Sam Adonis
Birth nameSamuel Elias Polinsky[1]
Born (1989-08-09) August 9, 1989
Monroeville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
FamilyDan Polinsky (father)
Corey Graves (brother)
WebsiteSam Adonis on Twitter
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bill Callous
Buddy Stretcher
Sam Adonis
Sam Elias
Samuel Elias
El Rudo
Billed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight251 lb (114 kg)
Trained byCorey Graves
Debut2008[2]

Samuel Elias Polinsky (born August 9, 1989) is an American professional wrestler and promoter, currently performing on the independent circuit and for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) under the ring name Sam Adonis. Adonis formerly worked in Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as a heel pro-Trump character and currently works for DTU, IWRG, Toryumon Mexico and the Mexican Independent circuit. Polinsky is the younger brother of Matthew Polinsky, best known as WWE commentator Corey Graves.

Polinsky has briefly worked for WWE, in their Florida Championship Wrestling developmental league, under the name Buddy Stretcher and worked a match for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Bill Callous, but has spent the majority of his pro wrestling career in England working for various promotions such as All Star Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2008–2011)

Polinsky made his professional wrestling debut in early 2008, working primarily on the independent circuit in his native Pennsylvania. He would often team with his brother Matthew, better known under the ring name Sterling James Keenan while Sam Polinsky was known as "Samuel Elias" or simply "Sam Elias". The brothers competed in a 2008 tournament for the local Pittsburgh Tag Team Championship, but lost in the final to the team of Ashton Amherst and Patrick Hayes.[3] In 2009 Elias began teaming with Amherst, following a tag team known as "Vicious and Delicious", who won the Diamond Championship Wrestling (DCW) Tag Team Championship from the PA Posse (Kato and Sebastian).[4] Their reign lasted for 70 days, until they lost the title to "Team Tap Out" on March 6, 2010.[5]

In the fall of 2010, he began working for Far North Wrestling (FNW), based out of Pittsburgh. During his time with FNW he won the Ches-A-Rena Championship on three separate occasions, defeating T. Rantula, Michael Blade and Jimmy Vegas respectively to win the championship.[5] The promotion closed in 2011, leaving Sam Elias as the last recognized Ches-A-Rena Champion.[6]

WWE

Florida Championship Wrestling (2011)

In April 2011 Polinsky, using the ring name "Buddy Stretcher", began working for WWE's developmental league, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).[7] Polinsky suffered a knee injury after only two matches with FCW and was later released.[8]

Europe (2011–2016)

While Polinsky was not successful in FCW he did strike up a friendship with WWE wrestler William Regal who used his contacts to get Polinsky work in the United Kingdom for All Star Wrestling.[8] Polinsky began working under the name "Sam Adonis", a vain, self-obsessed, narcissistic heel.[8] While living in England for several years he also worked for other European wrestling promotions such as the European Wrestling Promotion in Germany,[9] and New Wrestling Entertainment in Italy.[10] In 2014 he participated in ASW's "King of the Ring" tournament, defeating Mexx in the first round, but losing to Dean Allmark in the second round.[11]

In November 2015, Adonis won the British Heavyweight Championship, sometimes referred to as the "SuperSlam" championship, becoming the first American to win the championship.[12] In April 2016 he returned to the United States and at some point later was officially stripped of the championship for lack of defenses.[13] On April 27, 2017 Polinsky worked on an episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's television show under the name "Bill Callous", losing to Ethan Carter III.[14]

Mexico (2016–2018)

On May 1, 2016, Adonis worked his first match in Mexico, defending the British Heavyweight Championship against Mexican wrestler Black Fire, on a Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) show.[15] A few weeks later he began working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Mexico's largest and the world's oldest wrestling promotion. His first major appearance was for the 2016 version of the International Grand Prix, a 16-man tournament featuring native Mexican wrestlers facing foreigners. Adonis was the fourth wrestler eliminated, pinned by Rush.[16] From that point on Adonis began working for CMLL on a regular basis, although he was not signed to a long-term contract with the company.

In the fall of 2016, Polinsky approached the CMLL promoters with a suggestion to tweak his "pretty boy" character, playing off the political situation of the time.[17] With CMLL's approval Sam Adonis became a staunch Donald Trump supporter, including waving a four-foot-long US flag emblazoned with Trump's face as he played off the then-President Elect's stance on Mexico and immigrants.[8] He later had a pair of wrestling trunks airbrushed to feature the face of Donald Trump on the back, in a homage to wrestler Rick Rude, to further the "Pro Trump" image.[18] The character was so successful that one magazine said that Adonis "might be the most hated man in Mexico".[2] When Okumura returned to CMLL, Adonis quickly added the follow foreigner as part of team. During a match, teammates Johnny Idol and Valiente had problems with each other and Idol turned heel after that match and Idol became part of Okumura and Adonis's team, in mid 2018 he parted ways with CMLL.

In 2017 he began working for Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Mexico, and their AJPW/Toryumon Mexico Lucha Fiesta Ultimo Dragon Anniversary shows.

Japan (2017–present)

On August 19, 2017, Adonis appeared in All Japan Pro Wrestling/Toryumon Mexico, teaming with Joe Doering and Diamante against Ultimo Dragon, Jun Akiyama and Caristico for Ultimo's 30th anniversary in Japan; they were defeated in a two-out-of-three falls bout. During the match Adonis ripped Ultimo's mask. He is the only pro wrestler to remove Ultimo Dragon's mask in both Japan and Mexico.

Major League Wrestling (2022–present)

Adonis made his Major League Wrestling debut against Jacob Fatu. This match gained some publicity as Fatu in real life is dating Adonis' now ex-girlfriend.

Personal life

Sam Polinsky was born in 1989, son of professional wrestling promoter Dan Polinsky who helped organize shows in his native Pittsburgh.[2] He is the younger brother of retired wrestler-turned-commentator Matthew Polinsky, better known under the ring name Corey Graves and formerly known as Sterling James Keenan.[8] Sam was trained by his older brother for his professional wrestling career. In subsequent years, Sam Polinsky has stated that he never wanted to exploit the fact that his brother was a well known "name" in professional wrestling, preferring to make it on his own merit.[19]

When US news outlets picked up on the story of Polinsky playing a "pro Trump" character in Mexico Polinsky was quoted as stating:

I can't say I support Trump but I definitely respect Trump. He is just himself, and if you like it, you like it, and if you don't, you don't.
— Sam Polinsky, [20]

He also made a point that the "Sam Adonis" character did not reflect his personal beliefs, especially his feelings for Mexico and Mexicans in general, pointing out that he had a Mexican girlfriend.[8]

Championships and accomplishments

  • Devotion Championship Wrestling
    • DCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Diamond Championship Wrestling
  • DCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ashton Amherst[5]
  • Far North Wrestling
  • Ches-A-Rena Championship (3 times)[5]
  • WAW Undisputed Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[5]

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Sam Adonis (hair)Blue Panther (hair)Mexico CityCMLL Super ViernesAugust 4, 2017[27][28]
Negro Casas (hair)Sam Adonis (hair)Mexico CitySin PiedadJanuary 1, 2018[29][30]
Psycho Clown (mask)Sam Adonis (hair)Mexico CityTriplemanía XXXIAugust 12, 2023[lower-alpha 1][31]

Notes

  1. ↑ Match also included Rush El Toro Blanco (hair) and L.A. Park (mask)

References

  1. ↑ Triboulard, Alexis (February 13, 2017). "Pro-Trump pro wrestler is Mexico's ultimate ring villain". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Linder, Brian (February 10, 2017). "Donald Trump's face takes Pa. wrestler from obscurity to fame in Mexico". Penn Live. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  3. ↑ "FNW". CageMatch. August 1, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ "DCW Xmas Special". CageMatch. December 26, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Sam Adonis > Championships". CageMatch. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ches-A-Rena Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ "NXT Alumni". Florida Championship Wrestling website. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Levine, Daniel S. (February 13, 2017). "Sam Adonis, Corey Graves' Brother: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  9. ↑ "EWP Wrestling Festival 2012 – Tag 1". CageMatch. October 5, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  10. ↑ "NWE The Wrestling Show". CageMatch. March 23, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  11. ↑ "ASW King of the Ring". CageMatch. April 17, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  12. ↑ Docken, Neil (January 21, 2016). "All Star Wrestling return to New Brighton's Floral Pavilion with rumble match". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  13. 1 2 Docking, Neil (January 26, 2017). "All Star Wrestling return to New Brighton's Floral Pavilion with the UK Hooligans". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  14. ↑ "IMPACT Wrestling #621". CageMatch. April 24, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  15. ↑ "DTU Luchando por los Ninos". CageMatch. May 1, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  16. ↑ Valdés, Apolo (July 1, 2015). "Volador Jr. se llevó el Grand Prix 2016". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved July 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Oster, Aaron (November 7, 2016). "Make Wrestling Great Again: Why Mixing Nostalgia, Politics Works So Well". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  18. ↑ Vrabel, Jeff (February 13, 2017). "Mexico's Biggest Wrestling Villain Is a Bad Hombre Who Loves Trump". GQ. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  19. ↑ LaBar, Justin (June 26, 2016). "LaBar: Pittsburgh native is rising star in pro wrestling". Trib Live. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  20. ↑ O'Boyle, Michael (February 13, 2017). "U.S. wrestler in Mexico channels hatred of Trump in the ring". Reuters. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  21. ↑ "GALLI Indiscutible Championship". CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  22. ↑ "IWC Super Indy Championship". CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  23. ↑ "Sam Adonis gana el torneo AAA Rey de Reyes 2023". solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  24. ↑ "Champions".
  25. ↑ Ruth, Sondra (September 14, 2023). "Complete 2023 PWI 500 List Revealed, Top NJPW Star Absent". tjrwrestling.net. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  26. ↑ "WILL OSPREAY VS. BRIAN CAGE & MORE: 1/22 WARRIOR WRESTLING 18 RESULTS FROM SOUTH BEND, INDIANA". PWInsider.com. 2022-01-22. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  27. ↑ Dark Angelita (August 5, 2017). "CMLL: Resultados Viernes Espectacular de Arena México 04/08/2017 En polémica lucha cae la cabellera de Blue Panther" [CMLL Friday Specacular in Arena Mexico results 04/08/2017: A controversial match for the hair of Blue Panther]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Sam Adonis deja sin cabellera a Blue Panther" [Sam Adonis leaves Blue Panther bald]. ESTO (in Spanish). August 5, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  29. ↑ Rosas Plata, Arturo (January 2, 2018). "¡Cobra venganza!". Ovaciones (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  30. ↑ Quezada Monter, Roberto (January 2, 2018). "Negro Casas arranca el año rapando a Sam Adons". Esto (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Sam Adonis Loses Hair, Vikingo Retains AAA Belt At Triplemania XXXI Mexico City". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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