Raquel (wrestler)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Raquel
Birth nameGabriela Castrovinci
Born (1986-01-10) January 10, 1986 (age 35)
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Children1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Raquel[1]
Gabi Castrovinci
Gabriela Rio
Billed height5 ft 4 in (1,62 m)
Billed weight123 lb (56 kg)
Billed fromSouthington, Connecticut
Brazil
Trained byBilly Gunn
Booker T
Lita
WWE Performance Center
Afa Anoa'i
Debut2015

Gabriela Castrovinci (born January 10, 1986) is a Brazilian professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, businesswoman and fitness model best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Raquel.[2][3] Castrovinci previously appeared on the sixth season of WWE's television show WWE Tough Enough.

Early life[]

Castrovinci was born and raised in Brazil. She grew up practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is a professional athlete for World Beauty Fitness & Fashion. She is an avid surfer and snowboarder. As a self-employed entrepreneur, Castrovinci runs an online business selling Brazilian leggings.[citation needed]

Professional wrestling career[]

WWE[]

Tough Enough (2015)[]

In 2015, Castrovinci appeared as a contestant on the sixth season of the re-launched Tough Enough finishing in tenth place.[4]

Independent circuit (2015–present)[]

After her time in WWE Tough Enough, Castrovinci trained further with World Xtreme Wrestling and would later make her in-ring debut for them at the end of 2015. In the beginning of February, she talked with TMZ about "being assaulted" by an opponent during a match with her training company.[5][6]

On April 1, 2016, Castrovinci, under the name Raquel, competed in a Rise of the Queen Tournament for the Championship Wrestling Entertainment promotion and proceeded to win the whole thing, defeating the likes of Layne Rosario/Cherry Layne, Rachael Ellering and Santana Garrett. On September 16, 2016, the villainous Raquel unsuccessfully challenged Santana Garrett for the CWE Vixen's Championship.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2016–2017)[]

In the year of 2016, Castrovinci signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[7] She appeared on January 9, 2016 tapings of Impact Wrestling, and on January 12 of Impact Wrestling in a vignette, revealing her name as Raquel. When she made her debut, she was involved in segments with Lashley; however, this angle was shortly nixed, and nothing came from her appearances with him.

Raquel made her in-ring debut through the company's One Night Only PPV's mainly on Knockouts Knockdown 4 in a match against Barbi Hayden in a losing effort. During April 23 tapings, Raquel acted as a manager for The BroMans. Raquel later made appearances on Xplosion, losing matches to Madison Rayne and Jade, while being repackaged as a villainess with a "selfie-obsessed" gimmick.

On January 6, 2017, Castrovinci revealed she was no longer with TNA.[8]

Championships and accomplishments[]

References[]

  1. ^ "TNA Signs Another Former WWE Tough Enough Contestant". Wrestling Inc.
  2. ^ "TNA Signs Another Former WWE Tough Enough Contestant - WrestlingInc.com". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  3. ^ "TNA Knockout Raquel (Gabi Castrovinci) Photos and News". PWPIX.net. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  4. ^ https://www.wwetoughenough.com/competitors/Gabi
  5. ^ Chiari, Mike. "TNA's Raquel Says She Was Assaulted During Match by opponent". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "TNA Knockout And Former 'Tough Enough' Contestant Raquel Thrown Out of Locker Room". The Inquisitr News. February 20, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  7. ^ Johnson, Mike (January 14, 2016). "FORMER TOUGH ENOUGH COMPETITOR BECOMES TNA KNOCKOUT". PWInsider. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  8. ^ Gabi Castrovinci [@GabrielaRio10] (January 7, 2017). "No