Scheide (Ultimate)

Blade is the stage name of British sports entertainment professional Jordan Wade (born 17th May 1996), who competes in the sports entertainment brand Ultimate.

Early life
Wade was born on 17th May 1996, in Leeds, UK. His father left the family when he was three years old, leaving him to be raised by his mother Jackie and his grandmother Eileen.

He attended Twin Oaks High School in Leeds, and was frequently in trouble for fighting with other students and being rude to staff. He often played truant, and instead of attending school would visit a local back street gym, where he would spend hours lifting weights and practising callisthenics. Whilst there he came to know the owner, former boxing promoter Brian Wilcox. Wade confided in Wilcox about his struggles at school, and told him about the intense aggression he felt towards society, his absent father and himself. Wilcox began to mentor him, helping him to channel his aggression positively.

Scouting
In 2014, Wilcox was approached by Ultimate development manager Brandon Weeting, who was in the UK scouting for potential talent in boxing and Crossfit circles. Wilcox mentioned this to Wade, who was immediately interested, and persuaded Weeting to give him a chance to audition.

At the audition, Weeting was impressed by Wade's physicality but felt that he had too little experience of combat sports to join the development roster. Upon hearing the decision, Wade became intensely angry and launched a tirade at Weeting, extolling his own virtues and insulting the Ultimate and its staff. Weeting realised that with some polishing Wade could be a powerful character, and offered him a development contract on the spot. Wade accepted immediately, and moved to the United States as soon as he obtained a visa.

Development and breakthrough
Wade spent six months at the Ultimate Development Center in Ballerma, California. He was given the professional nickname "The Body", referring to his toned and sculpted physique. His status as a "heel" (an antagonist or "bad guy") was never in doubt, and his natural self-confidence and disrespect for authority were incorporated into his Ultimate 'character'. During his time at the Development Center he began to appear in matches locally, and was voted "best newcomer" - becoming the first ever UK-born competitor to earn the title.

His full Ultimate debut came at an exhibition match in November 2014 in Toulon, Nevada, in which he defeated Eugene Flores. Wade quickly became a fan favourite, developing a reputation as an egotistical, narcissistic villain. He proclaimed himself as a young upstart who was so talented that he viewed himself as the inevitable future Ultimate Champion. He embarked on numerous storyline feuds with established competitors, and gained infamy for his shameless self-promotion and blatant disrespect for more experienced figures in Ultimate, the Authority and crowds.

Style and character
Wade has developed a strong persona as the archetypal narcissistic “bad boy”, who insults his opponents (and spectators) and brags about his own prowess, athleticism and good looks. He is fond of goading the crowd, remarking that the boos and jeers only excite him further. He frequently interferes in other competitors’ matches, promos and interviews, and often picks fights backstage or outside. Wade has admitted that his Ultimate persona is only a slightly exaggerated version of his own personality, likening it to “being an actor, but playing myself.”

Wade is known for his assertive, high-energy wrestling style, favouring agility over brute strength. What he lacks in mass he makes up for with skill and upper-body strength. He has developed long-running storyline feuds with numerous other competitors, especially Ray "Warhorse" Olson, O. J. Hunter and Spectre. During promos, opponents typically mock his youth, his limited attire and his egotistical personality.

Attire
Wade is known for his distinctive attire. He competes wearing nothing but black briefs, with orange knee-pads and a pair of white trainers instead of the traditional boots. His extremely minimal attire accentuates both his "the Body" nickname and his rebellious, supremely self-confident persona. It represents a radical departure from the Ultimate tradition, as a deliberate challenge to established competitors. Ultimate character designer Barbara Tarrant explained:

"'We've got this hot-headed, cocky guy who also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous and have an amazing body. The character creates itself. We know he's going to be a stirrer, a challenger, someone who plays by his own rules. And we give him the attire to match - we send him out there with practically nothing on, and we make sure everyone knows he's literally wearing as little as possible: top off, tiny, tight trunks with nothing underneath, and he doesn't even wear any socks with his trainers.'"

Unlike most other Ultimate competitors Wade lacks a separate dress attire, so he performs promos, conducts interviews and goes backstage and outside wearing only his extremely minimal ring attire - even on occasions when he is not even scheduled to compete. The fact that Wade never appears in-character wearing anything more than his ring attire has become an established part of his persona, and has resulted in him making public and TV appearances wearing nothing but his briefs, knee pads and trainers.

Wade has admitted that he enjoys wearing so little, remarking, "it makes me feel completely naked... and I love it."

Personal life
When he is not touring with Ultimate, Wade lives in Graceville, California.

In the summer of 2017 it was confirmed that he was dating actress Amelie Sharpton. Their first public appearance as a couple was on July 7th, when he accompanied her to that year's Orb Awards. Sharpton joked that for many people it was "the first time they've seen him [Wade] fully clothed!". True to form, Wade did not appear to be coping well with the summer heat and was sweating noticeably as the couple mingled with crowds on the red carpet.

Quotes

 * "People say that I'm arrogant, but I'm not. I'd be arrogant if I thought I was the best. I know I'm the best."
 * "I'm going to the top, and I'm leaving you behind."
 * "I'd trample my own grandmother to get to the top."
 * "My favourite thing to talk about is how great I am."
 * "Your mistake wasn't thinking you could beat me. Your mistake was thinking you deserve to be beaten by me."
 * "Of course I'm not wearing very much. A body this good shouldn't be hidden."
 * "I'm very well aware that I'm dripping with sweat. At least I'm not dripping in weakness and failure."
 * "[My attire] makes me feel completely naked - and I love it."