Source: Miami Herald
A big man who can move, Hernandez is a quiet star on the rise in TNA.
Teaming with Homicide, Hernandez is an integral part of the successful, aggressive tag team the Latin American X-Change.
”What a powerhouse that guy is,” TNA star Tomko said. “He reminds me a lot of Mark Henry. You know Mark Henry is unbelievably strong, and so is Hernandez. The difference between Hernandez and Mark Henry is that Hernandez can move a lot faster.”
Tomko added: “You got to watch yourself when you’re in the ring with that guy. If he gets his hands on you, you’re pretty much at his mercy.”
Hernandez, standing 6-2 and weighing 295 pounds, is someone who can make plenty scream mercy. He has a bright future. It’s just a matter of time.
”Hernandez is one of those guys that I don’t think knows how strong he really is,” said TNA star Tennessee Cowboys James Storm. “He’s one of those guys who is incredibly strong, and I think he has a lot of potential in the wrestling business.”
Currently, Hernandez, 35, is content with his role on the tag team scene in TNA.
A former football player at NCAA Division II Texas A&I in Kingsville, he had dreams of the NFL like Texas A&I alums Earl Dotson (Packers), Roberto Garza (Bears), Darrell Green (Redskins), Al Harris (Packers), John Randle (Vikings) and Gene Upshaw (Raiders).
So how good was Hernandez?
He chuckled.
”As the years go past your playing days, you always become better in your mind,” he said.
Hernandez earned All Conference honors as a defensive lineman his senior season. After college, he played for the Texas Terror in the arena league in Houston.
”The pay wasn’t where it needed to be at for me, being a grown man and having some responsibilities,” he said. “The Terror expected you to play on the team and have a job as well. This was before the NFL took over the arena league. It was kind of rough.”
Hernandez, a Houston native, turned his attention to pro wrestling.
”I was looking for an avenue to still be athletic and make some money,” he said, “and WWE came to town. I met some of the guys and started to attend a local wrestling school.”
Hernandez trained under Tugboat Taylor with Texas All-Star Wrestling, debuting in November 1996. He also learned from Rudy Boy Gonzalez and Shawn Michaels.
“I also came from wrestling in Mexico where there’s mostly six-man, 3-on-3. From that, it was a little easier transition coming into the tags in TNA.”
In 2000, the wrestler with Puerto Rican roots worked for the World Wrestling Federation, appearing on episodes of WWF Jakked. In 2001, he began wrestling for the NWA, winning the heavyweight title over Kevin Northcutt.
Hernandez debuted with TNA in November 2003 and worked there again in June 2004. In 2005, he joined the Texas indie circuit until returning to TNA in March 2006 as part of LAX.
”This has been a learning process,” he said. “I was doing Lucha Libre style which is a lot different than American style wrestling. Luckily, I was fortunate to have two mentors — Homicide and Konnan — when I first came into TNA. They pretty much molded me into exactly who I have become, and now we’re ready to take on the world.”
Hernandez wrestled in Japan and Mexico and various indies such as Ring of Honor, but he is enjoying his time in TNA.
”Wrestling in Japan, wrestling in Mexico, wrestling different styles really helped me adapt coming into TNA,” he said. “If I was just wrestling American style, it probably would have been tougher for me, a big man, because TNA is so fast paced.”
Hernandez and Homicide have formed a very formidable tag team in TNA.
”I prefer tag team wrestling better with Homicide,” he said. “He is a genius. He’s been doing this over 10 years, and we clicked so well in the ring. I’d rather not do singles.”
Hernandez is eyeing the TNA tag team titles which LAX once held. He also wants to help TNA expand more toward the Hispanic market.
”Hispanics watch wrestling. They love wrestling. It’s their passion,” he said, “but it’s very hard for them to support it, when there’s not a lot of Hispanics on the shows. We want to take this over the top.”
TNA increased its show schedule in 2008.
”It’s been pretty good,” he said. “Ever since the 2-hour [iMPACT!] show’s been going, we’ve been traveling to different towns, and it’s been great.”
Hernandez is a future singles powerhouse.
”Maybe down the road singles wrestling, but me and Homicide are real close friends. We get along and mesh well together,” he said. “We’ve talked about this privately, whether monetarily does it make more sense to let us go singles, or we can make more money in tags and etch our names with legendary teams like the Funks, Road Warriors, Team 3D (Dudley Boys), Steiners, etc.”
• LAX has a new feature with Salinas (Shelly Martinez), formerly Ariel with WWE. She is beautifully tough. She compliments the physical style of LAX.
• TNA will conduct three television tapings March 27-29 at Soundstage 21 at Universal Studios Orlando. There will be a first-ever live telecast of !iMPACT! on Spike TV at 9 p.m. Thursday, March 27.
The other two will be taped — one on Friday evening and then Saturday afternoon. Seats (free) are first-come, first-serve. You do not need park admission to enter.
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