Thunder and Lightning (professional wrestling)

Thunder and Lightning[1]
Tag team
Members Thunder
Lightning
Name(s) Thunder and Lightning
La Artilleria Pesada
Heights 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) (Thunder)[2]
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) (Lightning)[3]
Combined
weight		 250 lb (110 kg) (Thunder)[2]
230 lb (100 kg) (Lightning)[3]
Debut 2000[1]
Promotions IWA
WWC
WWL
NPW
Trainer Isaac Rosario

Thunder and Lightning is a Puerto Rican professional wrestling tag team consisting of Reynaldo Rodriguez (born December 3, 1972)[2] and Alex Cruz (born October 18, 1975)[3] under the ring names Thunder and Lightning respectively. They currently work for World Wrestling League.

Career

World Wrestling Council (2000-2003; 2007–2011, 2011–2013)

Both members trained in various small independent Puerto Rico wrestling federations, before signing with Puerto Rico's World Wrestling Council, the major wrestling federation on the island at the time, in April 2000 where the two men would join together under the "Thunder and Lightning" gimmick. They won 10 WWC Tag Team titles together from April 2000 to August 2003 when they left the company for the IWA.[1] Both men returned to WWC joined by their former manager Barabass on June 23, 2007 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.[4] They returned to WWC at Aniversario 2011 and face Los Fugitivos de la Calle. On June 30, 2012, Thunder and Lightning lost their masks to Carlito and Ray González in a Masks vs. Hairs match.[5] On February 9, 2013 Thunder & Lightning were betrayed by Barrabás and later reunited by Ray González.

International Wrestling Association (2003-2007; 2011)

Lightning tried his hand in at a singles career and soon defeated Savio Vega for the IWA Heavyweight Championship on June 17, 2006, although he would only hold the title a few weeks before losing it to Mikael Judas. The pair held the IWA World Tag Team Title several times, the fourth reign was ended by defeat to Golden Boy and Noriega.[6] On January 21, 2011, IWA announced the official return of Thunder & Lightning. During the summer they left IWA.[7]

New Professional Wrestling (2011–2012)

On October 1, 2011 both men made a surprise appearance at New Professional Wrestling "Genesis" Anniversary Show in Aquas Buenas, Puerto Rico. There they challenged the companies then Tag Team Champions Death & Nemesis. On November 17, 2011 at the NPW "November 2 Remember" show Thunder and Lightning were crowned new NPW World Tag Team Champions in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.[8]

Return to WWC (2012-present)

The tag team eventually returned to WWC wearing a different outfit and became known as "Los Enmascarados" for some time. Under these characters Thunder and Lightning defeated the incumbent WWE Tag Team Champions, Primo & Epico, in the undercard of La Revolución 2012.[9]

For Thunder and Lightning's return match, WWC scheduled a rematch between them and Los Matadores (formerly Primo & Epico) for Euphoria 2014.

World Wrestling League (2014-2015)

On October 18, 2014, Thunder and Lightning won the vacant WWL World Tag Team Championships. During the match, they debuted their new outfits and brought back their masks.[10] On January 6, 2015, they lost the titles against Spectro and Kronya, but Thunder and Lightning regained the titles on March 21, 2015. Two days later, WWL closed.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • NPW World Tag Team Championship (1 time)

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Thunder and Lightning profile". Cagematch. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Thunder profile". Cagematch. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lightning profile". Cagematch. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  4. ↑ Rodriguez, Armando (2007-06-29). "Puerto Rico News: The WWC Anniversary and More". 411mania. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  5. ↑ http://superluchas.net/2012/07/01/wwc-cayeron-las-mascaras-de-thunder-lighting-en-el-aniversario-39/
  6. ↑ "Today in Wrestling History, 2/27: Edge & Christian vs. Hardys, More". AllWrestling.com. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2010.
  7. ↑ "Thunder and Lightning regresan a IWA?" (in Spanish). Mundo Wrestling. 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
  8. ↑ http://www.prwrestling.com/noticiasprw2/7683.php
  9. ↑ "Notas de La Revolución 4/28" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Wrestling. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  10. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/wwlmundial/photos/a.801023596578351.1073741909.591733780840668/966063656741010/?type=1

External links