Luis Martínez (born September 26, 1982) is a Puerto Rican-Americanprofessional wrestler. He is signed toWWE, where he performs on theSmackDownbrand under thering nameDamian Priest. He is also known for his tenures inRing of Honor (ROH), where he performed under the ring namePunishment Martinez (laterDamian Martinez),[5] andNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) through a working relation between the two companies, performing asPunisher Martinez.
Luis Martínez was born inNew York City to aNuyorican family, but raised inVega Baja,Puerto Rico, where he first saw theWorld Wrestling Council (WWC) on television and developed an interest in becoming a professional wrestler.[6] He learnedGōjū-ryūkarate from his martial artist father. After winning two national championships in full-contact martial arts, Martínez decided to embark on a career in professional wrestling.[1] When he returned to New York,Spanish was still his first language and he underwent a period of cultural adaptation. He was ten years old when he returned and lived primarily inThe Bronx. At one point, Martínez was homeless, and worked as abouncer to make ends meet.[7]
Martinez's first appearance at anROH show was in 2015, where he competed in two dark matches under his real name, losing the first toThe Romantic Touch and winning the second alongside Shaheem Ali against Hellcat and Mattick.[8]
Martinez (left) during a match againstFlip Gordon in February 2018
Martinez returned to Ring of Honor in early 2016 to compete in theROH Top Prospect Tournament, under the new ring name Punishment Martinez, defeatingColby Corino in the first round.[9] Martinez lost toLio Rush in the semifinals; however, despite the loss, Martinez was signed to a contract by Ring of Honor. He became avillain when he aligned himself withB. J. Whitmer andKevin Sullivan, entering a rivalry with their adversarySteve Corino. On September 16, Martinez took part in theHonor Rumble, but was eliminated.[8] In early November, he participated in theSurvival of the Fittest, where he was eliminated in the final Six Man Mayhem match. Martinez and Whitmer went on to briefly feud with the formerROH World Tag Team ChampionsWar Machine (Hanson andRaymond Rowe), first wrestling them to a no contest and then defeating them in ananything-goes match.[8]
At the promotion's State of the Art event on June 16, 2018, Martinez pinnedCheeseburger in a six-way Proving Ground match to earn a shot at theROH World Television Championship immediately following the match, defeatingSilas Young to win the title.[13] On June 29 atBest in the World, he defeated"Hangman" Adam Page in aBaltimore Street Fight to retain the title.[14] AtDeath Before Dishonor XVI on September 28, Martinez successfully defended the title againstChris Sabin. After the match, he attacked Sabin beforeJeff Cobb made the save.[15] In his final appearance for the promotion, he dropped the Television Championship to Cobb. On September 29, Martinez's contract with Ring of Honor expired and he opted out of a contract offer.[16]
On October 12, 2018, Martinez signed a contract withWWE; six days later, he was formally introduced among other new members to theNXT brand.[18] At anNXT taping on December 5, he made his debut as aheel under the Punishment Martinez ring name, losing toMatt Riddle.[19] On the June 5, 2019 episode ofNXT, a vignette aired, reintroducing Martinez as Damian Priest.[20] He made his debut under the character on the June 19 episode ofNXT, defeatingRaul Mendoza.[21] On the July 24 episode ofNXT, he defeatedKeith Lee in his second appearance.[22]
On the October 2 episode ofNXT, Priest started a feud withPete Dunne andKillian Dain, culminating in a triple threat match atNXT TakeOver: WarGames on November 23 for #1 contendership to theNXT Championship, which Dunne won.[23][24] The next night, atSurvivor Series, Priest was a part of the 5-on-5-on-5Survivor Series match, representing Team NXT in a losing effort to Team SmackDown and Team Raw; he was eliminated byRandy Orton.[25] In January 2020, Priest was involved in a storyline around theNXT North American Championship with Keith Lee andDominik Dijakovic, fighting for the title against Lee and Dijakovic and in a singles match against Lee on the April 1 and 29 episodes ofNXT, respectively, but lost both times.[26][27]
On the April 22 episode ofNXT,Finn Bálor was attacked backstage by an unknown attacker.[28] It was revealed on the May 13 episode ofNXT as being Priest,[29] leading to a match between the two atTakeOver: In Your House on June 7,[30] where Priest lost to Bálor.[31] Despite losing the match, his performance was highly praised byTriple H,[32] and on the June 10 episode ofNXT, he praised Bálor during a backstage segment, turningface in the process.[33]
On the November 11 episode ofNXT, Priest distracted Gargano during his title defense againstLeon Ruff, causing Gargano to lose the title to Ruff.[40] The following week, Ruff retained the title against Gargano by disqualification after Priest punched Ruff during the match, disabling Gargano to win the title.[41] AtNXT TakeOver: WarGames on December 6, Priest failed to win the title from Ruff in a triple threat match involving Gargano after he was attacked by a masked character and its gang that had previously attacked him at Halloween Havoc, who was soon revealed to beAustin Theory.[42] On the following episode ofNXT, Priest looked forward to revenge against Theory, but was viciously attacked from behind by the returningKarrion Kross.[43] AtNew Year's Evil on January 6, Priest lost to Kross, marking his final match in NXT.[44]
On January 31, 2021, at theRoyal Rumble pay-per-view, Priest entered theRoyal Rumble match at #14, eliminatingJohn Morrison,The Miz,Elias andKane before being eliminated byBobby Lashley.[45] The next night onRaw, Priest made his debut for the brand after being introduced byBad Bunny during aMiz TV segment, defeating Miz later that night.[46] On the April 5 episode ofRaw, Priest and Bad Bunny challengedJohn Morrison and the Miz to a tag team match atWrestleMania 37, which they accepted.[47] At Night 1 of WrestleMania on April 10, Priest and Bad Bunny defeated The Miz and Morrison.[48] On the following episode ofRaw, Priest lost to The Miz and Morrison in a 2-on-1 handicap match after outside interference byMaryse, marking his first loss on the main roster.[49] AtWrestleMania Backlash on May 16, Priest defeated Miz in aZombie Lumberjack match (as part of a promotional tie-in for the 2021zombie filmArmy of the Dead), ending their feud.[50] Following the event, he went on a brief hiatus due to a back injury.[51]
Priest returned on the July 12 episode ofRaw, savingHumberto Carrillo from an attack byUnited States ChampionSheamus after their title match and starting a feud between the two.[52] He challenged Sheamus to a title match atSummerSlam on the August 9 episode ofRaw, which Sheamus accepted.[53] At SummerSlam on August 21, Priest defeated Sheamus to win the United States Championship for the first time in his career.[54] He made his first successful title defense against Sheamus andDrew McIntyre in a triple threat match on the August 30 episode ofRaw.[55] Priest retained the title againstJeff Hardy on the September 13 episode ofRaw, and in a triple threat match also involving Sheamus atExtreme Rules on September 26.[56][57] On the following episode ofRaw, Priest defeated Sheamus in a no-disqualification, no count-out match to retain the title, ending their feud.[58] He then successfully defended the title against Hardy in a rematch on the October 4 episode ofRaw.[59]
On the October 25 episode ofRaw, with a new, revamped character, he defeatedT-Bar; after the latter threw a chair at the former outside the ring, Priest viciously attacked T-Bar, turning himself into atweener.[60] AtSurvivor Series on November 21, Priest lost toIntercontinental ChampionShinsuke Nakamura in a champion vs. champion match by disqualification after repeated distractions from Nakamura's allyRick Boogs, causing Priest to attack both of them, marking his second loss on the main roster.[61] Over the following months, Priest successfully defended the title onRaw against the likes ofSami Zayn,[62]Apollo Crews,[63]Robert Roode,[64]Dolph Ziggler,[65]Kevin Owens[66] andAJ Styles.[67] On the February 21, 2022 episode ofRaw,Finn Bálor challenged Priest to a title match on the following episode ofRaw,[68] where Priest lost the United States Championship to Balor, ending his reign at 191 days. After the match, Priest attacked Bálor.[69]
The Judgment Day and World Heavyweight Champion (2022–2024)
At Night 2 ofWrestleMania 38 on April 3, Priest distracted AJ Styles during his match againstEdge, causing Styles to lose the match. After the match, Edge celebrated his victory with Priest, starting an alliance between the two.[70] Following WrestleMania, Edge and Priest were dubbedThe Judgment Day.[71] AtHell in a Cell on June 5, The Judgment Day (Edge, Priest andRhea Ripley) defeated Styles, Finn Bálor, andLiv Morgan in asix-person mixed tag team match.[72] The next night onRaw, Edge introduced Bálor as the newest member of The Judgment Day. However, Bálor, Priest and Ripley suddenly attacked Edge, kicking him out of the stable.[73] The Judgment Day then began a feud with theMysterios (Rey andDominik) in an attempt to recruit Dominik into their ranks. AtSummerSlam on July 30, Priest and Bálor were defeated by the Mysterios following interference from a returning Edge.[74] On September 3, atClash at the Castle, Priest and Bálor lost to Edge and Rey Mysterio, after which Dominik turned heel on both of them to join The Judgment Day.[75][76] AtCrown Jewel on November 5, Priest, Bálor, and Dominik defeatedThe O.C. (Styles,Luke Gallows, andKarl Anderson) in a six-man tag team match after interference from Ripley.[77] On the November 28 episode ofRaw, The Judgment Day defeated The O.C. in an eight-person mixed tag team match to end their feud.[78]
On the January 9, 2023 episode ofRaw, Priest, Bálor and Dominik won a tag teamturmoil match for aRaw Tag Team Championship opportunity againstThe Usos.[79] AtRaw is XXX on January 23, The Usos successfully defended the championship against Priest and Dominik despite Jimmy Uso's injury, with Sami Zayn taking Jimmy's place.[80] At theRoyal Rumble on January 28, Priest entered the Royal Rumble match at #22; although he and Balor were eliminated by the returning Edge, they eliminated him as a result with help from Dominik afterwards.[81] On the February 6 episode ofRaw, Priest defeatedAngelo Dawkins to qualify for theElimination Chamber match for the United States Championship.[82] AtElimination Chamber on February 18, Priest failed to win the title inside the namesake structure.[83]
On theRaw afterWrestleMania 39, Priest got involved in Dominik's confrontation with his former tag team partnerBad Bunny, chokeslamming him through the announcer's table.[84] Bad Bunny returned on the April 24 episode ofRaw and challenged Priest to aSan Juan Street Fight atBacklash on May 6,[85] which Priest lost afterSavio Vega andCarlito equalized in fending off his fellow Judgment Day stablemates.[86] The match was met with critical acclaim, with many deeming it the best match of the event.[87] Priest, alongside Bálor, were then selected as the Raw participants for the newWorld Heavyweight Championship tournament,[88] but Priest lost his qualifying match toSeth "Freakin" Rollins at the quarterfinals round on the May 8 episode ofRaw.[89] On the June 5 episode ofRaw, Priest unsuccessfully challenged Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship. Bálor interfered during the match to Priest's chagrin as Priest claimed he did not need The Judgment Day to beat Rollins.[90]
On the June 12 episode ofRaw, Priest defeatedMatt Riddle to qualify for the men'sMoney in the Bankladder match on July 1,[91] where Priest successfully retrieved the briefcase. Later that night, Priest appeared halfway through the World Heavyweight Championship match between Bálor and Seth Rollins. Priest's presence distracted Bálor, allowing Rollins to take advantage and win the match, much to Bálor's irritation.[92] AtPayback on September 2, Priest and Bálor defeatedKevin Owens and Sami Zayn to win theUndisputed WWE Tag Team Championship after interference from Dominik, Ripley andJD McDonagh. Priest became the third wrestler to win a title and hold theMoney in the Bank briefcase simultaneously, the first being Rob Van Dam with the Intercontinental Championship in 2006 and The Miz in 2010 with the United States Championship.[93] On the September 25 episode ofRaw, Priest and Bálor defeated Owens and Zayn in a rematch to retain their titles.[94] AtFastlane on October 7, Priest and Bálor lost the titles toCody Rhodes andJey Uso after McDonagh accidentally hit Priest with the briefcase, ending their first reign at 35 days.[95] Priest and Bálor, however, regained the titles in a rematch on the October 16 episode ofRaw after interference fromJimmy Uso.[96]
The following day, at Night 2 ofWrestleMania XL, Priest successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew McIntyre to win theWorld Heavyweight Championship following an attack byCM Punk, becoming the second person, after Rollins, to cash in at WrestleMania, as well as the first world champion of Puerto Rican descent, and second overall, sincePedro Morales in 1971.[106] AtBacklash France on May 4, Priest defeatedJey Uso in his first defense after interference from Bálor and McDonagh, despite asking them not to interfere.[107] On June 15, atClash at the Castle: Scotland, Priest successfully defended the title against McIntyre in the latter's home country after interference from Punk.[108] On the June 17 episode ofRaw, Priest challenged the returning Seth Rollins to a title match atMoney in the Bank, which received a stipulation the next week; if Rollins lost, he would be unable to challenge Priest for the title as long as he held it. but if Priest lost, he would be forced to leave The Judgment Day.[109][110] At the event on July 6, Priest successfully defended his title against Rollins and McIntyre, the latter of whom cashed in his newly won Money in the Bank briefcase during the match, but was attacked by Punk. Priest subsequently pinned McIntyre to retain his title.[111] After the event, Priest began showing more respect to his opponents as his crowd support gradually increased, teasing aface turn in the process. AtSummerSlam on August 3, Priest lost the title toKing of the Ring winnerGunther via technical submission, ending his reign at 118 days. In the closing moments, Priest hit Gunther with aSouth of Heaven chokeslam, only for Bálor to betray Priest by placing Gunther's foot on the bottom rope to void the pin.[112]
On the following episode ofRaw, Bálor officially kicked Priest and Ripley out of the group (the latter having been betrayed by"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio at SummerSlam) and introduced the "new" Judgment Day, consisting of himself, Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and the new additions ofCarlito (once an associate member of the group now an official member) andLiv Morgan. Later that night, during Priest's match against McDonagh, he was ambushed by Bálor and the rest of The Judgment Day, until Ripley came out to save him. Priest and Ripley would afterwards embrace each other, staying together as a team and going by their unofficial tag team name,The Terror Twins.[113] AtBash in Berlin on August 31, Priest and Ripley defeated Mysterio and Morgan, with Ripley pinning Morgan despite interference from The Judgment Day.[114] AtBad Blood on October 5, Priest defeated Bálor despite interference from Carlito and McDonagh.[115] On the November 4 episode ofRaw, Priest defeated "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio,Seth "Freakin" Rollins andSheamus in afatal four-way match to become the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.[116] AtSurvivor Series WarGames on November 30, Priest failed to regain the title from Gunther after interference from Bálor.[117] AtSaturday Night's Main Event on December 14, Priest once again challenged Gunther for the title in atriple threat match also involving Bálor in a losing effort.[118] On the January 13, 2025 episode of Raw, Priest defeated Bálor in a street fight match despite interference from Carlito and McDonagh, ending their feud.[119]
On the January 24 episode ofSmackDown, Priest was transferred to theSmackdown brand, and defeatedCarmelo Hayes in his first match as part of the brand.[120] AtRoyal Rumble on February 1, Priest entered the men'sRoyal Rumble match as entrant #28, eliminating"Dirty" Dominik Mysterio andDrew McIntyre before being eliminated byLA Knight.[121] On the February 14 episode ofSmackdown, Priest qualified for theElimination Chamber match atElimination Chamber: Toronto by defeatingBraun Strowman andJacob Fatu in a triple threat match.[122] At the namesake event, he eliminated McIntyre but was eliminated soon after byLogan Paul after McIntyre attacked him in retaliation.[123] This led to a match on Night 2 ofWrestleMania 41, where Priest lost to McIntyre in aSin City Street Fight.[124] AtBacklash on May 10, Priest unsuccessfully challengedJacob Fatu for theUnited States Championship in afatal four-way match, also involving LA Knight and McIntyre.[125] AtSaturday Night's Main Event on May 24, Priest and McIntyre faced off in a rematch contested in aSteel Cage match, which Priest won by walking out of the cage, ending their feud.[126] Following his feud with McIntyre, Priest began feuding withAleister Black, culminating in aLast Man Standing match on the October 10 episode ofSmackDown which Priest lost due to interference from Black's real-life wifeZelina.[127] On the October 24 episode of Smackdown, he prevented Black from winning the United States Championship from Ilja Dragunov. On the November 7 episode of SmackDown, he saved Cody Rhodes from Black and Drew McIntyre. On the January 2, 2026 episode of SmackDown, Priest defeated Black in an Ambulance Match, ending their feud. At theRoyal Rumble on January 31, Priest entered the match at number 7 being eliminated by newcomerRoyce Keys.
Martínez is known for his deep voice, which has helped him in his promos to maintain his menacing, dark character.[128] InWWE, "Damian Priest" was previously intended to be a similar, but darker, more intense character than the "Punishment Martinez" incarnation he has represented previously in other promotions.[129] However, his character gradually evolved and developed a moremachismo, rockstar-like attitude that pursues more fame, recognition and success, further emphasized by portraying bars, parties and women frequently with him in backstage segments. Therefore, he has been referred to as "The Archer of Infamy".[130][131][132]
His wrestling style involves various power moves as well as high-flying moves, and his striking is heavily influenced by his background in martial arts.[133] He uses theRazor's Edge (acrucifix powerbomb, inherited from his childhood wrestling idolRazor Ramon) and a releasesuplex slam called theBroken Arrow.[134] For the longest time, his finisher was arolling cutter calledThe Reckoning.[135] Priest now utilizes asitout chokeslam called theSouth of Heaven (named after theSlayer album and song ofthe same name) as his finisher, which he had originally used during his time with Ring of Honor before using it again after joining The Judgment Day in 2022.[136]
During his time as a member of The Judgment Day followingEdge’s departure, Martínez would begin to pay homage to hisPuerto Rican heritage by incorporating spoken Spanish into his promos and refer to some of his nicknames in the language, such as “Señor Money In the Bank” while holding the Money In the Bank briefcase, and “El Campeón” during his reign as World Heavyweight Champion. After leaving The Judgment Day, he began to speak with aNew York accent during his promos while still paying homage to hisPuerto Rican roots.
Martinez revealed on theAfter The Bell podcast that he is a fan of short range combat because of his collection of weapons, particularlykatanas,nunchucks,sai, and other Martial Arts weapons, which he showcases in his home.[138][139] He is also an avid supporter of theNew York Yankees.[140]
^"PUNISHER PREDICTS PAIN FOR TOP PROSPECT OPPONENTS".Ring of Honor. Archived fromthe original on February 9, 2016. RetrievedOctober 22, 2024.Colby Corino recently learned just how apt that moniker is. Martinez scored an impressive victory over the second-generation competitor in the first round of the tournament to advance to the semifinals this Saturday
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