Jesus Rodriguez is thankful for the opportunities he’s had in the pro wrestling business.
WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard recently spoke with Jesus Rodriguez, formerly known as WWE’s Ricardo Rodriguez. The former manager is currently working with MLW as a producer and on-air talent, the latter of which sees him working with Salina de la Renta and her Promociones Dorado group.
Azteca Lucha comes to Chicago on May 11. The show will feature a lot of CMLL talent, but it is still very much an MLW production. Rodriguez highlighted how the MLW brand and the Lucha Underground “spiritual successor” complement each other.
“CMLL is like the longest-running company in the world that’s still active. So, that itself is huge. And then to have the stars that will be coming up and performing, and then the audience in Chicago, which is going to be very heavily Latino. That’s a huge proud moment that we are able to collaborate and work together. Obviously, there’s still going to be a taping, an MLW taping that’s going to be involved. And that’s going to be predominantly MLW talent. So there’s still going to be a whole mixture of both entities coming together to produce one great big product.”
Will the ending stick?
Rodriguez noted that many of the names involved have never worked in the northern part of the United States, making the show even more special. In addition, he expects it to be the culmination of the ongoing storyline between Salina and Cesar Duran.
“It’s such a proud moment because this is a story that has been developing for a close to a year between Selina de la Renta and Cesar Duran. They have been battling over ownership and power. I’m grateful that I’m a part of Promociones Dorado with Selina de la Renta,” he said. “In a couple days basically, we are going to put an end to it and Cesar can go into the underground hideout.”
Rodriguez was then asked what makes him so sure that the battle between Salina and Cesar will be over. After all, MLW and Azteca Lucha has had some pretty supernatural elements in recent years, and Salina’s character was already presumed to be dead at one point.
“I mean, at this point in time, when you look at the matches and it’s pretty… I mean, there may be a surprise here and there but, overall, Cesar is going down,” he said. “There’s nothing that he has in his ability that could overpower anything that Salina de la Renta [brings herself]. That’s what she’s specialized in. She is La Jefa, La Padrona, she’s… She’s the man.”
A dream come true
Jesus Rodriguez will also compete in the ring at the Azteca Lucha event in a trios match. Rodriguez will team with Atlantis and Guerrero Maya Jr. against El Felino, Virus, and Villano III Jr. Rodriguez has a long tenure in the ring, citing 18 years in the business. He’s worn “every hat possible” during this time and traveled the world, noting that getting a chance to work alongside Atlantis this weekend is a dream come true for him.
“I got signed four years into my career. And I was really grateful for that. And I got to spend the time that I did, with WWE and then learn again from the minds that I was able to. When I left the company, I went to India, I opened up a school, I opened up a market in India that wasn’t there before. There is an independent scene out there now. Some of those kids ended up getting hired by WWE and then getting to the US. I got to spend time in Australia, England, Germany, and Mexico. I spent an entire year living in Cairo, Egypt opening up a wrestling school,” he explained.
A rewarding learning experience
“And now, to be here in the US for the last two years or so, and have my own company, my own school (Three Legacies Wrestling), and take all those facets that I had experienced and learned throughout the years and apply it to this and apply it now during my time in MLW. It’s a year now with MLW. It’s almost going to be a year as a producer. So, it’s a learning experience that I’m just… I’m continuously learning and I’m grateful that every now and then I’m able to get in the ring,” he noted. “And that for me, honestly, this is rewarding because Atlantis was my very first childhood hero when I was a kid. So, now to team up with him is amazing. It’s a dream come true.”
Rodriguez went on to call teaming with Atlantis a huge honor, a highlight of the many partnerships MLW has around the world.
“It’s a good time to be in the industry, honestly.”
The sold-out Azteca Lucha event takes place on May 11.
Watch our full interview with Jesus Rodriguez below:
