Eric Young (wrestler)
A versatile and resilient performer who evolved from a comedic wrestler to a hardened world champion in TNA.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian professional wrestler·Birthday: December 15·Generation X
Biography
Eric Young's career is a testament to adaptability in the chaotic world of professional wrestling. The Canadian-born performer first gained attention in TNA as the manic, paranoid leader of the comedic stable Team Canada and later as the star of his own absurdist talk segment, 'Showtime' Eric Young. But beneath the silliness was a serious and capable wrestler. He masterfully pivoted his character, shedding the clownish persona to reveal a gritty, intense, and technically sound competitor. This reinvention culminated in the pinnacle of his career: winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in 2014, a victory that felt earned after years of proving his range. Young's journey through TNA—with a notable stint in WWE's NXT and main roster—showcases a performer who refused to be pigeonholed, earning respect by constantly challenging audience expectations.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Eric was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in 2014 after cashing in the 'Feast or Fired' briefcase.
- A former TNA Television Champion and multiple-time Tag Team Champion within the promotion.
- Led the popular and comedic faction 'Team Canada' in the early years of TNA.
- Won the NXT Tag Team Championship during his tenure in WWE.
Did You Know?
He is a trained marine biologist and has incorporated his love of animals into wrestling storylines.
He wrestled a match in TNA dressed as the superhero Super Eric.
He won the first-ever 'Feast or Fired' match in TNA in 2008.
He began his wrestling career in 1998 on the independent circuit in Canada.
“I'm not paranoid, I'm just more observant than most people.”
