Before John Cena. Before Steve Austin. Before Hulk Hogan. Just before Gorgeous George. One man set the bar for what it meant to be an icon in the world of professional wrestling. The fifth of seven children, Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, son of Jesús Guzmán Campuzano and Josefina Huerta (Márquez) de Guzmán would find himself living the life a real superhero. Popularly known as "El Santo" (The Saint).
So storied is the man's career that his debut is a thing of mystery. Whether it was in Cozumel or Mexico City and whether it was 1934 or 1935 is unknown. In the wrestling world, his feuds with the likes of Perro Aguayo, Blue Demon and Villano were legendary, with Blue Demon taking special note due to his similar fame as a Mexican icon. The feud even made it's way to the film world. At an estimated 35 Betting matches, all won, the man was easily top draw anywhere he went.
However, what is most well known about El Santo is just how he branched off in popular media. Movies, comics, TV, cartoons and beyond use his likeness for work. You think John Cena and Hulk Hogan having a slew of cheesy movies in an attempt to become major movie stars is new? Well, El Santo did it first. Except his were massive hits. All 52 of them. Movies like "Santo vs Las Mujeres Vampiras", "Santo vs The Zombies" and such even made their mark in the U.S.
After a major retirement tour, El Santo wrestled in his final match one week before his 65th birthday teaming up long-standing tag team partner Gory Guerrero (known as "La Pareja Atomica/Atomic Tandem") as well as Huracan Ramirez and El Solitario to face long-standing rival, Perro Aguayo, El Signo, El Texano and Negro Navarro in an 8 Man Tag Team match (Lucha Atomica/Atomics Tag Team Match as 8 Man tag team matches are called there) that saw the great heroes triumph. At the same time, his son, another well known legend in the future debuted, El Hijo Del Santo, carrying on the family legacy for years. Now the mantle belongs to El Nieto Del Santo "Axel".
Even his death was a high note. Over a year after his retirement, on a Mexican talk show, the legend decided to unmask in public for the very first time in his 48 year career in a stunning moment. He died about a week later during a stage show he was putting on from a heart attack. His funeral, a massive one at that, saw hundreds of relatives, friends from the ring and outside and fans flock to see the "Silver Masked One" one final time before being buried. Iconic silver mask on and all.
His legacy can still be seen today, even in the U.S. The likes of Sin Cara and Rey Mysterio show likeness to the legend. Masked men of mystery fighting for good and against evil no matter the odds. Their real identities are a mystery and their characters are seen as superhero-like.
Did You Know?
* When Santo first decided to become a professional wrestler, he started by studying the martial art of Ju Jitsu.
* Santo starred in 50 films. But his movie debut came in the form of sidekick roles in "El Cerebro del Mal" and "Hombres Infernales". Filming for these movies were done in Cuba and ended the day before the end of the Cuban Revolution.
* La Novia Del Santo was a female competitor not of Santo's family. Indie female wrestler Irma Gonzalez adopted the identity after promising her fiancee she'd stop but was unable to resist the grandeur. A male homosexual later adopted the name, but not with Santo's personal blessing and was soon forced to give up the name.
* Many wrestlers have their name in the Walk Of Fame. Santo? No. He has a statue in his honor at his home town of Tulancingo, Hidalgo, Mexico. Like a boss. How many wrestlers can brag about a statue?
-Writing credit belongs to "The Killjoy"
