Chris Mordetzky

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Chris Mordetzky Image:Flag of the United States.svg
Image:WWE's Monday Night RAW.jpg
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Chris Masters Chris Mordetzky Chris Moore
Billed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight	275 lb (125 kg/19.6 st)
Born	January 18 1983 (1983-01-18) (age 26) Santa Monica, California
Billed from	Los Angeles, California
Trained by	OVW Wrestling School UPW Ultimate University
Debut	2002

Chris Mordetzky^[1] (born January 8, 1983) better known by his ring name "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment until his release on November 8, 2007, following repeated violation of WWE's Wellness Policy.^[2]

Contents 1 Career 1.1 World Wrestling Entertainment 1.1.1 2005 1.1.2 2006 1.1.3 2007 2 In wrestling 3 Championships and accomplishments 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Career

[edit] World Wrestling Entertainment

Mordetzky competed as an amateur bodybuilder in California before his wrestling career. He began training at Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) and was accepted to the World Wrestling Entertainment company, where he trained at its farm territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). At OVW, he developed his wrestling skills and refined his character, achieving success in both the singles and tag team divisions.

When Mordetzky was called up to the main roster, WWE^[3] showed promo style introductory videos outlining him as The Masterpiece, touting him as having a body so perfect, it would appear he was sculpted out of stone.

[edit] 2005

"The Masterpiece" Chris Masters, as he was called, began his debut in WWE as a heel, drawing attention to his physique in bodybuilding poses during his entrance to the match. His first match against Steven Richards on February 21, was seen very negatively by the fans, as his sloppy in-ring demeanor broke Steven Richards' nose. Masters caused the injury using the Polish hammer, a wrestling move popularized by "Polish Power" Ivan Putski. The Polish hammer continued to be a signature move of Masters' for months after this first match, but with warning that it would only be used in striking an opponent's chest.

Masters made a claim that his Master Lock hold was unbreakable, and began a series of contests he would call "Master Lock Challenges". Originally he would call out plants from the crowd, placing a $1,000 prize of his own money to be paid to anyone who could break free from the Masterlock. He engaged in feuds with lower-card wrestlers, calling out Val Venis and Sgt. Slaughter, who both failed his "Challenge". Using heel tactics, he often attacked the wrestlers beforehand and frequently cheated (using a low-blow to escape Sgt. Slaughter's cobra clutch, for example). Masters increased the offered reward each week up to $20,000 and sometimes threw in a bonus.

After defeating the 400-lb Rosey (July 18th), Masters defiantly stated "it doesn't matter how big they are!", prompting Big Show to accept a "Masterlock Challenge". In accordance with his heel character, Masters fled, refusing a match with the 7-foot giant. A feud between the two was hinted at, but never came to fruition.

In late August, Masters entered a feud with Shawn Michaels, leading to a high-card tag match between himself and Carlito against Ric Flair and Michaels. During the match, Masters scored a big submission victory on a bloodied Ric Flair, who he flailed around on-stage with great strength. Masters regularly teamed with Carlito, albeit in a rigid business relationship.

Shawn Michaels took a Masterlock challenge on September 5th, struggling energetically with the support of an exuberant crowd. Despite his best efforts, Michaels could not break free; Masters, upset at the vigorous resistance of the Heartbreak Kid, released the hold and beat him with a steel chair before re-applying the lock. The Challenge, which had not decided a clear victor between the two, was a suspenseful event building for their pay-per-view match at Unforgiven. In a singles match placing strength against speed and agility, Shawn Michaels finally won.

Chris Masters, alongside RAW wrestler Edge, was one of several wrestlers to "invade" Smackdown and create havoc in preparation for the brawl between the Smackdown and Raw brands at Survivor Series. The two ambushed Rey Mysterio, earning them a tag match at Cyber Sunday against Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy. Edge could not participate, so Masters teamed with Edge's replacement, Gene Snitsky. Masters and Snitsky lost to the high-flying team when Mysterio pinned Masters. At Survivor Series, Masters competed in a five-on-five brawl between Smackdown and Raw wrestlers. During the match, an ecstatic audience witnessed what appeared to be a near-break in the Masterlock by Bobby Lashley, who "powered out" of the hold. However, as the hold was never completely locked in, the "Masterlock" had never been broken.

Chris Masters had his first WWE Championship match on the November 28 edition of RAW.^[4] It was a Triple Threat Submission Match with Kurt Angle and John Cena. Masters was struck with a chairshot from Cena, who ultimately retained the title, forcing Masters to tap out to Cena's newly-debuted STF-U.

Masters portrayed the role of a bailiff during the mock trial for then General Manager Eric Bischoff on the December 5 edition of RAW, with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as judge. Upon being called to the stand to testify for Bischoff's defense, he was asked to give his name, which he did saying his name was Chris Masters. He was immediately accused of perjury and disqualified as a witness, as McMahon surprisingly broke kayfabe and stated that Masters' real name was Chris Mordetzky.

On December 12,^[5] Chris Masters defeated Viscera on an episode of RAW to gain a spot in the Elimination Chamber match for John Cena's WWE Title at New Year's Revolution.^[6] Viscera was pushed as being too big to lock on The Master Lock until being grounded. This would be Masters' first Elimination Chamber match. On the December 26 edition of RAW,^[7] Chris Masters faced Chavo Guerrero, in a Beat The Clock match to determine who would be the final entry into the Elimination Chamber. Masters had to defeat Chavo in 5 minutes and 56 seconds, which was the time set by Shawn Michaels (when he defeated Snitsky in the opening match of the show). Chavo Guerrero managed to survive the Master Lock until the clock ran down, meaning Masters was unable to beat the clock.

[edit] 2006

On January 8 at New Year's Revolution^[8], Masters was eliminated from the Elimination Chamber match when Carlito double-crossed him by delivering a low blow while he had Cena in The Master Lock and then used a roll-up for the pin. On January 9, after some heated words with Carlito, both men had a tag match against two men who were also having difficulties, Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels. During the match, Michaels walked backstage, leaving Angle to fend for himself. Masters saw the opportunity and applied the Master Lock to Angle, thus gaining the victory. On January 16, ^[9] Masters challenged John Cena to take part in a Master Lock Challenge. Cena accepted the challenge and displayed signs that he might in fact break out of the hold, until Edge attacked Cena with his title belt and ended the challenge.

At the Royal Rumble on January 29,^[10] Masters again worked together with Carlito, but Carlito again double-crossed him and eliminated him from the match. On the February 6, edition of RAW^[11] both men were entered into an eight-man tournament, known as the Road to WrestleMania Tournament, to determine the number one contender for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 22.^[12] In Master's first round match up Masters would use the ropes to aid him in a victory against Kane, and secure himself a second round match up against the winner of a later match between Carlito and Rob Van Dam; RVD would win this match. The next week on RAW,^[13] RVD was able to beat Masters and advance to the tournament final.

After this Masters continued to feud with one half of the World Tag Team Champions, Big Show, while Masters' on/off teammate Carlito would feud with Kane. On the March 6 edition of RAW,^[14] it was announced that Masters and Carlito would get a tag team title match at WrestleMania 22. At WrestleMania 22,^[15] the pair lost the match. Carlito and Masters argued amongst themselves after the match.

During the next RAW,^[16] Masters began to feud with Carlito by first attacking Masters from behind, seemingly blaming him for their loss the night before. This led to a match between the two men during Backlash which Carlito won.^[17]

After this, Masters entered the hunt for the WWE Intercontinental Championship but Masters would soon be suspended by WWE. Before being suspended, Masters was on the May 22 edition of RAW,^[18] losing a match to John Cena by submission to the STF-U. He would return to the ring during an OVW TV taping on August 6. He had lost much of his muscle mass, appearing much slimmer, although he still had some definition in his arms and abdomen.

On the August 28 edition of RAW,^[19] Chris Masters made his return against John Cena with "The Masterpiece" gimmick still intact. Along with less muscle mass, he sported a goatee and moustache to which Jerry "The King" Lawler referred to him as a "leaner and meaner" Chris Masters. However, this change of image was short-lived as Masters lost the goatee and regained some of his muscle mass.

When Masters returned, it seemed that he had been put down to low-card matches; he had a short feud with the debuting Super Crazy with Masters coming out on the losing end. The pair would also compete, along with four other Superstars, in a Six-Pack Challenge Match for the Intercontinental Championship in which neither Masters or Crazy were able to win. Masters eventually regained his mid-card position soon after getting his first victory since his re-debut, against Jerry Lawler on the November 6 edition of RAW^[20] in a match where GM for a night Eric Bischoff forced Lawler to be first handcuffed to the top rope. Masters continued the feud with Jerry Lawler for a few weeks with Lawler also losing a Master Lock Challenge before defeating Masters in a singles match.

On the December 4 episode of RAW,^[21] Jonathan Coachman set up a Master Lock Challenge against John Cena for the WWE Championship. Masters appeared to have had the contest won, he released the hold for a short time, allowing Cena to reverse the hold into his own Master Lock, forcing Masters to submit to his own signature move, retaining his title and making Cena the first to win the Master Lock Challenge.

On the Christmas 2006 "Tribute to the Troops"^[22] event, a United States Army soldier, Staff Sergeant José Avila, broke free from the Master Lock with help from Santa Claus (JBL). Though he could be considered the first person to break the hold, he did not do it under his own power as JBL kicked Masters from behind, allowing Avila to break the hold. After Masters released Avila, JBL then hit Masters with his Clothesline from Hell. On the January 15, 2007 edition of RAW, Masters announced that Avila's win was not official due to 'outside interference', a stipulation that Masters would use in later challenges that were lost in the same manner.

[edit] 2007

At the start of 2007, Masters would restart his feud with Carlito which would lead to several matches between the two. The first was a one-on-one contest at New Year's Revolution^[23] which Masters won. In a rematch the next night on RAW, Carlito came out victorious.

On the January 15 edition of RAW,^[24] Ron Simmons, with interference from Super Crazy, almost became the third superstar to "win" the Master Lock Challenge. However, it would have not counted and still considered unbroken as it was not achieved by the wrestler alone. On an interesting note, Masters was not even able to apply it to The Great Khali due to Khali's size.

The Master Lock was finally (and officially) broken on the March 19 edition of RAW,^[25] by ECW Champion Bobby Lashley. After Lashley broke the Master Lock, the Master Lock Challenge was canceled.

On the May 7 edition of RAW,^[26] Masters had the distinction of being the first challenger for Santino Marella's newly-won WWE Intercontinental Championship. Masters was unable to defeat the newcomer, losing via a roll-up. On the May 14 edition of RAW,^[27] he lost yet again to Santino Marella, but on the May 28 edition of RAW,^[28] he faced Marella in his own Masterlock Challenge and actually won for the first time against Santino. On the June 4 edition of RAW,^[29] Masters was once again defeated by Santino by a roll-up pin. This match turned out to be his last match as a part of RAW.

On the June 11 edition of RAW,^[30] Chris Masters was drafted from RAW to SmackDown! as part of the 2007 WWE Draft. While on Smackdown! he was used sporadically, and has also been in a couple of Master Lock Challenges. He had entered into a feud with Chuck Palumbo and had been in several matches including a Master Lock Challenge in which Masters was going to trick Palumbo but it then backfired so Masters fled. Following this, Masters was suspended for 30 days for failing a drug test. Masters returned to SmackDown! on the Oct. 5 edition, applying the Master Lock to Chuck Palumbo.

On November 2 2007, it was reported on WWE's official website, WWE.com, that Masters had been suspended for 60 days for having violated WWE's Substance Abuse and Drug Policy a second time.^[31] WWE.com announced that Mordetzky had been released, six days later, on November 8. ^[2]

On December 20 2007, Mordetzky made his first wrestling appearance since his WWE release, competing under the name Chris Moore for Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation at the event Genome2: Inoki Fighting Xmas in Tokyo, Japan, defeating Ryuji Yanagisawa.^[32]

[edit] In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves
  • The Masterlock (Swinging full nelson)
  • Polish Hammer (Double axe handle blow to the chest) - 2005
  • Wheelbarrow suplex
  • Delayed vertical suplex
  • Military press slam
  • Pendulum backbreaker submission
  • Scoop falling powerslam
  • Bearhug
  • Full nelson slam
  • Electric chair drop
  • Backbreaker rack, sometimes transitioned into a modified neckbreaker
  • Reverse DDT

• Nicknames
  • "The Living, Breathing Statue"
  • "The Matrix"
  • "Superfreak"
  • "Roman General"
  • "The Masterpiece"

• Managers
  • Sherri Martel
  • Beth Phoenix

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

• Ohio Valley Wrestling
  • OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Brent Albright

[edit] Personal life

Mordetzky has stated that his two role models growing up were Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair; both of whom he has feuded with while in WWE.

Has a large tattoo of a crucifix on the inside of his right forearm.

Despite popular internet belief, Chris Masters has never dated Beth Phoenix; they did, however, work together in OVW as (kayfabe) boyfriend & girlfriend. Mordetsky has been pictured with his real life fiancée at the premiere of Kane's movie, See No Evil.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• UPW Profile
• Online World of Wrestling Profilede:Chris Mordetsky

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