Leon Ruff facts for kids

Dartanyon Ruffin is an American professional wrestler. He is famous for his time in WWE, where he wrestled as Leon Ruff. He even won the NXT North American Championship once!

Leon Ruff's Wrestling Journey

Dartanyon chose the name "Leon Ruff" to honor his grandfather, Leon Ruffin. He started his wrestling career on January 1, 2017.

Starting Out in Evolve (2018–2020)

Leon Ruff made his first appearance at Evolve 106 on June 23, 2018. He teamed up with Tommy Maserati, but they lost their match.

Winning a Championship

At Evolve 131 on July 13, 2019, Leon Ruff and his partner A. R. Fox won the Evolve Tag Team Championship. They defeated a team called The UnWanted. Leon and A. R. Fox held the titles for 147 days. They lost the championships at Evolve 142 on December 7, 2019.

Time in WWE (2019–2021)

Even before signing a contract, Leon Ruff appeared on WWE NXT in December 2019. He wrestled in many matches on shows like WWE Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live. He often played the role of a "local competitor," which means he helped make other wrestlers look strong.

Becoming a Champion in NXT

On October 7, 2020, Leon Ruff officially signed with WWE. He joined the WWE Performance Center to train more. On November 11, 2020, something amazing happened on NXT. Leon Ruff defeated Johnny Gargano to win the NXT North American Championship! He was chosen as Gargano's opponent by a spinning wheel.

The next week, Leon Ruff kept his championship against Gargano. This happened because Damian Priest, who was Gargano's rival, accidentally hit Leon. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames, Leon Ruff lost his title back to Johnny Gargano. This match also included Damian Priest. Leon's time as champion lasted 25 days. He tried to win the title back in a rematch on December 30, 2020, but he was defeated.

Tag Team Matches and Rivalries

In 2021, Leon Ruff started teaming up with Kushida. They entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, a big tag team tournament. They won their first match against Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory. However, they lost in the next round to The Grizzled Young Veterans.

Leon Ruff then started a rivalry with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. They had several intense matches. At NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Leon Ruff was eliminated by Scott in a special match. Their rivalry continued with more matches, including a "Falls Count Anywhere" match where Leon was defeated due to outside interference. Leon Ruff's final match in WWE was on August 6, 2021, where he won against Grayson Waller. Soon after, he was released from his WWE contract.

Other Wrestling Appearances

Game Changer Wrestling (2021)

Leon Ruff made his debut in Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) on November 11, 2021. He won a special "5-Way Scramble Match" in Detroit, Michigan.

All Elite Wrestling (2022)

In 2022, Leon Ruff appeared in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He wrestled against Tony Nese on May 1, 2022, but lost. He also teamed up with Bear Country in a match on AEW Rampage on June 17, 2022. He made another appearance on AEW Dynamite on July 6, 2022, in a tag team match.

Leon Ruff's Personal Life

Dartanyon Ruffin is married to WWE referee Aja Smith. They got engaged on November 30, 2020, and were married on September 4, 2022. They also have a dog named Juni.

Championships and Awards

Leon Ruff has achieved several important things in his wrestling career:

• Evolve
  • Evolve Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with A. R. Fox
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 165 among the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 list in 2021.
• WWE
  • NXT North American Championship (1 time)

See also

In Spanish: Leon Ruff para niños