1. Overview
Sidney Iking Bateman (born March 13, 1993) is an American professional wrestler and former acrobat. He is widely recognized for his tenure in WWE, where he performed under the ring names Reginald Thomas (later shortened to Reginald and Reggie) on the main roster, and Scrypts on the NXT brand. Bateman gained significant attention as a four-time WWE 24/7 Championship holder, notably setting the record for the longest reign with the now-defunct title. After his departure from WWE, he began performing on the independent circuit, primarily for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), under the ring name Sidney Akeem.
2. Early life and background
Sidney Iking Bateman was born on March 13, 1993, in Memphis, Tennessee, one of eight siblings. He was primarily raised in St. Louis, Missouri.
2.1. Childhood and youth
During his childhood and adolescence in St. Louis, Bateman was actively involved in sports, playing American football and basketball, while also pursuing circus arts as a hobby. At the age of 16, he became involved with a gang known as the Crips, specifically the 50 Hundred GST (Geraldine Street Thugs) faction. However, his association with gang life came to an abrupt end during his junior year in high school after a tragic incident where one of his friends was fatally shot by a member of a rival gang. This event prompted Bateman to leave the gang lifestyle and re-dedicate himself to his aspirations in the circus.
2.2. Acrobat and circus career
Prior to his professional wrestling career, Bateman built a significant career as an acrobat and circus performer. He underwent extensive training at Circus Harmony in St. Louis for seven years. Following this, he spent an additional three years training in Montreal, a renowned hub for circus arts. His talents led him to perform with the globally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil, where he was a cast member in their "LUZIA" show, specializing in hoop diving.
3. Professional wrestling career
Sidney Iking Bateman's professional wrestling career began with WWE in 2020, where he would undergo several character changes and engage in various storylines, before transitioning to the independent circuit in 2024.
3.1. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
Bateman signed a contract with WWE on January 14, 2020, marking his official entry into professional wrestling. His time in WWE spanned several years, featuring distinct personas on both the main roster and the developmental WWE NXT brand.
3.1.1. Main roster (Reginald / Reggie)
On the December 11, 2020, episode of WWE SmackDown, Bateman made his debut under the ring name Reginald Thomas, which was quickly shortened to Reginald. He was introduced as the French sommelier for Carmella, assisting her during her feud with Sasha Banks. Reginald made his in-ring debut on the January 22, 2021, episode of SmackDown in an intergender match against Sasha Banks, which he lost. His association with Carmella concluded on March 5, 2021, when she fired him.
Following his separation from Carmella, Reginald briefly aligned with Sasha Banks. He then transitioned to managing the tag team of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler from March to July. However, Jax and Baszler turned on him on the July 19, 2021, episode of WWE Raw. Later that same night, Reginald achieved his first championship in WWE by pinning Akira Tozawa to win the WWE 24/7 Championship.
On the July 30, 2021, episode of SmackDown, his ring name was further shortened to Reggie. Concurrently, he dropped his French accent, revealing that his persona as a French sommelier was merely an act to gain entry into WWE. On September 25, 2021, Reggie became the longest-reigning 24/7 Champion in the title's history. His first reign, lasting 112 days, ended on the November 8, 2021, episode of Raw when he lost the title to Drake Maverick. However, in a series of rapid title changes that night, Reggie regained the championship from Maverick just a minute later. His second reign concluded on the November 22, 2021, episode of Raw, when he lost the title to Cedric Alexander after 12 days.
After losing the title, Reggie began assisting Dana Brooke in retaining her 24/7 Championship for several months. On Valentine's Day in 2022, he asked Brooke out, but she declined. In retaliation, he pinned Brooke to win the title for a third time. A week later, Reggie lost the title back to Brooke after intentionally laying down in the ring, despite having kicked out of two pin attempts. They subsequently began a storyline romance, with Reggie once again helping Brooke retain her title. On March 28, they became kayfabe engaged. Their wedding took place on the April 18 episode of Raw, during which Reggie pinned Brooke to win his fourth 24/7 title, only to lose it almost immediately to Tamina. His last appearance on the main roster was on May 2, when Brooke lost and then regained the 24/7 title, after which she requested a divorce from Reggie due to his attempt to pin her. Following this, he took a hiatus from WWE programming.
3.1.2. NXT (Scrypts)
In late October 2022, mysterious vignettes began airing on WWE NXT featuring a character known only as Scrypts. This enigmatic individual claimed to possess unparalleled skills and vowed to bring down the NXT brand. More vignettes were broadcast over the subsequent weeks, leading to Reggie's debut on the November 22, 2022, episode of NXT as the masked Scrypts, where he defeated Guru Raaj.
During his time in NXT, Scrypts engaged in feuds with competitors such as Ikemen Jiro and Axiom. His identity was finally revealed when Axiom unmasked him on the May 2, 2023, episode of NXT. After this revelation, Scrypts turned face and formed a tag team with Axiom. However, on the July 18, 2023, episode of NXT, Scrypts turned heel by betraying Axiom and forming a new stable called Out The Mud (O.T.M.) with Bronco Nima and Lucien Price. This alliance marked a return to a more aggressive, gangster-like persona. It was announced on May 1, 2024, that Bateman's WWE contract was set to expire on June 1, 2024.
3.2. Independent circuit (2024-present)
Following his departure from WWE, Sidney Iking Bateman began performing on the independent circuit. On May 21, 2024, it was announced that he would make his debut for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) on June 15, under his new ring name, Sidney Akeem.
4. Personal life
Sidney Iking Bateman is a father of two children. His personal background includes extensive experience in circus performing, having trained at Circus Harmony for seven years and in Montreal for another three years, ultimately leading to his prominent role with Cirque du Soleil.
5. Championships and accomplishments
| Accomplishment | Times | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro Wrestling Illustrated | No. 490 in the PWI 500 in 2022 | ||
| No. 406 in the PWI 500 in 2024 | |||
| WWE | WWE 24/7 Championship | 4 times |
6. Entrance themes
Sidney Iking Bateman has used several entrance themes throughout his professional wrestling career, including:
- About That Time (currently used)
- Encore
- Le Vin Vin
7. Assessment
Sidney Iking Bateman's professional wrestling career is notable for his unique athletic abilities, innovative character portrayals, and contributions to entertaining storylines within WWE and now on the independent circuit.
7.1. Positive aspects and contributions
Bateman's background as an acrobat and circus performer gave him a distinctive in-ring style, characterized by agility, balance, and impressive aerial maneuvers. This athleticism allowed him to stand out, particularly during his time as the 24/7 Champion, where his evasive skills became a central part of his character. His various gimmicks, from the French sommelier Reginald to the mysterious Scrypts and the later gangster-themed O.T.M., demonstrated his versatility and willingness to adapt, contributing to diverse and often humorous storylines, especially during his record-setting 24/7 Championship reigns.
7.2. Critiques and controversies
Based on the available information, no significant public critiques or controversies regarding Sidney Iking Bateman's in-ring performance, character portrayals, or other public activities have been noted. His career has primarily focused on his athletic contributions and character development within the confines of professional wrestling storylines.