Chris Cage
Caylen Croft is the ring name of Kris Pavone, an American retired professional wrestler born on May 2, 1980, in Youngstown, Ohio. Standing at 5'11" (1.80 m) and weighing 220 lbs (100 kg), Pavone debuted in professional wrestling in 2001 and is best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he wrestled under the Caylen Croft moniker from 2008 to 2010 as one half of the tag team Dudebusters with Trent Barreta.
Pavone's early career included training under Danny Davis and Nick Dinsmore, with initial appearances in independent promotions under names like Chris Cage and Chris Banks. He signed with WWE in 2003 and primarily competed in its developmental territories, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). During this period, he achieved notable success, including winning the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship four times—three times with Tank Toland (first in 2004) and once with The Miz in 2006—as well as the OVW Heavyweight Championship in October 2004 by defeating Matt Morgan . In FCW, he and Barreta captured the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship on two occasions in 2009.
Pavone made his WWE main roster debut on the ECW brand in December 2009 as Caylen Croft, teaming with Barreta to form the Dudebusters, a comedic tag team known for their enthusiastic, party-themed entrances. The duo appeared on ECW and later SmackDown, competing in matches against teams like Cryme Tyme and The Hart Dynasty , but never won titles on the main roster. WWE released Pavone on November 19, 2010, effectively ending his in-ring career after approximately nine years. Known for his technician wrestling style, signature moves included the neckbreaker and superkick, and he carried the nickname "The Hitman."
Following his retirement from wrestling, Pavone transitioned to other pursuits, including authoring and illustrating the children's book No Beard the Pirate in 2014, an adventure story aimed at young readers. He is currently an elementary school art teacher, life coach, and host of The Kris Pavone Show podcast, sharing insights from his wrestling experiences while remaining out of the ring.
Kris Pavone, known professionally as Caylen Croft, was born on May 2, 1980, in Youngstown, Ohio. He grew up in the nearby town of Hubbard, Ohio, where his family resided.
Pavone was raised by his parents, Larry Pavone, a former program manager who later worked at the Lawrence County Family Center until his retirement in 2009, and Donna Pavone (née Croftcheck), a retired elementary school teacher. The family were members of St. Patrick Church in Hubbard. He has one sibling, a sister named Kelly Pavone, who is married to Matthew Vogelpohl. Pavone's ring name "Croft" was partially inspired by his mother's maiden name, Croftcheck.
Pavone attended Youngstown State University , where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design in 2002. His early life in the Youngstown area laid the foundation for his interests in art and athletics, which later influenced his career paths in wrestling and education.
Pavone earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree during his university studies, focusing on graphic design and art. This educational background laid the foundation for his later pursuits in creative fields, including illustration and authorship.
From an early age, Pavone showed interest in the arts , which aligned with his academic training and influenced his post-wrestling career as an elementary school art teacher. He expressed a long-held desire to write and illustrate children's books, a goal he achieved with the publication of No Beard the Pirate in 2014, where he served as both author and illustrator. This creative outlet stemmed from his fine arts education and personal aspirations.
