Robert Kellum

Robert Kellum
Ring name(s)	The Stro[1] The Maestro[1] Gorgeous George III[1] Robbie Eagle[1]
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Billed weight	245 lb (111 kg; 17.5 st)[1]
Born	January 26, 1973 (1973-01-26) (age 38)[1] Raleigh, North Carolina
Resides	Malibu, California[1]
Trained by	Nelson Royal[1] Gene Anderson[1] Ivan Koloff[1]
Debut	January 1, 1990
Website	TheStro.com The Stro on Myspace

Robert Kellum (born January 26, 1973) is a professional wrestler and actor, best known as The Maestro in World Championship Wrestling. He has also had success in the United States Wrestling Association and Smokey Mountain Wrestling, as well as the World Wrestling Council. One of his previous ring names, Gorgeous George III, is an homage to his great uncle, the original "Gorgeous" George Wagner. Kellum currently competes as The Stro across the U.S and overseas on occasion along with acting part time for television and film. He has also guest starred on several episodes of the television series One Tree Hill and is set to star in the upcoming horror films 12-24 and Deader Country.

Professional wrestling career

Early life and career

Having a theatrical and musical background in addition to having experience as a collegiate wrestler (which included freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling), Kellum began training under veterans Nelson Royal, Gene Anderson and Ivan Koloff before making his professional debut on January 1, 1990 against ACW champion L.A. Stevens in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He wrestled Ivan Koloff and Chief Wahoo McDaniel early in his career and competed in many independent promotions in the southeast. Shortly after his debut on the independent circuit, he eventually appeared on WCW Saturday Night making his debut under the name Robbie Eagle against Sting in 1991.

Smokey Mountain Wrestling & the United States Wrestling Association

Returning to the independent circuit soon after, he lost the CWF Heavyweight Championship to Brian Armstrong in September 1993 and later began competing in Smokey Mountain Wrestling under the ring name Robbie Eagle and feuded with Tim Horner and Chris Candido over the SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship during 1994. Although Kellum was in negotiations for a return to WCW, he instead ended up debuting for the USWA. Prior to his debut in the promotion, he had some classic bouts against Rob Van Dam and Too Cold Scorpio on the southeastern independent wrestling circuit.

In early 1995, he began wrestling in the USWA and aligned himself with Tommy Rich and Doug Gilbert in their feud against PG-13, Brian Christopher, Bill Dundee and Jerry "The King" Lawler. The great nephew of the original "Gorgeous" George Wagner, he was billed as Gorgeous George III and later teamed with Scott Hall, King Mabel and The Gambler before leaving for Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Started shouting his patented "Ooh La La!" to the crowds. Later that year, he and Chris Benoit competed in several dark matches for the World Wrestling Federation before turning up in the World Wrestling Council feuding with Pulgarcito and Invader for the WWC Television Championship. While in Puerto Rico, "Macho Man" Randy Savage attempted to get permission for the name to be used by his brother Lanny Poffo however negotiations eventually fell through although he later began competing in WCW on a limited basis soon after.

During the mid-1990s, while with the Union of Wrestling Forces International, he toured Japan with Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock gaining extensive kickboxing and mixed martial arts training. In 1997, he toured with Jake "the Snake" Roberts in the Asistencia Asesoría y Administración appearing with Roberts in a two day supercard TripleMania V. During his time in the promotion, he also competed against AAA legends Perro Aguayo, Canek and Octagon among others.

Return to World Championship Wrestling

Although he complained to WCW management after Randy Savage's former girlfriend and valet Stephanie Bellars began using the name Gorgeous George III, he later agreed to return to WCW full time after meeting with then WCW Vice President Eric Bischoff and returned as The Maestro. He often came out to an instrumental (and slightly tweaked) version of Paul Orndorff's short lived theme, "Wonderful" during the late 1990s with Symphony as his valet. Feuding with Evan Karagias over the WCW World Cruiserweight Championship, Kellum would also become involved in feuds with David Flair, Norman Smiley, Buff Bagwell and Ernest Miller. He regularly appeared on Monday Night Nitro and WCW Thunder having some success. The Maestro/Cat feud involved legendary entertainer "The Godfather of Soul" James Brown at WCW's Superbrawl PPV. He chose to leave the promotion after his contract expired in 2000.

Return to the Indys

After his release from WCW, Kellum began operating a wrestling school out of Jacksonville, North Carolina. He later returned to the Southeastern area as The Stro competing for Atlantic Championship Pro Wrestling, Mason-Dixon Wrestling, the Independent Wrestling Federation, North American Championship Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance who has held victories over Demolition Ax, The Barbarian as well as faced "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and Ivan Koloff. He was later defeated by Shark Boy in the opening round of Nick Mayberry's HCW Incredible 8 Tournament on July 13, 2002. That same year, he Won the CAPW TV title and feuded with Balls Mahoney and other top stars of CAPW in Cleveland, Ohio. Kellum also won the ACCW title for a second time in a rumble match in Wilmington, NC and later feuded with Cold Cash D, Flex Phenom and Dave Renegade. Kellum became a two time NACW champion feuding with "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, Ricky Morton, Jake Roberts, Carnage, and Brad Hunter, leader of a faction called "Damage Inc." along with Main Attraction and Rico Rage. Facing his former tag team partner Lodi at PPCW in Conway, South Carolina, Kellum also won the SCW title in Dayton, Ohio.

Stro won the WCEW title and feuded with Magnum T.R., Ali Steele, Ouga Booga, Justin Feeche, Bobby Eaton, and Aaron Devil. Was a part of the "Triple Heat" group along with Aaron Devil and Steve Michaels who was later replaced by P Roc. With "Mr. USA" Tony Atlas, The Patriot and Ranger Ross, he feuded with Ivan Koloff & The Russian Army in late 2005 as well as defeating The Barbarian at the Ricky Morton Benefit Show on February 2, 2006.

A mainstay of American Coast Professional Wrestling, Kellum was the promotion's youngest champion ever in Charlotte, North Carolina-area.^{[citation needed]} He also feuded with female wrestler "The Queen of Pain" Naudia facing her in a series of intergender matches during 2005 and 2006, most notably defeating her for the ACPW Television Championship in an "I Quit" match in December 2005 as well as regaining the ACPW Television title from her in the first intergender dog collar match against her on February 4, 2006. He later defeated her and Sgt. Chaos in a handicap match for the Ring Wars Carolina promotion on February 18, 2006.

In June, he made his DSCW debut in Supply, North Carolina and, that same month, Kellum and Lord Everett Devore formed a tag team known as The Classics. The following month, while wrestling for the West Virginia-based NWA Mountain State, Kellum defeated The Barbarian in a Hardcore match as well as defeating Buzzsaw in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia on September 5, 2006. Kellum defeated Dave Renegade to win his second ACPW Heavyweight Championship on March 10, 2007. On June 9, Kellum made his ASPW debut in Elizabeth City, North Carolina where be began feuding with Derik Flair. On September 28, Kellum formed the Fourth Alliance along with Stan Braddock, Sean Cruise, Cletus Bass and manager Mr. Holly at an ACPW show in Warsaw, North Carolina. He defeated Hangtime to win his third ACPW heavyweight title in Salemburg, North Carolina on October 13. He also returned to ASCW and wrestled another epic bout against former AAA tag team partner and former WWE star the legendary Jake "The Snake" Roberts defeating him with STF Encore submission hold in Clarkburg, West Virginia on November 15. Feuding with Johnny Blast and NWA Mountain State TV champion Dr. Roger Hamm in NWA Mountain State Wrestling, he defeated Frank "The Tank" Parker to win the NWA-Mountain State Wrestling heavyweight championship on December 8, 2007.

On February 8, 2008, Kellum was voted 2007 NWA-MSW Wrestler of the Year.^{[citation needed]} In April, it was announced that Kellum would star along with Tiffany Shepis, Scot Davis, Sam Nicotero, Devanny Pinn, and Jimmy Sapienza in upcoming horror movie 12-24 and mentioned on Fangoria. Kellum was inducted in the ACPW wrestling Hall of Fame on August 2. In October 2008, it was announced that Stro would be in the upcoming horror film "Deader Country" set to be released in 2009.

March 15, 2009, Princeton, West Virginia, Stro defeats Jason "The Gift" Kincaid to become a two time NWA-Mountain State Wrestling heavyweight champion.

November 21, 2009, Mullens, West Virginia, Stro defeated "Dynamite" Derik Billings and "King" Richard to become the first three time NWA-Mountain State Wrestling heavyweight champion.

February 2010, Video trailer released on Youtube.com of upcoming Summer 2010 film "The Legend of Johnny Smalltie" starring Stro as the mob crime boss "Tony". *The Legend of Johnny Smalltie trailer at YouTube

On March 27, 2010, Gorgeous George Wagner was inducted in the 2010 WWE Hall of Fame the night before Wrestlemania 26

April 11, 2010, Stro wrestled Shane Douglas in Kingwood, WV for All Star Championship Wrestling.

May 28, 2010, in CAPW, The Stro defeated "Ironman" Nick Vah.

June 1, 2010 Stro to make cameo in upcoming film "Kos Island"

July 10, 2010 Stro wins and becomes a four-time NWA-Mountain State heavyweight champion in Hinton, West Virginia

February 5, 2011 NWA World Champion Adam Pearce and Stro wrestle to a classic 45 minute draw in Rand, West Virginia

May 2011 Stro appeared on the June edition (Randy Orton on the cover) of the WWE magazine

June 3, 2011 Stro to appear at the 2011 Pittsburgh Horror Film Festival in Pittsburgh, Pa

August 2011 Stro stars in the DVD movie "The Indy Wrestler"

August 20, 2011 Stro defeated Matt Conard in an "I Quit" match to become NWA-MSW TV Champion in Summersville, WV

Movies/TV

2011–present NWA Mountain State Wrestling TV show Stro "The Maestro of Wrestling"

2011 The Indy Wrestler Stro

2010 The Legend of Johnny Smalltie Tony

2009 Deader Country (video) The Stro

2008 12-24 Killer

2005 WFP: Night of Superstars 4 (video) The Stro

2003 One Tree Hill (TV series) Security Guard – The Search for Something More (2003)

2000 WCW SuperBrawl 2000 PPV (video) The Maestro

1999-2000 WCW Saturday Morning (TV series) The Maestro

1999-2000 WCW Thunder (TV series) The Maestro

1999-2000 WCW Monday Nitro (TV series) The Maestro

1996 TripleMania V AAA PPV (video) Gorgeous George III

1995 USWA: A Night to Remember (video) Georgeous George III

Stunts: 2010 The Legend of Johnny Smalltie (stunt coordinator)

Archive Footage: 2009 WWE: The Rise and Fall of WCW (video) The Maestro

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • SBD (Bearhug DDT)^[1]
  • Crossface (Crippler Crossface)
  • Bad Note (Fireman's carry dropped into a knee lift to the face followed by a Russian legsweep)
  • Cloverleaf
  • Cradle brainbuster
  • Encore (STF)^[1]
  • AAAHHH (Belly to belly inverted mat slam)
  • Triangle Submission Hold/ Gogoplata (Triangle)

• Signature moves
  • Football kick
  • German suplex
  • Knife-edged chop
  • Lifting double underhook facebuster
  • Northern lights suplex
  • Sitout shoulder jawbreaker

• Managers
  • Symphony^[1][2]
  • Jim Cornette
  • Big Business Brown^[3]

Championships and accomplishments

• Atlantic Coast Championship Wrestling

• ACCW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Atlantic Coast Professional Wrestling

• ACPW Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• ACPW Television Championship (4 times)
• ACPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Tre-G

• AWA Supreme Championship Wrestling

• SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Championship Pro Wrestling

• CPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• CPW Hardcore Championship (1 time)

• Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling

• CAPW North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• CAPW Television Championship (1 time)

• Coastal Real Extreme Wrestling

• CREW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Independent Wrestling Federation

• IWF International Championship (1 time)

• Mason-Dixon Wrestling

• MDW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• NWA Mountain State

• NWA Mountain State Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
• NWA Mountain State TV Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• New Age Championship Wrestling

• NACW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Ring Wars Carolina

• RWC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Smoky Mountain Wrestling

• SMW Television Championship (1 time)

• Ultimate Championship Wrestling

• UCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• United States Wrestling Association

• USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)

• World Class Extreme Wrestling

• WCEW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Council

• WWC Television Championship (1 time)

• Southern Championship Wrestling

• SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Other titles

• CCWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• MAIW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• WCW Television/Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• Voted runner up for Rookie of the Year as Robbie Eagle in 1993
• Ranked #248 as Robbie Eagle in PWI Top 500 in 1993
• Ranked #151 in PWI Top 500 in 1995
• Ranked #322 as Gorgeous George III in PWI Top 500 in 1996
• Ranked #301 as Gorgeous George III in PWI Top 500 in 1997
• Ranked #293 as The Maestro in PWI Top 500 in 2000
• Ranked #175 as The Maestro in PWI Top 500 in 2001
• Ranked #335 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2003
• Ranked #292 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2004
• Ranked #275 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2005
• Ranked #461 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2006
• Ranked #402 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2007
• Ranked #414 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2008
• Ranked #417 as The Stro in PWI Top 500 in 2009

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} "Robert Kellum profile". OWOW. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/stro.html. Retrieved 2009-09-01. 
2. ^ "Tank Abbott vs The Maestro /w Symphony". World Championship Wrestling. WCW Monday Nitro. 2000-01-17.
3. ^ "Big Business Brown". http://www.bigbusinessbrown.com. 

• Woo...Mercy Daddy! Welcome To My World The Jimmy Valiant Story written by Jimmy Valiant (last chapter)

External links

• TheStro.com, official website
• The Stro at MySpace
• The Stro at IMDB.com
• Profile at OWW
• Stro on IndyWrestlers.net

Persondata
Name	Kellum, Robert
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 26, 1973
Place of birth	Raleigh, North Carolina
Date of death
Place of death