Bobby Lashley, whose real name is Franklin Roberto Lashley, is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist currently contracted with WWE.
He’s part of the SmackDown brand and is the leader of The Pride group. Lashley has attained eight world championships, which include two WWE Championships, two ECW World Championships, and four TNA World Heavyweight Championships.
Lashley has been spotlighted in numerous pay-per-view events for both WWE and TNA/Impact, such as the 2016 Bound for Glory.
He’s among the few who have clinched the WWE, ECW, and TNA/Impact world championships, joining Rob Van Dam in this distinction.
Table of Contents
Profile
- Full Name: Franklin Roberto Lashley
- Nickname: Bobby Lashley
- Date of Birth: July 16, 1976
- Age: 48 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of Birth: Junction City, Kansas, United States
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Professional Wrestler, Mixed Martial Artist
- Height: 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm)
- Parents: Clara Lashley (Mother)
- Siblings: Cathy Lashley, Frances Lashley, Jessica Lashley
- Spouse: Kristal Marshall (m. 2007–2010)
- Children: Naomi Lashley, Kyra Lashley, Myles Lashley
- Relationship Status: N/A
- Net Worth: $4 million
Early Life and Education
Bobby Lashley, now 48, was born in Junction City, Kansas on July 16, 1976. Bobby was raised by a single mother, Clara Lashley.
His father, on the other hand, is not known. However, according to sources, his father was an Army drill sergeant.
Bobby was raised alongside three sisters, Cathy L, Cathy Lashley, and Jessica Lashley.
The family relocated occasionally due to his father’s military service. When stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas, Lashley attended Fort Riley Middle School, where he discovered amateur wrestling in seventh grade.
He continued wrestling at Junction City High School and pursued higher education at Missouri Valley College.
At college, he excelled in wrestling, becoming the NAIA National Wrestling Champion in the 177 lbs category for three consecutive years from 1996 to 1998.
He graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in human service agency management and recreation administration.
Personal Life
Bobby Lashley is presently single. He was romantically involved with Kristal Melisa Marshall from 2007 to 2010.
The couple welcomed two children, Myles and Naomi, together before their marriage ended in divorce in 2010.
Naomi was born in 2011, a year after their breakup. Lashley also had a daughter named Kyra in 2005.
Bobby Lashley was also involved in a scripted relationship with Lana. Despite their engagement and a joint photoshoot, their storyline romance eventually ended.
Career
Lashley embarked on his wrestling journey with Ohio Valley Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory, in January 2005.
Under the moniker Blaster Lashley, he participated in four live events for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in mid-2005, featuring in dark matches for both Raw and SmackDown!
His first appearance on SmackDown! as a good guy took place on September 23, 2005, using his real name.
Lashley’s remarkable background was emphasized as a three-time National Amateur Wrestling Champion, four-time All-American, two-time Armed Forces Champion, and a 2002 Silver Medalist at the Military World Championship.
His debut match resulted in a win against Simon Dean, a success he repeated in his pay-per-view debut at No Mercy on October 9.
Moving forward, Lashley secured his spot on Team SmackDown! at Survivor Series by defeating Orlando Jordan in a qualifying match on the November 11 episode of SmackDown! Despite being the first to be eliminated during the event, his team emerged victorious.
Entering 2006, Lashley achieved notable milestones. On January 6, 2006, he became the first SmackDown! Wrestler to qualify for the Royal Rumble that year.
At the Royal Rumble on January 29, Lashley entered as the eighth participant, eliminating Sylvain before being eliminated by Raw’s World Tag Team Champions Big Show and Kane.
Following the Royal Rumble, Lashley engaged in a feud with John “Bradshaw” Layfield (JBL), leading to a match at No Way Out on February 19, where Lashley suffered his first singles loss due to interference from Finlay.
This sparked a rivalry with Finlay that extended through February and March, including a memorable lumberjack match on the March 17 episode of SmackDown!, ultimately won by Finlay using a shillelagh.
After winning a “Last Chance” battle royal on the March 24 episode of SmackDown!, Lashley participated in his first WrestleMania (WrestleMania 22) in the Money in the Bank ladder match on April 2, although he didn’t win.
His journey continued with involvement in SmackDown!’s 2006 King of the Ring tournament, advancing to the finals after defeating Mark Henry and Finlay.
However, his hopes of victory were dashed at Judgment Day on May 21, when he lost to Booker T with assistance from Finlay.
This led to a confrontation where Lashley speared Booker into his coronation throne, sparking a feud with “King Booker” and his Court.
During this time, Lashley won his first professional wrestling championship by defeating JBL for the United States Championship on the May 26 episode of SmackDown!, although he lost it to Finlay less than two months later on the July 14 episode.
Shortly after losing the title, Lashley faced health issues but returned to the SmackDown! Roster to continue his feud with the Court, ultimately earning a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship at No Mercy on October 8, which turned into a four-way about won by King Booker after pinning Finlay.
On November 14, 2006, Lashley moved to the ECW brand. His debut on the brand saw him secure the final spot in the Extreme Elimination Chamber match for the ECW World Championship in December to Dismember.
At the event, Lashley emerged victorious, claiming the ECW World Championship by eliminating both Test and The Big Show via pinfall after executing a spear.
Following this victory, Lashley defended his title against formidable opponents such as Big Show, Rob Van Dam, Test, Hardcore Holly, Kenny Dykstra, and Mr. Kennedy.
Notably, on March 19, 2007, in an episode of Raw, Lashley broke Chris Masters’s masterlock hold, becoming the first and only person to do so.
In early 2007, Lashley was selected by Donald Trump to represent him in a “Battle of the Billionaires” match against Vince McMahon’s representative, Umaga, at WrestleMania 23 on April 1.
The match stipulation involved a Hair vs. Hair match, which Lashley won, aiding Trump and Stone Cold Steve Austin in shaving McMahon’s head.
This led to a feud with Mr. McMahon, culminating in a 3-on-1 handicap match at Backlash on April 29 for the ECW World Championship, where Mr. McMahon won the title by pinning Lashley.
During this match, Lashley sustained a legitimate shoulder injury and was diagnosed with a damaged rotator cuff but did not require immediate surgery.
Despite this setback, Lashley won the ECW World Championship for a second reign on June 3 at One Night Stand, defeating Vince McMahon in a street fight despite interference from Shane McMahon and Umaga.
His time in ECW was cut short when he was drafted to the Raw brand on the June 11 episode, resulting in him being stripped of the ECW World Championship by Vince McMahon.
Lashley continued his pursuit of the WWE Championship, earning a title shot against John Cena at The Great American Bash on July 22, but was unsuccessful.
Following the event, Lashley underwent surgery for his shoulder injury, leading to his eventual release from WWE on February 4, 2008.
After leaving WWE, Lashley began competing in the independent circuit in May 2008. He ventured to Mexico, where he participated in Lucha Libre AAA World Wide’s Triplemanía XVI in June 2008, winning alongside Kenzo Suzuki and Electroshock.
In July 2008, he showcased his talents in Puerto Rico at the World Wrestling Council’s 35th anniversary show, defeating Rhino.
Continuing his global journey, Lashley appeared in Japan for Antonio Inoki’s Inoki Genome Federation in August 2008, securing a victory over The Predator.
Awards
- WWE United States Championship (1 time)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- TNA/Impact World Championship (5 times)
- ECW World Championship (1 time)
- King of the Mountain (2009)
Net Worth
According to multiple reputable sources, Bobby Lashley’s estimated net worth is around $5 million as of 2024.
This wealth has been primarily accumulated through his successful professional wrestling career with the WWE.
Controversy
Bobby Lashley has been entangled in contentious narratives and incidents throughout his wrestling career.
Some notable controversies include:
- Lashley’s unexpected defeat to Brock Lesnar at WWE Crown Jewel 2022, where Lesnar countered Lashley’s Hurt Lock submission hold and secured an unforeseen pinfall victory. Following the match, Lashley expressed his disappointment and frustration regarding the outcome.
- Another contentious event arose when Lashley was excluded from a match lineup at WrestleMania 39. He endorsed several controversial tweets criticizing the decision in response, sparking widespread debate over Lashley’s perceived lack of opportunities within WWE.
- Additionally, Lashley’s involvement in a controversial storyline alongside Rusev and Lana in 2019 garnered significant backlash from fans. The narrative, which depicted themes of infidelity, was heavily criticized for its problematic portrayal and received widespread condemnation.
Social Media
- Instagram: @bobbylashley
- Twitter: @fightbobby