Akuma (luchador)

Akuma (born in 1994, in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico) is the ring name of a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) portraying a rudo ("Bad guy") wrestling character. Akuma's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.^[1] It has been revealed that he is the younger brother of CMLL wrestler Demus 3:16 and has been referred to as both Akuma 3:16 and Akuma 666.

Personal life

The wrestler known as Akuma is the younger brother of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) wrestler Demus 3:16 who works in CMLL's Mini-Estrella division.^[2] He is the brother-in-law of retired professional wrestler Hiroka Yaginuma who is married to Demus 3:16. He is also the brother in law of wrestler Charlie Montana who is married to Akuma's sister.^[3]

Professional wrestling career

Lucha libre has a tradition of keeping the real name and personal information of masked wrestlers private if they have never been officially unmasked, it makes it possible that Akuma has worked under a different ring name and masked identity before May 12, 2012 where he made his in ring debut under that name. ^[1] He trained in CMLL's wrestling school prior to his debut under CMLL trainers Arkangel de la Muerte, El Hijo del Gladiador, Franco Colombo, Tony Salazar and Virus. Akuma made his debut working under the name "Akuma 3:16", referencing his brother's ring name, on Dragonmania VII, an annual event promoted by Toryumon Mexico, where he teamed up with fellow trainees Tornado, Voraz and Zuma, losing to the team of Kato Kung Lee, Jr., Rock Star, Rolling Boy and Tetsuki, all trainees of either CMLL or Último Dragón (Toryumon's founder).^[4] He was later introduced as part of CMLL's Generacion 2012 in August, prior to his official CMLL debut. Generacion 2012 included Herodes, Jr., Taurus, Genesis, Guerrero Negro, Jr., Espanto, Jr. and Oro, Jr..^[5]His official CMLL debut came a few months later on September 16, 2012 on a show in Arena Mexico where he teamed up with Guerrero Negro, Jr. to defeat Oro, Jr. and Robin.^[6] On January 1, 2013 Akuma and Guerreo Negro, Jr. teamed up to compete in the annual "Young Dragon Cup" held by Toryumon Mexico each year. The tag team was defeated in the first round by Taurus and Zumba.^[7] At the end of February, 2013 CMLL held their second annual Torneo Sangre Nueva ("The New Blood Tournament"), a tournament that focuses primarily on younger wrestlers or wrestlers who work in the lower ranks of the promotion, generally the first or second match of the show, as a way to highlight or promote a wrestler up to a higher level of competition. Akuma competed in qualifying Block A, on February 26 in a 10-man Torneo cibernetico elimination match. He was the first person eliminated as he was pinned after 10 minutes of wrestling by Horus, the qualifier and tournament was won by Soberano, Jr.^[8] In April, 2013 Akuma was announced as one of the Novatos, or rookies, in the 2013 Torneo Gran Alternativa, or "Great Alternative tournament". The Gran Alternativa pairs a rookie with an experienced wrestler for a tag team tournament and teamed Akuma with experienced wrestler Mephisto who has a similar "demonic" ring character. The two competed in Block A on April 12, 2013 losing to Hombre Bala, Jr. and Atlantis in the first round.^[9][10] In May, 2015 Akuma competed in a qualifying match for the 2015 version of En Busca de un Ídolo in a torneo cibernetico, elimination match where the last eight wrestlers will qualify for the tournament. He will compete alongside Blue Panther Jr., Cancerbero, Canelo Casas, Delta, Disturbio, Esfinge, Flyer, El Gallo, Guerrero Maya Jr., Joker, Pegasso, Raziel, Sagrado, Stigma and Boby Zavala.^[11] Akuma was the first wrestler eliminated, pinned by Joker.^[12][13]

References