Leon Ruffin

Real Name: Dartanyon Ruffin
Height: 5’7″
Weight: 157 lbs.
Date of Birth: April 14, 1996
From: Pensacola, Florida
Pro Debut: January 1, 2017
Trained By: WWA4 Wrestling School
Finishing Move: Constant Collapse

Biography

– Ruffin began his career in Georgia’s WWA4 promotion, where his trainer, AR Fox, led the wrestling school
– In his first recorded match, on January 1, 2017, Ruff (as Leon Ruff) defeated Shynron
– In June 2018, Ruff began working for EVOLVE
– At EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary Show, Ruff & AR Fox defeated The Unwanted (Joe Gacy & Eddie Kingston) to win the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles
– At EVOLVE 133, Ruff & Fox defeated The Unwanted (Joe Gacy & Sean Maluta) in an Anything Goes Match to retain the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles
– At EVOLVE 134, Ruff & Fox defeated Matt Riddle & Curt Stallion to retain the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles
– At EVOLVE 135, Ruff, Fox & Liam Gray defeated Eddie Kingston, Joe Gacy & Donovan to retain the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles for Ruff & Fox
– At EVOLVE 138, Ruff & Fox defeated Austin Theory & Anthony Greene to retain the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles
– In December 2019, Ruff made an appearance on NXT, teaming with Adrian Alanis in a loss to Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake
– At EVOLVE 141, Ruff & Fox defeated Andrew Everett & Matt Sydal to retain the EVOLVE Tag Team Titles
– Ruff was a regular jobber on various WWE programs through the first half of 2020
– On July 29, 2020, it was reported that Ruff had officially signed with WWE
– On October 7, Ruff made his ‘official’ WWE debut, losing to Austin Theory on NXT.
– On November 11, Ruff shocked Johnny Gargano to win the NXT North American Title. He would retain the title by DQ against Gargano the following week, before losing it back to Gargano at Takeover: War Games IV.
– At NXT’s Very Gargano Christmas event, Ruff defeated Timothy Thatcher
– WWE released Ruff on August 6, 2021. He would soon return to the indies under the altered name of ‘Leon Ruffin’
– Ruffin began working for AEW in mid-2022
– On September 4, 2022, Ruff married his long-term partner Aja Smith
– Ruff took some time away from wrestling following an appearance at ROH Death Before Dishonor 2023