{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Joe E. Legend |image = Joe E. Legend in July 2019 (cropped).jpg |alt = |caption = Legend in 2019 |spouse = {{marriage|Svenia Hitchen|2003}}<ref name=Slam2>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Legend/2011/01/22/16993146.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120144211/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Legend/2011/01/22/16993146.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 20, 2019|title=Joe, who the hell are you?|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|first=Joe E.|last=Legend|date=January 22, 2011|access-date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> |children = 2<ref name=Slam1>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2012/08/12/20094686.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725183134/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2012/08/12/20094686.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 25, 2017|title=Joe E. Legend's global resume very impressive|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|first=Greg|last=Oliver|date=August 12, 2012|access-date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> |birth_name = Joseph Edward Hitchen<ref name=Slam2/> |names = Billy Johnson<ref name="Cagematch Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=226&name= |title=Joe E. Legend « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH |publisher=Cagematch.net |access-date=2013-04-26}}</ref><br />Bluto Belushi<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Dragon<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />'''Joe E. Legend'''<br />'''Joe Legend'''<br />Joe Sampson<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Just Joe<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Legend<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Master Joe Storm<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Nord<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />XL-Legend<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Joe X-Legend<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Joe Ace<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Joe Megalodon<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/> |height = 6 ft 1 in<ref name=Slam3/> |weight = 252 lb<ref name=Slam3/> |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|9|2}} |death_date = |birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada |billed = '''Toronto, Canada, Canada'''<br />Glasgow, Scotland (as Nord)<br />"Parts Unknown" (as Dragon) |trainer = Ron Hutchison<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/><br />Sweet Daddy Siki<ref name="Cagematch Profile"/> |debut = 1992<ref name=Slam1/> |retired = }} '''Joseph Edward Hitchen'''<ref name=Slam2/> (born September 2, 1969)<ref name=Slam3>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/legend.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318200014/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/legend.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2016|title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Joe Legend|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canoe.com|first=Greg|last=Oliver|access-date=January 20, 2019}}</ref> is a Canadian professional wrestler and trainer, known under his ring name '''Joe E. Legend'''. He also wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 2000 to 2001 under the ring name '''Just Joe'''.
==Professional wrestling career== ===Early career (1992–1997)=== Joe Legend began wrestling in Canada before becoming a part of the successful tag team '''Sex and Violence''' with Sexton Hardcastle in the Detroit area. His debut match was against Zakk Wyld (Keith Assoun) in Brampton. Ontario in 1992. From 1992 to 1993 he worked in Japan. During 1997, Sex and Violence were a part of a bigger gang which was known as '''THUG Life''', which was composed of Legend, Hardcastle, Christian Cage, Zakk Wyld, Bloody Bill Skullion and Rhino Richards. Among his catchphrases used was "Heroes come and heroes go, but legends live forever!"
===Touring Europe (1998–present)=== Hitchen later competed under XL Legend in the Catch Wrestling Association which is based in Germany. He later teamed with Rhino Richards to win the vacant World Tag Team Championships by defeating Rico de Cuba and August Smisl on October 10, 1998, in Hanover, Germany. The title was vacated in October 1998 when Rhino Richards left the promotion after signing with Extreme Championship Wrestling. Legend found success in Germany and England.
In April 2005, he was one of the lead trainers of ''Celebrity Wrestling'' in the United Kingdom on ITV. This Saturday evening reality show saw celebrities learn wrestling and compete in challenge matches. After a few weeks the program was set to be cancelled, but instead was moved to Sunday morning to finish its final episodes.
He can now be found wrestling in and around the United Kingdom for promotions such as All Star Wrestling, working regular shows at Butlins holiday parks after throwing out an open challenge to potential rivals for his Pan Pacific and GSA heavyweight titles. He has also toured Wales for both Orig Williams and Alan Ravenhill.
During his time in the now defunct Frontier Wrestling Alliance he wrestled for the FWA British Heavyweight Championship in a five-way match at The Champions Series Final on January 5, 2006, in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, England, but was defeated by Hade Vansen.
Hitchen also has wrestled in many other countries around the continent, countries such as Denmark, Poland, Italy, France, Portugal, Austria, Russia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and Greece. Overall, he wrestled in more than 24 countries around the world.
In 2014, in February he lost to David Hart Smith in a DWA/PWF match in Germany. Then he lost to Andrei Ivanov in Pro Wrestling Showdown in the Netherlands. In March he lost to Wolfgang in Premier British Wrestling. In April and May he competed in German organizations Deutsche Wrestling Allianz, German Hurricane Wrestling, Westside Xtreme Wrestling and Power of Wrestling.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=118&bild=1&details=11 |website=wrestlingdata.com |access-date=7 November 2014|title=Joe E. Legend - Matches @ Wrestlingdata.com}}</ref>
===World Wrestling Federation (2000–2001)=== After a few try-out matches, Joe got signed in June 2000. He made his TV debut on the August 8, 2000 episode of ''Heat'' where he lost to WWF Light Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko as '''Just Joe''' in the WWF. His gimmick was that of a messenger who tried to stir the pot.<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/166 166]|publisher=DK|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/166}}</ref> He scored victories over Gangrel, Joey Abs, Brooklyn Brawler and Essa Rios. until being taken off TV that November. He was released from his contract in March 2001.
===Touring the United States (2003–2004)=== During his time in the United States, Hitchen competed in the Puerto Rican International Wrestling Association under the ring name '''Nord'''. On March 8, 2003, he captured the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship by defeating Glamour Boy Shane in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. He lost the championship to Chicano in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on April 19 the same year.
He returned to America in 2004 to compete in the Nashville, Tennessee-based Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. During his time in TNA as part of the Red Shirt Security, he won the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Kevin Northcutt. They held the belts from January 28, 2004 to February 4 of the same year.
===Russian and Japanese promotions (2006–2010)=== Hitchen made his debut in Russia as he competed at Independent Wrestling Federation's ''Wrestliada 2006'' in Moscow, Russia, under the ring name '''Joe Legend'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=2&nr=226&page=4&year=2006&promotion=200|title=Matches « Joe E. Legend « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> At the July 28, 2007 event he defeated Volcano to become the first IWF World Champion. During his reign he defeated Raven to retain the championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eng.wrestlingfederation.ru/index.php|title=IWF "Danger Zone" - First ever & only one wrestling federation in Russia|website=eng.wrestlingfederation.ru|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref>
In August 2006, he worked for Pro Wrestling NOAH on their Shiny Navigation Tour, and in April 2007, he worked on the Spring Navigation tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=226&page=4&year=2007&promotion=8 |title=Matches « Joe E. Legend « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH |publisher=Cagematch.net |access-date=2013-04-26}}</ref> From July to September 2010, he toured with Pro Wrestling Zero1 working the likes of Masato Tanaka, Shinjiro Otani, Ikuto Hidaka, and Sylvester Terkay.
===World Wrestling Professionals (2007–2014)=== Joe E. Legend tours annually with World Wrestling Professionals (WWP), a South African promotion currently airing on a nationally broadcast network. He also acts as their scouting agent, having been responsible for bringing Mikey Whiplash, Angelico and Murat over to WWP. Joe Legend worked for WWP in 2007 and 2008 and returned in 2009.
The January 10, 2009 episode of WWP saw Joe Legend defeat PJ Black (better known as Justin Gabriel) to capture the then vacant WWP Heavyweight World Title for the first time.
His most recent appearance for WWP was on a tour of Nigeria in August 2014, where he interfered in Tornado's match, causing him to lose to Nigerian wrestler De Ultimate Commander.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://watchingtheindies.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/south-african-results-august-30-and-31/ |title=South African results – August 30 and 31 |website=watchingtheindies.wordpress.com |date= 2 September 2014|access-date=7 November 2014}}</ref>
===Pro Wrestling Showdown (2017)=== Joe Legend came back 25 November 2017 (Showdown 33), defeating Alexander James in a match for a spot in the Pro Wrestling Showdown World Cup.
===Unlimited Wrestling (2019)=== Legend in 2022|thumb
Joe Legend joined the German based company Unlimited Wrestling in 2019, where he mostly competes in the most important matches on the card.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinggymharz.de/roster/|title=Roster|website=Wrestling Gym Harz|access-date=10 January 2020|archive-date=23 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923110153/https://www.wrestlinggymharz.de/roster/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Other media== In December 2007, Joe E. Legend became the co-host of ''The Main Event Radio'', the official podcast of TotalWrestling.net.
In May 2009, Hitchen was announced as one of the competitors on the Turkish version of ''Gladiators'', which began filming in September 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/misc-news/9047-joe-e-legend-on-american-gladiators/|title=Joe E. Legend on American Gladiators|first=Adam|last=Martin|date=25 May 2009|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref>
Joe E Legend has also acted in several films in France and the UK as well as taking the role of "fight choreographer" for these features. Joe is represented by Jessica Soss of V.S Films and is actively pursuing further roles in film and TV.
==Personal life== Hitchen is good friends with fellow professional wrestlers Terry Gerin, Don Callis, Jay Reso, and Adam Copeland. He and his wife, Svenia Hitchen, have twin boys named Connor and Maverick.<ref name=Slam2/>
==Published works==
Hitchen is the co-author of ''Marie's World'', published in June 2014 by Austin Macauley Publishers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinmacauley.com/user/login?destination=node/4380|title=User account | Austin Macauley Publishers|website=www.austinmacauley.com|access-date=10 January 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Championships and accomplishments== thumb|Legend (right) at a wrestling live event in Arklow, Ireland in 2008 thumb|Legend in 2022 *'''Association Biterroise de Catch''' **ABC Ultimate Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=3410|title=ABC Ultimate Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> *'''Asylum Of Wrestling Maniacs''' **AWM Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Athletik Club Wrestling''' **ACW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/Athletik_Club_Wrestling.htm | title=Athletik Club Wrestling Title Histories| access-date=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com}}</ref> *'''Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling''' **AGPW Continental Championship (1 time) *'''Catch Wrestling Association''' **CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.titlehistories.com/Catch_Wrestling_Association.htm |title=catch Wrestling Association Title Histories |access-date=2008-07-11 |publisher=titlehistories.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720162309/http://www.titlehistories.com/Catch_Wrestling_Association.htm |archive-date=2008-07-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> - with Rhino Richards *'''Deutsche Wrestling Allianz''' **DWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=339 | title=DWA Title Histories on cagematch.net}}</ref> *'''Do or Die Wrestling''' **DDW International Championship (1 time) *'''Flemish Wrestling Force''' **FWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jerry Sags *'''German Stampede Wrestling''' **GSW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/gsw/ | title=German Stampede Wrestling | access-date=2008-07-08|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.titlehistories.com/German_Stampede_Wrestling.htm| title=German Stampede Wrestling Title Histories| access-date=2008-07-11| publisher=titlehistories.com| archive-date=2012-10-21| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021190031/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/| url-status=dead}}</ref> *'''German Wrestling Promotion''' **GWP World Championship (1 time) **GWP WrestlingCorner.de Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/German_Wrestling_Promotion.htm | title=German Wrestling Promotion Title Histories| access-date=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com}}</ref> *'''Herts and Essex Wrestling''' **HEW Heavyweight Championship (2 times) *'''Insane Championship Wrestling''' **ICW Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time) **ICW/MWCW Mid-West Unified Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sexton Hardcastle *'''International Wrestling Association''' **IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **IWA Television Championship (1 time) *'''Independent Wrestling Federation (Russia)''' **IWF World Championship (1 time) *'''International Catch Wrestling Alliance''' **ICWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/International_Catch_Wrestling_Association.htm | title=International Catch Wrestling Association Title Histories| access-date=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com}}</ref> *'''LDN Wrestling''' **LDN British Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Outlaw Championship Wrestling''' **OCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sexton Hardcastle *'''Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling''' **PCW America's Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **Giorgio Foods Tag Team Tournament (1999) - with Jason Lee *'''Power of Wrestling''' **POW Intercontinental Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=2260|title=POW Intercontinental Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> *'''Pro Wrestling Fighters''' **PWF Buckhorn Wrestling Cup (2009) *'''Power Wrestling Entertainment''' **PWE World Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=2875|title=PWE World Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> *'''''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''''' **PWI ranked him #'''140''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi/joe-e-legend-864.html|title=Internet Wrestling Database - Joe E. Legend: Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ratings|website=www.profightdb.com|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> *'''Pro Wrestling Showdown''' **PWS Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=688|title=PWS Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=10 January 2020}}</ref> *'''Pro Wrestling Xtreme''' **PWX Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/pwx/ | title=Pro Wrestling Xtreme | access-date=2008-07-07|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref> *'''Pan Pacific Wrestling Association''' **Pan Pacific Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Scottish School Of Wrestling''' **SSW Hardcore Championship (1 time) *'''Swiss Wrestling Federation''' **SWF Powerhouse Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.titlehistories.com/Swiss_Wrestling_Federation.htm | title=Swiss Wrestling Federation Title Histories | access-date=2008-07-11|publisher=titlehistories.com}}</ref> *'''Total Nonstop Action Wrestling''' **NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Kevin Northcutt<ref name="nwatna0128"/> *'''World Wide Wrestling League''' **W3L Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''World Wrestling Professionals''' **WWP World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''World Wrestling Superstars''' **WWS Heavyweight Championship (1 time) *'''Wrestling-Family-Germany Promotion''' **WFG Championship (1 time) *'''YAWARA''' **YAWARA Championship (1 time) *'''Other titles''' **IMP Tag Team Championship (1 time) **GPW Continental Championship (2 times) **PPW World Super-Heavyweight Championship (1time)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons}} * [http://www.legendwrestling.com/ LegendWrestling.com - the official website of Legend] * [http://www.wrestling-radio.com/index.php?view=getshow&show=The%20Main%20Event The Main Event on Wrestling-Radio - Co-Host Joe E. Legend] * [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-E-Legend/264168323626571 Official Facebook] * {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
{{CWA World Tag Team Championship}} {{NWA World Tag Team Championship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend, Joe E.}} Category:1969 births Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century Canadian professional wrestlers Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers Category:21st-century Canadian professional wrestlers Category:Canadian male professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:Professional wrestlers from Toronto Category:NWA World Tag Team Champions Category:CWA World Tag Team Champions Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen