Who is Damian Priest?
Damian Priest is a professional wrestler currently signed with WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. Known for his unique and captivating persona, Priest has made a significant impact on the wrestling world since his debut in 2019.
Born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Damian Priest’s real name is Luis Martínez. He first gained recognition on the independent circuit, where he competed under the name “Punishment Martínez.” His tenure on the independent scene allowed him to hone his skills and develop a distinctive in-ring style, combining high-flying maneuvers with hard-hitting strikes.
Priest’s journey in WWE began in 2019 when he signed with the company and was assigned to the NXT brand. His debut match against Killian Dain at NXT TakeOver: WarGames III immediately showcased his athletic prowess and commanding presence. Priest quickly established himself as a formidable force in the NXT roster, engaging in memorable feuds with stars like Johnny Gargano and Velveteen Dream.
What sets Damian Priest apart is his unique and enigmatic persona. With his long, flowing hair, intense facial expressions, and captivating body paint designs, he exudes an aura of mystery and intensity. His entrance, accompanied by haunting music and eerie lighting, creates an atmosphere of anticipation and intrigue, leaving fans eagerly awaiting his arrival to the ring.
Priest’s in-ring style is a blend of power and agility, combining hard-hitting strikes with impressive aerial maneuvers. His signature moves, like the South of Heaven Chokeslam and the Reckoning (a spinning sit-out powerbomb), showcase his strength and innovative offense. Additionally, his diverse move set, incorporating submissions and technical wrestling, makes him a well-rounded and unpredictable opponent.
In 2021, Damian Priest made the transition to the main roster, debuting on Raw. His association with Bad Bunny, a renowned musician and wrestling enthusiast, further elevated his profile and allowed him to showcase his skills on a grander stage. Priest’s partnership with Bad Bunny culminated in a memorable tag team match at WrestleMania 37, where they emerged victorious against The Miz and John Morrison.
Throughout his WWE tenure, Damian Priest has captured the hearts of fans with his unique persona, impressive in-ring abilities, and undeniable charisma. His journey has been marked by several accolades, including winning the NXT North American Championship and the United States Championship on the main roster.
Who is Damian Priest’s wife:
Damian Priest is married to Bianca Carelli, a former professional wrestler.
Bianca Carelli, whose real name is Stephanie Arellano, is of Mexican-American descent and she is from Los Angeles, California. She pursued a career in professional wrestling, competing on the independent circuit under the ring name Bianca Carelli.
Bianca’s wrestling journey began in 2010 when she trained at the renowned Santino Bros Wrestling Academy. She competed for various promotions, including UPWA, AWS, and RPW, where she showcased her impressive in-ring skills and charismatic persona.
They met through mutual friends within the wrestling community and instantly connected over their shared love for the sport. Their relationship blossomed, and they tied the knot in 2018.
As Damian Priest’s career in WWE took off, Bianca Carelli became his biggest supporter and a constant presence by his side. She embraced the role of being a devoted wife, cheering him on and celebrating his accomplishments, such as winning the United States Championship.
Despite stepping away from active competition, Bianca Carelli remains deeply involved in the wrestling world. She has worked as a makeup artist and hair stylist for various wrestling events and promotions, utilizing her talents to enhance the image and presentation of fellow wrestlers.
Damian Priest’s early life:
Luis Martínez, better known by his ring name Damian Priest, was born on September 26, 1982, in New York City. His parents were of Puerto Rican descent, and when he was a young child, the family lived in the municipality of Dorado, Puerto Rico. It was during this time in Dorado that Martinez first became interested in professional wrestling after watching matches from the World Wrestling Council on television.
Martinez’s father, a practitioner of Japanese Gōjū-ryū karate, began training his son in the martial art from a young age. Martinez took to it quickly, showcasing his natural athleticism by winning two national championships in full-contact karate competitions while still a child in Puerto Rico.
When Martinez was 10 years old, his family moved back to the mainland United States, settling in the borough of The Bronx in New York City. Having spent his earliest years in Puerto Rico, Spanish was his first language upon arriving in New York. He experienced a period of cultural adjustment as he became more accustomed to life in the States.
Despite the challenges of this transition, Martinez’s passion for wrestling endured from his time watching it as a kid in Dorado. His martial arts background continued to shape his interests and skills as well. The combination of this early exposure to wrestling, along with his proven abilities as a young martial artist, laid the foundation for his future career in professional wrestling.
Martinez’s Puerto Rican heritage and upbringing, moving between there and New York City at a young age, were formative experiences that imbued him with a unique cultural perspective. This background melded with his natural athleticism to put him on the path toward eventually becoming the captivating wrestler known as Damian Priest.
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Damian Priest’s professional wrestling career:
Damian Priest, whose real name is Luis Martínez, has had an extensive career in professional wrestling spanning over 15 years across various promotions. His journey began on the independent circuit after training at the renowned Monster Factory wrestling school in New Jersey.
In the early stages of his career, Martínez competed for Monster Factory Pro Wrestling, where he found great success. He became a three-time MFPW Heavyweight Champion and a two-time MFPW Tag Team Champion, teaming with wrestlers like Brolly and Q.T. Marshall. Additionally, he won the 2016 MFPW Invitational Cup tournament.
Martínez’s talents caught the attention of Ring of Honor (ROH) in 2014 when he attended one of their training camps and eventually joined the ROH dojo. He made his ROH debut in 2015, competing in dark matches under his real name Luis Martínez. After an impressive showing, ROH officially signed him to a contract later that year.
In ROH, Martínez adopted the ring name “Punisher Martinez” and quickly established himself as a villainous character, aligning with the likes of B.J. Whitmer and Kevin Sullivan. He engaged in memorable feuds, including one against Steve Corino. Martínez’s success in ROH continued as he won the 2017 Survival of the Fittest tournament and captured the ROH World Television Championship in 2018, his first major title in the promotion.
Martínez’s time in ROH also allowed him to make appearances in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) through their working relationship. He challenged for the NEVER Openweight Championship at the Honor Rising: Japan 2017 event, showcasing his talents on an international stage.
In October 2018, Martínez signed with WWE and was assigned to their developmental brand NXT, where he underwent a character repackaging as “Damian Priest.” He made his NXT debut in December 2018, initially working as a heel (villainous character) before eventually turning face (fan favorite) in mid-2020.
Priest’s rise in NXT was highlighted by his capture of the NXT North American Championship in August 2020 at NXT TakeOver: XXX. He held the title for 65 days, successfully defending it against Timothy Thatcher and Johnny Gargano before losing it to Gargano at Halloween Havoc.
In January 2021, Priest made his main roster debut on Raw after musical artist Bad Bunny introduced him. This marked the beginning of an alliance, culminating in their tag team victory over The Miz and John Morrison at WrestleMania 37.
Priest’s singles success on the main roster followed shortly after when he won the United States Championship from Sheamus at SummerSlam 2021. He held the title for 191 days, defending it against various challengers before losing it to Finn Bálor in February 2022.
A pivotal moment in Priest’s career occurred at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, when he allied with Edge. This eventually led to the formation of the stable “The Judgment Day,” which also included Rhea Ripley and later Finn Bálor and Dominik Mysterio. As part of The Judgment Day, Priest engaged in high-profile feuds against The Mysterios, The O.C., and Edge after being betrayed by his stablemates.
In 2023, Priest achieved one of the biggest accomplishments of his career by winning the Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match. He subsequently cashed in his contract and defeated Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 40 to become the World Heavyweight Champion, marking his first world title reign in WWE and making history as the first Puerto Rican world champion in the company.
Throughout his journey, Damian Priest has showcased a unique persona and in-ring style that blends power moves, high-flying maneuvers, and martial arts strikes. His characters have evolved from a menacing, dark figure to a more flamboyant and machismo-fueled persona, emphasizing his pursuit of fame and success.
With his recent accomplishments and world championship reign, Damian Priest has solidified his place as one of the top stars in WWE and looks poised for even greater achievements in the years to come.
Damian Priest’s Age and Height:
He is 41 years old as of 2024. He was born on September 26, 1982, making him one of the veteran superstars on the WWE roster. Despite his relatively advanced age for an in-ring performer, Priest remains an athletic and physically imposing figure thanks to his tremendous size and commitment to intense training.
Damian Priest’s height is 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm).
Faqs-
How tall is Damian Priest?
Damian Priest is billed at 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall.
How old is Damian Priest?
Damian Priest was born on September 26, 1982. So he is currently 41 years old.
What is Damian Priest’s real name?
Damian Priest’s real name is Luis Martínez.
What nationality/ethnicity is Damian Priest?
Damian Priest is Puerto Rican and of Puerto Rican descent/ethnicity. His parents were from Puerto Rico.