“…You’ll know why Aristocracy Reigns.” – Steven Holmes MD 39
Born into a wealthy family in Buckinghamshire, England, it seemed that Steven Holmes was destined for greatness the moment he stepped foot into WZCW. With his arrogant and pompous attitude, he made it clear that he was head and shoulders above everyone else. However, beneath his prideful skin lay a heart that was beating with desire. His stomach ached with the hunger to prove himself worthy to be called “The Elite.” For Steven, his boastings were the result of all the hard work and effort that he had poured into his training to make it as far as he did the night he debuted on
Meltdown 39. Management must have seen something special in the young Holmes that evening. This clearly wasn’t some punk kid with a bark more fearsome than his bite. He would earn a contract, and would embark on one of the most remarkable journeys of any WZCW superstar.
---
Holmes began by proving himself on the undercard until he caught the attention of WZCW alumni Doug Crashin. On
Meltdown 44, Holmes surprised everyone when he stole the Mayhem title from Baez, and joined Crashin’s ‘Movement.’ They, along with Steven Kurtesy, made a formidable trio. At
All or Nothing 2010, ‘The Crashin Movement’ outlasted three other teams, and a lone Barbosa, to capture the WZCW Tag Team titles.
‘Black Betty’ hits as the Brothers in Arms await the final team in the gauntlet. Suddenly, the Crashin Movement charge in from the crowd and attack Wasabi Toyota as he stands on the apron. Steven Holmes keeps Hammond at bay as Kurtesy and Crashin pound away at the left leg of Toyota.
Copeland: Why isn’t the referee disqualifying them? Ring the bell and end this!
Cohen: The Crashins haven’t entered the ring yet, Seabass. They haven’t officially entered the match until at least one of the team members enters the ring. This is brilliant by them to take out that behemoth.
Holmes rams Hammond face first into one of the ring posts and then rolls him into the ring. Crashin stops his attack on Toyota just before Holmes enters the ring, officially putting Crashin Movement as active members in the match. Kurtesy gets one more hard stomp onto Toyota’s knee before rolling into the ring himself. They signal for the end as Holmes whips the now bloodied Scott Hammond into the ropes and the Crashin Movement connect with Here's Your Health-care Bill. Holmes covers Hammond, 1…2…3!
Harrys: Your winners, and NEW WZCW World Tag Team Champions, The Crashin Movement!
‘The Crashin Movement’ would later lose the belts at
Lethal Lottery III to Wasabi Toyota and Scott Hammond, the ‘Brothers in Arms.’ The team attempted to regain the titles, but came up short at
Kingdom Come III. After Crashin’s departure from the company, tensions began to amount between Holmes and Kurtesy, leading to a match between them at
Redemption 2011. Holmes continued to feud with his former partner, building towards a submission match at
Apocalypse 2011, which he lost. Undeterred by the defeat, Steven remained determined to forge his own path ahead. Opportunity came knocking for him on
Ascension 37, when Holmes fought then Elite-X champion Sam Smith to a draw. After failing to win the title from Smith following a grueling war of attrition at
Unscripted 2011, he entered into an alliance with John Constantine in a bid to take the title for themselves. At
All or Nothing 2011, Holmes won the Elite-X title in a triple threat match.
Both men are very slow to get up. Holmes is still lying on the outside. Smith and Constantine both are standing now. Constantine goes for a punch. Smith blocks and counters. He fires off three more punches. Smith has his opponent against the ropes and Irish Whips him across the ring. Smith goes for a Clothesline. Constantine also goes for Clothesline. Constantine gets more force behind his and sends the smaller Smith down to the mat. Constantine now has Smith against the ropes and Irish Whips him. Constantine catches Smith running back with a Sidewalk Slam. Smith reverses into a DDT! Smith drapes an arm for the cover. 1... 2.... Holmes breaks up the pinfall. Holmes helps Smith up and goes for a Reverse Neckbreaker. Smith breaks free. Bulldog! Smith is standing and starts clapping his hands. The fans are on their feet cheering loudly.
Connor: Smith is calling for Final Judgement!
Cohen: Holmes... Constantine... somebody object to this immediately!
Smith is ready as Holmes stands up and turns around. Smith kicks him the gut and lifts him up for his Falcon Arrow finisher. Holmes floats over his shoulder and lands on his feet. Holmes goes to grab Smith. Smith quickly turns around and grabs Holmes legs and flips him on his back. Smith tries to lock in Double Jeopardy! Holmes squirms his legs trying to free them. He does and pushes Smith back with both feet. The momentum turns Smith around running. Constantine is right there. Axis of Evil! The boom of the move as both men hit the mat shakes the ring and silences the crowd for a moment. Constantine rolls over onto his back, exhausted from the match and unable to follow up his finisher. Holmes sits on his butt and sees Smith out. Holmes crawls over him for the cover. 1... 2...3!
Anderson: Here is your winner, and the new Elite X Champion, Steven Holmes!
From there, Holmes would defend his title at every turn. Labeling himself “The Elite Champion,” he began holding himself to a higher standard of excellence than everyone else. Holmes lost the title on
Ascension 45 to a still green Triple X in a shocker. Holmes had already been embroiled in a bitter feud with Big Dave that had originated at All or Nothing, when he and Constantine had cost the former world champion the chance to regain his title. Big Dave returned with a vengeance at
Lethal Lottery 2012, and made it clear that Holmes was his target. With his Elite-X title gone, thanks to Dave, Steven began his most heated rivalry yet. At
Kingdom Come IV, Holmes came up short in an epic duel between him and his nemesis. Following his humiliation at the hands of Big Dave, Steven found himself at odds with his ally Constantine. The then King-For-A-Day had inserted himself into that match, and made it clear that his allegiances were not with Holmes. Scorned by his former friend, Steven sought retribution. At
Redemption 2012, Holmes defeated Constantine in a Falls Count Anywhere match.
Holmes is almost too tired to realise what has happened. He crawls away from Constantine who is barely moving. He heads towards the ring and grabs the chair that he discarded earlier. Slowly he pulls it into his midriff. He turns to see Constantine barely on his feet. He stalks the Power Trip as he recovers and when he is barely vertical, Holmes steams forward with the chair raised above his head. Before Holmes can strike his former partner, Constantine hits the Axis of Evil, landing the Elite superstar on the wreckage that had previously buried the reigning King for a Day. It puts Constantine in prime position to cover his tortured nemesis,
Copeland: Spinebuster by Constantine!
Connor: Will that do it?!
1…...................2…..........................Holmes kicks out!!!
Copeland: How on earth did Steven Holmes get the strength to kick out of that!
Cohen: He’s Elite; he was born with the strength and will to win!
Constantine didn’t hook the leg or use his weight properly so Holmes’ escape was easier than it should have been. Nonetheless Holmes showed a remarkable ring sense in his efforts to escape the pinfall. The Power Trip tries to gather his strength once more with the crowd roaring him on. The exhaustion and blood loss is becoming a massive factor in this match and the victor will be the one best able to deal with those factors. Holmes is still on the floor and Constantine is able to get up. He sees the steel chair and grabs it keenly. He places it on the ringside flooring and grabs Holmes. Constantine sets for Collateral Damage that would land Holmes on the chair but he turns his back and Holmes sends his former associate into the ringside apron. Constantine tries to come back but Holmes sees his charge and dives under his desperate attempt of a clothesline. He manages to pick up the chair in one movement and as they stop and turn, Holmes has the key advantage. He wields it with menace and without any hesitation, he instinctively swings the chair and connects the chair with Constantine’s skull using fierce accuracy! The chair is dented and Constantine is out cold. Holmes collapses on him as he is totally spent, 1…..2…..3! Holmes gets the win!!
Copeland: John Constantine took just about everything that Holmes threw at him, low blows, brass knucks and a piledriver through our table!
Harrys: Your winner by pinfall, The Elite, Steven Holmes!!!
Now his own man, Steven Holmes began to charge forward into greener pastures. He defeated Chris KO at
Apocalypse 2012, and made his first attempt at the world title in a cage match at
Unscripted 2012 that also included Titus Avison, Drake Callahan, and David Cougar. He was unsuccessful. He soon found himself reigniting his old rivalry with Triple X, as they fought each other to determine the #1 contender for the world title at
All or Nothing 2013. After bringing in his brother Erik as an insurance policy, Holmes secured his penultimate victory. This set him on a collision course against the champion, David Cougar. At
Lethal Lottery V, Steven Holmes shocked the world after pinning Showtime after interference from Celeste Crimson.
Celeste has made her way over to the timekeeper's table and...she's taken possession of the world championship belt! She's ignoring all the protests around her as she takes the belt and enters the ring! Showtime is having no luck with Akiyama, but his attention is diverted as Celeste calls his name. Showtime turns and sees her, stands up - AND IS KNOCKED OUT COLD WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT! The crowd is in total disbelief as Celeste Crimson stands above the world champion, bleeding openly from his forehead as she has just caved in his skull with an absolutely brutal shot with his own championship belt. Her face is totally expressionless as she surveys her handiwork and the crowd still has no idea what just happened here.
Copeland: I don't...I don't know what we're seeing here!
Celeste goes over to Steven Holmes, and unceremoniously drags him on top of the remains of Showtime. She then goes over to Akiyama and...she drags him over to what is apparently a pinning predicament! Akiyama is still so dazed that he apparently has no idea that any foreign interference has taken place in this match....but he sees the cover! Celeste quickly leaves the ring behind him and he never saw her! But he sees the pin! He counts! 1…2…3!
Akiyama signals for the bell! It's all over!
Copeland: No! Not like this!
Cohen: YES! EXACTLY LIKE THIS!
Harrys: Ladies and gentlemen....your winner....
Harrys is hesitant and indecisive, but he knows what just happened.
Harrys: ....and.....NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION......"THE ELITE" STEVEN HOLMES!
Holmes appears barely aware of what's just happened as the entire crowd is moving from total disbelief to total revulsion. There's not a person in the arena not booing furiously and some are even throwing trash into the ring in total disgust of what they've just seen. Celeste Crimson returns to the ring with world title belt in hand and pulls Steven Holmes to his feet. He leans on her heavily as she speaks to him quietly, apparently trying to restore him to his senses. Akiyama has gotten to his knees and staggers out of the ring, another official supporting him. Showtime himself has rolled over to the corner of the ring, no doubt with no idea what's transpired.
Connor: Ladies and gentlemen, this is a complete travesty as Steven Holmes has just robbed the world heavyweight championship from its rightful owner...
Cohen: I'm sorry, Cat, did you not here the bell ring? Did you not see the referee's signal? Did you not here Harrys? Who is it you think is the rightful world champion right now?
Holmes is coming back to his wits as Celeste continues talking to him. The most despicable grin comes over his face as he realizes what's happened. Celeste hands him the belt and backs away a step, finally able to stand on his own two feet. He looks at the belt for a long moment and then raises it above his head, grinning like a maniac. The ring is receiving more and more trash as security is trying to keep the crowd under control. Holmes is able to break eye contact from the belt long enough to share a long glance with Celeste. For the first time tonight, Celeste breaks into a smile as well and she leans in toward Holmes....for a long, deep, and passionate kiss!
The two would go on to form WZCW’s first real power couple, after Holmes took Crimson to be his wife. At
Kingdom Come V, “The Elite” would lose his world title back to Showtime. Not to be discouraged, he and Celeste set their sights on dominating the tag team division. Rechristening themselves as ‘Magnitudinis,’ the husband and wife duo made history when they defeated Sabotuer in a handicap match to capture the belts at
Redemption 2013.
Holmes drops to one knee in a complete daze as he sees stars. Saboteur slowly recovers and shakes the cobwebs out. He quickly approaches Holmes and goes for a Death Blow, but Holmes drops onto the ground and rolls under Saboteur as he leaps into the air. The crowd is stunned as Saboteur catches himself and turns around, but Holmes is already lunging into a charging position. He reaches up and grabs the head of Saboteur as she shoves his knee into his gut. The menacing blow causes spit to fly out of Saboteur’s mouth. Holmes then pulls Saboteur’s head in-between his legs. He quickly lifts him into an inverted position. The crowd has to watch helplessly as Holmes roars and drops Saboteur’s head down with the Imperial Impaler! The crowd is stunned as Holmes rolls over onto Saboteur,
Copeland: No, not like this!
1…2…3! The bell rings and Magnitudinis’ music picks up. The crowd quickly share their displeasure.
Harrys: Ladies and gentlemen, here are your winners, and new WZCW Tag Team Champions, Steven Holmes & Celeste Crimson!
The camera shows Celeste slowly rising with help from the outside apron. She peers into the ring and sees her lover, Holmes, standing with an arm raised. The WZCW Tag Team Championships are being handed to him as he looks out and sees his love. Celeste crawls into the ring and runs into his arms. They share an embrace and passionate kiss near the lifeless body of Saboteur.
Scheduled to defend the titles against ‘Los Magnificos Dragones’ at
Apocalypse 2013, Holmes was sidelined with an injury on
Ascension 72 during a match against Titus, and a returning David Cougar. Crimson would later lose the titles in a handicap match at the PPV. Following his wife’s retirement, Steven made one last return at
Ascension Anarchy 5, where he joined forces with former rivals Constantine and Showtime to form ‘The Elite’ stable. Following
Lethal Lottery VI, Holmes in-ring career would come to an end when he wrestled his last match at
Kingdom Come VI against former foe Chris KO in a losing effort. A myriad of injuries sustained during his time as a gladiator of the squared circle forced him from competing as an active wrestler. However, Holmes would continue to make sporadic appearances in WZCW while managing understudy Abel Hunnicutt. Since then, Steven has retired to his manor in England to be with his wife and daughter. He reportedly told Celeste upon his retirement that,
“…It was all or nothing, dear. And I just had to have it all.”
It is with our upmost respect and celebration to welcome Steven Holmes in the WZCW Hall of Fame, class of 2018!
Biography:
“The Elite” Steven Holmes
6’1 235lbs
From Buckinghamshire, England
Signature Maneuvers:
Aristocracy Reigns [Camel Clutch]
Imperial Impaler [Gotch-style Piledriver]
Accolades:
2 x Tag Team Champion [with Steven Kurtesy and Celeste Crimson]
Elite-X Champion
WZCW World Heavyweight Champion
Most Notable Rivals:
Steven Kurtesy
John Constantine
Big Dave
Triple X
“Showtime” David Cougar