| Adam Bridle | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Angélico[1] El Angélico Adam Croft[1] Adam Bridle[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)[1] |
| Billed weight | 214 lb (97 kg)[1] |
| Born | 7 May 1987 [1] Johannesburg, South Africa[1] |
| Resides | Barcelona, Spain |
| Billed from | Barcelona, Spain Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Trained by | Último Dragón[1] Negro Navarro[1] Black Terry[1] |
| Debut | 2007[1] |
Adam Bridle,[1] better known by his ring name Angélico, is a South African-born professional wrestler who was raised in Spain, currently performing for International Wrestling Revolution Group and World Wrestling Professionals.[2][3] He is a former IWRG Americas Light Heavyweight Champion.[4][5]
Contents |
Adam Bridle started his career in 2007 in the short-lived Pro Wrestling Alliance: Africa promotion which was co-owned by Booker T.[6] He debuted under the name Adam Crow before changing it to Angélico, going by the nicknames The Blonde Superman and The Spanish Sensation. When PWA:Africa folded in 2007 due to internal problems, Angélico joined World Wrestling Professionals, a promotion with nationally-broadcast television shows in South Africa and India. He currently still tours with WWP and has participated in two of their television shoots, in WWP Thunderstrike and 100% De Dhana Dhan.
On 21 February 2009, he lost to Jason Steele in one of his biggest matches in WWP.[7] One of his most notable feuds was with WWP wrestler Ananzi throughout 2008 and 2009, and on 22 November 2009 he took part in a ladder match that was edited heavily due to the network, Colours TV, considering most of the match to be too violent for primetime television.
On 10 January 2010, he was awarded the previously-vacant WWP Cruiserweight World Title, becoming the fourth champion in the title's history.
Angélico spent six months wrestling in Spain working for numerous independents, including Nu Wrestling Evolution. His first link to lucha libre was working with Último Dragón and Super Nova in NWE. In his NWE big show debut on 13 July 2008, Angélico lost to NWE World Champion Orlando Jordan.[8] On 18 July 2008, he lost to Orlando Jordan in a handicap match teaming with El Nazareno.[9] He lost to Juventud Guerrera on 20 July 2008 with Annie Social as his new valet.[10] At an Eventos de Wrestling Europeos card on 26 July 2008, Angélico lost to LSK in an NWL Spanish Championship match.[11] On 13 September 2008, Angélico wrestled three matches on an inter-promotional event pitting the Spanish EWE against the Mexican AAA. He defeated Luka Scott, went to a double count-out with Red Devil, and was defeated in a tag team match pairing with Octagón against Pirata Morgan and Red Devil.[12] Angélico's final match with NWE before becoming a mainstay in Mexico came on 2 November 2008, losing to Vito.[13]
Angélico received training from Último Dragón in 2009 and subsequently joined the Toryumon promotion. His Mexican debut took place on 14 December 2008, losing to Satoshi Kajiwara in the torneo cibernetico final of the Young Dragons Cup, an annual tournament in Toryumon showcasing the students of Último Dragón.[14] On 1 March 2009, in a six-man tag team match, he defeated Loco Max, Shigeo Okumura & Skandalo.[15] At Toryumon's Dragonmania IV event on 22 August 2009, he won his first dragon scramble.[16] On 18 October 2009, he teamed with Solar I and Último Dragón to defeat Juventud Guerrera, Negro Navarro and Trauma I.[17] On 20 December 2009, Angélico challenged unsuccessfully for the NWE Cruiserweight Title held by Juventud Guerrera on a Toryumon card.[18]
On 27 February 2010, Angélico took part in Toryumon's Yamaha Cup at the Sala del Armas Magdalena Mixhuca del Distrito Federal, teaming with Hijo del Fantasma. In the semi-finals, Angélico and Fantasma defeated Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Platino to advance. In the finals of the tag team tournament and one of Angélico's biggest matches to date, they beat Los Guerreros del Infierno (Rey Bucanero and Último Guerrero), with Angélico going over Bucanero after executing an armbar submission.[19]
Angélico joined IWRG in 2009 and was trained by Negro Navarro and Black Terry, primarily in the art of submissions. 18 April 2009 saw Angélico face two of his trainers in a tag team match when he teamed with Super Astro to defeat Negro Navarro and Black Terry.[20] On 25 June 2009, Angélico teamed with Negro Navarro and Bobby Lee, Jr., losing to Fuerza Guerrera, Juventud Guerrera and Ricky Cruz by disqualification.[21] On 7 January 2010, he teamed with Solar I and Ultraman Jr. to beat Negro Navarro, Trauma I and Trauma II.[22] One week later on 14 January 2010, he teamed up with El Pantera and Solar I, defeating Negro Navarro, Bomber Infernal and Hijo de Pirata Morgan shortly before he would challenge for Negro Navarro's Americas Light Heavyweight Championship.[23] He beat his teacher Negro Navarro on 21 January 2010, to become the new Americas Light Heavyweight Champion.[4][5] On 28 February 2010, Angélico was part of a multi-man Steel Cage elimination match where the loser among the final two participants would have to face Chico Che in the main event. Angélico was the second to be eliminated, with 911 beating Hijo del Diablo to win the match.[19] He would lose the Americas Light Heavyweight Championship to Trauma I in his first defense on 11 March 2010.[24]
Angélico has expressed interest in wrestling for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in the future.[2]
On 17 December 2010, Angélico returned to Mexico, after a nine month stint in Europe, taking part in Toryumon's 2010 Young Dragons Cup. After surviving the torneo cibernetico portion of the tournament, Angélico defeated Trauma I in the finals to win the Cup.[25][26]
On 21 March 2011, Angélico made his debut for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), competing in a six man tag team match, where he, Argenis and Fenix defeated Dark Dragon, Polvo de Estrellas and Tito Santana.[27][28]