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Raquel Rodriguez (wrestler)

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Raquel González
González in 2016
Birth nameVictoria González[1]
Born (1991-01-12) January 12, 1991 (age 33)
La Feria, Texas, United States
Parent(s)Rick González
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Raquel González[2]
Raquel Rodriguez
Reina González[3]
Victoria González[4]
Billed height5 ft 11.5 in (182 cm)
Billed weight177 lb (80 kg)
Billed fromRio Grande Valley, Texas[2]
Trained byRudy Boy Gonzales

George de la Isla[4]
Richard Aleman[4]
Ben Galvan

WWE Performance Center[4]
DebutSeptember 2014[4]

Victoria González (born January 12, 1991),[1] better known by her ring name Raquel González, is an American professional wrestler.[5] She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Raquel Rodriguez. She is a former NXT Women's Champion and two-time NXT Women's Tag Team Champion.

González is a second generation professional wrestler, following her father Rick González.[6] In 2021, she and, now former tag team partner and best friend, Dakota Kai won the inaugural Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and became the inaugural NXT Women's Tag Team Champions, while González won the NXT Women's Championship.[2]

Early life

Victoria González was born on January 12, 1991, in La Feria, Texas, United States.[7] She is of Mexican descent.[7] Through high school and college, González was a basketball player, playing collegiately for the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas.[8]

Professional wrestling career

WWE

Early appearances (2016–2018)

On October 25, 2016, it was reported that González had signed with WWE and reported to the WWE Performance Center.[9] She made her in-ring debut on January 20, 2017 under her birth name at an NXT live event, where she was unsuccessful winning a 12-woman battle royal.[10] On the May 3 episode of NXT, González made her first television appearance in a losing effort, where she was eliminated during a battle royal to determine the #1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship.[11] Under the name Reina González, she competed in the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament, where she was eliminated during the first round by Nicole Savoy, which aired on August 28.[12] González would compete again in the tournament in 2018, where she once again was eliminated in the first round by Kacy Catanzaro.[13]

Alliance with Dakota Kai (2020–2021)

On February 16, 2020, at NXT TakeOver: Portland, González made her first televised appearance since the Mae Young Classic under the ring name Raquel González, where she interfered a street fight between Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox by slamming Nox through a table, allowing Kai to win the match, establishing herself as a heel in the process.[14] Following TakeOver, González became Kai's bodyguard, helping her win her matches.[15][16][17] González had her first pay-per-view match on June 7 at TakeOver: In Your House, where she teamed with Candice LeRae and Kai, losing to the team of Mia Yim, Nox and Shotzi Blackheart in a six-woman tag team match.[18] Afterwards, González went on a short hiatus, but returned on the August 19 episode of NXT, helping Kai attack NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai. At NXT TakeOver XXX three days later, after Kai was unsuccessful against Shirai, Rhea Ripley confronted González, beginning a rivalry between the two. González and Kai defeated Ripley and Shirai on the following episode of NXT after interference from Mercedes Martinez,[19] however, González lost to Ripley at NXT: Halloween Havoc on October 28. Kai and González aligned with LeRae and Toni Storm in November, resulting in a WarGames match against Blackheart, Ember Moon, Shirai, and Ripley at NXT TakeOver: WarGames on December 6, which González won after pinning Shirai.[20] Afterwards, González resumed her rivalry with Ripley, defeating her in a Last Woman Standing match at NXT: New Year's Evil on January 6, 2021, ending the feud.[21]

Kai and González then took part in the inaugural Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating Aliyah and Jessi Kamea in the first round,[22] and Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter in the semi-finals.[23] At NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day on February 14, they defeated Moon and Blackheart to win the tournament.[24] As a result of their win, they received a match for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler on March 3; the match ended in controversy, with Jax and Baszler retaining after Baszler submitted Kai despite her not being tagged in. As a result, González and Kai were crowned the inaugural NXT Women's Tag Team Champions the following week, the first title in González's career; however, they would lose the titles 56 minutes later to Blackheart and Moon in their first title defense.[25][26]

NXT Women's Champion; feud and second reunion with Dakota Kai (2021–2022)

On April 7, 2021, on the first night of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, González defeated Shirai to become the new NXT Women's Champion.[27] On May 11, she made her first successful title defense by defeating Mercedes Martinez.[28] On June 13, at NXT TakeOver: In Your House, Raquel defeated Ember Moon to retain the title.[29] On the July 27 episode of NXT, González was attacked by Kai, thus turning face for the first time in her career and ending their alliance.[30] This led to González retaining the title against Kai at NXT TakeOver 36.[31] At NXT: Halloween Havoc, González lost the NXT Women's Championship to Mandy Rose in a Trick or Street Fight match thanks to the returning Kai's interference, ending her reign at 202 days.[32] At NXT New Year's Evil on January 4, 2022, Gonzalez failed to regain the title in a triple threat match also involving Cora Jade, who Rose pinned to retain the title.

On the March 29 episode of NXT 2.0, after Toxic Attraction took out Wendy Choo, Dakota Kai attacked the group and would be assisted by a returning González, whom Kai embraced afterwards, thus completing her face turn for the first time since November 2019. It was then announced that Kai and González would take on Toxic Attraction members Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship during the Kickoff pre-show of NXT Stand & Deliver, in which they were successful. In their first title defense on the following episode of NXT 2.0, Kai and Gonzalez lost the titles back to Toxic Attraction due to Mandy Rose’s interference; this was Raquel's final appearance in NXT.

Main roster (2022–present)

On the April 8, 2022 episode of SmackDown, González made her main roster debut in a backstage segment under the new ring name Raquel Rodriguez.[33] On the April 29 episode of SmackDown, she made her in-ring debut for the brand, defeating local competitor Cat Cardoza.[34] On the May 13 episode of SmackDown, Rodriguez answered Ronda Rousey's open challenge for the SmackDown Women's Championship, but failed to win the title.[35] On the June 17 episode of SmackDown, Rodriguez defeated Shayna Baszler to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match.[36] At the eponymous event on July 2, she was unsuccessful in winning the match.[37]

Professional wrestling style

During her time in NXT, she perfomed a one-arm powerbomb as a finishing move, called the Chingona Bomb.[38] The move was renamed to The Texana when she was drafted to the main roster.[39]

Personal life

González has dated Adam Scherr, better known as former WWE Superstar, Braun Strowman.[40]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b Mendoza, Madalyn (January 6, 2017). "South Texas woman could be the next 'WWE superstar'". San Antonio Express-News.
  2. ^ a b c "Raquel González". WWE.
  3. ^ "Reina González". WWE.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Raquel Gonzalez". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database.
  5. ^ Molina, Mark (September 17, 2020). "Wrestling with success". La Feria News. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Raquel Gónzalez es la nueva campeona de NXT y no ha podido dejar fuera sus raíces mexicanas, incluso fue felicitada por Santos Escobar y Humberto Carrillo". Superluchas (in Spanish). April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Nació el 12 de enero de 1991 en La Feria, Texas, Estados Unidos.(Thefair)". Azteca Deportes (in Spanish). April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Altamirano, Raul. "Former A&M-K women's basketball player turned pro wrestler signs with WWE". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  9. ^ "WWE Performance Center welcomes new class of recruits". WWE. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  10. ^ "WWE NXT Live". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database.
  11. ^ Kahrs, Alex. "WWE NXT Results – 5/3/17 (No. 1 Contender Women's Battle Royal)". wrestleview.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  12. ^ Powell, Jason (August 28, 2017). "Powell's WWE Mae Young Classic Review: Episode Four with Kairi Sane vs. Tessa Blanchard, Candice LeRae vs. Renee Michelle, Taynara Conti vs. Lacey Evans, and Nicole Savoy vs. Reina Gonzalez". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  13. ^ Powell, Jason (September 13, 2018). "Powell's WWE Mae Young Classic 2018 Ep. 2 Review: Mercedes Martinez vs. Ashley (Madison) Rayne, Kacy Catanzaro vs. Reina Gonzalez, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Pricilla Kelly, and Aerial Monroe vs. Zeuxis in first round matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  14. ^ Moore, John (February 16, 2020). "2/16 NXT Takeover: Portland results – Moore's live review of Adam Cole vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT Championship, Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair for the NXT Women's Championship, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly vs. Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne for the NXT Tag Titles, Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  15. ^ Garretson, Jordan. "Dakota Kai def. Tegan Nox in a Steel Cage Match". WWE. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Berge, Kevin. "WWE NXT Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from March 11". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Rueter, Sean (June 17, 2020). "WWE NXT results, live blog (June 17, 2020): Two Tag title matches!". Cageside Seats. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  18. ^ Moore, John (June 7, 2020). "NXT Takeover: In Your House results – Moore's live review of Adam Cole defeated Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl for the NXT Championship, Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Io Shirai for the NXT Women's Championship, Keith Lee vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Title, Tommaso Ciampa vs. Karrion Kross". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  19. ^ Garretson, Jordan. "WWE NXT results, Aug. 26, 2020". wwe.com. WWE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  20. ^ Garretson, Jordan. "NXT TakeOver: WarGames results". wwe.com. WWE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  21. ^ Garretson, Jordan. "NXT New Year's Evil results". wwe.com. WWE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  22. ^ Garretson, Jordan. "WWE NXT results, Jan. 27, 2021". wwe.com. WWE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  23. ^ Zak, Brad. "NXT results, Feb. 3, 2021". wwe.com. WWE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  24. ^ Garretson, Jordan. "NXT TakeOver results". wwe.com. WWE. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  25. ^ Moore, John (March 10, 2021). "3/10 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Finn Balor vs. Adam Cole for the NXT Championship, Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm for the NXT Women's Championship, William Regal's big announcements, Xia Li vs. Kayden Carter". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  26. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (March 10, 2021). "NXT Women's Tag Team Titles Made Official; New Champions Crowned". Fightful. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  27. ^ Moore, John (April 7, 2021). "NXT Takeover Stand & Deliver results: Moore's live review of night one with Io Shirai vs. Raquel Gonzalez for the NXT Women's Championship, Walter vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the NXT UK Championship, MSK vs. Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde for the vacant NXT Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  28. ^ "NXT Women's Champion Raquel Gonzalez Retains Against Mercedes Martinez". WWE. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  29. ^ Chiari, Mike. "Raquel Gonzalez Beats Ember Moon, Retains NXT Women's Title at In Your House". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  30. ^ Middleton, Marc. "WWE NXT Results – Adam Cole Vs. Bronson Reed, Samoa Joe Resigns, Dakota Kai Turns, More". Wrestling.Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  31. ^ "TakeOver 36 recap & reactions: Meet the new era, same as the old era". August 23, 2021.
  32. ^ "Mandy Rose Wins NXT Women's Title a Halloween Havoc". SEScoops. October 27, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  33. ^ Powell, Jason (April 8, 2022). "4/8 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of the WrestleMania 38 fallout edition with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Happy Corbin hosts Happy Talk". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  34. ^ Barnett, Jake (April 29, 2022). "4/29 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn in a steel cage match, Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey compete in Beat The Clock submission challenges, Ricochet vs. Shanky for the Intercontinental Title, Usos vs. RK-Bro contract signing for WrestleMania Backlash". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  35. ^ Powell, Jason (May 13, 2022). "5/13 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of Sasha Banks and Naomi vs. Shayna Baszler and Natalya for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles, Kofi Kingston vs. Butch, Raw Tag Champs "RK-Bro" Randy Orton and Riddle seek a tag title unification match with Smackdown Tag Champs Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  36. ^ Barnett, Jake (June 17, 2022). "6/17 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of Mr. McMahon's appearance, Roman Reigns vs. Riddle for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, Madcap Moss vs. Happy Corbin in a Last Laugh match, Raquel Rodriguez vs. Shayna Baszler in a Money in the Bank qualifier". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  37. ^ Powell, Jason (July 2, 2022). "WWE Money in the Bank results: Powell's review of the MITB ladder matches, The Usos vs. The Street Profits for the Undisputed WWE Tag Titles, Ronda Rousey vs. Natalya for the Smackdown Women's Title, Bianca Belair vs. Natalya for the Raw Women's Title, Theory vs. Bobby Lashley for the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  38. ^ "WWE NXT: Xia Li sufre una lesión en las costillas durante su combate ante Raquel Gonzales". July 21, 2021.
  39. ^ "WWE cambia el nombre del finisher de Raquel Rodríguez". May 28, 2022.
  40. ^ Bishal, Roy (October 15, 2021). "WWE Diva Breaks Silence On Dating Braun Strowman". Wrestling-Edge.com.
  41. ^ McElvaney, Kevin (October 21, 2021). "2021 PWI Women's 150 – The Top 5 Revealed!". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
  42. ^ "NXT Women's Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  43. ^ "NXT Women's Tag Team Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  44. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 14, 2021). "Women 's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic (2021)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  45. ^ "National Don't H8 Ringmaster – Our Community Roots".
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