Jakob "Jake" Christopher Anderson (born December 28, 1984) is an American professional wrestler currently signed with WWE Damage.
Anderson had originally pursued a career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and trained at the Gracie Tampa School before he ultimately decided to put his MMA career on hold and get into professional wrestling instead having been a fan of professional wrestling ever since he was a child.
After opting to pursue a career in professional wrestling, Anderson started training at New York Wrestling Connection (NYWC) as well as with Mikey Whipwreck. After finishing his training, Anderson was signed to a contract with NYWC and made his debut in 2010 where he was paired up with Brett Matthews as a tag team. The duo would go on to capture the NYWC Tag Team Championships, holding them for three weeks before losing them and the team splitting up. After splitting with Matthews, Anderson formed a new tag team with Tony Nese and they dubbed themselves – The Blockade. After unsuccessfully challenging for the NYWC Tag Team Championships on various separate occasions, the team split after Anderson turned on Nese igniting a feud between the two former partners. The feud would last six months which culminated in a Last Man Standing Match that was won by Nese thus ending the feud. After this Anderson would take some time off to spend with his family before returning to NYWC in September 2012. After returning Anderson, the Big O and Nese (who had turned heel) formed The Elite wanting to focus on overtaking the entire NYWC and setting their sights on every single active championship with the exception of the Women's Championship.
Anderson would unsuccessfully challenge Apollyon for the NYWC Heavyweight Championship. A couple weeks later Anderson would team up with the Big O to challenge for the NYWC Tag Team Championships where they were also unsuccessful this led to some turmoil between the Big O and Anderson. More turmoil was shown between Big O and Anderson as the two would bicker and accuse one another of costing them the tag team championships only to have Tony Nese step in between them. This would lead to the demise of the group as it was made public knowledge that Anderson had been offered a contract with WWE Damage and chose to sign with them effectively leaving NYWC.
Early life[]
Anderson was born as Jakob Christopher Anderson in Long Island, New York. The only child of Claire and Martin Anderson, both of whom were teachers in the Long Island area. Jake had a decent childhood, although he was quite lonely being an only child and often focused on his school work and didn't have time for friends. Anderson was also quite shy as a child as well and tended to keep to himself. It was in high school that he decided to give Amateur Wrestling a shot much to the dismay of his mother. However his father was very supportive of Jake's decision unlike his mother and would regularly be able to watch his matches due to being employed at the same school as his son.
Anderson graduated high school and would attend college at NYU (New York University). Jake would spend the next three years in college studying Psychology. After finishing college, Jake got himself into a little bit of trouble being coerced by his friends to join an underground fight club, the club would be quickly shut down, however it got Anderson interested in Mixed Martial Arts. So he left New York and moved to Florida and attended the Gracie Tampa School where he began training to pursue a career in MMA. After receiving his training Anderson opted to pursue a career in professional wrestling instead.
When Jake was only 2 years old; his mother lost her battle to breast cancer. Jake's father re-married five months later. That same year Jake's half-sister Lily was born.
Professional wrestling career[]
New York Wrestling Connection (2010–2012; 2014–2024)[]
After Anderson put his impending MMA career on hold he joined NYWC (New York Wrestling Connection) under his real name. Anderson was paired up with Tony Nese as the two would form a tag team called the Blockade. The two would challenge for the NYWC Tag Team Championships on various occasions however would be unable to successfully capture them. After teaming for a year the team was broken up and the two started a rivalry when Anderson turned on Nese thus becoming a villainous character. The two would have a seven month long rivalry where the two would trade wins back and forth. Their rivalry culminated in a Last Man Standing match between the two which Nese won effectively ending their feud.
After his feud with Nese ended, Anderson turned face and formed a tag team with Brett Matthews and the two would go onto capture the NYWC Tag Team Championships, holding them for four months before losing them to Team Tremendous. Shortly afterwards Anderson was inactive for close to two months before returning in September 2012 where he would attack Stockade after his match with Tony Nese. This would continue for a few weeks where Anderson would attack Stockade after his matches, saying that he was weak and didn't deserve to be in NYWC thus turning heel once again. Anderson would team up with the Big O to take on Stockade and Tony Nese and would pin Stockade after Nese turned on Stockade thus turning heel and aligning himself with both Big O and Anderson forming a stable. The following week they would dub themselves The Elite. They would focus on trying claim all of the championships currently sanctioned by NYWC. Nese had already won the NYWC Fusion Championship defeating Stockade on August 16, 2012 at NYWC: Hotter Than Hell. Anderson would unsuccessfully challenge Apollyon for the NYWC Heavyweight Championship. A couple weeks later Anderson would team up with the Big O to challenge for the NYWC Tag Team Championships where they were also unsuccessful this led to some turmoil between the Big O and Anderson. More turmoil was shown between Big O and Anderson as the two would bicker and accuse one another of costing them the tag team championships only to have Tony Nese step in between them.
Not long after it became widely known that Anderson had received a few try-out matches with the WWE as well as ROH as they were both interested in signing him. This began a storyline where Anderson would try and made a last ditch effort to capture a championship prior to him leaving and then threatening to leave with it when he signed with either ROH or WWE. After failing to win the Heavyweight and Tag Team Championship; Anderson set his sights on Nese's Fusion Championship. On November 30, 2012 in what was Anderson's last match, he defeated Nese and won the championship. After the match both him and Nese would embrace and shake hands as the entire locker room came out and congratulated Anderson on his victory as well as him having been signed by the ROH two days prior. Anderson would get on the microphone and proceeded to thank the company for giving him an opportunity as well as thanking the fans for their support. Shortly afterwards Anderson vacated the championship.
Ring of Honor Wrestling (2013–2014)[]
Coming Soon
Independent circuit (2014–2024)[]
Coming Soon
Return to NYWC (2014–2024)[]
Coming Soon
WWE Damage (2024–present)[]
In December 2024, Anderson signed a multi-year deal with WWE Damage.
Personal life[]
Anderson has one younger sibling – a half-sister; Lily Anderson (born July 15, 1986). Jake is also an uncle to Lily's son; Noah Anderson (born January 26, 2007). Jake's mother died from breast cancer when he was two years old and because of that Anderson has been quite the advocate when it comes to Women's Cancer and has always supported the cause, going as far as to criticize the Government for not doing enough to make sure that the same thing doesn't happen to anyone else that happened to him at such a young age. Anderson has multiple tattoos all over his body.
Anderson is good friends with Justin Gabriel, Renee Young, Bobby Roode as well as Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins, whom he has known for almost ten years due to them growing up together in New York. He is also an avid hockey enthusiast, notably of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. He is a Kings season ticket holder and regularly attends home games at the Staples Center. He is also a big fan of the MLB's Toronto Blue Jays and regularly attends their home games whenever he can at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Anderson is also a big fan of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.
Anderson is a big advocate for Fuck Cancer, a health organization working for early detection and prevention of cancer. He's been seen regularly wearing their t-shirts and attending their fundraisers. Anderson is also a supporter of Stand Up to Cancer.
Relationships[]
Anderson was in a relationship with American recording artist, Britney Davis from July 2010 until January 2013.
On December 31, 2012; the couple announced their engagement. On January 11, 2013 it was revealed that Anderson and Davis had called off their engagement.
Anderson began dating then - WWE Diva, Kelly Kelly shortly after his engagement had ended, on January 16, 2013. The two would later split in July of that year. Anderson briefly dated model Kristin Reed―whom is close friends with Blank―shortly after his relationship with Blank ended. The two would split not long afterwards.
In from 2015 to 2017, Anderson was in a relationship with WWE Diva, Taryn Terrell. Starting in mid 2017, rumors began circulating that Anderson was dating British model, Melissa Kelly as the two were spotted hanging out together quite a bit and getting quite cozy with one another. It was confirmed in December 2017 that the two were in fact dating, their relationship lasted three years before they split. Since mid 2024, Anderson has been dating fellow wrestler Jazmyn Nyx.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Wrong Side of a Bullet (Bicycle knee strike)
- The Cataclysm (Running stomp to the head of a bent-over opponent)
- Aneurysm (Guillotine choke with body scissors, sometimes applied with a hammerlock)
- Signature moves
- Paralyzer (Brainbuster), sometimes onto the ring apron or onto a folded out chair
- Bite the Bullet (Lifting single underhook DDT)
- Code of Silence (Fireman's carry spun out into a knee strike)
- The FDR (Running single leg front dropkick)
- Greetings from Queens (Double wrist lock knee strike to a seated opponent)
- The One Way Ride (Armlock legsweep reverse STO)
- Drive-By (Superkick)
- Discus elbow smash
- Hammerlock cradle DDT
- Multiple kick variations
- Basement drop
- Big boot to the face of a kneeling opponent
- CCS Enzuigiri
- Corner rear enzuigiri
- Leaping enzuigiri
- Penalty
- Rolling wheel
- Running drop from the floor to the head of an opponent draped over the second rope
- Springboard roundhouse
- Multiple knee strike variations
- Bomaye, sometimes from the second rope
- Running single leg high
- Running to the back of a seated opponent's head
- Step-up high to an opponent in the corner
- Reverse STO transitioned into a Koji clutch
- Running one-armed swinging neckbreaker
- Slingshots out of the ring and hits opponent with a rolling forearm to the face.
- Suicide dive
- Suplex lift dropped into a Cutter
- Superman punch
- Managing
- Jazmyn Nyx
- Managed by
- Jazmyn Nyx
- Nicknames
- "Hands of Stone" (NYWC / Indies)
- "Ten Thousand Fists" (NYWC / Indies)
- "The Elite of the Elites" (NYWC / Indies)
- "The Black Rose"(WWE: Damage)
- "The Kingpin" (WWE: Damage)
- Entrance themes
- "Spotlight" by Fozzy (WWE Damage; 2024–present)
Championships and accomplishments[]
- New York Wrestling Connection
- NYWC Fusion Championship (1 time)
- NYWC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWE Damage