Mil Máscaras

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Aaron Rodríguez Arellano


Statistics
Ring name(s)	Mil Máscaras (A Thousand Masks, aka Man of a Thousand Masks) Ricardo Durán
Billed height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Billed weight	111 kg (240 lb/17.5 st)
Born	July 15, 1942 (1942-07-15) (age 65) San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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.

1 Wrestling career
- 1.1 Film career
- 1.2 Legacy and criticism
2 Personal life
3 Filmography
4 Finishing and signature moves
5 Championships and accomplishments
6 Notes
7 References
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Wrestling career

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.

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 Dantes 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.^[3]

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.^[4]

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, 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.

[edit] Film career

Máscaras also achieved fame outside of the ring, starring in seventeen luchador action films. 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 Medico Asesino, El Fantasma Blanco, and Superzan.

[edit] Legacy and criticism

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.^[5] 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 Ultimo Dragon or the Great Sasuke today,".^[6] 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.

Máscaras is, however, a controversial figure within the wrestling business, as multiple wrestlers have publicly complained of his 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.^[7] 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." ^[8] In a 2007 shoot interview Superstar Billy Graham confirmed that during his series of matches with Mascaras, Mascaras was unwilling to sell properly.

In 2006, Máscaras was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club, a fraternal organization comprised 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."^[9]^[10]

[edit] 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. His nephew, Dos Caras Jr., is beginning to have a successful career not only in lucha libre but also in mixed martial arts fighting. Mascaras married his fourth wife, Linda Bello, on December 11, 2006. He has seven children and one grandchild.

[edit] Filmography

1966

Mil Mascaras (1st appearance and origin of Mil Mascaras) (the only B&W film in the series)
Los Canallas (The Scoundrels) (aka The Swine)

1968

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

1970

Los Campeones Justicieros (Champions of Justice) (co-starred Blue Demon, Tinieblas, El Medico Asesino and La Sombra Vengadora )
Las Momias De Guanajuato (The Mummies of Guanajuato) (Co-stars SANTO and BLUE DEMON)

1972

El Robo De Las Momias De Guanajuato (The Theft of The Mummies Of Guanajuato) (co-starred The Blue Angel and El Rayo De Jalisco)
Vuelven Los Campeones Justicieros (The Champions of Justice Return) (co-starred Blue Demon, El Fantasma Blanco, El Rayo De Jalisco and El Avispon Escarlata)
Una Rosa Sobre El Ring (A Rose In The Ring)

1973

Leyendas Macabras De La Colonia (Macabre Legends of The Colony) (co-starred Tinieblas and El Fantasma Blanco)
Los Vampiros De Coyoacan (The Vampires of Coyoacan) (co-starred Superzan)
Las Momias De San Angel (The Mummies of San Angel) (co-starred Tinieblas and El Fantasma Blanco)
El Poder Negro (Black Power) (co-starred Sergio Oliva)