Ace Steel

2.1. Early Life

Christopher Guy was born on January 25, 1973, in Chicago, Illinois. His interest in professional wrestling was sparked during his childhood, particularly by watching AWA shows held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago. These early experiences deeply influenced his desire to pursue a career in the sport.

2.2. Entry into Professional Wrestling

Guy officially debuted as a professional wrestler in October 1991, following his training with Windy City Pro Wrestling. His initial steps into the industry saw him form a tag team with Danny Dominion, first known as the L.A. Connection in Windy City Wrestling, and later as the Hollywood Hardbodies. From 1998 to 2001, Steel and Dominion worked as both wrestlers and trainers for St. Paul Championship Wrestling, an independent promotion and wrestling school. This promotion was later renamed Steel Domain Wrestling, where Steel held the Television Championship, becoming the last to hold it under the SPCW banner and the first under the SDW banner. During this period, Steel established himself as a mentor, notably training and influencing future prominent wrestlers such as CM Punk and Colt Cabana.

3.1. Early Career and Independent Circuit (1991-2002)

After his debut in 1991, Ace Steel spent his foundational years developing his craft on the independent circuit. He worked extensively for IWA Mid-South, where he achieved championship success. On February 8, 2002, he defeated Kurt Krueger to win the IWA Mid-South Light Heavyweight Championship. Steel successfully defended the title against renowned wrestler Rey Mysterio Jr. in a hard-fought time limit draw. He held the championship until March 8, when he lost it to Vic Capri. Steel would reclaim the title on May 3, defeating Capri in a thirty-minute Iron Man match, but was subsequently stripped of the title in June for failing to defend it within the thirty-day limit.

3.2. NWA: Total Nonstop Action (2002-2003)

Steel was signed by NWA: Total Nonstop Action shortly after the promotion's inception in May 2002. He participated in a tag team match alongside his former student, CM Punk, under the team name the Hatebreed. Steel also received a brief push as part of the X Division. Despite these appearances, his usage was irregular, and he worked only a handful of dates before his contract expired in October 2003.

3.3. Ring of Honor (2003)

In early 2003, Ace Steel joined Ring of Honor (ROH), where he reunited with CM Punk to reform the Hatebreed. On March 22, Punk and Steel faced Punk's rival Raven and another of Steel's students, Colt Cabana, in a tag match. During the match, Cabana appeared to suffer a significant injury after a botched moonsault to the outside of the ring, leaving Punk to wrestle the majority of the match alone. Following Raven's victory over Steel with an Even Flow DDT, Cabana unexpectedly turned on Raven and aligned himself with Steel and Punk. The trio subsequently named themselves the Second City Saints, a reference to their shared Chicago origins. The Second City Saints engaged in a notable feud with The Prophecy, particularly against B. J. Whitmer and Dan Maff. This rivalry culminated in a brutal Chicago Street Fight, which featured dangerous spots including a Spear through a barbed wire board, a splash from inside the ring onto Maff on a ladder supported by the guardrails, and a kneeling reverse piledriver off the top rope through a table.

3.4. World League Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah (2003-2006)

Steel joined Harley Race's World League Wrestling (WLW) promotion in 2003. In November and December of that year, he represented WLW during a tour with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan. Steel developed a strong affinity for working in Japan and became a regular presence with Noah. During his time in WLW, he temporarily replaced an injured Superstar Steve as Matt Murphy's partner in The Gold Exchange, helping to defend the Tag Team Titles. After Superstar Steve returned, Steel became his permanent partner. On May 7, 2005, in Ozark, Missouri, Steel and Steve defeated Wade Chism and Dakota to win the WLW Tag Team Championship.

During his tours with Pro Wrestling Noah, Ace Steel wrestled against many of the company's legends, including owner Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, and Akira Taue, often in tag team matches. Legendary wrestler Harley Race served as Steel's agent for these Japanese tours. In 2005, Steel challenged KENTA for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship at a WLW event in Steamboat Rock, Iowa, with Noah officials and Harley Race present. Steel has a tattoo on his arm in memory of Misawa, a tribute shared by CM Punk and Rancid guitarist Lars Frederiksen. Although thought to be retired, Steel returned for technical contests with WWE's William Regal in 2011 and 2012. In 2014, Steel returned to WLW to win the WLW Heavyweight Championship, which he later lost that same year.

3.5. World Wrestling Entertainment (Initial Appearances and Developmental: 2004-2008)

Ace Steel made several appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment. On the September 27, 2004, episode of Raw, Steel appeared in a segment where his hair was cut by Eugene in preparation for a hair versus hair match at Taboo Tuesday. As an inside joke, Steel used the name "Scott Colton," which is the real name of Colt Cabana. After Eugene's inexpert haircut, Eric Bischoff ambushed both Eugene and Steel with thrust kicks. Cabana reciprocated this joke on the April 10, 2006, episode of Raw, wrestling under Steel's real name, Chris Guy.

Steel also appeared on Velocity on April 1, 2006, in a match against Orlando Jordan, in addition to various dark matches and television appearances dating back to July 2000. On the January 8, 2007, episode of Raw, Steel portrayed Donald Trump in an intergender match against Kiley McLean, dubbed "The Donald vs. Rosie". "Trump" secured the win after throwing a Fudgie the Whale cake at Rosie's face and pinning her after a second turnbuckle "hairbutt." On January 18, 2007, amidst a series of releases, it was reported that Steel had officially signed a WWE developmental contract. He debuted in Deep South Wrestling in February. When Deep South Wrestling closed on April 19, 2007, Steel was transferred to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he joined the roster and debuted in September 2007. Steel wrestled on the October 5, 2007, edition of SmackDown!, quickly losing to Chuck Palumbo. He was subsequently released from his WWE developmental contract on February 4, 2008, along with five other developmental wrestlers.

3.6. Return to Ring of Honor (2008-2009)

On December 5, 2008, Ace Steel made his return to Ring of Honor at their Wrestling at the Gateway event. He teamed with Necro Butcher to defeat the team of Jimmy Jacobs and Delirious. His next significant match was a 10-man cage match at ROH's Caged Collision event on January 31, 2009. He also appeared at Take No Prisoners in 2009, where he lost to his former student, Colt Cabana.

3.7. Return to WWE (Coaching and Later Stints: 2019-2022)

In November 2019, it was announced that Ace Steel had been signed by WWE to serve as a coach at the WWE Performance Center. However, on April 15, 2020, he was furloughed as part of cost-cutting measures implemented by WWE due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to his coaching role on October 16 of the same year. Steel was ultimately released by WWE on January 5, 2022.

3.8. All Elite Wrestling (2022-2023)

Following his departure from WWE, Ace Steel joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in a backstage capacity, a role confirmed by AEW owner Tony Khan during the post-show conference for Revolution. On the August 31, 2022, episode of AEW Dynamite, Steel made an on-camera appearance, delivering a hype promo to encourage CM Punk to sign an open contract for a rematch against Jon Moxley at All Out for the AEW World Championship. Steel also appeared in a pre-match entrance segment with Punk at the event.

3.9. Return to TNA (2023-present)

On February 20, 2024, Ace Steel confirmed that he is working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as a producer. He made an on-screen appearance on the May 13, 2024, edition of TNA Impact!, where Joe Hendry announced that Steel would be managing him for his match against Frankie Kazarian at that week's Against All Odds show. At Against All Odds, after Kazarian defeated Hendry using a foreign object, Steel confronted Kazarian and attacked him. The following night at the IMPACT tapings, Steel and Kazarian engaged in a Chicago Street Fight, which Kazarian won. Hendry intervened to prevent any further post-match punishment from Kazarian.

4.1. Signature Moves

Steel employs a range of offensive maneuvers that are characteristic of his wrestling style. His key techniques include:

• Steel Spike: A diving DDT executed from the top corner, where he leaps onto his opponent.
• Widow's Peak: Also known as Twist of Cain, this move is similar to Kotaro Suzuki's Blue Destiny or other wrestlers' Gory Buster.
• Dropkick: He is particularly adept at delivering a corner-to-corner running dropkick to an opponent.

4.2. Unique Performance Style

Steel's in-ring persona is defined by his peculiar actions, provocations, and distinctive performance elements. He often engages in bizarre behavior such as lying horizontally on the corner post before or during a match to provoke his opponents. He is also known for uttering strange cries to the audience, his opponents, or even his partners. A signature part of his performance involves feigning a retreat to the locker room during a match, making it appear as though he has lost the will to fight or is about to be counted out, only to rush back into the ring at the last possible second before a ring-out. These eccentricities contribute to his unique and memorable presence in the ring.

6.1. AEW Backstage Incident and Aftermath

A major controversy in Ace Steel's career occurred during his tenure with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) following the All Out pay-per-view event in September 2022. During the post-event media scrum, CM Punk made several disparaging comments about Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, among others. This led to a widely reported backstage altercation involving Punk, Steel, Omega, and The Young Bucks. It was alleged that The Young Bucks, accompanied by others, entered Punk's dressing room, initiating a confrontation while Steel's injured wife was present. As a direct result of an internal investigation into the incident, Ace Steel was released by AEW on October 18, 2022. It was noted that Steel's wife was not interviewed as part of the investigation.

On May 18, 2023, reports surfaced that Steel had been re-hired by AEW months after the All Out incident, working remotely as a member of the creative team for AEW Collision. However, on September 7, 2023, it was again reported that Steel had been released by AEW, marking his second departure from the promotion within a year. This series of events highlighted significant internal tensions and workplace dynamics within AEW at the time.

6.2. Professional Recognition and Contributions

Despite the controversies, Ace Steel has garnered significant professional recognition throughout his career. His extensive experience in various promotions, from independent circuits to major companies, underscores his versatility and dedication to the sport. Steel is particularly lauded for his contributions as a trainer and mentor, having profoundly influenced the careers of several prominent wrestlers, most notably CM Punk and Colt Cabana. His role in shaping the next generation of talent on the independent scene has been widely acknowledged, establishing him as a respected figure in professional wrestling. His technical prowess and unique in-ring style has also left a lasting impression on fans and peers alike.

7.1. Influence on Future Wrestlers and the Independent Scene

Ace Steel has had a significant impact on future generations of wrestlers, primarily through his work as a trainer and mentor. His establishment of Steel Domain Wrestling served as a crucial training ground for aspiring wrestlers, where he directly imparted his knowledge and skills. Among his most notable students are CM Punk and Colt Cabana, both of whom went on to achieve considerable success in major promotions. Steel's guidance and training were foundational to their development, demonstrating his ability to identify and cultivate talent. His consistent presence and active participation in various independent promotions throughout his career also helped to elevate the profile and quality of independent wrestling, providing a platform for new wrestlers to gain experience and exposure. Through his direct mentorship and his contributions to the independent circuit, Steel has played a vital role in shaping the landscape of professional wrestling and fostering the growth of its future stars.