW Tag Team Champion. Scotty won the match and picked the Grappler as his partner.
The two were able to hold on for the title for three weeks before losing it to the Southern Rockers (Steve Doll and Rex King), Scotty then focused on singles wrestling and soon gained success there as he won the vacant NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title from Carl Styles. Scotty was able to hold on to the title for more than a month, before Rex King defeated him, Scotty got his revenge as he regained the title one week later.After the loss Scotty started teaming with Steve Doll, and the two gained instant success as they defeated the Wrecking Crew (the Grappler and the Equalizer), but it only lasted two days. Soon thereafter Scott moved on to the Global Wrestling Federation using the name Scotty Anthony. He became a member of the Cartel, which was a stable of wrestlers consisting of himself, Mahkan Singh (Norman the Lunatic), and Rip Rogers, later Cactus Jack also joined them. Scott's stint in the GWF weren't filled with success, but together with Rip Rogers, he make it to the finals of the GWF tag team title tournament, but lost to the Simpson brothers (Steve and Shaun), this marked the end of Scott's career on the independent scene as he joined WCW in 1991.
In WCW he was given the name Scotty Flamingo, a spoiled rich kid, but it took some time before he was put in the spotlight. At WrestleWar 1992, May 17, Scotty defeated Marcus Bagwell and after a few more wins, Scott was granted a shot at the WCW Light Heavyweight Title. At Beach Blast 1992, , Scott fought the champion, Brian Pillman, and was victorious after a roll-up. But Scott wasn't able to hold on the title for long, only fifteen days later, Brad Armstrong relieved Scott of the title. The WCW grew tired of Scott so they let him go.So the WWF hire him, but they didn't know what to do with him, so they sent him down to Memphis for seasoning in the USWA. Here Scotty teamed up with another young brat, Brian Christopher, the two had exactly the same spoilt brat gimmick so it was the perfect teaming. It didn't take long for the team to gain success as they defeated the Moondogs to win the USWA Tag Team Title. The Moondogs however regained the title one week later.
Soon thereafter Scott headed back to Titan, which had made up the gimmick that could have ended Scott's career, the extremely laim moniker of Johnny Polo, again a spoilt rich kid who started as a manager for Adam Bomb (Brian Clarke, Wrath in WCW). The relationship with Adam Bomb didn't last long though, since the two different gimmick didn't fit well. The WWF had to come up with something new, so they used Scott's microphone skills on several occasions as he started interviewing wrestlers, and did commentary on WWF shows. During this period Scott also wrestled a few matches but always came out on the loosing end. The WWF then let Polo manage the Quebecers, which got him in the spotlight, since he lead the Quebecers to the WWF Tag Team Titles three times. When the executives at the WWF couldnt find anything for scotty to do they sent him toSmoky Mountain Wrestling, but he didmt like working there. so when Scott's contract ran out he quit the WWF.
Extreme Championship Wrestling was starting to emerge as one of the strongest independents in the nation. Under the guide of Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) ECW was on the verge of something big. One of their top jobbers, Stevie Richards, had begun dressing up as Stevie the Body, Stevie Polo, etc., and making fun of Scott's Gimmicks. After much lobbying for a match, he was defeated by his arch nemesis Tommy Dreamer at Holiday Hell '94. Stevie was angry, and vowed revenge on Dreamer from his "idol", he announced in the ECW arena that he would be there not as any of h is other alter egos but as a new one and that new persona was RAVEN the antisocial grunge freak, who abuses people for his own gain. Raven became very popular very quickly because of how well he adapted to the rough and tumble hard core style of the ECW. Known for it's sheer violence, ECW started becoming notorious for it's loose adherence to the rules.
ECW also worked together with the Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation, and here Raven got his first taste of success and response from the crowd as he won the Mid-Atlantic Title from the Comet, on April 23, 1995. Raven began regularly teaming with Stevie Richards, who soon brought raven's high school sweetheart, Beulah McGillicutty into the fold to create Raven's Nest. Soon thereafter, the first group known as the "nest" or "flock" is formed, consisting of Raven, Richards, Beulah, and the Pitbulls, and a variety of different Dudleys. Soon Raven and Stevie captured Tag Team gold when they defeated Public Enemy for the Tag straps . Raven and Richards had a love/hate relationship, with Raven often dealing out beatings to his partner when Stevie did wrong by Raven. On September 16, 1995 they lost the Tag Titles to the Pitbulls, whom had since broken away from the flock. The Pitbulls were not forgotten, and the two met again Raven and Richards won the Titles back, but the Celebration was short lived, because later that night they would lose the straps to Public Enemy in a three way match between them and the Gangstas. Raven then ensnared Cactus Jack in his nest, and together they took on Terry Funk and Dreamer at November to Remember '95, which for the first time witnessed a shopping trolley as a foreign object. Raven continued making the rounds in ECW and became engulfed in a war with the Sandman. The feud marked Raven's style of bringing "real life" issues to the centre of the feud. In this feud Raven and the Sandman get very personal, and Raven even turned the Sandman's wife and children against him.Raven even pointed a gun at the Sandmans head just so he could gain a win over him. The feud culminates in Raven taking the ECW World Title from the Sandman.
Raven held on to the ECW Heavyweight title for nearly nine months. Raven was scheduled to take on Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman in a tag team match with his old partner Stevie Richards. Raven no showed for the match and Richards got Brian Lee to substitute. Because of the no-show, Richards was forced to put Raven's title on the line, and if he was pinned Raven would lose the title to whomever made the pinfall. Richards was pinned by the Sandman, and Raven lost the belt, having never stepped into the ring. Of course Raven had a falling out with Richards after the match, and the two began feuding. But Raven never took his eyes off of the ECW strap. Two months later on Raven won the title back from the Sandman in a bloody Barbed Wire Match in ECW Arena. Raven won the title, but there was no rest on the horizon. Raven was engulfed in major blood feuds with Stevie Richards, Tommy Dreamer, and the Sandman. The feud with Tommy Dreamer began to heat up because of Raven's valet, Beulah McGillicutty. Beulah was a beautiful girl who was not afraid to interfere in Raven's matches. She did interfere in a number of matches, costing Dreamer numerous shots at the title. The loudest pop in ECW history came when Tommy piledrove Beulah in the ECW arena after she cost Dreamer a match against Raven. Eventually Raven's treatment of Beulah drove her away, and into the arms of Tommy Dreamer. The boiling point in their relationship came when Stevie was grilling Beulah about her attitude, and she revealed she was pregnant. Raven was incensed, and became more angry when Beulah revealed the child was not his. When Raven demanded to know who the father was, Beulah said it was Tommy's. Dreamer attacked Raven, and Beulah left with him. Raven was incensed and promised to end Dreamer's career.
Raven debuted his new valet, Kimona Wanalaya, who helped neutralise Beulah in confrontations Raven had with Dreamer. Eventually it was revealed that Kimona and Beulah were having an "affair" and Kimona left Ravens side, after the infamous dance atop ECW. But in the ring, no matter how bloody and brutal the match, Raven was beating Dreamer in match after match. Raven had Dreamer's number. This was more than a high point for Raven, it was a high time for ECW. With Raven as champion ECW was on the verge of something big. Paul E. decided that the promotion was ready for the next step, which was the first ECW pay per view, "Barely Legal". Raven was the Champion, and was going to defend the title at the pay per view. It was decided that there were three top contenders for the ECW Title: Sandman, Stevie Richards, and Tommy Dreamer. The contenders would have a three way elimination match at the pay per view to decide who the number one contender was. That contender would then fight Raven in the main event. Tommy Dreamer was a disciple of Terry Funk, who was then 52 years old, and still kicking. He wanted one more shot at the title, and his student, Dreamer, gave up his spot in the match to Funk. At Barely Legal, Funk brought everything he had to the table and defeated both Sandman and Richards in the three way match. Funk was a bloody mess at the end of the match, and he still had to go up against Raven. Raven may have underestimated the bloody Funk, but Funk came into the match ready, and he beat Raven with a helping from Dreamer to capture the ECW World Title. Raven was angered by this and blamed everyone but himself. Most importantly, he blamed the man who let Funk into the match -Tommy Dreamer.
Raven began attacking Dreamer every chance he could. Finally Raven and Dreamer had enough of each other, and the two agreed to a LoserLeaves ECW match. Dreamer was criticised for accepting the match, because he had never beat Raven. Raven was full of confidence when they stepped into the ECW Arena at Wrestlepalooza '97 for the match. Dreamer came to the ring with Beulah and then the blood bath began. Dreamer and Raven went at it, and the match could not be contained by the ring. Dreamer and Raven fought in the stands, in the back, and anywhere else they could go. They made their way back to the ring and began beating each other some more. Then, at ringside, Beulah and Chastity, Raven's new valet, got into it. Raven gave Dreamer the DDT, but did not pin him, instead going to Beulah's side and pushing off Chastity. Raven then begged for Beulah to take him back, but she would not. Dreamer was up now, and on the attack, but Louie Spicolli, a long time nemesis of Dreamer's came into the ring and interfered. Dreamer put an end to Spiccolli while Raven recovered. Before long Dreamer caught Raven in the front face lock, yelled out "EC Fucking W" and gave Raven a DDT. Dreamer made the pin, and Raven's time in ECW was over. Scott signed with WCW in the summer of 1997. Monday Nitro, June 30, Raven made his first appearance on WCW Monday Nitro. The announcers recognised him in the crowd as a champion from other organisations. At the end of the program Raven jumped the guard-rail and had a stare down with Scott Hall as the program went off the air.
Next, began an angle where WCW tried to find out if he was nWo or WCW. All Raven would say was that he refused to conform to "their rules." His partner from ECW, Stevie Richards, the 2 made there in ring debutes at The Clash of Champions that year, seeing Raven beat the Crap put of Stevie as usual. WCW then threw him in to a fued with Chris Benoit, but nothing special, it just lead into a 3 way fued with DDP over the US title that seen Raven defeat his former manager for the belt. But WCW forced Raven to JOB to Goldberg and then threw him into a angle with ex Eliminator Perry Saturn for control of the Flock, Raven lost again losing all the flock members except for Kris Kanyon.Kanyon and Raven became and effective tag team, but WCW couldnt find anything to do with the 2 so they created anangle at the begining of this year that seen Raven refuse to wrestle because of a deep depression. Raven took about 4 months off, becasue he was having an operation done on a nuber of injuries including the problem that has faced him through his whole carrer, Raven has one leg shorter than the other.He retuned to action in WCW and a fued with ex ECW stars Bam Bam Bigelow and The Sandman (know then as Hardcore Hak)started,but WCW basically screwed Raven over,and in August of 99 during a meeting between WCW employees and Eric Bichoff , anyone that wanted a release from WCW all they had to do is ask.And guess who asked for their releases.Thats right The Sandman and Raven.After 2 years of being overpayed for being underutilised Raven left WCW and signed with ECW within 3 days of the fireing, the night he signed his new 1 year contract with ECW he made his return at the first offical ECW TNN tapings in Queens Ny in trademark weird fashion.
The Dudley Boyz had just beaten Balls Mahoney and Spike Dudley for the ECW world tag belts.In a post match interview they threatend to take the ECW tag titles to the WWF with them and lay them at the feet of Vince McMahon and would destroy ECW in the process.They called out Tommy Dreamer,Dreamer who was contemplating retirement due to 2 hernatied discs in his back came out and tried to fight both Dudleys.But the duds would be too much for the injured inovator of violence to take, then out of nowhere just as The Dudleys were gonna 3D Dreamer through a table, out comes RAVEN and ddts Buh Buh Ray for the pin.Raven and Tommy Dreamer were now the world tag team champions,everyone in the world was confused why in the hell did Raven save his arch enemy????? The answer was simpleit would hurt Tommy more for Raven to be his freind than to be his enemy.But some how Francine became the medator between the 2 some how she made both me get along and function as a team.But somethng funny was going on behind Tommys back.Then the Impact Players would come calling.
Justin Credible and Lance Storm became hell bent on running every icon,legend and fan favorite out of ECW.But when Raven and Dreamer won the tag belts not only did they see a opening to get rid of 2 ECW oringals but a way to get the belts, so they played up the fact that francine would spend more time with Raven than tommy,that raven was never there when tommy needed him and vice versa, the return of the Sandman further drove a wedge in the relationship albe it a shaky one between the 2.The Sandman and Raven basically wanted to kill each other.Raven said that sandman reminded him of his drunken abusive father,everytime Sandman would attack him he would blame Dreamer.Dreamer publicly said he didnt give a damn what Sandman done to Raven till francine got in the way.It was obvious Raven was using Francine.Justin Credible became a even bigger thorn in Ravens side than Sandman, Credible had beaten and ran every ECW icon out of the company and he was hell bent on not only taking Ravens belt but taking his carrer.The stage was set,after The Impact Players cruciefied Raven at the alter of Impact on TNN the match was signed at Guilty as Charged 2000 Raven and Dreamer defended the World tag team titles against The Impact Players,the match was a pure brawl,Dreamer and raven was on there way to retaining the belts but after a cat fight between Francine and Dawn Marie was broken up by Justin Credible, Raven got in the way of a cane shot that was intended for Francine,Credible his Thats Incredible on Raven for the win and took the belts.
From then on the relationship between the 2 was even more strained than ever.Not to mention the fact that Francine was begining to favor Raven better.Raven went into a state of depression after the loss.It got only worse after in a match between Tommy Dreamer and Mikey Whipwreck,the impact players jumped Dreamer and then accidetaly threw powder in Ravens eyes and he imeadly DDTed Francine,but it was accident Francine didnt blame him.This sent Dreamer into a violent frenzy.The war was on again.Then the next week it happend again but this time there was powder thrown into the eyes of Dreamer , Francine went to check on him and Dreamer DDTed her ,but this time she said he done it intentually.Raven jumped in the ring to defend his new woman and offically took Francine from Dreamer just like Tommy took Beulah from him some years back.Then he formed a unholy alliance with World Champion Mike Awesome to face Dreamer and Tanaka to challenge them for the world tag team belts.In the cou to be all cous they beat Dreamer and Tanaka in a brutal match at the ECW arena but then lost them the next week to The Impact Players in a 3 way dance at Living Dangerously 2000.
