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Robert William ("Bob") Howard (born January 29, 1963 in Mobile, Alabama) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bob "Hardcore" Holly. He is currently inactive with a severe case of MRSA, when active he wrestles on the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment.
Career
Before becoming a wrestler, Howard worked as a welder. He trained under Stan Frazier, Eddie Sullivan and Rip Tyler and debuted in 1990. In early 1992, he wrestled in Smoky Mountain Wrestling as "Hollywood" Bob Howard before adopting the ring name "Superstar" Bob Holly".
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
Holly debuted in the World Wrestling Federation on January 11, 1994. His initial gimmick was that of a NASCAR driver turned wrestler, and saw him adopt the ring name Thurman "Sparky" Plug, later changed to Bob "Spark Plug" Holly.On the April 26, 1995 episode of WWF Action Zone, Holly defeated Jeff Jarrett in a match with the WWF Intercontinental Championship on the line. However, as Jarrett's foot was on the rope during the three count, the Intercontinental Championship was declared vacant and Holly's title reign was not recognized. Later that evening, Jarrett defeated Holly to win the vacant title.
In February 1998, Holly and Bart Gunn joined forces with Jim Cornette as part of Jeff Jarrett's National Wrestling Alliance stable. Holly, renamed "Bombastic Bob", and Gunn, renamed "Bodacious Bart" were known collectively as The New Midnight Express. The New Midnight Express defeated The Headbangers for the NWA World Tag Team Championship on March 30, 1998, and held the titles until August 14 of that year, when they were defeated by The Border Patrol.
Later in 1998, Holly competed in the WWF's "Brawl For All," losing in the opening round to former tag partner and eventual finalist Bart Gunn.
Several years after his incredibly short Intercontinental Title reign, Holly entered the race for the WWF's new Hardcore Title, billing himself as Hardcore Holly. As part of his new gimmick, he formed an alliance/rivalry with Big Show, a real super heavyweight embarrassed by Holly's delusions of grandeur. He then teamed up with an on-screen cousin Crash Holly, with whom he won the WWF Tag Team Championships. In 2000, another on-screen "cousin" Molly Holly was introduced.
In 2002 Holly turned heel on Smackdown! and began a short feud with then face and newcomer, Randy Orton. When then face, Crash Holly drafted from RAW to Smackdown! he reunited with Hardcore Holly. As a result Hardcore Holly turned face again.
Holly suffered a broken neck during a match against Brock Lesnar. During the match, Holly decided to wrestle a very stiff style of match and act as dead weight on all of Lesnar's throws and suplexes. This led to Lesnar inadvertantly powerbombing Holly neck-first onto the mat due to him acting as dead weight. He had a thirteen month hiatus from wrestling after surgery.
Holly returned at the Survivor Series in November 2003 for revenge. He went on to challenge Lesnar for the WWE Championship at the 2004 Royal Rumble. To prove that he could take down Brock, Holly defeated the Big Show in a street fight. At the Royal Rumble Brock defeated Holly in 6 minutes to retain his title.
After this he would form short-lived tag teams with Billy Gunn, and later Charlie Haas in the hunt for the WWE Tag-Team Championship gold, in which he was unsuccessful with both partners.
In July 2005, Holly opened the Bob Holly Academy, a professional wrestling school, in Mobile.
Holly next went into singles competition trying to acquire the United States Championship from then Champion Orlando Jordan. After being defeated twice by Jordan (through cheating tactics), Holly finally managed to pick up a win (but not the title) over Jordan via DQ on WWE Velocity, which aired on August 6, 2005.
In September 2005, Holly began a feud with the metrosexual Sylvan, addressing him by the sobriquets "Sylvy-an", "Sylvester" and "Sylvia."
Holly has been absent from in-ring action since the SmackDown! following Taboo Tuesday 2005, when he was a guest referee in a tag match featuring Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy vs. John Bradshaw Layfield and Christian. He has recently been undergoing several surgeries to repair nagging injuries. He was hospitalized after a staph infection developed in an arm wound. The infection has since turned into MRSA, which has the potential to render Holly unable to wrestle.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature moves
- Alabama Slam (Waterwheel slam)
- Hollycaust / Falcon Arrow (Sitout suplex slam)
- Full nelson
- Diving leg drop
- Dropkick
- Flying clothesline
- Full nelson slam
- Kick to the midsection of a rope-hung opponent
- Managers
- Nicknames
- The Alabama Slamma
- Hardcore
- Hollywood
- Spark Plug
- Sparky
Championships and accomplishments
- Defeated The Headbangers on March 30, 1998 in Albany, New York, USA
- Lost to The Border Patrol on August 14, 1998 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA
- PWI ranked him # 391 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
- Defeated Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka on January 22, 1995 in Tampa, Florida, USA
- Lost to The Smokin' Gunns on January 23, 1995 in Palmetto, Florida, USA
- WWF World Tag Team Championship (2) (with Crash Holly)
- Defeated the Rock 'n' Sock Connection on October 18, 1999 in Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Lost to Al Snow and Mankind on November 2, 1999 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Defeated Al Snow on February 14, 1999 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Lost to Billy Gunn on March 15, 1999 in San Jose, California, USA
- WWF Hardcore Championship (2)
- Defeated Billy Gunn on March 28, 1999 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, USA
- Lost to Al Snow on April 25, 1999 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- WWF Hardcore Championship (3)
- Defeated Crash Holly on April 2, 2000 in Anaheim, California
- Lost to Crash Holly on April 3, 2000 in Los Angeles, California
- WWF Hardcore Championship (4)
- Defeated Raven on February 5, 2001 in Columbia, South Carolina
- Lost to Raven on February 6, 2001 in North Charleston, South Carolina
- WWF Hardcore Championship (5)
- Defeated Raven on February 10, 2001 in Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Lost to Raven on February 10, 2001 in Saint Paul, Minnesota
- WWF Hardcore Championship (6)
- Defeated Raven on February 11, 2001 in Boston, Massachusetts
- Lost to Al Snow on February 11, 2001 in Boston, Massachusetts
- World Wrestling Organization
- WWO Tag Team Championship (with Ron Starr)
- WWO United States Championship
Personal life
Holly and his wife, Sandra Howard, reside in Mobile, Alabama.
Holly was hospitalized after a staph infection developed in an arm wound. The infection has since turned into MRSA, which has the potential to render Holly unable to wrestle or even turn out to be fatal .
Filmography
- Operation Sandman (2000) as "Sturner"
- MTV's The 70s House (2005) in episode "Dodge Ball"
- ''The Longest Yard (2005 film)
References
External links
1963 births | American film actors | American professional wrestlers | Living people | Mobilians | SMW alumni | American actors | American television actors
"Bob Holly"