Ricky Vega

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Ephraim Vega
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Machete, Ricky Vega
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight	260 lb (118 kg)
Born	December 2, 1976 (1976-12-02) (age 31) Bronx, New York
Resides	Orlando, Florida
Billed from	Puerto Rico
Trained by	Johnny Rodz, Marty Jannetty, Ted DiBiase
Debut	December 2001

Ephraim Vega (born December 2, 1976) is an Puerto Rican American professional wrestler and is best known working Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Machete (not to be confused with fellow wrestler Joey Machete), and in independent promotions under the name Ricky Vega.

1 Career
2 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
3 Independent career
- 3.1 Dynamite Championship Wrestling
4 Finishing and signature moves
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Career

Vega played 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 the name Ricky Vega, 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 Reigns 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.

[edit] Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

In February 2006 at TNA Against All Odds 2006, 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. On the following TNA iMPACT show Machete(Vega) and Homicide would squash and defeat La Migra. LAX would capture and beatdown BG James in front of the announce table before Kip James finally made the save. Later during a Team Canada, James Gang iMPACT match LAX would interfere and cost the James Gang the win. They would proceed to beatdown the James Gang setting up a grudge match between the two factions. The LAX faced The James Gang in a rematch at TNA Destination X 2006 on March 12, 2006, but lost once again after Vega(Machete)was left alone in the ring with BG, Bob Armstrong and Kip, eventually leading to Kip James pinning 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 TNA. Vega is currently working Florida indy's and is set to return in January under his original stage name Ricky Vega.

Vega made his return to TNA on the February 15 episode of iMPACT pushing Konnan, who was then confined to a wheelchair due to hip surgery, to the ring for LAX's tag team match against Shark Boy and Norman Smiley. Machete (Vega) would play a major role in keeping LAX Tag Champions by interfering first at Against All Odds then again at Destination X in matches against Team 3D. Later on TNA iMPACT taping, he assisted Homicide in defeating Scott Stiener and Brother Devon in a three-way tag match. Vega would also keep VKM (Voodo Kin Mafia) from winning the belts on iMPACT by again interjecting himself in the match. Vega was also involved in the Belting Pot Match between Team 3D and LAX, which would turn into a gang scuffle between LAX Latino Nation members and Brother Ray's Italian Brotherhood. He would work as LAX's enforcer for a brief time before becoming a full-time member after Konnan's release.

[edit] Independent career

[edit] Dynamite Championship Wrestling

Vega made his way to Dynamite Championship Wrestling (DCW)^[1] in August 2006. He debuted by defeating Viper. With the win he earned an immediate Heavyweight title match due to Hector Guerrero vacating the championship. He would go on to defeat Matt Bentley and become champion. Vega would later be stripped and the title held vacant setting the stage for a title tournament. Vega would defeat Bobby Barretta and JB Cool to move in to the finals against former WCW star Glacier. Vega and Glacier had developed a friendship in DCW rescuing each other on past events. The match seemed to be competitive and fair until Don Kiko Cabana came down to ring side and assisted Vega in regaining the title. Vega would shock the fans by embracing and accepting Cabana's help thus turning him into a heel. Vega would go on to feud with Glacier for three months until it all came to a head when they faced off in a Lumberjack Match. Vega would again defeat Glacier thanks to Benny Blanco and Simon Sez, who due to Vega's win became commissioner. Vega would later face and defeat Team 3D member Brother Devon in Melbourne with the help of Bill DeMott.