Thursday, March 28, 2024
Samuray Del Sol

Samuray Del Sol

Born:
11/14/1986
,
Chicago, Illinois
Birthname:
Emanuel Alejandro Rodriguez
Height & Weight:
5'6"
,
170 Ib

Titles Won:

  • WWE United States Championship (2 times)
  • WWE Cruiserweight Championship
  • NXT Tag Team Championship – with Sin Cara
  • NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Tournament (2014) – with Sin Cara

In 2006, Rodriguez made his professional wrestling debut on the Midwestern United States independent circuit, working under a mask and the ring name Samuray del Sol (Spanish for “Samurai of the Sun”). After establishing himself as one of the top high-flyers in the area, he began working for larger promotions in 2011 and was signed by Dragon Gate USA in 2012.

The same year, he made his debut for Mexican promotion AAA, where, in November, he was repackaged as Octagón Jr., the storyline protégé of well-known luchador Octagón. He has also worked for Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South (IWA-MS), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).

In May 2013, he signed with WWE and was assigned to their developmental territory NXT, where he was renamed Kalisto. In September 2014, Kalisto, with Sin Cara as “The Lucha Dragons”, won the NXT Tag Team Championship. In February 2015, Kalisto was promoted to WWE’s main roster. In January 2016, he won his first singles title in WWE, the United States Championship, a title he has held twice. In October 2017, Kalisto won the WWE Cruiserweight Championship for the first time.

After a long time in the stable Lucha House Party with Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado, he left the group in 2021. In April 2021, Kalisto was released from contract as part of WWE “budget cuts”. He has since returned to the independent scene as Samuray Del Sol.

Other Notable Achievements: GALLI Championship, Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup (2012), King of Flight Tournament (2013)