Eric Bugenhagen

Last updated

Eric Bugenhagen
Born (1987-12-21) December 21, 1987 (age 34) [1]
Franklin, Wisconsin, U.S.
Alma mater University of Wisconsin - Madison
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Eric Bugenhagen
Joseph Average
The Nightpanther
Ric Boog
Rick Boogs
Rik Bugez
Judas Del Hagen
The Little Prince
Ricardo Von Hagz
Billed height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Billed weight125 kg (276 lb)
Trained by Matt Bloom
DebutOctober 19, 2017
Eric Bugenhagen
YouTube information
Channels
Years active2012–present
Genre
Subscribers
  • 265,000
Total views
  • 72.5 million
YouTube Silver Play Button 2.svg100,000 subscribers2019
Updated: February 3, 2022

Eric Bugenhagen (born December 21, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, internet personality and former collegiate wrestler. He is signed with WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Rick Boogs. He is a two-time WWE 24/7 Champion, a title he won under the ring name of Joseph Average. [3]

Contents

Aside from his wrestling career, Bugenhagen also runs a YouTube channel focused on weight training and comedy.

Amateur wrestling career

After winning a state title while at Franklin High School in Franklin, Wisconsin, Bugenhagen wrestled for NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin under Barry Davis. Bugenhagen competed for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2006 to 2011, starting at 184 pounds in his sophomore season and at heavyweight his junior and senior years. Bugenhagen twice competed at the NCAA Championships, qualifying for the 2010 and 2011 tournaments in Omaha, Nebraska, and Philadelphia, respectively. He went 2-4 at the NCAAs and also wrestled in a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier. He graduated with a degree in kinesiology and worked as a wrestling coach for his alma mater after graduating. [4]

Professional wrestling career

WWE

NXT (2017–2021)

Bugenhagen made his professional wrestling debut on the October 19, 2017 episode of WWE NXT Live , where he fell short to Lars Sullivan in a singles match. [5] After an injury set him back significantly, he returned to wrestling at NXT live events under the ring name Ric Boog. [4] Under his real name, Bugenhagen lost to Drew Gulak on February 6, 2019 on NXT in his television debut. [4] On the May 1, 2019 episode of WWE Worlds Collide, he participated in a 20-man battle royal as Rik Bugez, competing against other popular superstars such as Brian Kendrick, Akira Tozawa, Drew Gulak, Tyler Bate and the winner Roderick Strong. [6] On the February 21, 2019 episode of WWE NXT Live , Bugez teamed up with Denzel Dejournette to unsuccessfully face the NXT Tag Team Champions of the time, The Viking Raiders (Ivar and Erik). [7] A notable confrontation of his career took place on the February 22, 2020 episode of WWE NXT Live , where Bugez unsuccessfully competed against Finn Balor in a losing effort. [8]

Bugez made several appearances as an extra in the main shows, being one of the many NXT performers being used as part of a makeshift crowd on Raw at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. [9] Leading up to WrestleMania 37, Bugez played Old Spice representative character Joseph Average/The Nightpanther in several backstage advertisements at Fastlane and after WrestleMania 37, during which he defeated R-Truth and Akira Tozawa to capture the WWE 24/7 Championship twice, although the second reign is not officially recognized by WWE. [10] [11]

Alliance with Shinsuke Nakamura (2021–present)

On May 21, 2021, Bugez, now going by the tweaked ring name Rick Boogs, made his debut on SmackDown, playing Shinsuke Nakamura to the ring with an electric guitar. [12] He made his in ring debut on the August 20 episode of SmackDown, teaming with Nakamura to defeat Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez. [13]

Evolve (2020)

Bugenhagen, as Rik Bugez, worked his first match in the independent scene at EVOLVE 143, an event promoted by Evolve during their relationship with WWE on January 17, 2020, where he faced Joe Gacy in a losing effort. [14] One night later, at EVOLVE 144, Bugez scored his first victory by defeating Anthony Greene. [15]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

  1. ↑ Saalbach, Axel. "Rik Bugez/General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Rik Bugez-Personal Data". cagematch.net (in German). Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Eric Bugenhagen • Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Varsallone, Jim (May 1, 2019). "Wisconsin Badgers alum Eric Bugenhagen rocking his way to superstar status with WWE NXT". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ Online World Of Wrestling (OWW). "Home / Profile / Rik Bugez". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  6. ↑ "WWE Worlds Collide results, May 1, 2019: NXT reigns supreme as Strong and Belair win Battle Royals". WWE. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  7. ↑ Riba, Michael (February 22, 2019). "WWE NXT Live Event Results – February 21, 2019 – Sebring, Florida". gerweck.net. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ Tedesco, Mike (February 23, 2020). "2/22 NXT Live Results: Oshkosh and Cocoa (Ripley vs. Belair, Tino Sabbatelli in action)". wrestleview.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  9. ↑ Trainor, Daniel (June 30, 2020). "NXT's Rik Bugez Addresses Taking Off Mask During TV Tapings, Says It Will Stay On Going Forward". prowrestlingsheet.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  10. ↑ Powell, Jason (March 21, 2021). "WWE Fastlane results: Powell's live review of Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Universal Championship with Edge as special enforcer, Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in a No Holds Barred match, Big E vs. Apollo Crews for the Intercontinental Title, Randy Orton vs. Alexa Bliss". Pro Wreslting Dot Net. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  11. ↑ World Wrestling Entertainment (April 11, 2021). "WRESTLEMANIA 37 - NIGHT 2 KICKOFF". wwe.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  12. ↑ WWE (May 21, 2021). "SmackDown results, May 21, 2021: SmackDown's Fatal 4-Way Fades to Black". wwe.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  13. ↑ King Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs. Apollo Crews & Commander Azeez: SmackDown, Aug. 20, 2021 , retrieved October 2, 2021
  14. ↑ Gagnon, Joshua (January 18, 2020). "EVOLVE 143 Results (1/17): No DQ Match Main Event, BESTies In The World In Action, Santana Garrett". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  15. ↑ World Wrestling Network (January 20, 2020). "EVOLVE 144 Recap: 2020 Blasts Off!". wwnlive.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  16. ↑ World Wrestling Entertainment (April 11, 2021). "24/7 Championship/WWE". wwe.com. Retrieved April 20, 2021.