Sam Adonis

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. 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.

Mexico (2016–Present) 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 (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.

In the fall of 2016, Polinsky approached the CMLL promoters with a suggestion to tweak his "pretty boy" character, playing off the political situation of the time. With CMLL's approval Sam Adonis became a staunch Donald Trump supporter, including waving a four-foot-long US flag emblazoned with Trump's face as he played off the then-President Elect's stance on Mexico and immigrants. The character was so successful that one magazine said that Adonis "might be the most hated man in Mexico". His older brother is retired professional wrestler-turned-color commentator Matthew Polinsky, better known under the ring name Corey Graves and formerly known as Sterling James Keenan. Sam was trained by his older brother for his professional wrestling career. In subsequent years, Sam Polinsky has stated that he never wanted to exploit the fact that his brother was a well known "name" in professional wrestling, preferring to make it on his own merit.

When US news outlets picked up on the story of Polinsky playing a "pro Trump" character in Mexico Polinsky was quoted as stating:

He also made a point that the "Sam Adonis" character did not reflect his personal beliefs, especially his feelings for Mexico and Mexicans in general, pointing out that he had a Mexican girlfriend. Devotion Championship Wrestling DCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Diamond Championship Wrestling DCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ashton Amherst International Wrestling Cartel ICW Super Indy Championship (1 time) New Tradition Lucha Libre NTLL Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Texoma Pro Wrestling Unified Texoma Pro World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide AAA World Trios Championship (1 time) – with Puma King and DMT Azul Rey de Reyes (2023) Palē Pro Wrestling Palē Pro Heavyweight Championship(1 time, inaugural) Palē Pro Heavyweight Title Tournament (2021) Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 70 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2023 Warrior Wrestling Warrior Wrestling Lucha Championship (1 time) World Association of Wrestling WAW Undisputed Heavyweight Championship (1 time)