Trinity (wrestler)

Last updated
Trinity
Trinityecw.jpg
Finochio, as Trinity, in 2006.
Birth nameStephanie Finochio
Born (1971-12-01) December 1, 1971 (age 52) [1] [2]
New York City, U.S. [1] [2]
Alma mater Dowling College
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) American Power [1] [2]
Italian Finesse [1] [2]
Starfire [1] [2]
Stephanie Starr [1] [2]
Stephanie Trinity
Trinity [2]
Untamable Spirit [1] [2]
Billed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) [1]
Billed weight130 lb (59 kg) [1]
Billed from Long Island, New York
Trained byChris Bassett [1]
Chris Divine [1] [2]
The S.A.T. [1]
Mikey Whipwreck [1] [2] [3]
DebutOctober 10, 2002 [4]
RetiredJune 22, 2007 [1]

Stephanie Finochio (born December 1, 1971) is an American stuntwoman, actress and former professional wrestler and valet. She is known for her appearances with NWA Total Nonstop Action and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Trinity.

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2002–2005)

After completing her training, Finochio made her professional wrestling debut on October 10, 2002 without using her surname, where she lost to Phoenix. [4] On October 13, Finochio, now using the ring name "Stephanie Trinity", defeated Simply Luscious to win her first professional wrestling match. [4] On October 26, Finochio made her Chikara debut under the ring name Stephanie Starr, where she lost to Mercedes Martinez. [4] On November 1, Trinity lost to Luscious in a rematch. [4] On January 17, 2003, Trinity wrestled against NWA Canadian Women's Champion Bam Bam Bambi for the title, but was defeated. [4]

On September 13, Trinity defeated April Hunter to win the vacant CSWF Women's Championship. [4] Trinity made her first title defense on February 21, 2004, against Ariel, where she was successful in retaining the title. [4] On August 28, 2004, Trinity lost the title to Hunter in a four-way match also involving Ariel and Tracy Brooks, ending her reign at 350 days. [5]

On May 13, 2005, Trinity competed at the Queens of Chaos' debut event, where she competed in a battle royal to determine the promotion's inaugural World Championship, which was ultimately won by Nikita. [4]

NWA Total Nonstop Action (2002–2005)

On November 20, 2002, Finochio made her Total Nonstop Action Wrestling debut as "Trinity", as a valet to debuting tag team Divine Storm against E. Z. Money and Sonny Siaki. She made a few more appearances in this role. After a short hiatus, on January 27, 2003, she made her wrestling debut as "Stephanie Trinity" where she and Kid Kash defeated Desire and Sonny Siaki in a mixed tag team match. [4] Trinity then defeated Desire in a singles match on February 5 before later defeating ODB on February 26. [4] On March 19, Trinity became the second woman in TNA history to compete for one of the promotion's male championships, as she wrestled against Kid Kash and Amazing Red in a three-way match for Kash's X Division Championship, but was unable to win the title. [4] In June, Trinity turned heel by choking out Goldylocks backstage, and would solidify her heel turn by aligning with Vince Russo the following week. [2] In April 2004, Finochio formed the New York Connection (NYC) alongside Glenn Gilbertti, Vito LoGrasso, and Johnny Swinger. [6] The NYC had their first match together on April 28, where Trinity, Gilbertti, and Swinger lost to Desire, Pat Kenney, and Sonny Siaki before losing a rematch on June 3 in a dark match before the inaugural episode of Impact! . [4] Trinity then began feuding with Desire, and proceeded to defeat her in a stretcher match on June 23 and then again in a mixed tag team match on July 7 to end the feud. [4] At the inaugural Victory Road pay-per-view on November 7, 2004, the evil Trinity defeated Jacqueline Moore in an open challenge. [7]

After the NYC disbanded, Trinity entered into an angle with Tracy Brooks and TNA's Director of Authority Dusty Rhodes over the position of Rhodes' personal assistant. Brooks eventually won the job after her team of The Disciples of Destruction defeated Trinity's team, Phi Delta Slam, at the inaugural Destination X pay-per-view on March 13, 2005. [8] Trinity then became the manager of Michael Shane and resumed her feud with Brooks, who became the manager of Chris Sabin. At the inaugural Hard Justice pay-per-view, Trinity and Shane were defeated by Brooks and Sabin after Brooks turned on Sabin and Shane turned on Trinity. [9]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005–2007)

The Full Blooded Italians: Little Guido (left), Trinity (middle) and Tony Mamaluke (right) in 2006 TheFullBloodedItalians2005.png
The Full Blooded Italians: Little Guido (left), Trinity (middle) and Tony Mamaluke (right) in 2006

After leaving TNA, Finochio received a try-out match with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where she and Chris Cage lost to Beth Phoenix and Aaron Stevens on November 9, 2005. [2] After appearing on the January 6, 2006 episode of Heat alongside Talia Madison in a segment with The Heart Throbs, WWE officially signed Finochio to a contract. [2] She was then placed in WWE's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, where she made her debut on March 22, 2006, as the special guest referee in a match between Shelly Martinez and Beth Phoenix, which Phoenix won. [2] Finochio, as Trinity, made her in-ring debut for OVW on March 29 in a match against Sosay that ended in a no-contest after she was attacked by Phoenix. [4] In response to the attack, Trinity wrestled against Phoenix on April 5, but was defeated. [4]

On the June 13 episode of ECW on Sci Fi , Trinity made her WWE debut as the manager for The Full Blooded Italians (Little Guido, Tony Mamaluke and Big Guido). [2] [6] On June 24 at an ECW house show, Finochio injured her knee after executing a moonsault from the top rope to the outside of the ring during a catfight with Kelly Kelly and Francine that stemmed from Francine winning a bikini contest earlier in the night. [2] She underwent surgery a few days later, and was given a recovery time of six to eight weeks. [2] [10]

Finochio made her return on October 7, where she lost to Jazz in a singles match at a house show. [4] She lost to Jazz in a rematch the next night. [4] On the October 31 episode of ECW on Sci Fi, Trinity won the first ever "ECW Diva Halloween Costume Contest" after being voted over Kelly Kelly and Ariel. [2] On January 13, 2007, Trinity teamed with fellow ECW Diva Kelly Kelly in a losing effort to Michelle McCool and Jillian Hall at a house show. [4] The following day, Trinity wrestled her final match in WWE as she and Kelly lost to McCool and Hall in a rematch. [4]

Finochio was later released from her WWE contract on June 22, 2007. [11]

Retirement (2007–present)

After being released from WWE, Finochio retired from professional wrestling in order to concentrate on her stunt work. [1] [12] On September 20, 2008, Finochio made a one-night return to wrestling under her old Stephanie Starr ring name, where she lost a three-way match to Peggy Lee Leather, that also involved Fantasy. [4] On April 19, 2012, Finochio began competing in roller derby as a member of the Strong Island Derby Revolution. [13] On March 17, 2013, Trinity made her return to TNA at one of their One Night Only shows, Knockouts Knockdown, which aired on September 6, 2013. At the PPV, Trinity competed but was defeated by ODB.

Filmography

Film

Television

Personal life

Finochio was born and raised in Long Island, New York, where she graduated from Lindenhurst Senior High School in 1989 before later graduating from Dowling College in 1994 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. [3] She later returned to Dowling and earned a master's degree in education in 2000. [3] Finochio has over twenty years of experience as a dancer and is a certified aerobics instructor. [1]

Championships and accomplishments

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhyno</span> American professional wrestler

Terrance Guido Gerin is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Rhyno or Rhino. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). During his career he has worked for several promotions, most notably Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and WWE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Angle</span> American professional wrestler

Kurt Steven Angle is an American retired professional wrestler and collegiate wrestler. He became a gold medalist in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games. He is currently signed to WWE, on a Legends contract. He is also known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bubba Ray Dudley</span> American professional wrestler

Mark LoMonaco, known by the ring names Bubba Ray Dudley and Bully Ray, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He also makes sporadic appearances for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He is best known for being one-half of The Dudley Boyz tag team, where he competed alongside his partner D-Von Dudley, during his tenures in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the latter of which they are also signed to under "Legends" contracts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Douglas</span> American professional wrestler and promoter

Troy Allan Martin is an American professional wrestler, manager, and promoter, better known by his ring name Shane Douglas. He is best known for his tenures in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW), and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabu (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

Terrance Michael "Terry" Brunk is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Sabu. He is known for his trademark style of hardcore wrestling, which he pioneered in his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) from 1995 to 2000. He is a three-time World Heavyweight Champion having held the ECW World Heavyweight Championship twice and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Archer</span> American professional wrestler

Lance Hoyt is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) under the ring name Lance Archer. He also makes appearances for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). He is also known for his time with WWE as Vance Archer, and impact Wrestling (TNA) under his real name and as Lance Rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickie James</span> American professional wrestler and country singer

Mickie Laree James is an American professional wrestler and country singer currently signed to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) as Creative Director, Head of Female Talent and Executive Producer. She is best known for her tenures in WWE, Impact Wrestling and National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelly Martinez</span> American professional wrestler and model

Shelly Leonor Martinez is an American model, actress, retired professional wrestler and valet. She is known for her work with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its ECW brand under the ring name Ariel and for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Salinas as valet to The Latin American Xchange (LAX).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kid Kash</span> American professional wrestler

David Tyler Cash, better known by his ring name Kid Kash, is an American mixed martial artist and retired professional wrestler, best known for his tenures with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francine (wrestling)</span> American professional wrestling valet

Francine Meeks, known by the mononym Francine, is an American semi-retired professional wrestling valet and professional wrestler. She is best known for her appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1995 to 2001 and with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005 and 2006. During her tenure with ECW, Francine managed several of the promotion's top wrestlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traci Brooks</span> Canadian professional wrestler

Tracy Brookshaw is a Canadian former professional wrestler, wrestling valet and referee, better known by her ring name Traci Brooks. She is best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where she spent most of her career, having been the longest signed knockout the company has had wrestling actively with them from 2003 up until 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Knox</span> American professional wrestler

Michael Shawn Hettinga is an American professional wrestler best known under the ring name Mike Knox. He currently performs for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Hettinga is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and also performed in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Knux.

Veronica "Ronnie" Carrejo-Brazier, also known by her ring name Simply Luscious, is an American professional wrestler best known for her stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Since 2004, she has been performing on the independent circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katarina Waters</span> German-born English professional wrestler

Katarina Leigh Waters is a German-born English American professional wrestler and actress. She is best known for her time with Impact Wrestling under the ring names Katarina or Winter and for her time in WWE under the ring name Katie Lea Burchill. She spent many years on the independent circuit, particularly in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance, where she used the ring name Nikita.

Jaime Lynne is an American retired professional wrestler and valet, better known by her ring name, Lollipop. She is best known for her appearances with National Wrestling Alliance: Total Nonstop Action from 2002 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lizzy Valentine</span> American professional wrestler, valet, model, jazz musician, and actress

Elizabeth Miklosi, known professionally as Lizzy Valentine, is an American former professional wrestler, valet, model, and actress. She is best known for her work on MTV's Wrestling Society X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Tessmacher</span> American professional wrestler

Brooke Nichole Adams is an American model and professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Brooke Tessmacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taryn Terrell</span> American professional wrestler and model

Taryn Nicole Dryden is an American model, actress, stuntwoman, ring announcer and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenures in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real name, and in WWE, where she performed under the ring name Tiffany.

Kimberly Nielsen is an American retired professional wrestler and professional wrestling valet. She is best known for her appearances with NWA Total Nonstop Action from 2002 to 2004 under the ring name Desire.

TNA 1st Anniversary Show was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), which took place on June 18, 2003 at the TNA Asylum in Nashville, Tennessee. The event commemorated the first anniversary of TNA's first event which took place on June 19, 2002. The event would later become known as Slammiversary in 2005.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Cagematch profile".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "OWoW Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  3. 1 2 3 "IMDB bio". imdb.com. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Cagematch match listing".
  5. 1 2 "NWA Shockwave Women's Championship history".
  6. 1 2 "Stables".
  7. "Tremendous Tirades Throwback: TNA Victory Road 2004".
  8. "KELLER'S TNA PPV REPORT 3/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event".
  9. "5/15 TNA Hard Justice PPV: Caldwell's "Alternative Perspective" Review".
  10. "ECW Wrestling Results - House Show June 24, 2006". World Wrestling Entertainment. The Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-03.
  11. "Trinity released". WWE. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  12. "Trinity News". trinitywrestlingdiva. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-02-25.
  13. "Video, Photos: 'Trinity' Joins the 'Derby Revolution'". 19 April 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 "IMDB movie listing". IMDb .
  15. Martin, Adam (2005-11-28). "TNA announces plans for 2005 Year-End Awards after Turning Point PPV". WrestlingView. Retrieved 2011-07-15.