Savio Vega

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Savio Vega
The South Bronx (as Savio Vega)[3]
Debut1985[1]

Savio Vega is a ring name of Juan Rivera (born August 10, 1964), a Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He is known for his work in the

Puerto Rican stable, Los Boricuas
.

After leaving the WWF, Rivera returned to Puerto Rico and joined

IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship
. In 2011, he was featured in the first interpromotional angle between IWA and WWC.

Professional wrestling career

Mid-South Wrestling (1985)

Rivera was born and raised in

Dutch Mantell unsuccessfully challenged Al Perez and Wendell Cooley for the Tag Team Championship. Corsario finished his run with Mid-South on November 11 at a live event by teaming with Steve Williams
in a loss to The Bruise Brothers.

Universal Wrestling Association (1986)

In 1986, Rivera wrestled a few matches for the

two out of three falls match to Los Brazos (Brazo de Plata and El Brazo
). Corsario would then wrestle for UWA two more times in two out of three falls matches, losing both matches.

Capitol Sports Promotions (1987–1991)

Early championship reigns (1987–1989)

After a few exploits in various promotions, Rivera went to

Miguel Pérez to win the North American Heavyweight Championship, his first professional wrestling championship. On July 11, he became a dual champion, winning the World Tag Team Championship with Mr. Pogo by defeating The Youngbloods (Chris and Mark) and holding it for nineteen days, before losing it back to Youngbloods. TNT would then begin feuding with Pogo, defeating him in a match at Aniversario
on September 20.

On January 30, 1988, TNT lost the North American Heavyweight Championship to Abdullah the Butcher. After the title loss, TNT participated in the La Copa Gillette tournament, in which he defeated Mr. Pogo in the first round, but fought Invader I to a time limit draw in the quarter-final. On June 18, he won the Caribbean Heavyweight Championship from Hercules Ayala. Two months later, he dropped it to Buddy Landel. After failing to regain the title from Landel in a rematch at Aniversario, TNT defeated Landel to win his second Caribbean Heavyweight Championship on September 17. TNT held the title for another two months before dropping it to Jason the Terrible.

On February 4, 1989, he defeated

Carlos Colón to win the Television Championship. TNT would then begin feuding with Chicky Starr, whom he defeated in a gimmick versus hair match at Aniversario
.

Universal Heavyweight Champion, rights to TNT name and W*ING tours (1989–1991)

During the last half of 1989, TNT had a midcard feud with Leo Burke, which was interrupted midway through when Burke defeated Carlos Colón for the Universal Heavyweight Championship.[4] TNT was originally expected to win the belt, given his status as a fan favorite and solid wrestling skills.[4] On February 9, 1990, he defeated Burke for the Universal Heavyweight Championship, marking the first world championship win of his professional wrestling career. As a result, TNT vacated the Television Championship. He held the Universal Heavyweight Championship for a month, before dropping it to Abdullah the Butcher.[4]

On April 25, 1990, TNT defeated rival Leo Burke to win his second Television Championship. A few months later, TNT turned heel and began feuding with Carlos Colón, who had won the Universal Heavyweight Championship from Abdullah the Butcher. This led to a match between the two for the title at Aniversario, where they wrestled to a sixty-minute draw.[4] Later that year, TNT lost the Television Championship to Steve Strong on December 4.

In early 1991, he feuded with a wrestler who had originally used the name "TNT", and began proclaiming himself "Original TNT". On January 26, TNT lost to Original TNT in a match for the vacant Television Championship. However, TNT defeated Original TNT in a non-title match on March 2, winning the rights to the TNT name, forcing his opponent to compete as "Action Jackson". The feud concluded later that month, when Rivera defeated Jackson to win his third Television Championship on March 30. On April 20, TNT lost the title to

Smash
).

TNT would then embark on a tour of Japan for the upstart promotion

Samu
on August 31.

TNT would then make a second tour to W*ING in September. On September 19, TNT teamed with Pogo to defeat Saito and

Fidel Sierra on October 19. TNT regained the title by defeating Sierra in a rematch on October 26, winning his fifth and final WWC Television Championship. TNT lost the title, a month later to Dick Murdoch
on November 23. Shortly after, TNT left CSP.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1987–1988)

On November 22, 1987, TNT debuted in the Japanese promotion

1987 Real World Tag League, losing to Jumbo Tsuruta and Yoshiaki Yatsu in their AJPW debut. Abdullah and TNT scored twelve points in the Real World Tag League, and their participation in the tournament ended with a loss to Hiroshi Wajima and Giant Baba on December 11. Abdullah and TNT competed in several matches in AJPW in January 1988, including a title challenge against Ashura Hara and Genichiro Tenryu for the PWF World Tag Team Championship
on January 9, 1988, in which the challengers came up short. They left AJPW after losing a match to Tsuruta and Yatsu on January 29.

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1990–1993)

On September 30, 1990, TNT made his debut for

Hercules Hernandez in a losing effort.[5]

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1999)

Kwang (1993–1995)

Having gained much wrestling experience, Rivera was recalled to the

1994 Royal Rumble, marking Rivera's pay-per-view debut. During the match, he teamed with the fifth entrant, Owen Hart, battling the face wrestlers to a stalemate until Diesel
entered seventh and eliminated all the previous entrants.

Kwang's televised singles debut was on the January 30 episode of

1995 Royal Rumble, where he would eliminate Doink the Clown, Kwang gradually faded from WWF programming, losing his final match to Hakushi on the April 29, 1995, episode of Superstars
.

Alliance with Razor Ramon (1995–1996)

Vega in the ring in 1995.

On May 14, 1995, Rivera appeared in street clothes and grew a goatee during the WWF's

The Roadie, Rivera, portraying a fan in the audience, jumped the guardrail to rescue him.[2] Later that night, Razor introduced him as his childhood friend, "Savio Vega".[2]

Vega made his wrestling debut on the May 28 episode of

Sunday Night Slam. Vega then defeated Yokozuna by countout in the first round, after interference from Yokozuna's tag partner, Owen Hart, backfired. He then defeated The Roadie with a rollup pinfall. He faced Mabel in the finals, losing after Mabel hit a splash off the ropes to win the tournament.[8]

The next night on Raw, Vega defeated the

Raw Bowl match
. Shortly afterwards, Vega's alliance with Razor quietly ended.

Various feuds (1996–1997)

Vega was the twelfth entrant in the

Dory Funk, Jr. before being eliminated by Vader. The following night on Raw, he lost to Vader. On the March 11 Raw, he wrestled Stone Cold Steve Austin for the first time, resulting in a double countout. This led to a feud, and a series of matches. The first of these happened at WrestleMania XII, both men's WrestleMania debut, which Austin won.[9][10]

On the April 13 episode of Superstars, Rivera, wearing a mask featuring the flag of Puerto Rico and billed as "The Caribbean Kid", defeated Austin by pinfall, then unmasked himself. This was Austin's first singles defeat in the WWF, and The Caribbean Kid's sole appearance. On the April 15 episode of Raw, Vega challenged Goldust for the Intercontinental Championship. Vega won the match, but WWF President Gorilla Moonson reverted the decision and vacated the title. The following week on Raw, Vega and Goldust fought for the title, which was won by Goldust. Austin won a rematch at In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies on April 28. One month later, at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, Vega defeated Austin in a Caribbean Strap Match. According to the stipulations, Austin's manager, Ted DiBiase, had to leave the WWF. This was DiBiase's last appearance on WWF television until 2005.[11]

Vega then feuded with Justin Bradshaw, winning their first match on July 8. On July 21, he lost a rematch at In Your House 9: International Incident. On August 12, 1996, Vega lost his first match by submission to Crush. At SummerSlam, he lost a match to Owen Hart, and was then assaulted by Bradshaw. At In Your House 10: Mind Games, he defeated Bradshaw in a Caribbean Strap Match, ending their feud.

On the September 7 episode of Raw, Vega defeated

original Razor's departure to World Championship Wrestling. On the December 22 episode of Superstars, he teamed with Jesse James to unsuccessfully challenge Owen Hart and Davey Boy Smith
for the Tag Team Championship.

Vega entered the 1997 Royal Rumble, but was eliminated by eventual winner Stone Cold Steve Austin.

The Nation of Domination (1997)

See also:
The Nation of Domination

On January 25, 1997, Vega turned heel and joined

The Nation of Domination, a stable led by Faarooq, after turning on his partner, Ahmed Johnson. Johnson became the Nation's main rival in the following months. In his first match as a member, he defeated Flash Funk. At In Your House 13: Final Four, he teamed with Faarooq and Crush to win a six-man tag match. In February, he lost consecutive matches by disqualification to Marc Mero
and Goldust.

On March 17, 1997, Vega and Crush lost to

The Legion of Doom by disqualification. At WrestleMania 13
, they teamed with Faarooq to lose a six-man street fight tag match against the Legion of Doom and Johnson. On the next Raw, Vega lost to Johnson by disqualification when The Nation interfered.

Vega then feuded with Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia. Like Austin a year earlier, Maivia entered the feud as an undefeated prospect with a major push. On the April 14 RAW, Vega defeated Maivia by pinfall, while holding his tights. At In Your House 14: Revenge of the 'Taker, he once again defeated Maivia, this time by countout. After the match, he attacked Maivia's knee.

On May 11, at In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell, Vega wrestled as part of a gauntlet match against Johnson and was eliminated, before Faarooq won it for The Nation. The next night on Raw, he challenged The Undertaker for the WWF Championship, but was disqualified. On June 9, The Nation lost a rematch from WrestleMania 13 against Johnson and The Legion of Doom. After this, The Nation began having internal problems and soon disbanded, when Faarooq expelled several members, including Vega and Crush.[12]

Los Boricuas (1997–1999)

See also: Los Boricuas

Following his departure from The Nation of Domination, Vega formed his own stable,

WWF World Tag Team Championship. At Badd Blood: In Your House, The Disciples defeated Los Boricuas. Between October and November, Vega also had singles matches, losing to Goldust, Mero and Ken Shamrock
.

Vega with a Los Boricuas flag in June 2013

On the October 27 RAW, Vega and Pérez unsuccessfully challenged The Legion of Doom for the Tag Team Championship. In their next match, they lost to

The New Age Outlaws
. In December 1997, Los Boricuas and The Disciples exchanged victories.

His first singles contest of 1998 was a loss to

Scott Taylor. He was the 26th entrant in the 1998 Royal Rumble, and, like the year before, was eliminated by Steve Austin. In the Royal Rumble's main event, Vega and Los Boricuas attacked the Undertaker alongside the New Age Outlaws to aid Shawn Michaels in defeating him in a casket match. Vega headlined No Way Out of Texas: In Your House on February, when he replaced the injured Shawn Michaels in the eight-man tag main event, teaming with Triple H and the New Age Outlaws in a losing effort.[2]
On the March 9 Raw, he wrestled Triple H to a no contest.

At

WrestleMania 14, Vega wrestled in a battle royal, won by Legion of Doom 2000. A week later, Los Boricuas lost to LOD 2000. The Gang Wars continued with matches against The Disciples in April. On May 4, Rivera lost to the NWA World Champion, Dan Severn
.

The Gang Wars came to an end when the leaders of the three stables faced off in a triple threat match, which Vega won. After the angle, Los Boricuas splintered into two tag teams. On July 6, Vega defeated

Darren Drozdov
. As a result of a severe arm injury sustained from the Brawl for All tournament, he was released in August 1998.

Vega returned to WWF television in July 1999. He would make a number of appearances on

WWF Super Astros, and would participate in WWF Shotgun and WWF Jakked/Metal dark matches (sometimes with other Boricua members). During this time, he provided commentary at the Spanish announce table at the Fully Loaded
PPV and several episodes of Monday Night Raw. He was released again from his WWF contract in September 1999.

On December 15, 1999, Rivera defeated Prince Albert at an International Wrestling Association house show in Puerto Rico. The IWA was a new promotion founded by Víctor Quiñones, which was one of WWF's developmental territories.

International Wrestling Association (1999–2011)

Rivera joined the now independent IWA, upon returning to Puerto Rico. He wrestled as Savio Vega, though often ended feuds by wearing war paint in the final matches and changing his wrestling persona to "El Hombre Dinamita" (a reference to his "TNT" gimmick, which the WWC had trademarked and did not allow him to use).

On July 16, 2001, Vega defeated Jesus Castillo, his former Los Boricuas stablemate and now a member of a stable called "Los Intocables" with Miguel Pérez, for the IWA Hardcore Championship. He was forced to vacate the title after being unable to wrestle. Eventually, he turned on his former allies and became general manager, forming a heel stable called "La Compañia" (The Company), which included Apolo and Ricky Banderas, whom he called his "Dream Team".[13]

Vega was depicted as co-owner of the IWA, though he had no real share in the company. As general manager, he was more often a manager than a wrestler. Under this authoritarian gimmick, he introduced his catchphrase, A mi manera o pa' la calle, (roughly, "My way or the highway"), with which he threatened to fire wrestlers, and occasionally did so. He would "discipline" wrestlers by mugging them in a mob, while singing a traditional Puerto Rican bomba, Santa María. Later in 2001, he allied with the main heel stable in the promotion, The Starr Corporation, composed of Chicky Starr, Víctor Rodríguez and Ricky Banderas. At Christmas in PR 2001, Vega and The Starr Corporation turned on Banderas and Shane, who teamed as Los Hermanos en Dolor, and feuded with Banderas. The Starr Corporation remained on his side until a conflict arose between them, leading Vega to expel Laureano from the IWA.

On March 2, 2002, Vega used his authority to award himself the IWA World Heavyweight Championship, eventually dropping it to Figueroa. Los Boricuas reunited later that year, when Pérez joined Vega to win the IWA World Tag Team Championship. In November 2002, Vega was injured by Banderas, and was absent for two weeks.[14] When he returned, he pursued the support of Banderas, granting him a title match against Figueroa on January 6, 2003, in which he turned heel and joined La Compañia, who feuded with Figueroa, Vega bringing in foreign wrestlers to incapacitate him.

Banderas led La Compañia for several months, until Rey Fénix joined, triggering a power struggle in which Vega supported Fénix. Vega and Fénix defeated Banderas and Rodríguez in tag matches. After winning the initial feud in a match at Golpe de Estado 2003, Fénix revealed his true identity,

Slash Venom, Vega feuded with González and his stable, La Familia del Milenio. This new faction had several matches against Figueroa & Kindred and Pérez & Castillo. At Golpe de Estado 2003, Rivera wrestled Huertas González to a no contest, due to a large amount of bleeding from both.[15] On November 15, 2003, Kindred and Vega attacked Banderas following a match, and he was rescued by Vampiro
, starting a new feud for La Compañia.

At Hardcore Weekend 2003, Rivera returned to his "El Hombre que ellos llaman TNT" persona, wrestling against Huertas González.[16] To close the year, Rivera was fired by José Chaparro, who went on to take over the general manager office acting on behalf of the IWA's CEO, Thomas Wreckler.[17] Víctor "The Bodyguard" Rodríguez emerged as the self-proclaimed leader of La Compañia during his absence.[18] In June 2004, a storyline to bring Rivera back was run, in which the CEO, Thomas Wreckler, brought him in to stop La Familia and La Compañia.[19] However, this storyline was interrupted by the death of Rodríguez due to a heart attack, and he unsuccessfully attempted to regain control of the general manager by challenging González at Summer Attitude.[20] On July 25, 2004, Rivera reformed La Compañia.[21] In August 2004, González was involved in an angle in which he won 49% of IWA's stocks. He then entered a feud with the owner of the remaining 51%, Víctor Quiñones.[22] On August 28, 2004, at Bad Blood, González announced that from that moment onwards, IWA would be known as "Capitol Sports Promotions", claiming that Quiñones had already received documentation confirming this.[23] González then began recruiting Huertas González to join him, claiming that their origin in "Capitol joins them". In September 2004, somebody assaulted Huertas González backstage, leaving behind Rivera's trademark bat. It was subsequently revealed that the culprit was "Lighting" acting on González behalf, just when Huertas González was about to join the "Capitol" faction.[24]

On October 9, 2004, González announced that "Capitol" had formed an alliance with

José Huertas González
as referee was declared a no contest. However, on January 6, 2006, he lost to González in a "loser leaves the company" match, losing a final contest against Huertas González before leaving. This was the second time that Rivera's role as general manager was overthrown and it was followed by a storyline which was run where Pérez had fired him and vignettes were aired where he was seen as a homeless man. Orlando Toledo, a nephew of the now-defunct Quiñones was introduced as the new general manager. A fictional election was held between Pérez and him, which Rivera won but was nullified due to him lacking a contract, making way to a new villainous president in Toledo. Upon being "reinstated", Rivera went on to feud with González and Sewell, forming a loose cooperation with Toledo. He went on to form a tag team along Huertas González known as "Los Inhumanos", when the former turned heel. Their union eventually dissolved and evolved into a feud, which saw Huertas González defeating Rivera in a "death match", his retirement contest for the IWA.

Los Autenticos and feud with Chris Angel (2006–2011)

Savio Vega wrestling Chris Angel at Histeria Boricua 2011

Rivera eventually make amends with Pérez and joined him along Babderas and Sewell in order to feud with González and Toledo's Estrellas. Following a tag team match that went no contest in February 2007, his team won six consecutive matches against the heel factions. Rivera himself defeated Estrellas' members

The Sheik to a no contest. The stable eventually grew to include Rivera's younger brother Dennis Rivera and his tag team partner Noel Rodríguez. Los Auntenticos would then create a "terror list" where the names of former WWC employees were written.[30] This list was used in a new angle were the stable would ambush and attack wrestlers that were randomly selected from the list.[30] At Golpe de Estado, Los Autenticos lost in a Boricua Rumble match, before winning their following appearance. As a sidetrack, Rivera ran a mock campaign to become Governor of Puerto Rico for the fictional Partido Luchador Puertorriqueño (PLP) prior to the 2008 general elections.[31] The closure to the Loteria del Terror came when the other members turned on Rivera and Pérez, citing that "they themselves were part of Capitol once", igniting a sibling rivalry against Dennis Rivera who was supported by Noel Rodríguez and Richard Rondón. The feud continued with matches between both, Los Autenticos lost two tag team matches against this team, known as "La Malicia". In matches between brothers, the result was a no contest and a win by Dennis Rivera. Concurrently, he entered a second feud against Joe Bravo
and his own stable, "La Compañia Elite". Rivera and Pérez won a match against two lowcard members of La Compañia. At the IWA's 10th Anniversary show, he wrestled Bravo to a no contest, with the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship being held up. Rivera lost the rematch.

In August 2009, he won a handicap match over Rondón and Rodríguez and teamed to defeat La Compañia. He went on to defeat Bravo and Edwin Vázquez Ortega in consecutive matches. Following this, Rivera once again turned heel, teaming with

Carly Colón's supposed addiction to painkillers, prompting Colón to leave the stage. This marked the first time that both performed together in over a decade, following the lawsuit filled by WWC over the TNT character. During the following weeks, Rivera continued this line by issuing two challenges in IWA events, as well as changing the name of his finisher to "La Painkiller". At Summer Attitude 2010, Rivera defeated World Wrestling Entertainment employee Bryan Danielson, then IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion and first contender to the WWE United States Championship, by pinfall following his finishing move. Later that night, he sanctioned a contest for the belt between his brother and Danielson, which was won by the younger Rivera. Rivera then entered a feud with Álvarez, who had served as special referee at Summer Attitude 2010 and made his in-ring debut in the IWA, winning the contest between them. Rivera went on to win two more matches over midcard talent before entering a lengthy hiatus. Returning in winter, he confronted "The Academy", a group that had entered the IWA two months earlier that was harassing Pérez. At Christmas in PR 2010, Rivera wrestled and lost to one of The Academy's members, the debuting Chris Angel
for the vacant Intercontinental Championship. A rematch was scheduled for Histeria Boricua 2011, which was promoted with a throwback angle in which he emphasized how having defeated other undefeated wrestlers such as Austin and Johnson, claiming that his loss at Christmas in PR was nothing but a fluke. Regardless of this, Angel won the rematch and eventually went on to become an undefeated world champion. Upon exiting the ring following the loss, Pérez confronted Rivera and told him not to return until he had "returned to his roots".

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2008–2009)

In July 2008, Rivera began working as a

road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.[32] In January 2009, he became head agent for the promotion's women's division, known as the TNA Knockouts.[33] He also served as the unofficial trainer for the division during this tenure. On July 31, 2009, Rivera was released from his contract.[34]

Return to TNA (2011–2012)

Ring Ka King (2011–2012)

In late 2011, Rivera was rehired by TNA, this time to work with

Dutch Mantell, he was responsible for training the Indian wrestlers at Ohio Valley Wrestling, TNA's developmental territory in Louisville, Kentucky.[35]

International promotions (2007–2013)

While wrestling in the IWA, he competed in Revolution X-treme Wrestling based in

green mist on his face.[41][42] During the following summer Vega alternated his work between the IWA, Division One Pro Wrestling (D1PW) in Florida and Nu-Wrestling Evolution in Spain.[43] Vega retained the RXW championship twice in June, against Ricky Vega and PJD.[44] On March 21, 2009, Vega defended and lost the RXW World Heavyweight Title in a rematch against Panama Jack Daniels. Vega was released from his TNA contract on July 31, 2009.[34] On October 2, 2009, Vega participated in a Wrestling Alliance Revolution card, defeating AP Dynamite for the WAR World Heavyweight Championship.[45]
On November 1, 2009, Vega and Pérez participated in a Dominican Wrestling Entertainment card, being booked to win the DWE World Tag Team Championship. They dropped the title on DWE's final event of the year, Cierre de Temporada, held on December 20, 2009.

On a Ring Ka King episode aired on February 11, 2012, Rivera returned to his T.N.T. character as part of his work as trainer for TNA. His opponent was an Indian wrestler called Jwala. None of the wrestlers were given a definitive heel or face role, but the local crowd supported his compatriot Jwala, who earned the pinfall by avoiding a maneuver by Rivera and applying his own finisher.

Nick Dinsmore in an eight-man tag team contest joining the Sheiks against the teams of Barood & Romeo Rapta and the Bollywood Boys. His team performed as the unambiguous heels, gaining the victory by employing illegal tactics.[47]
Vega became BSP World Heavyweight Champion by defeating Emperador Maximus on January 26, 2013, in La Barra in Caguas, PR. On April 28, 2013, Vega retained the BSP World Title by defeating Lloyd Samoa in Cayey, PR despite the outside interference from the challenger's manager Octavio 5to (Victor Manuel Sierra Garcia) and the BSP director of operations Alexis Baez. On July 7, 2013, Vega retained the BSP World Heavyweight Championship by defeating number one contender Dimes at its Summer Splash event held in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. On July 20, 2013, Vega lost the BSP World Heavyweight Championship to Dimes at Summer Splash La Revancha, held in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, after the challenger threw white powder in his face and then hit Vega with a pair of brass knuckles. After the match, Vega issued his rematch clause. On August 31, 2013, Vega lost to BSP World Heavyweight Champion Menace and Dimes in a three-way dance match celebrated in el sector La Jurado in Caguas, PR.

Interpromotional angles (2011–2014)

Vega with a student in 2014

Rivera remained completely absent from any wrestling-related activity for several months as a consequence. He reappeared on the final edition of WWC's Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre show before Aniversario 2011, interrupting the programming by stepping into the camera while wearing an IWA shirt. At the actual event, he led a large group of IWA wrestlers, including incumbent Undisputed World Champion

TNT
. Rivera himself addressed the crowd and issued another challenge to Colón who responded in a subsequent interview issuing a challenge of his own. The WWC responded by entering the IWA's next event, Summer Attitude and vandalizing Quiñones' Hall of Fame induction. Despite this, the negotiations between the promotions were stalled and no further actions were taken for the remainder of 2011. At Halloween Mayhem 2011, Rivera returned to IWA for the first time since Histeria Boricua 2011, turning on a heel Pérez and seizing control by regaining the office of general manager and joining the still-undefeated Angel and Phillip Davian to form a stable known as "La Academia Gerencial". The group stayed away from action for the remainder of the year due to him working the RKK project for TNA in OVW and India and he named an interim general manager who performed the role at Histeria Boricua 2012. Prior to the WWC's Euphoria 2012 event, Rivera reappeared in Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre, supporting Ricky Banderas in his contest against Colón. He eventually costed Colón the match, playing a video stating that the "hunting had begun" that lasted for the remainder of the scheduled time.

Concurrently, Pérez had launched a second interpromotional angle, this time involving the third largest company in Puerto Rico, the Extreme Wrestling Organization. Rivera himself remained uninvolved with this, holding a reunion with La Academia Gerencial. However, Angel and Davian left the promotion in February while he was working outside of Puerto Rico, disbanding the stable. Consequently, Rivera sided with the IWA upon returning, assaulting EWO employees at Clash of the Titans 2012. During this visit, he also participated in an event of a smaller independent company, New Revolution Wrestling, winning its heavyweight championship. On May 26, 2012, Rivera reappeared in the IWA and issued a challenge to EWO CEO Richard Rondón to a winner-takes-all match at Juicio Final.

Carlito. On the November 9, 2013, episode of Superestrellas de la Lucha Libre, the return of Rivera as T.N.T. was announced. At Crossfire, on November 16, 2013, Vega defeated Chris Angel to win the WWC Universal Championship.[52] However, he lost the title to Mighty Ursus at Lockout.[53] TNT won the title back on January 19, 2014. On March 30, 2014, at Hora de la Verdad, TNT defeated Apolo to win the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship.[54]
On July 19, 2014, TNT lost the title against Carlito Caribbean Cool. In October 2014, Vega left WWC.

World Wrestling League (2014–2015)

On October 10, 2014, after being previously advertised for the Aniversario event of WWC on October 25, 2014, and booked to win the WWC Puerto Rico Championship, Vega suddenly announced via his

World Wrestling League
. Vega took on the role of WWL's tyrannus director of operations. After being fired by president Richard Negrín, he came back with Shane Sewell to attack Negrín and his heel stable and claim that his contract was for 5 years and that if he got fired, he would own 75% of the company. However, on March 23, 2015, WWL founder Negrín retired from pro wrestling and closed WWL. WWL reopened later, but Savio had already left.

Late career (2015–present)

After leaving the WWL, Savio Vega returned to local promotions where he has been regularly active in BSP, CWA, & NRW also makes international appearances in countries like Kuwait, and appeared in September and October on Amaro Production[55] and Game Changer Wrestling.[56]

On November 22, 2020, he made an appearance at Survivor Series during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.[57]

On July 10, 2021, he wrestled at Major League Wrestling's Battle Riot III entering twice in the match (as Savio Vega and Kwang).

Vega and

San Juan street fight match against The Judgment Day's Damian Priest.[58]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Los Brazos (masks)
(Brazo de Plata and El Brazo)		 Los Corsarios (masks)
(Corsario I and Corsario II)		 UWA Live event Mexico City, Mexico August 3, 1985 [59]

In other media

Rivera is mentioned in Bad Bunny’s single "Puesto Pa' Guerrial", released in the album YHLQMDLG.[60]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Savio Vega profile". Wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved April 6, 2012. [unreliable source?]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Profiles: Savio Vega". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved May 24, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Savio Vega - WWE Profile". WWE. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Armsndo Rodríguez (February 3, 2006). "Historical Perspective: The WWC Universal Title 1982-1992". 411mania.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  5. ^ "Savio Vega: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com.
  6. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". www.wrestlingdata.com.
  7. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". www.wrestlingdata.com.
  8. ^ "King of the Ring 1995 Results". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
  9. ^ "WrestleMania XII Facts/Stats". WWE.com. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
  10. ^ "WrestleMania XII Results". WWE.com. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
  11. ^ "Ted DiBiase's Slam! Profile". slam.canoe.ca. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ "N.O.D. FAQ". wrestleview.com. Retrieved August 15, 2007.
  13. ^ "Savio Vega, Gerente general". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002.
  14. ^ "Regresa Savio Vega" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on November 23, 2002.
  15. ^ "Golpe de Estado" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on September 25, 2003.
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  24. ^ "¿Quien ataco al Invader #1?" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on October 12, 2004. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  25. ^ "Resultados Caguas 09/10" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. October 10, 2004. Archived from the original on October 18, 2004. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  26. ^ "En busca de el sueño !!!" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on December 11, 2004.
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