Ricky Vega

Ephraim Vega (born December 2, 1976) is a Puerto Rican American professional wrestler and is best known for his work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, under the ring name Machete, and internationally under the name Ricky Vega.

Vega was a standout high school football star, and was named to All-Section, All-conference, and All-county 1st teams in his junior and senior years.

A knee injury prevented Vega from playing college football; however, he did go on to have a successful career in the insurance business before deciding to pursue a wrestling career.

Vega currently works in public safety and as a corporate security advisor.

Vega worked on again off again for the Coastal Championship Wrestling (CCW) company in Miami from 2005 through 2007.

Some of his highlights included a pair of victories over Shane Mclain and wins over Preston James, Bruno Sassi, and a West Miami battle royale.

Other highlights include match of the year candidate for a triple threat match featuring Kahagas and Jerry Lynn as well as a CCW championship loss to Shawn Murphy.

In February 2006 at Against All Odds, Vega debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as "Machete", replacing Apollo as a member of The Latin American Xchange (LAX).

The LAX lost the match to The James Gang (B.G. James and Kip James) when B.G. pinned Machete.

LAX went on to defeat "La Migra" on Impact!

and interfere in James Gang matches until the feud came to a head when LAX faced The James Gang in a rematch at Destination X on March 12 but lost after Machete was pinned by Kip.

Vega made his way to Dynamite Championship Wrestling in August 2006.

He debuted by defeating Viper.

With the win he earned an immediate Heavyweight title match due to Hector Guerrero vacating the championship.

He would go on to defeat Matt Bentley and become champion.

Vega was later stripped of the championship and the title held vacant setting the stage for a title tournament.

Vega would defeat Bobby Barretta and JB Cool to move into the finals against Glacier.

Vega and Glacier had developed a friendship in DCW saving each other on past events.

The match seemed to be competitive and fair until Don Kiko Cabana came down to ring side and assisted Vega in regaining the title.

Vega would go on to feud with Glacier for the better part of that year, until it all came to a head when they faced off in a Lumberjack match.

Vega would again defeat Glacier thanks to Benny Blanco and Simon Sez, the latter who which became commissioner.

Vega would go on to successfully defend his title against D-Von Dudley of the Dudley Boyz with the help of Bill DeMott, which set up grudge match with the Dudley Boyz facing off against Vega and Demott.

The match would prove to be Demott's retirement match, and Team 3D prevailed by putting Vega through a table.

Machete made his return to TNA on the February 15, 2007 episode of Impact!

pushing Konnan, who at that time was using a wheelchair due to hip surgery, to the ring for LAX's tag team match against Shark Boy and Norman Smiley.

Machete would play a major role in keeping LAX Tag Champions by interfering first at Against All Odds then again at Destination X in matches against Team 3D.

Later at an Impact!

taping, he assisted Homicide in defeating Scott Steiner and Brother Devon in a three-way tag match.

Vega would also keep Voodoo Kin Mafia (formerly The James Gang) from winning the belts on Impact!

by again interjecting himself in the match.

Vega was also involved in the Belting Pot match between Team 3D and LAX, which would turn into a gang scuffle between LAX Latino Nation members and Brother Ray's Italian Brotherhood.

He would work as LAX's enforcer for a brief time before deciding to take an offer from the IWA in Puerto Rico.

Ricky Vega began his independent wrestling career working for teacher Johnny Rodz and his World of Unpredictable Wrestling (WUW) company in Brooklyn, New York.

Vega would capture his first title while wrestling for WUW and won its annual Rumble in Dumbo-battle royal.

The object is to throw all of your opponents over the top rope and be the last man standing consisting of 20 to 50 wrestlers in the ring at a time.

His North American title reign was short lived however after Rodz found that Vega had begun working in the Pennsylvania independent circuit without his approval.

The pair would work things out and Vega began working for Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling under owners Jasmin St. Claire and The Blue Meanie.

Vega also began working shows for Afa's World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) around the time he began his stint in 3PW.

Vega wrestled against such notables as Samu, D-Ray 3000 and Matt Striker.

Vega was also exposed to his first taste of television exposure in the Northeast.