Zema Ion Michael Paris ( October 5 , 1986 ) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name , Zema Ion . He is currently signed to Impact Wrestling using the ring name DJ Z , where he is the current TNA X - Division Champion in his second reign . He also competes on the American independent circuit in promotions such as the International Wrestling Cartel , Velocity Pro Wrestling , IWA East Coast , Pro Wrestling Ohio , and Absolute Intense Wrestling . Career . Michael Paris claims that his dream to become a professional wrestler began when he first saw mini Luchador Chucky on an Asistencia Asesoría y Administración ( AAA ) television broadcast in 2002 . However , Paris has also stated in interviews that he credits watching a match with Yoshihiro Tajiri and Fantastik as his initial inspiration to become a pro wrestler . In 2003 , Paris began training to become a professional wrestler at the Coalition of Competition in Pittsburgh , PA under trainers Super Hentai , Shirley Doe , and Glenn Spectre . He trained there for 14 months before debuting as Shiima Xion , the " first Filipino male supermodel of professional wrestling " on August 21 , 2004 against Jason Gory in Wheeling , West Virginia . Shiima Xion competed throughout West Virginia and Ohio in the fall of 2004 , since he was not old enough to compete in the state of Pennsylvania . Shortly after turning 18 , however , Xion began competing regularly for the International Wrestling Cartel , as well as making appearances in Chikara , Far North Wrestling , and Pro Wrestling Unplugged . By early 2006 , the Shiima Xion character had become more of a glam rock star than a male model , as Xion began wearing make - up to the ring , and had also changed his hair color from black to red and blonde . His bizarre hair style soon became his trademark , with Shiima becoming best known for hairspraying his hair during matches The androgynous character eventually caught the attention of Japanese wrestling promoter Sanshiro Takagi , who invited 19 - year old Shiima to tour Japan with his company , Dramatic Dream Team ( DDT ) in the summer of 2006 . Shiima was well received during his first tour of Japan and was invited to return for a 3 - month tour in the summer of 2007 . Shiima had to decline the offer , however , as he was attending college at West Virginia University . Shiima Xion was featured in the Introducing . . . article in Pro Wrestling Illustrated ' s " The Wrestler " , volume 19 , 2008 . The magazine was released on newsstands nationwide on December 4 , 2007 , with a two - page article spread on Shiima . International Wrestling Cartel . Shiima Xion made his IWC debut on November 6 , 2004 in Munhall , PA . Shiima lost to Jason Gory , who was also making his IWC debut that night . The two feuded for the remainder of 2004 , and into 2005 , culminating at IWC No Excuses on July 29 , 2005 . Gory won the feud , and the two would not wrestle again until IWC Super Indy V on April 15 , 2006 , in which Shiima defeated Gory with the Filipino Destroyer . Post - match saw the two shake hands for the first time in their near two - year long rivalry and eventually led to them forming a tag team known as BabyFace Fire ( BFF ) . BFF teamed for the first time on July 7 , 2006 , and were defeated by Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli . The team is best known for their scramble matches with the Gambino Brothers , Sexual Harassment , and the Cleveland Mafia . The second of these scrambles , which took place on December 9 , 2006 , saw BFF capture their first IWC Tag Team Championship . Xion & Gory held onto the belts until March 2007 , in which The Gambino Brothers challenged the champions , despite both BFF members already competing in singles action earlier in the night . The challenge was accepted , and Xion was pinned by Marshall Gambino after interference from Jimmy Demarco . Later that year , after a violent feud with the Gambinos , BFF won their second IWC Tag Team Championship on December 8 , 2007 . They would hold onto the tag titles twice as long as their first reign , until Sexual Harassment defeated BFF for the belts in June 2008 . They also lost their rematch in a huge TLC match in August 2008 . Shiima Xion has also had many notable singles matches in IWC , including battles against Homicide , A . J . Styles , Chris Sabin , Jimmy Jacobs , and Nigel McGuinness . On May 11 , 2007 Xion competed in the IWC Super Indy VI tournament . He defeated Ruckus in the first round and Super Hentai in the semifinals before losing to Larry Sweeney in the finals . The next year , Xion competed in the IWC Super Indy VII tournament . In the first round , he defeated " Altar Boy " Luke Hawx . He then lost in the semifinals to the eventual winner of the tournament , Jerry Lynn . In September 2008 , Xion defeated Marshall Gambino to qualify for another tournament , for the vacant IWC World Heavyweight Championship . Xion defeated Justin Idol , John McChesney , and Raymond Rowe to advance to the finals , where he defeated Jimmy DeMarco with a 630 splash to win the tournament on October 25 and 26 . At Accept No Limitations , Jimmy DeMarco declared himself promotor because Norm Connors wasn ' t there . He made a No - DQ match between Shiima and Ray Rowe , with Shiima winning and becoming IWC Champion for a second time . Dramatic Dream Team . Shiima Xion made his Japanese debut in a losing effort , as Shiima and the MAC were defeated by CMLL / KO - D Tag Team Champions , Dick Togo and Nobutaka Moribe , on June 22 , 2006 in Shinjuku , Japan . Shiima also appeared in the Takayuki Mikami - produced Cruiser ' s Game 4th Special , teaming with Kudo and Susumu against Kagetora , Yuko Miyamoto , and Mannjimaru . Shiima ' s only win on the tour was on July 2 , 2006 , in which Shiima , Kudo , and Mikami defeated Harashima , Toru Owashi , and Yusuke Inokuma in Shimane , Japan . Shiima Xion returned to Japan on August 9 , 2009 , competing in a 6 - man tag on a joint show with Macky Puroresu Shop and Big Japan Wrestling . Shiima won the match for his team . Far North Wrestling . Shiima Xion defeated Jason Gory , CJ Sensation , Jason Cage , Xander Graves , and Michael Blade in a six - way Cruiserweight scramble to win the vacant FNW Cruiserweight Championship on September 22 , 2006 in Butler , Pennsylvania . Xion held the title for nearly two years before losing it to Jimi the High - Flying Hippie in two straight falls of a best - of - three falls match on July 19 , 2008 in Monroeville , Pennsylvania . Xion regained the title from Jimi on November 8 in Butler , Pennsylvania . Shiima then went on to lose the title to " M - Dogg 20 " Matt Cross , and won a fatal four way match in Irwin , Pennsylvania to complete his stay in FNW . International Pro Wrestling . Shiima Xion defeated Rory Fox at October Onslaught on October 19 , 2007 in Eagle Pass , Texas to become the third IPW Texas Heavyweight Champion . Desastre Total Ultraviolento . Shiima Xion made his DTU debut on May 3 , 2008 in Mexico City , Mexico in a tag match with Joe Lider against El Generico and Crazy Boy . Xion lost the match after a top rope brainbuster from El Generico . Xion returned to DTU on July 11 , 2009 in Tulancingo , Mexico in a 3 - way light tube deathmatch with Crazy Boy and Extreme Tiger . Xion lost after a Swanton Bomb from Extreme Tiger . Xion also competed in DTU ` s " Fashion " event on on July 26 , 2009 in Mexico City , Mexico , where Xion challenged for the DTU championship in a 3 - way match with Aero Boy and Ragde . Aero Boy became the new DTU champion after pinning Xion . IWA East Coast . Xion debuted in Mad Man Pondo ' s IWA East Coast in the fall of 2007 , losing to Sabian and Zac Vincent in his first two matches in the promotion , before appearing nearly regularly in 2008 . Since those first two losses , he has defeated Aaron Draven , Joey Mercury and Michael Facade . Shiima has only lost one other match in IWA East Coast , to Chris Hero on August 6 . On November 29 , 2008 , Xion won the third - annual eight - man Zero G Crown Tournament by defeating Shawn Day , Zac Vincent and Carter Gray in succession . Others in the tournament were David Day , Aaron Draven , Michael Facade and Egotistico Fantastico . Shiima joins Aaron Draven ( 2007 ) and Sonjay Dutt ( 2006 ) as winners of the annual tournament . Xion fell to Zac Vincent in a three - way match on February 4 , 2009 , which also involved Michael Facade . Xion was victorious over Egotistico Fantastico on March 22 , 2009 at IWA East Coast ' s " Scarcade " . Xion then beat Jersey All Pro Light Heavyweight Champion Flip Kendrick , two weeks later on April 1 , 2009 , at the IWA East Coast " Gypsy Joe " Tribute Show . AAA . Shiima joined the AAA roster in Summer of 2009 . Combat Zone Wrestling . Shiima joined Combat Zone Wrestling in mid - 2009 competing in the Best of the Best tournament . Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . Various feuds ( 2011 – 2012 ) . On June 23 , 2011 , Paris made an appearance on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ' s " Impact Wrestling " television show , working under the ring name Zema Ion , defeating Dakota Darsow and Federico Palacios in a three – way X Division match to advance to the tournament finals at Destination X , where a contract with the promotion would be at stake . At the pay - per - view , Ion competed in a four - way match against Jack Evans , Low Ki and the eventual winner of the match , Austin Aries . On July 24 it was reported that Paris had signed a contract with TNA . Zema Ion made his return to TNA on the August 11 edition of " Impact Wrestling " , appearing in a backstage segment , where Eric Bischoff introduced new rules to the X Division . The following week , Ion took part in a gauntlet match to determine the X Division rankings . After eliminating Mark Haskins from the match , Ion was himself eliminated by Jesse Sorensen , placing him fifth in the rankings . Ion returned on the September 28 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , working in a five - man ladder match , which was won by Brian Kendrick . On the December 15 edition of " Impact Wrestling " , Ion started Best of Three Series with Anthony Nese to determine the third and final challenger for the X Division Championship at Genesis . Ion , now wrestling as a heel , won the first match of the series . Two weeks later , Ion defeated Nese in a Contract on a Pole match to win the series 2 - 1 and advance to the pay - per - view . On January 8 , 2012 , at Genesis , Ion was the second man eliminated from the X Division Championship match , which also included Austin Aries , Jesse Sorensen and Kid Kash . Ion then helped Aries defeat Sorensen and retain his title . On February 12 at Against All Odds , Ion defeated Sorensen in an X Division number one contender ' s match , after Sorensen was unable to continue after suffering a legitimate injury and was counted out . Ion received his shot at the X Division Championship on the March 8 edition of " Impact Wrestling " , winning the match via disqualification , after champion Austin Aries was caught using Ion ' s hair spray on him ; as a result , Aries retained his title . Ion received another title shot on March 18 at Victory Road , but was defeated by Aries via submission . On the following edition of " Impact Wrestling " , Ion failed again to capture the X Division Championship after he fought Aries , Kid Kash and Anthony Neese to a no contest , following interference from Bully Ray . Ion received another shot at the X Division Championship on the May 10 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , but was again defeated by Aries . On the June 14 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , Ion competed in his first Ultimate X match , where he and Chris Sabin unsuccessfully challenged Aries for the X Division Championship . X Division Champion ( 2012 – 2013 ) . On July 8 at Destination X , Ion entered a tournament to determine the new X Division Champion , defeating Flip Cassanova in his first round match . Later that same event , Ion defeated Kenny King , Mason Andrews and Sonjay Dutt in an Ultimate X match to become the new X Division Champion and the first Filipino to win a championship in TNA . Ion made his first successful title defense on the July 26 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , defeating Kenny King after an interference from Bobby Roode . The following week , Ion and Roode were defeated in a tag team match by King and Aries , with King pinning Ion for the win . On August 12 at Hardcore Justice , Ion defeated King to retain the X Division Championship . On September 9 at No Surrender , Ion made another successful title defense , this time against Sonjay Dutt . Four days later on " Impact Wrestling " , Ion defeated Dutt in a rematch to once again retain the X Division Championship . On the October 4 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , Ion defended the X Division Championship against Douglas Williams , making him submit with a modified armbar ( now known as Submission Impossible ) , however , after refusing to release the hold , the referee reversed the decision and disqualified Ion , but as the title cannot change hands on a disqualification , Ion retained the title . On October 14 at Bound for Glory , Ion lost the X Division Championship to Rob Van Dam , ending his reign at 98 days . Ion received his rematch for the title on the October 25 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , but was again defeated by Van Dam . On the February 7 , 2013 , episode of " Impact Wrestling " , Ion unsuccessfully challenged Van Dam for the X Division Championship in a three - way match , also involving Kenny King . Ion received another shot at the X Division Championship on March 10 at Lockdown , but was defeated by defending champion Kenny King in a three - way match , which also included Christian York . On the March 21 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , Ion failed again to capture the X Division Championship from King in a three - way match , also involving Sonjay Dutt . Ion received one more shot at the X Division Championship on the April 18 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , but was pinned by Kenny King in a three - way match , which also included Petey Williams and removed Ion from the title contention . The BroMans & Face Turn ( 2013 – 2015 ) . After several months out injured , he returned to Impact on a regular basis and on the November 28 edition of " Impact " , Zema joined The BroMans as their personal DJ . Ion won the Feast or Fired TNA X Division Championship briefcase . On January 30 , 2014 ( Airing in February 6 , 2014 ) , unsuccessfully cashed in his briefcase against " TNA X Division Champion " , Austin Aries . This made him the first person to unsuccessfully cash in the X Division Feast or Fired briefcase . As of February 2014 , his ring name changed to DJ Z . On February 23 , 2014 The Wolves ( Eddie Edwards and Davey Richards ) defeated The BroMans ( Jessie Godderz and Robbie E ) for the TNA World Tag Team Championship only to lose them the following week to The Bromans during the TNA / Wrestle - 1 supershow event on March 2 . Since then , the Wolves have had numerous rematches for the titles on " Impact Wrestling " , with the BroMans either using excuses to avoid defending the belts , having the third member of the team DJ Z fill in for defenses , or by getting blatantly disqualified . At the PPV , all three BroMans will defend the championships against the Wolves in a three - on - two handicap match . On May 29 , 2014 , TNA announced on their website that Texas wrestling legend Kevin Von Erich would accompany his two sons Marshall and Ross for their first ever nationally televised match at the pay - per - view . At the Slammiversary XII The BroMans fought the Von Erichs and lost via disqualification when Jessie Godderz attacked Ross and Marshal with a steel chair however Kevin ran into the ring and made the save . X Division Championship reigns and pursuits ( 2015 – present ) . On the April 17 , 2015 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , after losing a tag team match to Dirty Heels , The BroMans ended when Godderz attacked Robbie E . On the May 29 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , DJ Z officially started his singles run as a face , challenging for the X Division Championship in a losing effort . On June 10 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , DJ Z competed in a X Division Championship tournament along with Tigre Uno and Mandrews which the match was won by Tigre Uno . After the match , DJ Z was viciously attacked by Jessie Godderz with that setting up a match the next week which DJ Z failed to win . At Slammiversary , he competed in a three - way match for the X Division Championship but lost the match . At Bound for Glory , he competed in a Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship in a losing effort . During October and November , he competed in the TNA World Title Series he ended of his first block by defeating Mandrews and Tigre Uno ( with the only exception of Manik ) , however he finally gained 6 points in pinning Manik in the following weeks , which also involved Uno , to advance in the round of 16 , where he was defeated by Ethan Carter III in the first round , failing to advance to the quarterfinals and being eliminated from the tournament . On the April 12 , 2016 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , DJZ defeated X Division Champion Trevor Lee in a non - title match . After the match , He was attacked by Gregory Shane Helms but was saved by Eddie Edwards . At Slammiversary , he participated in a four - way match for the X Division Championship , but lost the match . At Destination X , he won a ladder match to earn a title shot for the X Division Championship . Later , he defeated Mike Bennett with the help of the X Division wrestlers . On the September 1 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , DJZ defeated Rockstar Spud , Mandrews , Trevor Lee , Andrew Everett and Braxton Sutter in an Ultimate X gauntlet match to win the TNA X Division Championship . On the 22 September episode of " Impact Wrestling " , he successfully defended his title against Trevor Lee and against Eddie Edwards on the October 29 episode of " Impact Wrestling " . He successfully defended his title against Trevor Lee at Bound for Glory . On the October 6 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , DJZ took part in Team X Gold , teaming with Braxton Sutter and Mandrews , to defeat The Helms Dynasty and Marshe Rockett . On the October 13 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , he successfully defended his title against Marshe Rockett . On the October 27 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , the team defeated Decay and Rockstar Spud . On the November 3 episode of " Impact Wrestling " , the team defeated The Helms Dynasty and Marshe Rockett and Rockstar Spud and Decay in a three - way tag team match . They defeated once again the two teams , this time in a Elimination match on the October 24 episode of " Impact Wrestling " . On the 1st December episode of " Impact Wrestling " , DJZ successfully defended his title against Braxton Sutter and Mandrews . After the match , he was attacked by Mandrews . On January 6 , 2017 , at the event , DJZ successfully defended his title against Andrew Everett , Braxton Sutter and Trevor Lee , in a Four - way elimination match . Personal life . Paris went to high school at Oak Glen High School in New Cumberland , West Virginia . Paris is a journalism major at West Virginia University . Paris was featured in the documentary " Slammed : Inside Indie Wrestling " . In May 2013 , he started a GiveForward campaign to raise money to help pay to remove a growth in his bladder .