Sean Morley, better known today as Val Venis
A 26-year-old Canadian wrestler named "Sean Morgan" (6' 3", 250lbs) from Toronto was brought to All Japan Pro-Wrestling as a tag team partner of Rex King (a.k.a. Timothy Well) from 2/16 to 3/1/97. They were named "Strike Hard". Time passed like an arrow; who could expect what he would be right now.
His last name was actually "Morley", but the office changed his name to "Morgan" for Japanese fans to pronounce more easily. He was born in the town of Oakville, Ontario, Canada (between two big cities, Toronto and Hamilton) on 3/6/71 and grew up in the city of Peterborough.
He faced Kentaro Shiga on the curtain raiser at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on 2/16/97. He was just a "Mr. Nobody" for Japanese fans. One day, he approached Giant Baba at the gimmick table where they sold their merchandise at a local spot show, and said, "How much is this T-shirt, Mr. Baba?" The infamous Mrs. Baba, near her husband, was really upset, because the lowest gaijin (foreigner) asked his big boss such a question. She ordered one of the regular gaijin to give him a warning. What a big head b**ch! At least, American promoters are much superior to Japanese promoters about finding future potential from "Mr. Nobodies". On the last day of this tour, he was just standing and observing the show in front of the dressing room at Nippon Budokan (16,300 fan) in Tokyo on 3/1/97, because he wasn't given a match.
First, he wanted to be a pilot, and was set to go to Colorado State to study aeronautical science. Between high school and university, he was trained by Dewey "Missing Link" Robertson, then went to England, and started pro-wrestling there. He, as Scotty Borders, wrestled for the British Wrestling Federation in England for a year, and won the BWF Heavyweight title. He and his friend Shane Sewell formed "The Glamour Boys", and went to Ozark Mountain Wrestling in Arkansas for eight months, then they went to the World Wrestling Council in San Juan, Puerto Rico for about 4 years. The Glamour Boys (he and Shane, then he and Rex) won the WWC Tag Team Title. He was wrestling for both the WWC in Puerto Rico and the CMLL in Mexico.
Sean Morley, Masanori and Rex King, 1997
He wrestled under a mask as "Steele" in Mexico. He got over huge as a rudo (heel). "Steele" won the 4th Annual Grand Prix Tournament (16-man) at Arena Mexico in Mexico City on 4/4/97. He beat Rayo de Jalisco Jr. to win the CMLL Heavyweight title at Arena Mexico on 4/18/97. The title was vacated in September, 1997, when "Sean Morgan" had his second tour for All Japan Pro, from 9/27 to 10/21/97. Sean and Johnny Smith challenged Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori for the All Asian Tag Team Title at Osaka Prefectural Gym #2 in Osaka City on 10/1/97. Sean was pinned by Omori (23 minutes 39 seconds), but he could have his very best match carried by Johnny Smith., All Japan's best gaijin (foreign) wrestler. This year, at Lucha Libre's 65th Anniversary Show at Arena Mexico on 9/18/98, "Steele", teaming with Universo 2000 and Dr. Wagner Jr., beat Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and The Head Hunters.
He got three try-outs in the WWF, including Des Moines, IA (Henry Godwinn beat him) on 6/30/97, and Roanoke, VA (Jesus Castillo beat him) on 11/25/97. He had just waited for their call, and was working as a bouncer at SHAKERS in the city of Peterborough. The WWF finally called him, and he was invited to the WWF Funking Dojo headed by Dory Funk Jr. Sean Morley was training with Marc Mero, Taka Michinoku, Darren Drozdov (Puke), Adam Copeland (Edge), Steve Blackman, Tiger Ali Singh, Mark Henry, Kurrgan, Shawn Stasiak, Matt Bloom, Randy Blackbeard, and Ahmed Johnson. The feeling after the Dojo was that Sean and Adam would become major stars. Coach Dory called them "Blue Chippers".
He got his contract with the WWF ..... He is wrestling with the "Val Venis from Las Vegas" gimmick, which came from Vince McMahon, and started to run with it in the WWF all over the world. He is really enjoying his gimmick in the WWF. Also, he always has a big motivation to learn about wrestling. He has traveled from Canada to England...from Arkansas to Puerto Rico...from Mexico to Japan...and he will keep traveling as a pro-wrestler towards his own goal.
Edge (Adam Copeland) with Masanori
You may contact Masanori at masa_h@mail.goo.ne.jp
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