ZENITH 016 IS NEXT!
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 245 lbs.
Hometown: Hollywood, CA
Alignment: Face
Style: Hybrid/Striker
Managers: N/A
Personal Life:
Born to Robert Ulrich Lexington Jr. and Marion Jean Lexington (née Campbell), both successful producers in television and film, Corey grew up in what appeared to be a life of luxury. Like so many others of his age, though, his detachment from his family, expedited by his parents’ heavily publicized divorce in 1989, grew.
During a summer vacation to Lake Winnipesaukee (in Laconia, NH) in 1991, Corey discovered professional wrestling, his uncle Stewart Lexington‘s favorite sport. He became enamored with the athleticism and the bravado, specifically the violent rivalry between “The Youngblood” Cliff Young and Karl von Rothaus. It was through their mutual love of the sport that Corey bonded closely with his uncle Stewart, much to the chagrin of his father.
His teen years spent in private boarding schools throughout the New England area, Corey was majored in Theatrical Arts at Camden College in New Hampshire, often sneaking away from the expensive private university to attempt training at the Front Line Academy (Boston, MA), owned and operated by “The Outlaw” Jesse White and his childhood favorite, Cliff Young.
Before turning to professional wrestling full-time, Corey would be cast in various roles in both film and television, including a recurring role in the fourth season of acclaimed drama 5th and Main as “Vinnie,” the resident drug dealer on the block. His biggest role came in the film On the Downside (released May 24, 2002), for which he earned an Academy Award for his performance from the South Beach Acting Academy. The success of On the Downside led to a profitable partnership with agent Gregory Price, now head of Brink of Time Media. Many other roles followed, with acting becoming his primary source of income to this day.
In June 2001, Corey began dating adult model/film star Emma O'Reilly. The two would have a regular on/off relationship over the course of the next decade, including a marriage that lasted from 2010 to 2011. The two had one child together, Richard Wesley O'Reilly (b. March 4, 2006). Emma passed away from a drug overdose on April 3, 2012, and her father, Richard Jacob O'Reilly, would assume full custody of Ricky until his death on July 29, 2016.
In May 2005, Corey was admitted to the San Pescadaro Medical Center (Santa Monica, CA) after suffering a nervous breakdown. Shortly after, he was entered into a rehabilitation program at the Halcyon Days Wellness Home (Raleigh Hills, OR) for issues relating to cocaine and opioid abuse. In the years following his release, he has credited the usage of medicinal and recreational cannabis with his improvement.
Corey is also the owner of the popular Club Xanax (New York City, opened in January 2004) and LV-138 (Las Vegas, opened in July 2012).
In October 2013, Corey would begin dating Karen Miller, the niece of famed producer Henry Miller II. The two would be married on March 19, 2017, and have one child together, Abigail Jean Lexington (b. December 4, 2019). They are the heads of the esteemed independent production company Platinum Knights.
Early Career:
Beginning in the spring of 1999, Corey began training in earnest at the Front Line Academy. Owner/operators Cliff Young and Jesse White took every opportunity to discourage Corey from continuing his training, doing their best to make an example out of him due to their own issues with Corey’s privileged upbringing. Corey was able to earn their respect and soon proved himself as their star pupil. While training, he became close friends with fellow students Malcolm West and Hiro Takaiwa.
After making his official in-ring debut days after his 22nd birthday (June 23, 2000) under the name the 187 Kidd, Lazarus soon found success teaming with the Ghetto Warrior (Malcolm West) in the Hazardous Wrestling Alliance in addition to gaining notoriety and championship gold in Rising Phoenix Pro. By November, Corey found himself being booked in preliminary matches at events held by the Slam! Wrestling Alliance, where Cliff Young had held the Heavyweight title twice.
It was these matches that caught the attention of a scout for the Pioneer Wrestling Association, a sister promotion to the SWA in the Alliance of Wrestling Federations (AOWF) community of promotions. Debuting under the name “Corey Lazarus” for the first time on the January 10, 2001 edition of the PWA's flagship promotion Rampage.
Pioneer Wrestling Association:
On the night of his debut, Corey was revealed as the newest member of the Fab 5 faction, quickly outshining the rest of the group and breaking away on his own. He found considerable success in the Hardcore division, feuding with the likes of Metalhead and Jimmy Ultros in increasingly violent contests before making it to the finals of the annual Who's the Man?! tournament to determine the #1 Contendership for the PWA World title, coming up short against eventual champion Dalton “the Spider” Campbell. For his efforts, Corey would challenge the reigning champion Silverback, coming up short due to interference by the Masters of Armageddon (MoA) and losing by count-out.
By year's end, Corey would form the faction I-V alongside Tim Jackson, Quicksilver, and close friend Thunderwolf (Dustin Kelser). The foursome would become the core leaders of the SWA Invasion following that company's closure, joining forces with other ex-SWA talent in order to command respect within the PWA locker room. During this time, a rivalry would erupt with Marcus “Showtime” Ambrose, resulting in a title match for Showtime's World championship that Corey would fall short of winning.
By the beginning of 2002, the PWA would find itself in financial trouble, closing its doors by June of that year. In early 2008, former World champion Chamelion would re-open the company, with Corey and Matthew “Virus” Engel being among the top stars being signed.
At the 2008 Who's the Man?! tournament, Corey would find himself victorious over acting commissioner “Phoenix” Rob Robinson, earning a World title shot. At the High Stakes event the next month, Corey would dethrone World champion Lex Demise to great fanfare, only to immediately be attacked by Matthew Engel, Impulse, and Graham Cain of the resurrected MoA. It was this rivalry that would cost Corey his World title to Mark McNasty at the next month's Retribution event, leading to a series of tag matches teaming with the likes of Jamie Flynn, Jonathan “Nightmare” Wehali, and Scott Nash Strader.
After months off to heal from a separated shoulder in August, Corey returned as the masked Rapture, causing havoc at PWA events across the country before stealing the World championship belt following a title match between champion Matthew Engel and challenger Scott Nash Strader, leading to the return of the Dome of Destruction match at the year's end X-Mas @ Ground Zero event. Corey would personally eliminate both Engel and Project X before being eliminated by Riona Langly, the match and championship being won by Rob Robinson.
For the next three months, Corey and Riona faced each other in multiple matches around the world, culminating in an Intercontinental title match at Genesis 2009 that saw Corey become one of the few Grand Slam winners in the company's history, having held each available singles title (Hardcore, Grizzly Beer, Intercontinental, and World) in the PWA. Corey would lose the belt later to former partner Viktor Stone, departing the company once more.
By the end of 2009, a faction known as the Pantheon (Chamelion, Raizzor, Matthew Engel, Simon Kalis, and Hunter Sullivan) had formed under the guise of forcing younger talent to “up their game.” To the defense of the company rose the Apostles of Ares (Riona Langly, Johnny Maverick, Spyke Gein, and Jacob Figgins), leading to a WarGames match at Good vs. Evil 2009. Turning the tide in the Apostles favor was the surprise “Fifth Apostle,” Corey Lazarus, leading to the demise of the Pantheon.
Leading into Genesis 2010, the paths of Corey and Dustin Kelser crossed once more, their years of friendship having turned to bitter rivalry in 2005. Both men agreed to one match against the other, 2/3 Falls, No Disqualifications. Corey took the first fall and Dustin the second, but the third fall was ruled a draw as neither man was able to meet the referee's 10-count. Forced to shake hands by Cliff Young, the mentor to both men, their brotherhood was reignited.
Over the course of the summer of 2010, the Order of Chaos had run roughshod across the PWA, its ranks filled with the likes of Rayn, Lucious Starr, Joshua Danielson, Hype, Masakazu, Jethro Hayes, and led by Simon Kalis. As chaos broke down surrounding a Steel Cage match between Masakazu and Rob Robinson on August 9, 2010, Corey Lazarus revealed himself as the Order's financial backer, freely admitting that his plan was to weaken the roster to regain the World title for himself.
Following a cowardly act by Lucious Starr and others within the Order's ranks to steal the World title from champion Riona Langly, Corey defected back to the Apostles of Ares, taking part in one of the most brutal matches in company history at Good vs. Evil 2010 that pitted the Order of Chaos (Kalis, Rayn, Starr, Danielson, David Blazenwing, and Bronx Williams) against Team PWA (Lazarus, Langly, Johnny Maverick, Hayes, Marxxx, and Raizzor). Following the defeat of the Order, and the returning of the World title to Riona Langly, Corey departed the PWA for the final time.
High Impact Competition
Debuting with High Impact Competition (HiC) in November 2003 along with the rest of the TV-MA faction, Lazarus soon found himself thrust into the spotlight after high profile wins against the likes of Sirus Moran, Jonathon “Nightmare” Wehali, and Marcus “Showtime” Ambrose. It was the rivalry with Ambrose, dubbed “the Battle of Hollywood,” that saw Corey cement his name as a top-level talent for the rest of his career, besting the multiple-time World champion on several occasions, including his first Tempest title win at the Rise of Tyranny event in January 2004.
While Lazarus was out on injury leave in March 2004, TV-MA was led by Synskin. Upon Corey’s return, the faction was destroyed from within as Lazarus attacked Synskin for failing to meet his high expectations, replacing him with Malcolm West.
At Genesis 2004, Corey became the only two-time holder of the Tempest championship, defeating Jason Ambrose, Duncan Aries, and champion Tommy Riley before taking part in the formation of the Acheron World Network following Dustin Kelser's World championship victory over Lisa Seldon. The AWN would go on to be the dominant faction for the remainder of HiC's existence.
Death Row Wrestling Federation
Debuting with “Da Row” in September 2004, Corey immediately went on a winning streak, earning a shot at FTW champion Vern Michaels. Joining him from the AWN were Dustin Kelser and Brandon Nova, though contractual disputes between Kelser and the DRWF office would lead to Kelser departing the company soon after, causing a rift between the two that would last until the conclusion of PWA Genesis 2010. This would prove to be the catalyst for the demise of the AWN, with Lazarus and Nova opting to compete under the TV-MA banner instead.
TV-MA would soon capture the Sovereign titles from First Class Felony (Sean “IcE” Moro and Sean Corbin), successfully defending them in a brutal Three Faces of Death match. Soon after, Nova's personal demons would resurface, forcing the demise of TV-MA and the relinquishing of the Sovereign titles.
Corey then found himself involved in the Burning Road to Hell match at Stop the Presses for the Eternal championship (DRWF's top prize) alongside Simon Kalis, Vern Michaels, Rayn, Sean “IcE” Moro, and champion Pete Ebdon. Moro would win the bout and the title, leading to Corey joining the Cell Block 69 faction (along with Vern Michaels, Rayn, and Ricky Jones) and earning a title shot.
Lazarus bested Moro for the Eternal championship, but would be forced to relinquish the title due to a nervous breakdown brought on by substance abuse issues. He would soon depart the DRWF.
SHOOT Project
Corey made his SHOOT Project debut im late 2005, aiding former AWN teammate “Ravishing” Ron Barker in the latter's rivalry with Chris Lee. Lazarus would also successfully challenge Osbourne Kilminster for the Iron Fist championship, vacating it after being unable to come to terms on a contract extension.
He would return in 2010 alongside partner Hiro Takaiwa as Frontline II TURBO, racking up a winning streak before challenging for the World Tag Team titles (then held by the Bad Ass Brotherhood) at Reckoning Day 2011. The match was ruled a no-contest after interference by members of Project: SCAR, with the only rematch occurring as a Four-Way Dance at Master of the Mat 2011 that saw the Bad Ass Brotherhood retain their titles. Hiro would depart the company to return to Japan, and Lazarus would take a leave of absence as he dealt with his divorce from Emma O'Reilly.
Corey would return in 2012 with Ron Barker once more, teaming as the Genesis Corporation to claim the World Tag Team titles from the Sinister Syndicate. The team would hold the belts for nearly a month before losing them to Sex & Violence in early 2013, after which Corey would refocus on a singles career while entering a bitter war with Thomas Manchester Black, culminating in a match at Revolution 100.
Corey would enter the Sin City Championship Series before forging a makeshift alliance with Mirage, forcing him to reassess many of his life choices and general attitude. A feud with Project: SCAR's Liz Gaunt would find Lazarus pushed further away from his old ways, eventually teaming with Lunatikk Crippler as Hollywood Hardcore to capture the World Tag Team championship from the team of ANARCHY.
The pair would often find themselves at odds, rarely coexisting in the same room, and would come to blows at Revolution 130. After the bout, the team were attacked by masked men, later identified as the Scavengers, and were unable to exact their revenge before SHOOT Project announced its temporary closure at the end of 2014.
Corey made his return to the company at the debut of Zenith on August 10, 2025. Shortly after, he was joined by Dustin "Thunderwolf" Kelser, and inked a deal for his son, Richard O'Reilly (under the ring name Ricky Tenet). Lazarus and Kelser formed the tag team known as the Last Vanguard, going on to become the World Tag Team champions before becoming embroiled in a war with the DeMONSTRance.
Other promotions
Corey made his debut in the Hazardous Wrestling Alliance on June 23, 2000, teaming with the Ghetto Warrior (Malcolm West) to capture the Tag Team championship. He later made his debut in Rising Phoenix Pro Wrestling on September 16, 2000, and captured the Television championship on October 28, 2000, defeating El Tiburon (Kage White). During this time period, Lazarus was also taking part in preliminary matches for the Slam! Wrestling Alliance under the recommendation of Cliff Young.
From April 2002 to August 2002, Corey would both tour for the Impact Championship Wrestling Federation, developing the Box Office Bomb as a signature move, as well as compete on events held by both Elite Wrestling and Unified Wrestling.
Lazarus signed with the Liberty Wrestling Federation (part of the AOWF community of promotions) in July 2003 and worked there until its closure in October 2003. During his time there, he formed the faction TV-MA along with Gregory Price, Synskin, Mark Severed, and Protean. His highest profile matches include a World Heavyweight championship match against Marcus Collins and a Buried Alive match with Aaron Faith.
Following the closure of HiC in April 2004, Lazarus took part in the Premier Tournament. Corey then signed to Chaos Heat Zone, where he held the Hardcore championship, losing it to Synskin in a Triple Threat match also featuring Inferno.
During his 2011 run in SHOOT, Lazarus competed for the Blazenwing Wrestling Federation, winning the United States championship in a Triple Threat match against Abby Edwards and champion Matt Stone. The BWF later re-branded as True Glory Wrestling following a change in ownership, with the US title being rebranded as the Volitionary title. Corey would leave TGW in August 2011 to focus on his career in SHOOT.
In 2018, Brink of Time Media presented a final love letter to the AOWF legacy, the three night extravaganza Homecoming. On the first night, Corey defeated reigning King of Extreme champion Simon Kalis in their first, and only, singles encounter, becoming the last holder of the title.
BOX OFFICE BOMB: A cradled Fisherman Suplex lift dropped into a high-angle Death Valley Bomb. END CREDITS: A roundhouse enzugiri, similar in appearance to a boomerang kick. MERCURY DRIVER: An Argentine Rack dropped into a kneeling piledriver, use ONLY as a LAST RESORT due to the high chance of injury.
A series of kicks and strikes to the opponent's midsection, followed by sandwiching rising knee/downward elbow to the opponent's head.
A running corkscrew knee strike to the back of a kneeling/seated opponent's head.
A running Busaiku Knee to a cornered opponent.
A cradle backdrop suplex, commonly referred to as a RegalPlex.
A feigned double stomp followed by a casual bootscrape across an opponent's face.
