Savio Vega

For other people of the same name, see Juan Rivera (disambiguation).

Savio Vega
Ring name(s)	T.N.T. Kwang Savio Vega The Caribbean Kid
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Billed weight	248 lb (112 kg; 17.7 st)
Born	August 10, 1964 (1964-08-10) Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
Billed from	The Orient (as Kwang) The South Bronx (as Savio Vega)
Debut	1987

Juan Rivera (born August 10, 1964) is a professional wrestler. During the mid-to-late 1990s, he was an active wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), first under the ring name Kwang, and later as Savio Vega, the leader of Hispanic stable, Los Boricuas. Rivera is the man to give Stone Cold Steve Austin his first singles loss in the WWF, as well as the first recipient of Austin's Stone Cold Stunner maneuver. Rivera has held twenty-three championships during his career. In Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council (WWC) promotion, he is a former world champion, having won the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship. Outside of Puerto Rico, he has won major titles in Latin America including Panama's Revolution X-Treme Wrestling, Ecuador's Wrestling Alliance Revolution and Mexico's World Wrestling Association.

Early 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 Colón. 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 (1994-2000)

Kwang (1994-1995)

After several weeks of hype, Rivera debuted in January 1994 under the gimmick of a masked martial artist named Kwang. In vein of mysterious "Asian" wrestlers, Kwang would spit mist in his opponents' faces. Managed by Harvey Wippleman, Kwang was primarily successful against jobbers but usually on the losing end against bigger name stars such as Razor Ramon, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker. By January 1995, Rivera quit the Kwang gimmick.

Savio Vega (1995-1998)

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.

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).

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 Stone Cold Steve Austin in both men's WrestleMania debut. Austin would defeat Vega. In one of their matches, Vega masked himself as the Caribbean Kid, defeating Austin on Superstars. A few months later, the two had a rematch at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog. 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. Also during this time, he was the first recipient of Steve Austin's Stone Cold Stunner.

Nation of Domination (1997)

Main article: Nation of Domination

In February 1997, Vega 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. The group would feud against Ahmed Johnson and Legion of Doom. Vega would also feud with Rocky Maivia, even had some big matches with Mankind and the Undertaker. Vega would leave the group in June 1997.

Los Boricuas (1997-1998)

Main article: Los Boricuas

After Vega left the Nation of Domination, he 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. Vega would headline the No Way Out of Texas: In Your House pay-per-view in February 1998, when he replaced the injured Shawn Michaels in the main event. Los Boricuas disbaned in June 1998 as all the members went on their own. In the summer of 1998, Vega competed in the WWF Brawl for All tournament, making it to the quarterfinals before he lost to Droz. This would be Vega's last TV appearance with the WWF. He was released later that year.

WWF/IWA (1999)

On December 15, 1999, Vega fought in WWF/IWA house show in Vega's home country Puerto Rico. Vega would defeat Prince Albert Matt Bloom that night.

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. This faction was quickly involved in an angle dealing with a power struggle with several other stables within the company. 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 Championship. The tour concluded in Panama where he defended the company's title against Ricky Banderas. 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. 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 subsequently challenged Kuervo, the company's heavyweight champion to a title match on the event. The encounter happened later in card, and Kuervo retained by disqualification after Vega spit green mist on his face. Starting in July 2008, Rivera worked as a road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

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. 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. Vega retained the RXW championship twice in June, against Ricky Vega and PJD. 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. On October 2, 2009, Vega participated in a Wrestling Alliance Revolution card, defeating AP Dynamite for the WAR World Heavyweight Championship. On November 1, 2009, Vega and Pérez participated in a Dominican Wrestling Entertainment card, being booked to win the DWE World Tag Team Championship.

Total Nonstop Action wrestling (2008-2009)

In July 2008, Rivera began working as a road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. After a year, Savio Vega was released from his contract on July 31, 2009.

Interpromotional angle; IWA vs. WWC (2010)

In June 2010, Rivera was contacted by Hugo Savinovich in order to become involved in an angle with IWA's main rival, WWC. Savinovich serves as the producer of Aniversario, the WWC's main annual event. While still in negotiation, Rivera appeared in a talk show along Carlos Colón. Promotion of the angle began here by staging a spot where he criticized Carlito'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 a lawsuit filled by WWC over the character "TNT". 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". During this timeframe, he resumed his role as an active wrestler within IWA, defeating Joe Bravo in a one-on-one match.

In wrestling

• As Savio Vega
  • Finishing moves
    • La Painkiller (Superkick)
    • Spinning heel kick
  • Signature moves
    • La Cobra Dinamita (Cobra clutch)
    • Jumping high kick

• As Kwang
  • Finishing moves
    • Spin kick
    • Spinning heel kick
  • Signature moves
    • Asian mist
    • Knife edge chop
    • Superkick
    • Throat thrust

• Managers
  • Harvey Wippleman

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 Pérez, Jr.

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him #321 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

• World Wrestling Association (Puerto Rico)

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship
• WWA Puerto Rico Championship

• 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 Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mr. Pogo
• WWC World Television Championship (5 times)

• Revolution X-Treme Wrestling

• RXW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Alliance Revolution

• WAR Tag Team Championship (1 time)
• WAR World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Dominican Wrestling Entertainment

• DWE World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Miguel Pérez, Jr.

Personal life

Rivera 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.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans

References

http://www.thewrestlinggame.com/wrestling/news/tna_releases_2_workers.asp

External links

• Savio Vega's Profile on onlineworldofwrestling.com