The Unbreakable Legacy
An academic exploration into the professional trajectory, achievements, and personal challenges of a prominent figure in modern professional wrestling, Michael Elgin.
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Biography
Origins and Identity
Aaron Michael Frobel, professionally known as Michael Elgin, is a Canadian professional wrestler and promoter. Born on December 13, 1986, in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Frobel adopted the ring name "Michael Elgin" early in his career. He is recognized for his robust physique, often billed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and 267 lb (121 kg), embodying the moniker "Unbreakable" that he would later adopt. His career has seen him billed from both Oshawa and Toronto, Ontario, reflecting his Canadian roots in the wrestling world.
Global Impact
Elgin's professional journey commenced in 2004, leading him to become a significant presence across various international promotions. His notable tenures include New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Ring of Honor (ROH), Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), and Pro Wrestling Noah. Across these organizations, he has secured multiple championships, establishing himself as a formidable competitor on the global stage of professional wrestling.
Championship Pedigree
Throughout his career, Michael Elgin has accumulated an impressive array of titles, underscoring his consistent performance and skill. These include the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, NEVER Openweight Championship, and NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship in NJPW. In ROH, he held the prestigious ROH World Championship and is a two-time winner of the Survival of the Fittest tournament. His achievements extend to tag team gold in PWG and Noah, further solidifying his status as a decorated athlete in the sport.
Early Career
Formative Training
Aaron Frobel began his wrestling training at the remarkably young age of 14. His foundational instruction took place at a local wrestling school, followed by more advanced training at Squared Circle Training in Toronto, Ontario, under the tutelage of Rob Fuego in early 2004. Additional mentors included Joe E. Legend and Tyson Dux, who further shaped his in-ring capabilities and professional approach.
Independent Debut and Expansion
Frobel made his professional wrestling debut in late 2004 in Hamtramck, Michigan, adopting the ring name Michael Elgin. By the age of 16, he was already a regular fixture on the independent circuit. Due to age restrictions imposed by the Ontario Athletic Commission, which prohibited individuals under 18 from wrestling professionally in the region, Elgin frequently traveled to Montreal and various U.S. states, including Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, to pursue his burgeoning career.
Early Independent Success
From 2005 to 2010, Elgin became a prominent figure in numerous independent promotions across both the United States and Canada. He competed for organizations such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (IWA Mid-South), where he notably captured the IWA Mid-South Strong Style Championship in 2008. His tenure with Great Canadian Wrestling (GCW) was also highly successful, yielding two GCW National Championships and four GCW Tag Team Championships with various partners, including Jake O'Reilly, Havok, Derek Wylde, and Ashley Sixx.
Ring of Honor
Alliance and Ascent
Michael Elgin's initial engagement with Ring of Honor (ROH) included tryout matches in 2007 and subsequent appearances in 2007 and 2008. His regular involvement began in 2010 when he was introduced as a member of "The House of Truth" faction, managed by Truth Martini. This alliance provided a significant platform for Elgin, leading to feuds with notable wrestlers such as Christopher Daniels and El Generico. His commitment to the promotion was formalized with a contract signing on March 19, 2011, extending through December 2012.
Championship Pursuits and Reign
Elgin's tenure in ROH was marked by several high-profile championship opportunities. On November 18, 2011, he won the "Survival of the Fittest" tournament, earning a guaranteed ROH World Championship match. He repeated this feat in 2015, becoming the first wrestler to win the tournament twice. After several challenges, including a critically acclaimed match against Davey Richards in 2012, Elgin finally captured the ROH World Championship on June 22, 2014, by defeating Adam Cole. His reign lasted 76 days before he lost the title to Jay Briscoe on September 6, 2014.
Departure and Legacy
Following his ROH World Championship loss, reports indicated a strained relationship between Elgin and ROH management, compounded by work visa issues. After a brief departure and a return as a disgruntled character, Elgin signed a new deal in November 2015. However, on December 15, 2016, he announced his departure from ROH, with the exception of joint shows with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. His time in ROH established him as a main event talent and a powerful force within the promotion.
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
West Coast Debut
Michael Elgin made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) on May 25, 2012, in a match against Willie Mack. He secured his first victory in the promotion on July 21 at "Threemendous III," PWG's nine-year anniversary event, by defeating Sami Callihan. These early performances quickly established his presence in the highly competitive Southern California independent scene.
Battle of Los Angeles
Elgin participated in the prestigious "Battle of Los Angeles" tournaments, showcasing his endurance and skill. In the 2012 tournament, he advanced to the final round after defeating Davey Richards, Brian Cage, and Ricochet, ultimately losing to Adam Cole. He returned for the 2013 tournament, defeating Rich Swann, Roderick Strong, and Johnny Gargano before being defeated by Kyle O'Reilly in the finals, consistently proving his main event caliber.
Tag Team Gold
On January 12, 2013, Elgin formed a formidable tag team with Brian Cage, known as the "Unbreakable F'n Machines," a name derived from their respective nicknames. On the same day, they captured the PWG World Tag Team Championship by defeating the previous year's winners, the Super Smash Bros. (Player Uno and Stupefied), in the opening round of the 2013 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament. They later lost the championship to The Young Bucks in the semifinal round of the same tournament.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
G1 Climax Impact
Through ROH's working relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Michael Elgin debuted for the Japanese promotion in the 2015 G1 Climax. Despite not advancing from his block, finishing with a record of four wins and five losses, his performance garnered significant popularity among Japanese audiences, leading to what was described as a "career resurgence." He continued to participate in the G1 Climax in 2016 and 2017, consistently delivering high-quality matches.
Intercontinental Champion
Elgin signed a two-year contract with NJPW in February 2016. His first major NJPW title came on April 10, 2016, at "Invasion Attack 2016," where he, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Yoshitatsu defeated The Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) to become the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions. Later, on June 19 at "Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall," Elgin replaced an injured Hiroshi Tanahashi and defeated Kenny Omega in NJPW's inaugural ladder match to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, marking a historic moment as the first time two Canadians main evented an NJPW show.
Challenges and Departure
Elgin's Intercontinental Championship reign ended on September 25, 2016, when he lost to Tetsuya Naito at "Destruction in Kobe." Shortly after, he suffered a broken left eye socket from a dropkick by Naito, requiring surgery and forcing him to withdraw from scheduled events, including a rematch for the title. He later captured the NEVER Openweight Championship in June 2018, defeating Taichi and Hirooki Goto, but lost it back to Goto in his first defense. Elgin's final match with NJPW was on March 24, 2019, and he officially parted ways with the promotion on April 1, 2019.
Mexico
CMLL Engagements
Michael Elgin's presence extended to the Mexican professional wrestling scene, notably with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He was announced as a participant in the 2016 International Gran Prix, making his debut in Lucha Libre Elite on June 23, 2016, defeating Jinder Mahal. On July 1, he participated in the 2016 International Gran Prix, where he was eliminated by Último Guerrero. He returned for the 2017 International Gran Prix, being the last man eliminated by Diamante Azul, and ultimately won the 2018 International Gran Prix by eliminating Último Guerrero.
Elite World Champion
During his 2016 Mexican tour, Elgin achieved significant success by becoming Lucha Libre Elite's inaugural World Champion. He secured this title by defeating Volador Jr. in the tournament final on June 25, 2016. This championship added another international accolade to his growing list of achievements, demonstrating his versatility across different wrestling styles and promotions.
The Crash Appearance
On November 3, 2018, Michael Elgin participated in a Fatal 4-Way match for The Crash Heavyweight Championship at The Crash Lucha Libre's 7th-anniversary event. In this contest, which also featured Bábaro Cavernario and El Mesías, Elgin was defeated by Willie Mack. This appearance marked another engagement in the diverse Mexican independent wrestling circuit.
Impact Wrestling
Immediate Impact
Following his departure from NJPW, Michael Elgin debuted at Impact Wrestling's "Rebellion" show in April 2019. His arrival was marked by a direct confrontation with Brian Cage, immediately after Cage had won the Impact World Championship, followed by an attack. This aggressive introduction positioned Elgin as a top contender from the outset. On the May 3 episode of Impact Wrestling, Elgin defeated Johnny Impact and Pentagon Jr. in a triple threat match to become the number one contender for the Impact World Championship.
Championship Challenges
Elgin's pursuit of the Impact World Championship was a central storyline during his tenure. He faced Brian Cage for the title at "Slammiversary XVII" on June 7, 2019, but was unsuccessful. Post-match, he continued his assault on Cage, only to be interrupted by the returning Rhino. He also engaged in notable matches against Rich Swann, Naomichi Marufuji at "Bound for Glory 2019," and Eddie Edwards at "Hard To Kill," showcasing his intense in-ring style.
Contract Termination
On June 22, 2020, Impact Wrestling announced Elgin's suspension following sexual assault allegations that emerged as part of the "Speaking Out movement." Four days later, on June 26, Impact Wrestling confirmed that Elgin would be removed from all future programming and his contract would be terminated. This abrupt end to his Impact Wrestling career marked a significant turning point in his professional trajectory.
Pro Wrestling Noah
Japanese Return
Michael Elgin made his Pro Wrestling Noah debut on November 2, 2019, at "Battle of Aesthetics," where he challenged Takashi Sugiura for the newly created GHC National Championship, though he was unsuccessful. He returned to Noah on January 4, 2020, during the Korakuen Hall tour, securing victories against Katsuhiko Nakajima and Masao Inoue on consecutive days, re-establishing his presence in the Japanese wrestling landscape.
Tag Team Success
On May 21, 2022, Elgin formed a tag team with Masa Kitamiya. Together, they defeated Sugiura-gun International (El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and René Duprée) to capture the GHC Tag Team Championships. This victory marked another significant championship achievement for Elgin in a major Japanese promotion, highlighting his continued ability to compete at a high level in tag team competition.
Title Stripped and Departure
Following his arrest on July 9, 2022, Michael Elgin was stripped of his GHC Tag Team Championship by Pro Wrestling Noah. Concurrently, he was removed from all future Noah shows, effectively ending his tenure with the promotion. This incident led to his subsequent departure from Japan, and he has not returned to the country since.
Personal Life
Family and Residence
Aaron Frobel, known as Michael Elgin, was born in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, and later relocated to Toronto, Ontario. Prior to his full-time wrestling career, Frobel worked in construction, a profession he eventually left due to the demanding schedule of his wrestling appearances. In June 2013, he announced his engagement to fellow professional wrestler Rachel Collins, known as MsChif. They married on July 4, 2013, and welcomed their son, Jax, on September 4, 2015. The couple subsequently divorced in 2020.
Public Incidents
In June 2021, Frobel was briefly reported missing after sending a "concerning message" on Facebook and leaving his phone at home; he was later found and returned home. In July 2021, he was arrested for violating a protection order filed by his ex-fiancée, though no charges were ultimately filed by the state attorney's office. In July 2022, Frobel was reportedly arrested in Japan for theft, an allegation he denied, stating he was returning to Canada due to a family bereavement. He has not returned to Japan since this incident.
Championships
Career Accolades
Michael Elgin has amassed a significant number of championships and accomplishments across various promotions throughout his professional wrestling career. These accolades reflect his diverse skill set and consistent performance at high levels of competition.
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References
References
- The Crash 7. Aniversario Cagematch. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
- https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=2839
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