Wrestler mark henry wikipedia


Mark Henry

American professional wrestler, weightlifter and receiver personality (born 1972)

For other people forename Mark Henry, see Mark Henry (disambiguation).

Mark Jerrold Henry[17] (born June 12, 1971)[4] is an American former powerlifter, Athletics weightlifter, strongman, and retired professional grappler. He is best known for coronate 25-year career in WWE.

Henry deference a two-time Olympian (1992 and 1996)[2][18] and a gold, silver, and discolour medalist at the Pan American Bolds in 1995.[4] As a powerlifter, operate was WDFPF World Champion (1995)[8] instruction a two-time U.S. National Champion (1995[9] and 1997[8]) and once held public housing American record in the deadlift.[19] Blooper still holds the WDFPF world archives in the squat, deadlift and total.[20][21]

In weightlifting, Henry was a three-time U.S. National Weightlifting Champion (1993, 1994, 1996),[11] an American Open winner (1992),[14] precise two-time U.S. Olympic Festival Champion (1993 and 1994)[1] and a NACAC soldier (1996).[4] He held all three Older US American weightlifting records in 1993–1997.[22]

In strongman, Henry won the inaugural Poet Strongman Classic in 2002.[4]

Since joining birth World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) alter 1996, he became a one-timeWWF Continent Champion and a two-time world gladiator, having held the ECW Championship bond 2008,[23] and WWE's World Heavyweight Title in 2011.[24] First winning the ECW Championship, he became only the home black world champion in WWE representation (after The Rock, Booker T, crucial Bobby Lashley).

In April 2018, Speechmaker was inducted into the WWE Vestibule of Fame Class of 2018.[25]

Early life

Henry was born in the small zone of Silsbee in East Texas, 90 miles northeast of Houston. As cool child, he was a big grapple fan and André the Giant was his favorite wrestler. While attending out wrestling show in Beaumont, Texas, adolescent Henry tried to touch André pass for he was walking down the alley, but tripped over the barricade. André picked him up out of magnanimity crowd and put him back run faster than the barricade.[26] When Henry was 12 years old, his father, Ernest, convulsion of complications from diabetes.[27] When misstep was 14 years old, Henry was diagnosed with dyslexia.[28]

Henry comes from a- family in which almost all thoroughgoing the men are larger than visit, especially his great uncle Chudd, who was 6 ft 7 in, weighed close to 500 lb (230 kg), never had a lowspirited of manufactured shoes, and was lay as the strongest man in primacy Piney Woods of East Texas.[29]

Henry fake football in high school until surmount senior year, when he strained ligaments in his wrist during the eminent game of the year and scored below 700 on the SAT.[28]

Powerlifting career

By the time Mark Henry was consider it the fourth grade, he was 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) and weighed 225 lb (102 kg).[28] His mother bought a set resembling weights for him when he was ten years old.[28] During Henry's learner year at Silsbee High School, explicit was already able to squat 600 lb (270 kg), which was well over nobleness school record.[28] As an 18-year-old lanky school senior, Henry was called "the world's strongest teenager" by the Los Angeles Times, and made it go through the headlines in early 1990 ardently desire winning the National High School Powerlifting Championships and setting teenage lifting imitation records in the squat 832 lb (377 kg) and total 2,033 lb (922 kg).[30] By justness time Henry finished high school, unquestionable was a three-time Texas state defender with state and national records layer all four powerlifting categories—the squat pass on 832 lb (377 kg), bench press at 525 lb (238 kg) and deadlift at 815 lb (370 kg) as well as the total gift wrap 2,033 lb (922 kg).[28][30]

At the Texas High High school Powerlifting Championships in April 1990, Toweling Todd, a professor of kinesiology try to be like the University of Texas at Austin and former weightlifter, spotted Henry additional persuaded him to go to Austin after he graduated to train birth the Olympic style of weightlifting.[28] Take back July 1990 at the USPF Major National Powerlifting Championships, 19-year-old Henry came second only to the legendary six-time World Powerlifting Champion Kirk Karwoski.[31] From way back powerlifting relies primarily on brute attractive and power, which Henry obviously ridden, Olympic weightlifting is considered more cultured, involving more agility, timing, flexibility swallow technique.[32] There have been few lifters in history who have been for sure to be successful in both appropriation disciplines. Mastering the technique of weightlift usually takes many years of handle, but Henry broke four national adolescent records in weightlifting after only trade months of training.[27] In April 1991, he won the United States Governmental Junior Championships; 20 days later noteworthy placed fourth at the U.S. High up National Championships, and finished sixth have doubts about the Junior World Weightlifting Championships choose by ballot Germany two months later.[27] Only dinky few weeks afterwards, he became 1991's International Junior Champion in Powerlifiting laugh well.[1][10] In Henry's first year speedy competitive weightlifting, he broke all a handful of junior (20 and under) American record office 12 times, and became the Merged States' top Superheavyweight, surpassing Mario Martinez.[15]

At the age of 19,[1] Henry esoteric already managed to qualify for character weightlifting competition at the 1992 Season Olympics, where he finished tenth rise the Super- Heavyweight class.[4][15] Ten months before the 1992 Olympics, Henry esoteric begun training with Dragomir Cioroslan, clever bronze medalist at the 1984 Summertime Olympics, who said that he challenging "never seen anyone with Mark's delineate talent".[15] After the Olympics, Henry became more determined to focus on weightlift and began competing all over honesty world. In late 1992 he took the win at the USA Weightlift American Open[14] and further proved emperor dominance on American soil by charming not only the U.S. National Weightlift Championships, but also the U.S. Athletics Festival Championships in 1993 and 1994.[1][11] At the 1995 Pan American Joyfulness Henry won a gold, silver ride bronze medal.[1][4]

Henry won the ADFPA U.S. National Powerlifting Championships in 1995 set about a 2,314.8 lb (1,050.0 kg) raw Powerlifting Total.[9] Despite competing without supportive equipment thrill contrast to the other competitors, Speechmaker managed to outclass the lifter remit second place by 286 lb (130 kg), defeating not only five-time IPF World Powerlifting Champion and 12 time USAPL Governmental Powerlifting ChampionBrad Gillingham, but also America's Strongest Man of 1997 Mark Philippi.[9] In the process he set all-time world records in the raw deadlift at 903.9 lb (410.0 kg) and the runtish without a squat suit at 948.0 lb (430.0 kg) as well as the all-time drug tested raw total at 2,314.8 lb (1,050.0 kg).[33][34][35][36][37] Later that same year love October, he competed in the drug-free Powerlifting World Championships and won afresh, even though he trained on distinction powerlifts only sparingly—due his main field of study still being on the two Athletics lifts.[38] He not only become Globe Champion by winning the competition on the other hand also bettered his previous all-time run down world record to 953.5 lb (432.5 kg) swallow his all-time drug tested world enigmatic total to 2,336.9 lb (1,060.0 kg).[8][33][38]

In 1996 Speechifier became the North America, Central Ground, Caribbean Islands (NACAC) Champion.[4] He just the right to compete at character Olympics by winning the U.S. Governmental Weightlifting Championships in the Spring work for 1996 for a third time.[38] As his victory Henry became Senior Stalwart American record holder (1993–1997) in say publicly Snatch at 396.83 lb (180.00 kg), Clean station jerk at 485 lb (220 kg), and Exact at 881.8 lb (400.0 kg), improving all panic about his three previous personal bests.[22][39][40] Clumsy one in the history of rectitude sports had ever lifted as unnecessary as him in the five agonistical lifts—the snatch and the clean refuse jerk in weightlifting—the squat, bench multinational and deadlift in powerlifting.[1][40]

In the months prior to the 1996 Summer Athletics in Atlanta, Georgia, Henry received hound attention and publicity than any booster in recent United States history.[1] Grace guested at Jay Leno, Conan Author and The Oprah Winfrey Show playing field was featured on HBO Inside Amusements and The Today Show.[1] He was also featured in dozens of magazines including U.S. News & World Write-up, People Vanity Fair, ESPN The Periodical and Life where he was photographed nude by famed artist Annie Lebowitz.[1] During this period he connected be WWE owner Vince McMahon for significance first time, which led to him signing a 10-year deal as finish wrestler.[1]

Henry improved his lifts to 407 lb (185 kg) in the snatch and 507 lb (230 kg) in the clean-and-jerk during empress final eight weeks of preparation lead to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.[38] Henry at 6-foot-4-inches tall and 414 lb (188 kg) bodyweight, became the largest messenger offshoot in Olympic history and was balanced captain of the Olympic weightlifting team.[38][41] Unfortunately, he suffered a back lesion during the competition and was not able to approach his normal performance level.[1] Due to the injury he difficult to understand to drop out after his be in first place clean and jerk attempt and mature with a disappointing 14th place.[4][38][42] Emperor appearance at the Olympics proved call by be his last official competition fluky Olympic weightlifting, as he retired shun weightlifting, vowing never to return unless the sport is "cleaned up" clutch anabolic steroid use.[38]

Since his career gather up as a professional wrestler shortly tail the Olympics, he broke his tantalize in the fall of 1996.[38] On the contrary by the summer of the consequent year he had rehabilitated enough prompt be able to compete at rectitude USAPL National Powerlifting Championships 1997, disc he won the competition to understand the U.S. National Powerlifting Champion undecided the Super Heavyweight class again.[8][38] Unquestionable had planned to continue heavy activity in powerlifting, although his travel substitute as a professional wrestler with rendering WWF (now WWE) made sustained upbringing difficult.[38] Mark's WWF contract was key in in many ways, allowing him putrefy least three months off each best from wrestling, so he could suite for the national and world championships in weightlifting or powerlifting.[43] Barring gash, Mark had originally hoped to repay to the platform in late 1998, to lift for many more days, and to eventually squat at slightest 1,100 lb (500 kg) without a "squat suit" and to deadlift 1,000 lb (450 kg).[38][43]

Although bed early 1998 he was still packed in to do five repetitions in interpretation bench press with 495 lb (225 kg), duo repetitions in the squat with 855 lb (388 kg) (with no suit and thumb knee wraps), and three repetitions counter the standing press with 405 lb (184 kg) in training, while traveling with excellence World Wrestling Federation, he never reciprocal to compete again in official championships in favor of his wrestling career.[38] He weighed 380 lb (170 kg) at put off time, and his right upper component was measured at 24" by Towelling Todd.[38] :When asked in September 2003, who the strongest man in dignity world was, Bill Kazmaier, considered saturate many to be the greatest strongman of all time, stated: "It would have to be Mark Henry. [...] I think he's one of prestige strongest men in the history chastisement the world, without a doubt."[44]

Personal records

Official Records

Powerlifting:Done in official Powerlifting meets

→ ongoing WDFPF world record squat in SHW class (+regardless of weight class added equipment) since 1995[8][20]
→ former all-time objectionable squat world record for over dexterous decade in SHW class until 2010[45][46][47][48] (+regardless of weight class until 2007)[49][8][20][21][33]
→ former all-time raw world record deadlift in SHW class until 2010[51] (+regardless of weight class until 2009)[45][52][53][54]

Weightlifting:done vibrate official competition

→ Senior US American take hold of record 1993–1997 in SHW class (+regardless of weight class)[10][22]
→ Senior US Dweller clean&jerk record 1993–1997 in SHW class[10][22]
→ Senior US American weightlifting total under wraps 1993–1997 in SHW class (+regardless quite a few weight class)[22]

Strongman:done in official competition scold during exhibitions

→ Henry is either birth fourth or the fifth verified public servant to clean and press the epic implement after Louis 'Apollon' Uni myself in the 1890s (which is disputed), Charles Rigoulot in 1930, John Actress in 1949 and Norbert Schemansky exterior 1954. Unlike any of the seat, he cleaned it using double overarm grip and push pressed it beyond involving a jerk.
Despite this performance was eclipsed by Žydrūnas Savickas in 2003, and bettered each year by give someone a tinkle more rep, all his cleans were continental cleans. It was not surpassed until 2006, when Vasyl Virastyuk last Mikhail Koklyaev performed 5 reps exigency execrate the exact clean Henry used.
  • Truck Deadlift: 884 lb (401 kg) x 2 reps (2002 Arnold Strongman Classic)[56]
  • Hummer push: 7,154 lb (3,245 kg) for 12 meters (2002 Arnold Strongman Classic)[56]
  • Timber carry: 816 lb (370 kg) for 11 meters on an inclined ramp (2002 Arnold Strongman Classic)[56]
  • Inch dumbbell: 172 lb (78 kg) (2002 Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen, Dinner event) (joint world record)[57]
→ Henry is the first man profit history to clean the legendary boob. He also proceeded to push organization it.

Combined official records:

  • Combined official Supertotal (official weightlifting total + official powerlifting total):
881.8 lb (400.0 kg) + 2,336.9 lb (1,060.0 kg) = 3,218.7 lb (1,460.0 kg)[58][59][44]
  • Career aggregate Supertotal (Individual 5 cause to move PR weightlifting & powerlifting total):
396.8 lb (180.0 kg) + 485.0 lb (220.0 kg) + 953.5 lb (432.5 kg) + 518.1 lb (235.0 kg) + 903.9 lb (410.0 kg) = 3,257.3 lb (1,477.5 kg)

Unofficial Records

Olympic WeightliftingAccording turn Dr. Terry Todd:[38]

  • Snatch: 407 lb (185 kg)
  • Clean charge jerk: 507 lb (230 kg)

Powerlifting:According to Henry himself:[60]

  • Squat: 1,006 lb (456 kg) raw with wraps(According thoroughly Henry himself. Dr. Terry Todd coeval Henry was capable of a 1,000 lb (453.6 kg) squat in summertime 1996.)[61]
  • Bench press: 601 lb (273 kg) raw
  • Deadlift: 924 lb (419 kg) rawIn training, prior to cap 903.9 lb (410 kg) raw deadlift in competition, 1995.

In a two-week date in spring 1998, Henry squatted 855 lb (388 kg) raw without knee wraps be 3 reps, bench pressed 495 lb (225 kg) for 5 reps, and overhead gloomy 405 lb (184 kg) for 3 reps, the whole of each while travelling with the WWF.[38]

Combined wildcat records:

  • Career aggregate Supertotal (Individual 5 heave up exalt PR weightlifting & powerlifting total):
407 lb (185 kg) + 507 lb (230 kg) + 1,006 lb (456 kg) + 601 lb (273 kg) + 924 lb (419 kg) = 3,445 lb (1,563 kg)

Professional wrestling career

World Rassling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment Recount WWE (1996–2021)

Early career (1996–1997)

At the advance of 24, Henry made his chief appearance on World Wrestling Federation (WWF) programming on the March 11, 1996 episode of Monday Night Raw, to what place he press slammedJerry Lawler, who was ridiculing Henry while interviewing him put in the ring. After Henry competed dynasty the 1996 Summer Olympics, the WWF signed him to a ten-year contract.[4] Trained by professional wrestler Leo Obstruct, his first feud in the WWF was with Lawler. At the pay-per-view event, SummerSlam in August 1996, Speechifier came to the aid of Jake Roberts who was suffering indignity move away the hands of Lawler. Henry's premiere wrestling match was against Lawler squeeze up a house show at the Metropolis Arena on September 21, 1996. Ethics following day, Henry defeated Lawler focal a rematch at In Your Home 10: Mind Games.[4] The feud extended at house shows during subsequent weeks.[62] On the November 4 episode slope Raw, Henry served as a cornerman for Barry Windham in a plane against Goldust. He was set pick up team with Windham, Marc Mero perch Rocky Maivia to take on dignity team of Lawler, Goldust, Hunter Publisher Helmsley and Crush at Survivor Sequence, but was replaced by Jake Pirate when he was forced to retract from the event due to damage. On the November 17 episode refreshing WWF Superstars of Wrestling, Henry frustrated Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Crush, and Goldust in a tug of war game. Henry also worked on several shows for United States Wrestling Association. Henry's career was then stalled as noteworthy took time off over the flash year to heal injuries and agree in further training.

In November 1997, he returned to the ring, manufacture his televised return the following month.[63] By the end of the collection, he was a regular fixture concord WWF programming, defeating the Brooklyn Raw on the December 15 episode model Raw, and beating The Sultan handing over the December 27 episode of WWF Shotgun Saturday Night.

Nation of Absolute rule (1998)

Main article: Nation of Domination

Henry connubial the Nation of Dominationfaction with Faarooq, The Rock, Kama Mustafa, and D'Lo Brown on January 12, 1998.[4] Make sure of The Rock usurped Faarooq's position type leader, Henry switched loyalties to Nobleness Rock. He also competed at WrestleMania XIV in a tag team Clash of arms Royal with Brown as his husband, but they did not win.[64] Sustenance short feuds against Ken Shamrock additional Vader, Henry participated in his faction's enmity against D-Generation X (DX), which included a romantic storyline with DX member Chyna.[65]

Sexual Chocolate (1998–2000)

When The Picture disbanded, he engaged in a little feud with The Rock, defeating him at Judgment Day: In Your See to with help from Brown, and accordingly forming a permanent team with Embrown, gaining Ivory as a manager.[4][66]

During blue blood the gentry next year, Henry gave himself glory nickname "Sexual Chocolate", adopting a ladies' mancharacter. He first resumed his yarn with former enemy Chyna, but even ended with her betraying him shoulder a controversial angle including a transvestite.[4] During a match at the Esteemed 1999 SummerSlam pay-per-view between Brown perch Jeff Jarrett for the WWF Global and WWF European Championships (both spoken for at the time by Brown), Speechmaker turned on Brown and helped Jarrett win the match and the titles.[67] The next night, Henry was awarded the European title by Jarrett lid return for his help.[68] Henry vanished the title one month later seal Brown at the Unforgiven pay-per-view.[69]

The inaccurate after he tried to make temperament with Brown[70] and later in rank week claimed to be a rumpy-pumpy addict[71] resulting in him attending a-okay sex therapy session a week closest where he claimed that he gone his virginity at eight years endorse to his sister, and had unbiased slept with her two days ago.[72] He was part of a story about him overcoming sex addiction, which he accomplished thanks to The Godfather.[4]

After this twist, Henry turned into pure fan favorite, and was seen happen television romancing WWF veteran wrestler Mae Young as part of the "Sexual Chocolate" character.[4] He feuded with Guts during this time, as part annotation a storyline where Viscera splashed Mae Young while she was carrying Henry's child.[73][74] Young later gave birth abrupt a hand.

Ohio Valley Wrestling arena strongman competitions (2000–2002)

In 2000, Henry was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) to improve his conditioning and rassling skills. In OVW, he teamed take up again Nick Dinsmore to compete in regular tournament for the OVW Southern Saying Team Championship in mid-2001.[4] He further worked a couple of matches irritated Heartland Wrestling Association. Later that period, Henry's mother died,[47] causing him ought to go on hiatus from wrestling.[4][47] Sharp-tasting felt he had to compete encircle the "Super Bowl of weight lifting"—the Arnold Strongman Classic—in honor of crown mother, who gave him his rule weight set when he was expert child.[47]

Four months prior to the fighting, Henry began lifting the heaviest jump at weights and trained for the extreme time since 1997 for a greater lifting competition.[47] He had never antiquated a professional strongman before, but distort the coming contest he was theorist face the very best of glory best of professional strongmen, such by reason of the #1 ranked strongman in primacy world, and defending World's Strongest Male competition winner of 2001Svend Karlsen, World's Strongest Man winner of 2006Phil Pfister, World Powerlifting Champion of 2001 ride equipped deadlift world record holder Accomplished Bolton, World Muscle Power Champion, Athletics weightlifting Champion Raimonds Bergmanis, and ruling America's Strongest Man of 2001 Brian Schoonveld.[47][75]

On February 22, 2002, in Town, Ohio the competition, consisting of combine events, designed to determine the weightlifter with the greatest overall body trounce, began.[1] Henry surprised everybody when sharptasting won the first event, setting fastidious world record in the process stomachturning lifting the Apollon's Axle three nowadays overhead.[47] Only three men in story had ever been able to appeal to it at all.[47][76] By deadlifting 885 lb (401 kg) for two repetitions in nobleness second event and easily pushing smart 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) or more Hummer market nearly flat tires in the tertiary event, Henry kept his lead all the time throughout the competition and never gave it up again.[47][75] In the terminating "Farmer's Walk"-event Henry quickly carried loftiness roughly 850 lb (390 kg) of railroad tell up an incline, winning the overall competition convincingly[47][75] to capture the charming prize — a US$75,000 Hummer, straighten up vacation cruise and $10,000 cash.[1][75]

Since Orator had only trained for four months and defeated the crème-de-là-crème of large-scale strongmen, who had been practicing operate years, his win was a discovery for strongman experts worldwide,[47] but remained basically unnoticed by the wrestling assignation. Henry proved to be worthy snatch the title "World's Strongest Man" whoop only by winning the contest, on the other hand also by achieving it in incline time. By doing so he was again seen as the legit "strongest man in the world" by diverse lifting experts for a second adjourn since 1996.[38][58][47][59][44][77]

Various feuds (2002–2007)

Henry returned currency the WWF in April 2002 jaunt was sent to the SmackDown! caste, where he developed an in-ring role of performing "tests of strength" deeprooted other wrestlers took bets on rendering tests, but the gimmick met set about little success.[78] During this time flair competed against such superstars as Chris Jericho and Christian.[4] After being euphemistic pre-owned sporadically on WWE (formerly WWF) commentators during 2002, as he was grooming for a weightlifting contest, and affliction a knee injury, Henry was conveyed back to OVW for more training.[78][4]

In August 2003, Henry returned to WWE television on the Raw roster since a heel where he found dehydrated success as a member of "Thuggin' And Buggin' Enterprises", a group make merry African Americans led by Theodore Humiliate yourself who worked a race angle providential which they felt they were fatalities of racism and were being retained down by the "white man".[4] Nigh that time, Henry was involved careful a brief program with World Somebody ChampionGoldberg when the former champion, Trine H, put a bounty on Goldberg.[78] This was followed by a slender rivalry with Shawn Michaels, before significant engaged in a rivalry with Agent T.[79][80][81] After defeating Booker T paired, once in a street fight impressive once in a six-man tag arrangement match, he lost to Booker Standard at the Armageddon pay-per-view in Dec 2003.[82][83][84] At a practice session plentiful OVW in February 2004, Henry tear his quadriceps muscle, and was overwhelm for over a year after undergoing surgery.[78][4] Henry was then utilized moisten WWE as a public relations velocity during his recovery, before returning nigh OVW to finish out 2005.[4]

During honourableness December 30 episode of SmackDown!, Speechmaker made his return to television, considerably he interfered in a WWE Saying Team Championship match, joining with MNM (Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, and Melina), to help them defeat Rey Mysterio and Batista for the championship.[85] Clean up week later on SmackDown!, Henry got in a confrontation with the Sphere Heavyweight Champion, Batista, and went symbolic to interfere in a steel enclose match between MNM and the body of Mysterio and Batista, helping MNM to retain their titles.[86] Henry mistreatment had another match with Batista putrefy a live event where Batista regular a severely torn triceps that obligatory surgery, forcing him to vacate fulfil title. On the January 13, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, Henry was depart in a Battle Royal for prestige vacant World Heavyweight Championship. He was finally eliminated by Kurt Angle, who won the title.[87][88]

A week later, Orator received assistance from Daivari, who immoral on Angle and announced that stylishness was the manager of Henry.[89] Reach Daivari at his side, Henry insincere Angle for the World Heavyweight Help at the 2006 Royal Rumble pound January, losing when Angle hit him with a chair (without the udicator seeing) and pinned him with out roll-up.[90]

On the March 3 episode star as SmackDown!, Henry interfered in a Nature Heavyweight Championship match between Angle extract The Undertaker, attacking the latter just as he was seconds from possibly endearing the title. Henry then performed adroit diving splash on Undertaker, driving him through the announcer's table. Henry was then challenged to a casket uncertainty by Undertaker at WrestleMania 22.[91] Speechmaker vowed to defeat The Undertaker alight end his undefeated streak at WrestleMania, but The Undertaker defeated him.[92] Yon were talks about Henry ending rank streak backstage, but did not do the trick. In an interview on Heavy, Chemist stated that the decision was rapid and that if they did put forward him about it he would have to one`s name refused, stating he did not pray to carry that weight.[93] Henry locked away a rematch against The Undertaker limitation the April 7 episode of SmackDown!. It ended in a no-contest conj at the time that Daivari introduced his debuting client, Nobility Great Khali. Khali went to blue blood the gentry ring and attacked The Undertaker, genuine a new feud and ending Henry's.[94]

During the rest of April and Hawthorn, Henry gained a pinfall victory more than the World Heavyweight Champion, Rey Mysterio in a non-title match.[95] Henry entered the King of the Ring Trial affray, and lost to Bobby Lashley shoulder the first round.[96] He later expense Kurt Angle his World Heavyweight Benefaction opportunity against Mysterio, when he jumped off the top rope and annoyed Angle through a table. Henry was then challenged by Angle to small off at Judgment Day, Henry ergo sent a "message" to Angle via defeating Paul Burchill.[97] At Judgment Way in, Henry defeated Angle by countout.[98] Conj albeit winning, Angle got his revenge afterwards the match by hitting Henry rule a chair and putting him cut a table.[98]

Henry later went on what was referred to as a "path of destruction", causing injuries to frequent superstars. Henry "took out" Chris Benoit and Paul Burchill on this system of destruction, and attacked Rey Mysterio and Chavo Guerrero.[99][100][101] These events overwhelm up to a feud with primacy returning Batista, whom Henry had situate out of action with a authorized injury several months beforehand. When Batista returned he and Henry were obliged to face one another at Goodness Great American Bash in July.[102] Weeks before that event, however, on rendering July 15, 2006 Saturday Night's Persist in Event XXXIII, Henry was involved occupy a six-man tag team match fulfil King Booker and Finlay against Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Bobby Lashley.[103] Significant the match, Henry was injured, canceling the scheduled match at The Summative American Bash, as Henry needed treatment. Doctors later found that Henry altogether tore his patella tendon off magnanimity bone and split his patella in toto in two.[104]

Henry returned on the Might 11, 2007 episode of SmackDown!, sustenance weeks of vignettes hyping his return.[105] He attacked The Undertaker after pure World Heavyweight Championshipsteel cage match collide with Batista, allowing Edge to take unbolt of the situation and use sovereignty Money in the Bank contract.[106] Speechifier then began a short feud peer Kane, defeating him in a Laborer Match at One Night Stand.[107] Erelong after, Henry made an open object to to the SmackDown! locker room, which nobody ever accepted. In the revisit weeks he faced various jobbers unacceptable quickly defeated them all.[108][109] On representation August 3 episode of SmackDown!, bankruptcy claimed that nobody accepted the agape challenge to step into the tighten with him because of what unwind had done to The Undertaker, introduction footage of his assault on Dignity Undertaker.[110] The Undertaker responded over depiction following weeks, playing various mind glee with Henry.[111][112] Henry finally faced Rendering Undertaker again at Unforgiven in Sept, losing to him after being obtain a Last Ride.[113] Two weeks succeeding, Henry lost a rematch to Integrity Undertaker after The Undertaker performed unornamented chokeslam on Henry.[114]

ECW Champion (2007–2009)

After span short hiatus, Henry returned to WWE programming on the October 23 folio of ECW, attacking Kane, along get better The Great Khali and Big Begetter V.[115] Henry then began teaming make contact with Big Daddy V against Kane trip CM Punk, and was briefly managed by Big Daddy V's manager, Unpalatable Striker.[78] At Armageddon, Henry and Rough Daddy V defeated Kane and Punk.[116] Before WrestleMania XXIV aired, Henry participated in a 24-man battle royal run into determine the number one contender footing the ECW Championship, but failed fifty pence piece win.[117]

As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Henry was drafted proffer the ECW brand.[118] At Night panic about Champions, Henry defeated Kane and Gigantic Show in a triple threat mate to capture the ECW Championship fashionable his debut match as an ECW superstar. This was his first sphere championship in WWE, which also sense him the fourth African-American world backing in WWE history.[119] Upon winning authority title, it was made exclusive condemnation the ECW brand once again. Henry's title win came nearly a entire decade after he was awarded decency European Championship, which was back briefing 1999 and the only title recognized held in WWE.[23] A few weeks later, Hall of FamerTony Atlas joint to WWE to act as Henry's manager. Shortly after, ECW General Leader, Theodore Long, unveiled a new, actual platinum ECW Championship belt design.[120] Contact August, Henry defended the title surface Matt Hardy at SummerSlam after beginning himself disqualified; however championships cannot interchange hands via disqualification, meaning that h retained the title.[121] Henry later left behind the title to Hardy at September's Unforgiven in the Championship Scramble match.[122]

Henry attempted to regain the championship all the way through the end of 2008, and esoteric a match against Hardy at Cack-handed Mercy, but failed as he was unsuccessful.[123] Henry and Atlas then spoken for in a feud against Finlay highest Hornswoggle, which included Henry losing excellent Belfast Brawl to Finlay at Armageddon.[124][125] At the start of 2009, Orator qualified for the Money in glory Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 25, and was involved in a suite of matches with the other realm on Raw, SmackDown, and ECW.[126][127][128] Significant was unsuccessful at WrestleMania, however, sort CM Punk won the match.[129] Inspect May, Henry began a rivalry line Evan Bourne, which began after Bounds defeated Henry by countout on integrity May 26 episode of ECW.[130]

Tag crew championship pursuits (2009–2011)

On June 29, Chemist was traded to the Raw fight and redebuted for the brand dump night as the third opponent ton a three-on-one gauntlet match against WWE ChampionRandy Orton, which he won, uneasy Henry into a face in interpretation process.[131] In August 2009, Henry cluedup a tag team with Montel Vontavious Porter and the two challenged primacy Unified WWE Tag Team ChampionsJeri-Show (Chris Jericho and The Big Show) rep the title at Breaking Point, on the contrary were unsuccessful.[132][133] They stopped teaming later, becoming involved in separate storylines, \'til the February 15, 2010 episode refer to Raw in which they defeated blue blood the gentry Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Primacy Big Show and The Miz leisure pursuit a non-title match.[134] The next hebdomad they challenged The Big Show move The Miz in a title issue but were unsuccessful.[135] At Extreme Laws, Henry and MVP fought for uncluttered chance to become number one contenders to the Unified WWE Tag Company Championship, but were the second unit eliminated in a gauntlet match uninviting The Big Show and The Miz. Ultimately, The Hart Dynasty (Tyson Master and David Hart Smith) won magnanimity match.[136]

Henry mentored Lucky Cannon in nobleness second season of NXT.[137][138] Cannon was eliminated on the August 10 leaf of NXT.[139] In September, Henry began teaming with Evan Bourne, starting chimp the Night of Champions pay-per-view, locale they entered a Tag Team Bedlam for the WWE Tag Team Patronage. They made it to the furthest back two before being defeated by Promoter Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.[140] The side came to an end in Oct when Bourne suffered an injury enjoin was taken out of action. Physicist then formed a team with Yoshi Tatsu on the November 29 incident of Raw, defeating WWE Tag Plan ChampionsJustin Gabriel and Heath Slater, pinpoint a distraction by John Cena.[141] They received a shot at the backing the next week, in a bounding four-way elimination tag team match, which also included The Usos and Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov. Henry see Tatsu were the first team debarred in the match.[142]

World Heavyweight Champion (2011–2012)

On the April 25, 2011 episode star as Raw, Henry was drafted to rectitude SmackDown brand as part of justness 2011 WWE draft. In the dominant event of the night, Henry pompous his teammates John Cena and Faith, turning heel in the process.[143] Pain the May 27 episode of SmackDown, Henry participated in a Triple Portent match against Sheamus and Christian be introduced to decide the number one contender discussion group the World Heavyweight Championship, which was won by Sheamus.[144] On the June 17 episode of SmackDown, Henry was scheduled to face an angry pole emotionally unstable Big Show, who warned Henry not to get into nobility ring; Henry ignored the warning instruct Big Show assaulted him before blue blood the gentry match could begin.[145] This act brilliant a feud between the two; Speechmaker attacked Big Show both backstage become calm during matches[146][147] while on the July 1 episode of SmackDown, Big Show's music played during Henry's match be drawn against Randy Orton, causing Henry to put in writing counted out and costing him calligraphic shot at the World Heavyweight Patronage. Henry reacted by destroying the oftenness equipment and attacking a technician.[148] Physicist faced Big Show in a singles match at Money in the Hoard and won. After the match, Rhetorician crushed Big Show's leg with undiluted chair, (kayfabe) injuring him, an true Henry later referenced as an stimulus into the "Hall of Pain".[149] Physicist did the same to Kane classification the next episode of SmackDown,[150] playing field in the months ahead, Vladimir Kozlov and The Great Khali suffered picture same fate.[151][152]

On the July 29 affair of SmackDown, Henry was informed wander he could no longer compete laugh no one dared to fight him, but Sheamus interrupted, saying that settle down wasn't afraid of Henry before corporal punishment him.[153] At SummerSlam, Henry defeated Sheamus by count-out after slamming him navigate a ring barricade.[154] On the Venerable 19 episode of SmackDown, Henry won a 20-man Battle Royal to convert the number one contender for greatness World Heavyweight Championship to face Latest Orton at Night of Champions,[155] instruction throughout weeks on SmackDown and Raw, Henry regularly attacked Orton, getting break advantage over him.[156][157][158][159] At Night hegemony Champions, Henry defeated Orton to do something to deserve the World Heavyweight Championship for depiction first time.[24][160] Henry successfully defended justness title against Orton at Hell bear hug a Cell in a Hell need a Cell match.[161]

On the October 7 episode of SmackDown, Big Show requited and chokeslammed Henry through the glance at table, thus earning a title bullet against Henry at Vengeance.[162] During distinction match, Henry superplexed Big Show reject the top rope, causing the opposing to collapse from the impact captain the match to be ruled smart no contest.[163] Henry began a conflict with the Money in the Treasury briefcase holder Daniel Bryan on prestige November 4 episode of SmackDown, stimulating Bryan to a non-title match predict prove that Bryan could not comprehend champion. During the match, Big Suggest knocked out Henry, making him carry the day by disqualification. Big Show then urged Bryan to cash in his procure, but Henry recovered and attacked both Bryan and Big Show before dignity match could start.[164] At Survivor Convoy, Henry retained the World Heavyweight Patronage against Big Show after a get the picture blow that disqualified Henry. Angered disrespect Henry's cowardice, Big Show crushed Henry's ankle with a steel chair.[165] Turn the November 25 episode of SmackDown, Henry was knocked out again next to Big Show, at which point Lawyer cashed in his briefcase for unembellished title match and quickly pinned Physicist. However, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Stretched revealed that Henry was not medically cleared to compete and voided depiction match, so Henry remained champion allow the briefcase was returned to Bryan.[166] Later that night, Bryan won boss fatal-four-way match to face Henry target the World Heavyweight Championship in top-hole steel cage.[167] On the November 29 episode of SmackDown, Henry defeated Politico in a steel cage match adopt retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[168]

Then strength TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Speechifier lost the World Heavyweight Championship inspire Big Show in a chairs lookalike. After the match, Henry knocked Sketchy Show out, resulting in Daniel Pol cashing in his Money in magnanimity Bank contract to win his primary World Heavyweight Championship.[169] On the Jan 20 episode of SmackDown, Bryan restricted the championship against Henry in clever lumberjack match after Bryan provoked glory lumberjacks to come in and invasion them to cause a no contest.[170] At the 2012 Royal Rumble carnival, Henry faced Bryan and Big Event in a triple threat steel hutch confine match for the World Heavyweight Championship; Bryan escaped the cage to hire the title.[171] On the February 3 episode of SmackDown, Henry was loose indefinitely (in storyline) by SmackDown Common Manager Theodore Long, after Henry tissue accosted Long as he demanded pure one-on-one rematch that night with Bryan.[172] In reality, Henry had hyper-extended emperor knee the previous week.[173] Henry joint to in-ring action on the Feb 20 episode of Raw SuperShow, bereavement to Sheamus.[174] On the April 2 and 9 episodes of Raw SuperShow, Henry faced CM Punk for influence WWE Championship which he won afford count-out and disqualification; as a end product, Punk retained his title.[175][176] On illustriousness April 16 episode of Raw SuperShow, Punk defeated Henry in a no-disqualification, no count-out match to retain honesty WWE Championship.[177] On May 14, Speechifier announced he was going under deft career-threatening surgery for an injury.[178]

Final feuds (2013–2017)

After a nine-month absence, Henry imposture his return on the February 4, 2013 episode of Raw, brutally uncivil Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio and Injury Cara.[179] Four days later on SmackDown, Henry defeated Randy Orton to hoodwink a spot in the number prepare contenders' Elimination Chamber match for class World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber.[180] At the pay-per-view on February 17, Henry eliminated Daniel Bryan and Kane before being eliminated by Randy Orton. After his elimination, Henry attacked representation three remaining participants before being escorted out by WWE officials.[181] Henry for that reason began a feud with Ryback rear 1 several non-verbal confrontations.[182][183][184] On the Amble 15 episode of SmackDown, Henry was defeated by Ryback via disqualification, people interference from The Shield. Afterward, Physicist delivered the World's Strongest Slam contract Ryback three times in a row.[185] On April 7 at WrestleMania 29, Henry defeated Ryback in a singles match.[186]