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Danny Limelight
Limelight in April 2024
Birth nameDaniel Luis Rivera
Born (1991-09-02) September 2, 1991 (age 33)
Brooklyn, New York, United States[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Danny Limelight
Danny Rivera
Rivera
Billed height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Billed weight79 kg (174 lb)[2]
Billed fromBrooklyn, New York[3][4]
Trained by
[5]
DebutOctober 11, 2014[2]
Military service
Service / branch United States Marines Corps
Years of service2009–2019
Rank Staff Sergeant

Daniel Luis Rivera[6] (born September 2, 1991) is a Puerto Rican-American professional wrestler, currently performing for United Wrestling Network's Championship Wrestling from Hollywood under the ring name Danny Limelight and is the current UWN World Champion. He also performs on the independent circuit and makes sporadic appearances for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Limelight has also had notable runs in Major League Wrestling, and All Elite Wrestling.

Early life

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Rivera was a fan of the then World Wrestling Federation's Attitude Era, specifically of The Rock, the D-Generation X stable, and the Hell in a Cell match from Badd Blood: In Your House in 1997.[7]

In 2009, Rivera entered the United States Marines Corps at the age of 17. He achieved the rank of Staff sergeant and worked as a Drill instructor before retiring in 2019.[8]

Professional wrestling career

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Early career

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Rivera was inspired to be a wrestler after speaking with Joe Gamble, a wrestler and acquaintance from Rivera's time in the Marines at a WWE live event in San Diego.[7] After initial training with and competing in matches for SoCal Pro Wrestling, Rivera would start wrestling for promotions in Southern California and Tijuana specifically for Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and The Crash Lucha Libre.[7] Rivera would be in the Los Primos Rivera tag team with Gino Rivera in 2016.

Championship Wrestling From Hollywood (2019–present)

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In 2019, Limelight would begin to feature more prominently on Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. He would be on the losing end against Royce Isaacs for the UWN Television Championship[9][10] and compete in a Fatal Four-Way match with Brandon Cutler, Adrian Quest, and Fidel Bravo at the 2019 Coastline Clash.[11] Limelight was one of a group of wrestlers from Championship Wrestling to compete at Impact Wrestling's Unbreakable event in 2019.

In 2020, Limelight would begin teaming with Papo Esco to form the tag team, the Bodega,[12] becoming UWN Tag Team Champions.[13] In 2021, Limelight and Esco would add Slice Boogie to their group.[14] Together, the trio invoked Freebird Rule to defend the titles until their defeat against the Midnight Heat.[15]

In 2022, Limelight focused more on singles competition. After defeating Willie Mack and Tyler Bateman in the finals of the Golden Opportunity Tournament, Limelight would go on to defeat Jordan Clearwater for the UWN World Championship.[16][17] Before Championship Wrestling went on hiatus due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA sticks in 2023, Danny Limelight had successfully defended the World Championship against Clark Connors, Zicky Dice, Tom Lawlor, and Moose. In another defense, he fought Eddie Kingston to a no contest.[18]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2020–present)

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Main article: Team Filthy

Danny Limelight debuted at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Lion's Break Collision event and was one of the first mainstays on NJPW Strong. Limelight was an entrant in Strong's Lion's Break Crown tournament where he defeated Barrett Brown in the first round and Blake Christian in the semi-finals. Limelight would lose in the finals of the tournament to Clark Connors.[19] Not long after his loss, Limelight would attack Rocky Romero after his match with Rust Taylor and align with Team Filthy.[20] Limelight would feud on and off with Romero, often being on the opposite side of him in tag team matches. Limelight would also face Homicide at Detonation 2022.

All Elite Wrestling (2020–2021)

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On October 21, 2020, Danny Limelight made his All Elite Wrestling debut on AEW Dark on the losing end of a six-man tag team match with Steve Gibki & Tony Vincita against Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus, and Marko Stunt).[21] During his time in the promotion, he would be a main stay on Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation, obtaining victories over Fuego Del Sol, Sean Maluta, and Baron Black in singles matches.[22][23][24] His fist and only televised AEW match came on the January 6, 2021 edition of AEW Dynamite as he and the Varsity Blondes (Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr.) faced Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers.[25]

Major League Wrestling (2021–2022)

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Main article: Latin American Xchange

On July 10, 2021, Danny Rivera, Slice Boogie, and Julius Smokes were introduced by Konnan as members of LAX at Major League Wrestling's Battle Riot III. Eventually, the team would be known as 5150. Rivera and Boogie defeated Myron Reed and Jordan Oliver of Injustice.[26] After feuding with L.A. Park Jr. and El Hijo de L.A. Park, Rivera and Boogie defeated them for the MLW World Tag Team Championships on November 6, 2021.[27] 5150 would defeated for the MLW tag titles against E. J. Nduka and Calvin Tankman (Hustle and Power).[28] Rivera and Boogie would feud with Marshall and Ross Von Erich around this time. Once Hernandez joined 5150, he and Rivera would compete against Hustle and Power and the Von Erichs for the MLW tag titles. Hustle and Power would retain with Rivera taking the pin.[29]

International Wrestling Association (2022)

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As part of an agreement with MLW, Danny Rivera wrestled for International Wrestling Association during their Christmas in PR 2021. Teaming up with Savio Vega, Rivera faced The Owners of Time (Nick Mercer & Leinord White) to a no contest. On January 15, 2022, Rivera and Slice Boogie defeated Mercer and Manny Freno (replacing White) for the IWA World Tag Team Championships in a match where the MLW tag team titles were on the line.[30] 5150 would hold the titles until February 26, 2022, when they would be defeated by Lightning & Mr. Big.

Filmography

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Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2022 NCIS[31] SRT #2 "Pledge of Allegiance"
2024 The Brothers Sun[31] SWAT Cop "Gymkata"

Championships and accomplishments

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Professional wrestling

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References

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  1. ^ "Meet Daniel Rivera of Danny Limelight – Buzz Magazine". www.buzzla.com. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c NJPW. "Danny Limelight- Team Filthy | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Brian Cage vs Danny Limelight | AEW Dark 12/8/20, retrieved January 7, 2024
  4. ^ Danny Limelight (c) vs Filthy Tom Lawlor | CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, retrieved January 7, 2024
  5. ^ Interview with Danny Limelight, retrieved January 7, 2024
  6. ^ "Daniel L. Rivera – Biography". IMDb. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Danny Limelight Talks NJPW Run, How It Happened And His Start In Wrestling | Full Interview, retrieved January 13, 2024
  8. ^ Stories, Local (September 17, 2020). "Meet Daniel Rivera of Danny Limelight in North Hollywood – Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". voyagela.com. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Limelight TV Title". Cagematch. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  10. ^ Royce Isaacs and Jamie Iovine are ready for Danny Limelight, retrieved January 13, 2024
  11. ^ Championship Wrestling presented by Pro Shingle Episode #10 – COASTLINE CLASH P2, retrieved January 13, 2024
  12. ^ CWFH – Airdate Sept 26, 2020, retrieved January 13, 2024
  13. ^ Championship Wrestling from Hollywood – Airdate Dec 12, 2020, retrieved January 13, 2024
  14. ^ Slice Boogie explains his affiliation with The Bodega, retrieved January 13, 2024
  15. ^ CWFH MATCH | The Bodega (c) vs Midnight Heat, retrieved January 13, 2024
  16. ^ Championship Wrestling presented by Car Shield | 8.28.22, retrieved January 14, 2024
  17. ^ Jordan Clearwater (c) vs Danny Limelight | UWN World Title Match, retrieved January 14, 2024
  18. ^ "Limelight title defenses". Cagematch. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "NJPW Strong results: Lion's Break Crown finals". October 10, 2020.
  20. ^ "Team Filthy grow STRONGER, KENTA stays STRONGest! |Finish STRONG - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  21. ^ AEW DARK EPISODE 58 | 10/27/20, retrieved January 15, 2024
  22. ^ AEW Dark Episode 69 | 1/5/21, retrieved January 15, 2024
  23. ^ It's the FIRST-EVER WALK OFF on #AEWDark between 'Pretty' Peter Avalon & Lee Johnson, retrieved January 15, 2024
  24. ^ Huge Triple Main Event + Red Velvet will be featured on Rising Star | AEW Dark: Elevation 2, 3/22/21, retrieved January 15, 2024
  25. ^ Nason, Josh (January 13, 2021). "Good Brothers make their AEW in-ring debut on Dynamite". WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  26. ^ Reichlin, Michael (July 11, 2021). "*Spoiler* Popular Faction Debuts At MLW Battle Riot III". sescoops.com. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  27. ^ "Exclusive: Danny Limelight Talks About the New LAX 5150 & Why This Past Year Was the Best of His Life". November 10, 2021.
  28. ^ MLW Fusion #139: 5150 vs. Nduka & ? | Octagon Jr., Puma King & ? vs. Strange Sangre & Gino, retrieved January 15, 2024
  29. ^ MLW Fusion #149: Taya Valkyrie vs. Holidead for Women's World Featherweight Championship, retrieved January 15, 2024
  30. ^ "5150 become double champs". MLW.com. January 16, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Daniel L. Rivera | Actor, Stunts, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  32. ^ Ross, Patrick (September 10, 2024). "Full 2024 PWI 500 list revealed". aiptcomics.com. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
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