William A. Moody

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William Alvin "Bill" Moody (born April 10, 1954 in Mobile , Alabama ; † March 5, 2013 ibid) was an American wrestler and wrestling manager. He was best known under the pseudonym Paul Bearer as the manager of the Undertaker . The name Paul Bearer is a corruption of the English word pallbearer , which denotes a pallbearer at funerals.

Prior to his wrestling career , Moody worked at a funeral home . This fact should be taken up in later career in the wrestling business.

Career

Started in the National Wrestling Alliance and independent scene

After graduating from high school , Moody served four years in the United States Air Force .

Moody made his debut with Central States Wrestling , an affiliate of the National Wrestling Alliance , in June 1974 as “Mr. X ". He then appeared under other names at Independent Promotions . Moody soon realized that his true qualities were less in the ring as an active wrestler and more outside the ring. After only three years he ended his wrestling career and appeared on April 10, 1978 for the first time as a manager. Moody mostly appeared as Percy Pringle III . This name was also used later by him.

In 1979 he left the wrestling business.

However, he returned in 1984 as Percy Pringle III . Moody appeared in some leagues (e.g. Championship Wrestling From Florida , World Class Championship Wrestling or the United States Wrestling Association ). Moody has acted as the manager of Rick Rude , Lex Luger and Dingo , among others .

World Wrestling Federation and NWA Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

William A. Moody in the typical "Paul Bearer" gimmick (1996)

On December 22, 1990, Moody joined what was then the World Wrestling Federation . This is where the gimmick Paul Bearer was created. He has mainly acted as the manager of Kane , Vader , Mankind and The Undertaker .

On October 14, 2002, Moody left the WWF and struggled with health problems, during which he came to almost 240 kg body weight. In the meantime he appeared briefly on NWA Total Nonstop Action .

World Wrestling Entertainment and renewed involvement in the independent scene

On October 3, 2003, Moody returned to the WWE as manager of some feuds after gastric bypass surgery . On June 27, 2004 at the Great American Bash, Moody was again written by storyline from the WWE program. Moody then worked as a consultant for the WWE.

He was also the owner and president of Gulf South Wrestling from 2005 until its closure in 2007. He was also a funeral director in Mobile .

While recording WWE Friday Night SmackDown! on September 21, 2010 (US Aired: September 24), Moody returned to a WWE show after over six years. He was briefly involved in feud programs between Kane and The Undertaker. At first he was on the Undertaker's side, but in the course of the feud he switched to Kane. After that he was involved in the feud of Kane against Edge before he left the WWE again.

Since the beginning of 2011, Moody appeared again as manager Percy Pringle III . He was Shaun Rickers' ring companion at NWA Hollywood.

In May 2011, it was announced that he had signed a five-year legend contract with WWE. This allowed Moody to appear in his gimmick on shows and leagues that were not broadcast on TV or that did not belong to the WWE universe.

Induction into the Hall of Fame (2014)

On April 5, 2014, Moody, who was represented by his sons, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame . The laudation was given by his former “protégé” Glenn Jacobs alias Kane .

Private life

Moody was married and has two sons. His wife died on January 31, 2009. He lived in a common household in Mobile with his youngest son .

On March 5, 2013, William A. Moody died of a heart attack from heart failure at the age of 58 .

Web links

Commons : Paul Bearer  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Paul Bearer passes away , accessed on March 6, 2013 from wwe.com
  2. ↑ Report on Moody's commitment ( Memento of December 20, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) on nwahollywood.com, accessed on October 24, 2011
  3. ^ Report on the cause of death of Moody ( Memento from March 11, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) on clothesline.eu, accessed on September 1, 2013
personal data
SURNAME Moody, William A.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Moody, William Alvin (full name); Moody, Bill (nickname); Bearer, Paul
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH April 10, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Mobile , Alabama
DATE OF DEATH March 5, 2013
Place of death Mobile , Alabama