Mil Máscaras

Mil Máscaras
Born	(1942-07-15) July 15, 1942 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks / Man of a Thousand Masks)
Billed height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Billed weight	111 kg (245 lb)
Trained by	Diablo Velasco
Debut	April 1965

Aaron Rodríguez Arellano (born in San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico on July 15, 1942), best known as Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks), is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores. He is a member of one of Mexico's most prominent wrestling families—his brothers José and Pablo respectively wrestle as Dos Caras and Sicodélico, José's son Alberto wrestles as Dos Caras, Jr. or Alberto Del Rio, and Pablo's son Aaron is better known as Sicodélico, Jr.

Professional wrestling career

Mascaras wrestles one of his greatest rivals, El Canek, in 2009.

Mil Máscaras made his professional wrestling debut in April 1965 in Guadalajara. Máscaras became popular in Mexico for being one of the best conditioned luchadores in the heavyweight division, which was dominated by foreigners at the time. It was also his size which permitted him to wrestle in the US and Japan under the heavyweight division. Máscaras was one of the first masked luchadores outside of Mexico to play a non-heel role. He rarely resorted to rule breaking, instead relying on his repertoire of moves and counter-moves. Máscaras was also one of the first wrestlers to introduce the high-flying moves of lucha libre, such as the plancha and tope suicida, to Japanese fans. This brought him international fame as one of the first high-flyers, something he was not considered in Mexico where he fell under the mat-power category.

A year after his wrestling debut, Mil Máscaras starred in his first film, a self-titled picture. As with many luchadores, his character is that of a superhero. He has since starred in several films spanning five decades, the best known is Las Momias de Guanajuato (a reference to the actual mummies of Guanajuato).

Máscaras made his international wrestling debut in 1968 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, getting involved in great rivalries against the likes of Ernie Ladd, John Tolos, Black Gordman, and Goliath. In Mexico City, he unmasked El Halcon in a triangular tournament that included Alfonso Dantés in the 1970s.

Máscaras performed for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) during the '70s. In his Japanese debut on February 19, 1971, he defeated Kantaro Hoshino in Tokyo. It was during this time that he had his best known international feud with American masked wrestler The Destroyer. During the '70s, Máscaras also had feuds with Mexican wrestlers such as TNT, El Canek, El Halcon, and Angel Blanco. These feuds took place mostly in Mexico and the US, and were broadcast on Spanish language stations in the U.S. Mascaras was also the heavyweight champion of the IWA wrestling promotion, which was founded by Eddie Einhorn, and still holds the title to this day.

Mil Máscaras appeared in World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now called WWE). He performed at Madison Square Garden several times after a ban on masked wrestlers was lifted for him, making him the first masked wrestler in the Garden, he defeated the Spoiler (who was not permitted to wear his mask). During this time, he feuded with "Superstar" Billy Graham over the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship.

Mascaras also wrestled in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where his most notable match was a match with Cactus Jack at Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout on February 6, 1990 in the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas.

On September 10, 1991, at the age of 49, Máscaras won his final title, the WWA (Mexico) World Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until 1994 and assumed a state of semi-retirement after his final reign.

Máscaras' first American pay-per-view appearance was competing in WWF's 1997 Royal Rumble match. He eliminated himself, diving off the top rope out of the ring onto Pierroth, Jr., whom he himself had just eliminated. Such a move is common in lucha libre but it is technically a mistake in the Royal Rumble as it leads to elimination.

On December 5, 2002, Mascaras defeated Manny Fernandez at the inaugural show for Legacy Wrestling Enterprises in Fort Worth, TX.

Film career

Máscaras also achieved fame outside of the ring, starring in a series of seventeen luchador action films from 1966 through 1990 (he also has appeared in several other films made more recently). His first starring role was in the self-titled film "Mil Máscaras" which was shot in black and white and gave Máscaras a comic book style origin story. According to the film, an infant Máscaras was found clutching his dead mother's arms in a war-torn area of Europe during World War II. A group of scientists adopts Máscaras as a boy, and subjects him to an intensive regimen of physical and mental training as he matures. When Máscaras reaches adulthood, he has developed into a super-human, achieving both mental and physical perfection. The scientists then send him out into the world to help downtrodden people everywhere, to fight criminals and to right wrongs.

In 1970, Máscaras starred alongside Blue Demon and El Santo in Las Momias de Guanajuato (The Mummies of Guanajuato). Las Momias de Guanajuato became the highest grossing Mexican luchador film of all time, pitting the three masked luchadores against a group of reanimated mummies. Mascaras also starred as a member of a squadron of masked superheroes known as "Los Campeones Justicieros" (The Champions of Justice). Membership in the Champions included such legendary Mexican wrestling figures as Blue Demon, Tinieblas, El Rayo de Jalisco, El Médico Asesino, El Fantasma Blanco, and Superzan.

In 2007 Máscaras starred in Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy (also known as Mil Mascaras: Resurrection), the first lucha film featuring any of the so-called "Big Three" stars of the genre (Máscaras, Blue Demon, Santo) to be produced in English. The film screened at festivals around the world garnering awards and award nominations along with positive critical reviews.

The film Mil Máscaras: Héroe, which is a hybrid of live action sequences and Japanese manga-style animation, is currently in production.

Criticism

Multiple wrestlers have publicly complained of Mascaras' unwillingness to sell moves and put opponents over. One of the most vocal critics is Mick Foley who, in his book Have a Nice Day!, complained about Máscaras' refusal to sell moves in their match. In his book, A Lion's Tale, Chris Jericho describes the stories of Máscaras' large ego and states that, if anything, "The tales were toning it down." In a 2007 shoot interview, "Superstar" Billy Graham confirmed that during his series of matches with Mascaras, Mascaras was unwilling to sell properly.

Legacy

Máscaras is arguably the best known masked luchador in the world, as are legends El Santo and Blue Demon. His barrel-chested physique, colorful attire and flamboyant personality, made him an instant hit in the ring as well as on the silver screen. Living up to his name, Máscaras is known for entering the ring wearing a different mask, which he removes to reveal his familiar mask. In Japan, he throws the mask he takes off to the audience, something he does not do in Mexico. Máscaras' technical efficiency, combined with his luchador-style aerial maneuvers, made him very popular with wrestling fans around the world. In 1975, Máscaras was voted "The Most Popular Wrestler of the Year" by the US magazine Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Satoru Sayama, the original Tiger Mask, has described Máscaras' impact on Japanese professional wrestling, "If it weren't for Mil Mascaras, there would be no Jushin Liger, no Último Dragón or the Great Sasuke today,". Mascaras' success in the US also paved the way for other luchadores such as Rey Mysterio, Jr., who has become one of the most popular luchadores in US wrestling. Now well into his 60s, Máscaras continues to perform sporadically. In 2001, he was inducted into the Southern California Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Máscaras was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club, a fraternal organization of both retired and active wrestlers. The Destroyer, one of Máscaras legendary rivals, presented him with an award at the event. The Destroyer also commented on Máscaras' wrestling style, "He was the best competitor that I ever wrestled. He never gave you anything -- it's true -- but I didn't give him anything either. You talk about a shoot or a half-shoot, and that's the kind of match that it was."

Personal life

Mascaras has never been unmasked in the ring, and like most masked luchadores, he goes to great lengths to conceal his true appearance and personal life. Máscaras has two brothers who wrestled, Dos Caras and El Sicodélico. He has two sons and two daughters with his first wife, who died in 1975, and two daughters with his second wife, whom he married in 1995. His nephew appears on WWE Raw as Alberto Del Rio.

Mascaras is an avid golfer and plays in many charity golf tournaments around the world, including annually at the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament

Filmography

1966

• Mil Máscaras (first appearance and origin of Mil Máscaras)—the only B&W film in the series
• Los Canallas (The Scoundrels)—in color

1968

• Las Vampiras (The Vampire Girls) (co-starring John Carradine)
• Enigma de Muerte (Enigma of Death) (co-starring John Carradine)

1970

• Los Campeones Justicieros (The Champions of Justice) (co-starring Blue Demon, Tinieblas, El Médico Asesino, and La Sombra Vengadora)
• Las Momias de Guanajuato (The Mummies of Guanajuato) (co-starring Santo and Blue Demon)

1972

• El Robo de las Momias de Guanajuato (The Theft of the Mummies of Guanajuato) (co-starring The Blue Angel and El Rayo De Jalisco)
• Vuelven los Campeones Justicieros (The Champions of Justice Return) (co-starring Blue Demon, El Fantasma Blanco, El Rayo de Jalisco, and El Avispón Escarlata)
• Una Rosa Sobre el Ring (A Rose in The Ring) (co-starring Crox Alvarado as "The Black Mask")

1973

• Leyendas Macabras de la Colonia (Macabre Legends of The Colony) (co-starring Tinieblas and El Fantasma Blanco)
• Los Vampiros de Coyoacán (The Vampires of Coyoacán) (co-starring Superzan)
• Las Momias de San Ángel (The Mummies of San Ángel) (co-starring Tinieblas and El Fantasma Blanco)
• El Poder Negro (Black Power) (co-starring Sergio Oliva)

1977

• Misterio en las Bermudas (Mystery in Bermuda) (co-starring Santo and Blue Demon)

1983

• El Hijo de Santo en la Frontera Sin Ley (Son of Santo in The Lawless Frontier)

1988

• La Verdad de la Lucha (The Truth About Wrestling)

1990

• La Llave Mortal (The Deadly Wrestling Hold)

2007

• Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy (also known as "Mil Mascaras: Resurrection")

2007

• Academy of Doom (formerly called "Wrestling Women vs. the Brainiac")

2008/2009

• Mil Máscaras: Héroe (Mil Máscaras, Hero) (live-action/animation hybrid)

2011 (scheduled release)

• Mil Mascaras: Aztec Revenge (sequel to Aztec Mummy)

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Cross chop - Innovated
  • Diving crossbody

• Signature moves
  • Bearhug
  • Monkey flip
  • Slingshot crossbody
  • Suicide dive
  • Surfboard

Championships and accomplishments

• Alianza Latinoamericana de Lucha Libre

• ALLL World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• All Japan Pro Wrestling

• PWF United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Cauliflower Alley Club

• Other inductee (2006)

• Commission de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.

• Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• International Wrestling Association (Georgia)

• IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• NWA Big Time Wrestling – World Class Wrestling Association

• NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario
• NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jose Lothario
• WCWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jeff Jarrett

• NWA Hollywood Wrestling

• NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
• NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Alfonso Dantés (1) and Ray Mendoza (1)

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
  • (Class of 2010)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1975)
• PWI ranked him # 94 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• PWI ranked him # 128 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1993.

• World Wrestling Association (Los Angeles)

• WWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wrestling Association (Mexico)

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

• National Wrestling Alliance

• NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)

Lucha de Apuesta record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas

Wager	Winner	Loser	Location	Date	Notes
Hair	Mil Máscaras	Benny Galant	Mexico City, Mexico	April 22, 1966
Hair	Mil Máscaras	Black Gordman	Los Angeles, California	September 19, 1969
Hair	Mil Máscaras	Bull Ramos	Los Angeles, California	October 10, 1969
Mask	Mil Máscaras	Barón Escarlata	Unknown	January 2, 1971
Mask	Mil Máscaras	Frankenstein	Tijuana, Baja California	1974	Triangle match that also included Texas
Hair	Mil Máscaras	Alfonso Dantés	Mexico City, Mexico	February 22, 1977	Triangle match that also included El Halcon
Mask	Mil Máscaras	El Halcón	Mexico City, Mexico	July 29, 1977
Mask	Mil Máscaras	El Halcón	Japan	September 13, 1978
Hair	Mil Máscaras	Popitekus	Tijuana, Baja California	August 1988
Hair	Mil Máscaras	Principe Battu	Dallas, Texas	November 20, 1994
Mask	Mil Máscaras	Gran Markus, Jr.	Naucalpan, Mexico State	June 29, 1997	Triangle match that also included Tinieblas
Mask	Mil Máscaras	Venom	Reynosa	March 17, 2007
Mask	Mil Máscaras	El Yuma	Reynosa	March 20, 2007

References

General sources - Championship Information

• Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "MEXICO". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 389–402. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

General sources - Career

• Madigan, Dan (2007). "Los Enmascarados (the masked men): Mil Máscaras". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizare& honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperColins Publisher. pp. 93–99. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
• L.L. Staff (2008). "Lucha Libre: Conoce la historia de las leyendas de cuadrilátero". Mil Máscaras (1942) (in Spanish). Mexico. p. 38. Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
• Aguierre, Antonio (1992). "Colosos de Colosos". Mil Máscaras: Anatomia de una gran luchador (in Spanish). Nextitla, Mexico: Fanqueo Pagado Publicacion Periodica. pp. 1–66. 2. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
• Mick Foley (2000). Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks. HarperCollins. p. 511. ISBN 0061031011.

Specific

External links

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Profile
• Mil Mascaras vs. The Aztec Mummy at IMDb
• Official "Mil Mascaras Vs the Astecm Mummy Page
• PopMatters Review of Mil Mascaras vs. The Aztec Mummy
• Santoandfriends.com
• Profile at InternationalHero