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Ace Romero
Ace Romero
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Justin Romero (born May 1, 1990) is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Ace Romero. He is best known for his tenure with Impact Wrestling, where he performed under the ring name Acey Romero. He has previously wrestled notably for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Major League Wrestling (MLW), Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), and throughout the American independent scene.[8][9]

Key Information

Early life

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Romero was born in Saco, Maine, the first of three children. At the age of four he became a wrestling fan, with The Undertaker being his childhood favorite. In high school he played football and lacrosse at Thornton Academy. During his senior year he was given an essay assignment by his English teacher; "What do you want to do when you grow up?". Romero wrote that he wanted to be a professional wrestler. Romero's mother was a single parent, which didn't allow her time to bring him to a wrestling school. His English teacher, who had encouraged him, helped him by driving him to his first day at wrestling school. Romero was awarded 'best student' during his tryouts and was awarded three-months free tuition at the New England Pro Wrestling Academy.[7]

Professional wrestling career

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Major League Wrestling (2018–2019)

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On December 8, 2018 (which was taped on November 8 at Fightland), Romero made his debut for Major League Wrestling (MLW) on Fusion, defeating Marko Stunt.[10][11] On the December 28 episode of Fusion, he answered Simon Gotch's Prize Fight Challenge and quickly beat him, throwing some of the $20,000 to the crowd.[12] On the January 25, 2019, episode of Fusion, Romero fought Barrington Hughes to a no contest after Col. Robert Parker interrupted the match and had The Dirty Blondes (Mike Patrick and Leo Brien) attack them, resulting in an impromptu tag team match where Romero and Hughes defeated Parker's team.[13] On the March 9 episode of Fusion, he faced off against Gotch again, winning via disqualification after his Contra Unit (Jacob Fatu and Josef Samael) attacked him.[14] At Battle Riot II on April 5, Romero competed in the Battle Riot match as the tenth entrant, eliminating five competitors before being eliminated by Davey Boy Smith Jr.[15] He would lose to Samael on the April 20 episode of Fusion, getting beat up by the rest of Contra Unit after the match.[16] His final match for MLW happened on the May 25 episode of Fusion, where he teamed up with Hughes to lose to Contra Unit.[17]

All Elite Wrestling (2019)

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On May 25, 2019, Romero made a surprise appearance in the pre-show Casino Battle Royale at the promotion's inaugural event Double or Nothing, eliminating Marko Stunt before being eliminated by Jungle Boy.[18]

Impact Wrestling (2019–2021)

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On October 19, 2019, Romero defeated Larry D in the main event of Impact Wrestling's All Glory special. After the match, he signed a three-year contract with Impact that was offered by Co-Executive Vice President Scott D'Amore, and was given the final spot in the five-way ladder match for the Impact X Division Championship at the following Bound for Glory pay-per-view event.[19] At Bound for Glory, Romero made his televised Impact in-ring debut in the five-way ladder match for the X Division Championship, which was won by Ace Austin.[20] On December 7 at No Surrender, he competed in a five-way Scramble match, that was won by Madman Fulton.[21] Romero made his Impact debut on the December 10 episode of Impact! against Moose in a losing effort, and on the following week lost to Joey Ryan.[22][23] On February 22, 2020, at Sacrifice, Romero teamed up with Larry D to defeat oVe (Dave Crist and Madman Fulton).[24][25] On the March 3 episode of Impact!, Romero picked up his first televised win by defeating Joey Ryan.[26]

Romero solidified his partnership with Larry D on the March 31 episode of Impact!, forming a tag team called "XXXL".[27] On the April 14 episode of Impact!, they made their debut in a four-way tag team match against The Rascalz (Dez and Wentz), Reno Scum (Adam Thornstowe and Luster the Legend) and TJP and Fallah Bahh, the latter winning after TJP pinned Thornstowe.[28] The following week on Night 1 of Rebellion, they fought in a three-way tag team match against The Rascalz and TJP and Fallah Bahh, the former winning after Dez pinned Larry D.[29] On the May 5 episode of Impact!, the team picked up their first televised win by defeating oVe.[30] The following months saw XXXL lose matches against the likes of TJP and Fallah Bahh,[31] Reno Scum[32] and The Deaners (Cody and Cousin Jake), the latter of which they beat up after losing to them in their second encounter.[33][34]

On the July 28 episode of Impact!, Romero joined with Larry D and a bunch of wrestlers in the reality show Wrestle House. After conducting a truce with The Deaners, he defeated Crazzy Steve in a match, where the winner would get to sleep inside the ring.[35] On the August 11 episode of Impact!, Romero took on Larry D, who was under a love spell by Rosemary, in order to get him back to normal, but was defeated after a knockout punch.[36][37] On the September 1 episode of Impact!, XXXL continued their feud with The Deaners by brawling all around the house, ending with Susie confronting Cousin Jake for breaking the truce between the two teams and "winning" the match. Romero and the rest of the Wrestle House cast returned to the Impact Zone during Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo's Black Tie Affair.[38] On the September 15 episode of Impact!, XXXL continued their Wrestle House rivalry with The Deaners, defeating them in a tag team match.[39] At Victory Road, they faced The Rascalz in a losing effort, and failed to beat them again on the October 6 episode of Impact!.[40][41]

At Bound for Glory, Romero took part in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match, where the winner could choose any championship match of their choice, but was eliminated by Heath.[42] On the October 27 episode of Impact!, XXXL fought against The Rascalz again, this time defeating them. After the match, they entered into a rivalry with the Motor City Machine Guns.[43] On the November 10 episode of Impact!, Romero lost to Chris Sabin after missing a senton and taking three enzuigiris.[44] At Turning Point, XXXL lost against the team of Sabin and James Storm.[45] On the December 1 episode of Impact!, they went up against the Motor City Machine Guns in a losing effort and turned heel.[46] On January 16, 2021, at Hard to Kill, Romero was searching for evidence on Larry D being framed for shooting John E. Bravo at his wedding, leading to the both of them going to Tommy Dreamer on the January 19 episode of Impact!, and arresting Taya Valkyrie for using ring rust cologne to change Larry D to "Lawrence D" and providing him with the gun used to kill Bravo.[47][48]

On February 13 at No Surrender, XXXL teamed with Tenille Dashwood and lost to Decay (Rosemary, Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus) in a six-person tag team match, and would lose to them again in a regular tag team bout three days later on the premiere episode of Before the Impact.[49][50] They would lose a non-title bout against Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) on the February 23 episode of Impact!, and an eight-man tag team match with Reno Scum against The Good Brothers and New Japan Pro-Wrestling's FinJuice (David Finlay and Juice Robinson) the following week.[51][52] On the May 13 episode of Impact!, Romero fought in a six-way match to determine the number one contender for the X Division Championship, which was won by NJPW talent El Phantasmo.[53] Two days later, at Under Siege, XXXL competed in a four-way tag team match to determine who will get a shot at the Impact World Tag Team Championship, which was won by Ace Austin and Madman Fulton.[54]

On August 30, Romero requested his release from Impact Wrestling.[55] On October 12, Impact Wrestling granted his release and Romero departed from the company.[56]

Independent circuit (2021–present)

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On September 24, 2022, at Limitless Wrestling's Chasing Forever event, Romero defeated Alec Price to win the Limitless World Championship for the first time.[57] On March 25, 2023, at Reasonable Doubt, Romero lost the title to BEEF in a three-way match that also involved Rip Byson, ending his reign at 182 days.[58] On December 16, at Force of Nature, Romero failed to recapture the title from Channing Thomas in an Anything Goes match.[59]

Personal life

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Championship and accomplishments

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Ace Romero is the ring name of Justin Romero, an American professional wrestler born on May 1, 1990, in Biddeford, Maine, best known for his tenure with Impact Wrestling from 2019 to 2021. A native of Saco, Maine, where he graduated from Thornton Academy in 2008 after playing football and lacrosse, Romero debuted in professional wrestling around 2013 and quickly gained acclaim for his athleticism as a heavyweight performer, often billed at over 350 pounds while executing high-flying maneuvers atypical for big men. Romero's career breakthrough came on the independent circuit, where he headlined events for promotions like Limitless Wrestling—a Maine-based group he helped popularize—and competed against notable opponents such as , , and Keith Lee. In 2018, he signed with (MLW), and in 2019, he made a one-off appearance in (AEW)'s Casino Battle Royale at . His signature move, "The Pounce"—a running shoulder block that once went viral after launching an opponent into the crowd—became a hallmark of his dynamic style. In October 2019, Impact Wrestling executive offered Romero a three-year following a standout victory at the All Glory event, leading to his debut in the X-Division Championship at Bound for Glory against competitors including and . During his time there, Romero, sometimes billed as Acey Romero, teamed with Larry D to form the XXXL, competing in both singles and tag division matches until his release on October 12, 2021, after requesting his exit earlier that year; his included no , allowing an immediate return to independents. Since leaving Impact, Romero has focused on the East Coast independent scene, regularly performing for Limitless Wrestling and other regional promotions, where he won the Limitless Wrestling World Championship in 2022 and the EWA Maine Heavyweight Championship on November 16, 2025, while maintaining a full-time career as a correctional officer at Maine's Long Creek Youth Development Center, a role he began around 2024. In this position, he leverages his 15-plus years of wrestling experience to mentor at-risk youth, emphasizing resilience, reading social cues, and positive decision-making. By March 2025, Romero publicly shared that he had lost 200 pounds in the prior year—dropping from a previous billing of nearly 400 pounds—through dedicated fitness efforts like stairmaster workouts, marking a significant personal transformation amid his ongoing wrestling commitments.

Background

Early life

Justin Romero, better known by his ring name Ace Romero, was born on May 1, 1990, in . He spent much of his childhood in nearby , where he developed an early interest in sports amid a working-class family environment; his mother held a job that limited family travel, influencing his initial steps into extracurricular activities. Romero attended Thornton Academy in Saco, graduating in 2008. During high school, he participated actively in athletics, playing as an offensive lineman on the during his freshman and senior years and also competing in . His initial inspiration to pursue emerged during his high school years, sparked by a personal passion that he openly shared in an English class assignment declaring his ambition to become a professional wrestler. This dream was encouraged by his teacher, Caryn Lasante-Ford, who supported him by driving him to his first in after graduation, marking the beginning of his transition to professional training.

Personal life

Romero has worked as a correctional officer at the Long Creek Youth Development Center in , since early 2024. In this role, he mentors at-risk youth, drawing on his background to build trust and encourage positive decision-making by teaching resilience and adaptability skills honed in the ring. In March 2025, Romero announced he had lost 200 pounds over the previous year, reducing from a billed weight of nearly 400 pounds during his wrestling career to significantly improve his health. Motivated by earlier lifestyle changes and encouragement from fellow wrestlers Bully Ray and Ethan Page, he achieved this through consistent cardio, including extensive use of the Stairmaster, resulting in a transformed physical appearance and enhanced overall well-being. A native, Romero resides in Portland, where he continues to engage in community initiatives. His contributions include organizing pro-wrestling events at the youth center, such as a May 2025 show featuring legend , to inspire incarcerated teens toward constructive paths and personal growth.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (2013–2018)

Ace Romero began his professional wrestling training in 2013 following his high school graduation, initially at the New England Pro Wrestling Academy under the guidance of Biff Busick (also known as ). He later supplemented his training with sessions in , , and to refine his skills. Romero made his in-ring debut on September 6, 2013, under the ring name Ace Romero, competing for Florida Underground Wrestling (FUW) in a singles match against Steelhorse Vachon. He quickly transitioned to the independent circuit in the Northeast , wrestling for promotions such as Limitless Wrestling, Beyond Wrestling, (CZW), and XWA, where he built experience through regional tours. His early matches, including bouts against notable opponents like , , and Keith Lee by 2018, highlighted his development as an agile performer capable of high-flying maneuvers despite his 300-plus-pound frame. In addition to singles competition, Romero formed his first , The Leatherheads, partnering with Roadblock for Independent Wrestling Entertainment (IWE) in starting in late 2013. The duo competed primarily in the Northeast, establishing Romero's character as an energetic, pouncing powerhouse known for his explosive offense and crowd-engaging presence. His Maine roots influenced these regional bookings, allowing him to perform frequently at venues like the Westbrook Armory.

Major League Wrestling (2018–2019)

Ace Romero signed with (MLW) in late 2018, making his debut at the Fightland event on November 8 in , where he defeated in a televised match on . Portrayed as an agile super heavyweight with a high-octane style reminiscent of and Vader, Romero was positioned as a rising talent capable of blending power and technical prowess in the promotion's roster of established stars. Throughout his tenure, Romero participated in several MLW Fusion tapings, showcasing his athleticism in standout bouts that highlighted his role as a fan-favorite contender. In December 2018, he secured victories over Ariel Dominguez on December 13 and Simon Gotch on December 28 in a high-stakes Prize Fight Challenge match, earning $20,000 and igniting a heated rivalry with Gotch. The feud continued into early 2019, with Romero defeating Gotch by disqualification on February 2 and again on March 9, emphasizing Gotch's frustration and Romero's resilience in no-holds-barred encounters. Romero also formed a short-lived alliance with fellow big man Barrington Hughes, teaming up to defeat The Dirty Blondes on December 14, 2018, before their partnership evolved into storylines against MLW's dominant factions. In April 2019, at the Rise of the Renegades event, Romero suffered a loss to on April 4, followed by a defeat alongside Hughes against ( and ) the next night. He further contributed to MLW's spectacle by entering the 40-man match on April 5, 2019, a multi-man battle royal-style event won by LA Park, which underscored his growing presence in high-profile chaos bouts. Romero's MLW run concluded after the April 2019 weekend tapings, as his initial contract expired without renewal, allowing him to pursue other opportunities while elevating his profile through national television exposure. This period marked a pivotal step from his foundations, where he honed an aerial-assisted power style, into structured mainstream wrestling narratives.

All Elite Wrestling (2019)

Ace Romero made his (AEW) debut on May 25, 2019, during the pre-show Casino Battle Royale at the promotion's inaugural event, , held at the in , Nevada. The match featured 21 wrestlers divided into five groups entering at timed intervals, with the winner earning a future shot at the . Romero entered in the third group alongside , , Jungle Boy, and , showcasing his powerhouse style through high-impact maneuvers, including a notable suicide dive onto multiple opponents outside the ring. During the battle royale, Romero eliminated the diminutive with a powerful toss over the top rope, highlighting his role as a dominant force in the early going despite the multi-man chaos. However, he was soon eliminated himself by Jungle Boy, who capitalized on a moment of vulnerability to dump the larger Romero over the top rope, marking a surprising upset given Romero's size advantage. Hangman Page ultimately won the by last eliminating MJF, securing the title opportunity. Romero's performance served as an enhancement showcase, introducing his unique blend of and power to AEW's audience following his rising profile in . Romero's stint in AEW was brief, limited to this single appearance without any subsequent matches on or other programming. He did not sign a contract with the promotion, instead departing shortly thereafter to explore opportunities elsewhere, including a transition to Impact Wrestling later in 2019.

Impact Wrestling (2019–2021)

In late 2019, Ace Romero signed a three-year contract with Impact Wrestling after defeating Larry D in the main event of the All Glory special event on October 19. He adopted the ring name Acey Romero starting with his debut the following night at Bound for Glory, where he competed in a five-way for the Impact Championship, ultimately losing to . Early in his tenure, Romero showcased his athleticism in singles competition, including victories over Joey Ryan on Impact Wrestling programming in February 2020. Romero transitioned to the tag team division by partnering with Larry D to form XXXL, a power-oriented duo that emphasized Romero's size and agility in comedic and competitive storylines. The team feuded with prominent acts such as The Rascalz, The Deaners, and , positioning themselves as contenders for the Impact World Tag Team Championship through multi-team battles on television. XXXL's pursuits included losses in high-profile matches at in April 2020 against The Rascalz in a three-way tag bout, Victory Road in October 2020 to The Rascalz, and in November 2020 to and . They continued challenging for tag gold into 2021, falling to Decay at No Surrender in February and in a number one contendership four-way at in May, while also appearing in multi-person matches leading into events to build tag division momentum. During this run, Romero adapted elements of his early aerial style—such as crossbodies and splashes—to enhance XXXL's high-impact offense in the tag division. XXXL's storyline at in January 2021 revolved around a humorous narrative in which Larry D was "jailed," prompting Romero to portray a bumbling alongside John E. Bravo in segments investigating the predicament. The promotion's national television presence on during Romero's two-year stint offered him broader mainstream exposure, allowing him to reach a wider beyond the independent circuit. On October 12, 2021, Impact granted Romero his release after he requested it in August amid decreased bookings following a diagnosis in May that sidelined him from tapings.

Independent circuit (2021–present)

Following his departure from Impact Wrestling in late 2021, Ace Romero returned to the independent circuit with a victory over Beastman on December 18 at Battleground Championship Wrestling's event at the in , . This match marked his immediate post-Impact booking and showcased his continued presence in regional promotions along the East Coast. Romero has since established Limitless Wrestling as his primary base, appearing frequently in their events throughout New England since 2022. In 2025, he competed in high-profile matches for the promotion, including a Portland Street Fight against Dirty Dango on March 21 at the Bissell Brothers Bash in Portland, Maine, where he emerged victorious. He also faced Aiden Aggro on August 9 during the Vacationland Cup tournament at the Colisée in Lewiston, Maine, and teamed with Scotty 2 Hotty and Keagan Garland in a trios match at Beerly Legal in June. These bouts highlighted his role as a cornerstone performer in Limitless, often in main event spots that drew strong local crowds. Beyond Limitless, Romero has maintained an active schedule across other independent promotions, including appearances in Chaotic Wrestling, where he competed as recently as October 25, 2024, in a multi-man match. He also ventured into Big Time Wrestling for a singles match in 2025, expanding his regional tours to include Mid-Atlantic and Northeast circuits. These bookings reflect his veteran status, with Romero adapting his high-impact style following a significant of 200 pounds over the course of a year, which has allowed for greater mobility in the ring while preserving his power-based offense. As of November 2025, Romero continues his sustained presence on the indie scene, with recent outings including a match against GCW's Finest on November 8 in , underscoring his ongoing demand for dream matchups and faction-style confrontations in smaller promotions. On November 16, 2025, Romero became the EWA .

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling championships

Ace Romero has held several championships throughout his independent wrestling career, primarily in regional promotions in the . His most notable singles title reign came in Limitless Wrestling, where he captured the on September 24, 2022, defeating Alec Price in a title versus career match at the Chasing Forever event in . This victory marked Romero's first world title in the promotion and ended Price's 315-day reign. Romero held the title for 182 days until losing it to in a three-way match also involving Rip Byson on March 25, 2023, at . During his reign, Romero made several successful defenses, including against Ichiban on October 8, 2022, at Blitzkrieg! Vs. Limitless; Brad Hollister (also known as "Big Bacon") on October 29, 2022, at Fresh Blood; in a no-disqualification match on December 3, 2022, at Dirty Laundry; and Conner Murphy on February 4, 2023, at Let's Wrestle Revamped. In Independent Wrestling Entertainment (IWE), Romero won the IWE on April 4, 2015, defeating Scott Wild in . He held the title for 98 days before losing it to an unspecified opponent on July 11, 2015. Specific defenses during this reign are not widely documented, but it represented an early career highlight in the Maine-based promotion. Romero also captured the IWE Championship twice early in his career, partnering with Roadblock, though exact dates for those reigns remain less detailed in available records. Additionally, Romero held the IWE Championship in 2014, defending it at least once against Eric Johnson on November 8, 2014. Romero achieved success in Chaotic Wrestling as part of the The Unit, which invoked the Freebird Rule to share the Chaotic Wrestling Championship among members Ace Romero, , Danny Miles, JT Dunn, Mike Verna, and Trigga The OG. The group won the titles on August 27, 2021, defeating the prior champions in an unspecified match. They held the championships for a record 504 days until losing them to an unspecified team on January 13, 2023. This long reign solidified The Unit's dominance in the promotion, with Romero participating in various defenses under the shared rule. Earlier in his career, Romero secured the Rockstar Pro Trios Championship on February 2, 2018, in , as part of Team Tiger Blood alongside Clayton Jackson (as the team captain) and . The trio defeated The Dirty (Austin Manix, Brandon Edwards, and Cole Radrick) to win the titles, holding them for 28 days before the reign ended. This victory highlighted Romero's versatility in multi-person matches during his rising indie phase. Additionally, Romero briefly held the PWM Championship in Pro Wrestling Magic, winning it on November 11, 2017, in . His 35-day reign ended on December 16, 2017, in a three-way street fight loss to EC Negro against . No notable defenses are recorded for this short tenure, which came amid his undefeated streak in the promotion at the time.

Other accomplishments

In 2019, Romero was ranked No. 417 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's annual PWI 500 list of top singles wrestlers. Romero received early recognition in the independent scene when he was named the best student during a fantasy camp tryout at the Pro Wrestling Academy, earning three months of free training as a result. His rising profile in indie promotions was highlighted in a 2017 feature article that profiled his momentum-building performances and potential impact on the independent wrestling landscape. In the independent circuit, Romero's contributions were honored by Limitless Wrestling in their year-end awards, where his victory in the Vacationland Cup tournament—a hard-fought four-way final—helped secure the event's recognition as Show of the Year. He was also nominated for Wrestler of the Year (won by Alec Price) and Moment of the Year for his title-winning performance at the Chasing Forever event. Beyond competition, Romero has been recognized for his inspirational role in mentoring youth through wrestling, leveraging his professional experience as a correctional officer at Maine's Long Creek Youth Development Center to guide at-risk teens. In 2025, this work was profiled in local media as a "Community Champion" effort, including organizing wrestling events at the facility with guest appearances by industry figures to promote positive development among incarcerated youth. His approach emphasizes building trust and resilience via wrestling principles, earning commendations from state officials for its rehabilitative impact.

References

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