Rey González Echevarria (born 1998) is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler best known by his ring name Ray González Jr.. He is the son of fellow professional wrestler Ray González, Sr., who has dominated the local circuit for twenty years and whose reign as NWA World Heavyweight Champion is the first among those recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). González began wrestling in the World Wrestling Council at the age of seventeen and has won the World Tag Team and the WWC Puerto Rico Championships.
| Ray González | |
|---|---|
 González (left) and mentor Gilbert (right) as part of El Sindicato in 2018. | |
| Born | 1998 Dorado, Puerto Rico |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | El Hijo de Ray González Ray González Jr. Ray Jr. |
| Billed from | Barrio Mameyal, Dorado |
| Debut | 2015 |
Wrestling career
editFirst championships (2015–present)
editOn January 14, 2013, González was involved in a stare-down with Carly Colón, with no consequences. He was formally introduced in a backstage segment on April 27, 2013, where heel manager Orlando Toledo harassed him in order to deliver a message to his father. In January 2015, González, Sr. suffered a legitimate back injury in a match against Colón. While his father recovered, González was introduced to WWC as an active wrestler. His first storyline was a spinoff of his father's feud with Colón, who visited the González's family business and disrespected him by spitting an apple in his face. The following weeks featured various training montages, where his father and other wrestlers aided him gain conditioning a polish his wrestling skill. On April 4, 2015, González made his in-ring debut defeating Ángel "Fashion" Pérez by submission.[1] Unsatisfied with this, Colón began ordering his subordinates to injure and retire him.[2] González went on to defeat Rolando Hernández (performing under the alias of "El Diabólico") next.[3] Both of his adversaries formed an alliance, but were unable to prevent him from winning a rematch with Pérez.[4] On May 3, 2015, González won a handicap match to earn an opportunity against their leader. The match between both took place the following week, with him winning a disqualification in a match dominated by Colón when the heel stable intervened and attacked him.[5]
This feud continued when González teamed with Richard Philipo (known as Xix Xavant) to defeat Pérez and Hernández, but after this match another storyline was started, when both were assaulted by a trio of masked wrestlers known as "La Revolución".[6] The main date of Summer Madness, González joined his father to wrestle Colón and one of the members of this group.[7] The following night he faced a member of La Revolución, the result of which led to a handicap match where he and José Vázquez defeated this wrestler.[8] González and Vázquez teamed again in a match for the WWC World Tag Team Championship but after the latter left the ring and was replaced with Víctor Ortiz (known as Mike Mendoza) their win was revoked.[9] On August 15, 2015, he officially teamed with Ortiz and won a rematch for the titles.[10] The team retained the championship for two weeks, when they dropped them back in a rematch. He was then involved in a storyline where Wilkins Nuñez (known as Joe Bravo) returned to the promotion and sought to retire all second generation wrestlers, with the latter winning an encounter between both by employing illegal tactics. On September 26, 2015, González defeated the third member of La Revolución.[11] He dropped the title to Nuñez on October 17, 2015, after his opponent used the same illegal tactics as before.[12]
The following week González began his involvement in a new storyline, where he was accepted to attend a seminary at the Texas Wrestling Academy. Upon arriving and being welcomed by instructor Rudy Boy González, a student named Scotty Santiago alerted an unknown individual of his presence in the premises. It was subsequently revealed that this was Alberto Rodríguez (known as "El Patrón" Alberto del Rio) who assaulted González in retaliation for his father injuring Ricardo Rodriguez in 2014.[13] This attack lead to a match at Lockout.[14] At the event, González was involved in a confrontation with El Hijo de Dos Caras, leading to a match where father and son would join to face the latter and Santiago at Euphoria 2016.
In 2017, Pro Wrestling Illustrated voted him second (24%) in the "Rookie of the Year" category, behind winner Otis Dozovic (28%).[15]
Personal life
editIn 2020 Rey Gonzalez Jr. became a licensed flying instructor and pilot.
Championships and accomplishments
editReferences
edit- ^ "RESULTADOS WWC CAMINO A LA GLORIA 4/4". 5 April 2015.
- ^ "VIDEO: RAY ORGULLOSO DE SU HIJO". 12 April 2015.
- ^ "NOTAS DEL WWC". 19 April 2015.
- ^ "REPORTE SUPER ESTRELLAS WWC 5/2". 3 May 2015.
- ^ "RESULTADOS WWC EN BAYAMON 5/9". 10 May 2015.
- ^ "REPORTE SUPER ESTRELLAS WWC 5/30". 30 May 2015.
- ^ "Ray González regresa al ring luego de peligrosa lesión". 26 June 2015.
- ^ "NOTAS WWC EN BAYAMON 7/11". 12 July 2015.
- ^ "RESULTADOS WWC NOCHE DE CAMPEONES 8/1". 2 August 2015.
- ^ "RESULTADOS WWC EL GRAN CONFLICTO EN BAYAMON 8/15". 16 August 2015.
- ^ "RESULTADOS WWC ANIVERSARIO BAYAMON 9/26". 27 September 2015.
- ^ "NOTAS DE LA LUCHA LIBRE BORICUA". 18 October 2015.
- ^ "WWC: ALBERTO ATACA A RAY JR; REGRESAN THUNDER & LIGHTNING". 7 November 2015.
- ^ "NOTAS DEL WWC". 8 November 2015.
- ^ "El Impacto Semanal (1/16): FWR cancela, Firmas en WWE, Impact Wrestling y más ~ Impacto Estelar". 16 January 2018.