Jake Atlas

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Jake Atlas
Birth nameKenny Marquez
Born (1994-10-05) October 5, 1994 (age 27)
El Monte, California, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Jake Atlas
Trained bySantino Bros Wrestling
DebutAugust 6, 2016

Kenny Marquez[1] (born October 5, 1994), known by his ring name Jake Atlas, is an American professional wrestler and former gymnast currently signed to All Elite Wrestling. He is also known for his time in WWE.

Professional wrestling career[]

Early years (2016–2017)[]

As a native resident of Los Angeles, Marquez trained at the local Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy, making his in-ring debut on August 6, 2016 under the ring name Jake Atlas against Robby Phoenix, a match that he won via Disqualification. He went on to appear in numerous California promotions including Orange County Championship Wrestling, Empire Wrestling Federation, Baja Star's USA, All Pro Wrestling, Gold Rush Pro Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Hollywood among several other promotions between 2016 and 2017. In some promotions, he competed in tag team matches with fellow wrestler Lucas Riley, calling themselves Aerial Instinct, due to their high-flying style of wrestling. During his career, Atlas won titles including Santino Bros. Wrestling's SBW Championship and All Pro Wrestling's Universal Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight Championships.

WWE (2018–2021)[]

Atlas' earliest association with WWE occurred as early as 2018. He first appeared with Stephanie McMahon on an episode of Celebrity Undercover Boss. Atlas reportedly received $25,000 as a down payment for a house and was hired as an Ambassador for the WWE. During July of that year, Atlas worked in the "Be A Star" program in the Boston, Massachusetts area. On October 23, 2019, Atlas officially signed with WWE.[2] On the April 1, 2020 episode of NXT, Atlas was defeated by Dexter Lumis in his debut.[3] On April 12, Atlas was named a participant in the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship round-robin tournament. Atlas defeated Drake Maverick in his first match in the tournament and Tony Nese in his second match but lost to Kushida. After Maverick defeated Kushida on the May 20 episode of NXT, a Triple Threat match was set up between Maverick, Kushida and Atlas for the following week as all three men were tied at 2-1. Maverick won the match after pinning Atlas albeit in a controversial fashion. On the June 19 episode of 205 Live, Atlas made his debut on the brand defeating Jack Gallagher.[4] In October 2020 he would begin a feud with Santos Escobar over the Cruiserweight Championship but every time he was defeated. In January 2021, Atlas entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, where he was paired with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, but the two were eliminated from the tournament by the eventual winner MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) and following the match, argued with one another.[5] On August 6, 2021, Atlas was released from his WWE contract.[6]

Independent circuit (2021)[]

Following his release from WWE, Atlas' first appearance was at Game Changer Wrestling's Effy's Big Gay Brunch Chicago event, where he defeated Effy.

Ring of Honor (2021)[]

On September 3rd, 2021, it was announced that Atlas would appear at Ring of Honor's Death Before Dishonor XVIII in a special showcase match against fellow recent WWE release Taylor Rust. At the event, Atlas was defeated by Rust.

Not long after, Atlas announced his retirement from professional wrestling, citing mental health reasons as the reason why.[7]

All Elite Wrestling (2021-present)[]

On the December 28, 2021 taping of AEW Dark, Atlas came out of retirement and made his in ring return. After the match, AEW owner Tony Khan came out and shook Atlas’s hand, hinting that he had been signed by the company.

Personal life[]

Marquez is openly gay.[8][9] He is of Japanese and Mexican descent.[10]

Championships and accomplishments[]

References[]

  1. ^ Melok, Bobby (January 14, 2020). "Mercedes Martinez, Jake Atlas and more report to WWE Performance Center". WWE.
  2. ^ Rudolph, Christopher (October 23, 2020). "Out Professional Wrestler Jake Atlas to Sign With WWE". LOGO News. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Satin, Ryan (April 2, 2020). "Recent NXT Signee Jake Atlas Makes NXT TV Debut". Pro Wrestling Sheet | Insider Wrestling News and Reports. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  4. ^ "WWE 205 Live Results for 6/19/20 Oney Lorcan vs Chase Parker, Jake Atlas Debuts". Fightful.
  5. ^ Moore, John (January 13, 2021). "1/13 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Adam Cole and Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Breeze and Fandango, and Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ever-Rise in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic matches, Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano vs. Dexter Lumis in a non-title match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Jeremy Lambert (August 6, 2021). "WWE Releases Bronson Reed, Leon Ruff, Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez, And More". Fightful. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jake Atlas Announces That He Is Stepping Away From Pro Wrestling".
  8. ^ Besanvalle, James (February 13, 2018). "Pro-wrestler "Superstar" Jake Atlas comes out as gay". Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  9. ^ Bell, Brian C. (April 4, 2020). "Jake Atlas debuts on WWE television". Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  10. ^ Shorey, Eric (November 5, 2019). "A Rare Interview With One of Wrestling's Rising Stars". ONE37pm. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 15, 2019). "APW Junior Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  12. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (August 2, 2019). "APW Universal Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 18, 2019). "PCW ULTRA Light Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  14. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (2020)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  15. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 21, 2018). "SBW Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.

External links[]

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