Scotty 2 Hotty

Scott Garland
File:Scotty2Hotty Worm.jpg
Born	(1973-07-02) July 2, 1973 Westbrook, Maine, USA
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Jeff Taylor Scott Taylor Scotty 2 Hotty Scotty Too Hotty
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight
Debut	November 23, 1989

Scott Taylor Garland (born July 2, 1973) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Scotty 2 Hotty. He is likely best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between 1997 and 2007.

Career

At the age of 15, Garland wrote to Sue Aitchison, the Community Relations Specialist of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), enquiring which professional wrestling school the WWF recruited the majority of their employees from. Aitchison responded by telling him that they did not recruit from any particular school and wishing him luck. Garland then attempted to telephone WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, but was unable to speak to McMahon himself.

Garland began attending WWF shows at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine, helping the WWF ring crew to construct the wrestling ring. After an independent promoter saw Garland wrestling with his friends, he offered Garland a job. In his first match, Garland wrestled Steve Ramsey in a Portland armory on November 23, 1989, the same night as Survivor Series.

In the same year, Garland began wrestling for the Massachusetts-based New England Wrestling Association. Between August 19, 1989 and November 4, 1993, Garland won the NEWA Tag Team Championship on two occasions with Steve Ramsey and the NEWA Heavyweight Championship on five occasions, feuding with wrestlers such as Rick Fuller. In 1991, Garland was introduced to the World Wrestling Federation by NEWA wrestler Phil Apollo.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

Garland made his first appearance with the World Wrestling Federation in October 1991, teaming with Sonny Blaze against the Beverly Brothers. Taylor continued to attend high school throughout his early WWF tenure, and in 1994, he supplemented his income by working as a Fleet Bank bank teller and as the assistant manager of a Spencer's Gifts outlet.

In 1997, Garland, by now working for an insurance company, planned to wrestle try-out matches for Extreme Championship Wrestling. Upon hearing of his plans, then-WWF Vice President of Talent Relations Bruce Prichard signed him to a contract. Garland began wrestling in the burgeoning WWF Light Heavyweight division as Scott Taylor. In late 1997, he took part in an eight-man tournament for the vacant WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, but was eliminated in the second round after being chokeslammed by Kane.

On March 29, 1998 at WrestleMania XIV, Garland and "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher teamed together for the first time, taking part in a tag team battle royal. Following WrestleMania XIV, Garland and Christopher continued to team together on the WWF's syndicated Saturday wrestling shows, with Taylor playing the straight man to Christopher's over-the-top, egotistical antics. Soon Garland adopted Christopher's flamboyant actions and in-ring mannerisms and became known as Scott "Too Hot" Taylor, with the duo dubbed Too Much. Too Much adopted an "ambiguously homosexual" gimmick similar to "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" from Saturday Night Live, and were scheduled to wed one another in a ceremony at the WWF St. Valentine's Day Massacre pay-per-view. The angle was, however, abandoned after Christopher's father, Jerry Lawler, objected.

In May 1999, Garland was renamed Scotty Too Hotty (later changed to Scotty 2 Hotty) and Christopher was renamed Grand Master Sexay. Collectively known as Too Cool, Garland and Christopher were given the gimmick of wiggers, delivering raps aimed at their opponents and parodying aspects of hip hop culture. Shortly after debuting their new gimmick, the team was temporarily separated after Christopher tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was sidelined for three months. In late 1999, Too Cool aligned themselves with Rikishi Fatu (whom they quickly renamed Rikishi Phatu), forming a stable. Following their matches, Too Cool and Phatu would performed a dance routine in the centre of the ring.

In early 2000, the group began feuding with The Radicalz. After Christopher re-injured his leg, Garland briefly returned to the Light Heavyweight division, and on April 17, 2000, he defeated Radicalz member Dean Malenko to win the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until April 25, 2000, when Malenko regained the title. Garland challenged Malenko once more at Backlash 2000, but was defeated once more. Christopher returned in mid-2000, and on May 29, 2000, Too Cool defeated Edge and Christian to win the WWF Tag Team Championship with the assistance of rapper Joe C. They held the titles until June 25, 2000, when Edge and Christian regained the titles.

Too Cool and Phatu separated in late 2000 after Phatu was revealed to have run over Steve Austin, with Phatu subsequently squashing his former allies in a handicap match. In February 2001, the intervertebral disc between Garland's C6 and C7 vertebrae bulged, and Garland was forced to undergo surgery. His absence was attributed by the WWF to a broken ankle suffered at the hands of Kurt Angle. Whilst Garland was recuperating, Christopher was released from the WWF for illegally conveying drugs across the United States-Canada border.

Garland returned to the ring in June 2001, taking part in the rivalry between the WWF and The Alliance. In late 2001, he formed an oddball tag team with Albert known as the Zoo Crew. The team competed in the tag team division until April 2002, when Albert betrayed Garland by attacking him. Soon thereafter, Garland began experiencing pains in his previously injured neck, and on May 9, 2002, Dr. Lloyd Youngblood performed neck surgery on Garland.

Garland spent 17 months recuperating, returning to the ring in April 2003 and to WWF (renamed World Wrestling Entertainment - WWE) television in October 2003. Wrestling on the SmackDown! brand, Garland formed a tag team with his former ally Rikishi Phatu. Garland and Rikishi competed in the tag team division, defeating the Basham Brothers to win the WWE Tag Team Championship on February 5, 2004. Garland and Rikishi successfully defended their titles in a four way tag team match at WrestleMania XX. Their reign ended on April 22, 2004 when they were defeated by Charlie Haas and Rico. On July 16, 2004, WWE released Rikishi.

Throughout the following year, Garland wrestled largely on Velocity and in dark matches. In mid-2005, he formed a tag team with Funaki, with the duo competing in both the tag team and cruiserweight divisions. Throughout 2006, Garland wrestled largely in dark matches.

In January 2007, Garland was briefly moved to the RAW brand. On February 16, 2007, he was transferred back to SmackDown!. On May 18, 2007, he was released from WWE.

Wrestling facts

• Finishing and signature moves
  • Worm (Garland normally precedes the Worm with a one-handed or two-handed bulldog. With his opponent rendered unconscious and left supine, Garland turns to face the audience, spreads his arms and pumps his legs. Garland then hops on one leg four times, with the audience generally chanting "W", "O", "R" and "M" in succession as his foot hits the ground. Garland then drops to his stomach and performs the "worm" breakdance move, slithering towards his still supine opponent. Upon reaching his opponent, Garland rises to his feet, swings his arms from side to side (with the audience generally whooping in time with each undulation) before dropping to his stomach and executing a chop drop on his opponent.)
  • Back suplex
  • Shuffle side kick
  • Tornado DDT

• Nicknames
  • "Gigolo" Jeff Taylor
  • "Lightning" Scott Taylor
  • "Rocket" Scott Taylor
  • Scott "Too Hot" Taylor

Championships and accomplishments

• New England Wrestling Association
  • NEWA Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
  • NEWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Steve Ramsey
• World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rikishi
  • WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Grand Master Sexay

Personal life

In autumn 1998, Garland married Theresa ("Terri"), a nurse. He and his wife have a daughter, Taylor Jayma, born in 2002. Taylor is a Walt Disney World afficionado, and owns a season pass to the park.

External links

• Scotty Too Hotty - Worm City