William Matthew Sierra (born August 11, 1957), better known by his ring nameBill Alfonso, is an American former professional wrestlingreferee and manager, currently performing for Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he serves as the manager of Matthew Justice. He achieved his greatest success in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-to-late 1990s. He is well known for the whistle that was almost always hanging around his neck, which he blew constantly during his wrestlers' matches.[3]
Career
Early career, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation (1979–1995)
Alfonso made his debut in Extreme Championship Wrestling In May 1995 at Enter the Sandman as a "trouble-shooting referee".[1] Introduced by Shane Douglas, he angered many ECW fans with strict enforcement of the rules and disqualifications of wrestlers for such ECW traditions as using steel chairs as weapons.[4] In this role, he engaged in a feud with ECW founder Tod Gordon that resulted in several wrestling matches.[4]
Alfonso was then stripped of his refereeing duties and took on the role of Taz's manager and helped him on a winning streak that lasted over a year.[1] In the midst of Taz's feud with Sabu, however, Alfonso turned on his charge and aligned with Sabu.[5] In this role, he performed more than the usual duties, as he actually managed Sabu's finances.[4] Rob Van Dam later took on Alfonso as a manager and formed a tag team with Sabu.[6] Alfonso also led Van Dam to the longestECW World Television Championship reign in the history of ECW.[7] In September 1997 at As Good as It Gets, Alfonso fought Beulah McGillicutty with this match becoming infamous because Alfonso lost 1/3 of the blood in his body according to Paul Heyman.
Return to WWE (2005–2006)
Alfonso returned to the WWE (the former WWF) and was at the 2005 ECW One Night Stand managing Sabu and standing in the ring with RVD while RVD delivered a shoot style promo. Alfonso returned at ECW One Night Stand 2006 after Rob Van Dam won the WWE Championship, as he celebrated with him and the rest of the then-ECW Roster.
Bill Alfonso making his entrance at a show in March 2013
Since the closing of ECW, Alfonso has appeared in several independent promotions. He worked one match in Xtreme Pro Wrestling as a referee.[1] He has also worked in Elite Wrestling Entertainment as a referee and a manager,[1] as well as managing wrestlers in Squared Circle Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Unplugged.[1] In May 2007, he made his first appearance with Women's Extreme Wrestling, where he serves as a manager and as commissioner.[1]
On December 18, 2021, Alfonso wrestled against Ziggy Haim in an intergender match for Absolute Intense Wrestling in Cleveland, Ohio in which Haim won.[11]
Other media
In October 2002, fellow manager Missy Hyatt sued Alfonso in a case televised on Judge Mathis. She accused Alfonso of damaging her Porsche and was awarded $500. Alfonso also had other run ins with the law, being arrested for a stolen rental vehicle in Georgia, DUI and possession of cocaine in Tampa, violation of probation and testing positive for heroin. Alfonso served jail time in Tampa for the vop charges. He also found himself in trouble with the Tampa police for other charges throughout the early 2000's contributed from a heroin addiction.[1]
