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Revision as of 04:42, 14 October 2009 by 24.139.160.80 (talk) (→WWE SmackDown (2009-present))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Eric Pérez | |
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| Born | (1979-12-18) December 18, 1979 (age 45) Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Eric Alexander Eric "El Gladiador" Eric Escobar Eric Pérez "The Puerto Rican Nightmare" Eric Pérez |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Billed weight | 246 lb (112 kg) |
| Billed from | Un Barrio, Puerto Rico |
| Trained by | Super Crazy |
| Debut | 2000 |
Eric "Alexander" Pérez (born December 18, 1979) is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler that currently performs under the ring name Eric Escobar. He began his wrestling career in his native Puerto Rico, winning multiple championships in the International Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Council. In 2005, Pérez was signed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He was subsequently sent to Deep South Wrestling, winning the company's tag team championship. When the promotion ended their developmental relationship with WWE, Pérez was transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling. There he won the Florida Heavyweight Championship once and as part of The Puerto Rican Nightmares, along Eddie Colón, he was one half of the first Florida Tag Team Champions. On September 29, 2009, Pérez was promoted to one of WWE's main brands, SmackDown.
Career
International Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Council
Pérez began his career in the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico, after receiving training with personnel from the company. Prior to debuting in professional wrestling Pérez had always had an interest in wrestling fueled by World Wrestling Entertainment and Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Pérez also stated that during his career he was inspired by the microphone skills of Chicky Starr and The Rock and by the in-ring ability of Kurt Angle. While visiting an event presented by the IWA in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Pérez was approached by Victor Quiñones then president of the company, who asked to him if he was interested in receiving training to become a professional wrestler. His first angle with the company was as the leader of a group of young wrestlers titled Lucha Libre 101, originally composed of Bryan Madness (Roberto Rubio), Chicano (Carlos Cotto) and Abbad (Enrique Sinigaglia). Several of the members of Lucha Libre 101 were either injured or abandoned the company while it was in progress which led to it being cancelled. After the company terminated this angle he acted as host of a talk show segment, but he wasn't interested in the section and asked the company to give the role to Daniel Garcia Soto while he traveled to Mexico.
While working in the IWA, Pérez acquired a job to work with the Federal Government of the United States, this limited the amount of days he could perform with the company, after seven months in this office he notified that he wasn't going to be able to continue working a four day schedule, and attempted to dialogue the situation with the company's personnel. He wasn't able to contact staff of the company which led to him asking for a release, several months later a fellow wrestler called him and asked if he was available to work with the World Wrestling Council which led to a reunion between him and the company's vicepresident Carlos Colón, Sr.. He noted in interviews that his experience with the company was good, although it was a long and tedious one based on the company's quality standards. While in IWA, Pérez wrestled in the United States with !Bang! a promotion owned by Dory Funk, against wrestlers including Brent Dail and several of !Bang!'s champions. He subsequently worked with the World Wrestling Council, winning various titles there.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Developmental territories (2005-2009)
During September 2005, Pérez was contacted by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for a development contract. There he moved to their territory, Deep South Wrestling and began working under the pseudonym "The Puerto Rican Nightmare" Eric Pérez. During his time there, he wrestled in various forms of singles matches, and also teamed with Montel Vontavious Porter (Alvin Burke, Jr.) and later formed a tag team dubbed as Urban Assault with Sonny Siaki, winning the Deep South Tag Team Championship once before the company finished its business relationship with WWE. On May 1, 2006, Pérez competed in a tag team match at his first WWE house show. He would then appear at ECW house shows in late July and again on September 30. Along Siaki, he started wrestling in Raw house shows in February 2007.
After Deep South Wrestling ended their working relationship with WWE, he was transferred to Florida Championship Wrestling, where he continued performing as a developmental talent. Pérez was subjected to surgery in October 2007, after sustaining an injury on his back, prompting several months of inactivity while in recovery. Pérez returned to action in January 2008, and continued his participation in the promotion. On January 26, 2008, he participated in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the FCW Southern Heavyweight Championship. Pérez won the tournament after eliminating the final contender with the help of Eddie Colón.
On February 23, 2008, Pérez and Colón, collectively known as The Puerto Rican Nightmares, defeated Steven Lewington and Heath Miller in a tournament final to become the first-ever FCW Florida Tag Team Champions. The team lost the titles to Brad Allen and Nick Nemeth on March 22, 2008, before winning them back via disqualification on April 15, 2008. They lost the titles to Drew McIntyre (Drew Galloway) and Stu Sanders (Stuart Bennett) on May 7, 2008. On July 17, Pérez and Colón reclaimed their titles by defeating McIntyre and Sanders. They later lost the titles to Nic Nemeth and Gavin Spears (Ronnie Arniell) on August 17, 2008, when Colón was promoted to the main brands. Less than a month later, on September 15, Pérez performed in a dark match prior to Raw, defeating Gene Snitsky by pinfall. The following week, on September 22, he performed against Tommy Dreamer (Thomas Laughlin), prior to the WWE SmackDown tapings.
On December 11, Pérez won the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship, defeating Sheamus O'Shaunessy (Stephen Farrelly), Joe Hennig and Drew McIntyre in a fatal four way match. The following month, FCW's creative team changed his ring name to "Eric Escobar". During the following months, while still holding the title, Pérez performed on several dark matches prior to the tapings of WWE's main brands, working under his developmental ring name. On February 17, 2009, he wrestled against Jimmy Wang Yang (James Yun) before SmackDown. A couple of weeks later, Pérez peformed a sketch in Spanish, deeming himself the future talent of WWE, subsequently defeating Kizarny (Nick Cvjetkovich). On February 26, 2009, he was booked to lose the championship against Hennig. He continued working with Yang on subsequent dates, performing jobs on March 17, 2009, prior to SmackDown's 500th episode, the August 3 edition of WWE Superstars and August 4 SmackDown show. Pérez then entered a feud with Santino Marella (Anthony Carelli) during one of WWE's Latin American tours, trading victories.
WWE SmackDown (2009-present)
On September 28, 2009, he performed in his last dark match against Colón, losing by pinfall. The following night, Pérez made his debut as a heel on the main roster, being placed in an angle with Vickie Guerrero during the tapings of SmackDown's tenth anniversary show. In his in-ring debut, he was booked to defeat Matt Hardy by pinfall, receiving an spot in SmackDown's team at WWE Bragging Rights.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Annexation of Puerto Rico (Lifting DDT)
- Latino Temper (Full nelson slam)
- You're Done, Son (Spinning side slam)
- Signature moves
Championships and accomplishments
- IWA Hardcore Championship (3 times)
- IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Andy Anderson (1) and Craven (2)
References
- ^ Ricky Santiago. "IWA: Entrevista a Erick El Gladiador" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- ^ Juan Rosario (2005-01-05). "WWC: Eric Alexander contesta tus preguntas". Puerto Rico Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - McGyver (2007-02-25). "PR: Eric Pérez lucha en show de grupo Raw". Puerto Rico Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Juan Rosario (2007-11-09). "WWE: Operan a Eric Perez". Puerto Rico Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Javier Gonzalez (2008-01-27). "FCW : Resultados 1/26". Lucha Libre Online. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "February 23, 2008 FCW results" (in German). Cagematch.de. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- Larry Csonka (09-29-2009). "WWE Raw Dark Match and Superstars Taping Results". 411mania.com.
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