Rayo de Jalisco, Sr.

Máximino "Max" Linares Moreno
Ring name(s) El Rayo de Jalisco
Mr. Misterio
Águila Negra
Dr. Curtis
Tony Curtis
El Rayo
Born November 22, 1932 (1932-11-22) (age 79)
Mexico City, Mexico
Debut 1950
Retired 1989

Máximino "Max" Linares Moreno (November 22, 1932-), better known as Rayo de Jalisco (The Lightning from Jalisco) is a Mexican luchador (professional wrestler) who is considered to be one of the best wrestlers of his generation.

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Linares made his wrestling debut in February 1950, under the name "Mister Misterio". He would later appear in Mexico City under the name "Aguila Negra" (Black Eagle). He continued sharpening his skills under the supervision of his brother Tony Sugar, who was also a professional luchador. In 1960, he appeared under the name "El Rayo" and in 1962, he finally appeared as "Rayo de Jalisco", wearing his trademark black mask with a lightning bolt across the face. Success soon followed for Rayo, winning the National Wrestling Alliance Middleweight Championship and Occidente Welterweight Championship. Rayo would also win a series of matches against another famous luchador Chino Chow. He unmasked his rival La Bestia (wrestler) (The Beast) in a mask vs mask match in 1964. Rayo would become the tag team partner of the legendary Blue Demon and was named "The Best Wrestler" of 1963.

Rayo feuded with Blue Demon near the end of both their careers. Blue Demon actually came out of retirement to face Rayo in a mask vs mask match. Rayo was defeated, revealing his face to the world as Maximo Linares Moreno.[1]

Rayo is considered a regional hero in the Mexican state of Jalisco. In 1996, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame.

Film career

Rayo would also star in luchador films along with other famous masked luchadores. His films included; "Superzam el Invencible" (1971), "El Robo de las Momias de Guanajuato" (1972), "Vuelven Los Campeones Justicieros" (1972) and "El Triunfo de los Campeones Justicieros (1974)".

Personal life

Rayo's son followed in his footsteps and currently wrestles as Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. Rayo Jr. married Mitzuki Wong, a professional luchadora. Their son wrestles as "Rayman".

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • Occidente Welterweight Championship (1 time)

Lucha de Apuesta record

Wager Winner Loser Location Date Notes
Hair Rayo de Jalisco Chino Chow Unknown Unknown  
Mask Rayo de Jalisco La Máscara (Not current version) Unknown 1963  
Mask Rayo de Jalisco La Bestia Mexico City, Mexico 1964  
Mask Rayo de Jalisco Guerrero Negro Unknown 01975-04-06 April 6, 1975  
Mask Rayo de Jalisco Mr. Sangre Unknown 01975-04-06 April 6, 1975  
Masks Rayo de Jalisco & Huracán Ramírez Los Hermanos Muerte Unknown 01978-09-17 September 17, 1978  
Mask Blue Demon Rayo de Jalisco Monterrey, Nuevo León 01989-07-30 July 30, 1989 [1]

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
  • L.L. Staff (2008). "Lucha Libre: Conoce la historia de las leyendas de cuadrilátero" (in Spanish). Rayo de Jalisco (1932) (Mexico): p. 44. Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre. 
Specific
  1. ^ a b Enciclopedia staff (October, 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras" (in Spanish). Rayo de Jalisco (Mexico): p. 6. Tomo IV.