| Super Crazy | |
|---|---|
Super Crazy holding the Mexican flag |
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| Ring name(s) | Histeria[1] El Locco[1] Super Crazy[1] Super Crazzy[2][2] Super Loco[2] Super Virus[1] |
| Billed height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[3] |
| Billed weight | 95 kg (210 lb)[3] |
| Born | December 3, 1973 [2] Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico[2] |
| Resides | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| Billed from | Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico[3] |
| Trained by | Rey Cuervero[1] Rey Pantera[2] |
| Debut | February 4, 1988[3] |
Francisco Islas Rueda[1] (born December 3, 1973) is a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador, best known by his ring name Super Crazy. Islas is most known for his three year run in the original ECW. In Mexico Islas has worked for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) and made appearances for various independent promotions but is not currently associated with one specific Mexican promotion. As Super Crazy, Islas first got American exposure by working for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) between 1998 and 2000. He has also toured Japan on several occasions working for New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE (Zero-1) and most recently for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) where he participated in the 2009 Junior League.
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Francisco Islas made his professional wrestling debut in February 1988, at just 14 years of age, after being trained by his older brother Rey Pantera. Islas took the ring name "Super Crazy". He initially worked as an enmascarado, or masked wrestler, but lost the mask just over a month after his debut when he lost a Luchas de Apuestas (a "bet match") to El Seminarista in March, 1988.[4] From 1988 until 1995 Super Crazy was a mainstay on the Mexican independent circuit working for various promotions, including appearances for the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) in the year leading up to its closure. In the UWA Super Crazy won the UWA World Welterweight Championship on November 17, 1995 and held the title when the UWA closed in December 1995.[5] After the UWA closed Super Crazy still used and defended the UWA title on various independent shows but once he signed with Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) promotion in 1996 the title was not mentioned. In AAA he was given a new gimmick, a masked Rudo (villain or heel) character called "Histeria" (sometimes Anglicised as "Hysteria"). Together with Abismo Negro, Maniaco, Mosco de la Merced I and Mach-1 he comprised a wrestling group called Rudos de la Galaxia (Spanish for "The bad guys of the universe"), a group that was involved in a storyline feud with a tecnico (good guy or face) group called Los Cadetos del Espacio (Spanish for "the Space Cadets"). In the spring of 1997 Islas, as Histeria, made a couple of appearances for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) due to an AAA/WWF working agreement. Histeria worked mainly against Los Cadetos del Espacio, especially Venum in his appearances on RAW is WAR and Shotgun. In September 1997 Islas left AAA, giving the "Histeria" name and outfit to another AAA wrestler who had worked as "Quarterback" up until that time, he still wrestles as Histeria today.[6]
Islas resumed working as "Super Crazy" when he left AAA to join the newly created Promo Azteca. Super Crazy also continued his feud with Venum, who now worked as "Venum Black" after leaving AAA, a feud that culminated in a "mask vs. hair" Luchas de Apuesta that Super Crazy won, unmasking Venum Black.[7] After leaving AAA Super Crazy began defending the UWA World Welterweight title, losing it to Kid Guzmán in 1997.[5] Super Crazy regained the title on June 15, 1998 during a show in Japan and successfully defended the title until October 13, 2000 where he lost it to El Orientál.[5] In November 1997 Islas began working for WWF under the name "Super Loco", mainly on their Super Astros shows, his only "Main show" appearance was a loss to El Águila in the first round of the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship tournament.[8]
Super Crazy was signed to a contract by Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) owner Paul Heyman after having seen Super Crazy work for the WWF and on the recommendation of Konnan who had worked for Heyman. Super Crazy was signed in 1998 and was paired with other smaller wrestlers, such as Yoshihiro Tajiri and Little Guido Maritato, producing a series of very well received matches between 1998 and 2000. Crazy won the ECW World Television Championship at Living Dangerously 2000 Pay-Per-View (PPV). The title had been vacated by Rob Van Dam due to an injury, and a tournament was held to crown a new champion which Super Crazy won. After defeating Little Guido in the semi-finals earlier in the night, Super Crazy went on to defeat Rhino in the tournament final.[9] Crazy lost the title a month later to Tajiri.[9] Super Crazy kept working for ECW until it closed in early 2001.
After ECW folded, Super Crazy wrestled for different promotions in the US, including the hardcore promotions Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) and Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), cementing his status as "the Extreme Luchador" or "the Insane Luchador". He also began working for Puerto Rico-based International Wrestling Association (IWA). At Ring of Honor's debut show, The Era of Honor Begins on February 23, 2002, Crazy defeated Eddie Guerrero to become the inaugural IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. He was defeated for the title on April 6 by Andy Anderson. Crazy regained the title on April 13 when Anderson forfeited it due to injury. Crazy lost the title once more on April 20, when he was defeated by Anarchy.[10] Super Crazy also held the IWA Hardcore Championship on nine occasions between 2002 and 2005.[11] He also held the IWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship three times in that time period.[12] On February 24, 2001 Super Crazy defeated Pablo Marquez to win the UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, which like the UWA Welterweight title was still used on the independent scene in Mexico and Puerto Rico.[13] By the end of 2001 Super Crazy vacated the UWA Junior Heavyweight title.[13] Super Crazy made a couple of special appearances for his old company AAA, teaming with El Alebrije and Randy to defeat Máscara Magligna, Pentagón and Monsther at the 2001 Verano de Escandalo.[14] At the following year's Verano de Escandalo Super Crazy teamed with Mr. Águila, La Parka and Latin Lover to defeat Cibernético, Heavy Metal, Héctor Garza and Leatherface.[15]
He made four tours with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in 2002 and 2003. His first tour lasted from November to December, 2002 and saw Super Crazy work mainly tag matches, teaming mainly with Koji Kanemoto and/or the Stampede Kid against a variety of opponents including Jushin Liger, El Samurai and Heat. His second tour took place in February, 2003 and saw Super Crazy team up mainly with Curry Man and Tiger Mask IV. Super Crazy mainly faced Jushin Liger's CTU faction. The third tour took place in May, 2003, this time Super Crazy often worked with other Luchadors touring NJPW at the time including Último Guerrero, Rey Bucanero and Sangre Azteca. His fourth, and so far final, NJPW tour took place in October and November, 2003, again Crazy mainly worked in tag team matches, siding with Koji Kanemoto or Tiger Mask IV against a variety of opponents.[16] Super Crazy appeared on the March 5, 2003 edition of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's weekly PPV's as one of Konnan's luchador challengers, where he lost to Jerry Lynn.**REF** Between January and March 2005 Super Crazy worked for the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, winning the ZERO-ONE/UPW/WORLD-1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship from Tatsuhito Takaiwa on December 18, 2004.[17] Crazy lost the title on Ikuto Hidaka on April 14, 2005 at Zero-1's Outburst Revolution show.[17]
In 2005, Crazy signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He initially appeared at the WWE-promoted ECW One Night Stand on June 12, 2005 winning an international three-way dance by pinning Yoshihiro Tajiri in the final pinfall of the match. During the match, he performed a moonsault from a second story balcony.[18]
Crazy's first appearance on WWE television came during the June 18, 2005 airing of SmackDown!'s sister show WWE Velocity, teaming with Psicosis to defeat Akio and Billy Kidman. Psicosis, Super Crazy, and Juventud grouped together to form a stable known as The Mexicools. The group made their debut as heels on the June 23, edition of SmackDown! when all three members rode to the ring on John Deere lawn mowers with the decals altered to say Juan Deere (John in Spanish) and wearing matching coveralls.[19][20] They then attacked Chavo Guerrero and Paul London during their Cruiserweight Championship match.[19] Juventud cut a promo questioning the lack of "true Mexican luchadores" in the Cruiserweight Division, before going on to deride the current state of Mexican Americans in general. Psicosis dubbed the lawnmower they arrived on a "Mexican Limo 2005" and the group claimed that even Mexico's President mocks Mexicans in the United States (in reference to Vicente Fox's controversial remark that Mexican immigrants do the jobs "not even the blacks want to do"). Juventud then stated that they were "no longer there to clean toilets and work for "them" (the "gringos") but "they" were going to be working for "us" (The Mexicools)", before dubbing the team "not Mexicans but Mexicools!" In the following weeks, they continued to interfere in matches and mock the stereotypical image of Mexicans in the United States.
Despite being introduced as heels, the group quickly became favorites of the audience and eventually began acting as faces. They received strong approval from the audience even during their debut, which occurred in Tucson, Arizona. On July 24 at The Great American Bash, Psicosis pinned Stevie Richards to secure the Mexicools' first PPV win in a six-man tag match with the bWo.[21] During December 2 edition of SmackDown!, Super Crazy and Psicosis competed in an over the top rope battle royal against 5 other tag teams.[22] The pair managed to win and earned themselves a match against MNM at Armageddon for the WWE Tag Team Championship.[22] Unfortunately for the Mexicools, MNM lost the tag team titles before their match.[23] Not long after, Super Crazy and Psicosis became the only Mexicools left in WWE, as Juventud was released from WWE on January 6, 2006. Super Crazy and Psicosis continued to wrestle as a tag team, but Crazy got his own push as a singles competitor, eventually earning himself #1 contendership for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. By June, 2006 Super Crazy's partnership with Psicosis on SmackDown! began to crumble when Psicosis repeatedly abandoned Crazy during incidents with a monster heel known as The Great Khali.[24][25] This resulted in the pairing splitting up and then engaging in a short-lived feud after Psicosis turned heel.[26][27] After the breakup, both Psicosis and Super Crazy disappeared off WWE programming.
On September 4, Super Crazy made his Raw debut with a victory over Chris Masters using his trademark moonsault.[28] Crazy continued his feud with Masters throughout September, defeated him once more and competing with Masters, along with four other wrestlers (Johnny Nitro, Carlito, Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton) in a Six-Pack Challenge Match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on the September 18 edition of Raw, which neither Masters or Crazy were able to win.[29] Crazy was then involved in angles with Nitro and Melina, during which he was aligned with Mickie James, who was feuding with Melina at the time.
Super Crazy suffered an injury to his left knee at a house show which occurred on April 21, 2007 in Oberhausen, Germany.[30] The injury was believed to be a MCL tear.[30] Super Crazy returned to action on June 1 in a match taped for Heat, losing to the returning William Regal. On the July 2 edition of Raw, Super Crazy was Mr. Kennedy's opponent in a Beat the Clock match.[31] Before the match began, Super Crazy appeared to have agreed to let Kennedy win, however he defeated Kennedy with a roll-up shortly after the match began, while Kennedy was performing his introduction. Kennedy assaulted Super Crazy later that night.[31] Kennedy then defeated Super Crazy in a grudge match two weeks later. In October 2007, Super Crazy formed a tag team with Jim Duggan. The team primarily competed on Heat to moderate success until Super Crazy was drafted to the ECW brand.
As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Super Crazy was drafted to the ECW brand.[32] Super Crazy returned to SmackDown (although wearing an ECW shirt), losing to The Brian Kendrick. On the August 19 edition of ECW on Sci-Fi, Super Crazy debuted on the ECW brand, teaming with Evan Bourne and Tommy Dreamer in a losing effort to John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero and The Miz.[33] On October 17 edition of SmackDown!, he was defeated by The Brian Kendrick's bodyguard, Ezekiel Jackson. The following week he was defeated by The Brian Kendrick as well, in what turned out to be his last televised match with WWE. On November 5, 2008 World Wrestling Entertainment announced on their website that Islas had been released from his WWE contract. According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Islas asked for his release on November 1 as he was unhappy with his place in the company.[34][35]
Shortly after his release from the WWE Super Crazy returned to Mexico, working a series of shows for Perro Aguayo, Jr.'s Perros del Mal Producciones. Super Crazy wrestled several matches against the "Los Perros del Mal" group, as well as reuniting for one night with Juventud Guerrera.[36][37] On January 10, 2009 Super Crazy defeated X-Fly (former Rudos del Galaxia teammate Mosco de la Merced under a new name) in a "Hair vs. Hair" Luchas de Apuestas[38] His latest appearance for Los Perros del Mal saw Super Crazy side with Los Perros, teaming with Perro Aguayo, Jr. and Damian 666 in a losing effort against LA Par-K, Olímpico and Super Porky on June 20, 2009.[39]
On February 14, 2009, Super Crazy made his return to International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico where he won the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship for a third time by defeating Joe Bravo. Super Crazy held the title until May 16, 2009 where he lost the title to Rick Stanley at IWA's Juicio Final Show.[40] On May 2, 2009, he challenged Blue Demon, Jr. for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on an event in Tyler, Texas, but was defeated by Blue Demon, Jr.[41] Super Crazy received a second shot at the World title on August 9, 2009 in a match that also included Oliver John but once again came up short[42] In July 2009 Super Crazy traveled to Japan to participate in All Japan Pro Wrestling's Junior League. Super Crazy qualified for the semifinal by defeating NOSAWA Rongai and Toshizo and wrestling to a draw against Kaz Hayashi. In the semifinal Super Crazy defeated Minoru but was defeated by Shuji Kondo in the final on August 7.[43] While in Japan Super Crazy also made an appearance for HUSTLE, working as "Super Virus", teaming with Devil Pierroth and Rey Ohara, losing to KG, Shiro Koshinaka and Taijiri.[44]
On August 8, 2009, Super Crazy made a surprise appearance for Xtreme Latin American Wrestling (X–LAW) where he defeated Panama Jack Daniels in an unannounced match to become the promotion's new Junior Heavyweight Champion.[45] Super Crazy defended the X–LAW Junior Heavyweight Championship on September 8, 2009 against Halloween and NOSAWA in a three-way death match.[46]
On January 30, 2010, as part of WrestleReunion 4, Super Crazy made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in a match, where he was defeated by Human Tornado.[47]
On June 6, 2010, Super Crazy appeared at AAA's TripleManía XVIII as a representative of Perros del Mal Producciones.[48] On June 20, 2010, Super Crazy was a surprise at AAA's television taping in Zapopan, Jalisco. He would team with Foreign Legion members Chessman and Alex Koslov losing to Extreme Tiger, Joe Lider and Nicho el Millonario.[49] During the main event, Crazy along with Los Perros del Mal attacked Dr. Wagner Jr..[49] On July 4, 2010 in Merida, Yucatan, Super Crazy, Damián 666 and Halloween faced Dr. Wagner Jr., Joe Lider and Nicho el Millonario in a victorious effort.[50]
On December 5, 2010, Super Crazy wrestled for Xplosión Nacional de Lucha (XNL) in Chile, facing XL and Giger in a three–way, two–fall match, where the first fall would be contested for XL's XNL Championship and the second for Crazy's X–LAW Junior Heavyweight Championship. In the first fall Crazy pinned XL to win the XNL Championship, but the roles were reversed in the second fall, when XL pinned Crazy to win the X–LAW Junior Heavyweight Championship.[51]
In 2010 and 2011, Super Crazy represented Los Perros del Mal in the group's feud with Los Psycho Circus. On May 29, 2011, at Perros del Mal Producciones' third anniversary show, the two groups faced each other in a six man tag team steel cage Masks vs. Hairs Lucha de Apuesta, which ended with Super Crazy being left in the cage, forcing him to have his head shaved bald.[52]
Islas is married to Maria Ramírez and they have two children together. He has a tattoo of a sun on one of his upper biceps, as well as a Mexican designed signature tattoo on the other. Islas' brother, cousin and nephew are also professional wrestlers, and they compete under the ring names Rey Cuervero, Crazy Boy and Pesadilla, respectively.[1]
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | El Seminarista | Super Crazy | Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico State | March 1988 | [4] |
| Hair | Super Crazy | Kid Guzmán | Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico State | 1996 | |
| Mask | Super Crazy | Venum Black | Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico State | March 6, 1998 | [7] |
| Hair | Zumbido | Super Crazy | Mexico City, Mexico | April 30, 2004 | [4] |
| Hair | Super Crazy | X-Fly | Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas | January 10, 2009 | Relevos suicida match: lost a match to Scorpio, Jr. and Zumbido, Damián 666 and Mr. Águila |
| Hair | Psycho Clown | Super Crazy | Mexico City, Distrito Federal | May 29, 2011 | Six man tag team steel cage Masks vs. Hairs match, where Los Perros del Mal (Crazy, El Hijo del Perro Aguayo and Damián 666) faced Los Psycho Circus (Psycho Clown, Monster Clown and Murder Clown).[52] |