Alastair Ralphs

Infobox Wrestler
name=Alastair Ralphs


img_capt=A-1 with valet Jade Chung after capturing the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship on December 12, 2004.
names=Alastair Ralphs
Alistair Ralphs
Allistar Ralphs
A-1
A1
A-One
height=6 ft 0 in (183 cm)cite news | author = PWI Almanac Staff | title = Statistics for Professional wrestlers | work = PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts | publisher = Kappa Publications | id = 2007 Edition | page = 38| accessdate = 2007-07-11 | language = English ]
weight=257 lb (117 kg)
birth_date = Birth date and age|1977|5|22|mf=y
death_date =
birth_place = Placentia Bay, Newfoundland
resides=Dunnville, Ontario
billed=Niagara Falls, Ontario
trainer=Scott D'Amore
debut=2001
retired=2007 Return 2008|

Alastair Charles Ralphs (born May 22 1977), better known as A-1 (sometimes spelt as A1), is a Canadian professional wrestler and former bodybuilder.

Early life

Ralphs was born in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, and relocated to Dunnville, Ontario at the age of five. He later moved to Windsor, Ontario to attend a university, but was forced to drop out due to financial issues.

Career

Border City Wrestling

Alastair Ralphs was trained by Scott D'Amore in the Can-Am Wrestling School, and debuted in D'Amore's Border City Wrestling promotion in 2001. After spending three years as an undercard talent, Ralphs became A-1, a cocky, arrogant heel, forming an alliance with Johnny Swinger. He defeated D'Lo Brown for the BCW Heavyweight Championship on December 12, 2004 in Belleville, Michigan at "A Night of Appreciation for Sabu".

On January 23, 2005 at New Year's Revolution, Ralphs interrupted the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, complaining that he was being overshadowed by older wrestlers. Scott D'Amore responded with a jibe aimed at Ralph's previous career as a bodybuilder, leading to a brawl between Ralphs and D'Amore. Following a distraction from Jade, A-1 was able to powerbomb D'Amore through a table. Ralphs went on to retain the heavyweight title in a match with Abyss, using Abyss's own chain to knock him unconscious.

Ralphs lost the BCW Heavyweight Championship to Bobby Roode on July 22, 2005. In the course of his reign as champion he faced well-known veterans such as Jim Neidhart and King Kong Bundy.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004-2007)

On July 16, 2004 Ralphs appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, losing to Sabu. He reappeared on March 13, 2005 as a member of Team Canada, replacing the injured Johnny Devine at Destination X 2005 and teaming with Bobby Roode, Eric Young and Petey Williams to face Chris Harris, James Storm, B.G. James and Konnan. He wrestled on TNA iMPACT! throughout April and May 2005, teaming with other members of Team Canada or accompanying them to the ring.

At Hard Justice on May 15, Ralphs took part in the Gauntlet for the Gold. He entered at number six and was eliminated by The Outlaw and B.G. James.

A-1, being a heel with Team Canada, is typically made fun of for his ring name. Crowds at the iMPACT! Zone, the name for Soundstage 21 at Universal Orlando when TNA programs are taped/aired there, typically bring bottles of A1 Steak Sauce when heckling him.

On the May 11, 2006 episode of "TNA iMPACT!", Larry Zbyszko asked Team Canada coach Scott D'Amore for assistance in his feud with Raven. D'Amore eventually agreed to help Zbyszko rid TNA of Raven, and nominated A-1 to face Raven in a match at TNA Sacrifice 2006 on May, 2006, a match that A-1 lost.

On the June 29, 2006 episode of "iMPACT!", TNA Management Director Jim Cornette disbanded Team Canada.

A-1 has since appeared off and on in the promotion, facing Ron Killings in the pre-show of the Hard Justice pay-per-view and against Eric Young at the No Surrender pay-per-view, losing both times. He also took part in the Kevin Nash Open Invitational X-Division Gauntlet Battle Royal For Bound For Glory, despite not being a part of the X-Division. He was eliminated by Maverick Matt and Kazarian. His profile was removed from the Roster page on the TNA website along with Elix Skipper, David Young, Jackie Gayda, and Simon Diamond. A1 was officially released by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on February 23, 2007.

Retirement

In 2007, according to A-1's official MySpace page, he had decided to retirement from wrestling after only 6 years in the business. However, the reason behind his retirement was not revealed. [ [http://profile.myspace.com/sustanon A1's Official MySpace Profile] ]

Return to the ring

On 6th June 2008, Scott D'Amore and his independent promotion Border City Wrestling began promoting in the Ontario and Michigan area featuring a host of stars, including A-1 who has apparently come out of retirement, as can be [http://wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=214806086 seen here] On the 18th of June, A1 made an appearance with Grand Prix Wrestling in Sackville,NB.

He now performes for UWA based in Ottawa Ontario under the name A-One.

In wrestling

*Finishing moves:*"Royal Flush Neckbreaker" (Arm trap hangman's neckbreaker):*Sitout pumphandle slam:*Running front powerslam:*Brainbuster:*Powerbomb:*Spear:*Lariat
*Managers:*Jade Chung:*Scott D'Amore

Championships and accomplishments

*Border City Wrestling:*BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2004-12.html | title=Independent Wrestling Results - December 2004 | accessdate=2008-07-05|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com]

Notes

References

* [http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/a1.html A-1 at Accelerator3359.com]
* [http://www.tnawrestling.com/fullnews.php?home=255 Interview conducted by Bill Banks]

External links

* [http://profile.myspace.com/sustanon A1's Official MySpace Profile]