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Lance Hoyt[10] (born February 28, 1977),[5][1] better known by his ring name Lance Archer, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where is a member of The Don Callis Family and one-half of The Murder Machines with Brian Cage. He also makes appearances for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is also known for his time with WWE as Vance Archer, and Impact Wrestling (TNA) under his real name and as Lance Rock.

Key Information

Hoyt began his career in 2000 and worked in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2004 until 2009. In TNA, he wrestled first as Dallas, winning the NWA World Tag Team Championship twice with Kid Kash. After Diamond Dallas Page signed with TNA, he changed his name to Lance Hoyt and formed a rock band themed tag team with Jimmy Rave and Christy Hemme, the Rock N Rave Infection, eventually changing his name to Lance Rock in 2008. After Hoyt left TNA, he signed with WWE, where he worked until 2010 as Vance Archer.[11] After he left WWE, he signed a contract with Japanese promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he worked as Lance Archer. During his first years, he joined Minoru Suzuki's Suzuki-Gun, winning the G1 Tag League 2011 with Suzuki. When Davey Boy Smith Jr. came to NJPW, they were paired as Killer Elite Squad, winning between 2014 and 2019 the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice, NWA World Tag Team Championship twice and NOAH'S GHC Tag Team Championship twice.[5] When Smith left the promotion in 2019, Archer became a singles wrestler, capturing the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, a championship which he eventually regained for a record-tying second time in 2021. In February 2020, it was announced that Archer had joined All Elite Wrestling, though he remained making appearances for NJPW.

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early Career (2000–2009)

[edit]

In 2000, Hoyt began training as a wrestler under Solo Faitala,[5] and debuted in July 2000, facing Tarzan Taylor in his first match. He spent the next four years working on the Texas independent circuit, using the ring names Lance Steel and Breakdown, the latter being a character created in the spur-of-the-moment by Hoyt in Corpus Christi when he had forgotten his usual ring attire and was forced to wrestle in his street clothing.[3] Hoyt's most notable tenure within the Texas independent circuit was in Professional Championship Wrestling (PCW), where he debuted in 2000 as Shadow, a dark heel character. Throughout his time in PCW, he faced notable opponents including Paul London, Jeromy Sage, and Ahmed Johnson and early in his tenure, he created a stable called "The Dark Circle".[3] Hoyt later left PCW upon signing with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) before later making his returned to the promotion in 2006 under his real name, while using his former Shadow ring name simply as a nickname. Soon after his return to PCW, Hoyt proceeded to win the Tag Team Championship with Wally Darkmon in 2006. Beginning in 2008, Hoyt reverted to his Shadow ring name and gimmick, while also adopting a mask. This was short-lived, however, as Hoyt unmasked and suddenly began using his Rock 'n Rave Infection gimmick from TNA a few months later. Following his release from TNA, PCW announced they had released Hoyt from his contract, which turned out to be a storyline, leading to Hoyt revealing he had a PCW "legends contract". Hoyt briefly went on become the commissioner of PCW before it was announced that he had signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004-2009)

[edit]

Debut and singles competition (2004–2007)

[edit]

Hoyt was hired by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in March 2004 and immediately teamed up with X Division mainstay Kid Kash as Dallas, Kash's bodyguard, tag team partner and on-screen relative.[3] He and Kash took part in a tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship and won the vacant titles by defeating Low Ki and Christopher Daniels in the finals on April 7.[9][12] They lost the titles to D'Lo Brown and Apolo the subsequent week, then regained them from Brown and Apolo the week following that.[9] Their second and final reign ended on June 4 of that year when they were defeated by America's Most Wanted.[3]

Hoyt posing with Jimmy Hart

After Kash was suspended by TNA in June 2004, Hoyt was reduced to wrestling dark matches. He appeared sporadically with TNA throughout the remainder of the year, and aided Kash in his feud with A.J. Styles upon his return from suspension.[3] In January 2005, Hoyt began wrestling under his own name at the instruction of booker Dusty Rhodes.[3] The common explanation for this is that they wanted no confusion between Hoyt and Diamond Dallas Page. Hoyt and Kash competed in the tag team division, unsuccessfully challenging America's Most Wanted for the NWA World Tag Team Championship at Against All Odds on February 13, until Kash was released by TNA on April 19, 2005.[13] Left without a partner, Hoyt teamed with Chris Candido to face Sonny Siaki and Apolo in a cage match at Lockdown.[14] In the course of the match, Candido suffered a serious leg injury and was stretchered out, and Hoyt was pinned shortly thereafter.[14] Following the match, Candido's cohorts, The Naturals, attacked Hoyt, thus turning him into a face character.[14]

Hoyt began developing a strong fan following, leading to his introducing a gimmick known as "Hoytamania", a reference to the "Hulkamania" surrounding Hulk Hogan.[3] He feuded with Team Canada throughout mid-2005, and lost to Abyss at Sacrifice.[15] He lost to Monty Brown at Bound for Glory[16] and was involved in the 10-man Gauntlet match later in the night to determine the number one contender for Jeff Jarrett's NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[16] In that match, Hoyt was eliminated by eventual winner Rhino.[16] He later began teaming with Matt Bentley in mid-card tag matches until a misinterpreted steel chair incident led Bentley to believe Hoyt had "screwed" him, and he severely turned on him with a spontaneous brawl by ringside, consisting of several chairshots. Hoyt defeated Bentley at Destination X.[17] He returned to TNA at No Surrender in the Triple Chance Tag Team battle royal as a partner to Ron "The Truth" Killings, but he was one of the first eliminated from the match.[18] Hoyt made his Spike TV return, teaming with Killings to defeat Matt Bentley and Kazarian.

Hoyt participated in the Fight for the Right Tournament, where he was one of the last two remaining men, making it to the third stage of the match. He lost to Abyss, who won a bye to the tournament finals for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Even so, he wrestled Ron Killings in the quarterfinals of the tournament on the November 2 episode of Impact!, but was defeated. At Genesis, Hoyt and Killings defeated Austin Starr and Alex Shelley with Kevin Nash at ringside.[19]

The Rock 'n Rave Infection (2007–2009)

[edit]
Hoyt in The Rock 'n Rave Infection with Christy Hemme
Main article: Rock 'n' Rave Infection

After Killings was given a new program, Hoyt started teaming up with the Voodoo Kin Mafia (VKM). His role with the team seemed to be that of a friend and bodyguard, watching their backs during their matches, and working the occasional six-man tag team match with them on Impact!. At Slammiversary, VKM defeated Basham and Damaja when Kip James pinned Basham, but Hoyt turned his back on VKM when Kip was about to attack Christy Hemme.[20] He kissed Hemme after the match, thus re-establishing himself as a heel.[20] Hoyt lost to Abyss on an episode of Impact! and a week after that he lost to Kip James. He then became part of a tag team managed by Hemme alongside the returning Jimmy Rave, later named The Rock 'n Rave Infection. They soon became a comedic rock band trio, with Hoyt and Rave entering the ring with Guitar Hero game controllers and Hemme screaming on a microphone.

Hoyt competed at Lockdown in a "Cuffed in the Cage" match losing to the eventual winner, Super Eric.[21] He changed his ringname to Lance Rock on the July 17 episode of Impact!, where he defeated Matt Morgan shortly after Morgan.[22]

Since then, The Rock 'n Rave Infection defeated the teams of Abyss and Matt Morgan, Latin American Xchange, and The Prince Justice Brotherhood (Super Eric, Shark Boy, and Curry Man), the latter of whom soon began a feud with The Rock 'n Rave Infection. On February 10, 2009, Hoyt was released from his TNA contract.[23] He wrestled his last match in TNA on the February 26 edition of Impact!, teaming with Rave and losing to Beer Money, Inc. in an "Off the Wagon Challenge".[5]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2009–2010)

[edit]

After a brief stint in All Japan Pro Wrestling as a member of the Voodoo Murders, on April 26, 2009, Hoyt announced he had signed a deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[11] He wrestled in WWE's developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) under the ring name Lance Archer, after his father.[5][24] For his first match, he teamed up with Jon Cutler and was defeated by Duke Rotundo and Vic Adams. His ring name was then tweaked to Vance Archer.[5]

Hoyt as Vance Archer in FCW

On the November 3 episode of ECW, Hoyt, now clean shaven and sporting both a short haircut and new attire, made his WWE debut under his Vance Archer ring name as a heel, defeating Logan Jones in a squash match.[25] After defeating several enhancement talents over the following weeks, Archer defeated Tommy Dreamer on the December 8 episode of ECW.[26] Archer continued his winning streak when he once again defeated Dreamer on the December 17, 2009, episode of WWE Superstars.[27] On the December 22 episode of ECW, Archer defeated Goldust in an "ECW Homecoming" qualifying match to advance to a battle royal where the winner would face the ECW Champion Christian at Royal Rumble for the ECW Championship.[28] He then started a feud with Shelton Benjamin, which saw Archer lose to him via disqualification on the December 31 episode of Superstars.[29] However, Archer's unpinned streak was left intact. On the January 12, 2010, episode of ECW, Archer was unable to win the "Homecoming Battle Royal" as he was eliminated by Benjamin.[30] The next week on Superstars, Archer was defeated by Benjamin, thus breaking his streak of not being pinned.[31] The two continued to exchange victories, as Archer defeated Benjamin on the February 2 episode of ECW while Benjamin defeated Archer in a no disqualification match the following week.[32][33] at WrestleMania XXVI, Archer competed in a 26-man pre-show battle royal where he was eliminated.[34]

Following the disbanding of the ECW brand, Archer competed in dark matches and in FCW, and was eventually moved to the SmackDown brand, forming a tag team with Curt Hawkins. They made their television debut as a team on the May 13 episode of Superstars, defeating two local competitors. After the match, Hawkins stated that he and Archer had been given a 30-day contract to "make an impact".[35] The team made its SmackDown debut on the May 21 episode, winning another squash match.[36] In an attempt to make an impact, the duo attacked Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) and Christian on consecutive episodes of SmackDown on June 4 and June 11, which they followed up on by defeating both in a tag team match on June 18. The next week the duo was officially named "The Gatecrashers".[37] On the June 25 episode of Smackdown, The Gatecrashers and Dolph Ziggler lost to Christian, MVP and Kofi Kingston in a six man tag team match. On the July 9 episode of Smackdown, The Gatecrashers defeated Christian and Matt Hardy. On the August 5 episode of WWE Superstars, The Gatecrashers defeated Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft. On the August 19 episode of Superstars after Archer's match with MVP ended in a no contest and a tag team match was made where The Gatecrashers defeated MVP and JTG. On the August 26 episode of Superstars. The Gatecrashers lost to Trent Barreta and Caylen Croft. On the September 9 episode of Superstars, The Gatecrashers lost a rematch to Caylen Croft and Trent Barreta. On the September 24 episode of Smackdown, The Gatecrashers lost to Big Show in a handicap match.

The team came to an end on the October 7 episode of Superstars after a match between Archer and Chris Masters. Archer accidentally struck Hawkins outside the ring, after which the two argued and a distracted Archer lost the match. Afterwards, Hawkins assaulted Archer.[38] Archer returned to singles competition on the November 4 edition of Superstars, losing to Luke Gallows.[39]

On November 19, 2010, Archer was released from his contract along with five other wrestlers.[40]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2011–2015)

[edit]
Main articles: Suzuki-gun and Killer Elite Squad
Archer in 2011, on tour with New Japan

On May 15, 2011, Hoyt made his debut for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, during the promotion's first-ever tour of the United States, attacking Satoshi Kojima after a match.[41] The following day it was announced that Hoyt, under the ring name Lance Archer, had joined Minoru Suzuki's Suzuki-gun, who had recently begun feuding with Kojima.[42] Archer made his in-ring debut on June 18 at Dominion 6.18 in Osaka, teaming with Suzuki in a tag team match, where they defeated Kojima and Togi Makabe.[43][44] Three days later, the Suzuki-gun team of Archer, Taichi and Taka Michinoku was eliminated from the J Sports Crown Openweight 6 Man Tag Tournament in the first round by Kojima, Makabe and Tomoaki Honma.[45] In August, Archer took part in the 2011 G1 Climax, where he managed to win four out of his nine matches, including defeating former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Togi Makabe in his opening match, finishing eighth out of the ten wrestlers in his block.[46] Archer had his to date highest profile match in New Japan on September 19, when he was defeated by Togi Makabe.[47] In the 2011 G1 Tag League, Archer teamed with Minoru Suzuki and, after four wins and one loss, the team finished second in their block, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.[48] On November 6, Archer and Suzuki first defeated the CHAOS Top Team (Shinsuke Nakamura and Toru Yano) in the semifinals and then IWGP Tag Team Champions Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson) in the finals to win the 2011 G1 Tag League.[49] On November 12 at Power Struggle, Archer and Suzuki failed in their attempt to capture the IWGP Tag Team Championship from Bad Intentions.[50] On February 12, 2012, at The New Beginning, Archer, Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Taka Michinoku and Yoshihiro Takayama of the Suzuki-gun took a dominant 5–1 win over Kushida, Tiger Mask, Togi Makabe, Wataru Inoue and Yuji Nagata in a ten-man elimination tag team match, with Archer scoring eliminations over Kushida, Tiger Mask and Inoue.[51] Afterwards, Archer and Takayama challenged Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) to a match for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[52] On March 18, Archer and Takayama were unsuccessful in their title challenge.[53] On July 22 at Kizuna Road, Archer, Suzuki, Michinoku and Taichi defeated Prince Devitt, Ryusuke Taguchi, Togi Makabe and Yuji Nagata in an eight-man elimination tag team match, with Archer scoring three of his team's four eliminations. Following the match, Archer had a staredown with Makabe, building up to their upcoming match in the 2012 G1 Climax tournament.[54] The match took place on August 1, the first day of the tournament, and saw Archer pick up the win over the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion for the second year in a row.[55] After four wins and three losses, Archer headed to the final day of the tournament on August 12 tied at the top of his block, however, a loss to MVP in his final match caused him to get eliminated from the finals.[56][57]

Archer with Suzuki-gun in February 2012

In the aftermath of Suzuki-gun's July 22 win, Archer had also made a challenge for the IWGP Tag Team Championship, held by Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima, but did not specify who his partner for the match would be.[58] On August 13, Harry Smith, later renamed Davey Boy Smith, Jr., was revealed as Archer's partner and the newest member of Suzuki-gun.[59] On October 8 at King of Pro-Wrestling, Archer and Smith, now known as the K.E.S. (Killer Elite Squad), defeated Kojima and Tenzan to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[60][61] K.E.S. made their first successful title defense on November 11 at Power Struggle, defeating Tenzan and Kojima in a rematch.[62][63] From November 20 to December 1, K.E.S. took part in the round-robin portion of the 2012 World Tag League, finishing with a record of four wins and two losses, advancing to the semifinals of the tournament in the second place in their group.[64][65] On December 2, K.E.S. defeated Always Hypers (Togi Makabe and Wataru Inoue) to advance to the finals of the tournament, Archer's second in a row.[66] Later that same day, K.E.S. was defeated in the finals of the 2012 World Tag League by Sword & Guns (Hirooki Goto and Karl Anderson).[66] On January 4, 2013, at Wrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, K.E.S. defeated Sword & Guns in a rematch to retain the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[67][68] On February 10 at The New Beginning, Archer and Smith defeated Tenzan and Kojima for their third successful defense of the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[69] On March 3 at New Japan's 41st anniversary event, Archer unsuccessfully challenged Shinsuke Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.[70] On April 5, Archer and Smith made their fourth successful defense of the IWGP Tag Team Championship against Nakamura and Tomohiro Ishii.[71] On April 20, Archer and Smith defeated Ryan Genesis and Scot Summers in Houston, Texas, to not only retain the IWGP Tag Team Championship, but to also win the NWA World Tag Team Championship.[72] On May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2013, K.E.S. lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship back to Tencozy in a four-way match, which also included Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano, and Manabu Nakanishi and Strong Man, though neither Archer nor Smith was involved in the finish.[73][74] K.E.S. received a rematch for the title on June 22 at Dominion 6.22 in a three-way match, which also included Iizuka and Yano, but were unable to regain the title, when Kojima pinned Archer for the win.[75][76] On August 1, Archer entered the 2013 G1 Climax.[77] The tournament concluded on August 11 with a match, where Archer defeated his tag team partner Davey Boy Smith, Jr., costing Smith a spot in the finals and giving Archer a record of four wins and five losses.[78][79] On November 9 at Power Struggle, K.E.S. faced Tencozy and The IronGodz (Jax Dane and Rob Conway) in a two-fall three-way match. In the first fall, they lost the NWA World Tag Team Championship to The IronGodz, but came back in the second to defeat Tencozy for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.[80][81] From November 24 to December 8, K.E.S. took part in the 2013 World Tag League.[82] After winning their round-robin block with a record of five wins and one loss,[83] they were eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals by their old rivals, Tencozy.[84] On January 4, 2014, at Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome, K.E.S. lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship to the winners of the tournament, Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson).[85][86] K.E.S. received a rematch for the title on February 9 at The New Beginning in Hiroshima, but were again defeated by Bullet Club.[87][88] On May 25 at Back to the Yokohama Arena, K.E.S. failed to regain the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Tencozy in a three-way match, which also included Rob Conway and Wes Brisco.[89] On June 21 at Dominion 6.21, K.E.S. received another shot at the NWA World Tag Team Championship, this time in a regular tag team match, but were again defeated by Tencozy.[90] From July 23 to August 8, Archer took part in the 2014 G1 Climax, where he finished tied sixth in his block with a record of four wins and six losses.[91][92] On October 13 at King of Pro-Wrestling, K.E.S. defeated Tencozy to regain the NWA World Tag Team Championship.[93][94] From November 22 to December 5, K.E.S. took part in the 2014 World Tag League.[95] The team finished their block with a record of four wins and three losses, narrowly missing the finals of the tournament.[96]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2015–2016)

[edit]

On January 10, 2015, K.E.S., along with the rest of Suzuki-gun, took part in a major storyline, where the stable invaded a Pro Wrestling Noah show. During the attack, K.E.S. beat down GHC Tag Team Champions TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste).[97][98] This led to a match on February 11, where K.E.S. defeated TMDK to become the new GHC Tag Team Champions.[99] In May, K.E.S. made it to the finals of the 2015 Global Tag League, where they were defeated by Masato Tanaka and Takashi Sugiura.[100] After ten successful title defenses, K.E.S. lost the GHC Tag Team Championship to Naomichi Marufuji and Toru Yano on May 28, 2016.[101] K.E.S. regained the title from Marufuji and Yano on November 23.[102] They lost the title to Go Shiozaki and Maybach Taniguchi on December 3.[103] Two days later, it was announced that Suzuki-gun was gone from Noah, concluding the invasion storyline.[104]

Global Force Wrestling (2015)

[edit]

On May 6, 2015, Global Force Wrestling (GFW) announced Hoyt as part of their roster.[105] He made his debut for the promotion on August 14, losing to Nick Aldis.[106] On August 21, K.E.S lost to Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) in the quarter-finals of the GFW tag team title tournament.

Return to NJPW (2017–present)

[edit]
Archer in August 2019

The entire Suzuki-gun returned to NJPW on January 5, 2017, attacking the Chaos stable with K.E.S. targeting IWGP Tag Team Champions Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano.[107][108] On February 5 at The New Beginning in Sapporo, K.E.S. unsuccessfully challenged Ishii and Yano for the IWGP Tag Team Championship in a three-way match, also involving Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma.[109] Following the event, Archer was sidelined with a herniated disc in his lower back, which would require surgery and sideline him for a significant amount of time.[110] After this injury, Archer changed his Blackout finisher to avoid a future injury. Instead of a sitout reverse crucifix powerbomb, he began to perform a reverse crucifix powerbomb.[111]

Archer returned from his injury at G1 Finals on August 13, when he and Smith attacked IWGP Tag Team Champions War Machine (Hanson and Raymond Rowe) and Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa).[112] On September 24 at Destruction in Kobe, K.E.S. defeated War Machine and G.O.D. in a three-way tornado tag team match to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the third time.[113] At the end of the year, K.E.S. took part in the 2017 World Tag League, where they finished with a record of five wins and two losses, failing to advance to the finals due to losing to block winners G.O.D. in their head-to-head match.[114] On January 4, 2018, at Wrestle Kingdom 12, K.E.S. lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship to Los Ingobernables de Japón (Evil and Sanada).[115]

In June 2018, the K.E.S. made two appearances for American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), who has a partnership with NJPW. They lost to the Bullet Club on June 15,[116] and the Briscoe Brothers on June 16; the latter match being for the ROH Tag Team Championship.[117] Then K.E.S. competed in the 2018 NJPW World Tag League in December 2018, ending with 18 points, therefore failing to advance to the tournament finals.[118]

In June 2019, Smith left NJPW, disbanding the K.E.S. and leaving Archer as a singles competitor.[119] Shortly afterwards, Archer competed in the 2019 G1 Climax, his first participation since 2014; he participated in the A Block, with a final standing of 6 points, failing to advance to the finals.[120][121] At King of Pro-Wrestling on October 14, Archer replaced Jon Moxley to defeat Juice Robinson to win the vacant IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, his first singles championship in NJPW.[122][123] He successfully defended the championship against David Finlay at Showdown in San Jose on November 9.[124] Archer lost the title to Moxley in a Texas Deathmatch at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 4, 2020.[125] On February 26, Archer signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and his profile was removed from NJPW's official website, signaling his departure from NJPW.[126] He later came back to NJPW due to his membership with Suzuki-gun. He is not recognised on the NJPW personnel but he makes appearances on NJPW Strong.

On June 12, 2022, during Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall, Archer was announced to be participating in the G1 Climax 32 in July representing AEW, as part of the A Block.[127] Archer finished with a total of 6 points, failing to advance to the semi-finals.[128] Archer returned to NJPW in November, teaming with Minoru Suzuki in the World Tag League, where the team finished with 8 points, failing to advance to the finals.[129] At the World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors finals, Suzuki announced the disbandment of Suzuki-gun by the end of the year.[130] The final match between the faction took place on December 23, where the team of Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Douki defeated Suzuki, Archer, El Desperado and Taka Michinoku. After the match, each of the Suzuki-gun members spoke about their memories as a part of the group and thanked leader Suzuki. The night ended with all members posing with the Suzuki-gun flag, only to be interrupted by former member Takashi Iizuka, causing all nine men to pose in the ring, behind the Suzuki-gun flag.[131]

In April 2023, NJPW announced a tournament to crown the #1 contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, with Archer being named as one of four participants.[132] At NJPW Collision in Philadelphia, Archer defeated Fred Rosser to advance to the tournament final.[133] At Dominion 6.4 in Osaka-jo Hall, Archer was defeated by Will Ospreay in the tournament final.[134]

All Elite Wrestling (2020–present)

[edit]

Championship pursuits (2020–2024)

[edit]

On February 26, 2020, Archer signed a multi-year deal with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[126] He made his debut appearance on the March 11 episode of Dynamite as a client of Jake "The Snake" Roberts and he made his in-ring debut on the April 1 episode of Dynamite, defeating Marko Stunt.[135][8] Archer was then announced as a participant in tournament for the inaugural AEW TNT Championship;[136] he defeated Colt Cabana in the quarter finals, and Dustin Rhodes in the semi-finals,[137] but lost in the finals to Cody at Double or Nothing on May 23 after boxer Mike Tyson prevented Roberts from interfering on Archer's behalf.[138] On September 5 at All Out, Archer won the Casino Battle Royale match to become the number one contender for the AEW World Championship.[139] On October 14 at the Dynamite Anniversary Show, Archer failed to win the championship in a No Disqualification match against Jon Moxley.[140] He returned in November coming to the aid of Death Triangle against Butcher and the Blade, and Eddie Kingston, turning face in the process. On the December 2 "Winter Is Coming" special episode of Dynamite, Archer and The Lucha Bros. (Rey Fénix, and Penta El Zero Miedo) lost to Eddie Kingston, The Butcher, and The Blade.[141] On The Dynamite Tribute Show for Brodie Lee, "Brodie Lee Celebration of Life", Archer teamed with Evil Uno and Stu Grayson against Kingston, Butcher, and The Blade. Archer dressed up as Lee's classic look, with his team winning.[142]

On the February 24, 2021, episode of Dynamite, Archer defeated former ally Rey Fénix to qualify for The Face of The Revolution Ladder Match at Revolution.[143] At Revolution, Archer faced Cody Rhodes, Scorpio Sky, Penta El Zero M, Max Caster, and surprise entrant Ethan Page, with Sky winning.[144] After Revolution, Lance Archer confronted Sting and Darby Allin, who was TNT Champion at the time.[145] In May, Archer challenged new TNT Champion Miro to a match at Double or Nothing.[146] At Double or Nothing, Miro defeated Archer.[147] On the July 14 episode of Dynamite, Archer challenged Jon Moxley to a rematch for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship in a Texas Deathmatch, which Moxley accepted.[148] The next week at AEW Fyter Fest Night 2, Archer defeated Moxley to become a record-tying two time champion.[149] The next week at Fight for the Fallen he retained the championship against New Japan's Hikuleo, setting a match against Hiroshi Tanahashi at NJPW Resurgence which he lost thus ending his reign at 24 days, which is the shortest reign in the title history.[150][151] In early September, he realigned himself with a debuting Minoru Suzuki, and subsequently rejoin the Suzuki-gun stable, reverting to a heel in the process.[152] At Rampage: Grand Slam, the duo were defeated by Moxley and Eddie Kingston in a Lights Out match.[153] Archer was a participant in the Casino Ladder match, won by Adam Page. He then participated in the eliminator tournament for an AEW World Championship match where he faced Eddie Kingston in the first round. Archer was scheduled to defeat Kingston, but due to falling on his head after a botched moonsault, the match was quickly ended with Kingston rolling up Archer for the win. Later, it was discovered that Archer suffered a jammed neck as a result of the botched spot. After being sidelined for a few months with the neck injury, Archer made his AEW return on the January 12, 2022, edition of Dynamite, attacking and setting his sights on AEW World Champion Adam Page.[154] This would lead to Archer reuniting with Roberts, briefly aligning with Dan Lambert of American Top Team, and challenging Page to a Texas Death Match on the February 9 episode Dynamite.[155]

On the April 27 episode of Dynamite, Archer would wrestle Wardlow, losing via pinfall.[156] After being announced for NJPW's G1 Climax 32 in July, Archer defeated Nick Comoroto at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door Buy-In.[157] In November 2022, Archer participated in the AEW World Championship eliminator tournanmet, where he was eliminated by Ricky Starks in the first round.[158] In June 2023, Archer formed an alliance with The Righteous (Dutch and Vincent), teaming with them in various trios matches.[citation needed] On July 15 at Battle of the Belts, Archer unsuccessfully challenged Orange Cassidy for the AEW International Championship.[159]

The Don Callis Family (2024–present)

[edit]
See also: The Don Callis Family

On the October 8, 2024, episode of Dynamite, Archer was acquired from Jake Roberts by Don Callis to join The Don Callis Family. On the next episode of Dynamite, Archer formed a tag team within the Don Callis Family with Brian Cage, later known as "Murder Machines".[160][161] In April 2025, Cage suffered an injury, putting Murder Machines on hiatus, though Archer would continue as a singles wrestler with The Don Callis Family.[162]

Other media

[edit]

Hoyt has two video game appearances; in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 as Vance Archer[163] and in AEW Fight Forever as Lance Archer.[164] In 2017, he appeared in The Suplex Duplex Complex, a comedy special part of Adult Swim's Infomercials.[165]

Hoyt, along with Cage and Chavo Guerrero Jr., will appear in Steven Spielberg's upcoming science fiction film.[166]

Personal life

[edit]

Graduating from Hearne High, Hoyt played basketball, football, and baseball.[9] He attended Texas State University, where he played college football as a quarterback.[3][9] He has a degree in English.[3] While in college he worked at a nightclub, where an acquaintance introduced him to Solo Faitala, who trained him to be a professional wrestler.[9] Hoyt is a devout Christian.[4][167]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]
Archer (left) and Davey Boy Smith Jr. - The Killer Elite Squad - are two-time NWA World Tag Team Champions...
...and three-time IWGP Tag Team Champions.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Lance Archer

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Lance Archer (born Lance Hoyt; February 28, 1977) is an American professional wrestler signed to (AEW), where he competes under the ring name Lance Archer as the "MurderHawk Monster" and serves as a member of The Don Callis Family stable. Standing at 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and billed at 270 lb (123 kg), Archer is renowned for his imposing physical presence, athleticism, and portrayal of a dominant character. Born in , he graduated with a degree in English from before breaking into on the independent circuit in 2000. Archer's career gained prominence in (TNA) in the early 2000s, where he wrestled as Lance Hoyt and formed a successful with , capturing the twice. He briefly joined () in 2009 as Vance Archer, competing on the ECW and SmackDown brands until his release in 2010. Relocating to Japan revitalized his career; he signed with (NJPW) in 2011, adopting the Lance Archer moniker and partnering with to form the Killer Elite Squad (K.E.S.). As part of K.E.S., Archer achieved significant success, winning the three times and the twice in . He also captured the IWGP United States Championship twice, first defeating in 2019 and later winning it from in a Texas Death Match on in 2021. Archer transitioned to AEW in early 2020, debuting alongside manager Jake "The Snake" Roberts and quickly establishing himself as a top monster by reaching the final of the inaugural tournament, where he lost to at . As of 2025, he remains an active competitor in AEW, frequently participating in high-stakes matches on and Collision, often aligning with The Family to target prominent babyfaces.

Early life

Birth and family

Lance Hoyt, professionally known as Lance Archer, was born on February 28, 1977, in Gause, a small community near . He grew up in a close-knit family in rural , where his early life was shaped by the values and support of his parents and siblings. Hoyt is the eldest of three children. His younger sister is Alison Spring.

Education and athletics

Archer, born Lance Hoyt, grew up in , and attended Hearne High School, where he participated in multiple sports including , , and football. He began playing football as a , developing his athletic foundation in a small-town environment near College Station. Hoyt pursued higher education and athletics at the collegiate level, initially enrolling at , an NAIA institution, where he played for one season. He later transferred to Southwest Texas State University (now ), completing his career as a there. During his time at Texas State, he earned a degree in English, reflecting an academic interest in teaching or coaching as alternative career paths had he not entered .

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2000–2004)

Hoyt began training for a professional wrestling career in , under the guidance of Solo Fiatala. He made his in-ring debut in July 2000, facing Tarzan Taylor at a small independent show. From 2000 to 2004, Hoyt competed primarily on the , adopting ring names such as Shadow, Lance Steel, and Breakdown to establish his presence. His most prominent run during this period was in Professional Championship Wrestling (PCW), where he debuted in 2000 as the dark, trenchcoat-wearing heel Shadow, a character inspired by Sting's gimmick. In PCW, Hoyt built a reputation through matches against established talents like and , showcasing his athleticism and power-based style. By 2003, he had risen to main-event status, defending the PCW World Heavyweight Championship in high-profile bouts, including a title match against Mike Foxx at the Heroes 2 Legends event on November 8.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004–2009)

Hoyt debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in March 2004 under the ring name Dallas, initially serving as the bodyguard for X Division wrestler Kid Kash. In this role, Dallas accompanied Kash to matches and interfered on his behalf, contributing to Kash's successful defenses of the NWA World X Division Championship. The duo competed in the Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament at TNA's Lockdown pay-per-view on April 24, 2004, advancing to the semifinals before being eliminated. On April 7, 2004, at a TNA weekly pay-per-view event, Dallas and Kash won a tag team title tournament by defeating and in the finals. They captured the on March 31, 2004, in , but lost it on April 14, 2004, to and Apolo. Kash and Dallas regained the titles on April 21, 2004, defeating and Apolo. Their reign ended on June 3, 2004, when they dropped the titles to (Chris Harris and ) at TNA weekly pay-per-view #99. On June 9, 2004, at weekly PPV #100, they unsuccessfully challenged for the titles in a street fight rematch against AMW. During this period, Dallas also competed in singles matches, including a loss to on April 14, 2004. Following Kid Kash's departure from TNA in 2005, Hoyt transitioned to wrestling under his real name, Lance Hoyt, and adopted a solo persona centered around the "Hoytamania" catchphrase, portraying an enthusiastic, fan-engaging character. He engaged in a with the stable Team Canada throughout mid-2005, facing members such as Eric Young and in multiple matches, including a victory over Young on July 1, 2005, episode of TNA Impact!. Hoyt teamed with The Naturals (Andy Douglas and ) against Team Canada in a six-man match on the March 25, 2005, episode of Impact, but was defeated. At on August 14, 2005, Hoyt lost a singles match to Abyss. In late 2005, Hoyt aligned with Diamond Dallas Page, who managed him in storylines emphasizing personal development and yoga-inspired wellness, though this partnership did not lead to major title pursuits. Hoyt participated in multi-man matches, such as the 20-man gauntlet for a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Hard Justice on May 15, 2005, where he was eliminated early. He also competed in the Lethal Lockdown match at Lockdown 2006 as part of Team Sting against Team Jarrett. By 2007, Hoyt formed the tag team Rock 'n' Rave Infection with , managed by , adopting a rock band gimmick with Hoyt performing under the name Lance Rock starting in 2008. The group debuted on the , 2007, episode of Impact and primarily served as enhancement talent, facing established teams like in house shows and television bouts. They competed in an 8-man Christmas Chaos Cage match on the December 23, 2007, episode of Impact, losing to The Prince Justice Brotherhood. Hoyt's TNA tenure, spanning multiple gimmicks including Dallas, Hoytamania, and Lance Rock, lasted until early 2009 when he was released from his contract on February 10, 2009. During his five years with the promotion, he contributed to early TNA milestones, such as its first Fox Sports Net broadcasts and inaugural pay-per-views like and Bound for Glory.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2009–2010)

After leaving Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in February 2009, Lance Hoyt signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on April 27, 2009, and was assigned to its developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). There, he initially competed under the ring name Lance Archer, making his debut on May 14, 2009, in a losing effort against Justin Angel. Throughout mid-2009, Archer participated in various FCW matches, including victories over Eric Escobar on August 6 and Johnny Prime on October 29, helping him build momentum as a powerful heel competitor focused on showcasing his athleticism and size advantage. Hoyt's main roster call-up came abruptly on November 3, 2009, when he debuted on the ECW brand as Vance Archer, a clean-shaven, sharply attired character emphasizing intensity and aggression; he learned of the debut that same morning from commentator and underwent a last-minute haircut ordered by . In his debut match, Archer decisively defeated local competitor Logan Jones, quickly transitioning to bouts against established talent. Notable ECW victories included pinning on February 2, 2010 (via a controversial foot-on-the-ropes finish), while losses came against Christian on September 15, 2009, and Zack Ryder in a triple threat match on October 6, 2009. Archer's ECW run positioned him as a midcard enforcer, though it was cut short by the brand's discontinuation on February 16, 2010. Following ECW's end, Archer was drafted to the SmackDown brand and, in May 2010, formed the short-lived The Gatecrashers with Curt Hawkins, debuting on by defeating enhancement talent. The duo targeted prominent acts, securing wins over teams like Goldust and on November 10, 2009 (pre-team formation but indicative of Archer's style), and local competitors, while feuding with groups such as and the team of MVP and Christian; a highlight was their victory over Chasyn Rance and JT Talent on May 7, 2010. Despite some momentum, The Gatecrashers disbanded after losses, including a handicap squash by The Big Show on September 24, 2010. Archer's tenure concluded with his release on November 19, 2010, as part of a broader roster cut.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2011–2015)

Archer made his (NJPW) debut on May 15, 2011, during the promotion's first tour of the , where he aligned himself with the newly formed led by . Shortly after, he adopted the Lance Archer and began competing primarily in matches as part of the faction, emphasizing his imposing physical presence and aggressive style. In August 2011, Archer participated in the tournament, marking his entry into NJPW's premier singles competition, though he did not advance far. Throughout late 2011, Archer teamed extensively with , culminating in their victory in the G1 Tag League tournament on November 12, defeating Bad Intentions (Giant Bernard and ) in the finals to win the title. This success solidified Archer's role within and established him as a key enforcer in the stable's invasion-style attacks on NJPW's established order. The win also positioned the team for a shot at the , though they fell short in their title challenge against the champions at Power Struggle later that month. In 2012, Archer's career trajectory shifted when Davey Boy Smith Jr. joined NJPW and was paired with him to form the tag team Killer Elite Squad (KES) in September, both officially integrating into Suzuki-gun. The duo, known for their power-based offense and coordinated brutality, quickly rose to prominence, defeating Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima) on October 8 at King of Pro-Wrestling to capture the IWGP Tag Team Championship in their debut as a unit. This reign lasted 207 days, during which KES defended the titles against notable teams including Chaos (Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano) and Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero and Trent Barreta), establishing them as dominant forces in NJPW's tag division. KES lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship to Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) on May 3, 2013, at Wrestling Dontaku, but reclaimed the titles on November 3, 2013, at Power Struggle by defeating the same opponents in a rematch. Their second reign, however, was shorter at 62 days, ending on January 4, 2014, when they dropped the belts to Bullet Club's Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows at Wrestle Kingdom 8. Despite the loss, KES remained active in NJPW through 2014 and 2015, participating in tournaments like the World Tag League—where they finished as runners-up in 2014—and continuing to feud with top tag teams, while expanding their reach through inter-promotional work that began influencing their NJPW commitments by mid-2015.

Pro Wrestling Noah and Global Force Wrestling (2015–2016)

In early 2015, Lance Archer, as a member of the stable, became involved in the faction's high-profile invasion of , facilitated by a working agreement between and Noah. On January 10, 2015, , including Archer and tag team partner Davey Boy Smith Jr. (collectively known as the Killer Elite Squad or K.E.S.), launched an assault on Noah's roster during the promotion's Wrestle Carnival event, declaring war on key figures such as and aiming to disrupt the company's operations. This storyline positioned as dominant invaders, elevating Noah's narrative through intense inter-promotional rivalries and showcasing Archer's aggressive style in singles and tag matches against homegrown talent. Archer and Smith quickly rose to prominence in Noah's tag team division. On February 11, 2015, at Great Voyage in , K.E.S. defeated TMDK (Shane Haste and ) to capture the , marking Archer's first title reign in the promotion and solidifying Suzuki-gun's control over Noah's tag scene. The duo defended the belts successfully against various challengers, including local teams like Meikyo Zukuri and international opponents, holding the titles for over a year and contributing to a period of renewed interest in Noah's undercard. Their reign emphasized Archer's powerhouse persona, with notable performances in main event spots that highlighted his physicality and promos. The championships were lost on May 28, 2016, at Great Voyage in to and , signaling the gradual decline of Suzuki-gun's influence in Noah. Concurrently, Archer expanded his presence with (GFW), a new promotion founded by . On May 6, 2015, GFW officially announced Archer (billed as Lance Hoyt) as a core roster member during a , highlighting his experience from TNA and New Japan to strengthen the company's offerings alongside Smith. Archer made his in-ring debut for GFW on August 14, 2015, during the Grand Slam Tour in , where he was defeated by in a singles match. One week later, on August 21 in , K.E.S. faced Bullet Club's and , losing via pinfall in a hard-fought that underscored GFW's emphasis on crossover talent from Japanese promotions. Archer's limited GFW appearances focused on building momentum for the promotion's early tours, though his primary commitments remained in . Throughout 2015 and 2016, Archer balanced excursions with sporadic GFW outings, using the dual commitments to refine his "Murderhawk Monster" gimmick through brutal brawls and title defenses. His time in particularly boosted his international profile, as K.E.S. amassed a streak of victories that helped capture multiple championships across divisions before the stable's eventual withdrawal from the promotion.

Return to (2017–2020)

Archer returned to as part of the stable on January 5, 2017, during the New Year Dash!! event, where the faction ambushed members of the Chaos stable; Archer and tag partner Davey Boy Smith Jr., collectively known as the Killer Elite Squad (KES), specifically targeted IWGP Tag Team Champions and . Throughout the year, KES engaged in a violent feud with top tag teams, positioning themselves as dominant heels within . Their momentum culminated on September 24, 2017, at Destruction in , where they defeated the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) and (Hanson and Raymond Rowe) in a three-way tornado match to capture the for a third time as a unit. KES defended the successfully twice—against on October 9 at King of Pro-Wrestling and against the Guerrillas of Destiny on November 5 at Power Struggle—before dropping the titles in a four-way match to EVIL and SANADA of on January 4, 2018, at in , with and Guerrillas of Destiny also participating. The team rebounded by entering the 2018 World Tag League in Block A, where they secured two victories but were eliminated with an overall record of 2–3. Archer and Smith continued tag competition into 2019, but Smith's departure from NJPW that year prompted Archer to shift toward singles competition, aligning more prominently with leader in multi-man matches. In July 2019, Archer made his debut in Block A at , posting a 4–4 record with standout wins over , , Zack Sabre Jr., and , earning praise for his aggressive, hard-hitting style that elevated his status as a threat. Capitalizing on this momentum, Archer won the vacant on October 14, 2019, at King of Pro-Wrestling by defeating , after was stripped of the title due to inability to compete because of injury. He made one successful defense, submitting David Finlay on November 9, 2019, at New Japan Showdown in . Archer's 82-day reign concluded on January 4, 2020, at , where he was defeated by Moxley in a Texas death match. Following the loss, Archer competed in select singles bouts amid the early stages of the before leaving the promotion.

All Elite Wrestling (2020–present)

Archer signed a multi-year contract with on February 26, 2020. He made his television debut on the March 11 episode of via a vignette introducing him as the client of Jake "The Snake" Roberts, portraying a monstrous "MurderHawk Monster" character who "kills" victims at his mansion. Archer's in-ring debut occurred on the April 1 episode of , where he decisively defeated in a squash match, establishing his dominant, destructive persona. Archer entered the tournament for the inaugural , advancing through the quarterfinals by defeating on the episode of with his signature Blackout move. In the semifinals on April 29, he overcame in a hard-fought bout, securing his spot in the final. At on May 25, Archer challenged Cody for the title but lost after 22 minutes, with Cody pinning him following a Cross Rhodes. This run positioned Archer as a top-tier powerhouse contender early in AEW's history. Following the tournament, Archer pursued the AEW World Championship, earning a No Disqualification match against champion Jon Moxley on the October 14 episode of Dynamite after a series of vignettes and attacks. Moxley retained the title in a brutal encounter that saw Archer use weapons like chairs and tables, but Moxley secured the victory with a Paradigm Shift onto a barricade. Archer was sidelined later that month after testing positive for COVID-19, missing several weeks of programming. In 2021, Archer continued his aggressive pursuits, teaming with Moxley to face AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and KENTA in a Falls Count Anywhere match on the February 10 episode of Dynamite, though they lost amid interference. On July 21, 2021, at Fyter Fest (taped for Dynamite), Archer defeated Moxley in a Texas Death Match to win the IWGP United States Championship for the second time. He made one successful defense against KENTA on the August 17 episode of Rampage before losing the title to Hiroshi Tanahashi on August 21 at NJPW Resurgence. At Double or Nothing on May 30, Archer challenged Miro for the TNT Championship in a high-impact hoss fight but was defeated via Game Over submission after 13 minutes. Archer suffered a later in 2021, leading to a hiatus. He returned on the January 12, 2022, episode of by attacking and laying out opponents, signaling his comeback. On February 9, he faced AEW Champion "Hangman" in another Texas Death Match on , losing after Page delivered a Buckshot Lariat and Deadeye onto a barbed-wire board, but the bout was praised for its intensity. Archer competed sporadically throughout 2022, including a loss to on the November 18 episode of Rampage, before taking time for NJPW commitments through the end of the year. Archer returned to AEW on the February 24, 2023, episode of Rampage with a revamped look—longer hair and a more feral demeanor—defeating a local competitor in his comeback match. He engaged in several competitive singles bouts that year, including a loss to on the April 5 episode of , a defeat to on the July 21 episode of Rampage, and a loss to on November 4 on Collision in a brutal street fight-style match, after Allin countered a with a Coffin Drop. These encounters reinforced his role as a midcard enforcer known for violent, physical performances. In 2024, Archer aligned with the Family through a historic managerial trade orchestrated by Roberts and Callis on the October 8 episode of , exchanging him for from La Faccion Ingobernable. This move integrated him into the stable's faction, enhancing his on-screen presence under Callis's guidance. As part of the group, Archer competed in and singles action, including a victory over a local on the episode of Rampage to solidify his new alliance. Entering 2025, Archer remained active with the Family, suffering a loss to on the September 3 episode of via Froggy Bow, and continuing to feature in multi-man and tag matches on Collision and Rampage, maintaining his reputation as AEW's unrelenting monster .

Other media

Video games

Lance Archer has made appearances in two professional wrestling video games, reflecting his career across different promotions. His video game debut occurred in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, released in 2010 by THQ, where he was included as Vance Archer, a playable character aligned with the SmackDown brand during his brief WWE tenure. This marked the character's introduction to the gaming audience, featuring his in-ring moveset and entrance from that era. Archer returned to wrestling video games in 2023 with AEW Fight Forever, developed by Yuke's and published by THQ Nordic, appearing under his current ring name as a playable roster member in All Elite Wrestling's inaugural licensed title. The game highlights his "Murderhawk Monster" persona, including signature moves like the Blackout and EBD Claw, integrated into the arcade-style gameplay.

Television and film

Archer made his acting debut outside of in the 2017 short comedy film The Suplex Duplex Complex, directed by Todd Rohal and aired as part of Adult Swim's Infomercials series. In the film, he portrayed one of two neighboring wrestlers navigating the chaos of homeownership without a landlord, blending absurd humor with wrestling tropes. The project premiered at the SXSW , where it won a Jury Award, and featured Archer alongside performers like Randy E. Aguebor and Mike Dell. In 2025, Archer was cast in an untitled science fiction film directed by , scheduled for theatrical release on June 12, 2026. He appears in a pro wrestling scene alongside fellow stars and Chavo Guerrero, with Guerrero serving as the referee; the sequence incorporates elements of into the film's narrative. Filming for the scene took place at the Paramount Theatre in , New York, in April 2025, marking a notable crossover for Archer into mainstream Hollywood cinema. The screenplay is by , based on a story by Spielberg, and the cast includes , , and in leading roles.

Personal life

Family and residence

Archer was raised in a close-knit family in the small rural town of . Archer has maintained a private . He married in 1995, and his spouse prefers to stay out of the public eye. The couple keeps family details private, with no public information on children. Archer has spent much of his life near his roots, often billed from during his wrestling appearances. He resides in (as of 2024), balancing his professional commitments with and family life in the state.

Religion and philanthropy

Archer is a devout Christian whose plays a significant role in his personal and professional life. He has publicly discussed relying on prayer for major decisions, such as his move to , stating, "I have a lot of and I did a lot of praying about this situation." Similarly, he described his as a key factor in embracing new opportunities, noting that family, friends, and his beliefs pointed him toward AEW. Archer has emphasized a strong personal connection to , crediting it for providing direction amid career transitions. During his time in , Archer contributed to fellow wrestler Sting's faith-based documentary Moment of Truth (2004), participating in a scene that explored Sting's spiritual journey and Christian testimony. This involvement reflects Archer's alignment with projects centered on evangelical themes in . In June 2025, he became an ordained minister to officiate his sister's . Public records indicate limited details on Archer's direct philanthropic endeavors, with no major charitable donations or initiatives attributed to him individually.

Championships and accomplishments

Singles championships

Archer's most notable singles accomplishments came in (NJPW), where he captured the on two occasions, establishing himself as a dominant foreign in the promotion's midcard division. His first reign began on October 14, 2019, at NJPW's King of Pro-Wrestling event in Tokyo, Japan, where he defeated Juice Robinson in a no-disqualification match to win the vacant title after Jon Moxley was stripped due to travel issues stemming from Typhoon Hagibis. Archer held the championship for 82 days, defending it once against Robbie Eagles on November 3, 2019, before losing it to Moxley in a Texas Death Match on January 4, 2020, at Wrestle Kingdom 14 Night 1 in the Tokyo Dome. This run highlighted Archer's brutal, hard-hitting style, as he transitioned from tag team specialist to a credible singles threat following the departure of longtime partner Davey Boy Smith Jr. from Suzuki-gun. Archer reclaimed the for a second time on July 21, 2021, defeating Moxley in another Texas Death Match during AEW's Fyter Fest episode of , ending Moxley's record-setting 564-day reign and marking the title's first defense outside . His second reign lasted 24 days, concluding on August 14, 2021, at NJPW Resurgence in , , where he was defeated by via High Fly Flow. During this period, Archer positioned himself as "The Murder Daddy," emphasizing his killer persona through aggressive defenses and cross-promotional appearances. Prior to his NJPW success, Archer secured regional singles titles in independent promotions, including the , which he won on January 7, 2011, in , by defeating Sicodelico Jr. for the vacant title; he held it for a promotion-record 371 days until losing to Scott Summers on January 13, 2012. Additionally, he won the Premier Championship Wrestling (PCW) Heavyweight Championship three times between 2004 and 2007, showcasing his early power-based style in the Texas indie scene.
ReignEventDate WonLocationDays HeldNotes
1King of Pro-Wrestling 2019October 14, 2019Tokyo, Japan82Defeated to win vacant title in no-DQ match. Lost to in .
2AEW Fyter Fest ()July 21, 202124Defeated in . Lost to .

Tag team championships

Archer's tag team career began prominently in (TNA), where he teamed with as part of the group known as The Dallas/Kash Duo. They won the on two occasions, first capturing the titles on March 31, 2004, by defeating Triple X ( and ) in a final at a TNA event. Their second reign came later that year, solidifying their status as a dominant pair in the promotion's tag division during its early NWA affiliation period. Transitioning to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Archer formed the Killer Elite Squad (KES) with in 2012, a partnership that became one of the most successful international tag teams of the decade. As KES, they secured the three times, with their first reign beginning on October 8, 2012, when they defeated and at the King of Pro-Wrestling event in . This victory marked Archer's establishment as a top-tier tag competitor in Japan, and the duo defended the titles against notable challengers like Chaos and [Bullet Club](/page/Bullet Club) factions before losing them on May 3, 2013, to the Guerrillas of Destiny at Wrestling Dontaku. Their second reign followed on November 9, 2013, defeating the Forever Hooligans and lasting until January 4, 2014, at 8. The third reign lasted 102 days, beginning September 24, 2017, at Destruction in and ending at against EVIL and SANADA. KES also achieved success in , winning the twice. Their initial reign started on February 11, 2015, after defeating TMDK (Shane Haste and ) at Great Voyage in , where they held the titles for 472 days and emphasized a hard-hitting, no-nonsense style that resonated with Noah's strong-style tradition, setting a record for most defenses. The second reign, captured on November 23, 2016, by defeating and Taniguchi, was shorter at 10 days, ending on December 3, 2016. These victories contributed to KES being recognized as six-time world tag team champions collectively across promotions. In addition to their Japanese accolades, KES captured the once, on April 20, 2013, by defeating The Kings of Chaos (Rob Conrad and Scott Powers) in Houston, Texas, allowing them to hold dual world titles simultaneously at points with their IWGP reign. These accomplishments underscored Archer's ability to excel in high-stakes tag environments, often leveraging his power-based offense alongside his partners' complementary styles.

Other accomplishments

Archer achieved significant recognition for his performances in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's tournaments, most notably winning the 2011 G1 Tag League alongside stablemate as part of the faction. This victory highlighted his role as a dominant powerhouse in the promotion's annual round-robin event, where teams compete for prestige and a shot at supremacy. In 2013, Archer received the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Most Improved Wrestler of the Year award. In 2019, he received acclaim for his breakout performances, particularly during his strong showing in the tournament, earning him the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Most Improved Wrestler of the Year award for the second time. That same year, he was also named SLAM! Wrestling's Most Improved Wrestler of the Year in the male category, reflecting his evolution into a top-tier monster with improved in-ring psychology and match quality. Archer's consistent presence as a high-impact competitor is further evidenced by his peak ranking of No. 59 in the 500 in 2020, underscoring his status among the world's top singles wrestlers during his transition to .

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  48. https://www.wrestleview.com/aew-dynamite-results/152857-aew-dynamite-results-april-1-2020/
  49. https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-results-for-april-15-2020
  50. https://www.wrestleview.com/aew-dynamite-results/154951-aew-dynamite-results-april-29-2020/
  51. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2891516-cody-beats-lance-archer-to-win-tnt-championship-at-aew-double-or-nothing-2020
  52. https://www.facebook.com/AEW/videos/onthisday-in-2020-jon-moxley-and-lance-archer-went-to-war-in-a-no-dq-match-for-t/779301561743917/
  53. https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-results-for-october-14-2020
  54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0clLPFKWJmc
  55. https://www.hbomax.com/shows/aew/s2021/bf7f2c0f-74b5-43c5-b1e9-6dd5071410de/e6-dynamite-2102021/fe171d56-9115-41fb-9b46-7532525ec29c
  56. https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2021/07/21/lance-archer-iwgp-us-championship-fyter-fest/
  57. https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2021/5/30/22461251/aew-double-or-nothing-2021-results-miro-lance-archer-jake-snake-roberts-tnt-championship
  58. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/lance-archer-888.html?prom_id=285&year=2022&res=25
  59. https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2023/2/24/23614418/lance-archer-aew-return-new-look-jake-the-snake-roberts-push-murderhawk-monster-everyone-dies
  60. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1683616/jake-robert-joins-new-lfi-lance-archer-joins-don-callis-family-aew-dynamite-trade/
  61. https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2024/10/8/24265770/jake-the-snake-roberts-trades-lance-archer-to-don-callis-family-gets-rush-lfi-aew-dynamite
  62. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KTt6_3yt50
  63. https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-dynamite-results-september-3-2025
  64. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1062&page=19
  65. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/svr2011/roster/vance-archer
  66. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Lance_Hoyt
  67. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/roster/aew-fight-forever/lance-archer
  68. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6351616/
  69. https://vimeo.com/328301821
  70. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/lance-archer-brian-cage-chavo-guerrero-appear-upcoming-steven-spielberg-film
  71. https://cultaholic.com/posts/pro-wrestling-to-be-featured-in-steven-spielbergs-next-movie
  72. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1830878/aew-stars-appear-upcoming-steven-spielberg-film/
  73. https://blogs.usafootball.com/blog/8199/4th-and-forever-lance-archer-on-the-gridiron-and-in-the-squared-circle-never-quit/1000
  74. https://puroresusystem.fandom.com/wiki/Lance_Archer
  75. https://411mania.com/wrestling/lance-archer-on-why-he-went-to-aew-instead-of-back-to-njpw/
  76. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2892375-jake-the-snake-protege-lance-archer-believes-he-belongs-at-the-top-of-aew
  77. https://www.tsn.ca/returning-from-japan-murderhawk-monster-lance-archer-seeks-all-elite-wrestling-gold-1.1478208
  78. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/lance-archer-discusses-getting-advice-sting-hopes-wrestle-him-aew/
  79. https://www.ewrestlingnews.com/news/aew/aews-lance-archer-is-now-an-ordained-minister
  80. https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/lance-archer-net-worth
  81. https://www.cagesideseats.com/2020/1/4/21049322/njpw-wrestle-kingdom-14-jon-moxley-lance-archer-iwgp-united-states-heavyweight-championship-juice
  82. https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/lance-archer-beats-jon-moxley-iwgp-us-title-aew-fyter-fest-347691/
  83. https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2021/08/15/hiroshi-tanahashi-wins-iwgp-united-states-championship/
  84. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/n/nwa-sw/nwa-sw-tx-h.html
  85. http://www.oklafan.com/bios/view/2898/
  86. https://www.njpw1972.com/champions/iwgp-2tag
  87. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=148
  88. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=144
  89. https://www.njpw1972.com/o136018
  90. https://slamwrestling.net/features/slam-wrestling-2019-awards/
  91. http://www.profightdb.com/pwi/lance-archer-888.html
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