{{short description|Brazilian professional wrestler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Cezar Bononi |image = BononiAxxess.jpg |caption = Bononi in 2018 |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|6|15|df=y}} |birth_place = São Paulo, Brazil<ref name=WWE>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/Cezar-bononi|title=Cezar Bononi|publisher=WWE|access-date=19 November 2017|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407204101/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/cezar-bononi|url-status=dead}}</ref> |spouse = {{marriage|Camila Bononi|2015}} |names = '''Cezar Bononi'''<ref name=WWE/><br />V8 Big Block |height = {{convert|6|ft|6|in|cm|abbr=on}}<ref name=WWE/> |weight = {{convert|270|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=WWE/> |billed = São Paulo, Brazil<ref name=WWE/> |trainer = Bob Junior<ref name=cagematch>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=16194|title=Cezar Bononi|publisher=Cagematch}}</ref><ref name="WrestlingData">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=22222&bild=1&lelau=3&details=|title=Cezar Bononi|website=WrestlingData|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref><br>WWE Performance Center |debut = 2012<ref name=cagematch/> }} '''Cezar Bononi'''<ref name="wwesigning">[http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article41728431.html ‘Tough Enough’ competitors part of solid class of new recruits at WWE Performance Center]</ref> (born 15 June 1986) is a Brazilian professional wrestler, actor and Fitness coach. He is also known for his time in WWE NXT and AEW Dark.
==Early life== Prior to his wrestling career Bononi played American football for São Paulo Storm in the Brazilian football league, being named to the São Paulo state team and the All Brazilian team.<ref name="wwesigning" />
==Professional wrestling career== Bononi trained to be a professional wrestler under Bob Junior of the Brazilian Wrestling Federation, and competed on the independent circuit in his native Brazil and South America under the ring name V8 Big Block. In the BWF, he held the BWF Rei Do Ringue Championship on one occasion.<ref name="cagematch" />
=== WWE (2016–2020) === In October 2015, Bononi was announced as part of a class of 19 WWE recruits to begin training at the WWE Performance Center.<ref name="wwesigning" /> He made his television debut on 10 May 2017 episode of ''NXT'', losing to Aleister Black.<ref>[http://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-results/wwe-nxt-results-itami-battles-strong-physical-main-event-235286 WWE NXT results: Itami battles Strong in a physical main event]</ref> Bononi had his first televised victory on 31 May episode of ''NXT'', defeating Andrade "Cien" Almas. Bononi was named "Future Star of NXT" at the 2017 NXT Year-End Awards.<ref>[http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-nxt-results/82268-wwe-nxt-results-may-31/ WWE NXT Results – 5/31/17 (Ciampa addresses Gargano, Tag Match)]</ref> On 17 April 2020, it was announced that he was released from his WWE contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pwinsider.com/article/135691/wwe-releases-continue.html?p=1|title=WWE RELEASES CONTINUE (UPDATED)|first=Mike|last=Johnson|work=PW Insider|date=17 April 2020|access-date=17 April 2020}}</ref>
=== Evolve (2018) === Due to WWE's business relationship with Evolve Wrestling, several NXT wrestlers were allowed to participate in an independent show produced by Evolve.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-10-29 |title=Surprise Title Changes as NXT Stars hit EVOLVE 114 |url=https://wrestlingsc.com/2018/10/29/evolve-114-throws-up-some-suprises/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=STEELCHAIR Wrestling Magazine {{!}} Covering WWE, AEW, NJPW, ROH, IMPACT and more |language=en-GB}}</ref> On October 28 at ''Evolve 114'', Bononi debuted as the corner man to his tag partner Adrian Jaoude in his match defeating independent wrestler Joe Gacy.
=== All Elite Wrestling (2020–2023) === On 24 June 2020 episode of All Elite Wrestling's ''Dynamite'', Bononi was spotted in the crowd along with other wrestlers where he broke up a brawl between participants of a lumberjack. Bononi would then make his in-ring debut on 29 September episode of ''Dark'' where he teamed with Shawn Dean in a losing effort to The Gunn Club. Over the next few months, Bononi would compete sporadically on ''Dark'' in losing efforts. On 26 January 2021 episode of ''Dark'', Bononi would align himself with Peter Avalon. Bononi had his first win in AEW on 3 February episode of ''Dark'', teaming with Avalon to defeat Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean. Bononi made his first in-ring appearance on 4 February episode of ''Dynamite'', teaming with Avalon in a loss to the team of Lee Johnson and Cody Rhodes. At Revolution, Bononi and Avalon took part in the Tag Team Casino Battle Royale in a losing effort. After the end of ''Dark'' in May, Bononi had his contract terminated with AEW.
=== Independent circuit (2021–present) === Bononi mostly worked in Independent Circuit under the ring name V8 Big Block.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 Former AEW Wrestlers Who Disappeared Into Oblivion, Nov. 3, 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url=https://www.thesportster.com/former-aew-wrestlers-disappeared-into-oblivion/#cezar-bononi |access-date=11 November 2023 |publisher=TheSportster}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> He held BWF Rei Do Ringue Championship for Brazilian Wrestling Federation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cezar Bononi - TheSportsDB.com |url=https://www.thesportsdb.com/player/34163167-Cezar-Bononi |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.thesportsdb.com}}</ref> Later in 2023, Bononi joined Boca Raton Championship Wrestling. He defeated Ozzy Kilmeister in ''NWA/BRCW Boca Versus The World'' event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-21 |title=NWA x BRCW Results: Boca Versus The World – Boca Raton, FL (7/19) |url=https://www.wrestling-news.net/nwa-brcw-boca-versus-the-world-results/209167/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.wrestling-news.net |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cezar Bononi Matches |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=16194&page=4 |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=CageMatch.net}}</ref> ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''Boca Raton Championship Wrestling''' **BRCW Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Noah Kekoa *'''Brazilian Wrestling Federation''' **BWF Rei Do Ringue Championship (1 time)<ref name=cagematch /> *'''''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''''' ** Ranked No. 423 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''PWI 500'' in 2019<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/pwi-500/2019.html|title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2019 - the Internet Wrestling Database}}</ref> *'''WWE''' **NXT Year-End Award (1 time) ***Future Star of NXT (2017)<ref>[https://www.f4wonline.com/daily-updates/daily-update-nxt-year-end-awards-takeover-impact-ratings-250566 Daily Update: NXT year-end awards, TakeOver, Impact ratings]</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=16194|wrestlingdata=22222|iwd=cezar-bononi-12532}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bononi, Cezar}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Brazilian male professional wrestlers Category:Brazilian players of American football Category:Sportspeople from São Paulo Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers