Jesús Ricardo Rodríguez (born February 17, 1986) is a Mexican-American professional wrestler and commentator. He is best known for his time in WWE under the ring name Ricardo Rodriguez. He returned to the independent circuit in 2014 as Chimaera. He also worked as an announcer for Combate Americas and as a manager for Alberto del Rio wrestling promotion Nación Lucha Libre before its closure in January 2020. He has also worked as a Spanish language commentator for AEW.
Professional wrestling career
Early Career (2006–2010) Before wrestling for independent California promotions, Rodriguez wrestled with other upcoming wrestlers in backyards for BBW Beyond Backyard Wrestling. He wrestled for various promotions as the masked wrestler Chimaera, and his professional wrestling debut came at UEW's 1st Annual West Coast Cruiser Cup Tournament on August 11, 2006. At Pro Wrestling Affiliates, Chimaera lost to Charles Mercury in the first round of a PWA Light Heavyweight Championship tournament. Chimaera and Jason Watts teamed up to take on the NWPW Tag Team Champions Aerial Star and Ric Ellis and initially lost, but beat them for the championship on October 4, 2008. They lost the title in a two-on-one handicap match to Ryan Stone. On August 2, 2009, he had a three-way match for the AWS Lightweight Championship, with Peter Avalon and Chris Kadillak. In Chikara, he participated in the Young Lions Cup VII and was eliminated by KC Day. At Dragon Gate USA, Chimaera competed in a Dragon Gate Fray match which was won by Brad Allen on March 26, 2010. For Deutsche Wrestling Allianz Chimaera had two championship opportunities one for the DWA Cruiserweight Championship and one for DWA Tag Team Championship. He also participated in Vendetta Pro Triforce Championship tournament and beat Brian Cage and Jason Watts in the final for the vacant Vendetta Pro Triforce Championship and vacated the championship when he signed with WWE. He also participated in the World War III 159 Man battle royal. Rodriguez was also a trainer for California based promotion, Fit Pit Pro Wrestling. He has also wrestled in So Cal Pro, EMLL, CWX, NWPW, NWT/NTLL, BPW, the West Coast Wrestling Company, Vendetta Pro and in both IWL and LLII as Jesse Long.
World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2010-2014)
Florida Championship Wrestling (2010–2011)
Rodriguez, as Chimaera, debuted in Florida Championship Wrestling on December 2, 2010, in a ten-man tag match, teaming with Husky Harris, Buck Dixon, Matt Clements, and Kenny Li to defeat Big E Langston, Darren Young, James Bronson, Kevin Hackman, and Roman Leakee. On December 17, 2010, Chimaera lost to Richie Steamboat.
From 2011, he competed in FCW under the Ricardo Rodriguez gimmick. On August 28, 2011, Rodriguez said that Alberto Del Rio was an employee of his father's agency. Rodriguez formed a stable called the Ascension with Conor O'Brian, Tito Colon, Kenneth Cameron, and Raquel Diaz. However, by September 26, the Ascension no longer associated with him, as a video package promoting the Ascension only featured the latter four Ascension members without Rodriguez, and when the Ascension had their first match together in October, Rodriguez did not accompany them.
Alberto Del Rio's ring announcer (2010–2013)
Rodriguez debuted in the WWE on the SmackDown brand on August 20, 2010, as a personal ring announcer to Alberto Del Rio. As well as being the personal ring announcer, Rodriguez also helped Del Rio win matches by distracting his opponents.
On the January 4, 2011 episode of NXT, Rodriguez took Del Rio's place in a battle royal for the NXT Pros, and was quickly eliminated by R-Truth. On NXT, Rodriguez feuded with Del Rio's Rookie, Conor O'Brian, after he claimed a rat problem. On the January 18 episode of NXT, Rodriguez and O'Brian brawled backstage, setting up Rodriguez's WWE singles debut, which he won. After the match, O'Brian was eliminated from NXT. Del Rio later gained a new Rookie, Brodus Clay, after Clay won a match which allowed him to change his Pro. Del Rio "temporarily" passed Pro responsibilities of Clay to Rodriguez on the February 1 episode of NXT but never returned for the rest of the season, so Rodriguez managed to coach Clay to a second-place finish in the season finale on March 1.