Nunzio (wrestler)

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox professional wrestler James Maritato (born March 12, 1972) is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring names Little Guido and Nunzio.<ref>Lents, H.M., Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling (2nd edition), McFarland, 2003, p138</ref> A high-school football player and amateur wrestler, he trained under Billy Robinson, making his professional debut in the early nineties. He joined Eastern Championship Wrestling initially as an enhancement talent, as well as competing in the shoot style UWF International promotion.<ref name="OWOW Profile"/><ref name="SLAM!bio"/> Maritato later returned to ECW (now Extreme Championship Wrestling), being given the gimmick of “Little Guido” as part of the comedy stable the Full Blooded Italians (F.B.I). He would stay with the promotion until its closure in January 2001.

After ECW closed its doors, Maritato worked on the independent circuit before he was signed to a contract by WWE in 2002. There he was part of the promotion’s cruiserweight division until its disbandment in 2007, as well as a new version of the F.B.I Stable. He would take part in the ECW One Night Stand events as well as the relaunch of the franchise as a third brand before leaving WWE and returning to the independent circuit.

Early life

While attending Nanuet Senior High School (located in Rockland County, New York), Maritato competed in football (as part of the school's 1989 team that went undefeated and unscored upon)<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1991–1992)

Maritato was trained as a professional wrestler by Billy Robinson. He debuted in 1991, facing Parsippany Smith Fields in his first match.<ref name="OWOW Profile">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="SLAM!bio"/> He competed for the Amarillo, Texas-based USWF promotion under the name James Stone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Eastern Championship Wrestling (1992–1994)

Maritato joined Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) under the ring name "Damien Stone" on July 14, 1992, where he lost to Tommy Cairo. Over the next two years, he wrestled intermittently with ECW as a jobber. He also wrestled for International World Class Championship Wrestling and other promotions in the Northeastern United States.

UWF International (1995–1996)

Maritato took some time off from ECW in 1995 and went to Japan to compete in the shoot style UWF International promotion.<ref name="OWOW Profile"/><ref name="SLAM!bio"/>

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996–2001)

Template:See also Maritato returned to Eastern Championship Wrestling - by now known as Extreme Championship Wrestling - at the Big Ass Extreme Bash in March 1996. At Massacre on Queens Boulevard in April 1996, "The Italian Stallion" J.T. Smith announced that "Damien Stone" was in fact his Sicilian cousin, "Little Guido". Smith and Little Guido formed the comedy stable Full Blooded Italians (F.B.I.), which grew to include multiple other members.<ref name="SLAM!bio"/>

During 1999, he became a "serious wrestler", although still accompanied by Sal E. Graziano and proclaiming himself to be an F.B.I. member (though only the two of them were left). After his turn he was involved in some intense singles matches until late 2000, when he formed a tag team with Tony Mamaluke.<ref name="SLAM!bio"/> The duo won the World Tag Team Championship on August 26, 2000 and held them until December when they lost them to Danny Doring and Roadkill.<ref name="SLAM!bio"/> They continued to wrestle together until ECW folded in January 2001.<ref name="OWOW Profile"/>

Independent circuit (2001–2002)

When ECW closed, Maritato wrestled for several independent promotions, mostly in the New York Tri-State area; he often teamed with former partner Tony Mamaluke. They had a notable run in Ring of Honor before Maritato was signed by World Wrestling Entertainment in 2002.<ref name="SLAM!bio"/>

World Wrestling Entertainment/ WWE (2002–2008, 2010–2011, 2024)

Alliance with Jamie Noble; Full Blooded Italians (2002–2004)

Template:See also Maritato was introduced on WWE television as Nunzio (a possible reference to the mob/bodyguard characters Guido and Nunzio in the MythAdventures series of books by Robert Asprin).<ref name="SLAM!bio">Template:Cite web</ref> As the on-screen heel cousin of Jamie Noble, he attacked Crash Holly during a match with Noble on the December 12, 2002 edition of SmackDown!.<ref name="SLAM!bio"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nunzio began a feud with Holly after this, defeating him on several occasions before going on to face the likes of Tajiri, Shannon Moore, and Chuck Palumbo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The team and cousin storyline of Nunzio and Noble soon faded. Nunzio reformed the Full Blooded Italians, this time with Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli and Chuck Palumbo, but the team found little success.<ref name="fbi-wwe-owow">Template:Cite web</ref> F.B.I. began a feud with The Undertaker after attacking him on a episode of SmackDown after WrestleMania XIX, Taker was absent until after Judgment Day and defeat all three in singles matches in consecutive weeks, the feud ended in Summer when Taker began a rivalry with John Cena. After WrestleMania XX, Palumbo was drafted to Raw, and the F.B.I. was reduced to a tag team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After Stamboli was released, Nunzio began competing in the cruiserweight division.<ref name="SLAM!bio"/>

Cruiserweight Champion; alliance with Vito (2005–2006)

In 2005, Maritato returned to his Little Guido persona for one night; he reunited with the original Full Blooded Italians to take on Super Crazy and Tajiri in a three-way match at the ECW reunion show One Night Stand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As Nunzio, he continued to perform on SmackDown! B-show Velocity as both a fan favorite and a villain, forming a short-lived tag team with Funaki. On the August 6 (taped on August 2) edition of Velocity, Nunzio won the Cruiserweight Championship by defeating Paul London after a new villainous wrestler, Vito, made his debut by giving Nunzio a blackjack, which he used to knock London out.<ref name="wwe-cruiser">Template:Cite web</ref> Nunzio joined forces with Vito, thus becoming a full-time villain.

The pair began feuding with The Mexicools and at No Mercy, Mexicool member Juventud defeated Nunzio with a Juvi Driver to take the Cruiserweight Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nunzio regained the title on November 15 at a house show in Rome, Italy but lost it right back to Juventud on the November 25 SmackDown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Nunzio and Vito would both briefly turn into fan favorites by briefly engaging in a feud against Gregory Helms. Vito and Nunzio would quickly go back to being villains, however, due to Vito's new godfather gimmick.

In late-May 2006, Nunzio's partnership with Vito began to crumble after it was revealed that, in storyline, Vito enjoyed cross-dressing, which made Nunzio feel betrayed and embarrassed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nunzio ended his alliance with Vito, and moved to the ECW brand.<ref name="move to ecw">Template:Cite web</ref>

Full Blooded Italians reunion; departure (2006–2008)

Template:Also In June when the ECW brand was launched, Nunzio left SmackDown to join other "ECW originals" on ECW, retaking his Little Guido name in the process.<ref name="move to ecw"/> F.B.I. was revived again, this time with Little Guido as a face once again, alongside Tony Mamaluke and Trinity and for a short while, Big Guido.<ref name="FBI-ecw-revival">Template:Cite web</ref> The F.B.I. were used for tag matches on ECW to either take on debuting tag teams or facing another tag team when a tag match was needed.<ref name="FBI-ecw-revival"/> At December to Dismember, they took on Elijah Burke and Sylvester Terkay in a losing effort.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His partner Tony Mamaluke was released on January 18, leaving Guido and Trinity alone to carry on the stable.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After Mamaluke's release, Little Guido vanished from television (he only appeared once on ECW on Sci Fi with the Little Guido name). After his hiatus, he later returned on the April 17, 2007 episode (in Italy, where he was well received by fans) using his old Nunzio name again but without Trinity, who had been released in June.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After losses to the debuting Johnny Nitro and The Miz, Nunzio disappeared from television for a few months.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He returned on the September 11 edition of ECW, in a losing effort to Matt Striker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nunzio was used mainly as a jobber during this period, losing to Tommy Dreamer,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jamie Noble,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kevin Thorn,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Kenny Dykstra.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2008, Nunzio returned on January 15, in a losing effort against Shelton Benjamin,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and on his next appearance, on April 8, he lost to Elijah Burke.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then engaged in a brief feud with Mark Henry, but came out on the losing end.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After nearly 2 years, Nunzio finally won a broadcast match on May 5, as he was in a handicap match along with the rest of the ECW roster against Triple H and Mr. Kennedy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On August 8, 2008, Nunzio was released from his WWE contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Referee (2010–2011)

Maritato appeared at a house show for WWE Raw, at Madison Square Garden on December 26, 2010, as a referee when the majority of referees could not make it to the arena due to blizzards and gale-force winds; this position expanded to televised events on February 1. On September 29, 2011, Maritato announced that he was no longer working for WWE.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

NXT appearance (2024)

At NXT 2300 on November 6, 2024, Maritato, as Nunzio, returned to WWE to challenge Tony D'Angelo for the NXT North American Championship, where Nunzio lost the match.<ref>Former Cruiserweight Champion Appears On NXT, Will Wrestle First WWE Match In 16 Years WrestlingInc</ref>

Return to the independent circuit (2008–present)

File:Vito & Guido FBI 2013.jpg
Maritato (right) and Big Vito in 2013.

Maritato wrestled for Jersey All Pro Wrestling on September 19.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 15, he won the JAPW Tag Team Championship with Tracy Smothers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 16, 2009, Maritato was inducted into the ECPW Hall of Fame.

In February 2009, it was announced that Maritato would be a trainer for the "Bodyslam U" professional wrestling school in New Jersey, while still competing on the independent circuit.<ref name="trainer">Template:Cite web</ref> On March 13, 2009, Guido lost to Shane Douglas, who made his return to the National Wrestling Alliance for the first time since Douglas drops the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in nearly fifteen years. In June, Guido returned to Ring of Honor losing to Jay Briscoe at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.<ref name="ROH">Template:Cite web</ref> In late 2009, Maritato began competing for the National Wrestling Alliance under the name Nunzio. He also performed for the NWA On Fire expansion based out of New England.<ref name="NWA On Fire">Template:Cite web</ref> Maritato reunited again on October 6, 2012 as F.B.I., being defeated by Danny Doring and Roadkill in the House of Hardcore's first show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At House of Hardcore 2, now returning under his "Little Guido" ring name, faced Vik Dalishus in a losing effort. On June 6, 2014, at House of Hardcore 4, Maritato defeated Matt Striker. Maritato wrestled at House of Hardcore's next event on June 7, 2014, in which he defeated Danny Doring.

At House of Hardcore 7, Maritato teamed up with Team Tremendous (Bil Carr and Dan Barry) to take on Anthony Greene, Ben Ortiz, and Vik Dalishus in a winning effort.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then took part in a ten-man tag team match at House of Hardcore 10, teaming up with Officer Colt Cabana, Bill Carr, Dan Barry, and F.B.I. member Tony Mamaluke, to successfully defeat Afa Jr., Jade, Lance Anoa'i, L.A. Smooth, and Vik Dalishus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling / Impact Wrestling (2010, 2022, 2025)

On August 8, 2010, Maritato took part in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice, where he, Tony Mamaluke (billed as Tony Luke) and Tracy Smothers defeated Kid Kash, Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger in a six-man tag team match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the following edition of TNA Impact!, the ECW alumni, known collectively as Extreme, Version 2.0 (EV 2.0), were assaulted by A.J. Styles, Kazarian, Robert Roode, James Storm, Douglas Williams and Matt Morgan of Ric Flair's Template:Not a typo stable, who thought they didn't deserve to be in TNA.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following week TNA president Dixie Carter gave each member of EV 2.0 TNA contracts in order for them to settle their score with Template:Not a typo.<ref>On the August 26 edition of TNA Impact, James Maritato wrestled in a tag team match with Tony Luke, in a loss to Robert Roode and James StormTemplate:Cite web</ref> On the August 26 edition of Impact! Guido and Luke were squashed by Roode and Storm in a tag team match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The match ended F.B.I.'s association with TNA. Maritato was announced as a part of the new Total Nonstop Action India based project Ring Ka King working under the name Tony Broadway teaming with Joey Hollywood.<ref name=RingKaKing031412>Template:Cite web</ref> However Ring Ka King only lasted one season and ended the same year.

In 2022, Maritato made an appearance for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, then known as Impact Wrestling, on the April 21 episode of Impact!, challenging Matt Cardona for the Impact Digital Media Championship, where he was unsuccessful.<ref name="Impact04212022">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Returned in 2025 accompanying Zack Clayton in the Call your Shot Gaultet match at the TNA Bound for Glory PPV .

Other media

On March 6, 2006, Maritato was seen supporting his brother on the NBC game show Deal or No Deal in which he won $25,000.Template:Citation needed In 1996 Maritato competed in a mixed martial arts fight in Texas against Steve Nelson, who was also his past opponent in UWFi. The fight appears on Nelson's official MMA record as a win. Maritato competed under the name James Stone, which he also wrestled under during its stint in UWFi.

Championships and accomplishments

References

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