Juan Rivera (born August 10, 1964) is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler.
He is known for his work in the World Wrestling Council, where he won the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship three times and the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship three times.
1985
After graduating from high school, he began his professional wrestling career in 1985.
He made his professional wrestling debut on August 14, 1985, for Mid-South Wrestling as Skandor Akbar's newest client, the masked villainous wrestler "El Corsario" by defeating Mark Ragin.
His debut match aired on the August 17 episode of Mid-South TV.
As a member of Akbar's Army, he frequently teamed with Akbar's other clients.
He also received a few title shots in Mid-South.
The first title shot occurred against Butch Reed for the promotion's Television Championship on the October 19 episode of Mid-South TV, but failed to win.
On the October 26 episode of Power Pro Wrestling, Corsario and Dutch Mantell unsuccessfully challenged Al Perez and Wendell Cooley for the Tag Team Championship.
Corsario finished his run with Mid-South on November 11 at a live event by teaming with Steve Williams in a loss to The Bruise Brothers.
1986
In 1986, Rivera wrestled a few matches for the Mexican promotion Universal Wrestling Association as Corsario I and teamed with Corsario II.
On August 8, Los Corsarios lost a masks versus masks two out of three falls match to Los Brazos (Brazo de Plata and El Brazo).
Corsario would then wrestle for UWA two more times in two out of three falls matches, losing both matches.
After a few exploits in various promotions, Rivera went to Miami, Florida, where he tried out for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
He was accepted and sent back to Puerto Rico to wrestle for the Capitol Sports Promotions (CSP) as "TNT", adopting a fan favorite character based on his martial arts background and featuring several elements from stereotypical Hispanic gimmicks.
He was managed by "El Profe" Ángel Pantoja Rivera.
1987
TNT made his CSP debut on May 2, 1987, by defeating Miguel Pérez to win the North American Heavyweight Championship, his first professional wrestling championship.
On July 11, he became a dual champion, winning the World Tag Team Championship with Mr. Pogo by defeating The Youngbloods (Chris and Mark) and holding it for nineteen days, before losing it back to Youngbloods.
TNT would then begin feuding with Pogo, defeating him in a match at Aniversario on September 20.
1988
On January 30, 1988, TNT lost the North American Heavyweight Championship to Abdullah the Butcher.
After the title loss, TNT participated in the La Copa Gillette tournament, in which he defeated Mr. Pogo in the first round, but fought Invader I to a time limit draw in the quarter-final.
On June 18, he won the Caribbean Heavyweight Championship from Hercules Ayala.
Two months later, he dropped it to Buddy Landel.
After failing to regain the title from Landel in a rematch at Aniversario, TNT defeated Landel to win his second Caribbean Heavyweight Championship on September 17.
TNT held the title for another two months before dropping it to Jason the Terrible.
1989
On February 4, 1989, he defeated Sika to win the vacant Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship, holding it for 21 days before losing it to Abbuda Dein.
He defeated Jason the Terrible to win his third Caribbean Heavyweight Championship on March 4, and dropped it to Rip Rogers on May 14.
On June 17, TNT defeated Carlos Colón to win the Television Championship.
TNT would then begin feuding with Chicky Starr, whom he defeated in a gimmick versus hair match at Aniversario.
During the last half of 1989, TNT had a midcard feud with Leo Burke, which was interrupted midway through when Burke defeated Carlos Colón for the Universal Heavyweight Championship.
TNT was originally expected to win the belt, given his status as a fan favorite and solid wrestling skills.
1990
During the 1990s, he worked for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), initially under the masked, villainous and venom-spewing Kwang gimmick.
He later portrayed Savio Vega, the eventual leader of a Puerto Rican stable, Los Boricuas.
After leaving the WWF, Rivera returned to Puerto Rico and joined Víctor Quiñones' promotion, the International Wrestling Association, where he was a long-time general manager and won five titles, including the IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship.
On February 9, 1990, he defeated Burke for the Universal Heavyweight Championship, marking the first world championship win of his professional wrestling career.
As a result, TNT vacated the Television Championship.
He held the Universal Heavyweight Championship for a month, before dropping it to Abdullah the Butcher.
2011
In 2011, he was featured in the first interpromotional angle between IWA and WWC.
Rivera was born and raised in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico.
He was connected to the wrestling business while working as a security guard at World Wrestling Council live shows.
