The Highlanders were a Scottish professional wrestling tag team consisting of storyline cousins Robbie (Derek Graham-Couch) and Rory McCallister (Russell Murray) (born March 28, 1976) who were best known for wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand.

History

Couch and Murray were both born and raised in Oban, Scotland (where the team is currently billed from) before moving to Cambridge, Ontario, Canada in 1988.

Couch first started going to a wrestling school at the behest of co-worker at CAMI Automotive, Inc. where he met future tag team partner Murray. The two were trained by Waldo Von Erich at the Von Erich/Hart Brothers School of Wrestling.

They debuted in 2002, and the two men began wrestling as the team Highlanders in South-Western Ontario with promotions such as Pure Wrestling Association (PWA) and Neo Spirit Pro Wrestling, which ran shows in the Ontario, Canada region. They also had longtime feud with another team out of the Ontario indy scene known as the Texas Hell-Razors which lasted for over 2 years. They also worked dark matches for WWE since 2003. The team's last independent match in PWA was against Andrew Davis and Phil Latio in Cambridge, Ontario.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Ohio Valley Wrestling

In July 2005, they signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment and were assigned to their "farm territory" Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) where they wrestled for several months.

In June 2006 vignettes began airing on Raw featuring The Highlanders exploring "the big city" and comparing the differences to their native Scotland in classic Fish Out Of Water style.

Raw brand

The Highlanders made their Raw debut on July 3, with a victory over the duo of Matt Striker and Rob Conway. They followed this victory with another over the same team and were put on the fast track to a match for the Spirit Squad's Tag Team Title. When they were granted a match against Spirit Squad members Kenny and Mikey, The Highlanders were defeated after abundant interference by the other members. Throughout the month of August, The Highlanders continued to battle different tag teams until they won a Triple Threat tag team match over the team of Charlie Haas and Viscera and Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, which made them the number one contenders to the Spirit Squad's title on the September 4 edition of Raw. They were unsuccessful in winning the title at Unforgiven, again because of interference from Spirit Squad members not technically a part of the match.

In late 2006, they mostly competed on Raw's sister show Heat, occasionally making appearances on Raw, throughout 2007, primarily to job to other teams or singles wrestlers such as Snitsky. On the September 24, 2007 episode of Raw, The Highlanders interrupted a match between Paul London and Brian Kendrick and Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, due to The Highlanders getting tired of being held back from a World Tag Team Championship opportunity, thus the duo turning heel. Nothing came of this turn, however, as they lost a number one contenders match on November 12. They then feuded with London and Kendrick and Jim Duggan and Super Crazy, mainly on Heat. In February 2008, Rory tore his pectoral muscle and was sidelined for six months.

In their last televised match on August 11, 2008 they were defeated by Cryme Tyme. Both members of the team were released from WWE on August 15, 2008.

Personal life

Murray and his girlfriend have a son named Ian who was born on February 4,2008. The pair met at CAMI Automotive Inc, where they both worked.

The Highlanders both have Scottish designed tattoos, of which some represent their families.

On the live, March 27 edition of TNA Impact!, Robbie was in attendance at the Impact Zone and was shown on camera (under his real name to prevent a WWE/TNA lawsuit). This reportedly had a WWE official calling him and ordering that he leave immediately, which he did. The event was mere days prior to WrestleMania weekend when both companies were in the Orlando area. Robbie lost his $5,000 Wrestlemania paycheck due to the appearance.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves

• • Double slingshot inverted suplex
  • Scot Drop (Double fireman's carry flapjack)

• Signature moves
  • Battering ram

• Robbie's finishing moves

• • Kneeling double underhook piledriver – independent circuit

• Robbie's signature moves
  • Double axe handle blow to the chest
  • Double underhook powerbomb
  • Headbutt
  • Placing an opponent's head underneath his kilt

• Rory's finishing moves

• • Slingshot inverted suplex

• Rory's signature moves
  • Double axe handle blow to the chest
  • Headbutt
  • Placing an opponent's head underneath his kilt
  • Side slam backbreaker

Championships and accomplishments

• NSPW
  • NSPW Tag Team Championships (3 times)

• Legend City Wrestling
  • LCW Heavyweight Championship (Robbie, 1 Time, Current)

References

External links

• Robbie McAllister WWE.com Profile (archived)
• Rory McAllister WWE.com Profile (archived)