Nick Aldis

Nicholas Harry Aldis (born 6 November 1986) is an English professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he is a producer and the on-screen general manager of the SmackDown brand. He is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Magnus from 2008 to 2015, and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from 2017 to 2022.

Aldis made his debut on the British independent circuit in 2004 before signing with his first major contract with TNA in 2008. During his seven-year tenure there, he won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship once, becoming the first British-born world champion in the company's history along with becoming a three-time tag team champion, winning the TNA World Tag Team Championship twice and the IWGP Tag Team Championship once. At Ring Ka King in 2011, he won the RKK World Heavyweight Championship.

Immediately after leaving TNA in 2015, Aldis signed with Global Force Wrestling (GFW), where he was the inaugural GFW Global Champion and subsequently became the longest-reigning champion in the title's history. In 2017, Aldis briefly returned to TNA, now Impact Wrestling, due to their new partnership with GFW, dropping the title and leaving the company later that year. He then signed with the NWA and would soon after win the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship, a title he would hold twice, becoming the second British wrestler to hold that championship (after Gary Steele), making him a four-time world champion in professional wrestling. Aldis then left the NWA in late 2022 and briefly returned to Impact Wrestling in 2023 before departing the company in July and subsequently began working for WWE in August.

Aldis also appeared in the revival of '' Gladiators'', where he was known as Oblivion. He was also a co-presenter of '' Britain's Strongest Man'' on Challenge TV.

Early life

Nicholas Harry Aldis was born on 6 November 1986 in Docking, Norfolk. Before training to be a wrestler, Aldis became proficient in swimming and tennis; he then began bodybuilding, which ultimately led to him becoming a professional wrestler.
In 2008 he made several appearances on ''Gladiators'' under the name "Oblivion" along with fellow professional wrestler Mason Ryan under the name "Goliath".

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2004–2008)

After beginning his training at the age of 16, Aldis made his professional debut on 17 December 2004 for the British Wrestling Promotion Dropkixx Wrestling (DKW), losing to Charlie Rage.

Early title matches included a DAM Promotions event where Aldis teamed up with Bash to take on the DAM Tag Team Champions Big Dave and The Bulk for the titles and he also went up against Ashe for the LDN Championship at Summit Wrestling, he would lose both matches. In 2007, he would face the WAW British Heavyweight Champion Brett Meadows for the title and lost. His last match before joining TNA was a win against Marty Scurll. During his time in England he wrestled primarily at All Star Wrestling and World Association of Wrestling.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2008–2015)

Early feuds (2008–2009)

In November 2008, Aldis signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). On 11 December 2008 episode of '' Impact!'', TNA started airing vignettes of Aldis' debut under the name Brutus Magnus, a modern-day gladiator.

Aldis competed under his Brutus Magnus name and gimmick at the TNA Maximum Impact! Tour in Glasgow, Scotland on 22 January 2009, where he defeated Matt Morgan. Two days later on the last night of the tour, Magnus defeated Sheik Abdul Bashir in London at the Wembley Arena. On 29 January episode of ''Impact!'', another vignette of Magnus was played and it stated that Magnus' debut would occur next week. He debuted on 5 February episode of ''Impact!'' as a villainous character, defeating Shark Boy with his finishing move, the Tormentum. After the match, he issued an open challenge to anyone on the TNA roster. Chris Sabin answered the open challenge at Against All Odds, which Magnus also won. This continued with another victory against Eric Young at Destination X.

The British Invasion (2009–2011)

On 30 April 2009 episode of ''Impact!'', Magnus dropped the gladiator character and formed a villainous group called The British Invasion with fellow British wrestlers Doug Williams and Rob Terry. In their debut match as a team, Williams and Magnus defeated Homicide in a two-on-one handicap match after assaulting his tag team partner Hernandez backstage prior to the match, and stealing his Feast or Fired briefcase. The Invasion has since formed an alliance called World Elite with Eric Young, Sheik Abdul Bashir and Kiyoshi and engaged in a feud with Team 3D over the IWGP Tag Team Championship. On 30 July episode of ''Impact!'', Magnus and Williams won the IWGP Tag Team Championship by defeating Team 3D in a Tables match. However, New Japan Pro-Wrestling later stated that as the title change did not occur with the sanction of the promotion, they still recognised Team 3D as the official champions. On 10 August 2009, NJPW formally recognised the title switch. At Bound for Glory, the British Invasion lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship back to Team 3D, but managed to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship in a four way Full Metal Mayhem Tag Team match against Booker T and Scott Steiner, Team 3D and Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode). The following month at Turning Point Magnus and Williams successfully defended the title in a three-way match against Beer Money and The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin). At Final Resolution they were once again able to retain their title in a match against Shelley and Sabin. At Genesis the British Invasion lost the TNA World Tag Team Titles to Matt Morgan and Hernandez. Afterwards, Magnus and Williams began abusing Terry and blaming him for their losses. On 18 February 2010 episode of ''Impact!'', Terry finally grew tired of this and attacked Magnus, thus ending his alliance with the British Invasion and completing his fan favourite turn. At Destination X 2010, Magnus announced that from now on he would be known only by the name Magnus. He then went on to lose to his former mate and wrestling partner Rob Terry in a match for the Global Championship.

After not being seen for over three months, Magnus returned on 14 June at the tapings of '' Xplosion'', defeating Suicide and afterward challenging Rob Terry to a rematch for the Global Championship. The rematch took place at 29 June tapings of ''Xplosion'', with Terry retaining his Global Championship. On 3 July 2010, Dixie Carter announced that Aldis had signed a new long-term contract with TNA. On the edition of 14 July 2010 of '' TNA Today'', Aldis debuted a new charming but promiscuous gimmick. He then went on to form a tag team with Desmond Wolfe, with the two of them defeating Amazing Red and Suicide in their first match together at 13 July tapings of ''Xplosion''. At the 26 and 27 July tapings of ''Xplosion'' Magnus and Wolfe defeated the teams of Hernandez and Rob Terry and Ink Inc. (Jesse Neal

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