Savio Vega

Infobox Wrestler
name=Juan Rivera


names=The Boss
T.N.T.
Kwang
Kwang the Ninja
Savio Vega
height= height|ft=5|in=11
weight= convert|248|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1966|8|10
birth_place = Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
death_date =
resides=
billed=
trainer=
debut= 1987
retired=|

Juan Rivera (born August 10, 1966) is a professional wrestler best known under the name Savio Vega. He is best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

Career

World Wrestling Council (1987-1993)

Rivera was born in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico where he received his primary and secondary education. After he graduated from high school, he went to Miami, Florida, where he auditioned for the WWF. He was accepted and sent back to Puerto Rico, where he wrestled for the World Wrestling Council and was managed by El Profe and feuded with Chicky Starr, Abdullah The Butcher, Rip Rogers and Carlos Colon. In 1989, he debuted under the identity of “T.N.T.” and once he had gained enough wrestling experience, he was sent back to the United States.

World Wrestling Federation (1993-1998)

Kwang (1994-1995)

After several weeks of hype, Rivera debuted the gimmick of the masked martial artist Kwang in January 1994. In vein of mysterious "Asian" wrestlers, Kwang would spit mist in his opponents' faces. Managed by Harvey Wippleman, Kwang was usually only successful against unknown wrestlers and usually on the losing end against bigger name stars. In 1995, his gimmick was drastically changed.

avio Vega (1995)

On May 14, 1995, the Kwang gimmick was dropped, as Rivera appeared in street clothes during the WWF's first In Your House pay-per-view. When wrestler Razor Ramon was being attacked after a match by Jeff Jarrett and The Roadie, Rivera jumped over the rails and rescued Razor Ramon. Later on in the PPV, Ramon introduced his rescuer as his friend, the fiery Puerto Rican Savio Vega.cite web | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/savio-vega.html | title=Profiles: Savio Vega| publisher=Online World of Wrestling| accessdate=2008-05-24]

Vega enjoyed some measure of popularity during the remainder of 1995. He competed four times in one night at the King of the Ring, beating IRS, Yokozuna and The Roadie before losing to Mabel in the finals (his match against IRS was a qualifying match for the spot vacated by the injured Ramon). [cite web | url = http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/kingofthering95.html | title = King of the Ring 1995 Results | publisher = onlineworldofwrestling.com | accessdate=2007-08-25]

The next night on Monday Night RAW, Vega came within inches of defeating Jeff Jarrett for the Intercontinental Title. Vega would spend the rest of the year teaming with Razor Ramon.

In 1996, Vega fought "Ring Master" Steve Austin in both men's WrestleMania debut. [cite web | url = http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm12/factsstats/ | title = WrestleMania XII Facts/Stats | publisher = WWE.com | accessdate=2007-08-25] Austin would defeat Vega. [cite web | url = http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm12/results/ | title = WrestleMania XII Results | publisher = WWE.com | accessdate=2007-08-25] A few months later, the two had a rematch at . They fought in a Caribbean Strap Match. Unlike WrestleMania, Vega was victorious this time. According to the stipulations, Austin's manager Ted DiBiase had to leave the WWF. Thus, this was DiBiase's last appearance on WWF programming until 2005.cite web | url = http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/dibiase.html | title = Ted DiBiase's Slam! Profile | publisher = slam.canoe.ca | accessdate=2007-08-15] Also during this time, he was the first recipient of Steve Austin's Stone Cold Stunner.

Nation of Domination (1997)

In 1997, he became a member of the Nation of Domination with fellow wrestlers Crush, D'Lo Brown and Faarooq. He joined after turning on partner Ahmed Johnson during a tag team match.cite web | url = http://www.wrestleview.com/info/faq/nod.shtml | title = N.O.D. FAQ | publisher = wrestleview.com | accessdate=2007-08-15]

Los Boricuas (1997-1998)

Vega soon left that group and formed his own alliance known as Los Boricuas with Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada, and Jesus Castillo. This group feuded with Faarooq's Nation of Domination and Crush's Disciples of Apocalypse. In late 1998, Vega competed in the WWF Brawl For All tournament, making it to the quarterfinals before he lost to Darren Drozdov. He was released later that year.

IWA and international promotions (2001-present)

While wrestling in the International Wrestling Association (IWA), he competed in Revolution X-treme Wrestling based in Panama, performing in a royal rumble to determine the winner of the vacant RXW World Heavyweight Championship , where he won the event. On November 24, 2007 he became the leader of a new heel stable known as "Los Auntenticos" along Miguel Pérez, Jr. and Ricky Vega. [cite web| url=http://www.prwrestling.com/noticiasprw/4888.php| title=IWA: Reporte Impacto Total 11/24 | author=Jose Maldonado| publisher=Puerto Rico Wrestling| date=2007-11-24| accessdate=2007-12-30] This faction was quickly involved in an agle dealing with a power struggle with several other stables within the company. [cite web| url=http://www.prwrestling.com/noticiasprw/5004.php| title=IWA: Reporte Impacto Total 12/29| author=José Maldonado| publisher=Puerto Rico Wrestling| date=2007-12-30| accessdate=2007-12-30] On January 2008, he began an international tour. This tour began with a presentation in Boston for Power House Wrestling Of New England. And continued with a visit to Ecuador where he would defend the Wrestling Alliance Revolution Tag Team Championhip. The tour concluded in Panama where he defended the company's title against Ricky Banderas. [cite web| url= http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/481.php| title=IWA: Savio Vega En Gira Internacional | author=Luis Santiago|publisher=International Wrestling Association| date=2008-01-15| accessdate=2008-01-19] [cite web| url=http://www.luchalibreonline.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6810| title=INTERNACIONAL : RXW: Judas Mesias vs. Savio Vega| author=Javier Gonzalez| publisher=Lucha Libre Online| date=2008-01-18| accessdate=2008-01-19] In PHW he participated in a tag team match, where he teamed with a wrestler using the name Don Vega. They defeated a team that included the company's heavyweight champion. [cite web|url=http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/488.php| title=PHWNE: Exitosa participacion de Savio Vega| author=Luis Santiago| publisher=International Wrestling Association| date=2008-01-20| accessdate=2008-01-20] He would then compete in "WAR Conquest 2008", a special event organized by Wrestling Alliance Revolution. In this event he defended the company's tag team championship along Condor Ortiz, in a match that they lose after Ortiz accidentally kicked Vega. Following the match he turned on Ortiz, and subescuently challenged Kuervo, the company's heavyweight champion to a title match on the event. [cite web| url=http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/505.php| title=WAR: Savio Vega traiciona al Condor Ortiz en Ecuador | author=Luis Santiago| publisher=International Wrestling Association| date=2008-01-28| accessdate=2008-01-28] The encounter happened later in card, and Kuervo retained by disqualification after Vega spit green mist on his face. [cite web| url=http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/506.php| title=WAR: Savio Vega vs Kuervo por el Titulo Mundial en Ecuador | author=Luis Santiago| publisher=International Wrestling Association| date=2008-01-28| accessdate=2008-01-28]

The "Los Auntenticos" angle continued in April 2008, when Vega returned to Puerto Rico. The group would then create a "terror list" where the names of former WWC employees were written.cite web| url=http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/592.php| title=Impacto Total: Comienza la Lotería, la Cacería y una Era de Terror| author=Luis Santiago| publisher=International Wrestling Association| language=Spanish| date=2008-04-21| accessdate=2008-05-24] This list was used in a new angle were the stable would ambush and attack wrestlers that were randomly selected from the list. During the following summer Vega alternated his work between the IWA, Division One Pro Wrestling (D1PW) in Florida and Nu-Wrestling Evolution in Spain. [cite web| url=http://www.prwrestling.com/noticiasprw/5519.php| title=Savio Hacia Florida| publisher=Puerto Rico Wrestling| language=Spanish| date=2208-05-15| accessdate=2008-05-24] Vega retained the RXW championship twice in June, against Ricky Vega and PJD. [cite web| url=http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/669.php| title=Resultados: Copa José Miguel Pérez – Bayamón 06/14/08| author=Luis Santiago| publisher=International Wrestling Association| date=2008-06-16| accessdate=2008-07-08]

Total Nonstop Action wrestling (2008-present)

On July 14, 2008, the IWA informed that Rivera would be working as a road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. [cite web| url=http://www.iwapr.tv/noticias/705.php| title=Inside IWA - Exclusive: Savio Vega hacia la TNA| author=Luis Santiago| publisher=International Wrestling Association| language=Spanish| date=2008-07-14| accessdate=2008-07-15]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
*As Savio Vega:*Spinning heel kick:*Cobra clutch:*Jumping high kick
*As Kwang:*Spin kick:*Spinning heel kick:*Asian mist:*Knife edge chop:*Spinning heel kick:*Superkick:*Throat thrust

Championships and accomplishments

*Americas Wrestling Federation:*AWF Americas Championship (1 time)

*International Wrestling Association :*IWA Hardcore Championship (1 time):*IWA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times) :*IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Miguel Perez, Jr.

*World Wrestling Association:*WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*World Wrestling Council :*WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship (3 times):*WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*WWC World Television Championship (5 times)

*Revolution X-Treme Wrestling:*RXW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)cite web| url=http://www.prwrestling.com/noticiasprw/4890.php| title=PANAMA: Savio Vega se corona campeón| publisher=Puerto Rico Wrestling| date=2007-11-25| accessdate=2007-12-30]

*Wrestling Alliance Revolution:*WAR Tag Team Championship (1 time)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated:*PWI ranked him #321 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the “PWI Years” in 2003.

Personal life

Vega was born in the town of Vega Alta (where the “Vega” in his wrestling name comes from), where he received his primary education. He participated in wrestling events during his high school years.

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/savio-vega.html Savio Vega's Profile on onlineworldofwrestling.com]