Samuel Elias Polinsky (born August 9, 1989) is an American professional wrestler and promoter, best known under the ring name Sam Adonis and Sam Elias. Polinsky formerly worked in Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as a heel pro-Trump character and currently works for DTU, IWRG, Toryumon Mexico and the Mexican Independent circuit. Polinsky is the younger brother of Matthew Polinsky, best known as WWE commentator Corey Graves.
Polinsky has briefly worked for WWE, in their Florida Championship Wrestling developmental league, under the name Buddy Stretcher and worked a match for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Bill Callous, but has spent the majority of his pro wrestling career in England working for various promotions such as All Star Wrestling.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2008–2011) Polinsky made his professional wrestling debut in early 2008, working primarily on the independent circuit in his native Pennsylvania. He would often team with his brother Matthew, better known under the ring name Sterling James Keenan while Sam Polinsky was known as "Samuel Elias" or simply "Sam Elias". The brothers competed in a 2008 tournament for the local Pittsburgh Tag Team Championship, but lost in the final to the team of Ashton Amherst and Patrick Hayes. In 2009 Elias began teaming with Amherst, following a tag team known as "Vicious and Delicious", who won the Diamond Championship Wrestling (DCW) Tag Team Championship from the PA Posse (Kato and Sebastian). Their reign lasted for 70 days, until they lost the title to "Team Tap Out" on March 6, 2010.
In the fall of 2010, he began working for Far North Wrestling (FNW), based out of Pittsburgh. During his time with FNW he won the Ches-A-Rena Championship on three separate occasions, defeating T. Rantula, Michael Blade and Jimmy Vegas respectively to win the championship. The promotion closed in 2011, leaving Sam Elias as the last recognized Ches-A-Rena Champion.
WWE
Florida Championship Wrestling (2011) In April 2011 Polinsky, using the ring name "Buddy Stretcher", began working for WWE's developmental league, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). Polinsky suffered a knee injury after only two matches with FCW and was later released.
Europe (2011–2016) While Polinsky was not successful in FCW he did strike up a friendship with WWE wrestler William Regal who used his contacts to get Polinsky work in the United Kingdom for All Star Wrestling. Polinsky began working under the name "Sam Adonis", a vain, self-obsessed, narcissistic heel. While living in England for several years he also worked for other European wrestling promotions such as the European Wrestling Promotion in Germany, and New Wrestling Entertainment in Italy. In 2014 he participated in ASW's "King of the Ring" tournament, defeating Mexx in the first round, but losing to Dean Allmark in the second round.
In November 2015, Adonis won the British Heavyweight Championship, sometimes referred to as the "SuperSlam" championship, becoming the first American to win the championship. In April 2016 he returned to the United States and at some point later was officially stripped of the championship for lack of defenses. On April 27, 2017 Polinsky worked on an episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's television show under the name "Bill Callous", losing to Ethan Carter III.
Mexico (2016–2018) On May 1, 2016, Adonis worked his first match in Mexico, defending the British Heavyweight Championship against Mexican wrestler Black Fire, on a Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) show. A few weeks later he began working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Mexico's largest and the world's oldest wrestling promotion. His first major appearance was for the 2016 version of the International Grand Prix, a 16-man tournament featuring native Mexican wrestlers facing foreigners. Adonis was the fourth wrestler eliminated, pinned by Rush. From that point on Adonis began working for CMLL on a regular basis, although he was not signed to a long-term contract with the company.