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| Machete
Height: 6 ft 1 in Weight: 260 lb Real name: Ricky Vega Pro debut: July 16, 2001 Finishing move: Diving Headbutt, Elevated diving bulldog (w/Homicide) Trained by: Johnny Rodz, Marty Jannetty, Ted DiBiase Vega played American football in high school, but an injury prevented him from playing college football. After attending a business school and working in financing, Vega decided to become a professional wrestler. He was introduced to wrestling trainer Johnny Rodz on July 16, 2001. After training under Rodz, he debuted on the Pennsylvanian independent circuit under his real name, working for promotions such as World Xtreme Wrestling, Gladiator Championship Wrestling where he scored his first singles win by pinning Matt Striker and Pro-Pain-Pro-Wrestling. Later he worked for World of Unpredictable Wrestling and became North American Champion by defeating The Uptown Badboy. He went on to defeat Tim Arson, "Smooth Operator" Mike Gallagher and "Pain", "Shellshock" and Sgt. Vic all members of the "Terror Squad" a heel faction of disgruntled military extremist. Vega went on to debut on WWE's Velocity against Luther Raines as well as on dark matches. A knee injury kept him from signing with the company in 2004 and out of action until returning in August 2005 at a Coastal Championship Wrestling show were he defeated Gino Carusso. In February 2006 at TNA Against All Odds 2006, Ricky Vega debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as "Machete", replacing Apolo as a member of the Latin American Exchange (LAX). The LAX went on to lose to The James Gang, with B.G. James pinning Machete. The LAX faced The James Gang in a rematch at at TNA Destination X 2006 on March 12, 2006, but lost once again, this time after Kip James pinned Machete. On the March 18, 2006 episode of TNA iMPACT!, Machete was thrown out of the LAX by Konnan and a reluctant Homicide who viewed Machete as fearless. He was subsequently released from LAX. Vega is currently working Florida indy's and is in talks with TNA with regard to returning as Ricky Vega himself. |