Drew Hankinson

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Drew Hankinson
An image of Drew Hankinson.
Statistics
Ring name(s) Festus[1]
Festus Dalton[1]
Justice Dalton[1]
Dargon
Deacon Deville[1]
Dorian Deville[1]
(The) Freakin' Deacon[1]
"Imposter Kane"[1]
Billed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)[2]
Billed weight 330 lb (150 kg)[1]
Born December 22, 1984 (1984-12-22) (age 23)[3]
Cumberland, Maryland
Billed from Purgatory (as (The) Freakin' Deacon)
Trained by Bill DeMott
DSW Training staff

Andrew William "Drew" Hankinson (born December 22, 1984)[3] is an American professional wrestler currently signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) appearing on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Festus.

Contents

Career

Early career

Hankinson began his career in Pennsylvania with the World Star Wrestling Federation (AWA/World Star Wrestling), Summit Wrestling Association of Southern Pennsylvania, and Maryland-based National Wrestling League, wrestling as Dorian Deville. In April 2005, he was signed to a contract by World Wrestling Entertainment and assigned to the Deep South Wrestling (DSW) developmental territory, where he formed a partnership with Palmer Cannon. Hankinson wrestled in DSW as Deacon Deville before changing his ring name to The Freakin' Deacon.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Impostor Kane (2006)

On May 29, 2006, the Wrestling Observer reported that Hankinson debuted on Raw, confronting Kane while dressed in Kane's original ring attire, complete with a full face mask. Without saying a word, Hankinson chokeslammed Kane. The two continued to battle one another over subsequent weeks, the impersonator continually gaining the upper hand; this led to a match being scheduled for Vengeance. Hankinson went on to defeat Kane at Vengeance with a chokeslam. On the following episode of Raw, Hankinson was beaten down by the real Kane, who then tore the mask from his face and threw him out of the arena, claiming that it belonged to him. This marked Hankinson's last appearance on Raw.

Following his feud with Kane, Hankinson returned to Deep South Wrestling, in addition to appearing at SmackDown! house shows as The Freakin' Deacon. In late January he formed a tag team with G-Rilla.

SmackDown! (2007-present)

On the May 11, 2007 edition of SmackDown, a vignette aired suggesting that Hankinson would be repackaged as Festus Dalton as part of a tag team using a 'Southern' gimmick, alongside fellow WWE developmental talent Ray Gordy. On June 2, 2007, however, it was reported that WWE was dropping the "Dalton Boys" gimmick. The explanation for the reason they didn't show up on Smackdown was because (kayfabe) they got lost on their way to the arena. Hankinson and Gordy had actually been sent back to OVW and Hankinson changed his name to Justice Dalton. It marked the second time Hankinson had been dropped from the main roster.

On the June 29, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, vignettes hyping Jesse and Festus began to air. On the September 7, 2007 edition of SmackDown!, there was a segment featuring Jesse and Festus now actually in the arena rather than in a studio. On October 5th, Hankinson won his debut match on Smackdown! with his partner Jesse. When the opening bell rang, Festus' persona changed into a very focused competitor as compared to the aloof, absent-minded character he had portrayed. When the bell rang signifying the end of the match, Festus returned to his "normal" self. On the December 21, 2007 of Smackdown!, Hankinson defeated Deuce in a Santa Match with both of them wearing Santa Claus outfits.[4] On the January 25 edition of Smackdown Jesse explained the reason they haven't been around since the new year is because Festus has been seeing doctors about his "problems".

In 2008, Jesse and Festus came out and before the bell rang Jesse explained that Festus has been changed. After the bell rang Festus changed into his determined and monstrous face. Festus did not change and continues to make a determined and monstrous face after the bell has rung.

On the March 21, 2008 edition of SmackDown, Jesse and Festus had a chance to face John Morrison and The Miz for the WWE Tag Team Championships; Morrison and The Miz retained their titles in this match.[5] Festus received his first loss against The Undertaker on the April 11, 2008 edition of Smackdown after passing out while in the gogoplata.[6]

In wrestling

  • Finishing and signature moves
  • As Festus / Festus Dalton
  • As (The) Freakin' Deacon
  • As Imposter Kane
  • Nicknames
  • "The Corn-Fed Colossus"
  • Signature taunts
  • As the imposter Kane, he imitated Kane's behaviors in the ring.
  • Festus' character is that of a mentally retarded man until the bell rings to begin the match. At the sound of the bell, Festus' face shifts to become determined and monstrous. Upon the bell at the end of the match, Festus' face returns to "normal".
  • His tag team partner Jesse, is always complementing his face by saying "That is the face of a etc." or anything else related to that term.

Championships and accomplishments

  • National Wrestling League
  • NWL Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Summit Wrestling Association
  • SWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Vanguard Championship Wrestling
  • VCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Festus Profile. Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-03-21.
  2. ^ Wrestling Informaton Archive - WWE Current Roster and Statistics
  3. ^ a b Festus. Gerweck. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  4. ^ Lennie DiFino (December 21, 2007). Saint Nick slugfest. WWE. Retrieved on 2009-01-09.
  5. ^ WWE SmackDown! 21 March, 2008 Results. Pro-Wrestling Edge. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  6. ^ WWE SmackDown 11 April, 2008 Results. Pro-Wrestling Edge. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.

References

External links

Professional wrestling
Portal