Paul Neu

Paul Neu
Ring name(s)	American Avalanche[1] Avalanche[2] Cannonball Grizzly[2] Kanonenkugel Grizzly[1] Mighty Avalanche[1] Paul Neu[2] Paul the Grizzly[1] PN Neuz[1] PN News[2]
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[1]
Billed weight	403 lb (183 kg; 28.8 st)[1]
Born	(1966-07-09) July 9, 1966 (age 45)[1] Omaha, Nebraska[1]
Resides	Europe[2]
Billed from	Omaha, Nebraska
Trained by	Brad Rheingans[1]
Debut	January 3, 1987[1]

Paul Neu^[1][2] (born July 9, 1966) is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known under the ring name PN News and for his stints in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. He currently works on the European independent circuit as Cannonball Grizzly.

Professional wrestling career

Catch Wrestling Association and World Championship Wrestling (1989–1992)

After debuting in 1987, Neu traveled to Europe to compete for the Catch Wrestling Association under the ring name Cannonball Grizzly in 1989.^[3] After returning to the United States in 1991, Neu joined World Championship Wrestling. He made his debut for the promotion on the May 13 episode of World Championship Wrestling as PN News, a rapper gimmick, where he defeated Al Steele.^[4] While making his entrance, he would rap before his matches.

He soon began a brief feud against World Television Champion "Stunning" Steve Austin. At The Great American Bash, News and Bobby Eaton defeated Austin and his partner Terry Taylor in a scaffold match.^[3] On November 19, News lost to Austin in a title match at Clash of the Champions XVII.^[3]

After their feud, News was moved down the card and on January 21, 1992, he wrestled his final high profile match for the promotion, as he defeated Diamond Dallas Page at Clash of the Champions XVIII.^[3] Prior to leaving WCW, News botched his Broken Record finisher during a match against Dave Sheldon, where splashed Sheldon's knees instead of his torso, effectively ending Sheldon's career.^[5] News' final televised match for WCW would be on the May 9, 1992 edition of Power Hour, where and Johnny Rich lost to the United States Tag Team Champions Greg Valentine and Terry Taylor.

Return to the CWA (1992–1998)

After leaving WCW, Neu returned to the Catch Wrestling Association in late 1992 under his Cannonball Grizzly ring name and gimmick.^[6] On November 5, 1995, Grizzly and John Hawk defeated August Smisl and Ulf Herman to win the World Tag Team Championship for the first time.^[7] On December 16, Grizzly and Hawk lost the titles to Smisl and Tony St. Clair.^[7] After the loss, Grizzly began teaming with his cousin Bruiser Mastino, with their tag team being known as The Brotherhood.^[7] On July 7, 1996, Grizzly and new tag team partner Jesse James Armstrong won the World Tag Team Title before losing them to August Smisl and Ulf Herman on August 3.^[7] After the title was vacated, Grizzly and Wildcat Brookside won the title on December 21 after defeating Tony St. Clair and Mick Tierney in a tournament.^[8] They would hold the title until it was vacated in July 1997.^[8] On October 10, 1998, Grizzly would then face Brookside to determine who would claim the vacant Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, but he lost the match via countout.^[9] Neu left the promotion in late 1998.^[10]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999)

On September 17, 1999, Neu, under his PN News ring name and character, debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling. In a losing effort to Spike Dudley.^[11] News then joined Da Baldies, a heel faction composed of wrestlers who were all bald. At November to Remember, Da Baldies (News, Spanish Angel, Tony DeVito and Vito LoGrasso) defeated New Jack and The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney) in a handicap match.^[11] On November 19, News and LoGrasso lost to The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks in a Loser Leaves Town match, ending Neu's stint in ECW.^[11]

Return to the European independent circuit (2000–present)

On November 17, 2000, Neu, as Cannonball Grizzly, returned to wrestling and defeated "Big" Tiger Steele in a tournament final to become the European Wrestling Promotion's inaugural Iron Man Champion.^[12] On September 23, 2001, Grizzly lost the Iron Man Title to Robbie Brookside.^[12] On November 27, he won the EWP World Heavyweight Championship after defeating Bam Bam Bigelow.^[11] On November 26, 2003, Grizzly lost the World Heavyweight Title to Thunder.^[13] On December 17, 2011, Grizzly defeated Thunder to reclaim the World Heavyweight Title.^[14]

Personal life

Neu was married to a woman named Connie.^[2] He has since married Anja von Stanic, who he also trained as a professional wrestler.^[1] He is also a cousin of Mike Hallick, who was best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation as Mantaur.^[1]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • As Cannonball Grizzly / American Avalanche
    • Senton,^[1] sometimes while performing a somersault^[15]
    • Spin-out powerbomb^[1][2][15]
  • As PN News / PN Neuz
    • Broken Record^[15][16] (WCW / ECW) / Diving splash^[17] (WCW / Independent circuit)

• Signature moves
  • Belly to belly suplex^[17][18]
  • Body avalanche^[1][17][18]

• Nicknames
  • "The Rapmaster"^[2][15]

• Entrance themes
  • "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath^[19]
  • "Living After Midnight" by Judas Priest^[19]
  • "Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe^[19]

Wrestlers trained by News

• Anja von Stanic^[20]
• Kimball^[20]
• Van Miller^[20]

Championships and accomplishments

• Catch Wrestling Association
  • CWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with John Hawk (1), Jesse James Armstrong (1) and Wildcat Brookside (1)^[21]

• European Wrestling Association
  • EWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[22]

• European Wrestling Promotion
  • EWP Iron Man Championship (1 time)^[12][22]
  • EWP World Heavyweight Championship (2 times, current)^[22]

• Pacific Northwest Wrestling
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mike Golden (1) and Buddy Rose (1)^[23]

• Professional Wrestling Alliance (Germany)
  • PWA Weltmeisterschaft Championship (1 time)^[22]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #86 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991^[24]

• Riotgas Wrestling Alliance
  • RWA International Championship (2 times)^[22]

• World Championship Wrestling
  • Rookie of the Year (1991)^[1]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Worst Worked Match of the Year (1991) with Bobby Eaton vs. Steve Austin and Terry Taylor in a scaffold match at The Great American Bash

• Other titles
  • EWA Iron Man Championship (5 times)^[2]

References