Posted on 8/24/126 by DMV Wrestling News
Ron “The Pharaoh” Cromartie, a longtime Virginia
professional wrestler, promoter and trainer who helped
launch the career of former AEW World Champion Swerve
Strickland, died recently.
Cromartie wrestled throughout the Mid-Atlantic from 2004 to
2007 before moving into training. He later co-founded the
Ground Xero Wrestling Training Academy with Richmond-area
wrestler David McCloud.
Strickland trained at the academy from 2008 to 2012 while
serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. He went on to become AEW
World Champion in 2024.
Strickland announced Cromartie’s death on August 21.
“My original trainer passed over this past week,” Strickland
wrote. “I just wanted everyone to know he was a great human
and loved pro wrestling.”
Ground Xero Wrestling also had connections to other
prominent wrestlers. Richmond native Mickie James later
worked as head trainer at the academy between runs with WWE
and TNA, while her husband, former NWA World Champion Nick
Aldis, was also associated with the school.
Cromartie’s role in Virginia wrestling extended beyond his
own in-ring career. Through Ground Xero Wrestling and its
academy, he helped provide a training ground for wrestlers
who later worked throughout the region and on the national
stage.
A celebration of life for Cromartie will be held Sunday,
August 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Beach House Bar and Grille in
Glen Allen, Virginia. Additional information is available on
Facebook.