The Monster (born Florian Popescu, Bucharest, 7th October 1979) is a Romanian professional wrestler, currently signed to GWA and most famous for his time spent in EUWC where he was a two-time EUWC European Champion.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Popescu grew up in Romania at the tail end of the Soviet Union and endured much poverty throughout his childhood. This was not helped by his abnormal growth and the lack of medical care he had access to.
At 15 Popescu left home and joined a travelling circus as "The Amazing Giant Freak Boy". Popsecu was treated badly but during a show in Manchester, England he was spotted by Classy Mike C, who persuaded him to move to England, learn English and train under "Handsome" Johnny Ugly. Popescu became The Bucharest Monster, later shortened to The Monster, and lived with Classy Mike C, Jaz and Daryl Moundfield, competing in local companies.
Red Branch Wrestling: 2004, 2005[]
Mike C was able to secure The Monster a contract with Red Branch Wrestling, a feeder federation owned and operated by EUWC as it's European territory. Managed by his English teacher (and on-screen translator) Eddie Johnson, The Monster quickly took the federation by storm winning a number of squash matches. At EUWC Summer Sizzler '04 The Monster won a 10-man Battle Royal, last eliminating Apocalypse (RBW) to earn a shot of the RBW High Championship (also known as the EUWC European Championship) later that night. The Monster defeated Jack "The Ripper" to capture the title and his first major prize in pro-wrestling before dropping is back to "The Ripper" 28 days later and going on hiatus due to injury.
The Monster returned from injury in 2005 after weeks of vignettes. However the federation closed before he was able to challenge for the title and The Monster moved over to EUWC.
EUWC: 2005[]
After RBW closed The Monster signed for EUWC where he immediately joined his real-life friends Classy Mike C and The Moundfields as part of The Revolution. The Monster re-captured the EUWC European Championship from "Commander" T. Waring shortly after joining the main roster at a taping of Main Frame and held it for 42 days before dropping the belt to John Doe at Blood Bath and leaving EUWC along with the rest of The Revolution.
Post EUWC Career and joining GWA: 2006-[]
In the intervening years since leaving EUWC The Monster has fought in a number of territories across Europe, North America, Australia and Japan with little fanfare. In 2011 The Monster, again with the help of Mike C, signed for GWA along with Jaz Moundfield as a part of The New Revolution. On their debut The New Revolution won the vacant GWA World Tag Team titles in a triple threat match against The Bulldogs and The Dipper Brothers.
Title History[]
- 2x EUWC European Champion (1x as Red Branch Wrestling Champion)
- 1x GWA World Tag Team Champion (w/ Jaz Moundfield as The New Revolution)
Themes[]
- "Here It Comes" by The Stone Roses
Moveset[]
- Finishing and signature moves
- Bucharest Blast (High Impact Chokeslam)
- Regular moves