SEScoops

Tag: Biff Busick

  • Ex-WWE Superstar Unsure if He Will Ever Wrestle Again

    Ex-WWE Superstar Unsure if He Will Ever Wrestle Again

    Fans of former WWE Superstar Biff Busick may have seen him in the ring as a professional wrestler for the last time.

    Busick signed with WWE in September 2015 and was given the name Oney Lorcan.

    Lorcan’s one title reign in WWE came as one-half of the NXT Tag Team Champions (with Danny Burch) and he was granted his requested release on November 4, 2021.

    Already Retired

    After being released, Busick was brought back to WWE in October 2022 as a coach at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

    On Twitter, Busick reflected on 2022, saying he chose to step away from performing and spoke about the possibility that he has had his final match as a wrestler.

    If that is the case, the former NXT Tag Team Champion thanked everyone who he has shared the ring with and thanked the fans for supporting him.

    https://twitter.com/_starDESTROYER/status/1609330228081328128

    Biff’s tweet got responses of support from several names in the industry, including Flash Morgan Webster, AEW’s Brody King, Andrew Everett, and Colin Delaney.

    Busick Outside of WWE

    Biff Busick may be back with WWE, but he has enjoyed a prosperous career outside of the McMahon-owned promotion.

    In 2012, Busick would debut for Combat Zone Wrestling and is a former CZW World Heavyweight Champion.

    Busick would debut for Evolve the following year, before making his name in Pro Wrestling Guerilla in 2015.

    Titles Busick has held include the River City Wrestling Championship, the Top Rope Promotions Heavyweight Championship, as well as the TRP Interstate Championship.

    Oney Lorcan Reveals Vince McMahon Once Banned Him From WWE
  • Biff Busick Makes NXT In-Ring Debut, Konnor Of The Ascension Returns

    Biff Busick Makes NXT In-Ring Debut, Konnor Of The Ascension Returns

    – Chris Gigard, better known as “Biff Busick” on the independent scene, made his NXT in-ring debut at the NXT live event in Citrus Springs, Florida on Saturday evening. He lost in a singles match to fellow NXT and indie standout Rich Swann.

    – Also this weekend, Konnor of The Ascension returned to in-ring action at the WWE live event in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday night. Konnor had previously been on the sidelines for a week or two with what was believed to be a jaw injury of some kind. The Ascension wound up losing to the team of Goldust and Fandango in what was their first match back as a team on a main roster event since Konnor took time off to heal up. Konnor’s first match back in general was a tag-team match that saw The Ascension lost to NXT Tag-Team Champions Dash and Dawson at the NXT television tapings this past Thursday night.

  • Biff Busick Coming For Finn Balor, Ziggler Teams With Ryder

    – NXT newcomer Biff Busick is already taunting NXT Champion Finn Balor, letting the Demon know he’s coming for him.

    https://twitter.com/_StarDESTROYER/status/681275375448666114

    – Longtime friends Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler teamed together over the weekend when Ryder’s Hype Bros partner Mojo Rawley did not attend the WWE live event from Chicago:

  • Photos: Rich Swann, Biff Busick Formally Introduced At NXT Live Event In Jacksonville

    As noted, former top independent wrestling stars Rich Swann and Biff Busick made their official NXT live event debut in a “Halloween Costume Battle Royal” last weekend. At last night’s NXT live event in Jacksonville, Florida, Swann and Busick were formally introduced to the NXT fans in attendance.

    Below are a number of photos of Swann and Busick at the NXT live event on Friday evening.

    https://instagram.com/p/9xfUHtoXlz/

    https://instagram.com/p/9xWHqdIXqq/

    https://instagram.com/p/9xf47AIXme/

  • Finn Balor Dresses As CM Punk For Halloween, Busick & Swann Debut In NXT

    Biff Busick and Rich Swann made their NXT live event debuts in Gainesville, Florida in a Halloween costume battle royal. NXT Women’s Champion Bayley, who was dressed up as a Lego, ended up winning the battle royal.

    It’s worth mentioning that NXT Champion Finn Balor appeared to be dressed up as CM Punk, with a Dolph Ziggler hoodie on, while Aiden English dressed up as current WWE Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens.

    Below are some photos from the event.

    https://twitter.com/snkxwwe/status/660243852327067648

    https://twitter.com/swampneko/status/660258953906008064

    https://twitter.com/ilyassking1/status/660271399089643520

    https://twitter.com/snkxwwe/status/660240415875010560

    https://twitter.com/snkxwwe/status/660240917224361984

    https://twitter.com/snkxwwe/status/660242227382325248

    https://twitter.com/snkxwwe/status/660243011666878466

    https://twitter.com/WWEDrakeWuertz/status/660236121734008832

  • Biff Busick Talks About His Path To Signing With WWE

    Recent WWE signee Biff Busick spoke to WWE.com this week about his transition from the independent scene to the Performance Center and NXT. Here’s what Busick said about:

    When he realized WWE was interested in him:

    “It’s funny — I had quite a long history with WWE. About three months into my training was the first time I was booked as an extra [in WWE], and I had no idea about anything. I had a couple more runs with WWE, every couple months when they were in town. The one time I lucked out, about nine months into my training, I was chosen to wrestle The Great Khali on SmackDown, and I had no business being in the ring with Khali whatsoever. It was about an 11-second match – which I lost, unfortunately – but it was just a surreal experience. After that moment, I realized I had to get out there and get more experience to be ready for the next time WWE called upon me.

    From there, I traveled the country to learn from as many people as possible. I went to Lance Storm’s school in Calgary, which was an unbelievable experience. That was three months in the ring with him pretty much every day. Then I moved down to Texas, and I trained with Sho Funaki, who is another guy that has a wealth of knowledge. Training with those two guys really gave me the confidence and experience I needed to do much better. I think WWE started to catch on with me working more high-profile matches in more high-profile promotions, and it just took off from there.”

    His WWE tryout earlier this year:

    “I did a tryout in the first week of June. I was booked as an extra. I was able to have at tryout match at one of the live events. I’ll never forget: I was in California for PWG and I got a call from WWE before the show offering me a deal. It was surreal. I can’t put it into words. It’s something you work your whole life for and then it finally happened. I can’t do it justice by telling you how it felt.”

    Check out the full interview at WWE.com.

  • WWN Statement Regarding Rich Swann & Biff Busick Signing With WWE

    Earlier this week, WWE announced that 19 new talents will begin training at the Performance Center soon. The list included Tough Enough competitors, independent wrestlers and other athletes. Two of those indy stars now under WWE developmental contracts are Biff Busick and Rich Swann.

    Related: Videos of Biff Busick and Rich Swann In Action

    WWN issued the following statement to their newsletter subscribers about Busick and Swann signing with WWE:

    Our biggest congratulations to Biff Busick for signing a WWE contract and reporting to NXT. Busick was an integral part in the relaunch of EVOLVE in August of 2014. His hard-hitting, technical style defined EVOLVE’s identity. His rivalry against Timothy Thatcher and Drew Gulak popularized the new EVOLVE style. Thank you for all your contributions, Biff. You know we’ll be watching you climb in the ranks in the WWE universe.

    We offer a very deep and heartfelt congratulations to Rich Swann for signing a WWE contract and reporting to NXT. Rich has been an important and groundbreaking part of WWN since 2009. He paved the way for American stars in Dragon Gate USA as part of Ronin. He was a crossover star in both Dragon Gate in Japan and DGUSA. He is a former FIP Champion and half of the last DGUSA Open The United Gate Champions. Swann got his first match by impressing in a DGUSA Seminar/Tryout. We watched him climb the ranks and grow in the business. WWN would not be what it is today without the contributions of Rich Swann. Thank you.

  • Update On WWE Signing Top Independent Wrestler Rich Swann

    It was reported that independent wrestling stars Biff Busick and Rich Swann were going to be signing with WWE, pending the results of their physicals, only for it to be reported later that both Busick and Swann had already signed with WWE. In a bit of an update that further confirms the fact that at least Swann has already signed with WWE, U.K.-based Revolution Pro announced that Swann is off of their upcoming shows due to WWE-related commitments. Revolution Pro stated the following:

    “Unfortunately due to commitments with WWE Rich Swann has had to pull out of his advertised appearances in two weeks time at Broxbourne Civic Hall & Southampton Guildhall respectively. We wish Rich Swann all the best and thank him for some of the most memorable moments in RevPro over the past few years.”

  • Backstage Update On WWE Signing Multiple Top Independent Wrestlers

    While there was talk recently that Biff Busick and Rich Swann were waiting to pass physicals before signing with WWE, however that is apparently not the case as it is being reported that the two have signed with WWE and are expected to start with the promotion in October.

    In addition to Busick and Swann, four-to-six additional talents are expected to start at the WWE Performance Center in the next month or two.

    WWE is also looking for Latino referees. New Jersey independent talent Bandido Jr. has either signed with WWE already or is very close to doing so. He will be working with WWE as a referee.

    Other independent stars expected to start with WWE soon are Johnny Gargano, Drew Gulak and Chuck Taylor. It’s possible that Tommaso Ciampa, who teamed with Gargano at a recent NXT taping, could be part of the group as well.

  • Report: Rich Swann & Biff Busick Sign With WWE Pending Medical Physicals

    Independent wrestlers Rich Swann and Biff Busick have been signed to with WWE, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Both men must now pass WWE’s medical physicals, as is customary with all new talent joining the company.

    Both men have competed for EVOLVE, one of the promotions under the WWN banner. WWN officials met with WWE officials at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn and the two companies have been rumored to be working together over the past several months.

    Swann (24) has been wrestling since 2009 and started with CZW before moving to EVOLVE and Dragon Gate USA later on. He’s a former Open the Owarai Gate Champion, Open the Triangle Gate Champion and Open the United Gate Champion.

    Busick (29) also started with CZW back in 2012 and is a former CZW Heavyweight Champion. He’s wrestled EVOLVE and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), among others. He was trained by former WWE and WCW star Lance Storm. He received a WWE tryout earlier this year.

  • Update On Big Show’s WWE Return, WWE Tryout Camp, Recent WWE & NXT Attendance

    – It was previously reported that Big Show was scheduled to return to WWE television this week, however that obviously didn’t happen. As things stand right now, Big Show is still scheduled to return imminently, but if he’s not back by the May 31st Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, his return might be pushed back.

    – In addition to former MMA fighter Matthew Riddle and Biff Busick, independent wrestlers Drew Gulak and Chuck Taylor are also scheduled to take part in the WWE tryout camp at the WWE Performance Center in June.

    – Below are some recent WWE attendance figures:

    May 14th in Philadelphia for NXT drew around 2,000 fans
    May 15th in Philadelphia for NXT drew around 1,500
    May 16th in Albany for NXT drew 2,200 fans
    May 18th in Richmond for RAW drew 6,300 fans

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Top Indy Wrestler For WWE Tryouts Revealed, WWE Parts Ways With German Announcer, More

    – Top independent wrestling star Biff Busick, who is a former CZW World Heavyweight Champion, is one of the independent wrestlers scheduled to attend the WWE tryouts at the WWE Performance Center in June.

    – Longtime German WWE announcer Bernhard Wullf has parted ways with the company. Wullf has been replaced by Manu Thiele, a new, 22-year-old German announcer.

    – Below are some recent WWE attendance figures:

    May 8th in Broomfield, CO drew 2,900 fans (missing John Cena and Daniel Bryan)
    May 8th in Largo, FL for NXT drew a sellout of 275 fans
    May 8th in Louisville drew 7,500 fans (John Cena tour missing Daniel Bryan)
    May 9th in Orlando for NXT drew a sellout of 400 fans
    May 9th in Charleston, WV drew 6,500 fans (Roman Reigns, Randy Orton tour)
    May 10th in Lexington, KY drew 2,500 fans (John Cena tour missing Daniel Bryan)
    May 10th in Wheeling, WV drew 2,200 fans (Roman Reigns, Randy Orton tour)
    May 11th in Cincinnati for RAW drew 9,000 fans

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • WWE Makes New Rule Regarding Personal Relationships, WWE Tryout Notes

    – 20 men and 20 women tried out for WWE during the past week. Biff Busick was the biggest name on the list of those who were trying out.

    – WWE has made a new rule that talent and office people and talent and production people are not allowed to date each other. They do not want talent and staff interaction past a professional level.

    (Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

  • Update On WWE Changing Talent Contracts, Indy Star Getting WWE Tryout

    – As noted earlier, WWE is taking steps to modify their talent contracts in response to the unceremonious departures of CM Punk and Alberto Del Rio. A new stipulation is that talent that is fired for disciplinary reasons will forfeit all merchandise rights and will have a 1-year no-compete clause that prevents them from working for pro wrestling or MMA promotions.

    – According to WWE insider ‘MetsFan4Ever,’ indy wrestler Biff Busick will be receiving a WWE tryout in Orlando next week. He has wrestled for Combat Zone Wrestling, Top Rope Promotions and Chaotic Wrestling.

    Gabe Sapolsky is said to be furious at the possibility of losing Busic. Sapolsky has typically been very supportive when his talent has signed with WWE.