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Zante Maverick
Maverick at Summerslam 2019
Maverick at Summerslam 2019
Born Zakari Dion-Samaje Maverick
Born: January 6th, 1996
(Age:27)
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Nationality American
Alma mater Berkeley College
Occupation Professional Wrestler
Years active Professional Wrestler (2006-Present)
Employer World Wrestling Entertainment
Home town Irvington, New Jersey
Spouse(s) Akame Yamamoto (2020-Present)
Parent(s) AQ Maverick (Mother)
Derick Reeves (Father)
Family Somaje Maverick (Uncle)
Michelle Maverick (Aunt)
Kenji Yamamoto (Father-in-Law)
Aimi Yamamoto (Mother-in-Law)
Cody Maverick (Grandpa)
Margaret Maverick (Grandma)
Sean Maverick (Cousin)
DJ Maverick (Cousin)
Luna Maverick (Cousin)
Ebony Maverick (Cousin)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Zante Maverick
Zack Maverick
Papa Yaga
Phantom El Hielo
Billed height 6'3"
Billed weight 243lbs
Billed from Newark, New Jersey
Orlando, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
New Orleans, Louisiana
Osaka Japan
Irvington, New Jersey
Trained by AQ Maverick
John Zandig
Mistico
Dick Togo
Debut July 14th, 2006

Zakari Dion-Samaje Maverick (January 6th, 1996) is a Afro-Dominican Professional Wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Smackdown brand under his ring name, Zante Maverick. He is also a Second-generation wrestler, as he is the son of Retired professional wrestler AQ Maverick, and Late Professional Wrestler, Derick Reeves.

Every since debuting in 2006, many have hailed Zante as the best Second-Generation Pro Wrestler in the world rivaling those who follow in his footsteps and wrestlers before he stepped into the ring. He has taken his talents to the likes of PWG, NJPW, DDT, AAA, Ring of Honor, and CZW before making his debut to WWE.

Early Life[]

Zakari was born to AJ Maverick and Derick Reeves in Newark, New Jersey on January 6th, 1996. He is the only the child of Derick Reeves (Papa Yaga: 1961-1996) and AQ Maverick (AJ Maverick 1964-). His father was Dominican of Puerto Rican Descent and his mother is African-American of Jamaican descent. At the time of his birth, Derick went to his parent's new hometown in Brazil order to help them move into their new home. AJ went into labor a week in to Derick's absence and was forced to have Zakari early. The delivery was a success and after many tests to find anything wrong with him, he was revealed to be perfectly healthy. 3 weeks following his birth, AJ and Zakari was allowed to leave. Derick returned with a black eye and an arm injury sustained by a accident trying to lift up his parent's couch on his own and trying to drag it downstairs as he missed a step and fell all the down to the floor. After a rocky first few months, the two new parents went back to work and continued wrestling.

When Zakari was 3, him and AJ would move to Irvington, New Jersey so that Zakari could get a good education as well as make some friends. Zakari attended Mount Vernon Elementary School in 2001 when he was 6 years old. By the time he was 8, Zakari was already also self-taught in playing the Bass Guitar, along with the Keytar. He was also into Gymnastics and Technology. He began to learn Judo, Karate, and Capoeira when he was 13 Years old.

Having a pro-wrestler as a mom really made Zakari's eventual love for the sport more obvious than AJ would like to admit. From VHS tape recordings of PPV's and shows featuring AJ and ones without fueled Zakari's inevitable quest to join his parent's footsteps.

Professional Wrestling Career[]

For his celebrate his 10th birthday, AJ decided to bring Zakari along with her to Japan to let him see her compete in a wrestling match one time, since the only way he was able to see his mother wrestle was some VHS tapes AJ brought with her to New Jersey. Her opponent during his birthday party was Aja Kong, where AJ would pick up the win. Following the trip, Zakari begged his mom to let him begin training to become one. Despite her worries and concerns that it might eat up his home and school life, she reluctantly agreed to train on the condition that he keeps up his school work. During Summer vacation, AJ was approached by DDT to have a match with them. AJ would agree to it, but on the condition that Zakari would participate as well. Since age requirements were relaxed in DDT than other promotions, AJ believed it would a good idea to have Zakari compete in his first match on a company's brand whose been well-known in doing and allowing goofy shenanigans to happen on the show. And so, on July 14th, 2006, Zakari would have his first match alongside his mother in a winning effort.

Early Career JAPW and CZW (2006-2008):[]

After a couple of matches in DDT, including a match against Kenny Omega, Zakari returned to the states and moved to Cherry Hill New Jersey along with his mom. Zakari would begin competing regularly in August 8th, 2006 competing for Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW). He and AJ would be contacted by CZW and asked to do a few matches at some of their house shows and AJ work 2-3 recorded matches with some of the male wrestlers. He also competed for Jersey All Pro Wrestling. Soon, he would meet his best friend and future on and off tag team partner Victor Walker, and after a few months of training, Zakari, along with Victor would begin competing as a tag team called the Jersey Devils. Going under a masked luchador gimmick, Victor would begin his professional wrestling career as the Golden Star alongside with Zakari who was at the time was under the moniker Phantom El Hielo. The two would begin working dark matches for CZW and JAPW up until in May of 2007 where they would challenge BLK-OUT for the CZW World Tag Team Championships which they would surprisingly win the belts. They would hold the belts until they lost the titles at the Chris Ca$h Memorial Show to Team AnDrew (Andy Summer and Drew Gulak). They would get a chance to reclaim their titles, but they failed to defeat the champions. The two would leave CZW in January 2008. They would travel and compete for other promotions including IWA Midsouth, XPW, NWA/TNA, and Chikara.

AAA (2008)[]

Walker and Maverick would travel to Mexico and sign with AAA on April of 2008. 4 weeks into their signing, they would win the AAA World Tag Team Championships. They would hold on to the belts up until September where they would lose the titles to La Hermandad 187 (Joe Líder (Who would win the belt for the second time in his career) and Nicho el Millonario). After spending 2 more months in the company, they would take a hiatus from wrestling after Victor suffered a concussion during one of their final matches in AAA. While on hiatus, the two would temporarily return back to school in Inrvington, New Jersey, with them both attending Chancellor Avenue School.

DDT and New Japan Pro Wrestling (2010-2012)[]

PWG (2013-2014)[]

BOLA 2013[]

Final Matches with PWG[]

Ring of Honor (2014-2016)[]

In mid August of 2014, Zante and Victor would sign with Ring of Honor.

WWE (2017-Present)[]

2 months following his release from ROH, Zante would receive a voicemail from Matt Bloom, offering him a try-out with WWE. At first, Zante was planning on declining the offer, wanting to return to New Japan, but talking it over with Victor, he decided to reach out to Bloom, accepting the offer and after competing in 2 matches for New Orleans Pro Wrestling, he would travel to Orlando, Florida and officially sign a contract with WWE on March 18th, 2017.

NXT (2017-2018)[]

Feud with Tommaso Ciampa (June 2017-August 2017)[]

Before getting having his debut match, Maverick would have his first feud with top heel at the time, Tommaso Ciampa. Both would exchange verbal jabs at each other over the course of late May and early June. Zante would make his WWE debut on the NXT brand on June 14th, 2017. Defeating Riddick Moss. The two would be scheduled to be in a match at NXT In Your House: UK Takeover, where Maverick would win. The two would have a second match on the July 19th edition of NXT, where Ciampa would win thanks to a usage of a steel chair. Over the next few weeks following their second match, the two would interrupt each other's matches, getting into brawls all over the arena. Including on the August 9th edition of NXT where Ciampa accidently busting Maverick open with a jumping knee strike. After a pull apart brawl on the same episode, William Regal announced at the end of the show, along with the NXT Championship match between Bobby Roode and Drew McIntyre, Maverick would take on Ciampa one more time to settle the score in a 2 out of 3 falls count anywhere match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn 3. The two would meet face to face one last time on the August 23rd episode where the two would make things that they are both ready to win no matter what it takes. With Zante ending the promo saying: "Come Saturday, I'm gonna kill yo' bitch ass and I'll make you wish you never fucked with me. And whether I win or not, by the end of it, you're not going to see your daughter alive after I'm finished with you." Causing Ciampa to snap and lunge at Maverick, causing another brawl.

The final match between the two would happen, ultimately being the show stealer and match of the night as the two would beat the living hell out of each other. Key moments from the match include Maverick hitting a Tope Con Hilo to Ciampa into a flaming table, Ciampa throwing Maverick off a production truck, both men whacking each other with kendo sticks, Maverick powerbombing Ciampa throw a car window, Ciampa hitting Widow's Bell onto Maverick on exposed concrete, Maverick hitting a Sealion Splash off a ladder through the Spanish announce table, Ciampa hitting a con-chair-to to Maverick, and Maverick running over Ciampa with a car in front of the crowd.

The match was received mostly positively by fans and even got a 4 star rating by Dave Meltzer.

The match did end up injuring both competitors and even the referee. As Ciampa suffered an injury to his knee, while Maverick suffered and facial and arm injury. The two wouldn't compete until November.

1st Heel Turn run Tag Team with Tommaso Ciampa and 1st World Tag Team Title reign (February-December 2018)[]

To many surprise, both Maverick and Ciampa would be called up during the 4th match of Monday Night RAW's go-home show to Survivor Series. Answering the Bar's World Tag Team Championship open challenge. The two would demolish the Irishman and the Swish Cyborg. Culminating in Cesaro receiving a Project Ciampa then followed up by a Sealion's Splash. Winning the titles. The two would off against the Usos at Survivor Series in which the two would able to pick up the win after Zante catched Jey Uso with a Z-Trigger outta thin air then Ciampa ending the match with the Fairy Tale Ending.

1st Intercontinental Championship reign (April 2018-June 2018)[]

2nd Intercontinental Championship reign (August 2018-January 2019)[]

Tag Team run with Monster Walker, 1st WWE Tag Team Championship reign and 1st feud with Monster Walker (November 2018-January, 2019)[]

Smackdown (2018-Present)[]

Main Event Run (January 2019-August 2019)[]

Feud with Bobby Lashley and Cesaro (February 2019-May 2019 & August 2019)

World Heavyweight Championship reign (August 2019-October 2019)[]

2nd Heel Turn (October 2019-Febuary 2020)[]

Feud with Victor Walker and 1st WWE Championship reign (June 2020-September 2020)[]

Feud with the Fiend (September 2020-January 2021)[]

Royal Rumble win and road to Wrestlemania 37 (January 2021-April 2021)[]

WWE Championship reign 2nd World Heavyweight Championship reign (April 2021-August 2021)[]

United States Championship reign (November 2021-Febuary 2022)[]

3rd Heel Turn and formation of Judgment Day (March 2022-May 2022)[]

Return to WWE and Current run (January 2023-Present)[]

Professional Wrestling Styles, Gimmicks, and Personas[]

Zamalek's wrestling style has been described as a melting pot of Technical, High Flying, Brawling, and hardcore wrestling styles His In-Ring persona is influenced by both of his parents. As he incorporates high flying maneuvers from his dad, and many powerhouse moves from his mom. With him even adopting their signature moves and even finishers. His gimmicks varied from promotion with elements of his time in other companies influencing his current gimmick as the experienced veteran.

His Finishers are a reflection of his wrestling style like one of his main finishers. The Sealion Splash (Dubbed on occasions as the "Takeoff from Newark" Frog Splash being apart of his moveset ever since he started wrestling in 2006. Other moves of his include the "Jersey Plunge", a Pumphandle Half Nelson Driver his secondary primary finisher, "Avalanche", a Air Raid Neckbreaker he has used as a signature move over the course of the career, "Dive of the Devil" a Double Rotating Moonsault when he was Phantom El Hielo, "Reaper's Clutch", a Cravate Sleeper Hold that he used when he was Papa Yaga, "Grape Soda Crush", a Inverted Crush/Sit-Out DDT that he uses as his primary signature, and the "Blackout Knee", a Running Knee Lift to the face of his opponent. He also has a finisher he uses only on desperate occasions at big time matches dubbed the "Last Resort" dubbed by Zante as a nod to Papa Roach's song of the same name. A move where he hooks his opponents arm and lifts them slightly and drops them on their head, and on occasion, he even lifts them up similar to Triple H's Pedigree finisher but still has his opponent land on the top of their head.

Zante has had several gimmicks over his nearly 20 year career. Three of his most well known gimmicks are his first ever gimmick as Phantom El Hielo, a supposed self-taught luchador from the "slums" of New York, The "Voodoo Child" version of Papa Yaga, a resurrected version of his father's gimmick, that included him using The Jimi Hendrix Experience's Voodoo Child (Slight Return) as his theme song, and his current gimmick as the "Poison" to the Judgment Day's fall. Similar to Sting's WCW Crow gimmick in 1997.


Other Media[]

Maverick has playable video game appearances in WWE2K19, WWE2K20, WWE2KBattlegrounds, WWE2K22, and his latest appearance in WWE2K23. Younger versions of him under his Phantom El Hielo and Papa Yaga gimmicks as part of the DLC marketing for WWE2K23. Along with a ROH/PWG hybrid version of him and Victor Walker for WWE2K22. He's also made sporadic appearances on both of Akame Yamamoto's Youtube channels.

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
2022 The Forgotten Priest Himself
2022 WWE: Pandemic Lockdown Himself

Video Games[]

Year Title Role Notes
2018 WWE2K19 Zante Maverick
2019 WWE2K20 Zante Maverick

Papa Yaga

This would be Maverick's first time having his incarnation of the Papa Yaga gimmick make it into the series.
2020 WWE2KBattlegrounds Zante Maverick Appears in the background of the cover
2022 WWE2K22 Zante Maverick
2023 WWE2K23 Zante Maverick

El Fantasma De Hielo Papa Yaga Zante Maverick (Judgment Day)

El Fantasma De Hielo and Papa Yaga were added as apart of the Men's MyRise campaign. His Judgment Day Incarnation came as apart of a free update following a recent patch.


Mobile Games

Year Title Role Notes
2019 WWE Champions Zante Maverick
2019 WWE Universe Zante Maverick
2019 WWE Mayhem Zante Maverick
2020 WWE Supercard Zante Maverick
2020 WWE Undefeated Zante Mavick

Personal Life.[]

Zakari would began dating fellow professional wrestler Akame Yamamoto in early 2018 during Wrestlemania 34 weekend. Beforehand, the two were best friends through their love for fighting games and Sonic the Hedgehog and were training partners during their time in NXT. During the Wrestlemania 35 WWE24 special, the two would be seen kissing before Zamalek would main event Wrestlemania 35 Night 2 against Cesaro and at the time World Heavyweight Champion, Bobby Lashley. This would confirm to the world their status as boyfriend and girlfriend to the public. Maverick would purpose to Yamamoto after his World Heavyweight Championship win at Summerslam against Cesaro after the Pay-Per-View went off the air. Yamamoto said yes and the two celebrated with the crowd and with AJ Maverick. The two would get married on May 30th, 2020 during the pandemic.

While this was happening, Yamamoto was off TV due to her confirming in late October, 2019 that she was 8 months pregnant. Unfortunately, she miscarried before it was time to deliver. Maverick took a break from active wrestling following this to take care of Yamamoto who was grieving and suffering from Post-Partum Depression and his mother who had just recovered from beating cancer. He would return in late November of 2020 to active competition to the worry of his colleagues and friends as people would begin to worry about him after he returned so abruptly after experiencing 2 traumatic moments in his life.

Zante took a leave of absence in May of 2022 as he revealed recently in a interview promoting WWE2K23, that he was suffering depression and anxiety at the time and his co-workers and friends were becoming more worried about him due to him overworking himself and because people were concerned for him after he had just lost his first child not long before and also had to deal with his mom almost dying to cancer. And after many people, including Akame herself advised him to seek therapy, he finally obliged and was written off TV by Casey Wayne. He thanks mostly Akame, Triple H, Casey, and Victor for considering it. Zante would get number tattoos of Akame, his mother, and Victor while on leave as he thanks them for helping him through therapy. He would later get one of his unborn daughter and Casey in February, 2023.

Maverick currently resides in his old hometown Irvington, New Jersey with Akame as the two both opened a gym and a Food Truck together in New Jersey, with the latter being currently run by a good friend of the two. Maverick is best friends with Victor Walker and Casey Wayne. Together with Akame, the 3 would call themselves "The Quad."

He is the Nephew of late Professional Wrestler Somaje Maverick (who he would get one of his middle names from) and current CEO of New Orleans Pro Wrestling, Michelle Maverick. He's also the cousin of their children, Sean Maverick, DJ Maverick, Luna Maverick, and Ebony Maverick. Through his marriage with Akame, he's the Son-In-Law of Retired Professional Wrestlers, Kenji Yamamoto and Aimi Yamamoto.

In Wrestling[]

Finishers:[]

As Zante Maverick[]

  • Jersey Plunge (Originally dubbed the "Newark City Driver") (Pump-handle Half-Nelson Driver)
  • Sealion Splash (Originally dubbed the "Takeoff from Newark") (Frog Splash)
  • Stone Cold Stunner (adopted from Stone Cold Steve Austin via permission)
  • Dark-Spine (Powerbomb Lungblower)
  • Last Resort (SlapJack)
As Papa Yaga[]
  • Avalanche (Air Raid Neckbreaker) (Used later as a signature move)
  • Avalanche 2.0 (Sit-Out Last Ride Powerbomb) (Would be used later as a signature move)
  • Dead Point (DDT)
  • Tangled Tree (Hanging Cloverleaf)
  • Voodoo Pop (Samoan Driver)
  • Reaper's Choker (Formerly known as the Noose) (Cravate Sleeper Hold)
As Phantom El Hielo[]
  • Dive of the Devil (Double Rotating Moonsault)
  • Coyote Cutter (TKO) (Adopted from Derick Reeves)
  • Phantom Buster (Fisherman Buster)
  • Slip-Slide Drive (Samoan Driver)
  • Super BrainBuster (adopted from Jushin Thunder Liger)

Signature Moves[]

  • Grape Crush Soda (Inverted Crush/Vertigo)
  • Avalanche (over the shoulder back-to-belly piledriver)
  • The Maverick's Collision (Spear) (adopted from AQ Maverick)
  • Blackout Knee (Knee Lift) (Originally dubbed the Z-Trigger)
  • Canadian Destroyer
  • Brainbuster
  • Sunset Flip Powerbomb
  • Superplex
  • Tope Con Hilo
  • Apron Powerbomb
  • Sit-Out Piledriver
  • Tombstone Piledriver
  • Sharpshooter
  • Military Press Cutter
  • Military Press Drop + Moonsault combo
  • Military Press Drop
  • Diving Elbow Drop
  • Diving Moonsault
  • Saito Suplex
  • Dropkick
  • Superkick
  • Middle Rope Moonsault
  • Middle Rope Sunset Flip Powerbomb
  • Gut-Buster + Foot Stomp combo (sometimes running)
  • Suicide Dive
  • Dragon Suplex
  • German Suplex
  • Rolling Elbow
  • Running Hip Attack
  • Forearm Smash
  • Vertabreaker (adopted from AQ Maverick)
  • Sit-Out Tombstone Piledriver (Adopted from Derick Reeves)
  • Shooting Star Press (Adopted from Victor Walker, used mainly for PLE and Title matches)

Tag Team Finishers[]

  • Brain-Blaster + Golden Star Press Combo
  • Benadryl Driver + Sealion's Splash Combo
  • Blackout Knee + Superkick
  • Double Diving Moonsaults
  • Money Bomb + Melanated Driver
  • BME + Corner Backflip Moonsault (Most times the other way around)
  • Doomsday Maverick's Collision
  • Tombstone Piledriver + Sealion's Splash
  • Stone Cold Stunner + Golden Star Press

Tag Team Moves[]

  • Aided Crossbody
  • Assisted Powerbomb
  • Standing Moonsault + Fist Drop combo
  • Ballroom Blitz (Sole Kick, Roundhouse Kick, Double Knee Facebuster, German Suplex, Doomsday Saitio Suplex, Running Shooting Star Press)
  • Strike Blitz (Forearm Smash, Roundhouse Kick, Kick to the legs, Roundhouse Kick, Superkick, Mushroom Stomp, Penalty Kick)
  • Edge-O-Matic + Spinebuster
  • Total Recall (Rear European Uppercut + Running Cutter)
  • Seated Corner Cannon Ball + Corner Z-Trigger
Nicknames[]
  • The Nightmare of Newark (NJPW, WWE, and CZW)
  • Phantom Zee (DDT and PWG)
  • The Jersey Devil (WWE)
  • The Technician (WWE and ROH)
  • The Voodoo Child (Papa Yaga)
  • The Flying Phantom (AAA & PWG)
Managers[]
Wrestlers managed[]
Entrance Themes[]

Current and Previous Allies

  • Victor Walker
  • Akame Yamamoto
  • Jordan Pierce
  • Cedric Alexander
  • Shelton Benjamin
  • Edge
  • Beth Phoenix

Current and Previous Rivals

  • Casey Wayne
  • Damian Priest
  • Dominik Mysterio
  • Finn Balor
  • Rhea Ripley

Real Life Friends, Family Members, and Acquaintances

  • AQ Maverick (Mother)
  • Derick Reeves (Father)
  • Akame Yamamoto (Wife)
  • Somaje Maverick (Uncle)
  • Michelle Maverick (Auntie)
  • Sean Maverick (Cousin)
  • DJ Maverick (Cousin)
  • Luna Maverick (Cousin)
  • Ebony Maverick (Cousin)
  • Victor Walker (Best Friend)
  • Casey Wayne (Best Friend)

Real Life Rivals and Enemies

Alignments[]
  • Face (Jul 14th, 2006 (Debut))
  • Heel (2006-2012)
  • Face (2012)
  • Heel (2013-2017)
  • Face (May, 2017-Nov, 2017)
  • Heel (Nov, 2017-Jan, 2018)
  • Face (Jan, 2018-Oct, 2019)
  • Heel (Oct, 2019-Apr, 2020)
  • Face (April, 2020-Mar, 2022)
  • Heel (Mar, 2022-May, 2022)
  • Face (Jan, 2023-Present)
Tag Teams[]
Signings[]

DDT Pro Wrestling (July 14th, 2006)

Jersey All Pro Wrestling (August 8th, 2006-August 8th, 2007)

Combat Zone Wrestling (September 18th, 2006-January 4th, 2008)

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (April 5th, 2008-June 12th, 2008)

Combat Zone Wrestling (June, 26th, 2010-July 4th, 2010)

DDT Pro Wrestling (July 1st, 2010-December 25th, 2010)

New Japan Pro Wrestling (January 1st, 2011-July 24th, 2014)

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (November 18th, 2012-March 11th, 2014)

Ring of Honor (October 10th, 2014-February 19th, 2017)

World Wrestling Entertainment (March 17th, 2017-Present)

Championships and accomplishments[]

AAA:[]

CBS Sports[]

  • Underrated Wrestler of the year (2018)
  • Match of the year vs Cesaro at Summerslam 2019
  • Wrestler of the year (2019)

Combat Zone Wrestling:[]

DDT Pro-Wrestling:[]

New York Post[]

New Japan Pro Wrestling[]

Pro Wrestling Illustrated[]

  • Tag Team of the year (2009, 2012)
  • Most Underrated Wrestler of the Year (2013, 2016)
  • PWI Match of the Year (2019)
  • PWI Ranked him #17 in the PWI 500 in 20
  • PWI Ranked him #11 in the PWI 500 in 20134
  • PWI Ranked him #26 in the PWI 500 in 2017
  • PWI Ranked him #16 in the PWI in 2018
  • PWI Ranked him #2 in the PWI 500 in 2019
  • PWI Ranked him #5 in the PWI 500 in 2021
  • PWI Ranked him #16 in the PWI 500 in 2022

Pro Wrestling Guerrilla[]

Ring of Honor[]

Sports Illustrated[]

  • Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2013, 2016, 2019, 2021)
  • Ranked No. 2 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2019
  • Tag Team of the year (2008, 2009) with Victor Walker

Wrestling Observer News[]

  • Most Improved (2009, 2011)
  • Most Underrated (2013, 2016, 2017)
  • Tag Team of the Year (2011-2012)

World Wrestling Entertainment:[]

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