Ricardo Rodriguez

Ricardo Rodriguez
Rodriguez in 2011
Ring name(s)	Chimaera[1] Jesus Rodriguez[1] Ricardo Rodriguez[1]
Billed height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Billed weight	102 kg (225 lb)[2]
Born	(1986-02-17) February 17, 1986 (age 26)[1] Van Nuys, California[2]
Billed from	San Luis Potosí, Mexico (FCW)
Trained by	Black Pearl[3] Gangrel Latigo Blanco[3][3] Nemesis[3] Phoenix Star[3][2] The Stepfather[2] Zokre[2]
Debut	August 2006[1]

Jesús Rodríguez (born February 17, 1986)^[4] is a Mexican-American professional wrestler and ring announcer, currently signed to WWE, performing on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Ricardo Rodriguez as Alberto Del Rio's personal ring announcer and occasional wrestler.^[1]

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Before wrestling for independent California promotions, Rodriguez wrestled with other upcoming wrestlers in backyards for BBW Beyond Backyard Wrestling. Rodriguez formerly wrestled for various promotions as the masked wrestler Chimaera, and his professional wrestling debut came at UEW's 1st Annual West Coast Cruiser Cup Tournament on August 11, 2006.^[5] At Pro Wrestling Affiliates, Chimaera was defeated by Charles Mercury in a PWA Light Heavyweight Championship tournament in the first round.^[5] Chimarea and Jason Watts teamed up to take on the NWPW Tag Team Champions Aerial Star & Ric Ellis and lost the first time but would beat the, for the championships on October 4, 2008. The pair would lose the championships in a two on one handicap match against Ryan Stone.^[5]. On August 2, 2009 he was part of a three way match for the AWS Lightweight Championship including Peter Avalon and Chris Kadillak. At Chikara he participated in the Young Lions Cup VII but was eliminated by KC Day.^[6] At Dragon Gate USA, Chimaera competed in a Dragon Gate Fray match which was won by Brad Allen on March 26, 2010.^[7] For Deutsche Wrestling Allianz Chimaera had two championship opportunities one for the DWA Cruiserweight Championship and one for DWA Tag Team Championship.^[5] He also participated in Vendetta Pro Triforce Championship tournament and beat Brian Cage and Jason Watts in the final for the vacant Vendetta Pro Triforce Championship and vacated the championship when he signed with WWE^[8]. He also participated in the World War III 159 Man battle royal.^[5] Rodriguez was also a trainer for California based promotion, Fit Pit Pro Wrestling.^[9] He has also wrestled in So Cal Pro, EMLL, CWX, NWPW, NWT/NTLL, BPW, THE WEST COAST WRESTLING COMPANY, VPW, & IWL.^[1][10]

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE

Florida Championship Wrestling (2010–present)

Rodriguez would work under the Chimaera name in Florida Championship Wrestling making his debut on December 2, 2010, in a 10-man Tag match with Husky Harris, Buck Dixon, Matt Clements and Kenny Li, where they defeated the team of Big E. Langston, Darren Young, James Bronson, Kevin Hackman and Roman Leakee.^[11] On December 17, 2010, Chimaera lost to Richie Steamboat.^[11]

Since appearing on WWE television, he is now competing in FCW under the Ricardo Rodriguez gimmick.^[11] On August 28, 2011, Ricardo Rodriguez said that Alberto Del Rio was an employee of his father's agency. Ricardo Rodriguez formed a stable called "the Ascension" with Conor O'Brian, Tito Colon, Kenneth Cameron, and Raquel Diaz.^[12] However, by September 26, the Ascension no longer associated with Rodriguez, as a video package promoting the Ascension only featured the latter four Ascension members without Rodriguez,^[13] and when the Ascension had their first match together in October, Rodriguez did not accompany them.^[14]

Alberto Del Rio's ring announcer (2010–present)

Rodriguez debuted for the WWE on the SmackDown brand on August 20, 2010, as Ricardo Rodriguez, a personal ring announcer to Alberto Del Rio.^[1][15] As well as being his personal ring announcer, Rodriguez would also try and help Del Rio win matches by distracting his opponents.^[16]

Ricardo Rodriguez announcing Alberto Del Rio to the ring at a WWE live event in 2011

On the January 4, 2011 episode of WWE NXT, Rodriguez would take Del Rio's place in a battle royal for the NXT Pros, but was quickly eliminated by R-Truth.^[17] On NXT, Rodriguez would feud with Del Rio's rookie, Conor O'Brian, after he claimed a rat problem. On the January 18 episode of NXT, Rodriguez and O'Brian brawled backstage, which would set up Rodriguez's first singles match in the WWE against O'Brian, in which Rodriguez would get the upset victory.^[18] After the match, O'Brian was eliminated from NXT. Del Rio gained a new rookie, Brodus Clay, after Clay won a match which allowed him to change his Pro. Del Rio passed Pro responsibilities of Clay to Rodriguez on the February 1 episode of NXT. In the season finale on March 1, Clay ended the competition in second place, losing to Johnny Curtis.^[19]

At the 2011 WWE Draft, Rodriguez and Del Rio were drafted to the Raw brand; the duo clashed with Big Show when Rodriguez ran over Big Show's leg with Del Rio's car, kayfabe injuring him.^[20] Later that night, Del Rio placed the blame solely on Rodriguez. On his return to Raw on June 13, Big Show attacked Del Rio, and when Rodriguez came to his employer's aid he was brutally attacked instead, which caused him to take time off television for an injury angle.^[21][22]

On July 18, Rodriguez returned to his duties as Del Rio's ring announcer.^[23] On the August 30 episode of SmackDown, when John Cena called out Del Rio, Rodriguez walked out alone to reply to Cena. Rodriguez spoke in a mixture of English and Spanish, explaining that Del Rio was not present. Cena then asked Rodriguez to deliver a message to Del Rio, and then promptly punched Rodriguez in the face.^[24] On the September 12 episode of Raw, Rodriguez would compete in his first match on the brand, teaming with Del Rio in a losing effort against John Cena and Bret Hart.^[25]

At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2011), Rodriguez tried to help Del Rio regain the WWE Championship during Del Rio's Triple Threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match match. Rodriguez climbed to the top of a ladder in the ring to try to reach the WWE Championship hanging above the ring, but Del Rio's opponents, CM Punk and the Miz, tipped the ladder over such that Rodriguez fell out of the ring and crashed through a table at ringside. Rodriguez's fall was described by critics as dangerous^[26] and scary-looking,^[27] as well as "the major moment of the show".^[28] Fellow professional wrestler Mick Foley, well known for his participation in various dangerous matches, also commented that it was "one heck of a bump".^[29]

On the January 9, 2012 episode of Raw, when Del Rio was absent, the Miz bullied Rodriguez into insulting and calling out R-Truth. R-Truth came out and made Rodriguez sing La Cucaracha. After that, R-Truth delivered his finisher to Rodriguez.^[30] At the 2012 Royal Rumble event, Rodriguez participated in the Royal Rumble match, entering at #8. He and Mick Foley eliminated Justin Gabriel, after which Rodriguez was eliminated by Santino Marella.^[31]

On the April 20 episode of SmackDown, Rodriguez and Del Rio were traded to the SmackDown brand.^[32] On the May 21 episode of Raw, Santino Marella criticised Rodriguez's announcing and then he attacked Rodriguez with the Cobra.^[33] On the May 25 episode of SmackDown, Rodriguez challenged Marella to a match, but lost.^[34]

Other media

Rodriguez appears in WWE '12 as a non-playable character.

Personal life

Rodriguez is fluent in English and Spanish.^[24]

In wrestling

• Finishers
  • As Ricardo Rodriguez
    • Corkscrew moonsault^[35] – FCW
    • Running splash^[18] – WWE
  • As Chimaera
    • Chimaera's Rage (Corkscrew moonsault)^[2]
• Signature moves
  • Corner springboard enzuigiri^[36]
  • Dropkick^[36]
  • Moonsault^[35]
  • Neckbreaker^[36]
  • Springboard or diving crossbody^[36][37]

• Nicknames
  • "R-Rod"
  • "Ricky Ricardo"
  • "Ricardo Montalban"

• Wrestlers managed
  • Alberto Del Rio
  • Brodus Clay

• Entrance themes
  • "Realeza" by Jim Johnston featuring Mariachi Real de Mexico (August 20, 2010–present)
  • "Hot Tamales" by Ira Ingber & Gary Tigerman (May 25, 2012–present)

Championships and accomplishments

• Battleground Pro Wrestling
  • BPW MAX Championship (1 time)^[3]

• CWX
  • CWX Lucha Libre Championship (1 time)^[3]

• Insane Wrestling League
  • IWL Tag Team Championship – with Jason Watts (1 time)^[38]

• New Wave Pro Wrestling
  • NWPW Tag Team Championship – with Jason Watts (1 time)^[39]

• NWT/NTLL
  • NWT/NTLL Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[3]

• Vendetta Pro Wrestling
  • Vendetta Pro Tri-Force Championship (1 time)^[40]
  • Vendetta Pro Triforce Title Tournament^[8]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Best Non-Wrestler (2011)^[41]

References

External links

Professional wrestling portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ricardo Rodriguez (wrestler)

• WWE profile
• FCW profile
• Ricardo Rodriguez (wrestler) at the Internet Movie Database
• ProFight Database profile and statistic
• Luchawiki profile