Jake Atlas

Jake Atlas
Birth nameKenny Sanchez Marquez
Born (1994-10-05) October 5, 1994 (age 30)
El Monte, California, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Jake Atlas
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Billed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Trained bySantino Bros Wrestling
DebutAugust 6, 2016
RetiredJanuary 7, 2022

Kenny Sanchez Marquez (born October 5, 1994), known by his ring name Jake Atlas, is an American former professional wrestler known for his time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and WWE.

Professional wrestling career

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As a native resident of Los Angeles, Sanchez Marquez trained at the local Santino Bros. Wrestling Academy, making his in-ring debut on August 6, 2016, under the ring name Jake Atlas against Robby Phoenix, a match that he won via Disqualification. He went on to appear in numerous California promotions including Orange County Championship Wrestling, Empire Wrestling Federation, Baja Star's USA, All Pro Wrestling, Gold Rush Pro Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Hollywood among several other promotions between 2016 and 2017. In some promotions, he competed in tag team matches with fellow wrestler Lucas Riley, calling themselves Aerial Instinct, due to their high-flying style of wrestling. During his career, Atlas won titles including Santino Bros. Wrestling's SBW Championship and All Pro Wrestling's Universal Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight Championships.

Atlas' earliest association with WWE occurred as early as 2018, when he first appeared with Stephanie McMahon on an episode of Celebrity Undercover Boss. Atlas reportedly received $25,000 as a down payment for a house and was hired as an ambassador for the WWE. During July of that year, Atlas worked a "Be A Star" program in the Boston, Massachusetts area. On October 23, 2019, Atlas officially signed with WWE.[1] On the April 1, 2020 episode of NXT, Atlas was defeated by Dexter Lumis in his debut.[2] On April 12, Atlas was named a participant in the Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship round-robin tournament. Atlas defeated Drake Maverick in his first match in the tournament and Tony Nese in his second match but lost to Kushida. After Maverick defeated Kushida on the May 20 episode of NXT, a Triple Threat match was set up between Maverick, Kushida and Atlas for the following week as all three men were tied at 2–1. Maverick won the match after pinning Atlas albeit in a controversial fashion. On the June 19 episode of 205 Live, Atlas made his debut on the brand defeating Gentleman Jack Gallagher.[3] In October 2020 he would begin a feud with Santos Escobar over the Cruiserweight Championship but every time he was defeated. In January 2021, Atlas entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, where he was paired with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, but the two were eliminated from the tournament by the eventual winner MSK (Nash Carter and Wes Lee) and following the match, argued with one another.[4] On August 6, 2021, Atlas was released from his WWE contract.[5]

On September 3, 2021, it was announced that Atlas would appear at Ring of Honor's Death Before Dishonor XVIII in a special showcase match against fellow recent WWE release Taylor Rust. At the event, Atlas was defeated by Rust. Not long after, Atlas announced his retirement from professional wrestling, citing mental health reasons.[6] On the December 28, 2021 taping of AEW Dark, Atlas came out of retirement and made his in ring return and AEW debut defeating Serpentico.[7] He had his televised debut on the January 7 edition of AEW Rampage, where he lost to Adam Cole.[8] During the match he suffered a knee injury.[9] Atlas was released from AEW following a May 2022 domestic violence arrest.[10]

Personal life

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Sanchez Marquez is openly gay.[11][12] He is of Mexican descent.[13]

On May 23, 2022, Sanchez Marquez was arrested in Orange County, Florida and charged with domestic battery.[14][15][16] The charges were dropped on June 28.[17]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Rudolph, Christopher (October 23, 2020). "Out Professional Wrestler Jake Atlas to Sign With WWE". LOGO News. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Satin, Ryan (April 2, 2020). "Recent NXT Signee Jake Atlas Makes NXT TV Debut". Pro Wrestling Sheet | Insider Wrestling News and Reports. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  3. ^ "WWE 205 Live Results for 6/19/20 Oney Lorcan vs Chase Parker, Jake Atlas Debuts". Fightful.
  4. ^ Moore, John (January 13, 2021). "1/13 NXT TV results: Moore's review of Adam Cole and Roderick Strong vs. Tyler Breeze and Fandango, and Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ever-Rise in a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic matches, Shotzi Blackheart vs. Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano vs. Dexter Lumis in a non-title match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Jeremy Lambert (August 6, 2021). "WWE Releases Bronson Reed, Leon Ruff, Bobby Fish, Mercedes Martinez, And More". Fightful. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jake Atlas Announces That He Is Stepping Away From Pro Wrestling". September 15, 2021.
  7. ^ "AEW: Jake Atlas firma un contrato con All Elite Wrestling". January 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "AEW Star Provides Update on his Injury". January 8, 2022.
  9. ^ "Jake Atlas sufre una lesión en las grabaciones de AEW Rampage". January 6, 2022.
  10. ^ Norman Quarrinton (June 6, 2022). "Jake Atlas Is No Longer A Member Of AEW's Roster [Report]". The Sportster. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  11. ^ Besanvalle, James (February 13, 2018). "Pro-wrestler "Superstar" Jake Atlas comes out as gay". Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  12. ^ Bell, Brian C. (April 4, 2020). "Jake Atlas debuts on WWE television". Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  13. ^ Shorey, Eric (November 5, 2019). "A Rare Interview With One of Wrestling's Rising Stars". ONE37pm. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  14. ^ Renner, Ethan (May 30, 2022). "AEW's Jake Atlas arrested on domestic violence charge". Wrestling Observer/Figure 4 Weekly. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  15. ^ Johnson, Mike (May 30, 2022). "Jake Atlas arrested, charged with domestic battery". PWInsider.com. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  16. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (May 30, 2022). "Jake Atlas Arrested And Charged With Domestic Assault". Fightful. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  17. ^ "Se retiran los cargos contra Jake Atlas". June 28, 2022.
  18. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 15, 2019). "APW Junior Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  19. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (August 2, 2019). "APW Universal Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  20. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 18, 2019). "PCW ULTRA Light Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  21. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (2020)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  22. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 21, 2018). "SBW Championship". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
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