Jorel Nelson (born May 17, 1992) is an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

, signed to

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW), where he was a member of

Team Filthy ''Team Filthy'' was a professional wrestling stable that performed in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Major League Wrestling (MLW) and on the independent circuit. The group was formed on October 5, 2017, during MLW's One Shot event by Tom Lawlor. ...

. He also makes appearances on the

independent circuit In professional wrestling, the independent circuit (often shortened to the indie circuit or the indies) is the collective name of independently owned promotions which are deemed to be smaller and more regionalized than major national promotions. ...

. He was named after the character

Jor-El Jor-El is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, Jor-El first appeared in the Superman (comic strip), ''Superman'' newspaper comic strip in 1939. Jor-El is Supe ...

from DC Comics' Superman franchise.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Nelson was scouted by wrestler Aaron Bolo to pursue professional wrestling after seeing Nelson at several local independent shows. He started his training at Tulalip Championship Wrestling in

Marysville, Washington Marysville is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States, part of the Seattle metropolitan area. The city is located north of Seattle, adjacent to Everett on the north side of the Snohomish River delta. It is the second-largest ci ...

under the tutelage of Bolo, Ethan H. D., Mike Santiago, Kellen Raeth, Damon James, and Caden Mathews. He furthered his training by attending the Buddy Wayne Academy in

Everett, Washington Everett (; ) is the county seat and most populous city of Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is north of Seattle and is one of the main cities in the Seattle metropolitan area, metropolitan area and the Puget Sound region. Everett ...

. In addition to TCW, Nelson would regally wrestle for Don't Own Anyone Pro Wrestling in

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

and

West Coast Wrestling Connection The West Coast Wrestling Connection (WCWC) is a professional wrestling organization based in Salem, Oregon. The WCWC was founded by Jeff Manning and Pat Kelley in 2005. History The WCWC had its inaugural show in Salem, Oregon on March 20, 2005 ...

Salem, Oregon Salem ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County, Oregon, Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, w ...

. Nelson would start to wrestle for promotions in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its densely populated coastal reg ...

in 2016. He would also receive several interactions with

WWE World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

. In October 2012, Nelson attended a WWE Tryout Camp in

Tampa, Florida Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...

. On August 8, 2016, Nelson made his first WWE appearance in a loss against

Braun Strowman Adam Joseph Scherr (born September 6, 1983) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and Strongman (strength athlete), strongman. As a wrestler, he is best known for his tenure in WWE from 2013 to 2025, where he performed un ...

on ''

WWE Raw ''WWE Raw'', also known as ''Monday Night Raw'' or simply ''Raw'', is an American professional wrestling television program produced by WWE. It currently airs Live television, live every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Netflix. The show fe ...

''. The next night, Nelson faced Kane in a

dark match Professional wrestling has accrued a considerable amount of jargon throughout its existence. Much of it stems from the industry's origins in the days of carnival Carnival (known as Shrovetide in certain localities) is a festive season that o ...

for

WWE Main Event ''WWE Main Event'' is an American professional wrestling streaming television program produced by WWE. Premiering on October 3, 2012, the hour-long program features mid-to-low-card wrestlers from WWE's Raw brand and SmackDown brand, while als ...

Bakersfield Bakersfield is a city in and the county seat of Kern County, California, United States. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, which is located in the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population as of the ...

Empire Wrestling Federation (2016-2018)

The "Greatest Show in the Ring" Jorel Nelson had his first match with

Empire Wrestling Federation The Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) is an professional wrestling promotion, independent wrestling promotion based in Covina, California. It is owned and operated by Jesse Hernandez. The EWF is also tied to Hernandez's wrestling school, ''The Scho ...

on March 12, 2016, against the "Mega King" Tommy Wilson. During his first year, Nelson became a two-time EWF American Heavyweight Champion. His first reign begun after he defeated Anthony Idol at a private EWF event. He would lose the title lose the title to Wilson in September before regaining it at another private event. His second title reign would come to an end when he was defeated by Idol at ''The Big Event'' on October 16, 2016. Nelson became EWF Tag Team Champions with Davion Foreman on December 1, 2017, after defeating H.A.T.E. (Che Cabrera and Rico Dynamite). Nelson and Foreman would hold the titles until April 6, 2018, in a loss to Calder McColl and Dr. Kruger. The team parted ways with Nelson putting his focus now on singles competition. Turning

heel The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg. Structure To distribute the compressive forces exerted ...

, Nelson targeted the EWF Heavyweight Champion, Andy Brown. Nelson and Brown fight on July 6, 2018, to a No Contest. Frustrated by being cheated by "Friar" Juan Roman in their matches and teaming with Foreman in the tag team division, Nelson stole Brown title belt and renamed himself just The Greatest Show. In their rematch on August 31, 2018, the Greatest Show would lose definitively to Brown for the Heavyweight Title. Nelson would leave the promotion after his final match with Richie Slade at ''Jingle Slam 9'' on December 12, 2018.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021–present)

On May 7, 2021, Nelson made his

debut during '' NJPW Strong's''. Known as the West Coast Wrecking Crew, he defeated

Jordan Clearwater Jordan Leonard (born February 15, 1997) is an American professional wrestler, and bodybuilder, known under his ring name, Jordan Clearwater. He is currently signed to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) where he is a former NWA World Televisi ...

and Misterioso with his tag team partner, Royce Isaacs. During the first week of Strong's version of the ''Summer Struggle'' event, Isaacs and Nelson were defeated by

Danny Limelight Daniel Luis Rivera (born September 2, 1991) is a Puerto Rican-American professional wrestler, currently performing for United Wrestling Network's Championship Wrestling from Hollywood under the ring name Danny Limelight and is the current UWN W ...

and

J. R. Kratos J. R. Kratos (born June 20, 1982) is an American professional wrestler, appearing for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he is a former NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Lightning One version), NWA United States Tag Team Champion ...

. Despite the West Coast Wrecking Crew's loss, Team Filthy's leader "Filthy" Tom Lawlor liked what he saw out of them. He asked if they wanted to join Team Filthy and Isaacs and Nelson accepted. The West Coast Wrecking Crew would prove themselves to be consistent challengers for the

Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship The is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) Professional wrestling promotion, promotion. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's NJPW Strong, Strong brand and is usually def ...

s facing challengers like the

Motor City Machine Guns The Motor City Machine Guns are an American professional wrestling tag team consisting of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin. They are signed to WWE, where they perform on the SmackDown brand and are former one-time WWE Tag Team Champions. They are b ...

, TMDK, Aussie Open, and the

Guerrillas of Destiny The Tongans, formerly known as Guerrillas of Destiny (G.O.D), is a Tongan-American professional wrestling tag team currently signed with WWE, founded by and consisting of brothers Alipate Leone and Tevita Fifita, who both perform on the Smack ...

( Hikuleo, and

El Phantasmo Riley Vigier (born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he performs under the ring name El Phantasmo (often shortened to ELP) and is the NJPW World Tel ...

All Elite Wrestling/Ring of Honor (2021, 2023)

Isaacs has participated on several

All Elite Wrestling All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is an American professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. It is owned and operated by Shahid Khan, Shahid and Tony Khan, with the latter serving as President (corporate title), president an ...

programs. He debuted as one half of the West Coast Wrecking Crew with Isaacs against the Varsity Blondes ( Griff Garrison and

Brian Pillman Jr. Brian Zachary Pillman (born September 9, 1993) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Lexis King. Pillman is known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) from 2019 ...

) on the March 10, 2021 edition of ''

AEW Dark ''AEW Dark'', or simply ''Dark'', is an American professional wrestling streaming television program that was produced by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW), running from October 8, 2019, to April 25, 2023, on AEW's YouTube channel. ...

''. Nelson debuted for

Ring of Honor Ring of Honor (ROH) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Jacksonville, Florida. The promotion was founded by Rob Feinstein on February 23, 2002, and was operated by Cary Silkin from 2004 until 2011; the promotion was subs ...

on November 11, 2023, with Isaacs in a four-way tag team match against the WorkHorsemen ( Anthony Henry & JD Drake) defeat the Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) and Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) on Honor Club.

Filmography

Television

Championships and accomplishments

DEFY Wrestling DEFY Wrestling is an American Independent circuit, independent professional wrestling promotion based out of Seattle, Washington (state), Washington. DEFY was created in 2017 after founders Jim Perry and Matt Farmer successfully petitioned the Wa ...

**DEFY Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Royce Isaacs *

** EWF American Heavyweight Championship (2 times) **

EWF Tag Team Championship The EWF Tag Team Championship is the tag team professional wrestling title in the Southern California-based Empire Wrestling Federation independent promotion Promotion may refer to: Marketing * Promotion (marketing), one of the four marketing ...

(1 time) – with Davion Foreman *Don't Own Anyone Pro Wrestling **DOA Pure Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *Future Stars Of Wrestling **FSW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Royce Isaacs *

( 1 time) – with Royce Isaacs *Winner's Circle Pro-Wrestling **WCPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Royce Isaacs

References

External links

* {{Navboxes, , list1= {{Team Filthy {{New Japan Pro Wrestling personnel {{Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship Living people American male professional wrestlers Professional wrestlers from Seattle 1992 births 21st-century male professional wrestlers 21st-century American professional wrestlers Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions