Rico Recalls Working Dark Matches With Brock Lesnar & John Cena, Reveals How He Got the Stylist Gimmick in WWE

During a recent interview with Insight with Chris Van Vliet, former WWE Superstar Rico (aka Rico Constantino) discussed working dark matches with Brock Lesnar and John Cena earlier in their WWE careers, as well as how he got the stylist gimmick in WWE. Below are some highlights from Insight:

Rico on Working Dark Matches With Brock Lesnar and John Cena

“Benjamin and Brock were the Minnesota stretching crew. Cena and I were the Southern Tag Team Champions. I was the role model. He was my prototype. So we’re going to go out there and titles are going to switch. So we go out there and do this big bang match, really good match, and they win, and we go to the back and they say, Good job, good job. And then Kenny [Bolin] comes up. He goes, ‘We’re going to have to gonna have to go back out.’ I said, What? ‘We’re gonna have to go back out, do another match and switch titles again.’ And I go, why? He goes, because the first match isn’t ready. And I went, oh no. So we got together and start talking, and we were in gorilla 30 seconds ready to go out of the curtain and do a rematch, and then the first match pops up. This is in a WWE ring.”

On Getting the Stylist Gimmick in WWE

“I’m doing a dark match. I’m wrestling Raven, so now I’m a face, and I’m stretching and stuff like that. Stephanie is at this house show, and she’s talking to Jacqueline, and they’re laughing and stuff like that. They’re looking at me and then giggling. I’m like, Is my zipper down? I look down, I’m going, I’m in tights. There’s no zipper. So they’re laughing and stuff like that. So I got wrestled, and I get Jacqueline later, because I’m not going to confront Stephanie. And I said, what was going on? ‘Nothing.’ You know how women say that, nothing. But she said, ‘I do have one question, would you be willing to dye your hair blonde?’ I said, Yeah, why not? ‘Oh, okay, thanks.’ And left it at that. Few weeks later, I’m at home. I’m on an off week, I get a call saying they want you in Ottawa. For what? You’ll know when you get here. So I just pack things, and I don’t know what I’m doing. So I get to Ottawa, I go in, and I meet with Vince, and he goes, ‘You’re going to be Billy and Chuck’s stylist.’ I said, Okay, hair stylist, foot stylist, what kind of stylist? He goes, ‘Flesh it out.’ And he turned around and walked away on me.”

Rico’s WWE run included a shocking upset victory over WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair on Monday Night Raw in 2002. He was released from the promotion in November 2004.

Rico also made an appearance for AEW at WrestleDream 2024, being revealed as “The Third Man” of MxM Collection against The Acclaimed.