Nathan Jones (wrestler)

Nathan Darren Jones (born August 21 1970) is an Australian actor and professional wrestler.

Pre-wrestling

Before his career as a wrestler, Nathan Jones was sentenced to 16 years in Boggo Road Gaol for eight armed robberies between 1985-1987, two of them in Tasmania. During the robberies, he became one of Australia's most wanted. He ended up serving seven years in a maximum-security prison and one year on work release. While in prison, he was introduced to the sport of powerlifting. Within a short space of time, Nathan became the National Powerlifting Champion of Australia.

Nathan also began competing in strongman contests. On the strongman circuit, he was dubbed The Megaman for his imposing physique. As the reigning Australia's Strongest Man, he entered the World Strength Championship at Callander, Scotland on July 29-30, 1995. He took first place, topping a field that included 1993 World's Strongest Man Gary Taylor. The following weekend, he competed in the World Musclepower Championship held at Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. That contest was won by Magnús Ver Magnússon, with Nathan finishing fifth in a field of twelve competitors.

Nathan next took part in the 1995 World's Strongest Man contest. In the arm wrestling event in the qualifying heat, after quickly defeating Phil Martin, twice, Nathan was then matched against Magnus Samuelsson, who had been Europe's arm wrestling champion for several years and who would become the World's Strongest Man in 1998. Samuelsson won the first round in a back and forth struggle. In the second round Nathan refused to go down, and pulled with his opposite arm, twisting his body. This resulted in breaking the arm he was using to wrestle (a spiral fracture of the humerus), and Nathan was out of the competition. Jones returned to the World's Strongest Man competition in 1996 and placed 3rd in a qualifying heat behind Magnús Ver Magnússon and Jorma Ojanaho.

He also participated in a MMA match at PRIDE 1 with PRIDE in October 1997, submitting to Japanese former sumo wrestler Koji Kitao in his only match.

Wrestling

World Wrestling All-Stars (2001-2002)

Later, Nathan worked as a bodyguard for "money man" Rene Rivkin. He also began a career in wrestling during this time. Jones first gained fame working in World Wrestling All-Stars, making a large impression at the first WWA pay-per-view Inception, where he was accompanied to the ring by Rove McManus. However he was defeated after Rove was smashed with Jarret's guitar and Jones was hit with the Stroke.

During his time in the WWA, Nathan won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship on April 7 2002 before losing the belt to Scott Steiner.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2002-2003)

Nathan Jones' first appearance as a WWE superstar was in a predicament where he became The Undertaker's protege. He was scheduled to team with Undertaker to face A-Train and The Big Show at WrestleMania XIX, but was billed as injured, only appearing during the closing moments of the match to assist Undertaker. In a storyline Jones was trained as a pro wrestler by The Undertaker, but in reality he wasn't.

After winning a match on SmackDown! by disqualification, the Full Blooded Italians gave Jones a beat down, which included shattering his ankle with the steel steps. Jones was then sent to OVW to improve his skills.

Jones was then absent from TV for several months, returning as a heel known by the nickname "The Colossus of Boggo Road", a title referring to his time spent in Boggo Road Prison. He formed part of Brock Lesnar's Survivor Series 2003 team, which also included A-Train, Big Show, and Matt Morgan. They were not victorious however, and Jones was then used to make run-ins along with the other members of Team Lesnar. He was also placed in matches by either Lesnar or Heyman to do their dirty work.

The rigor of WWE lifestyle, (mainly travel schedules), compounded by dyslexia, became too much for Jones, and he quit the company on December 6, 2003 while on the WWE Passport to SmackDown! Tour in Perth, Australia.

Australian Wrestling Supershow III

Since then, Nathan was scheduled to make his pro wrestling return in 2004 at the Australian Wrestling Supershow III booked against Mark Mercedes, but did not appear as advertised at the event and a battle royal was held following an angry shoot on Jones by Mercedes and promoter Andy Raymond.

World Series Wrestling

In 2005 he wrestled three Matches for World Series Wrestling. On October 5 he defeated Lee Star in Melbourne, Australia. On October 7 and October 8, he defeated Mark Hilton.

Post-wrestling

Jones would leave wrestling to once again go into the movie industry after previously having a role in Jackie Chan's First Strike as a Russian hit man. During his time wrestling, he was in the movie Troy; he played a Giant Greek Champion named Boagrius who was dispatched in one blow by Achilles.

He appears as bad guy "TK" in the Thai martial arts movie The Protector and as a fictionalized portrayal of real-life wrestler Hercules O'Brien in the Jet Li martial arts movie Fearless.

Jones once again worked for WWE, this time under the WWE Films banner, playing 'The Russian' in The Condemned, starring Stone Cold Steve Austin.

He is a supporter of the Australian Football League club the Carlton Blues.

In 2007, Jones was billed to be playing video game character Craig Marduk in the upcoming movie Tekken, however confirmation of this has yet to happen. Ironically, the character of Craig Marduk is Australian and, although appears as a typically large PRIDE/MMA fighter, his look and characteristics are based on Jones.

In 2008, he appeared in another Thai movie called Somtum as a friend of the main actress.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves
• Backbreaker rack
• Chokeslam
• Spinning gutwrench slam
• Big boot
• Giant swing
• Military press slam
• Scoop lift dropped into a reverse DDT
• Sidewalk slam
• Spinning wheel kick
• Release bowerbomb
• Clothesline
• Bicycle kick

• Previous managers
• Rove McManus
• Paul Heyman
• Ashley Henning

• Nicknames
• The Colossus of Boggo Road

Championships and accomplishments

• 'Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX
• NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Big Jon Heidenreich

• World Wrestling All-Stars
• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
• Most Embarrassing Wrestler (2003)
• Worst Wrestler (2003)

Filmography as actor

• Tekken (2009) - Craig Marduk
• Somtum (2008) - Barney Emerald
• Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008) - Humungus
• The Condemned (2007) - The Russian
• G'Day LA (in pre-production)
• Fearless (2006) – Hercules O'Brien
• Tom-Yum-Goong (2005) American version: The Protector, English version: The Warrior King (2005) –- TK
• Troy (2004) – Boagrius
• Doom Runners (1997) – Vike
• Police Story 4: First Strike aka Jackie Chan's First Strike (1996) – Hit Man

References

External links