Jose Luis Rivera

Marcelino Rivera Alicea (born August 6, 1960) ^[1] better known as Jose Luis Rivera is a Puerto Rican semi-retired professional wrestler. He was notable for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (today known as WWE) where he was also known as Conquistador #1 or Conquistador Uno when he teamed with fellow Puerto Rican Jose Estrada, Sr..

Professional wrestling career

National Wrestling Alliance (1970s)

Jose Luis Rivera started his professional wrestling career in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in the state of Florida. According to Rivera, he also wrestled amateur in the gyms before going professional and wrestling the likes of "Superstar" Billy Graham, Ox Baker, and Ivan Koloff.^[2]

World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (1970, 1975, 1982-1990, 1991)

Rivera signed on the then-World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and made his debut on July 10, 1970 as the heel Red Demon where he fought and defeated by pinfall preliminary wrestler Mike Conrad.^[1] According to Rivera, his first match with the WWWF was with Ivan Koloff.^[3]

In 1982, Rivera returned to the WWWF, but by this time was now under new leadership as Vincent Kennedy McMahon had bought the WWWF from his father Vincent James McMahon during the time Rivera was absent, and changed the name of the company in 1979 to World Wrestling Federation (WWF)^[3] Rivera then changed his nickname to Mac Rivera and was mostly used as a face preliminary wrestler for WWF TV-Tapings, excluding a non-televised event in which Rivera participated in a 22-men Battle Royal won by Bob Orton Jr.^[4] After a losing streak during all of 1982 and early 1983, Rivera finally broke his losing streak defeating "Baron" Mikel Scicluna on New York City at Madison Square Garden on March 20 in a match where Scicluna was believed he would win.^[3] Rivera, however was unable to step up the card and eventually continued his losing streak, now as Jose Luis Rivera and occasionally as Mac Rivera as well, but would defeat Scicluna again at a WWF untelevised event on May, 18.^[3] Untelevised victories over fellow preliminary wrestlers Rene Goulet, Butcher Vachon, Bob Bradley would follow, with Rivera eventually ending 1983 in a winning streak.^[3] Rivera would start 1984 continuing his winning streak throughout January of that year with televised victories over fellow preliminary wrestlers Tony Colón, Frankie Williams, and Israel Matia, and an untelevised victory over John Callahan but was eventually defeated by another preliminary wrestler, Tiger Chung Lee.^[3] Starting with an untelevised $20.000 battle royal won by André The Giant on January 21, Rivera was once again unable to move up the card and found himself on the losing end of many matches, losing to more-established stars such as SD Jones, Mr. Fuji, and Tony Garea, although Rivera would come victorious in matches against less-established wrestlers such as Charlie Fulton and Fred Marzino.^[3] One of Rivera's highlights was a boxing match against "Boxing" Bob Orton, Jr. in early 1986. Orton would win the match by TKO. This was "warn up" for Orton as he had an upcoming boxing match against Mr. T.^[5]

On March 17, 1987 Rivera would team up with fellow preliminary wrestler Randy Colley to form the team of The Shadows. Colley was known as "Shadow #1" while Rivera was known as "Shadow #2" and making their debut as a team on that same date defeating the team of Lanny Poffo and Nick Kinishi.^[3] The Shadows' success however, wouldn't last long, and they would start a feud with fellow preliminary team of Paul Roma and Jim Powers, known as The Young Stallions, Rivera and Colley would lose every match they had with the Stallions through early to mid 1987, and although Rivera was able to beat Jim Powers in some house show-matches, they wouldn't find such success in later months to come, with Powers eventually gaining a victory over Rivera in a house-show match on October 1987.^[3] The Shadows would also have a minor feud with The Killer Bees a team composed of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair and would lose every match they had with the Bees.^[3] Through 1987, Rivera exclusively wrestled at house shows and wouldn't appear on TV until November 17. Rivera and Colley quietly disbanded, and Rivera started teaming with fellow prelim. wrestler and Puerto Rican Jose Estrada, Sr.. Rivera and Estrada's first match as a team was an untelevised match which seemed to be a one-time pairing between Estrada and Rivera against The Killer Bees on November 15. As usual, Rivera and Estrada were defeated.^[3]

Rivera and Estrada debuted their "Conquistador" outfit and masks on the same date Rivera would reappear on TV, this time as "Los Conquistadores" Rivera and Estrada wrestled in their first match as an official team Strike Force, a team composed of Tito Santana and Rick Martel. Rivera and Estrada as usual, were defeated.^[3] According to Rivera, both of them went to Vince McMahon and told him about the idea of the pairing, and according to Rivera, McMahon liked the idea.Rivera and Estrada would end 1987 in a losing streak, including losing five matches in a row at house show - matches against The Rougeau Brothers, a team composed of Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau.^[3] In 1988, Rivera and Estrada continued teaming together, usually on the losing side of many of their matches, such as The Killer Bees, British Bulldogs (a team composed of Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith) and The Young Stallions.^[3] However, Rivera and Estrada surprisingly scored a victory (albeit untelevised) over the Rougeau Brothers on January 10, which would become one of the team's highlights.^[3] Success for the team would come again on February 15, where Rivera and Estrada surprisingly defeated the team of The Killer Bees, albeit once again untelevised.^[3] On November 30, success for the team of Rivera and Estrada would come as they would defeat one of the most pushed tag-teams at the time, The Rockers, a team composed by Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty.^[3] The Conquistadors' biggest highlight as team came at Survivor Series (1988) where they were among the final teams in the ring alongside The Powers of Pain. The Conquistadors came close to winning, but The Powers of Pain won after help from manager Mr. Fuji. By 1989, the teaming of Rivera and Estrada would become more and more infrequent, with Rivera eventually starting to use his old ringname of "Jose Luis Rivera" although he would continue to appear as "Conquistador #1" on TV-Tapings, and by this time, he would also turn face.^[3] Constantly on the losing end of matches against established wrestlers such as Nikolai Volkoff, and Jim Duggan, Rivera would occasionally gain a victory over fellow preliminary wrestlers such as Steve Lombardi and Paul Roma.^[3] Rivera had an opportunity to face his former partner on November 27, appearing as "Jose Luis Rivera" and Estrada appearing as "Conquistador #1" Rivera would come as the winner, defeating Estrada.^[3] In 1990, Estrada left the WWF, and Rivera continued appearing as "Conquistador #1" Rivera first and last victory in that year would come on January 15, where he defeated Brian Costello.^[6] On November 20, Rivera would team up with Chris Hawn to face his old rival and recently turned heel Paul Roma and Hercules Hernandez, known as Power and Glory.^[6] Rivera and Hawn were defeated.Rivera would leave in 1991 for WCW, but would return only for one (and final) appearance with the WWF on April 22, where he was defeated by Koko B. Ware in an untelevised event, he would then depart after a full decade signing with the company.^[6]

World Championship Wrestling (1991)

In 1991, Rivera signed a contract with World Championship Wrestling. Rivera, nicknamed The Angel wrestled only three untelevised matches (all of which he lost)^[7] During this time, Rivera also challenged champion Tom Zenk for the WCW World Television Title, but was unsuccessful.^[7]

Return to Puerto Rico (1991-1994, 2006-2007)

After leaving both the WWF and WCW, Rivera would return to his homeland, Puerto Rico in late 1991. Rivera signed with a local promotion, American Wrestling Federation (AWF) successfully challenging (and winning) the AWF Americas Title from then champion Ricky Sexton in his very debut with the company. On January 31, 1992, Rivera dropped the AWF Americas Title to Jason The Terrible. Rivera would regain the title on February 22, but ultimately drop it permanently to Huracán Castillo, Jr. Rivera would leave the AWF and sign a contract with rival promotion World Wrestling Council (WWC) and would remain with promotion until 1994. On March 19, 1994 Rivera had what was considered at the time, his last match, facing and defeating local wrestler El Exotico.

In 2005, after a 11-year hiatus from wrestling, Rivera returned on November 11 to World Wrestling Council, now considered a legend to the promotion, he wrestled in a tag-team match teaming up with fellow local wrestler Dr. Cesar Vargas to defeat the team of Rivera's WWF partner and rival, Jose Estrada, Sr. and Rico Suave. In 2006, after a 12-year hiatus from wrestling, Rivera returned on January 8, where he was defeated by local wrestler Glamour Boy Shane. Rivera signed with in an independent promotion named New Wrestling Stars (NWS) working as Sultán Jose Luis Rivera Rivera had two matches, the aforementioned defeat against Boy Shane, and a second match where he teamed up with El Nene to defeat the team of Boy Shane and Huracán Castillo, Jr. On October 29, Rivera appeared at an independent local promotion, where he defeated local wrestler, Wizard. In 2007, Rivera had two appearances at another local promotion. On January 14, 2007 Rivera teamed with fellow local wrestlers Shijan Rek and Renegade to defeat the team of Van Axel, Stryder, El Assassin in an "Australian Rules" match. Then on February 13 that same year Rivera defeated El Profe by disqualification. On January 25, 2014, Rivera surprisingly reappeared in the APW "Wrestle-Reunion 3" at a Royal Rumble match won by local wrestler Shayne Hawke.

Championships and accomplishments

• Americas Wrestling Federation (Puerto Rico)
  • AWF Americas Championship (2 times)^[8]
• Pro Wrestling Federation
  • PWF Tag-Team Championship (2 times) - with Super Ninja (1) and Terry Austin (1)^[9]

• New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Class of 2014
• World Wrestling League
  • Salón de los inmortales (Class of 2016)

References