{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1975)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name= Kid Romeo |birth_name=Samuel Román |image= |names=Kid Romeo<ref name=Cage>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net?id=2&nr=705&name=Kid+Romeo|title=Kid Romeo « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref><ref name=OWOW/><br />Romeo<ref name=Cage/> |height={{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref name=OWOW>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kid-romeo.html|title=Online World of Wrestling|website=www.onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref> |weight={{convert|185|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=OWOW/> |birth_date= {{birth date and age|1975|01|1}}<ref name=Cage/><ref name=OWOW/> |death_date= |birth_place=Miami, Florida, U.S.<ref name=Cage/> |resides= |billed=South Beach, Florida<ref name=OWOW/> |trainer=Paul Orndorff<ref name=Cage/><br />WCW Power Plant<ref name=Cage/><ref name=OWOW/> |debut=September 3, 1999<ref name=Debut/> |retired=November 16, 2008<ref name=NWA/> }} '''Samuel Román'''<ref name=Cage/><ref name=OWOW/> (born 1975) is a Puerto Rican-American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling in 2001 under the ring name '''Kid Romeo''', where he was one half of the first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions alongside Elix Skipper.

==Professional wrestling career==

===World Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)=== After briefly working as a male stripper,<ref name=Cage/><ref name=OWOW/> Román started wrestling in 1999 in World Championship Wrestling after being trained by Paul Orndorff at the WCW Power Plant. He debuted later that year at a house show on September 3 under the ring name Kid Romeo, where he defeated Triple A.<ref name=Debut>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/h0000229.htm|title=House Show Results from Tallahassee, FL, 09/03/99|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> Two days later, Triple A defeated Romeo in a rematch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/h0000228.htm|title=House Show Results from Port Huron, MI, 09/01/99|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> After Triple A began using his real name (Allan Funk), the two exchanged victories on ''Saturday Night'' before Romeo began wrestling against fellow Power Plant graduates in dark matches through the rest of 1999 and into early 2000.<ref name=CageMatches2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net?id=2&nr=705&view=matches&gimmick=&jahr=&liga=&region=&art=&artmatches=&gegner=Gegner&partner=Partner&suchbegriff=Suchbegriff&Start=51|title=Kid Romeo « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>

On the January 24, 2000 episode of ''Nitro'', Romeo made his televised debut and was easily defeated by The Wall.<ref name=Nitro>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000014m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - January 24th, 2000|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> Two days later on ''Thunder'', Romeo lost to Prince Iaukea in a Cruiserweight Championship tournament quarterfinal match.<ref name=Thunder>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000014t.htm|title=WCW Thunder - Wednesday, January 26, 2000|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> After winning a few consecutive dark matches, Roman was sent to Japan to compete in New Japan Pro-Wrestling in order to further hone his skills.<ref name=CageMatches2/>

After losing a match against Essa Ríos on the February 10, 2001 episode of ''Jakked'', Roman returned to WCW, where he resumed his Kid Romeo name and lost to Chris Harris in a dark match before SuperBrawl Revenge.<ref name=CageMatches>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net?id=2&nr=705&view=matches|title=Kid Romeo « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref> On the March 5 episode of ''Nitro'', Romeo was introduced as Elix Skipper's mystery tag team partner against A.J. Styles and Air Paris.<ref name=Nitro2>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2001031m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - March 5, 2001|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> With Skipper, Romeo won his redebut match and they both advanced to the semi-finals of a tournament to crown the inaugural Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions.<ref name=Nitro2/> Upon returning, Romeo adopted a heel gimmick loosely based on Ricky Martin, which was further emphasized with his entrance music being a cover of Martin's song "The Cup of Life". The following week on ''Nitro'', Skipper and Romeo defeated The Jung Dragons to advance to the finals of the tournament.<ref name=Nitro3>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2001032m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - March 12, 2001|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> On March 18 at Greed, WCW's final pay-per-view, Romeo and Skipper defeated The Filthy Animals (Rey Mysterio Jr. and Kidman) in the tournament finals to become the promotion's first ever Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions, which also gave Romeo the first championship of his career.<ref name=Greed>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2001033p.htm|title=WCW Greed, March 18, 2001|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> Romeo and Skipper began feuding with the Animals over the title, and on the final episode of ''Thunder'' on March 21, Romeo and Skipper's undefeated streak was broken as they and Chavo Guerrero Jr. lost to Mysterio Jr. Kidman and Shane Helms.<ref name=Thunder2>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2001033t.htm|title=The "Season Finale" of WCW Thunder - Wednesday, 3/21/2001|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref> On the final episode of ''Nitro'' on March 26, their feud culminated as Romeo and Skipper lost the Cruiserweight Tag Team Title to Mysterio Jr. and Kidman in what turned out to be the second to last match in WCW's history.<ref name=Final>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2001034m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro - "Season Finale" - March 26, 2001|website=www.ddtdigest.com}}</ref>

===Independent circuit, hiatus and retirement (2002–2005, 2008)=== Following WCW's closure, Román traveled to Puerto Rico to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council.<ref name=OWOW/> He also made some appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, making his debut there on July 10, 2002, in a six-way elimination match that included Tony Mamaluke, Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper, Jerry Lynn, and Low Ki, although Román was eliminated after Low Ki forced him to submit. He returned to TNA on May 21 as Romeo, competing in a four-way match against CM Punk, Jason Cross and Paul London, the latter of whom won the match and became the number one contender to the X Division Championship. From 2003 to 2004, Román would continue to be used as a jobber, losing to the likes of Raven, Jeff Hardy, Kid Kash and Chris Sabin.<ref name=OWOW/> During his time with TNA, Román's only victory was a tag team dark match where he and Sonjay Dutt defeated The Naturals.<ref name=OWOW/> In addition to TNA, Roman also wrestled in Championship Wrestling from Florida for a short time, where he feuded with Tyree Pride.<ref name=OWOW/> He returned to TNA for the final time on May 17, 2005, where he lost to Zach Gowen.<ref name=CageMatches/> Román then took a hiatus from wrestling and subsequently began working as an exterminator.<ref name=Cage/>

In 2008, Román returned to wrestling as Romeo and joined NWA South Atlantic. On May 10, he teamed with Benny Blanco as the Casanova Cartel to defeat Manson and Black Knight (the latter substituting for Manson's partner Rico Moon) to win the territory's Tag Team Championship.<ref name=NWA>{{Cite web|url=https://nwa-sa.tripod.com/nwa_florida_tag_team.htm|title=NWA Florida Tag Team Title History compiled by|website=nwa-sa.tripod.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net?id=2&nr=705&view=tagteams|title=Kid Romeo « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net?id=28&nr=3011|title=Casanova Cartel « Tag Teams Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref> The Cartel would go on to hold the title for over six months before being defeated by the SWAT Patrol on November 15.<ref name=NWA/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net?id=28&nr=3011&view=matches|title=Casanova Cartel « Tag Teams Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref> Following the title loss, Román retired from wrestling.

== Championships and accomplishments == *'''NWA South Atlantic''' **NWA South Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Benny Blanco<ref name=NWA/> *'''World Championship Wrestling''' **WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Elix Skipper<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/wcttwcw.html|title=solie.org|website=www.solie.org}}</ref> **WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship Tournament (2001) - with Elix Skipper

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{professional wrestling profiles}}

{{WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kid Romeo}} Category:1975 births Category:American male erotic dancers Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:Professional wrestlers from Miami Category:Dancers from Florida