Chris Hero

Chris Spradlin (born December 24, 1979), better known by his ring name Chris Hero, is an American professional wrestler and trainer currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he works as a producer.

Hero has worked for a number of independent wrestling promotions, including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Ring of Honor (ROH), Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Chikara, as well as Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan.

Hero has had two stints in WWE, both as part of their development territory NXT, under the ring name Kassius Ohno.

His second tenure with the company saw him work as a "player-coach" for the trainees in NXT and NXT UK.

After graduating from Northmont High School in Clayton, Ohio, Spradlin decided to train as a professional wrestler in the summer of 1998.

After undergoing some initial training in Middletown, Ohio, Spradlin debuted on September 12, 1998 in Xenia, Ohio wrestling Shawn "HeartThrob" Halsey in the Unified Championship Wrestling promotion.

Spradlin's initial training in Middletown was under the supervision of a small-time promoter named Gary Goffinet.

Spradlin trained for a little while alongside his friend, Adam Ghazee, under a wrestler by the name of Bo Dacious.

Bo had trained previously under Charlie Fulton at the Monster Factory.

At the suggestion of Matt Stryker, Spradlin underwent further training at Les Thatcher's Cincinnati-based HWA Main Event Wrestling Camp between May 1999 and November 1999.

In December 1999, he traveled to Ocala, Florida to train under Dory Funk Jr.. at the Funkin' Conservatory professional wrestling school.

As Spradlin wrestled wearing what is popularly known as a "wifebeater" style of shirt, he began using the ring name "Wife Beater".

He continued to use the Wife Beater character until a women's group, offended by the gimmick, organized a boycott of a show on which Spradlin was wrestling in Platteville, Wisconsin.

The character was discussed on the talk show Politically Incorrect.

However, Spradlin was not mentioned by name.

After Spradlin was booked for a series of family-friendly shows for NWA West Virginia / Ohio, he changed his ring name to "Chris Hero".

He wrestled his last matches as Wife Beater in 2000.

In 2000, Hero began working for the Indiana-based Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, where he received supplementary training from Ian Rotten.

In the following years, he spent a great deal of time working with Tracy Smothers on IWA Mid-South shows, and he now credits Smothers as his mentor.

Hero debuted for IWA Mid-South on July 1, 2000, in a losing attempt versus Harry Palmer.

In his first year in the promotion, he won the annual Sweet Science 16 tournament (now known as the Ted Petty Invitational or TPI), defeating four other wrestlers in the process (Colt Cabana, American Kickboxer, Ace Steel and Harry Palmer), and unsuccessfully challenged Sabu for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Bloodfeast 2000.

Hero engaged in feuds with the Suicide Kid, American Kickboxer, Mark Wolf, and the Rugby Thug.

On October 20, 2001, in Charlestown, Indiana, Hero won the IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship from the champion Trent Baker.

He held the title until December 5 of that year, when he lost to CM Punk.

In October 2002, Hero attended the Blue Bloods Wrestling Camp, operated by UK wrestlers Dave Taylor, William Regal and Dave Finlay.

He regained the title on July 12, 2002, in Clarksville, Indiana, defeating Colt Cabana, and lost it to M-Dogg 20 three months later on October 5 in Clarksville.

In July 2003, Chikara brought in Skayde from Último Dragón's Toryumon Gym in Mexico City to teach some special lucha libre clinics.

Hero took part in the training sessions and was able to add the Lucha style to his repertoire.

He attended Skayde sessions in Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Mexico City between 2003 and 2006.

He won the title for a third time on February 7, 2003, in Clarksville, pinning CM Punk in a match that lasted over ninety minutes.

His third reign lasted until June 7, when he lost to Mark Wolf.

Hero regained the title in a match with Danny Daniels on July 12, 2003, after Mark Wolf had vacated the title.

Hero lost it for a fourth and final time to Danny Daniels less than a month later on August 2.

During the fall of 2005, Hero and Arik Cannon continued their feud that had started years before in IWA Mid South.

At the end of it, Hero became a villain after being eliminated by Cannon in the third round of the 2005 TPI.

He later turned his back on Rotten, his trainees Trik Davis, Mickie Knuckles, Bryce Remsburg and everyone else that had befriended him.

Hero has since destroyed the IWA Mid South Heavyweight title belt.

At the end of 2005, he won the third annual Revolution Strong Style Tournament, defeating Necro Butcher in the finals.

For years Hero teamed up with Claudio Castagnoli as the "Kings of Wrestling", winning various tag team championships and tournaments such as Chikara Campeonatos de Parejas, Tag World Grand Prix 2006, CZW World Tag Team Championship, JCW Tag Team Championship and the ROH World Tag Team Championship.

He also appeared on an episode of Australian TV show Border Security.