Byron Saxton
Bryan Jesús Kelly[1] (born August 20, 1981) is an American professional wrestling commentator and ring announcer, and former professional wrestler and journalist. He is currently signed to WWE, where he works as a color commentator on Raw under the ring name Byron Saxton.[1] He was a “rookie” on the fourth season of NXT and competed on the show’s fifth season, NXT Redemption,[3][4] before being eliminated on May 31, 2011. Following his elimination, he began working as a play-by-play and color commentator on NXT before eventually working on other WWE programming including Main Event, Monday Night Raw, and Friday Night SmackDown.
Kelly signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). Kelly, at first using his real name, made his FCW debut on October 13, 2007, losing to Hade Vansen.[8] His next appearance was just over a week later on October 23, when he lost to “The Carnival Freak” Sinn Bowdee.[9] Kelly competed sporadically in FCW over the next few months, winning a six-man tag team match against Vansen, Sheamus O’Shaunessy and Bowdee with Rycklon Stephens and Chet Douglas as his partners, but losing a singles match to Afa Jr. a few weeks later.[10][11] He finished off 2007 with a win against Tommy Taylor on December 18.[12]
Bryan Kelly in March 2008
Kelly started off 2008 with a win, defeating Steve Lewington on FCW’s first show of the year on January 8.[13] His next match against Afa Jr., however, was ruled a no contest after TJ Wilson interfered.[14] Kelly then began teaming with Rycklon, losing to the teams of Nick Nemeth and Big Rob, Jake Hager and Shawn Osborne, and Heath Miller and Steve Lewington.[15][16][17] Another match on April 15, when Kelly and Rycklon faced Johnny Curtis and Gabe Tuft ended in a double countout.[18]
On June 3, Kelly became a manager, cutting a promo for Black Pain.[19] Kelly managed Black Pain regularly, accompanying him for matches, and also teaming occasionally with him.[20][21] On September 30, Kelly debuted a new ring name, Byron Saxton.[22] With Black Pain, and the rest of his faction, known as the Saxton Conglomerate or simply the Conglomerate, composed of Stu Sanders (later Lawrence Knight) and Tyson Tarver, Saxton began a feud with Kafu, having the members of the Conglomerate face off against him in matches.[23][24][25] After this feud ended, the Conglomerate quickly began another one with Johnny Prime.[26][27][28] In the course of this feud Kaleb O’Neal began teaming with Prime in order to help him out, however, O’Neal later turned on Prime and joined the Conglomerate.[29][30] In January 2009, Black Pain broke away from the Conglomerate and changed his ring name to Sweet Papi Sanchez, prompting a feud with the remaining Conglomerate members.[31][32][33] Following that, Saxton associated himself with Abraham Washington. When Josh Mathews left FCW to commentate on ECW full-time, Saxton began working as a commentator alongside first Dusty Rhodes and then Abraham Washington. In November 2010 Saxton turned on Washington and began feuding with him.[34]
Following his stints on ECW and NXT Redemption, Saxton returned to FCW as a commentator and wore an arm sling, claiming to be injured and unable to compete until the March 4th, 2012 episode when Saxton unexpectedly removed his sling and hit Kenneth Cameron with a Coin roll.[35] A match was scheduled between Saxton and Cameron the following week, but Saxton once again claimed to be injured and unable to compete and was replaced in the match by Colin Cassady. Saxton then worked as an announcer for the remainder of FCW’s tenure until the promotion was shut down in August 2012.[36]
