Dr. Wagner, Jr.

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Juan Manuel Gonzalez Barron
Statistics
Ring name(s) Dr. Wagner, Jr.
Billed height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Billed weight 98 kg (220 lb/15.4 st)
Born August 12, 1965 (1965-08-12) (age 42)
Torreón, Coahuila
Trained by Dr. Wagner, Sr.
Gran Markus
Debut April 7, 1986

Juan Manuel Gonzalez Barron is a Mexican professional wrestler who has achieved fame in CMLL and worldwide as Dr. Wagner, Jr. He is the son of Dr. Wagner and brother of Silver King.

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[edit] Career

Dr. Wagner, Jr. first started wrestling for Universal Wrestling Association in April 1986 at 20 years of age. The elder Wagner achieved his success in EMLL, and so would it be for the son who adopted his gimmick.

On the day that Dr. Wagner, Jr. was to make his in-ring debut as his father's tag-team partner, Wagner Sr. was involved in a car accident that killed his long-time partner Angel Blanco, leaving Wagner Sr. disabled and unable to continue his wrestling career. When he regained his mobility he took up a job as a taxi driver to earn a living, but continued to actively follow the career of his sons, including his in-ring namesake and a wrestler best known in the United States as Silver King. The two real-life brothers would actually team together to win the CMLL World Tag Team Titles in February 1997, although the titles were vacated six months later when Silver King left CMLL to join the growing lucha roster of World Championship Wrestling.

Wagner's star has continued to rise in Mexico ever since. He has won a variety of different titles for the CMLL promotion. Besides holding the CMLL World Light Heavyweight title he has also been a Trios championship at least four times, including with Gran Markus. Jr. & Hijo del Gladiador and also with Blue Panther & Black Warrior. He has also wrestled extensively in Japan, challenging (and ultimately being defeated by) Jushin Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight belt and tagging with various partners such as his brother and Kendo Kashin, the latter of which he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team championship with. He has also competed in the U.S. as recently as January 2006, teaming with Rey Bucanero in a losing effort against L.A. Park & Místico at an FMLL show in Chicago. He is most popular when competing in the famed Arena México though, where his charismatic style and popular gimmick cause fans to blow airhorns three times and chant "WAG-NER!" when he's in the ring. Given the fan reaction in Mexico and increasing awareness of the lucha libre style in the United States, his star will surely continue to rise.

On the 27 April 2008, Wagner led a protest march for anyone who believed they are being mistreated by their bosses to join. About 200 joined the march, including wrestlers from IWRG and Fuerza Guerrera. Wagner said he wasn't getting booked because he criticized CMLL in the press, and claimed he was in talks with WWE.

[edit] In wrestling

  • Finishing and signature moves

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • PWI ranked him # 16 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1999.
  • PWI ranked him # 82 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the PWI Years in 2003.
  • PWI ranked him # 53 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2005.
  • PWI ranked him # 28 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2006.

1Despite CMLL using the NWA initials for this championship, it is no longer recognized or sanctioned as a world title by the National Wrestling Alliance.

[edit] References

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