Rayo de Jalisco Jr.
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (right), Atlantis (middle) and Blue Panther (left) in November 2018
Birth nameUnrevealed
Born (1960-01-01) January 1, 1960 (age 64)[1]
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Rayman
Rayo de Jalisco Jr.
Rayo de Jalisco
Billed height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Billed weight115 kg (254 lb)[2]
Billed fromGuadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico[2]
Trained by
DebutNovember 11, 1975
Tlaquepaque, Jalisco[1]

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (Spanish for "Lightning Bolt from Jalisco Jr."; born January 1, 1960) is the ring name of a Mexican Luchador Enmascarado (masked professional wrestler) whose real name has not been revealed, per Lucha Libre traditions. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. is the son of Rayo de Jalisco a famous wrestler from the early days of Lucha Libre; he also has a son who wrestles under the name Rayman. Rayo Jr. is a former two time CMLL World Heavyweight Champion and the reigning WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a title he has held since March 21, 2003. Rayo de Jalisco Jr.'s real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.[4]

Early life

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. was born on January 1, 1960, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, son of legendary wrestler Rayo de Jalisco Sr. and the nephew of wrestlers Tony Sugar and Black Sugar. He was not initially trained by his father as his father did not want his son to follow into his profession; instead he trained under Diablo Velazco.[1]

Professional wrestling career

The future Rayo de Jalisco Jr. turned professional at the age of 15 and initially wrestled under the name "Rayman" to keep his father from finding out he was wrestling. After working as a wrestler for a year he finally revealed to his father that he was wrestling and that he was serious. After seeing his son wrestle, Rayo de Jalisco Sr. decided to allow his son to work as "Rayo de Jalisco Jr." and wear the lightingbolt mask that was synonymous with the Rayo de Jalisco character.[5] Rayo de Jalisco Jr. worked most of the 1970s alongside his father, receiving further training along the way. By the early 1980s he was working for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mexico's largest professional wrestling promotion. In 1982 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. began a wrestling storyline, called a feud, with MS-1 that ended when Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated MS-1 in a Luchas de apuestas, mask vs. mask match to unmask the hated villain (called a Rudo in Lucha Libre).[6] Throughout the early 1980s Rayo de Jalisco Jr. teamed up with equally popular Cien Caras to form a very successful team, working main events all over Mexico. On January 8, 1984, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. captured his first singles championship as he defeated Pirata Morgan to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship.[7] His first championship success also led to his greatest rivalry as Cien Caras turned on Rayo de Jalisco Jr. in his quest to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title. Cien Caras defeated his former teammate for the title on March 30, 1984.[7] On June 21, 1985, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated MS-1 to capture the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship in the main event of an Arena Mexico show.[8] In November 1985 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. teamed with Ringo Mendoza and the Kiss to win the Mexican National Trios Championship from Los Brazos (El Brazo, Brazo de Oro, and Brazo de Plata). The trio held the title for 275 days before losing it to Pirata Morgan, Jerry Estrada, and Hombre Bala.[9] On March 20, 1987, Rayo de Jalisco's 637-day reign as NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion ended as he lost to MS-1.[8] By 1990 the storyline between Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Cien Caras became so heated that they were the main event of EMLL's 57th Anniversary show in a Luchas de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Cien Caras two falls to one and forced Cien Caras to unmask.[10][11]

Over the next couple of years Rayo de Jalisco Jr. won the Mexican National Heavyweight Title on a further two occasions, defeating Gran Markus Jr. and El Egipico to win the title. His third and final reign ended on February 21, 1994, when he lost to Pierroth Jr.[7] On November 3, 1995, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Atlantis teamed up to win the CMLL World Tag Team Championship from The Headhunters.[12] The duo successfully defended it against Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000, and against Apolo Dantés and El Canek. On August 6, 1996, Gran Markus Jr. and El Hijo del Gladiador won the title from Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Atlantis.[12] On April 14, 1996, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. won the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship from Apolo Dantés, the highest singles championship in the company.[13] He made three successful defenses against the former champion Apolo Dantés, as well as thwarting the challenges of Gran Markus Jr. and Máscara Año 2000.[14] On April 18, 1997, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. lost the title to Steel after a slow building storyline between the two.[13] In 1997 Steel left CMLL to work for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as "Val Venis", ending the storyline with Rayo de Jalisco Jr. without a satisfactory conclusion. CMLL convinced the WWF to let Steel return to CMLL for a brief visit, just long enough to lose a Luchas de Apuestas to Rayo de Jalisco Jr. giving Rayo another mask win.[15] A few months after unmasking Steel, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. became a two-time CMLL World Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Universo 2000 for the belt.[13] He successfully defended the championship against Cien Caras and Mascara Año 2000, before losing it back to Universo 2000.[13][14] Rayo de Jalisco Jr. was injured in the match against Universo 2000, as a mistimed Tombstone piledriver injured his neck, forcing him out of the ring for over six months and almost causing him to retire.[1]

In 2001 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. dropped the "Junior" part of his name as his son, who had wrestled for two years, took the "Rayo de Jalisco" name, sometimes billed as el Hijo de Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (the son of Rayo de Jalisco Jr.) and other times simply Rayo de Jalisco Jr.. The confusing name changes only lasted for a couple of months before Rayo Jr's son changed his name to Hombre sin Nombre (the man without name) as part of a storyline where the son was trying to get out from Rayo de Jalisco Jr.'s shadow. His son would later begin working as "Rayman", the same name that Rayo de Jalisco Jr. originally used.[5] Since 2003 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. has not worked for CMLL on a regular basis, instead he works for a number of Independent circuit Mexican promotions. On March 21, 2003, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Rey Misterio Sr. in the finals of a tournament to crown a new champion. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. still holds that title to this day, 20 years, 299 days later.[16] In 2004 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. made a brief return to CMLL teaming up with Black Warrior and El Canek to win the CMLL World Trios Championship from Dr. Wagner Jr., Universo 2000, and Black Tiger (III). The team quickly lost the title to Héctor Garza, Tarzan Boy, and El Terrible.[17] In 2005 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. suffered another serious injury when he injured both his knees in a match against Máscara Año 2000; his legs got caught on the ropes as he jumped out of the ring and he tore ligaments in both knees. The injury kept him out of the ring for almost half a year but he made a full recovery and returned to the ring.[1] Rayo de Jalisco Jr. made his return to CMLL in May 2010, siding with the CMLL loyalists in their feud with Los Invasores, especially Invasore members Universo 2000 and Máscara Año 2000, reigniting the long-running storyline between them.[18] Rayo de Jalisco Jr. only worked a few matches for CMLL in mid-2010 but returned to the promotion in early 2013. He was on hand for a press conference, announcing that CMLL's annual Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show would pay tribute to his father, Rayo de Jalisco Sr. During the press conference he was confronted by longtime rival Universo 2000 who challenged him to a match for the Dos Leyendas show.[19] At the show, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Shocker, and Rush defeated Universo 2000, Mr. Niebla, and El Terrible by disqualification.[20] Two days later, on March 17, 2013, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. competed in a four-way, steel cage match billed by IWRG as Prison Fatal ("Deadly Prison") against Cien Caras Jr., Máscara Año 2000 Jr., and Pirata Morgan. During the match Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 interfered, which caused Pirata Morgan Jr. to enter the match as well to escalate the rivalry between Los Piratas and Los Capos Junior. The match ended with Pirata Morgan being the last man in the cage and thus had his hair shaved off.[21]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

See also: Luchas de apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Martín Escobedo (hair) N/A Live event N/A [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Herodes (hair) N/A Live event N/A [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) and El Jalisco (hair) MS-1 (mask) and Carlos Plata (hair) Mexico City Live event July 2, 1982 [6][27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Gorila Asesino (mask) Puebla, Puebla Live event April 10, 1983 [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) El Egipcio (mask) Mexico City Juicio Final December 9, 1983 [Note 1][27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Super Halcón (mask) Mexico City Live event April 23, 1989 [27][28]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Cien Caras (mask) Mexico City EMLL 57th Anniversary Show September 21, 1990 [10][11][27][29]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Steel (mask) Mexico City Live event June 8, 1998 [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Cien Caras (hair) Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco Live event November 29, 1999 [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Gran Markus Jr. (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event January 30, 2000 [27][30]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Dr. Muerte (mask) Mexico City Live event June 9, 2001 [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Comando Asesino (mask) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event July 2002 [Note 2][27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Yankee Star (mask) Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas Live event June 20, 2003 [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Senor Muerte (mask) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event December 7, 2003 [27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Sombra de Jalisco (mask) Monterrey, Nuevo León Live event April 18, 2004 [Note 3][27]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Enterrador 2000 (mask) Mexico City Live event November 2, 2007 [Note 4]
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) Super Parka (hair) Tijuana, Baja California Live event December 6, 2013 [31]

Footnotes

  1. ^ Relevos suicida match: Hombre Bala and Masakre defeated the team to force them to fight each other for their masks.
  2. ^ Relevos suicida match: El Charro and Sancara defeated the team to force them to fight for their mask.
  3. ^ Match also included Villano III and Jerry Estrada
  4. ^ Last two competitors in a multi-man cage match.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre". Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (in Spanish). Portales, Mexico. November 2008. p. 48. 17.
  2. ^ a b c "Statistics for Professional wrestlers". PWI Presents: 2008 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. pp. 37–53. 2008 Edition.
  3. ^ Madigan, Dan (2007). "Dorada de lucha libre: Las Leyendas, las peleas, los fósforos del resentimiento (the golden age of lucha libre: the legends, the feuds, the grudge matches): Diablo Velasco". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 203–205. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  4. ^ Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  5. ^ a b Madigan, Dan (2007). "A Family affair". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 128–132. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  6. ^ a b "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". MS-1 (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. October 2007. p. 42. Tomo III.
  7. ^ a b c d Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 390–391. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^ a b c Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Mexico EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 389. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. ^ a b Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 393. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  10. ^ a b Ruiz Glez, Alex (September 17, 2009). "Recordando los aniversarios del CMLL: El Rayo de Jalisco gana la Máscara de Cien Caras". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  11. ^ a b "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Cien Caras (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. July 2007. p. 54. Tomo I.
  12. ^ a b c Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Tag Team Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 396. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  13. ^ a b c d e Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. p. 395. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. ^ a b Josh Boutwell (March 13, 2009). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". WrestleView. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  15. ^ "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Steel (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. October 2007. p. 56. Tomo IV.
  16. ^ a b "World Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title (Mexico)". wrestling-titles.com. March 29, 2009. Retrieved July 19, 2009.
  17. ^ a b "Número Especial – Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2004". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 24, 2005. 91.
  18. ^ Rostro Oculto (May 16, 2010). "Resultados Arena México (16 mayo 2010): ¡Mr. Águila es parte de los invasores! ¡Rayo de Jalisco Jr. regresó al CMLL!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  19. ^ "Candente Conferenic en la Arena México". Noticias (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. February 21, 2013. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  20. ^ "Resultados Arena México" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. March 15, 2013. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  21. ^ "Prison Fatal" Pirata... Peleon!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). March 18, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  22. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Tag Team Titles". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. London, ON: Archeus Communications. pp. 396–397. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  23. ^ "2002: considerar detrás". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 19, 2003. 2593.
  24. ^ "Gran Prix Tournament 1994". Pro Wrestling History. April 15, 1994. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  25. ^ "Gran Prix Tournament 1998". Pro Wrestling History. August 14, 1998. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  26. ^ @mas_lucha (May 29, 2022). "#NGLL: Rayo de Jalisco Jr vence a Carlito y se convierte en el primer Campeón Peso Completo NGLL. En la lucha tambi…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. October 2007. pp. 8–9. Tomo IV.
  28. ^ Centinela, Teddy (April 23, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1989: Rayo de Jalisco Jr. desenmascara a Súper Halcón". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  29. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (September 7, 2010). "CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  30. ^ "SLAM! Wrestling International -- 2000: The Year-In-Review Mexico". Slam Wrestling!. Canoe. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  31. ^ "El Rayo de Jalisco Jr. rapó a Súper Parka". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.

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