Shawn Spears

Early life and training

Ronnie Arneill was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, where he attended Laura Secord Secondary School. Before entering professional wrestling, he was a dedicated athlete who played hockey for more than ten years. His childhood fandom for wrestlers like Rick Rude, Rick Martel, and Mr. Perfect planted the seeds for his future career. To pursue this passion, Arneill sought training at the prestigious Hart Wrestling School in Cambridge, Ontario, under the tutelage of Smith Hart, Ike Shaw, and Waldo Von Erich. He continued his development at the WrestlePlex school with Eric Young and received further instruction from Derek Wylde and Cody Deaner. This foundational training prepared him for his professional debut in March 2002 under the ring name Shawn Spears, launching a career that would take him across Ontario and into the United States.

Early career and first WWE stint (2002 to 2009)

Shawn Spears began wrestling on the independent circuit in 2002, working for promotions such as Border City Wrestling, World Xtreme Wrestling, and Blood Sweat and Ears. His performance caught the attention of WWE officials after he sent in a tape, leading to a tryout in Buffalo, New York. He was signed to a developmental contract on January 21, 2006, and assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). In OVW, Spears quickly made an impact, winning the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship with Cody Runnels in December 2006 and capturing the OVW Television Championship in March 2007. His character evolved into a championship-focused heel, leading to a notable feud with Runnels. He competed in a handful of matches on ECW television, including losses to Ricky Ortiz and Super Crazy, while continuing to perform in FCW.

Independent circuit and championships (2009 to 2013)

Following his WWE release, Shawn Spears returned to the independent wrestling scene. He made appearances for several notable promotions, including a tryout dark match for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in May 2009 and a victory in Ring of Honor in June 2009. His travels also took him to Mexico for a tour in May 2010, and he made appearances at the Anime North convention in May 2010. During this period, Spears captured multiple championships across various regional promotions, establishing himself as a proven competitor outside the WWE system. His championship victories during this era include the ACW Heavyweight Championship, the King Of Florida tournament in 2010, and the WWC World Tag Team Championship with Idol Stevens in August 2010. He also won titles in promotions like Florida Underground Wrestling, Ground Breaking Pro Wrestling, and Great Lakes Championship Wrestling, demonstrating his versatility and ability to succeed as a top performer in diverse wrestling environments, which paved the way for his eventual return to a major promotion.

During his time on the independent circuit, Shawn Spears captured several championships. He won the ACW Heavyweight Championship and the PWA Commonwealth Championship. On August 15, 2010, he teamed with Idol Stevens to win the WWC World Tag Team Championship. He also made appearances for promotions like Ring of Honor and competed in Mexico.

• ACW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• King Of Florida tournament winner (2010)
• FUW Tag Team Championship (1 time), with Kenny Kendrick
• GBPW Championship (1 time)
• GLCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NEO Grand Independent Championship (1 time)
• PWA Commonwealth Championship (1 time)
• WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time), with Idol Stevens (August 2010)

Return to WWE as Tye Dillinger (2013 to 2019)

In September 2013, Ronnie Arneill re-signed with WWE and was assigned to its developmental brand, NXT, under the new ring name Tye Dillinger. He initially formed a tag team with Jason Jordan, but the partnership dissolved in early 2015 when Jordan walked out on him during a match. Dillinger's career gained significant momentum in August 2015 when he debuted the "Perfect 10" gimmick, which resonated strongly with the NXT audience. He competed at several NXT TakeOver events, including matches against Apollo Crews and Andrade "Cien" Almas. A notable storyline involved Bobby Roode, who walked out on Dillinger during the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, leading to a match at NXT TakeOver: Toronto which Dillinger lost. Dillinger's popularity earned him a promotion to the main roster in 2017, where he made a surprise entry at the Royal Rumble match, entering at the fitting number 10. Assigned to the SmackDown brand, he engaged in feuds with competitors like Aiden English and challenged for AJ Styles's United States Championship on three occasions, though he did not win the title. He competed at major pay-per-views including WrestleMania 34 and the Greatest Royal Rumble. After suffering a hand injury in October 2018 and seeing limited television use upon his return, Dillinger requested and was granted his release from WWE on February 22, 2019.

In NXT, Shawn Spears, as Tye Dillinger, debuted his popular "Perfect 10" gimmick in August 2015. He was a surprise entrant at number 10 in the 2017 Royal Rumble match. He also participated in several pay-per-view events including WrestleMania 34 and the Greatest Royal Rumble. His final televised NXT appearance was a Steel Cage match victory over Eric Young in April 2017.

• Debuted "Perfect 10" gimmick on the August 12, 2015, episode of NXT.
• Lost to Bobby Roode at NXT TakeOver: Toronto in November 2016.
• Entered the Royal Rumble match at number 10 in January 2017.
• Feuded with Aiden English, with matches at Backlash and Battleground in 2017.
• Competed at WrestleMania 34 in April 2018.
• Participated in the Greatest Royal Rumble in April 2018.
• Requested and received his release on February 22, 2019.

All Elite Wrestling tenure (2019 to 2023)

Shortly after leaving WWE, Ronnie Arneill debuted for the newly formed All Elite Wrestling at its inaugural Double or Nothing pay-per-view in May 2019, reverting to his original Shawn Spears name. AEW officially announced his signing on June 12. He quickly established a villainous persona, "The Chairman of AEW," after delivering a steel chair shot to Cody at Fyter Fest. He aligned with legendary manager Tully Blanchard and feuded with Joey Janela, defeating him at Full Gear in November 2019. In 2020, his character adopted a loaded black glove as a weapon, scoring several victories before discarding it after an interview with Tony Schiavone. The group feuded intensely with The Inner Circle, winning a Blood and Guts match but losing a Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing. As The Pinnacle dissolved in early 2022, Spears remained aligned with MJF in his feud against Wardlow, losing a steel cage match to Wardlow in May 2022. After an absence, Spears returned in October 2022 in Toronto as a fan favourite, briefly reviving his "Perfect 10" persona. His final AEW match was in the Over The Budget Battle Royal at All Out 2023, and he announced his departure from AEW on December 23, 2023, becoming a free agent on January 1, 2024.

Second WWE return and NXT North American Champion (2024 to present)

Shawn Spears made a dramatic return to WWE on the February 27, 2024, episode of NXT, attacking Ridge Holland with a steel chair and retaining the "Chairman" persona from AEW. He was immediately positioned as a prominent figure on the brand, defeating Uriah Connors at NXT: Roadblock and challenging for the NXT Championship in a fatal four-way match at NXT Heatwave. Spears then began mentoring Brooks Jensen and formed a stable called The Culling with Izzi Dame and Niko Vance. This faction-building led to his greatest singles success in WWE to date when he defeated Tony D'Angelo to win the NXT North American Championship on the March 4, 2025, episode of NXT. His reign lasted 28 days, as he lost the championship to Ricky Saints on the April 1 episode despite interference from his stablemates. The Culling continued to compete as a unit, winning an eight-person mixed tag team match on the July 22, 2025, episode, but the stable fractured on the June 23, 2026, episode when Vance attacked Spears and ejected him from the group. This led to a heated rivalry, culminating in a singles match on July 21, 2026, which Spears won by disqualification after pretending to be hit with a chair. Alongside his in-ring work, since his 2024 return, Spears has also served in a formal capacity as a coach at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Shawn Spears returned to WWE in February 2024 on the NXT brand, attacking Ridge Holland with a steel chair. He won the NXT North American Championship on March 4, 2025, by defeating Tony D'Angelo. He later formed a stable called The Culling with Brooks Jensen, Izzi Dame, and Niko Vance. Spears lost the NXT North American Championship to Ricky Saints on April 1, 2025, ending his 28-day reign.

• Returned to WWE on the February 27, 2024, episode of NXT.
• Defeated Tony D'Angelo to win the NXT North American Championship on March 4, 2025.
• Lost the NXT North American Championship to Ricky Saints on April 1, 2025.
• Formed The Culling stable with Izzi Dame and Niko Vance.
• Won an eight-person mixed tag match with The Culling on July 22, 2025.
• Was attacked and ejected from The Culling by Niko Vance on June 23, 2026.
• Defeated Niko Vance by disqualification on July 21, 2026.

Career achievements and statistics

Shawn Spears has won championships in multiple wrestling promotions. In Ohio Valley Wrestling, he was a three-time OVW Television Champion and a three-time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion. He also held the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship once. In All Elite Wrestling, he was a member of the faction The Pinnacle. His sole WWE main roster championship is the NXT North American Championship, which he won in 2025.

Shawn Spears has also won the ACW Heavyweight Championship and the PWA Commonwealth Championship on the independent circuit. Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him at number 114 on its PWI 500 list in 2017. He appears as a playable character in several WWE video games. He is featured as Tye Dillinger in WWE 2K17, WWE 2K18, and WWE 2K19. He appears as Shawn Spears in WWE 2K25 and WWE 2K26.

Personal life and business ventures

Outside the ring, Ronnie Arneill is married to Australian professional wrestler Cassandra McIntosh, known as Peyton Royce and Cassie Lee during her time in WWE. The couple wed in August 2019 and have two children together. Arneill maintains strong ties to the wrestling community through business and training. Together with fellow Canadian wrestler Mattias Clement, known as Tyler Breeze, he co-owns and operates the Flatbacks Wrestling School in Apopka, Florida. This venture allows him to contribute directly to the development of future talent, a role he also fulfills officially as a coach at the WWE Performance Center. His commitment to training reflects a career dedicated not only to personal achievement but also to the growth and sustainability of professional wrestling as a craft.

Questions about Shawn Spears

What is Shawn Spears's real name?

Shawn Spears's real name is Ronnie William Arneill. He was born on February 19, 1981, in St. Catharines, Ontario. He adopted the ring name Shawn Spears early in his career on the independent circuit in 2002. He has also performed under the names Tye Dillinger in WWE and briefly as Gavin Spears during his first WWE stint.

What is The Culling in WWE NXT?

The Culling was a stable formed by Shawn Spears on the NXT brand in 2025. Spears acted as a mentor to Brooks Jensen and brought together wrestlers Izzi Dame and Niko Vance. The group competed in tag team matches, including an eight-person mixed tag victory in July 2025. The stable dissolved in June 2026 when Vance attacked Spears and ejected him from the group, leading to a feud between the two.

Is Shawn Spears still in AEW?

No, Shawn Spears is no longer with All Elite Wrestling. His contract with AEW expired at the end of 2023, and he announced his departure on December 23 of that year, becoming a free agent on January 1, 2024. He had originally signed with the newly founded AEW in May 2019 after his second release from WWE, performing there under his Shawn Spears name. After his AEW contract lapsed, he rejoined WWE in February 2024 and was assigned once more to the NXT brand. He currently performs on NXT and retains the Shawn Spears character.

What championships has Shawn Spears won in WWE?

Shawn Spears's sole championship on WWE's main brands is the NXT North American Championship, which he won on the March 4, 2025, episode of NXT by defeating Tony D'Angelo. His reign lasted 28 days before he lost the title to Ricky Saints. During his earlier developmental tenures in WWE's former territories, he also won championships. In Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), he was a three time OVW Television Champion and a three time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion. In Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), he won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship once with Nic Nemeth.

Who is Shawn Spears married to?

Shawn Spears is married to fellow professional wrestler Cassandra McIntosh. McIntosh is best known by her ring names Peyton Royce and Cassie Lee from her time in WWE. The couple, both of whom are wrestlers, tied the knot in August 2019. They have two children together. This personal detail is part of his life outside the ring, while he continues his in ring career under his better known ring name.

Sources and further reading

• Shawn Spears (Wikipedia)
• Shawn Spears (wwe.com)
• AEW's Spears pushes forward as he gives back (tsn.ca)

Checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.