Brian Damage
The WWF/WWE has had some type of developmental system for years now. Whether it was the USWA, Ohio Valley, Power Pro, Heartland, Deep South, Florida Championship Wrestling or NXT…many of the company’s top superstars got their start in at least one of them. While some developmental names like John Cena, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton, The Miz, Brock Lesnar and Charlotte Flair all made big stars of themselves by first training in developmental, others never got to see the light of day. This series will focus on those wrestlers…the ones that at some point were a lock to get called up to the main roster and never quite made it. What once was hot, suddenly became a “not” as a WWE superstar.
Lupe Santiago
Guadalupe Vizcarra got his start in pro wrestling by training with veteran Rip Rogers in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). Vizcarra made his pro debut in 2007 wrestling for Derby City Wrestling in Kentucky. After several matches under his belt, Vizcarra was offered and signed a WWE developmental deal and was assigned back to OVW.
Vizcarra would undergo a name change initially being called ‘Damien Santiago.’ Eventually, his name was tweaked to Lupe Santiago. When WWE changed the developmental system, Lupe was sent to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) based in Tampa, Florida. Lupe Santiago battled several other up and coming stars in FCW such as Sheamus, Wade Barrett and Harry Smith. Lupe Santiago remained in developmental until June of 2009, when he was released from his contract.
Instead of continuing to pursue a wrestling career, Lupe Vizcarra quit the business and moved to Los Angeles, California. He still resides there with his wife and is working as a personal trainer.
Ring the Damn Bell 