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Phil “Nitro” Monahan (born December 1, 1976), better known by his ring name Nitro, is an American professional wrestler and occasional actor. He has wrestled across the United States for numerous promotions as well as Hawaii and Alaska. Monahan has also wrestled overseas wrestling in Japan, South Korea, Guam, and Germany. He is a 3-time holder of the NWA National Heavyweight Championship and former holder of the NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship. His feud with Lou Marconi is considered by the NWA to be one of the organization's "fiercest rivalries" in recent years. Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Monahan # 2 of the top ten wrestlers during his time in the NWA. He is also a former AIWF World Tag Team Champion with Gideon Malice. In August2015, shortly after the death of Rowdy Roddy Piper, Monahan faced Piper’s arch rival Greg The Hammer Valentine in a dog collar as a tribute to Piper in Jackson, Mi. The match was featured in Pro Wrestling Illustrated. ]

•	1Professional wrestling career

Professional wrestling career Monahan started his professional wrestling career in June 1996. He was trained by JJ Bowers aka The Bounty Hunter. Monahan also trained at the Heartland Wrestling Association run by Les Thatcher. Monahan had his first singles match against GQ Masters in Hudson, Mi. His feud with Lou Marconi is considered by the NWA to be one of the organization's "fiercest rivalries" in recent years.[5] Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Monahan # 2 of the top ten wrestlers during his time in the NWA.[6]

Championship International Wrestling

Monahan started his career in Championship International Wrestling, CIW was owned and operated by Monahan’s trainer JJ Bowers. Soon after training Bowers took Monahan under his wing and started tag teaming as the Bounty Hunters, competing as JB Lawless, managed by The Dark Angel. The Bounty Hunters primarily competed in the Midwest, capturing various titles. Monahan and Bowers would re-invent themselves as a trio with Diceman Ronnie Vegas as The High Rollers. However, this would be short lived as they soon reverted back to their original Bounty Hunters Tag Team. Monahan would take over ownership of CIW in 1999, moving the base of operations from Waterloo, Indiana to Hillsdale, Mi. Demolition In early 1999 Monahan and Bowers formed Demolition 2000 with founding Demolition member Demolition Ax, Bill Eadie. The group teamed together for the next 2 years, with Monahan wrestling as Demolition Krash/Nitro, splitting time teaming w/ Bowers and Eadie. Monahan was booked on several events w Eadie as Demolition. In 2005, Monahan toured Asia working as Demolition Krash vs Powers of Pain member The Barbarian. The tour went thru Japan, North Korea, Guam and Hawaii with Monahan and Barbarian wrestling in falls count anywhere matches every night. A third member, Tom Kerr aka Demolition Blast/Mauler, also filled in with Eadie. When the original Demolition reunited in 2007, Monahan and Kerr, using the Demolition gimmick, started appearing as Atomic Demolition (a name Nikolai Volkoff came up with).

Tag Teams

Monahan has primarily competed in tag teams thru out his career. The Bounty Hunters w/Buck Lawless. Demolition 2000 w/ Ax and Sledge Mayhem w/brother Nick Chainsaw Monahan Atomic Demolition w/ Blast/Mauler War Machines w/Mauler Legion w/Malice (Chris Leep)

NWA

On September 14, 2013 Monahan defeated Damien Wayne in Toledo, Ohio for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship. On Oct. 20th in an NWA vs NJPW match up, Monahan successfully defended the title against New Japan’s Kushida. Monahan’s next high profile defense was against Rhino on January 19th in Toledo. Monahan defeated Sebastian Rose on March 1, 2014 to win the NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship in Hillsdale, Mi holding both titles simultaneously. Monahan would also be the first NWA National Champion to defend the championship in Europe, defeating Eddy Steinblock in Bremen Germany.

Feud with Lou Marconi

Monahan’s biggest feud of his career however started brewing in December 2013 after defeating Solomon Spades in North Carolina. Shortly an NWA Eastern States title defense by Lou Marconi against The Human Predator went awry when NWA National Heavyweight Champion Phil "Nitro" Monahan interfered in the match allowing Marconi's opponent to win the NWA Eastern States Championship. On January 18, 2014, Marconi wrestled on NWA Rage's debut show, "NWA Rage Invades Williamston", where he regained the NWA Eastern States Championship from The Human Predator. On February 15, Marconi lost the belt to Gideon Malice in Toledo, Ohio when Monahan once again interfered in a title match. Weeks later, Marconi gained revenge on Monahan by defeating him for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship in Williamston on March 1, 2014, ending Monahan's six-month title reign.[1][5][87]The two men wrestled each other throughout the U.S., including memorable bouts in North Carolina and Indiana, and eventually met in Monahan's hometown of Waldron, Michigan.[94] On March 22, Marconi dropped the title to Monahan at "Wrestlerama 13", an NWA Championship International Wrestling supercard, at the Jesse Phillips Arena in Hillsdale, Michigan.[95] Marconi regained the belt less than 24 hours later in Oregon, Ohio,[96] however, he lost it to Monahan in Carolina Beach, North Carolina on April 5.[1][5][97][98] The bout reportedly turned into a wild brawl that included "a frenzy of trash cans, steel chairs to the head, and even a crutch from an injured U.S. Marine" before Monahan was able to pin Marconi using a steel chair.[99]

A rematch was quickly set up on April 19 at an NWA Championship International Wrestling in Toledo, Ohio. Marconi took to his official Facebook account vowing to end Monahan's career. He taunted his opponent by leaving messages counting down the days until "Nitro's last match. Monahan was victorious in that match. Monahan continued to defend the title as the NWA sanctioned one final match between the two in Carolina Beach, NC inside a steel cage. Marconi escaped the cage first after a bloody battle between the two, ending Monahan’s last National Championship reign.Monahans career was halted abruptly in March of 2021 when he contracted the Covid virus. Monahan was admitted to the hospital on March 29th. On April 4th Monahans condition worsened and he was placed on a ventilator. On April 8, his condition had deteriorated to the point where his family was called in to see him and he was given his last rites by a priest. He was life flighted to Cleveland Clinic for life saving measures. After a few days and treatment in the clinic his condition improved and he pulled his vent out on April 14. On April 16th he was rushed to emergency surgery to save his arm as he had developed compartment syndrome from a bad IV. Monahan was discharged on April 21. He has not returned to the ring as he has suffered Covid long haul symptoms and is still being treated today. Monahan published his autobiography Venting Me in December 2021 detailing his life and career and his battle with Covid.

Film Monahan helped produce and acted in the independent feature film, Devils Ink starring John Dugan from Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Championships and accomplishments

•	Allied Independent Wrestling Federations o	AIWF World Tag Team Championship – w/ Gideon Malice (1 time) •	WWA Pro Wrestling o	Heavyweight Championship (2 times) •	Havoc Pro Wrestling o	Heavyweight Championship •	Championship International Wrestling o	Heavyweight Championship (3 times) o	Tag Team Championship (17 times) •	CIW INDY •	Tag Team Championship (4 times) •	NWA Midwest o	NWA Midwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Gideon Malice o	NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (1 Time) o	NWA Great Lakes Championship (1 Time) o	NWA Midwest tag Team Championship (1 time)-w/Gideon Malice •	NWA o	NWA National Heavyweight Championship (3 times) •	Legends Wrestling Association o	LWA Championship (1 time) •	Pro Wrestling Illustrated o	PWI ranked him #438 and 344 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 2013 & 2014. •	Ultimate Championship Wrestling o	Tag Team Championship w/ Chainsaw (3 times) •	Blue Water Championship Wrestling •	Tag Team Championship w/ Chainsaw (1 time) •	Great Lakes Championship Wrestling o	Tag Team Championship w/ Demolition Sledge (1 time) •	Powerbomb Championship Wrestling o	Heavyweight Championship (3 times)Tag Team Championship (4 times)

•	2014 Fans Choice Awards o	Independent Men’s Wrestler of the Year

Managers

Monahan has had several managers thru his career. Dark Angel was his first. Jimmy Hart briefly managed Monahan and his brother Chainsaw in the LWA. Monahan and partner Malice formed a faction with Kevin Thorn under Paul Bearers management. The group was active until Bearers death in 2014.