What Happened To Chris Masters in WWE?
Contents
Chris Masters was once one of the most promising young talents in WWE. So what happened to him?
Chris Masters’ WWE Career
Chris Masters had a lot of promise when he first arrived in WWE. He was a big, muscular guy with a lot of charisma. Masters was a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion and even held the WWE Intercontinental Championship. However, his career eventually fizzled out and he was released by WWE in 2011.
Chris Masters’ Debut
Chris Masters made his debut in WWE in 2004, facing off against John Cena in a series of matches. While Cena would ultimately defeat Masters at WrestleMania 21, the newcomer made quite the impression with his raw power and athleticism.
Masters would go on to have feuds with the likes of Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels, becoming a two-time Intercontinental Champion in the process. He was also a member of the spirit squad, a group of male cheerleaders that paraded around the ring dressed in tight Lycra bodysuits.
However, things began to sour for Masters in 2007 when he was suspended from WWE for 30 days due to violating the company’s wellness policy. This was followed by another suspension in 2008 after he failed a second drug test.
Chris Masters’ Feud with John Cena
Chris Masters was released from WWE in November 2007, shortly after a failed drug test. He was then rehired in September 2008 and assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE’s developmental territory. In February 2009, he debuted on the main roster as a dominant “Muscleman”, going on an undefeated streak until losing to John Cena at WWE Breaking Point.
This began a feud between the two that lasted for several months. At one point, Masters even challenged Cena for the WWE Championship. However, he was never able to defeat Cena and the feud eventually fizzled out.
Chris Masters’ Release from WWE
On November 11, 2011, it was reported that WWE had released Masters from his contract. The following day, Masters confirmed his release via Twitter.
Masters made his return to the independent circuit in December 2011, wrestling for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).
Chris Masters’ Post-WWE Career
After Chris Masters was released by WWE in 2007, he went on to have a successful career in independent wrestling. He also made a few appearances in TNA. In 2013, he made a return to WWE, but was released again in 2014. He continues to wrestle on the independent circuit.
Chris Masters’ Return to WWE
In early 2011, it was rumored that Chris Masters would be returning to WWE. On the February 21, 2011 episode of WWE RAW, it was announced that Masters would be the 26th entrant in the 2011 Royal Rumble match. This marked Masters’ first WWE appearance in over two years. After his return, Masters began wrestling on WWE’s live events circuit. He made his return to television on the March 7, 2011 episode of WWE RAW, losing to CM Punk.
On April 26, 2011, at Extreme Rules, Masters competed in a six-person tag team match alongside The Miz and Alex Riley against John Morrison, R-Truth and Rey Mysterio in a losing effort. The following night on Raw, Miz claimed that he had injured Morrison’s again during the match and as a result Morrison would be out of action for six weeks; Miz then announced that he had handpicked Masters to take Morrison’s place as his tag team partner.
Chris Masters’ Independent Wrestling Career
Since his departure from WWE in 2007, Chris Masters has made sporadic appearances in the professional wrestling world. He made his first appearance in almost 5 years in 2012 when he wrestled for Wrestling Fans United’s “One Night Stand” show. In 2013, Chris Masters made occasional appearances on the independent circuit before being booked for a tour of Australia with wrestlers such as The Great Khali, Rey Mysterio and John Morrison.
After his Australian tour, Chris Masters resumed wrestling on the independent circuit in the United States. He has wrestled for various promotions such as Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW), Midwest All-Star Wrestling (MAW) and Pro Wrestling Syndicate (PWS). In 2014, he also had a short stint in Japan wrestling for Tokyo Pro Wrestling (TPW).
Chris Masters’ Acting Career
Chris Masters, whose real name is Christopher L. Mordetsky, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with WWE under the ring name Chris Masters.
Masters began his acting career in 2016 with a minor role in the film The Mind’s Eye. He has since had roles in other films such as The Debt Collector (2018) and Territory 8 (2019).