Dennis Rivera
Encyclopedia
Dennis Alexis Rivera Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican
professional wrestler. He is one half of the first Undisputed Tag Team Champions in Puerto Rico, being recognized by both major promotions, the International Wrestling Association
and World Wrestling Council
, as champions during a single event.
and World Wrestling Federation
, being known better by his ring name, Savio Vega
. Due to his family's involvement in the business, he became familiar with its inner workings early in his life. His brother would be involved in the establishment of the International Wrestling Association
in 2001, along Miguel Pérez, Jr.
and Victor Quiñones
. Due to this, Rivera formed friedships with several of the company's employees. He decided to join a group in a training exercise out of curiosity, eventually chossing to practice full time. Before entering professional wrestling, Rivera was working in a factory and as a bass player for a rock band. Upon learning that he was training, his brother enrolled him in a wrestling school, seeking better training.
. Rivera's first participation in one of the company's major events occurred on June 9, 2007, when he defeated Tommy Diablo
in a stipulation match. The tag team soon joined the Starr Corporation, led by José Laureano also known as Chicky Starr
.
Rivera sold his heel character by dropping his first last name, referring to himself as "Dennis Rodríguez", during this time him and Noel Rodríguez were referred to as "Los Rodríguez", eventually becoming "Los Dueños de la Malicia". The team turned on Laureano joining Savio Vega, signifying the end of the "Starr Corporation". The new stable was included in an angle, where they would ambush anyone with ties to the World Wrestling Council
. On May 31, 2008, Los Dueños de la Malicia won the IWA World Tag Team Championship
. At Summer Attitude 2008, they defeated the Cruz del Diablo to retain the titles. The team was booked against Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
's Latin American X-Change, winning to retain the championship. Subsequently, LAX returned at Noches de Campeones 2009 and Los Dueños de la Malicia dropped the titles to them. The Loteria del Terror angle was cocluded when Los Dueños de la Malicia were booked to beat Vega and Pérez. Rivera was involved in a feud with Vega throughout the first half of the year, which came to a conclusion in May, when he was turned face by defending Vega from an assault. At the IWA Tenth Anniversary event, former AAA World Heavyweight Champion
Gilbert Cosme, known internationally as "El Mesías" Ricky Banderas
, was booked over Rivera. Consequently, he was expelled from Los Dueños de la Malicia, which at this point had become an stable. At Histeria Boricua 2010, Rivera was booked over Kahagas to retain the title.
On Septermber 10, 2010, he was involved in two matches, winning the first involving El Bronco
by disqualification. Later, Rivera was booked to defeat active World Wrestling Entertainment
employee and first contender for the WWE United States Championship
, Daniel Bryan
, by pinfall to win the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship. After winning this match, he entered a feud with ick Stanley for the IWA Undisputed Heavyweight Championship, which was interrupted when a stipulation match was ordered and they were forced to team, winning the IWA World Tag Team Championship. Rivera went on to defeat his partner and became a triple-champion. He held the three belts until November 20, 2010, when he was stripped of the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship for failing to defend it in over 55 days and let Stanley be pinned to drop the tag team titles. In the first half of 2011, he feuded with Chris Angel
who had "retired" his brother in a previous storyline. Rivera attempted to break Angel's undefeated streak twice, but failed on both ocassions. Subsequenly, La Malicia reunited and began an angle with Carlos Cotto
, who led several teams compossed of former Lucha Libre 101 members. From which Rivera and Rodríguez emerged as World Tag Team Champions.
WWC attempted to nulify the contest, but Rivera and Rodríguez kept physical possesion of the belts, issuing a challege for the IWA championship in an attempt to revive the interpromotional angle despite being unfavored by the promotors of both companies. They began a tour troughout Puerto Rico's independent scene, in which they appeared with both belt sets and continously repeated the challege, expanding it to independent tag team champions as well. One of the accepted challenges took place on November 5, 2011, when they challenged Guevara and Zapata to an unification for the IWA, WWC and Extreme Wrestling Organization (EWO) World Tag Team Championships, which concluded in a no contest. Following this event, Marrero and "Lynx" Rivera, acompanied by two independent wrestlers, ambushed Noel and his girlfriend, gaining ilegal possesion of one of the IWA belts and recoverying of of WWC's. The other half was still owned by Dennis Rivera, who was not present in the scene. Despite this event, La Malicia continued the tour appearing at New Pro Wrestling on November 19, 2011, confronting NPW World Tag Team Champions and WWC employees, Thunder and Lighting, for the belts. The challenge was acepted for NPW's last event of the year, Cierre de Temporada.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
professional wrestler. He is one half of the first Undisputed Tag Team Champions in Puerto Rico, being recognized by both major promotions, the International Wrestling Association
International Wrestling Association
The International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
and World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
, as champions during a single event.
Biography
Rivera's brother, Juan Rivera is a professional wrestler who has wrestled in the World Wrestling CouncilWorld Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
and World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, being known better by his ring name, Savio Vega
Savio Vega
Juan Rivera is a professional wrestler best known under the name Savio Vega. During the mid-late 1990s, he was an active wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation...
. Due to his family's involvement in the business, he became familiar with its inner workings early in his life. His brother would be involved in the establishment of the International Wrestling Association
International Wrestling Association
The International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
in 2001, along Miguel Pérez, Jr.
Miguel Pérez, Jr.
Miguel Perez, Jr. is a professional wrestler who competed as a member of the Los Boricuas stable led by Savio Vega from June 1997 to October 1998 in the World Wrestling Federation.-ECW and WWF:Pérez is the son of Miguel Pérez, Sr...
and Victor Quiñones
Victor Quiñones
Victor Quiñones was a Puerto Rican professional wrestling promoter, the founder and owner of International Wrestling Association. Quiñones was primarily a manager for The Headhunters and Mr...
. Due to this, Rivera formed friedships with several of the company's employees. He decided to join a group in a training exercise out of curiosity, eventually chossing to practice full time. Before entering professional wrestling, Rivera was working in a factory and as a bass player for a rock band. Upon learning that he was training, his brother enrolled him in a wrestling school, seeking better training.
International Wrestling Association (2007-2010)
Rivera's first work in the company was helping with the scenario's preparation before a card and doing promotions. This was incorporated in his first angle as an active wrestler, when he formed part of a stable known as the "Ring Crew" along Noel Rodríguez. His official debut took place on April 21, 2007, when he participated in a tag team match against Los LuchasLos Luchas
Los Luchas is a Mexican professional wrestling tag team that consists of Phoenix Star and Zokre. They are best known for their reign as NWA World Tag Team Champions and their tenure in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla .-History:...
. Rivera's first participation in one of the company's major events occurred on June 9, 2007, when he defeated Tommy Diablo
Armando Gorbea
Armando Gorbea, better known as Tommy Diablo, is a professional wrestler better known for wrestling in both the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico and the World Wrestling Council...
in a stipulation match. The tag team soon joined the Starr Corporation, led by José Laureano also known as Chicky Starr
Chicky Starr
Jose Laureano is a semi retired Puerto Rican professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Chicky Starr.-Career:...
.
Rivera sold his heel character by dropping his first last name, referring to himself as "Dennis Rodríguez", during this time him and Noel Rodríguez were referred to as "Los Rodríguez", eventually becoming "Los Dueños de la Malicia". The team turned on Laureano joining Savio Vega, signifying the end of the "Starr Corporation". The new stable was included in an angle, where they would ambush anyone with ties to the World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
. On May 31, 2008, Los Dueños de la Malicia won the IWA World Tag Team Championship
IWA World Tag Team Championship
IWA World Tag Team Championship is a tag team titles being defending in the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico. It has been an active wrestling championship since January 6, 2000.-Title history:-References:*General...
. At Summer Attitude 2008, they defeated the Cruz del Diablo to retain the titles. The team was booked against Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
's Latin American X-Change, winning to retain the championship. Subsequently, LAX returned at Noches de Campeones 2009 and Los Dueños de la Malicia dropped the titles to them. The Loteria del Terror angle was cocluded when Los Dueños de la Malicia were booked to beat Vega and Pérez. Rivera was involved in a feud with Vega throughout the first half of the year, which came to a conclusion in May, when he was turned face by defending Vega from an assault. At the IWA Tenth Anniversary event, former AAA World Heavyweight Champion
AAA World Heavyweight Championship
IWC World Heavyweight Champion GPCW SUPER-X Monster Champion Mexican National Heavyweight Champion UWA World Light Heavyweight Champion-External links:*...
Gilbert Cosme, known internationally as "El Mesías" Ricky Banderas
Ricky Banderas
Gilbert Cosme better known by his ring names El Mesías and Ricky Banderas, is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He began his career in the International Wrestling Association based on Puerto Rico...
, was booked over Rivera. Consequently, he was expelled from Los Dueños de la Malicia, which at this point had become an stable. At Histeria Boricua 2010, Rivera was booked over Kahagas to retain the title.
CWA, Bronco and Daniel Bryan
On April 10, 2010, Rivera debuted in the Champion Wrestling Association as a face, turning on his tag team partner during the match. His participation with the promotion was brief, returning to the IWA months after his debut.On Septermber 10, 2010, he was involved in two matches, winning the first involving El Bronco
Ramón Álvarez
Ramón Álvarez is a Dominican wrestler also known as El Bronco No. 1. Bronco's career reached the highest level both in his native Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, accumulating a resume in the ring that extends to a total of twenty-eight years...
by disqualification. Later, Rivera was booked to defeat active World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
employee and first contender for the WWE United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
, Daniel Bryan
Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE where he wrestles on its SmackDown brand as Daniel Bryan, and currently holds the SmackDown Money in the Bank briefcase, which enables him to have a World Heavyweight Championship match at any time of his choosing...
, by pinfall to win the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship. After winning this match, he entered a feud with ick Stanley for the IWA Undisputed Heavyweight Championship, which was interrupted when a stipulation match was ordered and they were forced to team, winning the IWA World Tag Team Championship. Rivera went on to defeat his partner and became a triple-champion. He held the three belts until November 20, 2010, when he was stripped of the IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship for failing to defend it in over 55 days and let Stanley be pinned to drop the tag team titles. In the first half of 2011, he feuded with Chris Angel
Chris Angel (wrestler)
Chris Angel is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in the International Wrestling Association, where he became the only local wrestler to win the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship in his debut and first to win the IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight...
who had "retired" his brother in a previous storyline. Rivera attempted to break Angel's undefeated streak twice, but failed on both ocassions. Subsequenly, La Malicia reunited and began an angle with Carlos Cotto
Carlos Cotto
Carlos Omar Cotto Cruz is an Puerto Rican professional wrestler, also known by his ring names, El Chicano and El Ilegal.-Personal life:...
, who led several teams compossed of former Lucha Libre 101 members. From which Rivera and Rodríguez emerged as World Tag Team Champions.
El Bombazo and Golpe de Estado en Septiembre Negro
On July, 2011, Savio Vega appaeared in WWC programming, beginning the first interpromotional angle between both promotions. Rivera and Rodríguez were among the first to participate in a WWC event as an active IWA wrestler, joining several wrestlers in an appearance at Aniversario 2011. There they were booked to ambush the WWC World Tag Team Champions, Wilfredo "Lynx" Rivera and "Niche" Marrero following a match against Thunder and Lighting, who were being booked as IWA employees despite working for WWC. Between major events, they dropped the belts to a tag team which featured Vega's debuting student, Diego de Jesús, recovering them the next week. The angle continued at Summer Attitude, where Rivera and Rodríguez confronted several WWC wrestlers that counter invaded the event. Despite experiencing an overwhelming positive response from the public, the interpromotional angle fell due to economic and creative diferences between the executives of both companies. Despite this, Rivera and Rodríguez decided to participate in WWC's Septiembre Negro independently while still the reigning IWA World Tag Team Champions. The contest was against Marrero and Rivera, but only the WWC championships were on the line. La Malicia won the contest by pinfall and were announced as new titlists, immediately leaving the building and defying the original booking, in which the titles were to be held up in a subsequent skit.WWC attempted to nulify the contest, but Rivera and Rodríguez kept physical possesion of the belts, issuing a challege for the IWA championship in an attempt to revive the interpromotional angle despite being unfavored by the promotors of both companies. They began a tour troughout Puerto Rico's independent scene, in which they appeared with both belt sets and continously repeated the challege, expanding it to independent tag team champions as well. One of the accepted challenges took place on November 5, 2011, when they challenged Guevara and Zapata to an unification for the IWA, WWC and Extreme Wrestling Organization (EWO) World Tag Team Championships, which concluded in a no contest. Following this event, Marrero and "Lynx" Rivera, acompanied by two independent wrestlers, ambushed Noel and his girlfriend, gaining ilegal possesion of one of the IWA belts and recoverying of of WWC's. The other half was still owned by Dennis Rivera, who was not present in the scene. Despite this event, La Malicia continued the tour appearing at New Pro Wrestling on November 19, 2011, confronting NPW World Tag Team Champions and WWC employees, Thunder and Lighting, for the belts. The challenge was acepted for NPW's last event of the year, Cierre de Temporada.
Championships and accomplishments
- International Wrestling AssociationInternational Wrestling AssociationThe International Wrestling Association is a wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. The Hispanic division was created in 1999. The company was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance until 2001, but again became a member in 2007...
- IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight ChampionshipIWA Intercontinental Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship is a secondary professional wrestling title defended in the Puerto Rican International Wrestling Association....
(1 time) - IWA Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
- IWA World Tag Team ChampionshipIWA World Tag Team ChampionshipIWA World Tag Team Championship is a tag team titles being defending in the International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico. It has been an active wrestling championship since January 6, 2000.-Title history:-References:*General...
(3 times) - with Rick Stanley (1), with Noel Rodríguez (2 times, current)
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC World Tag Team ChampionshipWWC World Tag Team ChampionshipThe WWC World Tag Team Championship is the tag team title contested for in the Puerto Rican professional wrestling promotion, the World Wrestling Council.-Title history:-External links:***...
(1 time) - with Noel Rodríguez
- WWC World Tag Team Championship
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #302 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2011