Grandmaster Sexay: The Career of Brian Christopher

BY: DIGITAL WAX MEDIA STAFF

Brian Christopher Lawler, better known to wrestling fans as Grandmaster Sexay, managed to carve out a brief yet memorable career during his time in the industry. While he gained notaries for his charisma, athleticism, and personal troubles, he is perhaps best known as one half of one of most beloved tag teams of the early 2000s, Too Cool.

Early Years and Wrestling Roots

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1972, Brian Christopher was the son of wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler. Wrestling was in his blood, and from a young age, Christopher seemed destined for a career between the ropes.

First debuting in the early 1990s, initially as part of his father’s promotion, the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), he quickly developed a formidable in-ring approach and persona. His early years were a mix of learning the tricks of the trade and establishing himself as a performer. These formative years laid the groundwork for what would become his signature style.

Christopher’s breakout run came about when he was paired with Scotty 2 Hotty to form Too Cool, a duo – and sometimes trio when augmented by Rikishi – which would become a defining act of WWE’s Attitude Era. The team’s gimmick was inspired by hip-hop culture and leaned into absurdity. The team became a surprise hit, however, and would go on to consistently draw some of the most enormous crowd pops of the period when their music hit each night.

Too Cool’s in-ring work was a hybrid of wrestling and performance art, often incorporating dance routines which would become hugely popular among wrestling audiences, along with bright, flashy ring attire, and a playful chemistry.

Their trademark dance sequences frequently evoked involved audience participation, and the guys even got wrestlers outside the team involved on occasion. Some notable guest dancers include The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz & Lita, and even The Big Show. Too Cool’s fun-loving fusion of music, dance, and athleticism set them apart, making their matches and segment crowd favorites each night.The Summer of 2000 was the arguably pinnacle of Too Cool’s run as fan favorites.

This period would see Sexay and Scotty capture the WWE Tag Team Championship belts, legitimizing their success as a legitimate wrestling unit. Their more lighthearted approach and pop culture awareness was able to grab audiences during a time when WWE was known for edgier storytelling.

Style and In-Ring Work

Christopher’s approach in the ring consisted of several key elements. While he may not have been considered a high-flyer in the traditional sense in the vein of superstars of the era such as Jeff Hardy, his agility and quickness allowed him to execute impressive-looking spots that helped to break up matches. His technical work was grounded, emphasizing ring psychology and timing over flashy technical maneuvers.

He would achieve his greatest success in the tag team realm. While his tenure as part of Too Cool remains a highlight, Christopher would also see success outside the collective to varying degrees. Prior to the formation of the group, the junior Lawler saw some success as a solo act in WWE’s since-defunct light heavyweight division.

Following his success with 2 Hotty in the tag team division, Sexay would become one half of an oddball pairing with “The Lethal Weapon” Steve Blackman – a legitimate physical threat among the Attitude Era roster who had the skill to dismantle most of his fellow superstars in a shoot showdown.

The pairing was a surprise success, with Christopher’s flashy charisma serving as a perfect counterbalance to the no-nonsense stoicism of Blackman. The two seemed destined for a tag title run until Christopher encountered some legal issues while traveling. This incident, according to Blackman, led to the company disintegrating the team, and ultimately releasing Grandmaster Sexay.

Later Career

After his WWE tenure, Brian Christopher wrestled sporadically in smaller promotions and on the independent scene. He would even make a handful of short-lived returns to WWE in later years, both as part of Too Cool and as a solo performer. Though he never returned to his previous peaks of success in the Attitude Era, he remained a beloved figure among fans who remembered his WWE run fondly.

Passing and Legacy

Brian Christopher would pass away in July of 2018, prompting an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow wrestlers alike. His death would serve for many as a reminder of the challenges wrestlers face outside the ring and within the industry itself.

Despite his personal struggles sometimes overshadowing his contributions to wrestling, Brian Christopher’s work remains noteworthy. His charisma, athleticism, and tag team dynamics set up moments resonate to this day, leaving many to wonder what could have been had his career remained on an upward trajectory.

Photo: “Grandmaster Sexay” Brian Christopher in the early 2000s as part of Too Cool by: Mandy Coombes – used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.