Serpentico

Jonathan Cruz Rivera, better known as Serpentico, is an American professional wrestler of Puerto Rican heritage. He performs for All Elite Wrestling under the Serpentico mask and for Ring of Honor as Ben Dejo. Since joining AEW in 2019, he has appeared in more than 200 matches, mostly on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation, where he has become a reliable enhancement talent. In 2024, he won the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship, his first major title. Outside the ring, he designs his own gear and contributes to character development, earning respect as a creative and selfless performer.[edit]

Cruz grew up in a Puerto Rican household in the United States, developing a passion for professional wrestling as a child. He idolized high-flying luchadors and technical wrestlers, which shaped the agile, risk-taking style he would later adopt. In his late teens, he began formal training on the independent circuit, learning the fundamentals of wrestling psychology and in-ring storytelling. Over several years, he crafted the Serpentico persona, a masked villain inspired by snake movements and underhanded tactics. His early career included stints in Combat Zone Wrestling and Evolve, where he honed his high-risk offense and built a reputation as a reliable performer willing to take brutal bumps. By the time AEW launched in 2019, Cruz had spent over a decade refining his craft and was ready for a national platform.[edit]

Serpentico joined All Elite Wrestling shortly after its 2019 debut, quickly becoming a regular on AEW Dark. In 2020, he joined the Nightmare Family stable, frequently clashing with Cody Rhodes and QT Marshall. He formed a tag team with Luther in 2021, bringing chaotic energy to the division. Over the next two years, he wrestled more than 200 matches for AEW, often serving as enhancement talent to elevate younger stars. In 2023, he debuted in Ring of Honor as Ben Dejo, a separate character that allowed him to work both promotions. The following year, he captured the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship, marking the first major title of his career. As of 2026, he continues to appear on AEW programming and ROH, balancing his roles as Serpentico and Ben Dejo.[edit]

Serpentico is portrayed as a comedic villain or enhancement talent in AEW. His snake-inspired mask and scale-patterned gear give him a distinctive, reptilian aesthetic. His in-ring style emphasizes agility, high-risk moves, and underhanded tactics. Wrestling journalists often describe him as a journeyman and gatekeeper who reliably makes opponents look strong. Fans react with ironic appreciation, acknowledging his role as a lovable loser who always gives his best. On social media, he posts match announcements, merchandise plugs, and behind-the-scenes content with a professional and appreciative tone.[edit]

Serpentico has cultivated a dedicated following within the professional wrestling community, particularly among viewers of All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor who appreciate his unique blend of physical comedy and reliable in-ring work. His audience engages primarily through social media platforms like Instagram and X, where hashtags such as #SNAKEMAN and #SerpentiCOACH serve as informal markers of appreciation rather than an organized movement. While fans frequently discuss his character on forums like Reddit, praising his ability to function as a comedic foil for high-profile opponents, there is no documented formal name for this fanbase, nor are there records of large-scale campaigns or rituals specific to him. The collective appreciation remains organic, rooted in his role as a beloved journeyman who consistently delivers entertaining performances despite a career defined by losses. In August 2026, the iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated Serpentico's standing across global metrics and determined that he currently holds no placement in the published rankings, including the Global Top 1,000 or any scope-specific list. This absence of a ranked position reflects his status as a respected niche figure rather than a mainstream celebrity with broad cross-demographic recognition. His fame is sustained by viral moments, such as his interaction with Snoop Dogg on AEW Dynamite and the surreal meta-narrative of his feud with himself under the guise of Jon Cruz, which have become part of wrestling folklore without translating into a quantifiable global rank. Unlike athletes with massive international followings, Serpentico's influence is concentrated within the specific ecosystem of professional wrestling entertainment.[edit]

Jonathan Cruz Rivera designs his own wrestling gear, including the distinctive snake mask and scale-patterned attire worn during his appearances. He has wrestled under three distinct names: Serpentico in AEW, Jon Cruz on occasion, and Ben Dejo in ROH. As one of the longest-serving regulars on AEW Dark, he has made over 200 appearances since joining the promotion. His character was developed over years on the independent circuit, drawing heavily from lucha libre traditions and classic villain archetypes. Cruz embraces his role as enhancement talent, willingly losing the majority of his matches to make opponents look strong while representing Puerto Rican heritage in a demographic historically underrepresented in major American promotions. A widely retold story in wrestling circles involves the ongoing "Serpentico vs. Jon Cruz" feud, a self-aware narrative blurring reality and fiction where both characters are played by the same man; promotional graphics hinted at a match that would likely never occur. Another iconic moment occurred when rapper Snoop Dogg appeared on AEW Dynamite to pin Serpentico after performing a Frog Splash, creating viral content that highlighted his capacity for physical comedy on a national stage.[edit]

Cruz keeps his family life private. He has not publicly disclosed the names or occupations of his parents or whether he has siblings. His Puerto Rican heritage is a known aspect of his identity, and he has represented that culture throughout his career. As of 2026, there is no public information about him having a spouse, children, or pets.[edit]

Luther has been Serpentico's long-time tag team partner in AEW, part of the Nightmare Family. He frequently faced Cody Rhodes and QT Marshall as a stablemate and opponent. Peter Avalon and Brian Cage are among his regular opponents on AEW Dark. Lee Johnson has occasionally teamed with him as a fellow Nightmare Family member.[edit]

Serpentico has kept his romantic life entirely private. There is no publicly confirmed information about any past or current relationships, marriages, or children. As of 2026, he is believed to be single, though no credible sources have reported on his dating history.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Serpentico's net worth in 2026 is estimated at $1.2 Million. His primary income source is his contract with All Elite Wrestling, where compensation for mid-card talent typically ranges from $50,000 to $150,000 annually. Additional revenue streams include per-appearance fees for AEW Dark and television matches, bookings on the independent circuit, and sales of merchandise featuring Serpentico-branded gear. Over a seven-year tenure with AEW spanning from 2019 to 2026, his career earnings from wrestling alone likely total between $350,000 and $1,050,000. This financial profile also accounts for income derived from occasional creative contributions, such as his work designing gear and developing character concepts.[edit]

Serpentico has won one major championship in his career: the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship in 2024. He has not received any traditional entertainment industry awards.[edit]