Burke

[Burke]

Wrestler's Name: Burke

Gimmick: Technical savant, obsessed with the breaking of his opponents arms. Pseudo-intellectual and self-proclaimed renaissance man.

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 230lbs.

Born: Dublin, Ireland, Republic Of

Billed From: His Many Homes Around The World

Alignment: Heel

Personality: Burke gives the outward appearance of a man who believes himself to be vastly more intelligent than other wrestlers, though in reality, he is also massively insecure and sees himself in an extremely negative light. Burke is driven by the adrenaline rush he gets from breaking his opponent’s arms, although once said rush wears off, he is usually overcome with remorse for causing serious injury.

Appearance: Medium build, neither stocky nor incredibly muscular. Unkempt, messy facial hair, and long, brown hair.

Ring Attire: Classic short trunks, black, trimmed with green, the name “Burke” on the seat, again in green. A green and black guard around his right arm, extending from the elbow to the wrist. Wrist tape on his left arm. Burke’s ring finger on his left hand is also taped around the knuckle.

Entrance Attire: Same as ring attire, covered by a long, flowing dark green robe.

Entrance Theme: “The Ecstasy of Gold” - Ennio Morricone

Entrance: The Ecstasy of Gold begins to play over the PA system, slowly building up to a crescendo, Burke calmly steps out from behind the curtain. Resting at the top of the ramp, Burke surveys the crowd momentarily, inviting jeers, before marching confidently down the ramp, towards the ring, stopping to exchange words with fans along the way, while the music continues to build, getting louder and louder. Reaching the ring, Burke climbs up the steps, pauses on the apron to turn to the crowd once more, before wiping his feet and stepping through the ropes, upon which he walks to the center of the ring, to pose.

Style: Technical/Submissions

Match Strategy: In the ring, Burke’s strategy is as simple as it gets - to break his opponent’s arm. As such, Burke’s offence almost entirely revolves around moves designed to weaken the arm, in order to set up his standing armbar, the Dulce et Decorum. Burke is ruthless in his understanding that the key to victory is to ensure that his opponent has no time to rest their arm. Burke does not attempt any high-risk moves whatsoever. He will prioritise breaking the arm of his opponent over winning the match, and, should he succeed in fracturing the arm, appears to enter a zen-like state. Burke will rarely attempt a pinfall, and rarely deviate from his strategy, although if cornered he will employ his judo background to take opponent’s down with hiptosses and throws, which will usually transition back to arm-based submissions.

Moves:
Japanese Armdrag
Armbar
Shoulderlock
Stepover Armlock
Arm Breaker
Armbar
Arm Whip
Arm Wrench
Lady of the Lake
Arm Wringer
Over The Shoulder Armdrag
Various Judo Hiptosses
Armbar
Short Arm Scissors
Chickenwing
Arm Hook Sleeper
Keylock
Hammerlock Scoop Slam
Armbar
Cross Armbar
Flying Armbar
Crucifix Armbar
Hammerlock
Scissored Armbar
Armbar
Eye Gouge

Trademark/Set-Up Move: Vitualamen (Shoulderbreaker)

Finisher: Dulce et Decorum (Standing Armbar)

Strengths: Exceptionally talented submissions wrestler, especially when working over the arm of his opponents. Years of experience in the ring and a high intellect offer him a cerebral advantage, especially against younger wrestlers. Always knows where in the ring he is. Is acutely aware of how to exploit any advantage presented to him.

Weaknesses: Overly reliant on a one-dimensional game plan focused around his opponents arm; refuses to employ other moves unless absolutely desperate, and when doing so, will almost always resort to some form of hiptoss or judo throw, though he will gouge at his opponent’s eyes if absolutely necessary. Offers little in terms of being a striker or brawler. Will refuse to engage with, and attempts to run from opponents when weapons are brought into play. Completely loses the run of himself if put in an embarrassing situation. Despite his intelligence, he possesses an easily exploitable psyche, due to his resentment of his background as a comedy and hardcore wrestler. Despite extensive tag team experience, his game plan can make him difficult to team with.

Favoured Gimmick Matches: Submissions Match, Catch-As-Catch-Can Match

Unfavoured Gimmick Matches: Hardcore, First Blood, Cage Matches

Bio: Dublin born Burke began wrestling part-time at the age of 19, having trained while studying Classics at Newcastle University in England. Moving to Canada following the completion of his degree to pursue his wrestling career, Burke was employed primarily as a tag team comedy wrestler. However, following a career ending injury to partner Damien Riggs, Burke signed with Mexico City based PSP, transitioning to wrestling under a variety of names as a practitioner of garbage and hardcore wrestling, while practising judo in his spare time, though it rarely showed in his matches, apart from a run in the short-lived Japanese promotion HUSTLEPro.

In 2008, Burke left the wrestling business to take up mixed martial arts, also in Japan. While in Japan, Burke amassed a 3-0 record for the small and relatively unknown IGNITE federation, with all three fights being decided by armbar, each ending in Burke breaking the arm of his opponent.

Burke briefly returned to professional wrestling in late 2010, capturing the FFP United States Heavyweight Championship, before the federation closed, leaving him as the first and only holder of the title. Burke retired following the closure of FFP, and over three years later returns to the ring.