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Wrestling Name: Donovan Duke
Birth Name: Donovan Michael Duke (after his maternal grandfather)
Picture Base: Chad Gable
Current Nicknames: The Oklahoma Storm
Height: 5’10’’ Weight: 212 lbs. Hometown: Stillwater, OK
Theme Music: "I Rise" by Cory Marks
Attires: Segment Attire In-Ring Attire
Disposition/Alignment: Face (Yet mouthy who takes no crap).
Gimmick: Still a gentleman and still the mouthy fighter he is known to be. Donovan has evolved from being more than just the Oklahoma Gentleman. He has adopted and embraced the storm mentality. Calm as a gentleman, but can be as dangerous as the gambling fighter he can be. Which side will you end up on as Season 17 approaches.
Tendency to Cheat: If needed. If they start it, he will finish it.
MOTIVATIONS
World Champion: Donovan just missed becoming Mr. Cash in the Vault at Pain for Pride, but his number one goal is to still become World Champion for the first time in his career.
Proving Himself: Now that he is developed some experience in EAW, he wants to remove doubt from everybody's mind that he is a flash in the pan competitor, he wants to prove that he has earned absolutely everything and prove that he is deserving to be a champion again.
Competition: There are many heavy hitter names on the roster that he wants to either wrestle for the first time or get a rematch against. It's his gambler's personality: Go Big or Go Home.
Wrestling Debut: 2018 (As a Manager), 2020 (As a Wrestler)
Favorite Match Types: Ironman and Submission Matches for his appreciation of technical wrestling.
Least Favorite Match Types: None. He is determined to do whatever it takes to prove his point, be successful, and keep the spotlight on him. That means competing in any match thrown his way.
DONOVAN'S STORY
As the youngest of 3 brothers, Donovan grew up on an Oklahoma ranch and learned very quickly about having a good work ethic. Donovan always wanted to be a wrestler since his older brothers were high school wrestling champions and then became a successful tag team. He wanted to start training when he graduated high school, but his parents discouraged and opposed the idea because they didn't think he could handle the pro wrestling environment like his brothers could. Donovan was just as athletic, but no matter how hard he tried, baby brother couldn't escape the shadows of his brothers. He ultimately got fed up with the arguing and the ridiculing of his dreams, so Donovan went to college and decided to make a career out of his second love--card games.
At 18, Donovan started playing blackjack and poker at local Oklahoma casinos. He quickly developed a reputation as a prodigy around the casino circuit. After a year of playing in the Sooner State, Donovan took a chance to try his skills on a worldwide level when he decided to enter a World Series of Poker event in Europe during a college study abroad trip. It was a gamble that paid off when he won the tournament (and his 1st of 6 WSOP Braclets) at 19. After taking the casino world by storm winning poker and blackjack tournaments under the moniker "The Decimator", Donovan got a chance to give his wrestling dream another shot when his older brothers offered to let him be their manager.
During his time as a manager, he was able to enjoy both things he loved (he played poker to supplement his income while he was a manager and took college classes). For almost 2 years, Donovan managed his brothers to tag team success, but Donovan always wanted to do more. He didn't think he would ever get the chance to get in the ring, but he would soon about realize his dream when EAW wanted to sign him as a wrestler. He knew that signing with EAW meant that his poker playing would be limited, but he was happy to risk his first career to have a chance at his childhood dream. Donovan is ready to break out on his own and do what it takes to live his dream, tell his story, and prove himself in the world of wrestling.
At 18, Donovan started playing blackjack and poker at local Oklahoma casinos. He quickly developed a reputation as a prodigy around the casino circuit. After a year of playing in the Sooner State, Donovan took a chance to try his skills on a worldwide level when he decided to enter a World Series of Poker event in Europe during a college study abroad trip. It was a gamble that paid off when he won the tournament (and his 1st of 6 WSOP Braclets) at 19. After taking the casino world by storm winning poker and blackjack tournaments under the moniker "The Decimator", Donovan got a chance to give his wrestling dream another shot when his older brothers offered to let him be their manager.
During his time as a manager, he was able to enjoy both things he loved (he played poker to supplement his income while he was a manager and took college classes). For almost 2 years, Donovan managed his brothers to tag team success, but Donovan always wanted to do more. He didn't think he would ever get the chance to get in the ring, but he would soon about realize his dream when EAW wanted to sign him as a wrestler. He knew that signing with EAW meant that his poker playing would be limited, but he was happy to risk his first career to have a chance at his childhood dream. Donovan is ready to break out on his own and do what it takes to live his dream, tell his story, and prove himself in the world of wrestling.
>>Strengths/Weaknesses:<<
>No Fear: Donovan is not afraid of anybody and will never back down from a fight against any opponent no matter how much bigger or stronger they are.
>Adaptable: Donovan considers himself an all-around wrestler. He can change his style to match or get the advantage over his opponent...no matter the size or experience level
>Underestimated: Some opponents immediately underestimate him because he's one of the smaller members of the EAW roster. He knows it too and takes full advantage of that when the match begins.
>Reading Opponents: His years of poker playing have given Donovan an uncanny ability to read opponents by their eyes, body language, or movements. That helps him stay two steps ahead of his opponents and keep them off-kilter.
>Never Say Die: Very persistent/stubborn. Will keep fighting until he absolutely has nothing left.
>Powerful: Even as one of the smallest men on the roster, he can show off his power and feats of strength against his larger opponents when given the opportunity.
>Mouthy: Donovan isn't afraid to speak what is on his mind (good or bad) and that can either help his cause...sometimes get him into trouble.
>Small: Donovan is one of the smallest men on the roster, so that gives his larger opponents an better chance of overpowering him.
In-Ring Achievements:
24/7 Contract Battle Royal Winner (Pain for Pride XIV)
National Elite Champion (King of Elite 2022-King of Elite 2023)
>7 Successful Title Defenses
>363 Days (Longest Reign in EAW History)
MVE Awards:
Rising Star of the Week #243, #254, #283, #290
Beef of the Week #296, #303, #310, #314
Match of the Week #301, #310, #313, #314
Champion of the Week #314, #332, #336
Most Valuable Elitist #301, #314
Common Moves:
Suplex Variations1. German
2. Northern Lights
3. Belly to Belly
4. Dragon
5. Tiger
6. Double Armed
7. Rolling Chaos Theory
8. Superplex
9. Delayed Vertical (If he wants to show a little bit of strength)
10. 21-Plex
11. Japanese Ocean Cyclone
12. Slingshot
Acrobatic & High Flying/ Top Rope2. Somersault Leg Drop
3. Springboard Handspring Elbow
4. Cartwheel DDT
5. Handspring Stunner
6. Hurricanrana
7. Headscissor Variations
8. Moonsault (Can also do a standing variation)
9. Shooting Star Press (Can also do a standing variation)
10. Suicide Dive
11. 450 Splash
12. Top Rope Crossbody
13. Dragonrana
14. Missile Dropkick
15. Tornado DDT
16. Frankensteiner
17. Tope con Hilo
18. Superplex
Power2. Powerbomb
3. Spinebuster
4. Running Powerslam
5. Fallaway Slam
6. Sitout Dominator
7. Cliffhanger DDT
8. Vertebreaker
Kicks2. Superkick
3. Spinning Heel Kick
4. Dragon Whip
5. Dropkick
6. Pele Kick
7. Savate Kick
Submissions2. Triangle Choke
3. Ankle Lock
4. Boston Crab
5. Fujiwara Armbar
6. Rear-Naked Choke
7. Haas of Pain
Other Moves2. DDT Variations
3. Sitout Facebuster
4. Fireman's Carry into Sidewalk Slam
5. Running Knee Lift
6. Sitout Jawbreaker
7. Clothesline Variations
8. Lariat Variations
9. Sitout Full Nelson Facebuster
10. "Ole Reliable" Right Hook to the Jaw
11. Spear
Signature Moves:1. “Dealer’s Choice”, Spinning Back Fist
2. “Drawing Dead", Michinoku Driver
3. “Southern Hospitality”, Headlock Lariat into a Backbreaker
4. “Gambler's Roulette", Giant Swing
5. “Stack the Deck”, Phoenix Splash
6. "Place Your Bet", Double Chickenwing into a Swinging Reverse STO aka Hurts Donut
Finishing Moves:1. “Royal Flush”, Widow’s Peak
2. “Bankrupt”, Guillotine Choke Submission
3. “Duke of Hazard”, Fireman's carry back-to-belly piledriver (Hiromu Takahashi's Time Bomb)
UF. "Eye of the Storm", Grapevine Dragon Sleeper
NOTES
Has a bit of a nerdy side. He does play video games (OK more like tries) on his down time when not playing cards or training.
Hates the thought of submitting during a match. He will do whatever he can to fight through the pain, but he's realistic and doesn't want to risk injury. If he sees that there is absolutely no chance for survival, he will give it up to fight another day.
A student of the game. Does varying types of training to keep in shape, tie everything together, and diversify his wrestling arsenal. Outside of wrestling, Donovan loves to do MMA (training his grappling, striking, and submission skills) and occasionally gymnastics (training his high-flying and acrobatic skills and accuracy).
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