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Apolo Dantés

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Amezcua and the second or maternal family name is Muñoz.
Apolo Dantés
Birth nameJosé Luis Amezcua Muñoz
Born (1968-09-28) September 28, 1968 (age 56)[1]
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Apolo Dantés[1]
Billed height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [1]
Billed weight105 kg (231 lb)[1]
Billed fromGuadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico[1]
Trained by
DebutDecember 4, 1988[1]

José Luis Amezcua Muñoz (born September 28, 1968) is a Mexican professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, best known by his ring name Apolo Dantés. He is the son of Alfonso Dantés, a successful and respected professional wrestler during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a longtime mainstay of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) throughout the 1990s and now owns and operates "Dantés Lucha Factory" in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

During his in-ring career he's won the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship, CMLL World Middleweight Championship, and the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship. He also won the 1994 Copa de Oro tournament with El Dandy, the Copa de Arena México with Black Warrior and Shocker and the Second Generation Tag Team Tournament with Emilio Charles Jr.

Dantés was a part of the Los Capos ("The Bosses") stable alongside Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000, and Universo 2000. He also worked for the World Wrestling Federation in 1998 and 1999 on their Hispanic focused show Super Astros. His in-ring career ended in the mid-2000s, followed by him transitioning into a behind the scenes role of training and booking matches at Arena Coliseo and late founded his own wrestling promotion, Dantés' Lucha Factory in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Personal life

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José Luis Amezcua Muñoz was born on September 28, 1968, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.[1] He is the son of José Luis Amezcua Díaz, a professional wrestler known under the ring name Alfonso "Tanque" Dantés.[1][2] His grandfather, Alfonso Amezcua, was also a professional wrestler, known as "Al Amezuca".[1][2] José Amezcua's uncles, Alberto Muñoz, Virgilio Amezcua ("Septiembre Negro") and Índio Jerónimo were also professional wrestlers.[2] José Amezcua younger brother, César Antonio Amezcua, would also become a wrestler later in life, known under the names César Dantés,[2] "All Star" and "Máscara Mágica"[a]

Professional wrestling career

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Amezuca trained for his professional wrestling career under his father, his uncle Alberto Muñoz, and renowned Lucha libre trainier Diablo Velazco.[1] He made his debut on December 4, 1988, under the name "Apolo Dantés", adopting the same last name as his father used.[1]

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1989–2006)

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Through his fathers connections Dantés began working regularly for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in 1989. On July 25, 1992, Dantés became the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion when he defeated El Satánico.[5] Dantés held the prestigious title for 243 days until Jaque Mate defeated him for it.[5] On September 11, 1994, Dantés won the CMLL World Middleweight Championship by defeating Javier Llanes, but lost the belt 77 days later to Satánico.[6] He defeated Silver King to win the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship on June 23, 1995.[7] During his reign as Heavyweight Champion Dantés successfully defended it against both Corazon de Leon and Vampiro.[8] Dantés lost the title to Rayo de Jalisco Jr. on April 14, 1996.[7]

Los Capos (1996–2005)

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Main article: Los Capos

In mid-1996 Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000 returned to CMLL after working elsewhere for four years. The trio began teaming with Apolo Dantés to form a group called Los Capos ("The Bosses"), a Rudo (bad guy) group that was heavily featured in CMLL's heavyweight division. Dantés competed in the 1997 CMLL International Gran Prix but was defeated in the semi-final by eventual tournament winner Steel.[9] A year later he made it all the way to the finals of the 1998 version of the Gran Prix but lost to Rayo de Jalisco Jr.[10] In 2003 Apolo Dantés last in-ring highlight saw him earn a match for the CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Mr. Niebla but was defeated in three falls.[8]

World Wrestling Federation (1998–1999)

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Starting in late 1998, CMLL began working with the United States–based World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to allow several of CMLL's workers to appear on WWF's weekly Spanish language, Latino focused WWF Super Astros show. For approximately 10 months, Dantés worked several Super Astros shows, wrestling against CMLL luchadors, Puerto Ricans and Japanese wrestlers.[11] In his first match, which was taped on November 16, 1998, Dantés defeated El Merenguero. His last Super Astros match took place on May 25, 1999, where he defeated Funaki. In his last match for the WWF, he, Pantera, and Papi Chulo lost to Los Boricuas (El Merenguero, José Estrada Jr., and Miguel Pérez Jr.) in match that took place before WWF's Shotgun Saturday Night show.[11]

Semi-retirement and booker (since 2006)

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By the middle-2000s Apolo Dantés was more active as a wrestling trainer and match-maker at CMLL's Arena Coliseo in his native Guadalajara, Jalisco. For the next couple of years he booked matches for the weekly shows, as well as training various trainees for CMLL. In mid-2009 Dantés was fired from his position at Arena Coliseo and replaced by Rubén Soria.[12] Following his dismissal from Arena Coliseo Dantés formed his own wrestling school and promotion called "Dantés' Lucha Factory", based in Guadalajara, Jalisco.[13] Apolo Dantés owned and operated the Dantés Lucha Factory from 2009 until 2011, at which point his brother César took ownership the company,[14] as Apolo replaced Soria to become the CMLL Guadalajara booker once more when Soria retired.[15][16] By 2015 Dantés was once again replaced as the booker for CMLL. Since Dantés began working more behind the scenes he has only wrestled on a very limited schedule, with records of one match in 2010, 2011, and 2017.[17]

Other media

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Amezcua was one of several wrestlers interviewed for the documentary "50", chronicling the first 50 years of Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara, Jalisco.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

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Luchas de Apuestas record

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See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Apolo Dantés (hair) Super Brazo (hair) León, Guanajuato Lucha en Jaula N/A [23]
Apolo Dantés (hair) Javier Cruz (hair) Mexico City Super Viernes August 9, 1991 [24]
Apolo Dantés (hair) Cachorro Mendoza (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco CMLL show April 1992 [25]
Apolo Dantés (hair) Javier Cruz (hair) Mexico City Domingos Arena Mexico April 5, 1992 [26]
Apolo Dantés (hair) Miguel Pérez Jr. (hair) Mexico City CMLL show October 13, 1995 [27]
Ricky Santana (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City CMLL 65th Anniversary Show September 18, 1998 [28]
Apolo Dantés (hair) Pepe Aguayo (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco CMLL Guadalajara Domingos July 4, 1999 [29]
Brazo de Plata (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City Super Viernes November 26, 1999 [c][31]
Emilio Charles Jr. (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City CMLL show November 23, 2001 [32]
Pierroth Jr. (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City CMLL Martes De Coliseo February 18, 2003 [33]

Notes

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  1. ^ Not to be mistaken for Eddie Guerrero who was the first Máscara Mágica,[3] or Antonio Gómez Medina who was the second wrestler to use the name.[4]
  2. ^ Despite its use of the NWA for some of its championships, CMLL is not an NWA affiliated promotion and has not been since 1990. As a result, the National Wrestling Alliance no longer sanctions or recognizes any of those championships.[22]
  3. ^ This was a triangle match that also included Pierroth Jr.[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 1999 :169 – Apolo Dantes". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. September 1999. p. 49. October 1999.
  2. ^ a b c d 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.
  3. ^ Fritz, Brian (2006). Between the Ropes: Wrestling's Greatest Triumphs and Failures. ECW Press. p. 85. ISBN 1-55022-726-2.
  4. ^ "Rudos – Mascara Magica". Fuego en el ring (in Spanish). Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 389. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^ a b Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Middleweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Archeus Communications. p. 395. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ^ a b c Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Archeus Communications. p. 39. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^ a b Boutwell, Josh (March 13, 2009). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". WrestleView. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  9. ^ "Gran Prix Tournament 1997". Pro Wrestling History. April 4, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  10. ^ "Gran Prix Tournament 1998". Pro Wrestling History. August 14, 1998. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  11. ^ a b "Apolo Dantes >> Matches >> World Wrestling Entertainment". CageMatch. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (July 4, 2009). "Apolo Dantes queda fuera de la direccion de la Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara" [Apollo Dantes is no longer in charge the Colosseum Arena in Guadalajara]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  13. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (August 8, 2009). ""Dante's Lucha Factory" La nueva empresa de Lucha Libre de Apolo Dantes ahora de manera independiente" ["Dante's Lucha Factory", Apollo Dantes' new independent wrestling company]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  14. ^ "Dantes Lucha Factory". CageMatch. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  15. ^ Acosta, Carlos (November 8, 2011). "Regresa Apolo Dantes a dirigir la Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara" [Apolo Dante returns to direct Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  16. ^ Magee, Bob (December 12, 2017). "LUCHA: Ruben Pato Soria (2/2/1942 12/15/2017)". Pro Wrestling dot com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  17. ^ "Apolo Dantes >> Matches". CageMatch. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  18. ^ Criollo, Raúl; Xavier Návar, José; et al. (November 26, 2018). ¡Quiero ver sangre!: Historia ilustrada del cine de luchadores [I want to see blood !: Illustrated history of the wrestler cinema] (in Spanish). UNAM, Dirección General de Publicaciones y Fomento Editorial. ISBN 9786070249174.
  19. ^ "2001 Especial!" [2001 Special]. Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 13, 2002. pp. 10–25. 2540.
  20. ^ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: Copa de Oro 1994". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Archeus Communications. p. 398. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  21. ^ "Copa Junior Tag Team Tournament 1995". Pro Wrestling History. September 1, 1995. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  22. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (2007). "International Expansion". National Wrestling Alliance: the untold story of the monopoly that strangled pro wrestling. ECW Press. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-1-55022-741-3.
  23. ^ Enciclopedia staff (December 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Super Brazo (in Spanish). Mexico. p. 25. Tomo V.
  24. ^ "EMLL Super Viernes". CageMatch. August 9, 1991. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  25. ^ Flores, Manuel (May 25, 2009). "Los Hermano Mendoza - Ringo y Cachorro están de regreso". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). pp. 22–23. issue 316.
  26. ^ "CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico". CageMatch. April 5, 1992. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  27. ^ "CMLL on Televisa". CageMatch. October 13, 1995. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  28. ^ "65th Anniversary Show". Pro Wrestling History. September 21, 1998. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
  29. ^ "CMLL Guadalajara Domingos". CageMatch. July 4, 1999. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  30. ^ "CMLL Super Viernes". CageMatch. November 26, 1999. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  31. ^ "AAA Luchadores – tecnicos – Super Porky". Asistencia, Asesoría y Administración. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
  32. ^ "CMLL on Televisa". CageMatch. November 23, 2001. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  33. ^ "Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre". Pierroth Jr. (in Spanish). Portales, Mexico. November 2008. p. 45. 17.
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