Jorge Castano
Jorge Castaño (born September 28, 1981) is a Colombian professional wrestler who works for many promotions in the United Kingdom. He is the most recent claimant to date of the British Middleweight title. He is also a former UKPW World Champion.
Jorge Castano | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jorge Castaño |
Born | Cali, Colombia | September 28, 1981
Residence | Greater London |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Jorge Castano George Castano Giorgio Castano |
Billed height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Billed weight | 198 lb (90 kg; 14.1 st) |
Billed from | Cali, Colombia |
Trained by | NWA UK Hammerlock staff |
Debut | 1997 |
Early life
Jorge Castaño was born in the Cali, Colombia and gained an interest in wrestling at a very early age. Once Jorge reached ten years of age, he and his family moved to the United Kingdom. By the age of thirteen, Castaño was involved in amateur Olympic-style wrestling. In order to train, Castaño had to take part in strenuous training exercises, including running and weightlifting. Upon completion of training, Castano would later win numerous trophies of amateur wrestling, including the 1995 Amateur British Championship in the 65 kg category.
Castaño was soon offered an amateur wrestling scholarship in the U.S. but unfortunately he was under sixteen years of age, which meant by law he could not accept it. Instead, Castaño remained in the UK and took up professional wrestling in 1996. His training took place at NWA UK Hammerlock, the UK affiliated branch of the National Wrestling Alliance. In 1997, Jorge made his professional wrestling debut in Kent, England as part of a tag team contest.
Career
Only one year later, Castaño left NWA UK Hammerlock and began wrestling in numerous UK wrestling promotions, including The Wrestling Alliance, All Star Wrestling, the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, the World Association of Wrestling, Rumble Promotions and many others while steadily improving his in-ring abilities as well.
In 1999, Castano appeared in the Ultimate Wrestling Alliance for three matches at the Pain at the Pleasure Beach television tapings for the cable channel L!VE TV, giving him experience in front of a televised audience. While working with the UWA, Castano soon began training his younger brother Alex, who made his debut shortly afterwards. On September 9, in FWA Reckless Abandon He faced Mark Sloan for the FWA British Heavyweight Championship but was defeated by disqualification.[1]
On March 23, 2000, Castano was part of the FWA British Tag Team Championships Tournament Final Match with Scottie Rock as his tag team partner, in a failed attempt against The New Breed (Ashe & Curve).[2] On August 5, Castano participated for the vacant FWA British Heavyweight Championship Tournament, where Justin Richards were crowned as new champion.[3]
In 2001, the two formed a tag team known as The Colombian Connection, later changed to La Familia. They won the FWA Tag Team Championships from The New Breed at an event in Portsmouth, Hampshire on June 19. They would hold the titles for over two and half months before losing the titles back to The New Breed on September 1 in Harrow, Middlesex.
After the title loss, Castano made his debut for Revolution British Wrestling in September 2002 and began focusing on his singles career after first defeating his brother Alex in Nottingham in what was Alex's final professional match. Castaño soon became a trainer as well as a full-time wrestler for RBW. Castano soon went on to defeat Johnny Kidd for the RBW British Middleweight Championship on May 22, 2004 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Castaño retained the title until the promotion's closure in late 2005.
Castano would continue to compete in various independent promotions, including 1 Pro Wrestling, before returning to the Frontier Wrestling Alliance. He also helped the promotion in its "Civil War" against the IPW:UK.
On October 22, 2006, in IPW:UK Extreme Measures 3, Castano was part of the Extreme Measures Tournament Final No Rules Four Way Dance, alongside with Leroy Kincaid, Aviv Maayan and Pac, which was finally won by Leroy Kincaid.
On December 2, 2014, Castano took part in Athletic Club Wrestling promotion, based in Germany, on ACW Universe Brawl, where participated in a tournament for the ACW German Championship. In semifinals, he defeated Dean Jazzman thanks to the interference of Steve Morocco. Later, in finale match, he defeated "The Prodigy" Denko, in this case by the interference of Boombastic, becoming the ACW German Champion. Immediately, BAM's music sounded and then cashed his title ticket for the ACW German Championship and then he defeated Castano and snatching the title.[4]
On November 21, 2015, Castano competed for United Kingdom Pro Wrestling promotion, on UKPW Showcase, which took place at Medway Park, Gillingham, Kent, where he defeated James Mason to win the UKPW World Championship for the first time.
Outside of wrestling
Castaño has a drama school background, and looks to do more acting in the future. Castaño is also a qualified gym instructor and lifeguard.
Championships and accomplishments
Amateur wrestling
- 65 kg Amateur British Champion (1995)
Professional wrestling
- FWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)[5] - with Alex Castano
- Revolution British Wrestling
- RBW British Middleweight Championship (1 time)[6]
- Athletic Club Wrestling
- ACW German Championship (1 time)[7]
- United Kingdom Pro Wrestling
- UKPW World Championship (1 time)[8]
Notes
- Kreikenbohm, Philip. "FWA Reckless Abandon « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip. "FWA British Tag Team Title Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip. "FWA British Heavyweight Title Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- "WF on Tour: ACW Universe Brawl (12.04.2014 , Weinheim)". wrestlingfever.de. 15 April 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- "X Wrestling Alliance Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- "Revolution British Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved 2008-07-11.
- Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Title Reigns « ACW German Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- "United Kingdom Pro Wrestling". hashtagwrest.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-11-22.