Travis Banks

Real Name: Travis Bligh
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 198 lbs.
Date of Birth: February 15, 1987
From: Bulls, New Zealand
Pro Debut: March 6, 2009
Trained By: Martin Stirling Kingi
Finishing Move: Kiwi Crusher

Biography

– Bligh began his career in his native New Zealand as ‘Travis Banks’ in 2009
– In his debut match on March 3, 2009, Banks defeated The Nerd on a NZWPW show
– On October 30, The Five Star Revolution (Banks & JC Star) defeated Ben Mana & Adam Avalanche to win the NZWPW Tag Team Titles
– On February 7, 2010, The Five Star Revolution defeated Chad Howard & The Nerd to retain the NZWPW Tag Team Titles
– On March 19, The Five Star Revolution defeated Project Mayhem (Ben Mana & Corey Dallas) to retain the NZWPW Tag Team Titles
– Banks won the 2012 IPW:NZ Armageddon Cup, defeating James Shaw in the final
– Banks briefly toured Japan in December 2012 with the ZERO1 promotion
– On April 27, 2013, Banks defeated Liam Fury & Kingi to win the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– On May 26, Banks defeated James Shaw to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– On June 1, Banks defeated Liger in a No Rules Match to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– The next day, Banks defeated Johnny Idol and James Shaw to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– In July 2013, Banks travelled to the US for the first time, working for various independent promotions, including making a dark match appearance for ROH
– On February 1, 2014, Banks defeated Vinny Dunn to win the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– On March 22, Banks defeated James Shaw in an Iron Man Match to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– On May 17, Banks defeated Curt Chaos to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– On July 5, Banks defeated Curt Chaos in a Lumberjack Match to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title
– On July 26, Banks defeated Jakob Cross & Aaron Henry in a Handicap Match to retain the IPWNZ Heavyweight Title, then retained against Curt Chaos and Pat Schisk later that day
– In late 2015, Banks moved to the UK in an attempt to further his career and was soon a regular in several independent promotions in England and Wales
– On August 21, Banks & Damian Dunne defeated The Brothers of Construction (Jim & Lee) to win the ATTACK 24:7 Title for Dunne
– Banks won the 2016 FCP Infinity Trophy, defeating Trent Seven in the final
– On March 5, 2017, CCK (Banks & Chris Brookes) defeated Joel Redman & Charlie Sterling to win the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– On March 18, Banks defeated Pete Dunne to win the FCP Title
– Banks worked the WrestleMania Axxess events in April 2017
– On April 9, CCK (Banks & Chris Brookes) defeated Shane Strickland & Ryan Smile to retain the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– On April 13, CCK defeated Martin Stone & Sami Callihan to retain the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– Between April 14 and 16, Banks successfully defended the FCP Title against Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jr & Mark Haskins
– On April 17, Banks defeated Shane Strickland to become the first Lucha Forever Champion
– On May 7, CCK (Banks & Chris Brookes) defeated The London Riots (Rob Lynch & James Davis) to retain the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– On May 19, Banks defeated Trent Seven to retain the FCP Title
– On May 25, Banks defeated Matt Riddle to retain the Lucha Forever Title
– Banks won the 2017 PROGRESS Super Strong Style 16 Tournament, defeating Tyler Bate in the final
– On June 13, Banks defeated Mark Haskins to retain the Lucha Forever Title
– On June 18, Banks defeated Shane Strickland & Mark Haskins in a Ladder Match to retain the Lucha Forever Title
– On July 2, CCK (Banks & Chris Brookes) defeated Kurtis Chapman & Josh Wall to retain the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– On July 14, Banks defeated Jigsaw to retain the Lucha Forever Title
– On August 6, CCK (Banks & Chris Brookes) defeated War Machine (Hanson & Rowe) in a War Machine Rules Match to retain the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– On September 10, Banks defeated Pete Dunne to win the PROGRESS World Title
– On October 1, CCK (Banks & Chris Brookes) defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) to retain the RevPro British Tag Team Titles
– On October 29, Banks defeated Keith Lee to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On November 12, Banks defeated Mark Andrews to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On November 26, Banks defeated Matt Riddle to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On December 10, Banks defeated Eddie Dennis to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On December 30, Banks defeated Will Ospreay to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On January 14, 2018, Banks defeated Chris Brookes to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On January 28, Banks defeated TK Cooper to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On February 11, Banks defeated Chris Brookes & TK Cooper to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On February 19, Banks defeated David Starr, Mike Bailey & Chris Brookes in an Elimination Match to win the vacant Defiant Internet Title
– On February 25, Banks defeated Matt Riddle to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On March 25, Banks defeated Morgan Webster to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On April 6, Banks defeated Shane Strickland to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On April 7, Banks defeated Jeff Cobb to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– The next day, Banks defeated No Way Jose at WrestleMania Axxess to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On April 20, Banks defeated Elliot Sexton & JXT in an Elimination Match to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– The next day, Banks defeated Kane Khan to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On April 28, Banks fought WALTER to a draw to retain the Defiant Internet Title
– On May 20, Banks defeated Jack Sexsmith to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– On June 24, Banks defeated Chuck Mambo to retain the PROGRESS World Title
– Banks began competing regularly for WWE’s NXT UK brand in late 2018
– On June 23, 2019, Banks defeated Jason Jupiter & Carlos Romo to win the Triple W Absolute Title
– On October 27, Banks defeated Noah Striker to retain the Triple W Absolute Title
– On June 26, 2020, Banks was released from WWE after emotional abuse allegations against him were made public as part of the #SpeakingOut movement. His UK work visa was later revoked after an investigation into the allegations
– In 2021, Banks moved to Mexico in an attempt to revive his career
– Banks worked his return match in September 2021, competing in a Battle Royal at a Big Lucha event
– On February 6, 2022, Banks defeated Dragon Bane to win the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title
– On March 13, Banks defeated Cerebro Negro to retain the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Title
– On June 18, Banks defeated Iron Kid to win the WLS Title
– On September 8, Banks defeated Septimo Dragon & Arez to retain the WLS Title
– On April 16, 2023, Banks defeated Rencor Negro Jr to win the RIW Junior Heavyweight Title