PWInsider.com is extremely saddened to report the passing of former Ring of Honor World Champion John Kirius, who wrestled as Xavier at the age of 43. There is no word on the circumstances of his passing but members of his family have confirmed it with Kirius' closest friends in the New York City wrestling scene.
Xavier was born and raised in the New York City area and was trained by former ECW star Tony Devito and quickly became a top star in the New York City independent scene, working the earlier events for Mike Lombardi's Northeast Wrestling, where he was a young, athletic performer with a great looking 450 splash.
Within the confines of NYC, Xavier headlined, as a heel, for Jac Sabboth's ICW and USA Pro Wrestling. He and Low Ki had a classic feud for those promotions that culminated in an incredible ladder match that, at the time, headlined was scheduled to be the final ever event at the Elks Lodge aka "Madhouse of Extreme" that was so good StrictlyECW.com head Tony Lewis declared the match "had the spirit of ECW" just a few months after that promotion.
The feud was so good that Gabe Sapolsky imported it into Ring of Honor from the beginning with Xavier and Ki debuting on the first ROH event in February 2002 and eventually, Xavier shocking ROH fans by winning the belt from Low Ki shortly after Ki became the first champion at ROH Unscripted. With that title win, Xavier joined Christopher Daniels' Prophecy and was the heel champion multiple babyfaces, including Paul London, AJ Styles and Jay Briscoe chased before Xavier finally lost the belt to Samoa Joe to kick off Joe's legendary reign as ROH Champion. In that time period, Xavier played the classic heel champion always on the brink of losing but somehow eking out a victory. He was an excellent and extremely underrated performer at the time, who's work in helping to build the foundation of Ring of Honor has never truly been properly acknowledged or celebrated.
Beyond ROH. Xavier was used regularly by WWF/WWE for enhancement work in the New York City area and was so highly thought of at the time that there would be occasions he would be booked to lose quickly only to be pulled from the matches as those in talent relations at the time felt the company might be able to do something with him and they didn't want to job him out quickly. For whatever reason, however, he was never signed, last working a date for WWE back in 2007.
After his ROH title loss, Xavier took time off but returned to break off from The Prophecy, joining Prince Nana's Embassy, where he feuded with John Walter, leaving after he suffered a shoulder injury. He would make a number of other appearances, including challenging Bryan Danielson for the ROH title but was never a consistent regular for the company after 2006. He was slated to return to ROH earlier this year to face Jay Lethal at the Past vs. Present ROH TV taping in Las Vegas, an event that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While he continued working in professional wrestling for just about every independent promotion one could name and also had a tryout for Impact Wrestling in 2010.
Outside of pro wrestling, Xavier had been training heavily in MMA, believing that once it was made legal in New York State, it was going to take off in a massive way and that he wanted to be in front of the wave. He debuted in MMA in 2009, competing as John Xavier, winning his first fight via KO in 14 seconds in the first round. He lost the second fight via decision and continued to train and compete. The interest in MMA led to Xavier waning towards performing in professional wrestling circles and he last regularly wrestled in 2011 for Sabboth's ICW promotion in New York. His last match, that I am aware of, was for ICW in 2016, defeating Indigo Child.
Beyond combat sports, Xavier had worked the door at a number of NYC clubs.
On behalf of everyone associated with PWInsider.com, I'd like to express my deepest condolences to Xavier's friends, family and fans. In all my interactions with him, he was a truly great person who loved two things - his family and performing in professional wrestling.
FORMER RING OF HONOR CHAMPION JOHN 'XAVIER' JIRIUS PASSES AWAY | PWInsider.com
he was the 2nd ROH champ, remember him from the early shows. hella fukked up to go at 43.
Xavier was born and raised in the New York City area and was trained by former ECW star Tony Devito and quickly became a top star in the New York City independent scene, working the earlier events for Mike Lombardi's Northeast Wrestling, where he was a young, athletic performer with a great looking 450 splash.
Within the confines of NYC, Xavier headlined, as a heel, for Jac Sabboth's ICW and USA Pro Wrestling. He and Low Ki had a classic feud for those promotions that culminated in an incredible ladder match that, at the time, headlined was scheduled to be the final ever event at the Elks Lodge aka "Madhouse of Extreme" that was so good StrictlyECW.com head Tony Lewis declared the match "had the spirit of ECW" just a few months after that promotion.
The feud was so good that Gabe Sapolsky imported it into Ring of Honor from the beginning with Xavier and Ki debuting on the first ROH event in February 2002 and eventually, Xavier shocking ROH fans by winning the belt from Low Ki shortly after Ki became the first champion at ROH Unscripted. With that title win, Xavier joined Christopher Daniels' Prophecy and was the heel champion multiple babyfaces, including Paul London, AJ Styles and Jay Briscoe chased before Xavier finally lost the belt to Samoa Joe to kick off Joe's legendary reign as ROH Champion. In that time period, Xavier played the classic heel champion always on the brink of losing but somehow eking out a victory. He was an excellent and extremely underrated performer at the time, who's work in helping to build the foundation of Ring of Honor has never truly been properly acknowledged or celebrated.
Beyond ROH. Xavier was used regularly by WWF/WWE for enhancement work in the New York City area and was so highly thought of at the time that there would be occasions he would be booked to lose quickly only to be pulled from the matches as those in talent relations at the time felt the company might be able to do something with him and they didn't want to job him out quickly. For whatever reason, however, he was never signed, last working a date for WWE back in 2007.
After his ROH title loss, Xavier took time off but returned to break off from The Prophecy, joining Prince Nana's Embassy, where he feuded with John Walter, leaving after he suffered a shoulder injury. He would make a number of other appearances, including challenging Bryan Danielson for the ROH title but was never a consistent regular for the company after 2006. He was slated to return to ROH earlier this year to face Jay Lethal at the Past vs. Present ROH TV taping in Las Vegas, an event that was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While he continued working in professional wrestling for just about every independent promotion one could name and also had a tryout for Impact Wrestling in 2010.
Outside of pro wrestling, Xavier had been training heavily in MMA, believing that once it was made legal in New York State, it was going to take off in a massive way and that he wanted to be in front of the wave. He debuted in MMA in 2009, competing as John Xavier, winning his first fight via KO in 14 seconds in the first round. He lost the second fight via decision and continued to train and compete. The interest in MMA led to Xavier waning towards performing in professional wrestling circles and he last regularly wrestled in 2011 for Sabboth's ICW promotion in New York. His last match, that I am aware of, was for ICW in 2016, defeating Indigo Child.
Beyond combat sports, Xavier had worked the door at a number of NYC clubs.
On behalf of everyone associated with PWInsider.com, I'd like to express my deepest condolences to Xavier's friends, family and fans. In all my interactions with him, he was a truly great person who loved two things - his family and performing in professional wrestling.
FORMER RING OF HONOR CHAMPION JOHN 'XAVIER' JIRIUS PASSES AWAY | PWInsider.com
he was the 2nd ROH champ, remember him from the early shows. hella fukked up to go at 43.
