If you want to know the definition of the word tenacity, you need look no further than current Ring of Honor World Champion Michael Elgin. The Unbreakable one has it in spades, and his four year campaign for the belt is ample proof. Elgin can match strength with any big man in the business, and has the gas tank as well as the athletic ability to move around the ring like a cruiserweight. For lack of a better term, Michael Elgin is one scary dude.

Elgin had brief appearances in ROH in both 2007, and 2008, before he made his main roster debut for the company at Survival of the Fittest 2010. Elgin was billed as the no nonsense enforcer for Truth Martini’s House of Truth faction alongside Roderick Strong and Zach Gowen. The following year Elgin entered and won The Survival of the Fittest 2011 tournament, securing his first ROH World Title shot at then champion Davey Richards. Although unsuccessful in his first attempt to become champion, Elgin’s match with Richards at Showdown in the Sun was a spectacular five star outing that left both men physically spent, and the crowd emotionally drained from the rollercoaster ride. Afterwards, Davey Richards took the opportunity to compliment his opponent on the match, and assured him that one day he would in fact hold the title.

In September of 2012, Elgin turned from the House of Truth after dealing out a savage beating to Roderick Strong. The following month Unbreakable again challenged for the ROH World Title, this time coming up short against Kevin Steen in yet another highly regarded match.

At Supercard of Honor VII, Elgin secured what looked to be his third title shot, winning a number one contenders match against the always tough Jay Lethal. Unfortunately for Elgin, champion Jay Briscoe was stripped of his title due to injury. Instead of accepting the title via forfeit, Elgin opted instead to enter a tournament for the vacant strap. After besting Paul London, Karl Anderson, and Kevin Steen on his way to the finals, Elgin eventually lost a razor close match to Adam Cole in his second bout of the night at Death Before Dishonor XI.

Undaunted, Elgin continued his crusade for ROH gold, earning his fourth crack at the belt after pinning Cole in an amazing, back-and-fourth, four-on-four elimination tag match. Closing out the year at Final Battle 2013, it looked as though Elgin’s time had finally come, but he ultimately fell to Cole un a three-way match, in which a now healthy Jay Briscoe also competed.

The two title losses to Adam Cole not only lit a spark under Elgin, but also added fuel to the fire of that already heated rivalry. After having his trademark mullet shaved off, and his sweetheart MsChif attacked by Cole, Elgin would finally get his revenge. At Ring of Honor’s first live broadcast PPV event, Best in the World 2014, with some backup from rising tag team War Machine and MisChif, Elgin’s dream became reality when a viscous series of Elgin bombs ended Adam Cole’s 275 day reign as ROH champion.

With sheer determination, grit, and dogged persistence, Elgin pursued the title, never losing focus, always forging ahead. That sort of tenacity has become a calling card for all of ROH’s most elite champions over the years, the sort of tenacity that any true fan of the sport can genuinely appreciate. Although he has repeatedly shown than he is amongst the best of the world in professional wrestling, Elgin’s stock can only rise higher from here.

Michael Elgin will defend his Ring of Honor World Title on Saturday, August 9th, against Cedric Alexander at the National Guard Armory in Philidelphia, Pa. And while Cedric Alexander himself has the makings to one day be a future champion, I don’t see anyone ripping the title from Elgin’s Unbreakable grasp anytime soon.

RUN IN by @AaronWrotkowski I first saw Michael Elgin wrestle in Windsor, Ontario, Canada around 2006. He couldn’t have been much older than 18 years old at the time. He was a hefty kid who definitely showed a lot of talent back then. I had the… pleasure to see him wrestle Phil Atlas in a Bedpan Match at Sin City Wrestling, a promotion I volunteered in. Even with such a ridiculous gimmick, Atlas and Elgin worked their asses off for a small audience in a low ceiling bar. I followed his career since, from being the Canadian Crazyhorse to his first shot in Ring of Honor. He was one of the top Ontario independent talent and it killed me prior to him becoming an ROH regular as to why Ontario talent couldn’t get shots. Elgin, Shawn Spears, Tyson Dux, Josh Alexander, all of these guys were better than the average worker in WWE, TNA or ROH but just couldn’t get their chance. Soon Mike Elgin became a mainstay in ROH and Shawn Spears went back to WWE as Tye Dillinger. Just this past week Josh Alexander and E.G.O. made their ROH TV debut. And in an upcoming ROH Television taping you’re going to see Tyson Dux watch Mike Elgin’s back. One must wonder if that’s Mike Elgin not only shattering the glass ceiling in ROH, but opening a door for Ontario independent talent to finally shine on the big stage of ROH. If anything he’s a testament to starting from the bottom and working to the top. It doesn’t matter if you worked a bedpan match or wore a Teletubby costume. You can still become a World champion.

photo credit: Anton Jackson via photopin cc

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