Rico Constantino
Rico Costantino | |
---|---|
Birth name | Americo Sabastiano Costantino |
Born | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | October 1, 1961
Alma mater | Northwestern Military and Naval Academy |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Rico[1] Rico Costantino[1] The Cobra[2] |
Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Billed weight | 230 lb (100 kg)[1] |
Billed from | Las Vegas, Nevada[1] |
Trained by | Jesse Hernandez[1] Ohio Valley Wrestling |
Debut | 1998[2] |
Retired | 2012 |
Americo Sebastiano Costantino (born October 1, 1961) is an American
Early life
Costantino was a contestant on the
Professional wrestling career
Ohio Valley Wrestling and early career (1998–2002)
Costantino began to train with the Empire Wrestling Federation for a career in the wrestling business.[1] Costantino was discovered by World Wrestling Federation (WWF) officials Terry Taylor and Dr. Tom Prichard.[1] After only 12 matches, Costantino signed a developmental deal with the WWF.[1] Costantino was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling for further training, before being sent up to work for WWF.[1]
He became a three time
In 2001, started working dark matches for the WWF against Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, Raven, Hurricane Helms, Billy Gunn and Steven Richards.
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (2002–2004)
He debuted in WWF on the March 21, 2002 episode of SmackDown! as the stylist of Billy and Chuck (the heel gimmicks of Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo), establishing himself as a villain.[3] Rico portrayed a homosexual stylist as his gimmick and grew muttonchops. On the May 9 episode of SmackDown!, Rico wrestled his first match in WWE, where he teamed with Billy and Chuck to defeat Al Snow, Maven and Rikishi.[4] At Judgment Day, Rico was forced to team with Rikishi to defeat his clients, Billy and Chuck for the WWE Tag Team Championship.[5][6] On the June 6 episode of SmackDown!, Rico turned on Rikishi by helping Billy and Chuck in pinning Rikishi for the tag titles.[7]
On the September 12, 2002 episode of SmackDown!, Rico moved over to the
Rico would soon return to Raw in 2003 with Miss Jackie appearing as his manager. He retained the essence of the masculinity gimmick he shared with Gunn and Palumbo while taking it to new levels, much in the vein of
All Japan Pro Wrestling (2005)
After his release, he went to
Future Stars of Wrestling (2012)
Rico came out of retirement for a Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW) TV taping in Las Vegas on November 17, 2012, where he teamed up with Beast to defeat the team of Gregory Sharpe and Clutch.[16]
Personal life
Costantino entered
In August 2005, Costantino completed his law enforcement training in Boulder City, Nevada, outside of Las Vegas. As of 2006, he was a Sergeant Inspector for the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority.[18] Beginning in 2016, he suffered health issues relating to heart problems and a series of concussions.[19]
Championships and accomplishments
American Gladiators
- American Gladiators Champion (1990–1991)[1]
Professional wrestling
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- Bull Buchanan[1]
- Empire Wrestling Federation
- Heartland Wrestling Association
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- Power Pro Wrestling
- 1 time)[1]
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Charlie Haas[14]
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rikishi[6]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Gimmick (2003)[20]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Rico". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ a b "Rico".
- ^ "SmackDown – March 21, 2002 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown – May 9, 2002 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ a b "World Tag Team Championship official title history". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown – June 6, 2002 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown – September 12, 2002 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ "Raw – May 19, 2003 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ "Raw – September 19, 2002 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ Power Slam Staff (August 2003). "What's going down... WWE". Power Slam Magazine. Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing LTD. p. 4. 109.
- ^ "SmackDown – 22nd April, 2004 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ "SmackDown – 13th May, 2004 Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 8, 2007.
- ^ "All Asia Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com.
- ^ "FSW High Octane-11/17/12 Featuring WWE Alumni Rico". FutureStarsWrestling. Retrieved May 5, 2013.[dead YouTube link]
- ^ "Where Are They Now? Rico". WWE. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
- ^ "Taxicab Authority - CHIEF INVESTIGATOR FOR COMPLIANCE/ENFORCEMENT". Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved June 22, 2009.
- ^ Jacobs, Corey (September 21, 2016). "Rico Constantino facing heart issues". WrestlingNews. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
- ISSN 1083-9593.
External links
- Rico Constantino's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- Media related to Rico Constantino at Wikimedia Commons