Daniel Marshall Wheeler (May 17, 1987) is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Dash Wilder. Along with Scott Dawson, he is one-half of the former two-time NXT Tag Team Champions, The Revival.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2005-2014)
Walters appeared in his first professional match on the November 12, 2005 taping for Live Action Wrestling losing to Lodi. The following year during the January 13, 2006 LAW taping, Walters lost to Kirby Mack. On the March 3, 2007 edition of NWA Anarchy Wrestling, Walters teamed with Derrick Driver in a losing tag team match against The Hollywood Brunettes (Andrew Alexander & Kyle Matthews). On April 7, Walters teamed with Driver again to unsuccessfully face Brandon Phoenix & Brodie Ray Chase. On the April 21 episode of NWA Anarchy, Walters and Driver won against the team of the Texas Hitmen (Big Dogg & Skitzo). On May 5 edition of NWA Anarchy, Walters and Driver participated in an Eight-Team Rumble match won by Adrian Hawkins & Seth Delay. On the May 19, episode of NWA Anarchy TV, Walters and Driver teamed with Billy Buck and Jeff Jameson, in a losing tag match against The Anger Alliance (Adam Roberts, Brandon Phoenix, Brodie Chase & Don Matthews). During the June 2 episode of NWA Anarchy TV, Walters and Driver defeated Sex And Money (Andrew Pendelton III & Caleb Konley). On June 23, at NWA Anarchy Hostile Environment 2007, Steven Walters and Derrick Driver lost to The Anger Alliance and team Sex And Money in a three-team tag match. During the title hunt for the NWA Anarchy Tag Team Championship, as The New Wave, Steve Walter and Derrick Driver won their Number One Contendership on the August 2, 2008 episode of NWA Anarchy TV against The Devil's Rejects (Azrael & Shaun Tempers) the champions. They went on to win the NWA Anarchy Tag Team Champion from team NWA Elite (Kimo & Shatter) on the August 16 episode of NWA Anarchy TV. During the remainder of his career in NWA Anarchy, Walters won the NWA Anarachy Television Championship.
Debuting in NWA Charlotte on January 24, 2009 with Derrick Driver, in a tag team named The New Wave, they defeated The Naturals (Andy Douglas & Chase Stevens). At NWA Charlotte Thorns & Roses on February 14, Walters and Driver beat Jeff Lewis & Zack Salvation. On February 28, at NWA Charlotte Power Struggle, Driver and Walters defeated Malachi & Vordell Walker. On March 14, Walters and Driver defeated Team Ego (Abel Adams & Will Snapp) at NWA Charlotte Know Thy Enemy. During April 11, at NWA Charlotte Final Destination - The End Of The Beginning, Walters and Driver defeated Team Ego (Abel Adams & Will Snapp) and The American Gangsters (Frank & Nicky). All total, The New Wave had nine matches and won all of them, including their last match at NWA Charlotte Queen City Tag Team Classic on May 30, which was also the last event for the promotion as it shut down after that date.
Walters debuted in Showtime Allstar Wrestling on December 11, 2010 at SAW Fight Before Christmas, Walters was defeated by Kid Kash in singles action. He wrestled his remaining SAW matches under the ring name Daniel Wheeler. On April 1, at a joint promotion of United States Wrestling Organization and Southern Allstar Wrestling, Wheeler was defeated by the Jeremiah Plunkett. Plunkett would defeat Wheeler again during the April 23, 2011 episode of SAW TV. Walters debuted in Resistance Pro Wrestling at January 13, 2012 at RPW Rise, losing to Jay Bradley. On February 17, at RPW Vicious Circle Walters defeated The Sheik, before losing to The Sheik at RPW Obsession on March 23, in a Falls Count Anywhere match. On May 11, Walters teamed with The Sheik to defeat team Lethal Weapon (Cedric Alexander & John Skyler) RPW A Small Deadly Space. On February 17, at RPW Vicious Circle Walters defeated The Sheik, before losing to The Sheik at RPW Obsession on March 23, in a Falls Count Anywhere match. On May 11, Walters teamed with The Sheik to defeat team Lethal Weapon (Cedric Alexander & John Skyler) RPW A Small Deadly Space. On September 14, at RPW Just A Game, Walters lost to Rob Anthony. On November 30, Walters teamed with Jocephus in a tag team four-way for the vacant RPW Tag Team Championship, losing to team Lock Up (Aaron Epic & Suge D. On February 17, at RPW Vicious Circle Walters defeated The Sheik, before losing to The Sheik at RPW Obsession on March 23, in a Falls Count Anywhere match. On May 11, Walters teamed with The Sheik to defeat Lethal Weapon (Cedric Alexander & John Skyler) RPW A Small Deadly Space. On September 14, at RPW Just A Game, Walters lost to Rob Anthony. On November 30, Walters teamed with Jocephus in a tag team four-way for the vacant RPW Tag Team Championship, losing to team Lock Up (Aaron Epic & Suge D at RPW Sad Wings Of Destiny. On January 18, 2013 at RPW Stay Hungry, unsuccessfully faced Mr. 450 in singles action. This would be his last RPW match.
With Derrick Driver, the team of New Wave returned to NWA Charlotte on January 23, 2010 where they defeated Team Macktion (Kirby Mack & TJ Mack). They followed their victory with a consecutive win over Aden Chambers & Kirby Mack at NWA Charlotte on January 24, 2011. Walters participated in the title run for NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, first appearing in Round One of the title's tournament, in which he lost to Chase Owens, on October 7, at NWA Revival. On May 4, 2011 Walters debuted in Pro Wrestling Syndicate at PWS Refuse To Lose 2012 where he defeated VSK.
Debuting in Pro Wrestling EVO April 24, 2012 at EVO Vive La EVOlucion Walters and his tag partner John Skyler would meet as opponents in a singles match ending with Walters defeating his tag partner. At EVO This One Is For The Haters, on September 28, Walters was defeated by Lodi. This would be his last EVO match. On January 21, 2012 Walters debuted in New York Wrestling Connection at NYWC Sideshow, Walters was defeated by Papadon in Walters' first and only NYWC match.
On October 5, 2012 Walters debuted in Premiere Wrestling Xperience defeated Billy Brash at PWX An Evil Twist Of Fate. On November 22, 2013, Walters defeated Lance Lude at PWX Climbing The Ladder. He returned to PWX on February 16, 2014 to wrestle at PWX Rise Of A Champion IX - Night 2, winning a victory over Oliver Grimsly. During the March 16 PWX TV Taping, Walters and long-time tag partner John Skyler again faced each other in a singles match that ended in a double count-out.
On August 17, 2012 Walters debuted in Preston City Wrestling where he had the rare opportunity to wrestle outside of the United States and compete in the United Kingdom. At PCW One But Not Forgotten - 1st Anniversary, Walters wrestled against Noam Dar, Bubblegum, Dean Allmark, Joey Hayes and Martin Kirby in a six-way match for the vacant PCW Cruiserweight Championship. The match was won by Dar. On December 7, 2012 Walters debuted in United States Wrestling Organization where he competed for the vacant ATL Heavyweight Championship, losing to Drew Haskins.
While in the United Kingdom, Walters worked a total of 16 matches involving singles and tag team action. The first of these including his debuts in All Star Wrestling and Union Of European Wrestling Alliances involving teaming with his old partner John Skyler to defeat Robbie Dynamite & Tony Spitfire on July 6, 2013. On July 16, Walters teamed with Skyler again in a losing tag match against Marty Scurll & Mexx. On July 18, Walters faced and lost to Robbie Dynamite in singles action, before teaming with Avalanche, John Skyler, Sam Elias in a losing match against Dean Allmark, Frankie Sloan, James Mason & Mexx. Walters would then suffer two straight losses to Kenbai on July 23 and July 24. He turned his losing streak around quickly with a victory on July 25, over Jamie Sleight. On July 27, Walters teamed with The Bravado Brothers in a losing effort against Walters' partner John Skyler, Kenbai & Nathan Cruz. On the following show, on July 28, the Lionhearts (Eddie Ryan & Jason Larusso) beat John Skyler and Steven Walters. Walters came back from this loss with three straight victories against Nathan Cruz in singles action from July 30, 31, and August 1. On August 3, John Skyler and Walters were defeated by Kenbai & Tony Spitfire. Walters then lost to Justin Starr on August 4 before gaining his last victory against Tony Teeside on August 7. Walters finished his ASW/UEWA tour, with a defeat to Nathan Cruz on August 27. Walters traveled to Japan, where he wrestled for Pro Wrestling ZERO1. His first match was on March 3, 2013 at ZERO1_TWELVE - Night 1 in a six-man tag match, teaming with Jo Kyung-Ho and KAMIKAZE to defeat Craig Classic, Shito Ueda Yusaku Obata. On March 6, at ZERO1_TWELVE - Night 2, Walters, along with Jack Anthony, Maybach Beta won a six-man tag match against Mineo Fujita, Takuya Sugawara and Yuki Sato. Walters would again win a third six-man tag match on March 31, teaming with Maybach Beta and Tama Williams to take on and defeat KAMIKAZE, Ryouji Sai and YO-HEY at ZERO1 Yasukuni Shrine Festival. On April 15, Walters unsuccessfully challenged for the ZERO1 World Junior Heavyweight Championship, losing to the Champion Takuya Sugawara at ZERO1 Far And Away. This would conclude Walters' two-month stint in Japan and with Pro ZERO1.
Walters made his Dragon Gate debut on November 11, 2013 at DGUSA Fearless 2013, where he teamed with Biff Busick in a losing tag match against Andrew Everett and Caleb Konley. He made his last DGUSA appearance on November 17, at DGUSA Freedom Fight 2013, in a losing singles match against Jon Davis. On January 15, 2013 Walters made his only Organization Of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts OMEGA appearance in a losing tag match, teaming with John Skyler to take on Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander at OMEGA Chinlock For Chuck. Walters made an appearance in a joint promotion for Pro Wrestling Chattanooga and Allied Independent Wrestling Federations on June 21, 2013 in an AIWF World Heavyweight Championship match, successfully challenging the champion Kyle Matthews.
Debuting in WrestleForce on April 21, 2012 at WrestleForce Spring Fling III: Extreme Warfare, he wrestled two matches during a WrestleForce Championship Tournament. The after advancing in the first round, Walters was eliminated by his tag team partner John Skyler during the semifinals. Walters would avenge his loss with a victory over Caleb Konley. On October 20, at WrestleForce Fall Brawl 3: All Or Nothing, Walters would defeat Caleb Konley again. On November 30, at WrestleForce Proving Ground, Walters would again lost to his tag partner John Skyler. At WrestleForce 4Saken on December 8, The Love Hate Machine (Skyler and Walters) won a four-team tag match against Josie Michael's House Of Style (BJ Hancock & Michael Frehley), team LEGIT (Brandon Paradise & Eric Bradford) and The Twisted Metal Rebels (Hammer & Hex). On February 9, 2013 The Love Hate Machine was defeated by the team of TNA superstars Crimson and Gunner at WrestleForce Aggression. On May 17, Walters defeated Ryan Edmonds at WrestleForce Revenge. On June 15, at WrestleForce Showdown In The Falls 2, Walters and Skyler challenged for the vacant WrestleForce Tag titles, losing to team of BJ Hancock and Michael Frehley. In a tag team series final held at the same event, Walters and Skyler defeated defeat The Twisted Metal Rebels (BA & Hexx). At WrestleForce Fall Brawl 4 - A Date With Fate, on September 21, Walters overcame a WrestleForce Tag Team Title Elimination match, defeating the tag champions BJ Hancock & Michael Frehley. At WrestleForce Aggression, on February 9, the Tag Champions Skyler and Walters successfully defended their titles against The Bravado Brothers. The champions would only enjoy their championships for only one more month before losing their titles to The Bravado Brothers on March 30, at WrestleForce Unleashed, in a Two Out Of Three Falls. On April 5, 2014 Walters debuted in East Coast Wrestling Association enduring another defeat in singles action against his tag partner John Skyler during the ECWA 18th Annual Super 8 Tournament, where he was eliminated in the first round by Skyler.
World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE
NXT (2014-2017)
Wheeler signed with WWE in 2014 and reported to the WWE Performance Center, taking the ring name Dash Wilder. He immediately formed a tag-team with Scott Dawson, with the two performing extensively at live events under the name The Mechanics. The duo made their debut on the July 17, 2014 episode of NXT, losing to Bull Dempsey and Mojo Rawley. The duo made only one further televised appearance in 2014, losing to Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady on the October 23 episode of NXT, but continued to wrestle extensively at house shows.
Dawson and Wilder's team resurfaced and picked up their first televised win on the July 29, 2015 episode of NXT, defeating Amore and Cassady. The duo were involved in an 8-man tag-team match that was taped prior to NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. At NXT TakeOver: Respect, Dawson and Wilder were defeated in the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic by eventual winners Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor. On the October 21 episode of NXT, The Mechanics' ring name was changed to Dash and Dawson. The duo would go on win the NXT Tag Team Championship from The Vaudevillains on the November 11 episode of NXT. They subsequently defended the titles against Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady at NXT TakeOver: London. Beginning in February 2016, the duo began performing under the team name The Revival. The two made their main roster debuts on March 12, 2016 at Roadblock, again successfully defending their championships against Amore and Cassady. On April 1 at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, The Revival lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan) but the two won back the titles from American Alpha two months later at NXT TakeOver: The End. At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, The Revival retained the titles against Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. In a rematch at NXT Takeover: Toronto, Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano won the NXT Tag Team Championship in a 2 out of 3 falls match. At NXT TakeOver: Orlando, Wilder and Dawson lost to The Authors of Pain in a triple threat match for the NXT Tag Team Championship, also involving DIY.
Main Roster (2017-present)
On the April 3 episode of Raw, The Revival answered an open challenge issued by The New Day. The Revival would defeat The New Day, and afterwards attack Kofi Kingston, who was not participating in the match, thus establishing themselves as heels. On July 17, Wilder and Dawson joined the RAW brand and made their debut on Monday Night Raw, defeating the The Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy). The following week on July 24, The Revival defeated members of The Club (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows).
On August 4, as part of the Live SummerSlam Heatwave Tour, The Revival embarked on a title hunt, feuding with the WWE RAW Tag Team Champions Cesaro & Sheamus. They were defeated in all three of their title matches over the course of the event tour. Four months later, returning from injuries, The Revival won their return match, defeating Heath Slater & Rhyno on December 18.
During the January 15th episode of Raw, The Revival won their first match of the new year, defeating Aaron Solow & Ricky Starks. They won a tag match at the Royal Rumble on January 28, defeating Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Double knee facebreaker - 2014
- Inverted Figure Four Leglock
- Piledriver- As Walters
- Signature moves
- Chop block
- Dropkick
- European uppercut
- Shin Breaker
- Spinbuster
- Tope Suicida
- With Scott Dawson
- Double team finishing moves
- Nicknames
- "The Fever"
- "The Powder Keg"
- Entrance Themes
- "Down South" by Chris Hodges (NXT; 2014 - 2015; used while teaming with Scott Dawson)
- "Attitude" by Deborah Difonzo (NXT; 6 November 2014)
- "Southern Proud" by CFO$ (NXT; May 13, 2015 – present; used while teaming with Scott Dawson)
- Teams and stables
- The Love Hate Machine with John Skyler
- The Revival with Scott Dawson (WWE 2014-present)
- New Wave with Derrick Driver
Championships and accomplishments
- Anarchy Wrestling
- NWA Anarchy Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Derrick Driver
- NWA Anarchy Television Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #132 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2016
- WrestleForce
- WrestleForce Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with John Skyler
- WWE NXT
- NXT Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Scott Dawson
- NXT Year-End Award (2 times)
- Match of the Year (2016) with Scott Dawson vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) in a two-out-of-three falls match for the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT TakeOver: Toronto
- Tag Team of the Year (2016) with Scott Dawson
