Editing Brian Christopher

{{about|the professional wrestler|the lacrosse player|Brian Christopher (lacrosse)}}
{{short description|American professional wrestler (1972–2018)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name        = Brian Christopher
| image       = Brian Lawler with a fan.jpg
| caption     = Christopher in 2000
| birth_name  = Brian Christopher Lawler
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1972|1|10}}
| birth_place = [[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2018|7|29|1972|1|10}}
| death_place = [[Bolivar, Tennessee]], U.S.
| parents     = [[Jerry Lawler]] (father)<br />Kay Lawler (mother)
| relatives   = [[The Honky Tonk Man]] (cousin once removed)
| names       = Brian Christopher<ref name="OWOW" /><br />Brian Lawler<ref name="OWOW" /><br />El Unico<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/brian-christopher/|title=Brian Lawler Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=February 20, 2008}}</ref><br />Grand Master Sexay<ref name="OWOW" /> Grandmaster Sexay<ref name="OWOW" />
| height      = 5 ft 10 in<ref name="OWOW" />
| weight      = 213 lb<ref name="OWOW" />
| billed      = Memphis, Tennessee
| trainer     = [[Jerry Lawler]]<ref name="OWOW" />
| debut       = 1988<ref name="OWOW" />
| retired     = 2018<ref name="OWOW" />
| death_cause = [[Suicide by hanging]]
}}
'''Brian Christopher Lawler'''<ref name="OWOW" /> (January 10, 1972 – July 29, 2018)<ref name="OWOW" /> was an American [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. He is best remembered for his career in the World Wrestling Federation (now [[WWE]]), where he performed as "Too Sexy" '''Brian Christopher''' and '''Grand Master Sexay'''. Lawler was a one-time [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Champion]] as part of [[Too Cool]] with [[Scotty 2 Hotty]], and won 44 titles within the [[United States Wrestling Association]], the promotion formerly co-owned by his father, professional wrestler [[Jerry Lawler]].<ref name="OWOW" />

== Professional wrestling career ==
{{Moresources|section|date=November 2021}}
=== United States Wrestling Association (1988–1997) ===
Lawler began his career as one half of the masked tag team "The Twilight Zone" with Tony Williams under the individual ring names of Nebula (Lawler) and Quasar (Williams). After they were unmasked, Brian continued to wrestle in the [[United States Wrestling Association]] under the name "Too Sexy" Brian Christopher. He feuded with wrestlers such as [[Jeff Jarrett]], [[Bill Dundee]], [[Tom Prichard]], and [[The Moondogs (professional wrestling)|The Moondogs]], and his father [[Jerry Lawler]]. Among his partners were [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] (known as Flex Kavana at the time), Tony Williams (as the New Kids), [[Doug Gilbert]], [[Raven (wrestler)|Scotty Flamingo]], and [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert]].

=== World Wrestling Federation (1997–2001) ===
{{also|Too Cool}}
[[Image:WWE - London 6+70500 (34).jpg|thumb|Lawler as Grandmaster Sexay (left) with [[Scotty 2 Hotty]] as [[Too Cool]] in 1999.]]
Lawler, still known as Brian Christopher, joined the [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) in 1997 and began competing in the light heavyweight division. [[Taka Michinoku]] defeated him in the finals of a tournament for the [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship|Light Heavyweight Championship]]. In mid-1998, he started teaming up with [[Scotty 2 Hotty|Scott "Too Hot" Taylor]] to form the [[tag team]] ''Too Much''. When he was known as Brian Christopher, his father [[Jerry Lawler]] would talk him up as being superior to all the other Light Heavyweights but never publicly acknowledged that Brian was his son, although after [[Paul Heyman]] revealed that fact on ''Raw'', [[Jim Ross]] (Jerry's broadcast partner) always hinted at it. Often a running joke was that someone (usually a commentator) would mention their relationship, which led to both of them adamantly denying that they were related.

On the June 13, 1999, episode of ''[[WWE Sunday Night Heat|Heat]]'', Brian and Scott adopted the ring names Grand Master Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty, returning after a hiatus. Their tag team was renamed [[Too Cool]], and they were later joined by [[Rikishi (wrestler)|Rikishi]]. They defeated [[Edge & Christian]] in May 2000 on ''Raw'' to become the [[World Tag Team Championship|Tag Team Champions]]. They were even occasionally involved with top-card feuds, notably being enemies to the McMahon-Helmsley Faction and their associates, such as [[The Radicalz]], Edge and Christian, and [[T & A (professional wrestling)|T & A]]. The trio's run ended in late 2000 when Rikishi was revealed as the man behind the wheel of the car that hit [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] at [[Survivor Series (1999)|Survivor Series]]. Shortly after, Rikishi turned on his teammates. While Scotty was sidelined in 2001 with a broken ankle, Lawler formed a short-lived tag team with [[Steve Blackman]]. In June 2001, he was released from the WWF for [[Illegal drug trade|illegally conveying drugs]] across the Canada–United States border.<ref name="Mooneyham"/>

=== World Wrestling All-Stars (2001–2002) ===
In November and December 2001, Lawler (as Brian Christopher) wrestled in the United Kingdom and Ireland for [[World Wrestling All-Stars]] (WWA). On February 24, 2002, at the WWA pay per view "The Revolution" in the United States, Lawler wrestled WWA Heavyweight Champion [[Jeff Jarrett]] for the title, but lost. In April 2002, at the WWA pay-per-view "The Eruption" in Australia, Lawler teamed with [[Ernest Miller]] to defeat [[Buff Bagwell]] and [[Stevie Ray]].<ref name="KreikenbohmWWA"/>

=== NWA Total Nonstop Action (2002–2003) ===
From 2002 until 2003, he worked for [[NWA Total Nonstop Action]] as Brian Lawler. He formed a group called Next Generation with fellow second generation stars [[David Flair]] and [[Erik Watts]]. They were involved in a rivalry with Dusty Rhodes and harassed him with a replica of the [[NWA World Title]] belt that he wore when he was champion.<ref name="KreikenbohmTNA"/>

=== Return to World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2004–2014) ===
Lawler returned to WWE as Grand Master Sexay on April 12, 2004, but he was released the following month.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Greenberg |first1=Keith Elliot |title=Did WWE Star Grandmaster Sexay Have to Die? |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-grandmaster-sexay-wwe-star-brian-christopher-lawler-have-to-die |website=The Daily Beast |access-date=24 November 2021 |language=en |date=22 September 2019}}</ref>

On the March 14, 2011 episode of ''Raw'', Lawler returned to the WWE as a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] in a segment between [[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]] and his father, Jerry Lawler, where Brian would side with Cole, saying that he felt that Jerry never cared for him and that he was ashamed to be his son. Lawler indirectly agreed, telling Brian that he was a bigger screw-up than [[Charlie Sheen]]. 

Lawler returned to the WWE on January 6, 2014, appearing on the "Old School" edition of ''Raw'' and reuniting with Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty to take on [[3MB (professional wrestling)|3MB]] in a six-man tag team match. His team was successful in winning. He made what would be his final WWE appearance, on [[NXT Arrival]] in February 2014 as part of Too Cool in a losing effort as mystery opponents to [[The Ascension (professional wrestling)|The Ascension]], who defended their [[NXT Tag Team Championship]].

=== Independent circuit (2007–2017) ===
[[Image:Too Cool vs Orlando Jordan and Umaga.jpg|thumb|Christopher (right) taking part in the Hulkamania Let the Battle Begin Tour in 2009.]]
In July 2007, Christopher reunited with Scotty 2 Hotty at the UWF Rock 'n' Roll Express Tag Team Tournament, after Scotty was released by WWE. 

In 2009, he worked for the Hulkamania Let the Battle Begin Tour in Australia where he teamed with Rikishi.  

In 2014, Christopher and Scotty 2 Hotty continued teaming together in the independent circuit, England and Germany until 2016. 

On the weekend of September 22 and 23, 2017, Christopher teamed with his dad and [[Doug Gilbert]] for two matches to [[Terry Funk]] and The [[Rock 'n' Roll Express]] for Big Time Wrestling in Raleigh, [[North Carolina]] and [[Spartanburg]], [[South Carolina]], both resulting in a loss. 

Christopher's last match was on November 11, 2017 where he defeated Donnie Primetime for Georgia Premier Wrestling in Canton, Georgia.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

==Personal life==
Lawler was a [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] fan, in [[Browns–Steelers rivalry|stark contrast]] to his father, who is a diehard [[Cleveland Browns]] fan. According to his brother Kevin, Lawler was buried in a Steelers-themed casket with his ring name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2018/08/photo-brian-christopher-brother-reveals-custom-grand-master-644404/|title=Photo: Brian Christopher's Brother Reveals Custom "Grand Master Sexay" Casket|date=August 2, 2018|website=Wrestling Inc.|language=en|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref>

Lawler was arrested in February 2009 for [[disorderly conduct]].<ref name="June09-arrest"/> On June 26, 2009, he was arrested for [[public intoxication]] just before 3 a.m. According to the police report, he "became very belligerent" once in custody and threatened the police officer who arrested him.<ref name="June09-arrest">{{cite web|url=http://wbbjtv.com/NewsStories/090626FormerWWEWrestlerArrested.html|title=Former WWE Wrestler Arrested|date=June 26, 2009|access-date=June 28, 2009|publisher=[[WBBJ-TV]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630062111/http://wbbjtv.com/NewsStories/090626FormerWWEWrestlerArrested.html|archive-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> On July 13, 2009, he was jailed for 30 days after failing to attend an in-patient treatment center as part of his plea agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_33582.shtml#.VYbBi-lRGM9|title=Other News: Judge decides jail sentence for Brian Christopher, the son of Jerry Lawler |access-date=June 21, 2015|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch | date=July 14, 2009 | first=James | last=Caldwell}}</ref>

==Death==
Around 1 a.m. EDT on July 7, 2018, Lawler was again jailed for [[driving under the influence]], and for [[Resisting arrest|evading]] police.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2018/07/24/wwe-grandmaster-sexay-arrested-dui-brian-christopher-lawler/|title = Ex-WWE Grandmaster Sexay Arrested for DUI, Allegedly Ran from Cops|newspaper = TMZ}}</ref> On the early morning of July 29, 2018, Lawler was found hanging in a cell at the [[Hardeman County, Tennessee|Hardeman County]] Jail and was observed to be brain dead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/brian-christopher-pronounced-brain-dead-after-suicide-attempt-262701|title=Brian Christopher pronounced brain dead after suicide attempt|author=Meltzer, Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=July 29, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2018|website=f4wonline.com}}</ref> His life support was disabled a few hours after his father [[Jerry Lawler]] had arrived to the hospital to see him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/brian-christopher-passes-away-46-years-old-262716|title=Brian Christopher passes away at 46 years old|author=Meltzer, Dave|author-link=Dave Meltzer|date=July 29, 2018|access-date=July 29, 2018|website=f4wonline.com}}</ref> Lawler was pronounced dead at around 4:40&nbsp;p.m. EDT at the age of 46.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/119228/update-brian-christopher-lawler-taken-off-life-support-passes-away-at-46-years-old.html?p=1|title=UPDATE: BRIAN CHRISTOPHER LAWLER TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT, PASSES AWAY AT 46 YEARS OLD|author=Johnson, Mike|date=July 29, 2018|access-date=July 30, 2018|website=pwinsider.com}}</ref> 

On the one year anniversary of his death, Jerry Lawler filed a [[wrongful death claim|wrongful death lawsuit]] against Hardeman County, Hardeman County Sheriff John Doolen, and others for allegedly failing to protect Lawler. He alleged that Doolen had personally promised to "keep an eye" on Lawler after he was incarcerated. The lawsuit was later dismissed.

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''Hoosier Pro Wrestling'''
**HPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with [[Doug Gilbert]]
*'''Lethal Attitude Wrestling'''
**LAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*'''Memphis Superstars of Wrestling'''
**MSW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*'''[[Memphis Wrestling]]'''
**[[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1288988253 |title=Former WWE star wins Southern title |last=Gerweck |first=Steve |work=WrestleView |date=November 5, 2010 |access-date=November 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927014647/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1288988253 |archive-date=September 27, 2012 }}</ref>
**Memphis Wrestling Television Championship (1 time)
*'''[[Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2022
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
**[[NWA North American Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) – with [[Harry Del Rios|Spellbinder]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=623|title=NWA North American Tag Team Championship history}}</ref>
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] New South'''
**New South Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*'''Powerhouse Championship Wrestling'''
**PCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*'''[[Power Pro Wrestling]]'''
**[[Power Pro Wrestling Television Championship|PPW Television Championship]] ([[Power Pro Wrestling Television Championship#Title History|1 time]])
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
**Ranked No. 367 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707054220/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi500yr.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref>
*'''Ultimate Christian Wrestling'''
**UCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Billy Jack<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/other/2007-10.html|title=Independent Wrestling Results – October 2007|access-date=July 4, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
*'''[[United States Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship|USWA Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship#Title history|26 times]])
**[[USWA Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[USWA Junior Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**[[AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship|USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship]] ([[AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship#United States Wrestling Association|8 times]])
**[[NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship|USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref name=TexasBook>{{cite book| last1=Will | first1=Gary | first2=Royal | last2= Duncan | title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000 | location=Pennsylvania | chapter=Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich] | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 | pages=268–269}}</ref><ref name=TexasWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/tx-h.html | title= NWA Texas Heavyweight Title | access-date=March 30, 2017 | work=Wrestling-Titles}}</ref>
**[[USWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[USWA World Tag Team Championship#Title history|6 times]]) – with Big Black Dog (1), [[Raven (wrestler)|Scotty Anthony]] (1), [[Jeff Jarrett]] (2), [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]] (1) and [[Wolfie D]] (1)
**[[GWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] ([[GWF Light Heavyweight Championship#title history|2 times]])
*'''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]'''
**[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|1 time]]) – with [[Scotty 2 Hotty]]<ref name="tagteamWWF">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112113|title=Too Cool|date=May 29, 2000|access-date=January 30, 2008|publisher=WWE|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050706065742/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112113|archive-date=July 6, 2005}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of premature professional wrestling deaths]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="KreikenbohmTNA">{{cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1037&page=4&promotion=5 |title=Brian Christopher - matches - Impact Wrestling |access-date=June 14, 2022 |first=Philip |last=Kreikenbohm |website=Cagematch.net }}</ref>

<ref name="KreikenbohmWWA">{{cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1037&page=4&promotion=37 |title=Brian Christopher - matches - World Wrestling All-Stars |access-date=June 14, 2022 |first=Philip |last=Kreikenbohm |website=Cagematch.net }}</ref>

<ref name="Mooneyham">{{cite web |url=http://mikemooneyham.com/2001/06/02/brian-lawler-busted-at-the-border/ |title=Brian Lawler busted at the border |access-date=June 14, 2022 |first=Mike |last=Mooneyham |website=MikeMooneyham.con |date=June 2, 2001 }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Christopher, Brian}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
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