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.