Post by FWF on Mar 10, 2011 13:12:05 GMT -5
FWF Debut:[/color] January 2005
Date Inducted:[/color] 23rd June 2006
Title History:-[/color]
- FWF World Heavyweight Championship
- FWF Iron Man Championship
- FWF Tag Team Championship
- FWF Hardcore Championship
When you talk about FWF and its great history, then you have to talk about Ernest “The Beast” Bethea. As the pioneer of the Fantasy Wrestling Federation, Bethea rose to immediate success and in 2005 at FWF April Fools, the Beast proved his moniker, defeating nine other men in a gauntlet match to become number one contender to the FWF World Heavyweight Championship.
A month past and a rivalry with the then champion, the late, great, Alan Foulds, had been building. The two eventually got their match together at FWF Genesis II after FWF’s first year. It was a hard fought lumberjack match in Bethea’s hometown of New York City. He entered Madison Square Garden as the challenger, but he left a legend.
Not many men can say that they’ve won in the main event of Genesis, a now proud tradition. Bethea further celebrated success, being involved in some of FWF’s most innovative matches including captaining a War Games match. After few defences, Bethea found himself in a Slobber Knocker Match. Nine opponents would be entered against him one by one. The ninth opening took him by surprise: the returning Alan Foulds, who inevitably beat the champion for his second title reign.
Bethea’s career was not over. He allied himself with former World Heavyweight Champion “Captain” Joe Stall. This new friendship of America heroes lead to a new stable: The Real Deal. Along with their new protégé, Pain, the men dominated FWF, picking up many championships along their way. Bethea enjoyed a Tag Team title reign with his close friend, Stall, until Stall turned his back on America.
This lead to one of the most heated matches in Bethea’s career, in which he was crowned the victor. But the two found themselves back on the same team as something they both loved was in jeopardy. FWF was being invaded by a rival company that co-existed with them on Stampede TV: UCW.
Already with a long history and strong fan base, UCW were unstoppable, lead into war by The Predator. Bethea teamed with a list of elite FWF Warriors and battled the UCW Superstars at Collision in an elimination style ten man tag team match. FWF prevailed and Bethea’s legendary status remained in tact.
After a great career, the veteran of the squared circle new his time was coming to an end. But before he left, he knew he had one thing left to do. He had to face an opponent he’d never stepped into the ring with: another veteran to FWF, Dan “Dragon” Taylor. The match was set at FWF ShowDown! and it would change the face of professional wrestling forever.
The two fan favourites were both part of the elimination chamber at FWF Vertigo. The prize was Dan’s World Heavyweight Championship. After being eliminated by the Beast, Dan turned to rage, screwing Bethea out of the belt, allowing his Real Deal partner, Pain to lift the belt for the first time.
With a heavy match build, Bethea and Taylor finally met in the ring in single’s competition. They fought hard and long in what many fans consider the greatest match in wrestling history. Eventually, Dan came out with the win, but Bethea left with something worth more; he had earned the respect of the Dragon. The two shook hands in the ring in front of a cheering crowd.
The long wrestling career was over, but the dream was still alive. Bethea put down his boots and picked up a headset, taking a seat behind the commentary booth. For his passion for the business and his inspiring dedication to FWF, there is no doubt about it that the Beast deserves the first spot in the FWF Hall of Fame.