Villaño IV

Villano IV

Either Villano IV or V before he was unmasked.
Ring name(s) Leopardo Negro III[1]
Super Maquina, Jr.[1]
Villano IV
Billed height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Billed weight 100 kg (220 lb)[2]
Born December 19, 1969 (1969-12-19) (age 42)[2]
Tijuana, Mexico[2]
Trained by Ray Mendoza[2]
Villano III[2]
Debut 01982-12 December 1982[2]

Thomas Díaz Mendoza (born December 19, 1969) is a Mexican professional wrestler. Within the stable Los Villanos, he has wrestled for Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). While popular and successful in Mexico, he frequently performed as a jobber in WCW. The other sons of Ray Mendoza who have used the name "Villano" include Villano I, Villano II, Villano III (Arturo Díaz Mendoza), and Villano V (Raymundo Diaz Mendoza).

Contents

Professional wrestling career

Thomas Mendoza began wrestling in 1982 after being taught by his father and his older brother Arturo. He was not given the Villano name on his debut, both his father and his older brothers wanted him to get a college degree and also earn some in ring experience before he would be allowed to use the Villano name.[1][3] He spent the first couple of years in wrestling working as various enmascarado characters such as Leopardo Negro III and Super Maquina, Jr.[1]

Villano V

In 1983 Thomas Mendoza was finally given the mask and the name of his brothers and became Villano IV.[1] He immediately began teaming with his brothers, especially Villano I and Villano V and engaged in a heated and very popular feud with the trios team of Los Brazos (Brazo de Plata, Brazo de Oro and El Brazo). On October 21, 1988 Villano I, IV and V defeated Los Brazos in a Lucha de Apuesta, Mask Vs Mask match and thus unmasked Los Brazos.[4] Over the years Villano IV and his brothers have worked for Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and with shorter runs with International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) and World Wrestling Association holding Tag team and Trios titles in all federations.[5]

World Championship Wrestling (1996-2000)

Villano IV and V began working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as part of the influx of Luchadors in 1996. Villano IV made his debut at the 1996 World War 3 event as part of the Three Ring, 60 man battle royal.[6] Subsequently Los Villanos worked mainly the weekend shows such as WCW World Wide and WCW Saturday Night.[7] The brothers played the role of a heel and would occasionally cheat by switching places while the referee was distracted (all Villanos wore identical attire, aside from their Roman numeral distinctions). Los Villanos made a couple of appearances on WCW's main shows and PPVs such as Villano IV teaming with Konnan and La Parka to defeat Juventud Guerrera, Ciclope & Super Calo at SuperBrawl VII.[8] They also worked an eight man tag match at the last ever Clash of the Champions, Clash of the Champions XXXV, alongside Psychosis and Silver King against Juventud Guerrera, Super Calo, Héctor Garza and Lizmark Jr..[9] While working in WCW Villano IV suffered a neck injury as a result of a failed move, by Kanyon and Raven. The injury threatened to force Villano IV into retirement but he was able to recover and was back teaming with Villano V in WCW in 2000.[10]

Mexico (2000–Present)

Following their stint in WCW Los Villanos returned full time to Mexico where they began working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Villano IV and V assisted their brother in the build up of a storyline between Villano III and Atlantis, a storyline that reached back to 1999, while Villano IV and V were still working for WCW. The two brothers were in the corner of Villano III as he put his mask on the line against Atlantis in a Lucha de Apuesta at the 2000 Jucio Final final show. On the night Atlantis defeated and unmasked Villano III, the first Villano to be unmasked in the ring. The match was later voted the Wrestling Observer 2000 Match of the Year.[11] Over the following years Los Villanos worked both for CMLL and made appearances on the Mexican Independent circuit. In 2008 Villano IV acted as the cornerman for his older brother Villano V as he began a feud with CMLL luchador Blue Panther. Villanos IV was the cornerman for V's biggest Apuesta win as he defeated and unmasked Blue Panther as part of the CMLL 75th Anniversary Show.[12] He was also heavily involved in V's storyline with Último Guerrero in the spring of 2009, and watched as Villano V was unmasked by Guerrero after an Apuesta match at the 2009 Homenaje a Dos Leyendas.[13] This leaves Villano IV as the only masked Villano alive. While Villano V works regularly for CMLL both Villano III and Villano IV take more independent bookings.

Personal life

Thomas Mendoza is the fifth son and eight and last child over all of José Díaz Velazquez and Lupita Mendoza. His brothers, like himself all became wrestlers: luchadors; José de Jesús (Villano I), José Alfredo (Villano II), Arturo (Villano III), Raymundo, Jr. (Villano V) and Thomas.[1] Lupita Mendoza died in 1986, his second oldest brother José Alfredo died in 1989, his oldest brother José de Jesús died in 2002 and his father José Diaz died on April 16, 2003.[1] Díaz was adamant that his sons get a good education instead of becoming wrestlers, wishing that they become lawyers or doctors as he wanted to spare them the physical suffering he experienced himself. Once he realized that his two oldest sons had begun wrestling under masks he agreed to train them and help their wrestling careers. He was also instrumental in training his youngest two sons, although he insisted they both get college degrees before they were allowed to begin wrestling. Since his youngest son Thomas finished his education first he became known as "Villano IV" while Raymundo, the second youngest son, became Villano V".[1]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • PWI ranked him # 142 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2001.[2]
  • UWE Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Ray Mendoza, Jr. (Villano V)[21]

Lucha de Apuesta record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Wager Winner Loser Location Date Notes
Mask Leopardo Negro II Leopardo Negro I unknown 1980s  
Hair Leopardo Negro II Luis Mariscal Puebla, Puebla 01983-04-16 April 16, 1983  
Hair Villano IV Enfermero II Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico State 01983-08-21 August 21, 1983  
Hair Villano IV Emilio Charles, Jr. Jalapa, Veracruz 01983-09-29 September 29, 1983  
Mask Villano IV Loco Zandokan Naucalpan, Mexico State 01988-01-31 January 31, 1988  
Mask Los Villanos
(Villano I, IV & V)		 Los Brazos
(Oro, Plata & El Brazo)		 Monterrey, Nuevo Leon 01988-10-21 October 21, 1988 [4]
Mask Villano IV El Engendro Naucalpan, Mexico State 01991-02-03 February 3, 1991  
Mask Los Villanos
(Villano I, IV & V)		 Mercenarios Americanos
(Tim Patterson, Bill Anderson & Louie Spicolli)		 Tijuana, Baja California 01991-07-19 July 19, 1991  
Mask Villano IV Tigre Canadiense Naucalpan, Mexico State 01991-10-20 October 20, 1991  
Hair Villano IV Brazo de Oro Acapulco, Guerrero 02004-11-20 November 20, 2004 Los Brazos vs. Los Villanos cage match
Hair Villano IV Hombre Bala Mexico City, Mexico 02009-07-01 July 1, 2009 [25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Madigan, Dan (2007). "Dorada de lucha libre: Las Leyendas, las peleas, los fósforos del resentimiento (the golden age of lucha libre: the legends, the feuds, the grudge matches): Ray Mendoza and Los Villanos". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizare and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperColins Publisher. pp. 193–197. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k PWI Staff (August, 2001). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 - 2001 :155. Villano V". Pro Wrestling Illustrated (Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, USA: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC): p. 68. October 2001. 
  3. ^ Luchas 2000 staff. "Luchas 2000" (in Spanish). Villano III: El Ultimo Rey (Juárez, Mexico: Publicaciones citem, S.A. de C.V.): pp. 1–35. Especial 37. 
  4. ^ a b Enciclopedia staff (July, 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras" (in Spanish). Brazo, Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata (Mexico): pp. 39–41. Tomo I. 
  5. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  6. ^ "World War 3 1996". ProWrestlingHistory.com. http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/ww3.html#96. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
  7. ^ Cawthon, Graham. "Ring Results: WCW 1997". thehistoryofwwe.com quote= Rey Mysterio Jr. would face Villano IV the following weekend on WCW Saturday Night. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw97.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
  8. ^ "SuperBrawl VII". ProWrestlingHistory.com. http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#VII. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
  9. ^ "Clash of Champions XXXV". ProWrestlingHistory.com. http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXXV. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
  10. ^ Cawthon, Graham. "Ring Results: WCW 2000-2001". thehistoryofwwe.com quote= WCW Saturday Night taping: 2/12/00: Ron & Don Harris defeated Villano IV & V. http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw00-01.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
  11. ^ Luchas 2000 staff. "Luchas 2000" (in Spanish). Atlantis y sus Victimas (Juárez, Mexico: Publicaciones citem, S.A. de C.V.): pp. 32–36. Especial 30. 
  12. ^ "And the loser of tonight's big mask match was". Wrestling Observer / Figure Four Weekly. http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/6799/124/. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
  13. ^ Ovaciones staff (March 30, 2009). "Adiós Villano V; hola Ray Mendoza Jr." (in Spanish). Ovaciones (Mexico, D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V.): p. 22. Número 21542 Año LXII. http://itecor.v1.myvirtualpaper.com/30032009/2009033001/en/?page=22. Retrieved March 30, 2009. 
  14. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: AAA American Trios Titles". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  15. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Atómicos Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 402. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  16. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 393. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  17. ^ Flores, Manuel (July 18, 2008). "Histórico de ganadores del torneo: La Gran Alternativa" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas Magazine. http://superluchas.net/2008/07/18/historico-de-ganadores-del-torneo-la-gran-alternativa/. Retrieved September 5, 2009. 
  18. ^ a b Box y Lucha staff (January 9, 2001). "2000 Especial!" (in Spanish). Box y Lucha Magazine: pp. 2–20. issue 2488. 
  19. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: UWA Tag Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  20. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: UWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  21. ^ Mexicool, Rey (July 4, 2011). "UWE "Tarde de Campeones" (Resultados 3 de julio): La Dinastía Imperial, nuevos Campeones de Parejas UWE" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas Magazine. http://superluchas.net/2011/07/04/uwe-%E2%80%9Ctarde-de-campeones%E2%80%9D-resultados-3-de-julio-la-dinastia-imperial-nuevos-campeones-de-parejas-uwe/. Retrieved July 4, 2011. 
  22. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: WWA Junior Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 400. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  23. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: WWA Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 401. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  24. ^ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: WWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 401. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
  25. ^ Juan Pablo Valencia. (July 4, 2009). "COLISEINOS VS INDEPENDIENTES ARENA LOPEZ MATEOS 01 DE JULIO 2009" (in Spanish). La Wagnermania. http://www.lawagnermania.com/?p=1890. Retrieved July 5, 2009. 
Los Villanos