Epico Colón

1.1. Childhood and education

Colón attended Western Michigan University, where he actively played baseball for the Western Michigan Broncos. He pursued and successfully earned a bachelor's degree in accounting. His early wrestling training was under the tutelage of his uncle, Carlos Colón, Sr., and renowned wrestler Dan Severn.

2.1. Early career (2004-2006)

Colón commenced his wrestling training in 2004 at Dan Severn's Michigan Sports Camps, concurrently competing in Price of Glory Wrestling, a promotion based in Coldwater, Michigan. He soon expanded his presence to the independent circuit across the United States, including Hybrid Pro Wrestling, based in Schoolcraft, Michigan. In Hybrid Pro Wrestling, Colón was given a villainous persona, which highlighted his lineage as a member of the influential Colón family and emphasized his "win by any means necessary" attitude, reinforcing his heel character. It was during this period that he first introduced his signature finisher, a unique swinging half nelson with leg capture, which he dubbed "Orlando's Magic". During this time, he also worked three dates for Price Of Glory Wrestling and eight for Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South.

Colón participated in the inaugural tournament to crown the first Hybrid Pro Wrestling Champion. In the first round, he faced CJ Otis but was eliminated by pinfall due to outside interference. Following this, Colón formed a tag team with independent wrestler Jack Thriller. This new team initiated a rivalry with Jayson Quick and Josh Abercrombie, which was intended to culminate at a special event named Phase: One. However, Colón was involved in a storyline where he deliberately provoked Quick, leading to a staged public altercation. As a result, both Colón and Quick were storyline-banned from participating in Phase: One by the HPW Championship Committee. Although he was supposedly cleared to return later, Colón, as part of the storyline, refused to wrestle until the company compensated him. This angle served to explain Colón's departure from the company, as he was planning to move back to Puerto Rico.

2.2. World Wrestling Council (2006-2011, 2019-2025)

In 2006, Colón joined the World Wrestling Council (WWC), a prominent promotion owned by his uncle, Carlos Colón, Sr.. He debuted as a mystery opponent in a match promoted as the debut of "another member of the Colón family." Shortly after, he returned to the company under a masked gimmick known as "Fireblaze." As Fireblaze, he captured his first title in the promotion, the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship, defeating "El Bronco" Ramón Álvarez. Over the next six months, Colón traded the title twice before losing it permanently on March 24, 2007. He continued using the Fireblaze pseudonym and engaged in a feud with Bronco, which culminated at Aniversario 2007 in a retirement and mask versus retirement match, where he lost, revealing his identity.

In the first half of 2008, WWC held a tournament for the vacant WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship. Colón quickly gained a decisive lead through a purported points system. Simultaneously, he entered a feud with El Condor, a masked character portrayed by Ray González. After defeating El Condor one week before Honor vs. Traicion, a stipulation match was scheduled where El Condor would receive the same number of points as Colón. At the event, Colón was booked to lose. This storyline transitioned into a feud between an unmasked González and other members of the Colón family. Colón continued in the tournament, feuding with the second seed, Noriega. The finals were held at Aniversario 2008, where Noriega defeated Colón to win the Universal Heavyweight Championship. He continued to compete against both González and Noriega, the latter assaulting him in a backstage segment. After Noriega left the company, Colón's rivalry with González intensified, with both wrestlers exchanging victories. On September 6, 2008, Colón defeated Steve Corino. Following this, Colón suffered an injury that kept him out of in-ring competition, though he continued to appear in backstage segments.

In December 2009, Colón appeared in a segment where he signed a legal document allowing El Bronco to return to the promotion to face the now face character, González. At Euphoria 2009, Colón made a masked return as a heel wrestler, subsequently introduced as "La Pesadilla" (The Nightmare), attacking González. Concurrently, he continued to perform backstage as a face under his former character. The angle progressed with La Pesadilla launching multiple attacks and interventions against González, who offered a reward of 5.00 K USD for the wrestler's identity and hired a private investigator. As a result, two additional masked wrestlers began serving as La Pesadilla's bodyguards. La Pesadilla's in-ring debut occurred at Camino a la Gloria 2009, where he defeated Shane Sewell. On the same night, Colón wrestled under his face character against Bronco. Bronco won the match after González, dressed as La Pesadilla, interfered. After the match, González gave Colón the mask, revealing him as the assailant. The feud reached its climax at Aniversario 2009, where Colón lost to González in a match refereed by Félix Trinidad, forcing him to unmask and officially adopt the pseudonym Orlando "La Pesadilla" Colón.

Following Aniversario 2009, Colón formed a heel stable with Hiram Tua and later included Eric Pérez. As the leader, he continued his feuds with González and the company's face faction. While leading the group, Colón captured his fifth WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship, defeating Shane Sewell on September 26, 2009. After WWC concluded its 2009 season, Colón participated in a tryout for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in December, signing a developmental contract immediately after his performance. At the first event of 2010, Euphoria, Colón defeated his cousin and WWE wrestler, Eddie Colón. Over the following months, the stable gradually disbanded: Mulero received a gimmick change, returning as an unrelated masked wrestler, while Pérez left WWC for Combat Championship Wrestling and American Combat Wrestling. Ultimately, Colón relinquished the Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship and departed WWC to join Florida Championship Wrestling. At Aniversario 2010, he was booked to win his sixth WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship, which he subsequently lost to Carlitos on September 25, 2010. At Septiembre Negro 2011, he won his first WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship by defeating Chavo Guerrero. In his final period with the company, Colón had a minor role as a booker.

Colón made a return to WWC in 2019 while still under contract with WWE, taking on both administrative duties and in-ring roles. He gained momentum with victories over Noriega and Mighty Ursus. By the summer, Colón found himself harassed by another wrestler impersonating La Pesadilla, leading him to reclaim the La Pesadilla mantle, though mostly unmasked. He entered a significant feud with Gilbert, whom he defeated to secure his first reign as WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion. At Aniversario, Colón successfully defended his title against Eli Drake. Subsequently, a storyline developed where both of his cousins, Primo and Carlito, began pursuing his championship. In the first intra-familial match, Colón retained his title against Primo at Septiembre Negro. At Noche de Campeones, all three cousins wrestled each other for the first time, with Colón once again retaining. However, his tag team partner turned on the family, rebranding himself Eddie "La Maravilla" Colón and forming a new faction called The Dynasty. To conclude the season, Colón defeated MechaWolf 450 in a title match. Kicking off 2020, Colón retained the Universal Heavyweight Championship by defeating Texano Jr..

2.3. Pro Wrestling Zero1 (2009)

On March 4, 2009, Pro Wrestling Zero1, a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, announced Colón's debut in the company. He was introduced as a member of "Premium Wrestling Federation" (P.W.F.), a heel faction led by Steve Corino that was presented as "invading" the company. In his debut match, Colón teamed with Sonjay Dutt to face Shinjiro Otani and Ikuto Hidaka. The P.W.F. team secured the victory at the 15:09 mark when Colón executed his signature move, Orlando's Magic, on Hidaka for the pinfall. Following this, all members of the P.W.F. participated in a storyline segment where they invaded the dormitory of several young Pro Wrestling Zero1 performers. In only his second appearance within the promotion, Colón was granted a championship opportunity against Shinjiro Otani for the World Heavyweight Championship. Otani ultimately won the match, utilizing his finisher, the Spiral Bomb, to secure the pinfall. During this period, WWC promoted Colón's participation in Japan as a "test tryout," and notably avoided mentioning his heel character in Pro Wrestling Zero1, continuing to book him as a face until Camino a la Gloria 2009.

2.4. WWE (2010-2020)

Orlando Colón's career in WWE spanned a decade, including time in its developmental territory, FCW, and various stints on the main roster with multiple gimmick changes.

2.4.2. Main roster debut and tag team with Primo (2011-2020)

Colón made his debut on the WWE main roster on the November 4, 2011, episode of SmackDown. He appeared as a heel under the name Epico, but without the mask, losing to Sin Cara by disqualification after interference from his former Los Aviadores tag team partner, Hunico. The following week, Epico and Hunico teamed up to defeat the Usos, with Epico's cousin Primo accompanying them. Epico then formally began teaming with Primo, with Rosa Mendes serving as their manager. They quickly established dominance, defeating The Usos on the November 17 episode of WWE Superstars. They then initiated a feud with the WWE Tag Team Champions, Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston), defeating them in both tag team and singles matches. On December 18 at Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Epico and Primo unsuccessfully challenged Air Boom for the WWE Tag Team Championships. Their rivalry with Air Boom continued in subsequent singles and non-title matches, with both teams exchanging victories.

At a Raw live event on January 15, 2012, in Oakland, California, Epico and Primo defeated Air Boom to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship. The following night on Raw, they successfully defended their titles against Air Boom in a rematch. On the February 27 episode of Raw, Primo and Epico retained their titles in a Triple Threat tag team match against the teams of Kofi Kingston & R-Truth and Dolph Ziggler & Jack Swagger. During the WrestleMania XXVIII pre-show, Epico and Primo successfully defended their championships against The Usos and Justin Gabriel & Tyson Kidd in a triple threat tag team match.

On the April 30 episode of Raw, Epico and Primo lost the titles to Kofi Kingston and R-Truth. In May, Primo, Epico, and Mendes joined A. W.'s talent agency. At No Way Out, A.W. betrayed them during their #1 contender Fatal Four-Way tag team match, aligning instead with the Prime Time Players (Titus O'Neil and Darren Young). The following night on Raw, Primo and Epico defeated the Prime Time Players by count-out after O'Neil and Young walked out of the match. The teams continued their rivalry on WWE Superstars, where Epico lost to Young and Primo defeated O'Neil in singles matches. At Money in the Bank, Primo and Epico defeated Young and O'Neil in a tag team match. The feud concluded in August when A.W. was released from WWE.

At the Survivor Series pay-per-view, Epico participated in a 10-man elimination tag team match but was eliminated by Tyson Kidd. Primo & Epico struggled to secure victories after August 2012, with Primo accumulating a 20-match losing streak and Epico a 17-match streak by the first SmackDown of 2013. On the January 9, 2013, episode of NXT, Primo & Epico broke their losing streaks with a win over Bo Dallas and Michael McGillicutty. However, Dallas & McGillicutty later gained revenge by defeating Primo & Epico in the first round of the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament to crown the inaugural champions.

2.4.3. Gimmick changes (Los Matadores, The Shining Stars, The Colóns)

On the August 19, 2013, episode of Raw, a vignette introduced a new tag team known as Los Matadores, featuring Primo and Epico wrestling as masked matadors. On September 30, Primo and Epico officially debuted as Los Matadores on Raw, a face team of two masked Spanish bullfighters, accompanied by El Torito as their mascot. They achieved a swift victory over 3MB. On April 6, 2014, Los Matadores participated in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match for the WWE Tag Team Championship at the WrestleMania XXX Pre-show, facing The Usos, Rybaxel, and The Real Americans, but were unsuccessful. On June 23, WWE.com reported that Fernando (Colón's new ring name as part of Los Matadores) had suffered an injury at a live event. He returned to action on the August 19 episode of Main Event, teaming with Diego (Primo) in a loss to Slater-Gator (Heath Slater and Titus O'Neil). At the WrestleMania 31 pre-show, they competed in another Fatal 4-way tag team match for the Tag Team Championship against Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, The Usos, and The New Day, again in a losing effort. Following a series of losses, the group displayed signs of dissension when one of the matadors attacked El Torito, only to receive a 3D from The Dudley Boyz. The team then ceased appearing on WWE television.

From April 4 to May 9, 2016, a series of promotional videos aired on Raw signaling the return of Primo and Epico. They revived their Puerto Rican gimmick under the new team name The Shining Stars. On the May 16 episode of Raw, The Shining Stars made their official debut, defeating a team of local competitors. On the November 7 edition of Raw, after R-Truth sold The Golden Truth's Survivor Series spot for a timeshare stay to The Shining Stars, both teams competed to qualify for the 10-on-10 Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination match, which Team Raw ultimately won. The Shining Stars were later confirmed to participate in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 33, though neither was successful in winning the royal. During the 2017 WWE Superstar Shake-up, they were moved to SmackDown Live, and reverted to their original team name, The Colóns. Colón suffered a shoulder injury in November 2017 and underwent surgery in January 2018. He returned to in-ring action on the August 28, 2018, episode of SmackDown Live, teaming with Primo in a triple threat match also involving The Bar and Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, which The Bar won.

2.5. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2025-present)

Orlando Colón is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and is scheduled to begin active participation with the promotion starting in 2025. He will perform under his real name, stylized as Orlando Colón, and will continue his tag team partnership with his cousin, Eddie Colón.

6.1. Video games

He has been featured as a playable character in several WWE video games:

• WWE '13 (as Epico)
• WWE 2K16 (as DLC Fernando, a member of Los Matadores)
• WWE 2K17 (as Fernando, a member of Los Matadores)
• WWE 2K18 (as Epico Colón)
• WWE 2K19 (as Epico Colón)

6.2. Movies

Colón lent his voice and likeness to the animated film Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon. In the movie, he, along with El Torito and Diego, formed the racing team Pamplona Especial. They were depicted wearing green eye masks and yellow racing attire, portraying masked brothers with Spanish accents. El Torito in the film wore a distinctive red, bull-like mask and a fluffy red costume.