Ray Mendoza
Encyclopedia
José Díaz Velazquez was a Mexican
Luchador
, or professional wrestler, better known under his ring name
Ray Mendoza. Diaz had great success in the National Wrestling Alliance
, where he was a five time World Light Heavyweight Champion
, as well as the first Mexican to hold the championship. In 1975, Diaz helped establish Universal Wrestling Association
with Francisco Flores
and Benjamín Mora. During his many title reigns, Diaz faced many present or future stars, such as Gran Hamada
, Killer Kowalski
, John Tolos
, El Solitario
, Fishman, René Guajardo
, Gory Guerrero
, El Santo, and Cavernario Galindo
. After retiring, Diaz became an actor and appeared in several Mexican films. Mendoza was the father of Los Villaños, Villaño I
, Villaño II
. Villaño III
, Villaño IV
and Villaño V
.
, a very poor and violent neighborhood. Díaz never finished any formal education as he had to start earning a living at a very early age to support himself and his wife Lupita Mendoza who he married when he was just 15 years old. While working in a bakery Díaz also worked hard to keep in shape, participating in cycling, swimming and baseball.
; the latter would later be famous under the name of "Huracán Ramírez". Díaz made his professional wrestling debut in 1954, using the ring name
"El Pelón" (Spanish
for "Baldy") Chato Díaz, then later on worked under names such as "Indio" Mendoza, El Rayo Rojo and El Hombre del Rayo Rojo. He also worked for a while as an enmascarado
(masked) character called Gargantua between 1954 and 1955. In 1955 Díaz came up with the ring name "Ray Mendoza" after his mentor Ray Carrasco and his wife's maiden name Mendoza. As Mendoza he quickly forged a very effective Rudo
character ("bad guy") by using well developed physique and charisma to create a ring character that the fans loved to hate. In 1956 Mendoza began working for Salvador Lutteroth
's Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(EMLL), the world's oldest and Mexico's largest wrestling promotion. He made his debut at EMLL's main arena Arena Coliseo in February, 1956 in a Battle Royal
that also included EMLL headliners Gory Guerrero
, El Santo, Cavernario Galindo
, Blue Demon
and Black Shadow, a match that immediately established him as someone who Lutteroth saw potential in. In EMLL Mendoza struck up a friendship with René Guajardo
and Karloff Lagarde
out of the ring and a "partnership in crime" in the ring as the three became one of the most hated trio in lucha libre at the time. The three drew full houses all over Mexico, setting box office record after box office record as they faced técnicos
(good guys) such as El Santo, Rayo de Jalisco or Blue Demon. They also had a very financially successful feud with Los Espantos (I, II and III) in what at the time was a rare rudo vs. rudo feud. Outside the ring Mendoza, Guajardo and Lagarde often spoke out on behalf of the wrestlers, demanding higher pay and better conditions, and since they were able to generate a lot of ticket sales EMLL officials listened to their demands.
In 1959 Mendoza won his first championship, defeating Dory Dixon
to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
. This marked the first time the NWA Light Heavyweight title was held by a Mexican and helped establish the title as the top title in Mexico from 1959 until the mid-1980s. Over the years Mendoza would become synonymous with the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship as he held it a record setting six times. During those title reigns he worked a legendary feud against Gory Guerrero, a feud between two of the most influential, unmasked wrestlers of the golden age of Lucha Libre. In 1965 Mendoza's in ring success helped make him very popular with the fans, so popular it was decided to turn him técnico. His first feud as a técnico was against his old partners Guajardo and Lagarde. First Mendoza defeated Lagarde in a Lucha de Apuesta (bet match), hair vs. hair match. Matches between Mendoza, Guajardo and Lagarde drew full houses all over Mexico, including a record breaking show where Guajardo defeated Mendoza in a Lucha de Apuesta match, the show drew the largest gate of that year and one of the best gates in Mexico in the 1960s. Guajardo and Mendoza also feuded over the NWA World Middleweight Championship
, although once Mendoza won it he vacated it to focus on the Light Heavyweight division. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Mendoza would often work in the United States, working for the Southern California
based NWA Hollywood. Here he held the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship
on three occasions, teaming with Mil Máscaras
, Raul Mata
and Raul Reyes
In the late 1960s Rey Mendoza helped launch the career of Ringo Mendoza
, who was not related to Ray Mendoza but was allowed to use the last name as he bore a resemblance to Ray Mendoza. Years later Mendoza was instrumental in the careers of his sons who wrestled as Villaño I
, Villaño II
and Villaño III
.
and investor Benjamín Mora, Jr. to form a rival promotion called Lucha Libre Internacional, later globally known as the Universal Wrestling Association
. Headlined by Mendoza, Guajardo and Largede as well as disgruntled former EMLL wrestlers the UWA held their first show on January 29, 1975 creating the first true rival for EMLL in decades. Since Mendoza had been synonymous with the Light Heavyweight division throughout the 60s and 70s it was not a great surprise that he became the first UWA World Light Heavy Champion
, although at this point in his career he was used more to help wrestlers such as El Solitario
and Gran Hamada
gain credibility as they defeated Mendoza for the title. Mendoza also spent a lot of time guiding the careers of his three youngest sons Villaño I, II and III who were quickly gaining fame in the UWA. By the end of the 1970s Mendoza was all but retired, with his last headliner match being a championship match against WWWWF Junior Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami
, a match that would be Mendoza's last true headliner match.
he retired from in ring action in early 1983. He would later work as a referee for special UWA matches, adding to the "big event" feel by having Mendoza oversee the action. He also trained various wrestlers at the UWA school along with his son VIllaño I, Lagarde and Felipe Ham Lee, training wrestlers up until the UWA closed in 1995. In 1988 he was made the head commissioner of the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling commission, charged with relegating boxing and wrestling events in Mexico, licensing wrestlers and approving mask matches and the likes.
, Super Astro, Mano Negrao
, Fuerza Guerrera
, Pierroth, Jr.
, Olímpico
, Shocker, Karloff Lagarde Sr. and his nephew Karloff Lagarde, Jr.
as well as Ringo Mendoza. During the funeral some gave Ringo Mendoza their condolenses on the death of "his father", not realizing that there was no actual family relationship between the two. In 2010 CMLL honored Ray Mendoza's memory at their annual Homenaje a Dos Leyendas
("Homage to two legends") show on March 19, 2010. During the show Mendoza's three surviving sons, Villaño I, Ray Mendoza, Jr. and Villaño IV were present for a ceremony honoring Ray Mendoza.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Luchador
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
, or professional wrestler, better known under his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Ray Mendoza. Diaz had great success in the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, where he was a five time World Light Heavyweight Champion
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
The NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
, as well as the first Mexican to hold the championship. In 1975, Diaz helped establish Universal Wrestling Association
Universal Wrestling Association
The Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
with Francisco Flores
Francisco Flores (wrestling promoter)
Francisco Flores is a former Mexican professional wrestling promoter who is most known for his part in creating and running the Universal Wrestling Association from the mid-1970s until the 1990s when it closed down...
and Benjamín Mora. During his many title reigns, Diaz faced many present or future stars, such as Gran Hamada
Gran Hamada
, better known by his ring name , is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He has wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling, and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre...
, Killer Kowalski
Killer Kowalski
Władek "Killer" Kowalski was a Canadian professional wrestler. Kowalski wrestled for numerous promotions during his career, including the NWA and WWF, and was a known heel wrestler...
, John Tolos
John Tolos
John Tolos, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", was a Canadian professional wrestler, and professional wrestling manager.-Canadian Wrecking Crew:...
, El Solitario
El Solitario
Roberto González Cruz was a Mexican professional wrestler who wrestled under the name El Solitario. During his career he held both the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Middleweight Championship...
, Fishman, René Guajardo
René Guajardo
Manuel Guajardo Mejorado , better known as René Guajardo, was a Mexican professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:...
, Gory Guerrero
Gory Guerrero
Salvador Guerrero Quesada , better known as Gory Guerrero, was one of the premier Hispanic professional wrestlers in the early days of Lucha Libre when most wrestlers were imported from outside of Mexico. He wrestled primarily in Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre between the 1940s and 1960s...
, El Santo, and Cavernario Galindo
Cavernario Galindo
Rodolfo Galindo Ramirez was a Mexican luchador and film actor, best known by his ring name Cavernario Galindo , who was active in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre from the 1930s to the 1990s...
. After retiring, Diaz became an actor and appeared in several Mexican films. Mendoza was the father of Los Villaños, Villaño I
Villaño I
Villano I was the ring name of José de Jesús Díaz Mendoza a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. He was the oldest son of luchador Ray Mendoza, and the first of the five Díaz Mendoza brothers to become a professional wrestler, although not the oldest...
, Villaño II
Villaño II
José Alfredo Díaz Mendoza was a Mexican Luchador enmascarado known under the Ring name Villano II . Despite being numbered "II" he was the oldest of the Díaz Mendoza boys. His younger brothers wrestled or wrestle as Villano I , Villano III , Villano V and Villano IV...
. Villaño III
Villano III
Arturo Díaz Mendoza is a Mexican professional wrestler best known for performing under the stage name Villano III and unmasking a very large number of wrestlers , he is most famous for teaming with one or more of his brothers: Villano I, Villano II, Villano IV, Villano V, Villano VI and Villano VII...
, Villaño IV
Villano IV
Thomas Díaz Mendoza is a Mexican professional wrestler. Within the stable Los Villanos, he has wrestled for Universal Wrestling Association , Asistencia Asesoría y Administración , and World Championship Wrestling . While popular and successful in Mexico, he frequently performed as a jobber in WCW...
and Villaño V
Villano V
Raymundo Díaz Mendoza Jr. is a Mexican professional wrestler who has performed under the name Villano V until he was unmasked on March 20, 2009, after which he became known as "Ray Mendoza, Jr.". Mendoza and is part of the Mendoza family, a well known Mexican wrestling family that includes all...
.
Biography
José Díaz Velazquez was born on July 6, 1929 and grew up in the Tepito district of Mexico CityMexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, a very poor and violent neighborhood. Díaz never finished any formal education as he had to start earning a living at a very early age to support himself and his wife Lupita Mendoza who he married when he was just 15 years old. While working in a bakery Díaz also worked hard to keep in shape, participating in cycling, swimming and baseball.
Boxing career
Díaz decided to become a professional boxer and made his debut as a pro in 1950, keeping his dayjob in the bakery as well. Díaz boxed under name "Joe Díaz", a shortened version of his real name. At one point had a sparring session with a couple of luchadors as he was told not to spar with any of the boxers at the gym. The luchadors wanted to teach the boxer a lesson and ended up injuring Díaz's back with a knee drop. The back injury later forced Díaz to retire after only 20 matches. After his retirement he began working as a health inspector for the Mexico City county.Professional wrestling career
Despite being forced to retire from pro boxing Díaz kept in shape by lifting weights at a local gym. The gym owner was impressed with Díaz physique and work ethics and recommended he become a luchador. Díaz was originally trained by Ray Carrasco and later also trained under Rogelio de la Paz, Genaro Contreas, Raul Rojas and Daniel GarcíaHuracan Ramirez
Huracán Ramírez was a fictitious character invented for the 1952 Mexican Lucha film of the same name. In the film a young Mexican, whose father is a professional wrestler, decides to follow in his father's footsteps by adopting the secret identity of Huracán Ramírez, a masked luchador, and he...
; the latter would later be famous under the name of "Huracán Ramírez". Díaz made his professional wrestling debut in 1954, using the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
"El Pelón" (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for "Baldy") Chato Díaz, then later on worked under names such as "Indio" Mendoza, El Rayo Rojo and El Hombre del Rayo Rojo. He also worked for a while as an enmascarado
Wrestling mask
A Wrestling mask is a fabric based mask that some professional wrestlers wear as part of their in-ring persona or gimmick. Professional wrestlers have been using masks as far back as 1915 and they are still widely used today, especially in Lucha Libre in Mexico.-History:In 1915 a North American...
(masked) character called Gargantua between 1954 and 1955. In 1955 Díaz came up with the ring name "Ray Mendoza" after his mentor Ray Carrasco and his wife's maiden name Mendoza. As Mendoza he quickly forged a very effective Rudo
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
character ("bad guy") by using well developed physique and charisma to create a ring character that the fans loved to hate. In 1956 Mendoza began working for Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth was a Mexican professional wrestling promoter of the mid-twentieth century. Lutteroth's promotion, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre , has been the dominant Mexican promotion since its founding in 1933, until Lutteroth left the company in the 1950s...
's Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(EMLL), the world's oldest and Mexico's largest wrestling promotion. He made his debut at EMLL's main arena Arena Coliseo in February, 1956 in a Battle Royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
that also included EMLL headliners Gory Guerrero
Gory Guerrero
Salvador Guerrero Quesada , better known as Gory Guerrero, was one of the premier Hispanic professional wrestlers in the early days of Lucha Libre when most wrestlers were imported from outside of Mexico. He wrestled primarily in Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre between the 1940s and 1960s...
, El Santo, Cavernario Galindo
Cavernario Galindo
Rodolfo Galindo Ramirez was a Mexican luchador and film actor, best known by his ring name Cavernario Galindo , who was active in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre from the 1930s to the 1990s...
, Blue Demon
Blue Demon
Alejandro Muñoz Moreno , better known as Blue Demon , was a Mexican luchador Enmascarado who was widely considered to be one of the greatest Mexican wrestlers of his time...
and Black Shadow, a match that immediately established him as someone who Lutteroth saw potential in. In EMLL Mendoza struck up a friendship with René Guajardo
René Guajardo
Manuel Guajardo Mejorado , better known as René Guajardo, was a Mexican professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Karloff Lagarde
Karloff Lagarde
Carlos de Lucio Lagarde is best known as Karloff Lagarde, a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler, who was immensely popular during the 1960s and 1970s...
out of the ring and a "partnership in crime" in the ring as the three became one of the most hated trio in lucha libre at the time. The three drew full houses all over Mexico, setting box office record after box office record as they faced técnicos
Face (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
(good guys) such as El Santo, Rayo de Jalisco or Blue Demon. They also had a very financially successful feud with Los Espantos (I, II and III) in what at the time was a rare rudo vs. rudo feud. Outside the ring Mendoza, Guajardo and Lagarde often spoke out on behalf of the wrestlers, demanding higher pay and better conditions, and since they were able to generate a lot of ticket sales EMLL officials listened to their demands.
In 1959 Mendoza won his first championship, defeating Dory Dixon
Dory Dixon
Dorrel "Dory" Dixon is a retired Jamaican professional wrestler who worked for the majority of his career in Mexico, where he eventually became a Mexican citizen...
to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
The NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
. This marked the first time the NWA Light Heavyweight title was held by a Mexican and helped establish the title as the top title in Mexico from 1959 until the mid-1980s. Over the years Mendoza would become synonymous with the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship as he held it a record setting six times. During those title reigns he worked a legendary feud against Gory Guerrero, a feud between two of the most influential, unmasked wrestlers of the golden age of Lucha Libre. In 1965 Mendoza's in ring success helped make him very popular with the fans, so popular it was decided to turn him técnico. His first feud as a técnico was against his old partners Guajardo and Lagarde. First Mendoza defeated Lagarde in a Lucha de Apuesta (bet match), hair vs. hair match. Matches between Mendoza, Guajardo and Lagarde drew full houses all over Mexico, including a record breaking show where Guajardo defeated Mendoza in a Lucha de Apuesta match, the show drew the largest gate of that year and one of the best gates in Mexico in the 1960s. Guajardo and Mendoza also feuded over the NWA World Middleweight Championship
NWA World Middleweight Championship
The NWA World Middleweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship, promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
, although once Mendoza won it he vacated it to focus on the Light Heavyweight division. In the late 1960s and early 1970s Mendoza would often work in the United States, working for the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
based NWA Hollywood. Here he held the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship
NWA Americas Tag Team Championship
The NWA Americas Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Hollywood Wrestling based out of Los Angeles, California....
on three occasions, teaming with Mil Máscaras
Mil Máscaras
Aaron Rodríguez , best known as Mil Máscaras , is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores...
, Raul Mata
Raul Mata
Raul Mata is a retired Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler who was mostly active from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mata holds the distinction of having the longest individual reign as Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion, 1.164 days in total...
and Raul Reyes
Raúl Reyes
Luis Edgar Devia Silva , better known by his nom de guerre Raúl Reyes, was a Secretariat member, spokesperson, and advisor to the Southern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-EP...
In the late 1960s Rey Mendoza helped launch the career of Ringo Mendoza
Ringo Mendoza
Genaro Jacobo Contreras is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador in Spanish and currently a professional wrestling trainer for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . Contreras is best known under the ring name Ringo Mendoza, which he has used since his debut in 1968...
, who was not related to Ray Mendoza but was allowed to use the last name as he bore a resemblance to Ray Mendoza. Years later Mendoza was instrumental in the careers of his sons who wrestled as Villaño I
Villaño I
Villano I was the ring name of José de Jesús Díaz Mendoza a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. He was the oldest son of luchador Ray Mendoza, and the first of the five Díaz Mendoza brothers to become a professional wrestler, although not the oldest...
, Villaño II
Villaño II
José Alfredo Díaz Mendoza was a Mexican Luchador enmascarado known under the Ring name Villano II . Despite being numbered "II" he was the oldest of the Díaz Mendoza boys. His younger brothers wrestled or wrestle as Villano I , Villano III , Villano V and Villano IV...
and Villaño III
Villano III
Arturo Díaz Mendoza is a Mexican professional wrestler best known for performing under the stage name Villano III and unmasking a very large number of wrestlers , he is most famous for teaming with one or more of his brothers: Villano I, Villano II, Villano IV, Villano V, Villano VI and Villano VII...
.
Universal Wrestling Association
In 1974 Salvador Lutteroth, Jr. began working for EMLL, being groomed to take over after his father. Mendoza was already unhappy with the lack of attention his sons were getting in EMLL as well as the very rigid and conservative way of running show, when Lutteroth, Jr. was brought in Mendoza's loyalty to Lutteroth, Sr. ended. Mendoza vacated the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship and along with Guajardo and Lagarde resigned from EMLL. They joined up with promoter Francisco FloresFrancisco Flores (wrestling promoter)
Francisco Flores is a former Mexican professional wrestling promoter who is most known for his part in creating and running the Universal Wrestling Association from the mid-1970s until the 1990s when it closed down...
and investor Benjamín Mora, Jr. to form a rival promotion called Lucha Libre Internacional, later globally known as the Universal Wrestling Association
Universal Wrestling Association
The Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
. Headlined by Mendoza, Guajardo and Largede as well as disgruntled former EMLL wrestlers the UWA held their first show on January 29, 1975 creating the first true rival for EMLL in decades. Since Mendoza had been synonymous with the Light Heavyweight division throughout the 60s and 70s it was not a great surprise that he became the first UWA World Light Heavy Champion
UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
The UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a singles professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling based promotion Universal Wrestling Association from 1975 until the UWA closed in 1995 and since then been defended on the Mexican independent circuit...
, although at this point in his career he was used more to help wrestlers such as El Solitario
El Solitario
Roberto González Cruz was a Mexican professional wrestler who wrestled under the name El Solitario. During his career he held both the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Middleweight Championship...
and Gran Hamada
Gran Hamada
, better known by his ring name , is Japanese professional wrestler, the first to adopt the high-flying Mexican lucha libre style. He has wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, Michinoku Pro, and All Japan Pro Wrestling, and was the founder of Universal Lucha Libre...
gain credibility as they defeated Mendoza for the title. Mendoza also spent a lot of time guiding the careers of his three youngest sons Villaño I, II and III who were quickly gaining fame in the UWA. By the end of the 1970s Mendoza was all but retired, with his last headliner match being a championship match against WWWWF Junior Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami
Tatsumi Fujinami
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon." He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex...
, a match that would be Mendoza's last true headliner match.
Retirement
Mendoza announced his retirement in late 1982 and following a retirement tour of Mexico and PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
he retired from in ring action in early 1983. He would later work as a referee for special UWA matches, adding to the "big event" feel by having Mendoza oversee the action. He also trained various wrestlers at the UWA school along with his son VIllaño I, Lagarde and Felipe Ham Lee, training wrestlers up until the UWA closed in 1995. In 1988 he was made the head commissioner of the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling commission, charged with relegating boxing and wrestling events in Mexico, licensing wrestlers and approving mask matches and the likes.
Personal life
Díaz married Lupita Mendoza when he was just 15 and the two remained happily married until Lupita died in 1986. Together the couple had eight children, three daughters, Rita Marina, Leonor and Lupita and five sons who all became luchadors; José de Jesús (Villano I), José Alfredo (Villano II), Arturo (Villano III), Raymundo Mendoza, Jr. (Villaño V) and Thomas (Villaño IV). After his unmasking in 2009 Raymundo Mendoza, Jr. is often billed as "Rey Mendoza, Jr." after his father. Mendoza was originally 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 youngest 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 "Villaño IV" while the second youngest son became Villaño V". Díaz was a family man and never recovered emotionally after his wife died in 1986, followed by the premature death of José Alfredo in 1989 and the death of his oldest son José de Jesús in 2002.Death and remembrance
On Tuesday April 15, 2003 José Díaz was taken to the Hospital General de Naucalpan suffering from kidney failure and later suffered an arrythmia in his right lung. Díaz died the night between April 16 and April 17, the official date of death being listed as April 16. His funeral was held two days later and was attended by over 100 people, long time friends and luchadors who grew up admiring Ray Mendoza's in ring exploits paid their last respect. Other than his family the funeral was attended by wrestlers La Infernal (married to Villaño 3), El CanekEl Canek
Felipe Estrada , known as Canek and El Canek, is a masked Mexican professional wrestler and former Mixed Martial Arts fighter currently performing part time for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. In 1972, he debuted as "El Universitario" at the age of 18. In 1973, he would change his name to Canek, a...
, Super Astro, Mano Negrao
Mano Negra (wrestler)
Jesús Reza Rosales is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Mano Negra. Mano Negra is Spanish for "The Black Hand" and is taken from the Spanish anarchist organisation La Mano Negra...
, Fuerza Guerrera
Fuerza Guerrera
Fuerza Guerrera is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado who made his debut in 1978. In his career Guerrera has worked for ever major wrestling organization in Mexico including Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , Asistencia Asesoría y Administración , Universal Wrestling Association , World Wrestling...
, Pierroth, Jr.
Pierroth, Jr.
Norberto Salgado Salcedo is a retired Mexican luchador , best known under the ring name Pierroth, Jr.. Salgado made his professional wrestling debut on July 1, 1984 working as an Luchador Enmascarado, or masked wrestler, using the name Pierroth, Jr...
, Olímpico
Olímpico
Joel Bernal Galicia , better known under the ring name Olímpico is a Mexican Luchador , or professional wrestler. Olímpico is sometimes Anglicised as "Olympico", and means "Olympian" in Spanish...
, Shocker, Karloff Lagarde Sr. and his nephew Karloff Lagarde, Jr.
Karloff Lagarde, Jr.
César Baltazar de Lucio Valencia is a semi-retired Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Karloff Lagarde, Jr.. Despite what his ring name might indicate he is not the son of Karloff Lagarde, but his nephew. Lucio is a former CMLL World Welterweight Champion and...
as well as Ringo Mendoza. During the funeral some gave Ringo Mendoza their condolenses on the death of "his father", not realizing that there was no actual family relationship between the two. In 2010 CMLL honored Ray Mendoza's memory at their annual Homenaje a Dos Leyendas
Homenaje a Dos Leyendas (2010)
Homenaje a Dos Leyendas 2010 was an annual professional wrestling major event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , which took place on March 19, 2010 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico...
("Homage to two legends") show on March 19, 2010. During the show Mendoza's three surviving sons, Villaño I, Ray Mendoza, Jr. and Villaño IV were present for a ceremony honoring Ray Mendoza.
In wrestling
- Finishing move
- La Tapatía (Surfboard)
- Nicknames
- Jefe Indio Dedos Chuecos (Indian Chief Twisted Fingers
Championships and accomplishments
- Empresa Mexicana de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- Mexican National Light Heavyweight ChampionshipMexican National Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship is a national Mexican singles professional wrestling championship controlled by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F....
(1 time) - NWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
(6 times) - NWA World Middleweight ChampionshipNWA World Middleweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Middleweight Championship is a currently inactive professional wrestling championship, promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence it has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato...
(1 time)
- NWA Hollywood WrestlingNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Americas Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Americas Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Americas Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliance's NWA Hollywood Wrestling based out of Los Angeles, California....
(3 times) - with Mil MáscarasMil MáscarasAaron Rodríguez , best known as Mil Máscaras , is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler and actor, who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores...
(1), Raul MataRaul MataRaul Mata is a retired Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler who was mostly active from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mata holds the distinction of having the longest individual reign as Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion, 1.164 days in total...
(1) and Raul ReyesRaúl ReyesLuis Edgar Devia Silva , better known by his nom de guerre Raúl Reyes, was a Secretariat member, spokesperson, and advisor to the Southern Bloc of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-EP...
(1) - NWA United National ChampionshipNWA United National ChampionshipThe NWA United National Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance, and best known for being defended in All Japan Pro Wrestling...
(1 time)
- Universal Wrestling AssociationUniversal Wrestling AssociationThe Universal Wrestling Association was a Mexican Lucha Libre or professional wrestling promotion based in Naucalpan, Mexico State that operated from 1975 until 1995...
- UWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipUWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionshipThe UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a singles professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling based promotion Universal Wrestling Association from 1975 until the UWA closed in 1995 and since then been defended on the Mexican independent circuit...
(3 times)
Luchas de Apuestas record
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | Al Velasco | Gigantua | Unknown | ||
| Mask | Ray Mendoza | Sunny War Cloud | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Hair | Ray Mendoza | El Audaz | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Hair | Ray Mendoza | Karloff Lagarde Karloff Lagarde Carlos de Lucio Lagarde is best known as Karloff Lagarde, a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler, who was immensely popular during the 1960s and 1970s... |
Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hair | René Guajardo René Guajardo Manuel Guajardo Mejorado , better known as René Guajardo, was a Mexican professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:... |
Ray Mendoza | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hair | Ray Mendoza | El Nazi | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hairs | Black Shadow and Ray Mendoza | Los Hippies (Renato Torres and El Vikingo) | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hair | El Solitario El Solitario Roberto González Cruz was a Mexican professional wrestler who wrestled under the name El Solitario. During his career he held both the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Middleweight Championship... |
Ray Mendoza | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hairs | Ray Mendoza and Dory Dixon Dory Dixon Dorrel "Dory" Dixon is a retired Jamaican professional wrestler who worked for the majority of his career in Mexico, where he eventually became a Mexican citizen... |
Rene Guajardo René Guajardo Manuel Guajardo Mejorado , better known as René Guajardo, was a Mexican professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:... and Shibata |
Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hair | Ángel Blanco Ángel Blanco José Ángel Vargas Sánchez was a Mexican Luchador or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Angel Blanco. Vargas is the father-in-law of the first Ángel Blanco, Jr. and the father of the current Ángel Blanco, Jr. and Hijo del Ángel Blanco I and II and the grandfather of Horus... |
Ray Mendoza | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hairs | Ray Mendoza and Ringo Mendoza Ringo Mendoza Genaro Jacobo Contreras is a semi-retired Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador in Spanish and currently a professional wrestling trainer for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . Contreras is best known under the ring name Ringo Mendoza, which he has used since his debut in 1968... |
Ángel Blanco Ángel Blanco José Ángel Vargas Sánchez was a Mexican Luchador or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Angel Blanco. Vargas is the father-in-law of the first Ángel Blanco, Jr. and the father of the current Ángel Blanco, Jr. and Hijo del Ángel Blanco I and II and the grandfather of Horus... and Kim Chul Won |
Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hair | Ray Mendoza | Ángel Blanco Ángel Blanco José Ángel Vargas Sánchez was a Mexican Luchador or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Angel Blanco. Vargas is the father-in-law of the first Ángel Blanco, Jr. and the father of the current Ángel Blanco, Jr. and Hijo del Ángel Blanco I and II and the grandfather of Horus... |
Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |
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| Hair | Ray Mendoza | César Valentino | Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole... |