Sonny Kiss
Sonny Kiss
Sonny Kiss (born December 11, 1993) is an American professional wrestler from New Jersey. He now signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and also fights in Independent promotions across the United States. Kiss was also featured in the popular Lucha Underground promotion.[5]
Career
He began his professional wrestling career in 2015. One of Sonny's first fights was against Darryl Grayson at an event held by East Coast Pro Wrestling in New York at the Sports Arena in St. James.[6]
Sony was trained by Gino Caruso and attended the Warriors of Wrestling Training Center.
He has competed in a variety of matches, including intergender wrestling bouts, tag team matches, and Battle Royales.[6]
All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
In February of 2019 it was announced that Sonny Kiss was joining the All Elite Wrestling family.
He made his first in-ring appearance with the promotion at AEW's Double or Nothing pay-per-view in a 21 man Casino Battle Royale. He was eliminated by Tommy Dreamer.[29]
“I feel like every person that you see is authentic.
They’re not altered by anybody or anything.
It’s just kind of, like, this is their character, this is who they are in and out of the ring, and I think that’s awesome.”
Bad Romance w/ Joey Janela
On June 27, 2020 the duo released a short action teaser video titled What Is Next For Sonny Kiss and Joey Janela? In the film the two are cruising in a convertible and stop at a gas station to refuel and get snacks. While pumping gas, Sonny is jumped by street punks while The Bad Boy Joey Janela is in the mini mart putting assorted junk food in his cart. He finally sees the action going on outside and joins Sonny in the fight.[51]
Fight For The Fallen 2020
Sonny Kiss challenged Cody Rhodes for a shot at the TNT Championship Title belt on July 15, 2020 at the second annual Fight For The Fallen event. Normally a PPV event, Fight For The Fallen 2020 aired on TNT and also functioned as a Covid-19 Relief Benefit, with donations and 100% specified merchandise sales given to pandemic relief efforts in Florida, where AEW has been taping their shows outdoors at Daily's Place. Sonny lost to Rhodes, but was able to use Cody's own move (Cross Rhodes) on him, surprising many.[49][50]
Signature Moves
Sonny Kiss' special moves showcase his athleticism and dance background.
Signature moves of his include the Twerksault and the Sonny Side Up.
Wrestlers that he looks up to include Rey Misterio, The Hardy Boyz and Rob Van Dam.[28]
Titles
Over his career Sonny has won these titles in the following promotions:[27]
ACE Fight For Flight Championship
Tier 1 Championship
East Coast Pro Wrestling Light Heavyweight Championship
WOW Heavyweight Championship
WOW No Limits Championship
Wrestling Promotions
Sonny Kiss is a professional wrestler who has competed in over 150 matches and has participated in dozens of promotions across the United States including:
Warriors of Wrestling
World Wrestling Network
American Championship Entertainment
Full Impact Pro
Tier 1 Wrestling
Rockstar Pro Wrestling
New York Wrestling Connection
Five Borough Wrestling
EVOLVE Wrestling
Change the World Wrestling
East Coast Pro Wrestling
2KW Pro Wrestling
A Matter of Pride Wrestling
Susquehanna Wrestling Organization
BriiCombination Wrestling
Greektown Pro Wrestling
Superstars of Wrestling Federation
Next Level Wrestling
United Pro Wrestling Federation
H2O Wrestling: Hardcore Hustle Organization
Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment
Future Is Now Pro Wrestling
The Dynasty
Jersey Premiere Championship Wrestling
Marvelous Puroresu USA
On Point Wrestling
Capital City Championship Combat
Lucha in the 6
Bigger Better Wrestling Federation
Welterweight Wrestling
World Wide Wrestling Alliance
Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling
Forza Lucha!
Pro Wrestling Academy CT
Lucha Underground
Wrestling In The USA
Pro Wrestling Magic
Pro Wrestling After Dark
Synergy Pro Wrestling
Wrestlers' Laboratory
La Descente Du Coude
All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
Big Time Wrestling
Beyond Wrestling
House of Hardcore
Upstate Pro Wrestling
Squared Circle Project
Freelance Wrestling
Personal Life
Sonny is in a relationship with fellow wrestler Killian McMurphy.
The two have been dating since 2017 and are currently the only active gay couple in wrestling. In a 2019 interview with Sportskeeda, Sonny stated,[26]
"We are the first, and only openly gay couple out there.
That's like so crazy.
We like to sit there like hey babe that's us.
We're the first and only openly gay couple active wrestling wise.
We're both active wrestlers, so it's like, we're the first legitimately openly gay couple in wrestling.
That's huge!
We get a lot of support from it too.
It's nothing even negative.
I mean, of course, you get the small talk here, and there.
It doesn't really mean anything.
It's just ignorance.
We rarely ever get that.
We get so much support from everybody."
Kiss and McMurphy are engaged to be married.[25]
In a 2019 article published by Wrestling Inc, Sonny responded to comments that were made regarding a supposed 'agenda' AEW had when hiring him, stating,[40]
"I'm just a guy who is feminine, obviously, it's very apparent.
But at the same time, I'm just a wrestler and I'm not a 'gimmick.' I'm just this flamboyant, athletic, flipping dude…dude or dudette, however you see it because I'm very ambiguous with my sexuality and gender.
I call myself a male but I identify as gender-neutral to the public.
People think that they [AEW] are just hiring people due to their sexuality and that's not what they are doing.
They are hiring authentic people - transgender and homosexuals as myself - they are hiring people like that to give representation for really good wrestlers and people who don't have that when they look on TV.
People can look on TV and see Nyla and myself and say, 'Oh my God!
That's someone like me, but not a gimmick.'"
Social Media
Trivia
"The funny thing is I actually started playing the video games first, Revenge was the first ever game I played and was my introduction to wrestling 'cause my brother and my cousins were all playing."