| Cezar Bononi | |
| Birth Date: | 15 June 1986 |
| Birth Place: | São Paulo, Brazil[1] |
| Names: | Cezar Bononi V8 Big Block |
| Height: | 6feet |
| Weight: | 259lb |
| Billed: | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Trainer: | Bob Junior[2] [3] WWE Performance Center |
| Debut: | 2012 |
Cezar Bononi[4] (born 15 June 1986) is a Brazilian professional wrestler, actor and Fitness coach. He is also known for his time in WWE NXT and AEW Dark.
Prior to his wrestling career Bononi played American football for São Paulo Storm in the Brazilian football league, being named to the São Paulo state team and the All Brazilian team.
Bononi trained to be a professional wrestler under Bob Junior of the Brazilian Wrestling Federation, and competed on the independent circuit in his native Brazil and South America under the ring name V8 Big Block. In the BWF, he held the BWF Rei Do Ringue Championship on one occasion.
In October 2015, Bononi was announced as part of a class of 19 WWE recruits to begin training at the WWE Performance Center. He made his television debut on 10 May 2017 episode of NXT, losing to Aleister Black.[5] Bononi had his first televised victory on 31 May episode of NXT, defeating Andrade "Cien" Almas. Bononi was named "Future Star of NXT" at the 2017 NXT Year-End Awards.[6] On 17 April 2020, it was announced that he was released from his WWE contract.[7]
On 24 June 2020 episode of AEW Dynamite, Bononi was spotted in the crowd along with other wrestlers where he broke up a brawl between participants of a lumberjack. Bononi would then make his in-ring debut on 29 September episode of AEW Dark where he teamed with Shawn Dean in a losing effort to The Gunn Club. Over the next few months, Bononi would compete sporadically on Dark in losing efforts. On 26 January 2021 episode of Dark, Bononi would align himself with Peter Avalon. Bononi had his first win in AEW on 3 February episode of Dark, teaming with Avalon to defeat Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean. Bononi made his first in-ring appearance on 4 February episode of Dynamite, teaming with Avalon in a loss to the team of Lee Johnson and Cody Rhodes. At Revolution, Bononi and Avalon took part in the Tag Team Casino Battle Royale in a losing effort. After the end of AEW Dark in May, Bononi had his contract terminated with AEW.
Due to WWE's business relationship with EVOLVE Wrestling, several NXT wrestlers were allowed to participate in an independent show produced by Evolve.[8] On October 28 at EVOLVE 114, Bononi debuted as the corner man to his tag partner Adrian Jaoude in his match defeating independent wrestler Joe Gacy.
Bononi mostly worked in Independent Circuit under the ring name V8 Big Block.[9] He held BWF Rei Do Ringue Championship for Brazilian Wrestling Federation.[10] Later in 2023, Bononi joined Boca Raton Championship Wrestling. He defeated Ozzy Kilmeister in NWA/BRCW Boca Versus The World event.[11] [12]