Savio Vega

Nov 30, 2020 - by Jamie Cruickshank

Real Name: Juan Rivera
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 257 lbs.
Date of Birth:
Hometown: Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
Pro Debut: 1985
Trained By: Mid-South Wrestling
Finishing Move: Caribbean Kick

Biography

– Rivera began his career in Mid-South Wrestling in 1985, working as ‘El Corsario’
– In 1987, Rivera returned to Puerto Rico to work for the WWC, under the name ‘TNT’
– On May 2, 1987, TNT defeated Miguel Perez Jr to win the WWC North American Heavyweight Title
– On July 11, TNT & Mr Pogo defeated The Youngbloods (Chris & Mark) to win the WWC Tag Team Titles
– TNT competed in the 1987 All Japan Real World Tag League alongside Abdullah The Butcher
– On June 18, 1988, TNT defeated Hercules Ayala to win the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title, but would lose it to Buddy Landel in his first defence a month later
– On September 17, TNT defeated Buddy Landel to regain the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title, but would again lose it in his first defence, this time to Jason The Terrible
– On February 4, 1989, TNT defeated Sika in the final of a tournament to win the vacant WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title, but would lose it to Abbuda Dein before the month was out
– On March 4, TNT defeated Jason The Terrible to regain the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Title, but for the third time in a row, would lose it in his first defence, this time to Rip Rogers
– On June 17, TNT defeated Carlos Colon to win the WWC Television Title
– On February 9, 1990, TNT defeated Leo Burke to win the WWC Universal Heavyweight Title, but would lose it just over a month later to Abdullah The Butcher
– On April 24, TNT defeated Leo Burke to win the WWC Television Title
– At WWC’s 17th Anniversary Show, TNT wrestled WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion Carlos Colon to a one hour time-limit draw
– In late 1990, TNT began a tour with New Japan Pro Wrestling that, barring a few returns to Puerto Rico, would last until the following summer
– On March 2, 1991, TNT defeated The Original TNT (a fake gimmick that was brought in during the real TNT’s run in Japan) to win the sole right to use the name
– On March 30, TNT defeated Action Jackson to win the WWC Television Title, but would lose it a month later to King Kong
– On June 1, TNT defeated King Kong to regain the WWC Television Title
– In August 1991, TNT began a run in the Japanese WING promotion
– On August 31, TNT defeated Samu to retain the WWC Television Title
– In October 1991, TNT would lose and regain the WWC Television Title from Fidel Sierra, before losing it again to Dick Murdoch on November 23
– In July 1992, TNT would sign a full-time deal with NJPW
– In July 1993, Rivera signed with the WWF, where he would be renamed ‘Kwang’ and portray a ninja-esque character
– Kwang debuted as the fourth entrant in the 1994 Royal Rumble
– The Kwang character never really took off and he was largely absent from TV following the 1995 Royal Rumble
– Rivera re-debuted at WWF In Your House, appearing as a planted fan who would save Razor Ramon from a beatdown. Later in the night, Ramon would introduce Rivera as ‘Savio Vega’
– Vega reached the final of the 1995 King Of The Ring Tournament, losing to Mabel
– On the following episode of Raw, Vega defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett by DQ
– At In Your House 3, Vega defeated Waylon Mercy
– At Survivor Series 1995, The Dark Side (Vega, The Undertaker, Henry Godwinn & Fatu) defeated The Royals (Jerry Lawler, King Mabel, Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Isaac Yankem)
– At In Your House 8, Vega defeated Steve Austin in a Caribbean Strap Match. The match was famously re-run a few days later due to power issues at the original PPV event
– At In Your House 10, Vega defeated Justin Bradshaw in a Caribbean Strap Match, having previously defeated Marty Jannetty on the ‘Free For All’ show
– At Survivor Series 1996, Vega, Yokozune, Jimmy Snuka & Flash Funk fought Razor Ramon, Diesel, Vader & Faarooq to a double-DQ
– In January 1997, Vega joined The Nation Of Domination stable
– At In Your House 13, The Nation Of Domination (Vega, Faarooq & Crush) defeated Goldust, Flash Funk & Bart Gunn
– At In Your House 14, Vega defeated WWF Intercontinental Champion Rocky Maivia by DQ
– At In Your House 15, The Nation Of Domination (Vega, Faarooq & Crush) defeated Ahmed Johnson in a Gauntlet Match. Johnson defeated Crush before Vega got himself disqualified for using a steel chair against Johnson, setting up an easy win for Faarooq
– In June 1997, Vega was kicked out of The Nation Of Domination by Faarooq. He would soon form his own ‘Los Boricuas’ stable, alongside Miguel Perez Jr, Jesus Castillo Jr & Jose Estrada Jr
– At Summerslam 1997, the four members of Los Boricuas would defeat The Disciples Of Apocalypse (Crush, Chainz, Skull & 8-Ball)
– At In Your House 17, Vega defeated Faarooq & Crush
– Vega entered the infamous Brawl For All Tournament, losing to Darren Drozdov (and suffering a severe arm injury in the process) in the second round
– During his recovery, Vega would provide Spanish language commentary on several WWF shows
– Vega was released from his WWF contract in September 1999, and he would return to Puerto Rico to work for the newly-independent IWA promotion
– On March 9, 2000, Vega & Los Intocables (Huracan Castillo Jr & Miguel Perez Jr) defeated Ricky Santana, Fidel Sierra & Sean Hill to win the IWA Puerto Rico Tag Team Titles for Los Intocables
– In May 2000, Vega briefly returned to the TNT gimmick, but WWC threatened legal action having trademarked the gimmick, forcing him to change to ‘El Hombre Dinamita’
– On June 16, 2001, Hombre Dinamita defeated Faraon Zaruxx to win the vacant IWA Puerto Rico Hardcore Title, but would suffer an injury during the match and would relinquish the title back to Zaruxx a week later
– On March 2, 2002, Vega (having abandoned the Hombre Dinamita name) defeated Primo Carnera to win the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– On April 6, Vega defeated Apolo to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title, but would lose it to Apolo a week later
– On July 17, 2004, Vega defeated Ray Gonzalez to regain the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– On November 12, 2005, Vega defeated Chicano to win his third IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– In late 2005, TNT began competing for WWC once again, whilst Vega Rivera continued to portray Savio Vega in the IWA
– On April 1, 2006, Vega defeated Apolo to retain the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title. He would lose the title in April, regain it in May, before losing it to Lightning in a Title vs. Mask Match in June
– On March 25, Vega & Condor Ortiz defeated Los Supermedics (Dr Nightmare & Dr Terror) in the final of a tournament to become the first WAR Tag Team Champions
– On November 23, 2007, Vega won a Battle Royal to become the first RXW Champion
– On March 1, 2008, Vega defeated Ricky Banderas to retain the RXW Title
– On April 26, Vega defeated Marabunta & Africano to retain the RXW Title
– On June 14, Vega defeated Ricky Vega to retain the RXW Title
– In July 2008, Vega signed with TNA as a road agent and would later become the head trainer of their womens’ division
– On November 29, Los Autenticos (Vega & Miguel Perez) defeated The Arabians (Hardam Kadafi & Zaeir Arafat) to win the IWA Puerto Rico Tag Team Titles
– On January 6, 2009, Vega defeated The Sheik in a Death Globe Match to retain the RXW Title
– On January 23, Vega defeated Slash to retain the RXW Title
– The next day, Vega defeated Jimmy Cash to retain the RXW Title
– On February 14, Vega defeated Necro Butcher in an Extreme Rules Match to retain the RXW Title
– On July 31, 2009, Vega was released from his TNA deal
– Rivera resurrected the TNT character in TNA’s Ring Ka King project in 2011 and was also involved in training the Indian wrestlers for the company
– On February 9, 2013, Vega defeated Carlos Colon to become the kayfabe owner of WWC
– On November 16, TNT defeated Chris Angel to win the WWC Universal Title
– On January 19, 2014, TNT defeated The Mighty Ursus to regain the WWC Universal Title, having lost it a month earlier
– On March 30, TNT defeated Apolo to win the WWC Puerto Rico Title
– On April 19, TNT fought Apolo to a no-contest in a WWC Puerto Rico Title match. The belt was vacated as a result and TNT would win the rematch later that month to claim the vacant title
– On May 31, TNT defeated Miguel Perez Jr to retain the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Title
– In July 2019, Vega joined MLW both as a wrestler and road agent
– On July 16, 2022, Los Inhumanos (Vega & Invader 1) defeated The Faces Of Destiny (Nick Mercer & Jay Blake) to win the IWA Puerto Rico Tag Team Titles

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