Titus O'Neil

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Titus O'Neil
Titus O'Neil 2015.jpg
O'Neil in April 2015
Birth name Thaddeus Michael Bullard
Born (1977-04-29) April 29, 1977 (age 47)
Boynton Beach, Florida,
United States[1]
Alma mater University of Florida
Children 2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Titus O'Neil[2]
Rufus Patterson
Billed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)[2]
Billed weight 270 lb (120 kg)[2]
Billed from Live Oak, Florida[2]
Tampa, Florida[3]
Trained by Florida Championship Wrestling
Debut 2009[4]

Thaddeus Michael Bullard Sr. (born April 29, 1977) is an American professional wrestler and retired professional football player. He is signed to WWE under the ring name Titus O'Neil,.[5] Bullard played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally in the Arena Football League (AFL). Bullard's career as a professional wrestler began when he was part of the second season of NXT, and also competed in the show's fifth season, NXT Redemption.

Background

Thaddeus Bullard was born in Boynton Beach, Florida.[1] He grew up in Live Oak, Florida, where he attended Suwannee High School.[1] He was a standout player for the Suwannee Bulldogs high school football, and was recognized by USA Today, SuperPrep, and Parade magazine as a high school All-American as a senior in 1995.[1]

Football career

Bullard accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and played for coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators football team from 1997 to 2000.[6] He redshirted during the Gators' 1996 national championship season. Bullard lettered the next four seasons, playing in forty-four regular season games with three starts. He was elected student body vice president in April 2000, and graduated in August 2000.[1] While he was an undergraduate, he was initiated as a brother of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

After college, Bullard played in the Arena Football League from 2003 to 2007 with the Utah Blaze, Tampa Bay Storm, Las Vegas Gladiators and the Carolina Cobras.[7][8]

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE

Florida Championship Wrestling (2009–2011)

Bullard signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2009 and began training with their development territory, Florida Championship Wrestling. He made his television debut on the January 16, 2010 episode of FCW's show on Bright House Sports Network as Titus O'Neil in a tag team match with Skip Sheffield, losing to the team of Vance Archer and Alex Riley. On December 3, O'Neil teamed with Damien Sandow to win the Florida Tag Team Championship after defeating Xavier Woods and Mason Ryan in a match for the vacant championship.[5] The pair lost the championship to Richie Steamboat and Seth Rollins on March 25, 2011.[9]

NXT (2010–2012)

Titus O'Neil competed in the second season of WWE NXT, with Zack Ryder as his mentor. He debuted on the June 8 episode, teaming with Ryder to lose to Eli Cottonwood and John Morrison.[10] During and after the bout the two argued. The following week the two made up. Two weeks later, O'Neil was the first person eliminated from the second season of NXT, and gave a farewell speech before leaving the arena.[11] O'Neil returned for the season finale on August 31, joining the other eliminated rookies in attacking the winner, Kaval.[12]

In March 2011, O'Neil was selected as one of the six former NXT contestants to return to the show in its fifth season, NXT Redemption, being mentored by Hornswoggle. In the season premiere, O'Neil defeated Lucky Cannon in the main event.[13] The two also feuded with Darren Young and his pro, Hornswoggle's old nemesis, Chavo Guerrerro. Following Lucky Cannon's elimination on the May 14, 2011 episode of NXT Redemption, O'Neil lead the fans in a rendition of Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, as a tribute to the recently retired Edge. On the June 21 episode of NXT Redemption, O'Neil's pro from season two, Zack Ryder, returned for one night only to face and defeat O'Neil.

On the July 12, 2011 episode of NXT, he faced off against Darren Young and Derrick Bateman in a triple threat elimination match, which saw him lose to Bateman. 8 days later, O'Neil teamed up with NXT host Matt Striker in a winning effort against Darren Young and Derrick Bateman after Young was pinned by O'Neil.

O'Neil was sent to SmackDown before NXT Redemption crowned a winner of the season.

On the September 8 episode of WWE Superstars, O'Neil teamed with Percy Watson in a losing effort against Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks.[14] O'Neil and Watson defeated Derrick Bateman and Tyson Kidd,[15] as well as Bateman and JTG,[16] but lost to Darren Young and JTG.[17]

On the November 16, 2011 episode of NXT, O'Neil was assaulted by a returning Darren Young.[18] Young was then able to get the better of O'Neil twice in tag team matches.[19][20] The conclusion to O'Neil's feud with Young came when O'Neil defeated Young in a no disqualifications match on the January 18 episode of NXT. O'Neil then turned heel after the match, verbally ripping on the audience, his former pro Hornswoggle, and NXT itself.[21]

O'Neil later urged his friend Percy Watson to also turn his back on the fans on the January 25, 2012 episode of NXT. When Watson refused, O'Neil shoved him and a match between the two was booked, leading to O'Neil defeating Watson. O'Neil continued to attack Watson after the match, leading to Alex Riley saving Watson.[22] O'Neil then formed an alliance with former enemy Young, and the duo teamed up to defeat Watson and Riley on the February 1 and 29 episodes of NXT.[23][24] O'Neil also faced and defeated Riley on the February 22 episode of NXT.[25] On the March 7 episode of NXT, Watson received his rematch against O'Neil and defeated O'Neil.[26] O'Neil and Young then moved on to feud with The Usos.[27]

The Prime Time Players (2012–2014)

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Main article: The Prime Time Players
The Prime Time Players in November 2013.

On the April 18 episode of NXT, it was announced that O'Neil, along with Darren Young, had been moved to the main roster. The team made their debut on the April 20 episode of SmackDown with a victory over The Usos. They started on a winning streak defeating the likes Ezekiel Jackson and Yoshi Tatsu, Santino Marella and Zack Ryder before their streak was ended on the May 18 episode of SmackDown after lost to then-Tag Team Champions Kofi Kingston and R-Truth.

In June at the No Way Out pay-per-view, O'Neil and Young won a fatal-four way tag team match to become number one contenders for the Tag Team Championship, due assistance from A.W. who turned on his clients Primo and Epico.[28] On the July 16 episode of Raw, O'Neil and Young unsuccessfully challenged Kofi Kingston and R-Truth for the Tag Team Championship.[29] On the August 10 episode of SmackDown, they defeated Primo and Epico in a number one contenders match via disqualification when A.W. provoked Kingston and R-Truth, who were on commentary, into interfering in the match.[30] That same day, A.W. was released from his contract.[31] Despite losing A.W, the Prime Time Players received their title shot at SummerSlam, but were again defeated by Kingston and R-Truth.[32] On the September 7 episode of SmackDown, Prime Time Players defeated Primo and Epico and The Usos in a triple threat tag team match to earn another shot at the Tag Team Championship.[33] However, on Raw three days later, Prime Time Players lost their title shot to the team of Kane and Daniel Bryan.[34] At the Survivor Series pay-per-view, O'Neil took part in a 10-man elimination tag team match, but was eliminated by Tyson Kidd.[35]

At the 2013 Royal Rumble, O'Neil entered the Royal Rumble match at number 7, but was eliminated by Sheamus. On the March 18 episode of Raw, O'Neil for one night only played a new character called Rufus "Pancake" Patterson, his "uncle", accompanying Darren Young in his match against John Cena, in which Young was defeated.[36]

On the August 19, 2013 episode of Raw, the Prime Time Players turned face in a winning effort against the Real Americans, a week after O'Neil's tag-team partner Darren Young's (legitimate) coming out which received mainstream media coverage. At the Night of Champions event in the pre-show bout, O'Neil and Young won a tag team turmoil upon entering last, for the opportunity to face The Shield for the tag team championship, but lost to Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns on the pay-per-view.[37] Furthering their face turn, the duo were amongst those who saved Daniel Bryan from being injured by Randy Orton. However, due to their brave actions, the Prime Time Players would be forced into a 3 on 1 handicap gauntlet match against The Shield as ordered by the COO, Triple H, as well as Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston and Rob Van Dam.

Slater-Gator (2014–2015)

Slater Gator in September 2014.

On the January 31, 2014 episode of SmackDown, O'Neil allowed Curtis Axel to pin Young during a tag-team match. After the match, O'Neil attacked Young to turn heel and disbanded the Prime Time Players. Before the Elimination Chamber, to gain momentum, O'Neil defeated Zack Ryder on Raw. O'Neil went on to defeat Young in a match at Elimination Chamber.

In the following months after Elimination Chamber, O'Neil's misfortunes began piling up; he lost a rematch to Young via roll up on the February 26 episode of Main Event. Following this loss, O'Neil went a losing streak against the likes of Big Show, Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler.[38] From mid-April to mid-June, O'Neil commonly appeared on Superstars, where he suffered many losses to Kofi Kingston and Big E. He was also unsuccessful in winning four battle royals: the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX,[39] a battle royal for the WWE United States Championship in May,[40] a Money in the Bank qualifying battle royal in June, and a battle royal for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Battleground.[41][42]

In July, O'Neil formed a tag team with Heath Slater,[43] later known as Slater Gator. In July and August, they largely wrestled on Main Event and Superstars. Despite wins over the likes of Zack Ryder & Sin Cara and Gold and Stardust, they suffered losses to the likes of El Torito & Hornswoggle and Big E & Kofi Kingston.[44] In September, Slater Gator featured more on Raw, but this was at the expense of O'Neil losing multiple matches to Adam Rose, as well as Slater Gator losing to the team of Rose and the Bunny.[44]

When O'Neil entered the Royal Rumble match in January 2015, he was immediately eliminated by the combined efforts of Dean Ambrose and eventual winner Roman Reigns.

PTP reunion (2015)

The Prime Time Players in April 2015.

On the February 16 episode of Raw, O'Neil turned face by saving his former tag team partner Darren Young from an attack from The Ascension, disbanding Slater Gator. To acknowledge this breakup, Slater announced on social media that he is going to 'focus on himself'.[45] Then on the 23 February edition of Raw, The Prime Time Players officially reunited to battle The Ascension, with Young picking up the victory. O'Neil participated in the 2nd Annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31, before being eliminated by Ryback.[46] At Elimination Chamber, the Prime Time Players participated in the first ever tag team Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Tag Team Championship, however they were the last team to be eliminated by the winners and defending champions The New Day (Xavier Woods, Big E and Kofi Kingston).[47] At Money in the Bank, O'Neil and Young defeated The New Day to win the Tag Team Championship, their first titles in WWE.[48] The Prime Time Players dropped the WWE Tag Team Championships back to The New Day on August 23 at SummerSlam in a fatal–four way match, also involving The Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores.[49] O'Neil and Young would invoke their championship rematch clause for the September 14 episode of Raw, which they ended up losing against New Day.[50]

Singles Competition (2015−present)

After the Prime Time Players quietly disbanded in October, O'Neil entered the WWE World Heavyweight Championship tournament to crown the new champion after Seth Rollins had to vacate the title due to an injury, where O'Neil was eliminated in the first round by Kevin Owens.[51] At the Survivor Series kick-off show, O'Neil participated in a five-on-five elimination tag team match, teaming with The Dudley Boyz, Neville and Goldust to defeat Stardust, The Ascension, The Miz and Bo Dallas.[52]

In 2016, O' Neil started to go into singles action, breaking up the Prime Time Players.[53] At the Royal Rumble, O'Neil competed in the titular match as the 11th entrant, eliminating Goldust before being eliminated by Big Show.[54] On the February 8, 2016 episode of Raw, O'Neil had what was described as a "playful, physical" altercation with Vince McMahon as the show was going off the air while the two were on stage during Daniel Bryan's retirement celebration. The following day, O'Neil was suspended for unprofessional conduct relating to the incident, with the suspension reportedly lasting up to 90 days. It was later confirmed that he would be suspended for 60 days.[55][56]

On the May 2 episode of Raw, O'Neil would return from suspension, where he would participate in a number one contenders battle royal for a shot at the WWE United States Championship, in which he was unsuccessful. On the May 26 episode of SmackDown, O'Neil entered a feud with United States Champion Rusev.

Personal life

Bullard has two sons: Thaddeus "TJ" Jr. and Titus Bullard. He is a Christian.[57] Bullard is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was nominated for the MEGA Dad Awards 2015 "Celebrity Dad of the Year"[58] and on May 28 was announced the winner.[59]

In wrestling

O'Neil executing the Clash of the Titus on Heath Slater

Championships and accomplishments

Other awards and honors

  • 2015 MEGA Celebrity Dad of the Year

See also

References

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External links

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  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, p. 179 (2011). Retrieved August 27, 2011.
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  55. ↑ Fans call Vince McMahon a racist for suspending very black wrestler
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