Simon Diamond

Kenney attended the Salesianum School for Boys in Wilmington, Delaware, graduating in 1986. An avid baseball player as a teenager, he was approached by the San Diego Padres to play Major League Baseball as a catcher in 1986. Kenney decided not to sign the contract he was offered, opting to pursue a college education first. Kenney took a job at the Out Of Bounds sports bar as a bartender and attended Virginia Commonwealth University on a baseball scholarship, earning a bachelor's degree in English. He originally planned to play baseball professionally after graduating, but was forced to reconsider after suffering a severe shoulder injury. Kenney's prior baseball career would later be used as an angle when he would visit the training camp of the 2005 world champions, the Chicago White Sox. ==Professional wrestling career==

Early career (1991–1998) In 1991, while working as a marketing executive for PepsiCo, Kenney was introduced to wrestling trainer Jim Kettner. Kenney decided to become a professional wrestler, and was trained by Kettner in Salem, New Jersey. Once his training was complete, he worked for Kettner's East Coast Wrestling Association as "Lance Diamond", teaming with Steve Corino. Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–2001) In May 1998, Kenney was hired by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and wrestled his first match against Nova in York, Pennsylvania. In August 1998, he changed his name to "Simon Diamond", taking the name "Simon" from the real surname of his mentor, Dean Malenko. Kenney was paired with Swinger in May 2000 during an ECW World Tag Team Championship tournament and the two later formed a tag team which would endure for five more years. Kenney returned to television on the July 15, 2010, edition of Impact!, aligning himself with fellow ECW alumni Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Stevie Richards, Rhino, Brother Devon, Al Snow and Mick Foley in their invasion of TNA. The following week, TNA president Dixie Carter agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event, Hardcore Justice: The Last Stand, as a celebration of hardcore wrestling and a final farewell to the company. At the event Kenney returned to his Simon Diamond persona and teamed with Johnny Swinger and Kid Kash in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Little Guido, Tony Luke and Tracy Smothers of The Full Blooded Italians. At May 8, 2012, Kenny substituted Taz as Color Commentator at TNA Xplosion, joining Jeremy Borash. On June 19, 2017, Kenney left Impact Wrestling alongside Shane Helms and Al Snow. National Wrestling Alliance (2017–present) Kenney was seen on the NWA 73rd Anniversary Show Pay Per View during the Nick Aldis vs Trevor Murdoch match breaking up outside ring activity. ==Other media==

Diamond appeared as a playable character in the 2000 video game ECW Hardcore Revolution. ==Personal life==

Kenney began dating Dawn Marie in October 1998. Before dating, the two had been good friends for almost two years. They did not wed, but stayed engaged for several years afterwards. After seven years together, their relationship began to come to an end. Kenney and Candice Kenney have a child born in 2010. In 2009, Kenney filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against a former priest at Salesianum School. ==Championships and accomplishments==

• East Coast Wrestling Association • ECWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • ECWA Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) • NWA 2000 • NWA 2000 Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • NWA Total Nonstop Action • NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Johnny Swinger • Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling • PCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) • PCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Reckless Youth • PCW United States Championship (3 times) • Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling • 3PW Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Mike Kruel • USA Pro Wrestling • USA Pro Tag Team Championship (2 times) — with Matt Striker ==See also==