 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2019) |
 Rodriguez in 2014 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jesús Ricardo Rodríguez (1986-02-17)February 17, 1986 (age 39)[4] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Chimaera El Local Jesse Long Jesús Rodriguez Ricardo Rodriguez |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 225 lb (102 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Guadalajara, Mexico San Luis Potosí, Mexico |
| Trained by | Black Pearl[2] Gangrel Latigo Blanco[2] Nemesis[2] Phoenix Star[3][2] The Stepfather[3] Zokre[3] |
| Debut | August 11, 2006[4] |
Jesús Ricardo Rodríguez (born February 17, 1986) is anAmericanprofessional wrestler andcommentator, primarily performing forMajor League Wrestling (MLW). He is best known for his time inWWE under thering nameRicardo Rodriguez. He returned to theindependent circuit in 2014 asChimaera. He also worked as an announcer forCombate Americas and as a manager forAlberto del Rio wrestling promotionNación Lucha Libre before its closure in January 2020. He has also worked as a Spanish language commentator forAEW.
Before wrestling for independent California promotions, Rodriguez wrestled with other upcoming wrestlers in backyards for BBW Beyond Backyard Wrestling. He wrestled for various promotions as the masked wrestlerChimaera, 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 lost to Charles Mercury in the first round of a PWA Light Heavyweight Championship tournament.[5] Chimaera and Jason Watts teamed up to take on the NWPW Tag Team Champions Aerial Star and Ric Ellis and initially lost, but beat them for the championship on October 4, 2008. They lost the title in a two-on-one handicap match toRyan Stone.[5] On August 2, 2009, he had a three-way match for the AWS Lightweight Championship, withPeter Avalon and Chris Kadillak. InChikara, he participated in theYoung Lions Cup VII and was eliminated byKC Day.[6] AtDragon 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 beatBrian 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 forCalifornia 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, Vendetta Pro and in both IWL and LLII as Jesse Long.[4][10]
Rodriguez, as Chimaera, debuted inFlorida Championship Wrestling on December 2, 2010, in a ten-man tag match, teaming withHusky Harris, Buck Dixon,Matt Clements, and Kenny Li to defeatBig E Langston,Darren Young, James Bronson,Kevin Hackman, andRoman Leakee.[11] On December 17, 2010, Chimaera lost toRichie Steamboat.[11]
From 2011, he competed in FCW under theRicardo Rodriguez gimmick.[11] On August 28, 2011, Rodriguez said thatAlberto Del Rio was an employee of his father's agency. Rodriguez formed astable calledthe Ascension withConor O'Brian,Tito Colón,Kenneth Cameron, andRaquel Diaz.[12] However, by September 26, the Ascension no longer associated with him, 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]
Rodriguez debuted in the WWE on theSmackDown brand on August 20, 2010, as a personal ring announcer toAlberto Del Rio.[4][15] As well as being the personal ring announcer, Rodriguez also helped Del Rio win matches by distracting his opponents.[1]
On the January 4, 2011 episode ofNXT, Rodriguez took Del Rio's place in abattle royal for the NXT Pros, and was quickly eliminated byR-Truth.[16] OnNXT, Rodriguez feuded with Del Rio's Rookie, Conor O'Brian, after he claimed a rat problem. On the January 18 episode ofNXT, Rodriguez and O'Brian brawled backstage, setting up Rodriguez's WWE singles debut, which he won. After the match, O'Brian was eliminated fromNXT.[17] Del Rio later gained a new Rookie,Brodus Clay, after Clay won a match which allowed him to change his Pro. Del Rio "temporarily" passed Pro responsibilities of Clay to Rodriguez on the February 1 episode ofNXT but never returned for the rest of the season,[18] so Rodriguez managed to coach Clay to a second-place finish in the season finale on March 1.[19]
At the2011 WWE Draft, Rodriguez and Del Rio were drafted to theRaw brand; the duo clashed withBig Show when Rodriguez ran over Big Show's leg by using Del Rio's car.[20] On June 6, Rodriguez masqueraded as Big Show as Del Rio mocked Big Show.[21] On his return toRaw on June 13, Big Show attacked Del Rio. Rodriguez came to his employee's aid and he was brutally attacked which caused him to take time off for an injury.[22][23] Rodriguez returned on July 18, 2011[24] On August 30 episode ofSmackDown, whenJohn 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.[25] On the September 12 episode ofRaw SuperShow, Rodriguez wrestled his first match for the brand, teaming with Del Rio to lose toJohn Cena andBret Hart.[26]
AtTLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, Rodriguez tried to help Del Rio regain the WWE Championship during Del Rio'sTriple ThreatTables, Ladders, and Chairs 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 andThe 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[27] and scary-looking,[28] as well as "the major moment of the show".[29] Fellow professional wrestlerMick Foley, well known for his participation in various dangerous matches, also commented that it was "one heck of abump".[30] On the January 9, 2012 episode ofRaw SuperShow, when Del Rio was absent, The Miz bullied Rodriguez into insulting and calling out R-Truth. R-Truth came out and made Rodriguez singLa Cucaracha. After that, R-Truth delivered his finisher to Rodriguez.[31] At the2012 Royal Rumble event, Rodriguez participated in the Royal Rumble match, entering at #8. He and Mick Foley eliminatedJustin Gabriel, after which Rodriguez was eliminated bySantino Marella.[32]
On the May 21 episode ofRaw SuperShow,Santino Marella criticised Rodriguez's announcing and then attacked Rodriguez.[33] Rodriguez unsuccessfully challenged Marella to a match on the May 25SmackDown.[34] On the June 8SmackDown, to tie in with Del Rio's feud withWorld Heavyweight ChampionSheamus, Rodriguez dressed up as Sheamus and mocked Sheamus' mannerisms. Rodriguez's portrayal of Sheamus was praised from critics and fans alike.[35][36][37] On the June 11 episode ofRaw SuperShow, Rodriguez resumed his feud with Marella, teaming withBeth Phoenix to beat Marella andLayla. After the match, Marella embarrassed Rodriguez by ripping off Rodriguez's shirt to reveal he was wearing aJustin Bieber T-shirt underneath.[38] Their feud ended atNo Way Out, when Rodriguez lost to Marella in a non-titletuxedo match, Rodriguez's first pay-per-view singles match.[39] In September 2012, during Del Rio's feud with Sheamus, Rodriguez suffered aBrogue Kick from Sheamus and thus enlistedDavid Otunga's help as hislawyer to try and ban theBrogue Kick.[40] Rodriguez was later pinned in a six-man tag match later that month with Del Rio and Otunga against Sheamus,Rey Mysterio andSin Cara.[41]
Rodriguez came to the aid of the Spanish announce team atTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 16, who were being heckled by3MB (Drew McIntyre,Heath Slater, andJinder Mahal). As 3MB turned on Rodriguez, Del Rio came to his aid, signalling a face turn for the duo.[42] The turn was further cemented the next night atRaw in a similar situation as Rodriguez came to the aid ofTommy Dreamer, who was being assaulted byThe Shield, but Rodriguez ended up being attacked himself.[43] On the December 28SmackDown, Rodriguez was randomly selected to be the next contender for Big Show's World Heavyweight Championship, but Show knocked him out backstage, starting a feud between Del Rio and Show.[44] Rodriguez received his title match against Show on the December 31Raw; as Rodriguez was about to lose, Del Rio interfered and attacked Show, causing Rodriguez to lose via disqualification.[45] After Del Rio defeated Show to win the World Heavyweight Championship in January 2013,[46] Rodriguez started bringing abucket to the ring.[47] During Del Rio's title defense against Show at theRoyal Rumble, Rodriguezduct-taped Show's legs to the ring ropes to ensure that Del Rio won the Last Man Standing match; the next week, Show attacked Rodriguez twice.[48][49] During Del Rio's next feud withJack Swagger, Rodriguez suffered a storyline broken ankle due to Swagger's attack.[50] On the edition of April 29 ofRaw, Rodriguez defeatedZeb Colter and Big E Langston in a triple-threat match, giving Del Rio the right to choose the stipulation for his World Heavyweight Championship match atExtreme Rules.[51]
AtPayback, Del Rio reverted to being a heel by ruthlessly targeting Ziggler's head after Ziggler's recent concussion to win the World Heavyweight Championship.[52][53] Rodriguez was suspended for 30 days for his first violation of the WWE Wellness Policy on July 2, 2013.[54] He returned to television on the August 5 episode ofRaw, but after he inadvertently cost Del Rio a non-title match againstRob Van Dam, Del Rio viciously assaulted Rodriguez.[55]
Rodriguez returned on the August 19 episode ofRaw, revealing that he now worked for Rob Van Dam.[56] The next week onRaw, Rodriguez cost Del Rio a match against Van Dam, and as per match stipulation, Van Dam would get a shot at Del Rio's World Heavyweight Championship atNight of Champions. Just days before the event,Vickie Guerrero who was acting in authority, stated that Rodriguez would not be allowed at ringside for the title match at Night of Champions. He was also forced to wrestle Del Rio onSmackDown, and he lost.[57] On October 7, he defeated Del Rio, who attacked him after the match. Van Dam and Rodriguez ended their alliance after Van Dam's feud with Del Rio, as he ceased to accompany him to the ring and ring announcing him since after Van Dam returned in April 2014.
Rodriguez started to wrestle as the maskedluchadorEl Local, who remained distinct from his ring announcer character, debuting on the November 3 episode ofSaturday Morning Slam in a loss to Sin Cara.[58] In late 2013, El Local began teaming up with another masked competitor (Tyson Kidd) to form Los Locales, a team which never won a match.[59][60] During this time, Rodriguez became a commentator for the Spanish broadcast team for WWE pay-per-views.[61] In May 2014, Rodriguez (as El Local) formed a tag team with the debutingKalisto onNXT, in a winning effort againstThe Legionnaires (Marcus Louis andSylvester Lefort). Rodriguez was released by WWE on July 30, 2014.[62]
On August 30, 2014, Rodríguez made his debut for theWorld Wrestling Council (WWC), mockingRay González.[63] On September 7, 2014 at Septiembre Negro, was defeated by González.Weiner[64] In October 2014, Rodríguez ordered Shawn Hernandez to attack Ray González.[65] The feud ended eventually in a Tables Match betweenShawn Hernandez and Ray González inAniversario 2014. On January 24, 2015, at Hora de la Verdad, Rodriguez defeatedCarlos Cotto to win theWWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship.[66] However, he lost the title against the former champion on February 21, 2015.
On November 28, 2014, Rodriguez made his debut for Mexican promotionAAA, reassuming the role of Alberto Del Rio's (thenEl Patrón Alberto) personal ring announcer.[67] In October 2015, Del Rio returned to WWE without Rodriguez. In September 2015, Rodriguez was hired as trainer for The Great Khali's wrestling school in Punjab, the Continental Wrestling Entertainment. The school held its first event on December 12, 2015.[68]
On October 27, 2021, Rodríguez worked as the Spanish commentator forAll Elite Wrestling, taking the place left ofWillie Urbina (who was fired due to racist remarks he made against Japanese wrestlerHikaru Shida).[69] He would only appear at one taping.[70]
Ricardo Rodriguez relocated to Lancaster, PA in 2022 and in September opened up his own wrestling academy called "Three Legacies Wrestling Academy". The academy features seminars and lessons from himself as well as special seminars from other WWE alumni. The academy hosts wrestling shows monthly/bi-monthly at different locations throughout Lancaster, PA.[71]
Rodriguez is of Mexican heritage, and is fluent in bothEnglish andSpanish. He was born inLos Angeles, California. His family originates from the state ofMichoacán, Mexico.
Rodríguez has appeared in a number ofWWEvideo games, includingWWE '12,WWE '13,WWE 2K14 andWWE 2K15. According to a November 10, 2020 article written by Felix Upton and published on ringsidenews.com, Rodriguez attributes his getting into wrestling from meeting professionals in the industry during his time working in the adult entertainment market, which has been known to have a long-standing relationship with the professional wrestling industry. He is quoted in the article saying, “I used to work in the adult industry behind the scenes. I had to deal with a lot of people; you have to learn to be social to deal with clients, to call [other companies], whatever, so you learn to socialize. That helped out with wrestling because you socialize. Once I got out there, I got to meet promoters, meet other wrestlers, meet different people, and you have to network. So, that helped out. It was all just the confidence. It’s all the idea of faking it until you’re make it, and that’s what I did when I got signed with the WWE.”[72]
Rodrigues is also the subject of a documentary film called "Wrestling with Recovery: The Jesus Ricardo Rodrigues Story". Directed by Christopher Dreisbach and Andrew Shankman, the film is listed on the IMDB website as being in Post Production. Bobbaconda Productions is the Producing Company.
Sheamus' music hits, and Ricardo Rodriguez makes his way to the stage hilariously dressed as Sheamus.
Ricardo was very funny as Sheamus.
John D. of Liverpool, England (7.0): Best: Ricardo Rodriguez dressed as Sheamus
Justin Roberts introduced Ricardo Rodriguez, who came out on-stage with a Mexican flag bucket in-hand.
,Cagematch,Internet Wrestling Database