Steve DeMarco

After training with Chavo Guerrero, Sr. and George de la Isla, Martinez made his professional wrestling debut in 2001 under the ring name Steve DeMarco. In 2002, he joined the National Wrestling Alliance territory NWA Southwest and eventually won the Texas Heavyweight Championship after defeating JP Black on June 21, beginning a feud with him in the process.[2] He re-lost the title to Black on August 1 before defeating Black once again for the title on October 26 at the NWA's 54 anniversary show "Battle of the Belts".[2][3] Black won the title once again on May 31, ending their feud.[2]

On May 10, 2003, DeMarco made his debut in Professional Championship Wrestling. He soon moved to the cruiserweight division, where he defeated Duffy of the KEG Brothers for the Cruiserweight Championship. After losing the Cruiserweight Title, DeMarco formed a tag team with Action Jackson, and both would go on to win the Tag Team Championship after defeating The Professionals (Mike Thunder and John Allen). DeMarco continued to accumulate more titles, as he defeated Canyon for the Television Championship, The Uncut Title and ultimately the Heavyweight Championship after winning a one-night tournament, where he defeated BJ Turner, Lance Hoyt, and Shawn Hernandez to claim the title. However, DeMarco soon lost the Tag Team, Television and Heavyweight Titles, the latter of which to Hoyt, before he reclaimed it from Hoyt in a rematch.

In 2006, DeMarco joined Booker T's new promotion, the Pro Wrestling Alliance, where he received training from the promotion's school and Booker himself. At the promotion's debut show, Christmas Chaos, DeMarco lost to Umaga.[3] On June 29, 2007, DeMarco and Franco Valentino lost to Kryll (AD Star and Creet) in the first round of a tournament to crown the first ever Tag Team Champions.[3] On June 27, 2008, DeMarco and The Pride lost to Valentino and Neico in the first round of another Tag Team Title tournament.[3] A little under a month later, DeMarco picked up his first victory in the promotion after defeating Tank Bishop.[3] On October 31, DeMarco unsuccessfully competed in a six-man elimination match to crown the first ever Iron Man Champion.[3]

DeMarco made two appearances for World of Wrestling in 2008. On October 10, he wrestled against Mysterious Q for the Cruiserweight Championship in a two out of three falls match, which ended in a draw.[3] His second and last appearance occurred on November 14, where he wrestled against Michael Faith in a losing effort for the Heavyweight Championship.[3]

In early 2009, DeMarco began working for the Austin-based Total Championship Wrestling. After appearing on the company's first ever show, he cut a program welcoming the fans in attendance to "The Lucha Lounge", a nod to his YouTube online show of the same. Later on in the night, he became the promotion's first Heavyweight Champion after defeating Dark Star.