Gene Snitsky’s Return, Ricky Ortiz On Carlito Comparison, & More

Gene Snitsky will be making his wrestling appearance since his departure from World Wrestling Entertainment at a wrestling show in Puerto Rico on Saturday, January 3, 2008. Snitsky is replacing Big Daddy V on the card, facing former Sunday Night Heat peer Eugene. Courtesy of www.prwrestling.com/english, here is the updated card:

WWC has their card for their January 3 show, EUPHORIA, at Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez de Bayamón set:
For the Universal Title
Mr.Ray-tings Ray González vs. El Bronco.
For the Tag Titles
Thunder & Lightning vs. Elijah Burke & Armando Alejandro Estrada.
For the PR Title
B.J. vs. Mr.Wrestling Steve Corino.
Shane The Glamour Boy vs. The Hammer Charles Evans.
Eugene vs Snitsky (Substituting Big Daddy V, who is not coming in now)
To determine the #1 contender for the Tag Team titles
Huracán Castillo & Rico Suave vs. The Texas Outlaws
Angel vs. Mr. San Juan Tommy Diablo
Little Ricky Rubio vs. El Profe.
Los Aéreos vs The Sons of Tonga (Billed as King Tonga/Haku’s sons).
Also, Former Ring of Honor champion Ricky Reyes will be signing autographs.

The latest issue of WWE Magazine features a brief interview with ECW’s fastest rising star, Ricky Ortiz. Ortiz spoke out on his name change, comparisons to Carlito, his trademark mane, his background, what the Ricky-O-Rally towel symbolizes, and his undefeated streak (at the time). Here is the interview in its entirety:

How did you go from Atlas Ortiz to Ricky Ortiz?
Well, the name on my birth certificate is Atlas Ortiz. But friends and family call me Ricky. So please call me Ricky.

OK Ricky — have you ever been mistaken for Carlito because of your awesome ‘fro?
Who’s Carlito? No, not really. Early on, when I came here, there was a little bit of joking around from the fans and other Superstars, but that’s pretty much stopped.

How do you keep your mane so lush and lively?
I don’t run a brush through it. I let it do its thing. It’s all-natural!

We hear your family has a history of football accomplishments. True?
My father was a three-time state champion in football, wrestling and baseball. It was always athletics and competition in my house. It’s all about winning. My old man said, “Whatever your trade, just be the best.”

Sounds like he was a hardass.
My dad’s way of showing love was by roughhousing with me. He taught me the ways of survival — how to enjoy pain, and enjoy dishing it out.

Tell us about your Ricky-O-Rally towel.
It’s a gesture of thanks to my fans. I wanted something tangible that yelled, “Hey, this dream is happening.” It’s an inspiration to the youth — I’m doing it all for them.

Do you credit fan support for your undefeated streak on ECW?
You feel a lot more powerful when the arena is backing you. So I credit the fans…and WWE’s most synergistic finishing move, The Big O!

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