Brent Albright (born November 28 1978 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a professional wrestler formerly performing for World Wrestling Entertainment's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling.
| Brent Albright | |
|---|---|
| File:Gunnerscott.jpg | |
| Born | November 28, 1978 Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Vinnie Valentino Vance Vain Smoke Slater Vain Gunner Scott Brent Albright |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (110 kg) |
| Trained by | Michael Modest |
| Debut | 1998 |
Career
Ohio Valley Wrestling
During his time with Ohio Valley Wrestling Albright has been both OVW Heavyweight Champion and OVW Television Champion, as well as co-holder of the OVW Southern Tag-Team Championship with current WWE Raw wrestler Chris Masters. Albright was the first 'Triple Crown' winner in OVW, winning the 3 major titles in OVW.
Albright was the first-ever OVW 'Beat the Champ' TV champion, which is now simply called the OVW TV title. He defeated Seth Skyfire on January 26th, 2005 to win the title. He held that title until April 30th, 2005 when he won his first Ohio Valley Wrestling Championship by defeating Matt Morgan with the 'Crowbar'. Albright vacated the TV title shortly after winning the OVW title. He held the OVW championship until August 3rd, when he lost the title to Johnny Jeter.
Shortly after losing the OVW title to Johnny Jeter, Albright began a feud with Ken Doane over the OVW TV title in a feud that started over Doane accusing Albright of disrespecting the TV title. In October 2005, in the midst of the feud with Ken Doane, Albright also began feuding with CM Punk, who had recently debuted in OVW, when Punk refused to shake Albright's hand after he pinned him in a match. This would be the issue that their feud centered around. Albright would offer his hand, but Punk would refuse to shake it. Punk would then mock Albright and extend his hand out for a handshake, but then pull it back at the last second. In the end, Albright would pick up the victory and would force CM Punk to finally shake his hand. Punk would actually attack Albright prior to his TV title match against Doane and then took Albright's place, going on to win the TV title when Albright accidentally hit Doane with a chair.
Albright and Punk would fight week after week with a challenge for the TV Title. And week after week, Albright's frustrations grew more as he would somehow manage to find a way to defeat Punk in the ring but on each occasion Punk would find a way to maintain his title, using either a time limit or an injury to hang on to the belt. Punk would continue to tell Albright that he was the better wrestler in the ring, but he was the smarter wrestler and was still the champ. He would tell Albright "You got Punk'd"
In December 2005, he Ken Doane and CM Punk competed in the the first ever Triple Threat match in Ohio Valley Wrestling for the TV Title. Punk won the match when he made Albright tap out to the Anaconda Vice while Albright also had Doane in a Sharpshooter. On January 4, 2006, Albright was in a rematch with Doane and Punk for the title. Doane was forced to leave the match early due to injury and was replaced by Aaron Stevens. Albright seemingly gained his revenge on Punk, eliminating him from the match with the crowbar, only to have Punk return and attack him, leading to Stevens winning the championship.
On the January 11, 2006 OVW show, Albright won a chance for a match against Stevens for the TV Title at an upcoming WWE house show in Louisville, KY by actually teaming up with CM Punk in a match against Paul Birchill and Ken Doane. Punk and Albright won the match when Punk made Burchill tap out to the Anaconda Vice, but Albright went on the lose the rematch against Stevens. The feud between Punk and Albright took a new turn when the two began teaming together weekly, competing with each other in a game of 'one-upmanship'. Punk challenged Albright to see who could make their opponent tap out the quickest in a match with the Highlanders. Albright made Rory tap out in less than a minute, only to be attacked by Punk and choked out with the Anaconda Vice. Afterwards, just like many times before, Punk would tell Albright that he got 'Punk'd'. After saving Punk from a 5 on 1 attack by the Spirit Squad, Albright told Punk that they would never be able to settle their differences as long as the Spirit Squad was around. The next week, Punk and Albright teamed up to take on all 5 members of the Spirit Squad in a match that saw Albright set-up Punk. Albright turned on Punk, giving the impression that being 'Punk'd' for months had finally gotten into his head to the point to where he was obsessed with returning the favor on Punk. Albright introduced a new element to their feud upon his heel turn: his grandfather's thick leather strap, which Albright used to continually whip Punk.
On the March 1, 2006 OVW show, CM Punk and Brent Albright met in the finals of a tournament to crown a new OVW Heavyweight Champion (vacated by Matt Cappotelli). Punk suffered a knee injury in the match, and had to be carried out on a stretcher only to be attacked and whipped by Albright with the strap. Albright drug Punk back to the ring, and after surviving a comeback by Punk, managed to lock in the STF. Though Punk did not tap out, Albright managed to hold the lock in so that Punk would pass out, giving Brent the victory and making him a two-time OVW Heavyweight Champion. The next week, Albright vowed that Punk would never get a title shot at the OVW title unless he shook Albright's hand. A defeated Punk came out, but instead of shaking Albright's hand he hand-cuffed him to the top rope and viciously strapped him with Albright's own leather strap. This led to a strap match between the two on the May 3, 2006 OVW show, where Albright lost the title to Punk.
Shortly following this, Albright began competing exclusively for the WWE'S SmackDown! brand
World Wrestling Entertainment
Albright made his WWE SmackDown! debut on April 7, 2006 feuding with Booker T. He was billed as Gunner Scott, getting no (on screen) entrance and seemed to be a jobber until he suddenly defeated Booker T (due to the Boogeyman's music being played and distracting Booker T). Later during the show Chris Benoit met him backstage and praised him on his winning debut, setting the stage for Gunner Scott being groomed as Benoit's protege.
On the May 19, 2006 edition of SmackDown! Gunner Scott would team up for the first time with his "mentor", Benoit, to take on Booker T and Finlay. Scott would win the match, pinning Booker T once again with another distraction in the form Bobby Lashley. On the June 16 episode, Albright teamed up with Matt Hardy to take on Finlay and William Regal. Hardy and Albright failed to beat Regal and Finlay.
On the June 28, 2006, Albright was sent back down to OVW. According to PWInsider, he was told by WWE management that he was not working out right now and was sent back to Ohio Valley Wrestling. His last appearance on SmackDown was on the June 30 edition, against Mr. Kennedy in a losing effort. After the match he was placed in body bag by The Great Khali.
Return To OVW
After a short stint on the Main roster of SmackDown, Albright returned to OVW and went back to using Brent Albright as his ring name. He engaged in a feud with Charles Evans for Evans's OVW Television Championship. He would eventually be released from his contract on October 12, 2006.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Previous managers
- Kaci Kannon
- Steve Hartley
- Beth Phoenix
- Chris Benoit
- Nicknames
- "The Body" Brent Albright
- "The Shooter" Brent Albright
- Previous Gimmicks
- Vinnie Valentino
- Vance Vain
- Slater Vain
- Smoke
- Gunner Scott
- Famous Quotes
- "Get out or tap out!!!!"
Championships and accomplishments
- 2-time OVW Heavywight Champion
- 1-time OVW Television Champion
- 1-time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion (w/ Chris Masters)
- Oklahoma Championship Wrestling
- 3-time OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion (w/ Rocco Valentino)
- 1-time OCW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion (w/ Rocco Valentino)
- Steel Rage Pro Wrestling
- 1-time SRPW Heavyweight Championship
External links
- OVW Profile
- TV.com Profile
- Gunner Scott (Fansite)