Bill Alfonso
{{short description|Professional wrestling referee and manager}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name=Bill Alfonso
|image=BillAlfonso.jpg
|birth_name = William Matthew Sierra
|weight={{convert|161|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
|real_height=
|real_weight=
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1957|8|11|mf=y}}
|birth_place=Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|billed=
|trainer=Extreme Championship Wrestling
|retired=2021
}}
William Matthew Sierra (born August 11, 1957), better known by his ring name Bill Alfonso, is an American former professional wrestling referee and manager, currently performing for Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he serves as the manager of Matthew Justice. He achieved his greatest success in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-to-late 1990s. He is well known for the whistle that was almost always hanging around his neck, which he blew constantly during his wrestlers' matches.{{cite web|title=Bill Alfonso Bio|work=WWF/ECW/WCW Wrestling Page|url=https://www.angelfire.com/wrestling2/kblunt/alfonsobio.html|access-date=2007-09-30}}
Career
=Early career, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation (1979–1995)=
Alfonso refereed his first match in Texas at the age of 21. He was the official in a chain match between The Sheik and Terry Funk.{{cite web|title=Alfonso loving life in ECW|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan6_alphonso.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130120202808/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan6_alphonso.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 20, 2013|access-date=2007-09-30|work=SLAM! Sports}} Shortly thereafter, he took on a regular role as a referee in Championship Wrestling from Florida. He is seen on footage from 1983 as an "NWA official" sitting in the conference room as the main event of the first Starrcade between Harley Race and Ric Flair is being announced by Bob Geigel. He then worked in every major American promotion, including World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation, where he was a referee for The Undertaker and Giant Gonzalez (who Alfonso was an agent for) match at WrestleMania IX.
=Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995–2001)=
Alfonso made his debut in Extreme Championship Wrestling In May 1995 at Enter the Sandman as a "troubleshooting referee". Introduced by Shane Douglas, he angered many ECW fans with strict enforcement of the rules and disqualifications of wrestlers for such ECW traditions as using steel chairs as weapons. In this role, he engaged in a feud with ECW founder Tod Gordon that resulted in several wrestling matches.
Alfonso was then stripped of his refereeing duties and took on the role of Taz's manager and helped him on a winning streak that lasted over a year. In the midst of Taz's feud with Sabu, however, Alfonso turned on his charge and aligned with Sabu.{{cite web|title=SLAM! Sports - Wrestling: Tazz|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/tazz.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718200613/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/tazz.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 18, 2012|access-date=2007-09-30|work=SLAM! Sports}} In this role, he performed more than the usual duties, as he actually managed Sabu's finances. Rob Van Dam later took on Alfonso as a manager and formed a tag team with Sabu.{{cite web|title="The Whole F'n Show" Rob Van Dam|url=http://www.cygywrestling.com/biographies/robvandam.html|access-date=2007-09-30|work=CygyWrestling}} Alfonso also led Van Dam to the longest ECW World Television Championship reign in the history of ECW.{{cite web|title=ECW TV Championship History|work=World Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=2007-10-09|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtvtitlehistory/| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071009085958/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtvtitlehistory/| archive-date= 9 October 2007 | url-status= live}} In September 1997 at As Good as It Gets, Alfonso fought Beulah McGillicutty with this match becoming infamous because Alfonso lost 1/3 of the blood in his body according to Paul Heyman.
=Return to WWE (2005–2006)=
Alfonso returned to the WWE (the former WWF) and was at the 2005 ECW One-Night Stand managing Sabu and standing in the ring with RVD while RVD delivered a shoot style promo. Alfonso returned at ECW One-Night Stand 2006 after Rob Van Dam won the WWE Championship, as he celebrated with him and the rest of the then-ECW Roster.
=Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010)=
On August 8, 2010, Alfonso took part in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice, managing both Rob Van Dam and Sabu during their match against each other.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42979.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=2010-08-08|access-date=2010-08-08|work=Pro Wrestling Torch| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100816153204/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42979.shtml| archive-date= 16 August 2010 | url-status= live}} 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 {{Not a typo|Fourtune}} stable, who thought they didn't deserve to be in TNA.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43008.shtml|title=TNA News: Spoilers - detailed Impact TV taping report for "Whole F'n Show" featuring new angle, MOTY candidate?, three title matches|first=Kevin|last=Tomich|date=2010-08-09|access-date=2010-08-12|work=Pro Wrestling Torch| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100817044905/http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43008.shtml| archive-date= 17 August 2010 | url-status= live}}{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/08/12/15010951.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629172343/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/08/12/15010951.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=TNA's 'The Whole F'n Show': Beer Money, Machine Guns put on match of year candidate; Fortune makes statement|first=Matt|last=Bishop|date=2010-08-12|access-date=2010-08-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}}
=Independent promotions (2001–present)=
Since the closing of ECW, Alfonso has appeared in several independent promotions. He worked one match in Xtreme Pro Wrestling as a referee. He has also worked in Elite Wrestling Entertainment as a referee and a manager, as well as managing wrestlers in Squared Circle Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged. In May 2007, he made his first appearance with Women's Extreme Wrestling, where he serves as a manager and as commissioner.
On December 18, 2021, Alfonso wrestled against Ziggy Haim in an intergender match for Absolute Intense Wrestling in Cleveland, Ohio, in which Haim won.{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=325586 |title=AIW We Had A Few Hits A Few Years Ago |author= |website=Cagematch.net}}
He lost to former ECW foe Tod Gordon at Battleground Championship Wrestling in Philadelphia on December 17, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Results « Battleground Championship Wrestling (BCW) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=8&nr=3126&page=8 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=www.cagematch.net}}
On April 5, 2024, Alfonso defeated Joel Gertner at Battleground Championship Wrestling in Philadelphia.
Other media
In October 2002, fellow manager Missy Hyatt sued Alfonso in a case televised on Judge Mathis. She accused Alfonso of damaging her Porsche and was awarded $500. Alfonso also had other run-ins with the law, being arrested for a stolen rental vehicle in Georgia, DUI and possession of cocaine in Tampa, violation of probation and testing positive for heroin. Alfonso served jail time in Tampa for the vop charges. He also found himself in trouble with the Tampa police for other charges throughout the early 2000's contributed from a heroin addiction.
Awards and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Charlie Smith Referee Award (2024){{Cite web |title=BILL ALFONSO TO BE HONORED BY CAULIFLOWER ALLEY CLUB {{!}} PWInsider.com |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/183889/bill-alfonso-to-be-honored-by-cauliflower-alley-club.html?p=1 |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=www.pwinsider.com}}
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Manager of the Year (1997){{cite web|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiman.htm |access-date=2007-09-30 |work=Wrestling Information Archive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014010310/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiman.htm |archive-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130120202808/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jan6_alphonso.html Bill Alfonso article from SLAM! Wrestling]}}
- {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
{{The ECW Originals}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alfonso, Bill}}
Category:ECW Originals members
Category:Professional wrestlers from Tampa, Florida
Category:People from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Category:Professional wrestlers from New Hampshire