Big Bill Bio
William Morrissey (born August 16, 1986) is an American professional wrestler who performs under the ring name Big Bill. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and is a former AEW World Tag Team Champion. Morrissey first rose to mainstream attention in WWE through his long-running tag team partnership with Enzo Amore, a duo that became one of the most recognizable acts in NXT and on the main roster between 2013 and 2017. Standing at seven feet tall, he has competed across WWE, the independent circuit, Impact Wrestling, and AEW under several different ring names.
Early Life and Background
William Morrissey was born on August 16, 1986, in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens in New York City. He attended Archbishop Molloy High School, where he distinguished himself as a peer tutor, a homeless shelter volunteer, and a member of the National Honor Society. In his senior year, he played basketball and was featured in the Catholic High School Athletic Association Senior Classic All-Star game, an experience that helped shape his competitive foundation.
After graduating from high school, Morrissey received a scholarship to attend New York University (NYU). He initially enrolled on a pre-medical track before switching his studies to economics. During his time at NYU, he played center for the NYU Violets basketball team across the 2005 to 2006 and 2008 to 2009 seasons, eventually serving as co-captain in his final year. Following college, he founded a ticket brokerage that specialized in events held at Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Morrissey trained as a professional wrestler at Johnny Rodz’s wrestling school in Brooklyn, New York. He made his debut on May 30, 2009, in Rodz’s World of Unpredictable Wrestling (WUW) promotion, performing under the ring name Big Bill Young. His first official match came on August 15, 2009, and he worked a series of bouts for the promotion over the next two years, gaining the in-ring experience that would prepare him for a national stage.
In June 2011, Morrissey signed with Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), WWE’s then-developmental territory. He made his first televised FCW appearance in July 2011, initially portraying the dean of the University of Florida before transitioning to in-ring competition. His first televised match under the ring name Colin Cassady came on September 4, 2011, in a disqualification loss to Richie Steamboat, marking the official beginning of his path toward WWE’s main roster.
Big Bill Career
Early Career (2009–2011)
Morrissey’s professional wrestling career began on the independent circuit in 2009 with World of Unpredictable Wrestling. Wrestling under the name Big Bill Young, he adopted a cowboy gimmick and accompanied a storyline uncle, Billy Walker, to the ring. He competed in numerous WUW events over a two-year stretch, building the fundamental skills needed for a career in sports entertainment.
His early progress caught the attention of WWE scouts, and in June 2011, he was signed to a developmental deal with Florida Championship Wrestling. The move represented a major step up from regional independent shows to a structured national developmental system, setting the stage for his eventual arrival on NXT television.
NXT Breakthrough (2012–2016)
WWE rebranded its developmental territory, FCW, into NXT in August 2012, and Morrissey, now known as Colin Cassady, debuted on NXT television on June 5, 2013. He soon formed a villainous tag team with Enzo Amore, and the two branded themselves “the realest guys in the room.” Their charismatic promos and street-tough personas made them one of NXT’s most popular acts. In 2015, the team won the NXT Year-End Award for Tag Team of the Year after a memorable rivalry with NXT Tag Team Champions Blake and Murphy, highlighted by their number-one contender’s match victory over The Lucha Dragons and their high-profile title challenges at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable and NXT TakeOver: London.
Throughout their NXT run, Cassady and Amore competed in several marquee matchups, including a gauntlet match for a future tag title shot on the September 25, 2013, episode of NXT and a tournament win over Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger. Their alliance with Carmella, who debuted on the October 16, 2014, episode of NXT, added another layer to the act. By early 2016, Cassady had been repackaged as Big Cass, a name change that underscored his towering stature and signaled his readiness for the main roster.
WWE Main Roster (2016–2018)
Big Cass and Enzo Amore made their main roster debut on the Raw after WrestleMania 32, confronting The Dudley Boyz before defeating The Ascension in their first televised match. They advanced through the WWE Tag Team Championship number-one contenders tournament and faced The Vaudevillains in the finals at Payback, though the match ended in a no contest after Amore suffered a legitimate concussion. On the August 22, 2016, episode of Raw, Big Cass defeated United States Champion Rusev by countout to qualify for a four-way elimination match for the WWE Universal Championship, where he was eliminated by Kevin Owens.
After a series of high-profile feuds with the likes of Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, and Rusev, Big Cass turned on Enzo Amore on the June 19, 2017, episode of Raw, revealing he had been behind a string of mysterious attacks on his partner. He defeated Amore at Great Balls of Fire and engaged in a brief program with Big Show, but suffered a torn ACL during a Brooklyn Street Fight match on the August 21, 2017, episode of Raw that sidelined him for eight months. Cass returned during the 2018 Superstar Shake-up on SmackDown, where he engaged in a brief but intense feud with Daniel Bryan that included matches at Backlash and Money in the Bank. His final WWE match was a submission loss to Bryan at Money in the Bank on June 17, 2018, and he was released from the company on June 19, 2018.
Independent Circuit and Impact Wrestling (2018–2022)
Following his WWE release, Morrissey returned to the independent circuit under several ring names, including Big Cazz, Big C, Big Ca$$, and CaZXL. He made appearances at House of Hardcore, Big Time Wrestling, and Northeast Wrestling, where he was defeated by Jon Moxley after issuing an open challenge. After an extended period away from the ring, he returned in February 2021 with a win over Christian Mox at SWE Clash in Canton.
Morrissey joined Impact Wrestling in 2021 under the name W. Morrissey, debuting at Rebellion on April 25, 2021, as a surprise member of Violent by Design. He quickly established himself as a dominant force, racking up wins over Willie Mack, Rich Swann, and Eddie Edwards while also competing for the Impact World Championship in a triple threat match at Hard to Kill on January 8, 2022. His Impact tenure ended in mid-2022 after a loss to Moose and Steve Maclin on the June 2 episode of Impact!.
All Elite Wrestling (2022–Present)
Morrissey debuted in AEW on the May 4, 2022, episode of Dynamite as MJF’s surprise opponent for Wardlow. He signed a full-time contract with the promotion in August 2022 and was renamed Big Bill, initially aligning with Stokely Hathaway’s stable, The Firm. After the group’s quiet dissolution in spring 2023, Big Bill partnered with Ricky Starks, and on the October 7, 2023, episode of Collision, the duo defeated FTR to win the AEW World Tag Team Championship, marking his first major singles-tag title reign. They held the titles for 123 days before dropping them to Sting and Darby Allin on the February 7, 2024, episode of Dynamite.
In May 2024, Big Bill joined Chris Jericho’s Learning Tree stable and was dubbed “The Redwood” on the June 12, 2024, episode of Dynamite. At Forbidden Door, he teamed with Jericho and Jeff Cobb in a losing effort against Hook, Katsuyori Shibata, and Samoa Joe. On November 23, 2024, he assisted Jericho in defeating Mark Briscoe in a Ladder War for the ROH World Championship. In January 2025, Big Bill began a feud with Powerhouse Hobbs, and on the February 20 episode of Dynamite, he was defeated by Hobbs in a Street Fight. At Dynasty on April 6, Big Bill and Bryan Keith unsuccessfully challenged The Hurt Syndicate for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, after which The Learning Tree disbanded.
Style and Strengths
Big Bill’s in-ring style is built around his extraordinary seven-foot frame and powerful striking game. His signature big boot has finished numerous opponents, and his size makes him especially effective in power-based matches and tag team scenarios where he can dominate larger competitors. He works best as an enforcer-style partner, using his physical presence to control the pace of a match.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Big Bill’s most memorable moments are his Universal Championship four-way at SummerSlam 2016, his tag title win with Ricky Starks in AEW, and his celebrated 2015 NXT Tag Team of the Year award with Enzo Amore. His December 8, 2018, epileptic seizure at a House of Hardcore event, followed by his path to sobriety with the help of Diamond Dallas Page, remains one of the most personal milestones of his career.
Big Bill Career Wins
Across WWE, Impact Wrestling, and AEW, Big Bill has captured several major championships and tournament wins. He is a former AEW World Tag Team Champion and won the NXT Year-End Award for Tag Team of the Year in 2015 with Enzo Amore. His career is highlighted by signature wins over top stars in each promotion.
AEW Highlights
Big Bill’s biggest AEW victory came on the October 7, 2023, episode of Collision, when he and Ricky Starks defeated FTR to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship. The reign lasted 123 days before a loss to Sting and Darby Allin. He also scored wins alongside Chris Jericho and Bryan Keith during his time with The Learning Tree.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond AEW, Big Bill notched key Impact Wrestling wins over Willie Mack at Rebellion 2021, Rich Swann at Against All Odds, and Eddie Edwards at Slammiversary. On the independent circuit, he returned from a long absence with a victory over Christian Mox at SWE Clash in Canton in February 2021. He was a playable character in the WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18 video games during his time as Big Cass.
Big Bill Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about William Morrissey’s immediate family is limited. He has spoken publicly about his close friendship with longtime tag partner Eric Arndt, known in wrestling as Enzo Amore, whom he first met at age 15 while playing basketball together at West Fourth Street Courts in Manhattan. The two remained friends for more than a decade before reuniting in WWE in 2013.
Personal Life
Morrissey was previously in a relationship with fellow wrestler Leah Van Dale, known as Carmella, until 2017. During his time in Florida Championship Wrestling, he roomed with Jonathan Good, known as Dean Ambrose in WWE and Jon Moxley in AEW, and the two lived together until 2014. Since April 2021, Morrissey has been in a relationship with AEW interviewer Lexy Nair, who is also the stepdaughter of Diamond Dallas Page. The couple got engaged on December 24, 2022, and married in December 2024 in Mexico.
2025 Season Performance
Big Bill’s 2025 campaign in AEW began with a heated feud against Powerhouse Hobbs, who defeated him in a Street Fight on the February 20 episode of Dynamite. The rivalry showcased Big Bill’s resilience and willingness to absorb punishment in hardcore-style environments, even in defeat.
At Dynasty on April 6, Big Bill teamed with Bryan Keith in an unsuccessful bid for the AEW World Tag Team Championship against The Hurt Syndicate. The loss triggered the disbanding of The Learning Tree, with Chris Jericho placing blame on both Bill and Keith. Despite the setback, Bill and Keith rebounded with a victory over Gates of Agony in a Chicago Street Fight, signaling continued momentum as a duo.
Looking ahead, Big Bill appears positioned for a refreshed singles run in AEW following the dissolution of The Learning Tree. His combination of size, experience, and recent tag success with Bryan Keith makes him a versatile threat in both divisions as the promotion builds toward the remainder of 2025.
