Canek (wrestler)

For the Itza mayan rulers, see Canek. For the Mayan revolutionary, see Jacinto Canek.
Canek

Canek greets a young fan.
Birth name Felipe Estrada
Born June 19, 1952
Frontera, Tabasco
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Canek
El Canek
El Universitario
Príncipe Azul
Billed height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Billed weight 110 kg (240 lb; 17 st)
Trained by Ham Lee
Indio Azteca
Maciste
El Remington I
El Chacal
Debut 1972

Felipe Estrada (born June 19, 1952), known as Canek or El Canek, is a masked Mexican professional wrestler and former Mixed Martial Arts fighter currently performing part-time for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.[1]

Career

In 1972, he debuted as "El Universitario" at the age of 18. In 1973, he would change his name to Canek, a name inspired by the Mayan Indian leader Jacinto Canek. He is one of the few wrestlers to bodyslam André the Giant.[2] As the major heavyweight working for the Universal Wrestling Association promotion, he became one of Lucha Libre's biggest attractions during the 1980s. Canek started his rise to stardom after winning the National Light Heavyweight Title by defeating Dr. Wagner on January 15, 1978. He would lose that title on June 20 of that same year to his rival Dos Caras. On September 27, 1978, Canek would gain international exposure by defeating Lou Thesz to win his first of fifteen UWA World Heavyweight Championship titles that he would hold during his career. At around the same time, the UWA made a talent trading agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Japanese superstars like Antonio Inoki and Riki Choshu would travel to Mexico to face Canek, while Canek would travel to Japan to face stars like Tiger Mask and Tatsumi Fujinami. Canek's matches against foreign superstars drew such large crowds that UWA would continue using this same formula for more than a decade.

Canek wrestles one of his greatest rivals, Mil Mascaras, in 2009.

Although the UWA ceased to exist in 1995, Canek continued defending and trading the UWA title, although his June 2004 loss at the hands of former partner Dr. Wagner, Jr. may signal a long break in Canek's monopoly as Dr. Wagner Jr. remains the reigning title holder. Canek holds victories over several international stars including Lou Thesz, Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, Yokozuna, Big Van Vader, Owen Hart and Japanese stars Tatsumi Fujinami, Riki Choshu and Kim Duk. During the 90's, Canek had a very long feud with Mil Mascaras who he never defeated. He famously bodyslammed both André the Giant and Yokozuna (under the name Kokina). Overall he is a 15 time World Heavyweight Champion after holding the UWA World Heavyweight Championship. Canek has also competed in the mixed martial arts promotion DEEP 2001 in Japan and holds a win over Osamu Kawahara.[3]

Personal life

His younger brother competed under the name Príncipe Maya and his son competes under the name Canek Jr.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Lucha de Apuesta record

Wager Winner Loser Location Date Notes
Mask Príncipe Azul Ultratumba Villahermosa, Tabasco 1972  
Hair Príncipe Azul Ultratumba Villahermosa, Tabasco 1972  
Hair Príncipe Azul El Noruego Villahermosa, Tabasco 1972  
Mask Canek El Destroyer Monterrey, Nuevo León Unknown  
Hair Canek Dorrel Dixon Unknown Unknown  
Hair Canek Humberto Garza Unknown Unknown  
Hair Canek César Valentino Unknown Unknown  
Mask Canek La Momia San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí Unknown  
Hair Canek La Momia Unknown Unknown  
Hair Canek Pantera Negra Unknown Unknown  
Hair Canek Coloso Colosetti Unknown Unknown  
Hair Canek Coloso Colosetti Unknown Unknown  
Hair Canek Ring Fujinami Naucalpan, Mexico State Unknown  
Mask Canek Lemús Monterrey, Nuevo León 1974  
Hair Canek Sunny War Cloud Monterrey, Nuevo León 1975  
Hair Canek Rubén Juárez Monterrey, Nuevo León 1975  
Hair Canek José Torres Monterrey, Nuevo León 1975  
Mask Canek El Asesino Mexico City, Mexico July 5, 1981  
Mask Canek Don Corleone Naucalpan, Mexico State 1982  
Hair Canek Abdullah Tamba Unknown 1983  
Mask Canek Blue Blazer Naucalpan, Mexico State May 29, 1991  
Mask Canek Torre Infernal Naucalpan, Mexico State November 15, 1992  
Hair Canek Yamato Naucalpan, Mexico State August 15, 1993  
Hair Canek Scorpio, Jr. Naucalpan, Mexico State October 3, 1996 Relevos Suicidas vs. Ultimo Vampiro & El Mexicano
Mask Canek Universo 2000 Mexico City, Mexico September 17, 2004 4 way match that also included Dr. Wagner Jr. & Rayo Jr.

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Japan Osamu Kawahara TKO (punches) DEEP – 3rd Impact December 23, 2001 1 4:55 Tokyo, Japan

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
  • Various (2005). "El Principle Maya / the Mayan Prince". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. pp. 58–59. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
  • "Lucha Libre: Conoce la historia de las leyendas de cuadrilátero". Canek (1952) (in Spanish) (Mexico). 2008. p. 15. Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre.
Specific

External links