Chris Masters
| Chris Mordetsky | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 8 1983 Santa Monica, California |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Chris Mordetsky, Chris Masters |
| Billed height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Billed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Billed from | Los Angeles, California |
| Trained by | OVW Wrestling School UPW Ultimate University |
| Debut | 2002 |
Christopher William ("Chris") Mordetsky (born January 8, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters who performs for World Wrestling Entertainment on its RAW brand. He used to be juiced.
Career
Mordetsky competed in amateur bodybuilding in California and began his wrestling training in Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), where John Cena and others were discovered by WWE talent scouts, before being given a development contract to train in WWE's farm territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).
When Mordetsky was finally called up to the main roster, WWE showed promo style introductory videos outlining him as The Masterpiece — touting him as having a body so perfect, it would appear he was sculpted out of stone.
2005
"The Masterpiece" Chris Masters (as he was now known) made his RAW debut as a heel in a match against Steven Richards on February 21, 2005. During the match, Masters broke Richards' nose and orbital bone after striking him with a move known as the "Polish Hammer", which was actually supposed to hit Richards in the chest. Richards was out of action after having facial reconstructive surgery, but returned to end the feud with Masters, losing a second time.
Masters' next RAW appearance saw him claim that his Master Lock hold is unbreakable, and he even went as far as to start the "Master Lock Challenge" putting up $1,000 of his own money for any person who could break out of the hold. Originally, he called out plants from the crowd, even a woman, whom he stated, "put the 'man' in Manchester." For weeks all challengers failed. He began to call out WWE superstars, mostly undercard wrestlers. He attacked Val Venis from behind before locking in The Master Lock. On one occasion, Sgt. Slaughter challenged Chris Masters to try to break his cobra clutch, which Masters did by utilizing a low blow. Masters increased the offered reward each week up to $20,000 and sometimes threw in a bonus. For example, on the May 16, 2005 edition of RAW while in Omaha, he offered $6,000 and a one-way ticket to anywhere in the US claiming "Anywhere is better than Omaha, Nebraska."
On July 18, 2005, after defeating 400-pounder Rosey in the Master Lock Challenge, Masters stated "it doesn't matter how big they are!", this saw The Big Show come to the ring and ask to take the challenge, but Masters refused and left the ring. A feud between the two was hinted at for a couple of weeks but never came to fruition.
After interrupting a promo by WWE icon Shawn Michaels, Masters started a feud with him. In a tag team with Carlito against Michaels and Ric Flair, Masters gained a big submission victory by using the Master Lock on a bloodied Ric Flair, who had been attacked by Carlito earlier in the evening.
On the September 5, 2005, edition of RAW, Shawn Michaels became the longest-lasting competitor to take The Master Lock Challenge. Despite Michaels's best efforts, Masters still won the challenge after releasing the hold, hitting Michaels with a chair and re-applying the maneuver. At Unforgiven Masters had his first televised defeat, losing to Michaels in a singles match.
On October 21, 2005, Chris Masters invaded WWE Friday Night SmackDown! with Edge. The pair attacked Rey Mysterio. This invasion earned both men a match at Taboo Tuesday where Masters and Edge's replacement Gene Snitsky would team up in a loss against Rey Mysterio and Matt Hardy.
Chris Masters had his first WWE Championship match on the November 28, 2005 edition of RAW. It was a Triple Threat Submission Match with Kurt Angle vs. John Cena. Masters was struck with a chairshot from Cena, who ultimately retained the title, forcing Masters to tap out to Cena's STF-U.
Masters portrayed the role of a bailiff during the mock trial for then General Manager Eric Bischoff on the December 5, 2005 edition of RAW, with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as judge. Upon being called to the stand to testify for Bischoff's defense, he was asked to give his name, which he did saying his name was Chris Masters. He was immediately accused of perjury and disqualified as a witness, as McMahon surprisingly broke kayfabe and stated that Masters' real name was Chris Mordetsky.
On December 12, 2005, Chris Masters defeated Viscera on an episode of RAW to gain a spot in the Elimination Chamber match for John Cena's WWE Title at New Year's Revolution. Viscera was pushed as being too big to lock on The Master Lock until being grounded. This would be Masters' first Elimination Chamber match. On the December 26, 2005 edition of RAW, Chris Masters faced Chavo Guerrero, in a Beat The Clock Match to determine who would be the final entry into the Elimination Chamber. Masters had to defeat Chavo in 5 minutes and 56 seconds, which was the time set by Shawn Michaels (when he defeated Snitsky in the opening match of the show.) Chavo Guerrero managed to survive The Master Lock until the clock ran down, meaning Masters was unable to beat the clock.
2006
On January 8, 2006 at New Year's Revolution, Masters lost the Elimination Chamber match when Carlito double-crossed him by delivering a low blow while he had Cena in The Master Lock then rolling him up for a pin. On January 9, 2006, after some heated words with Carlito, both men had a tag match against two men who were also having difficulties, Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels. During the match, Michaels walked backstage, leaving Angle to fend for himself. Masters saw the opportunity and applied The Master Lock to Angle, thus gaining the victory. On January 16, 2006 Masters challenged John Cena to take part in a Master Lock Challenge. Cena accepted the challenge and displayed signs that he might in fact break out of the hold, until Edge attacked Cena with his title belt and ended the challenge.
At the Royal Rumble on January 29, 2006, Masters again worked together with Carlito, but Carlito again double-crossed him and eliminated him from the match. On the February 6, 2006 edition of RAW both men were entered into an eight-man tournament, known as the Road to WrestleMania Tournament, to determine the number one contender for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 22. In Master's first round match up Masters would use the ropes to aid him in a victory against Kane, and secure himself a second round match up against a winner of a later match between Carlito and Rob Van Dam; RVD would win this match. The next week on RAW, RVD was able to beat Masters and advance to the tournament final.
After this Masters continued to feud with one half of the World Tag Team Champions, Kane while Masters on/off team mate Carlito would feud with Big Show. On the March 6, 2006 edition of RAW it was announced that Masters and Carlito would get a tag team title match at WrestleMania 22. At WrestleMania 22, the pair lost the match. Carlito and Masters argued amongst themselves after the match.
During the next RAW Masters and Carlito began to feud with Carlito first attacking Masters from behind, seemingly blaming him for their loss the night before. This led to a match between the two men during Backlash 2006 which Carlito won.
After this Masters entered the hunt for the WWE Intercontinental Championship but Masters would soon be suspended by the WWE when he was tested positive for drugs, rumored to be anabolic steroids and/or painkillers. Before being suspended, Masters was on the May 22, 2006 edition of RAW losing a match to John Cena by submission to the STF-U and would return to the ring during an OVW TV taping on August 6, 2006. He had lost most of his muscle mass, appearing much slimmer, although still having some definition in his arms and abdomen. [1]
On the August 28, 2006 edition of RAW, Chris Masters made his return against John Cena with "The Masterpiece" gimmick still intact. Along with less muscle mass, he sported a goatee and moustache to which Jerry "The King" Lawler referred to him as a "leaner and meaner" Chris Masters.
Through September 2006, Masters would seem to be put down to low card matches having a short feud with the debuting Super Crazy; Masters came out on the losing end of the matches between the two. The pair would also compete, along with four other Superstars, in a Six-Pack Challenge Match for the Intercontinental Championship in which neither Masters or Crazy were able to win.
Criticisms
While the Masterpiece/Masterlock gimmick was initially high with the fans, Masters has lost a lot of popularity since, and has long been criticized for his continuously mediocre performances on the Raw Brand. Apart from his perpetual, yet ultimately, unsuccessful pursuits of the Intercontinental Championship (and occassionally the #1 contendership for the World Title), the Masterpiece has also been seen having barely any true feuds with WWE superstars. Smarks have sometimes branded him as being a "Filler" in matches, only being utilized when a 3rd party is needed, such as in Tag Team Matches etc. In all of which, Masters has surfaced defeated.
When the WWE plans to give Chris Masters a boost to the top of the card, is still a big question.
The famous MasterLock has also received a lot of criticism. Technically one has not "broken" from the lock if it has not yet been "Fully" applied by Masters. As a tactic in matches, most superstars are seen merely escaping the lock before it is in full effect. This is done so often that though no one has technically "Broken" free from the lock, it has become an almost virtually useless finishing manuever as it is barely ever successful.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature moves
- Nicknames
- "The Living, Breathing Statue"
- "The Matrix"
- "Superfreak"
- "Roman General"
- "Work of Art"
- "The Masterpiece"
- Previous managers
Championships and accomplishments
Personal information
Mordetsky has stated that his two role models growing up were Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair; both men the Chris Masters' character would feud with while in WWE.
Has a small tattoo on the inside of his right forearm.
Despite popular internet belief, Chris Masters has never dated Beth Phoenix, they worked together in OVW as (kayfabe) boyfriend & girlfriend. Mordetsky has been pictured with his real life girlfriend at the premiere of Kane's new movie, See No Evil.