20 Most Underrated WWE Stars Of The Past 20 Years
6. Rico
When wrestling historians look back on the fabled OVW Class Of 2002, they’ll definitely cite stars John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Batista and Randy Orton. They might then go on to recall wrestlers with the potential for greatness like Matt Morgan, Ali Stevens, Shelton Benjamin and Rene Dupree.
Chances are they may have forgotten about Rico, however. A former SWAT police officer and professional bodyguard, real life hard man Americo Constantino started training for pro wrestling late at age thirty-seven after a phenomenally athletic turn as an American Gladiators winner.
Debuting on Smackdown in March 2002 as Billy & Chuck's stylist and manager, as time went on he developed an exótico gimmick straight from the lucha libre playbook, owing more than a little to the example of the legendary ’Exotic’ Adrian Street, whose blessing and advice he received when he took on the role.
When his flamboyant, outrageous heel character took off with the crowd, Rico turned babyface, teaming with Charlie Haas with Jackie as their valet. Asking Vince McMahon how far he should take the flirtatious, flaming gimmick, the boss told him to "strap a rocket to your ass and take off... I'll tell you when to quit".
Rico took the boss at his word, and became one of the best things on Smackdown in the spring and summer of 2004, until he was unexpectedly released in November. The word was that at forty-three years old and running a defiantly midcard gimmick, the office didn’t see a future in him.
That’s a damn shame, because Rico had extraordinary form. Incredibly athletic considering his size, his double-vertical into a Falcon Arrow was stunning, his moonsault was practically perfect, and his kicks (unlike many supposed martial artists in the WWE) were on point and straight-legged. He was a significant in-ring talent with a great look and a fantastic character guy, able to get serious noise from a crowd as a heel or a babyface.
Rico’s been suffering from significant health issues in the last few years, directly attributable to damage taken during his wrestling career. You can read all about it here, and I’d urge you to contribute what you can, if you’re able, because during his all-too-brief career as a pro wrestler, Rico was everything that pro wrestling is supposed to be about.