Arturo Beristain (born September 5, 1949) is a retired Mexican

professional wrestler Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...

, or ''

Luchador Lucha libre (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term used in Latin America for professional wrestling. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has developed into a unique form ...

'' in

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

, who works as a wrestling trainer at the Mexican

professional wrestling promotion A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling that has little relationship to the rules of the amateur olympic form. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails man ...

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as ''Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre'' (''EMLL'') (''Mexi ...

's (CMLL) gym in Mexico City, Mexico. Beristain is best known for working under two different

ring names Ring may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell :(hence) to initiate a telephone connection Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...

, ''Talismán'' and ''El Hijo del Gladiador''; both personas started out as '' enmascarados'', or masked, and Beristain lost both masks in ''

Luchas de Apuestas Lucha libre (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term used in Latin America for professional wrestling. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has developed into a unique form ...

''. He lost the Talismán mask to

Atlantis Atlantis ( grc, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, , island of Atlas (mythology), Atlas) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works ''Timaeus (dialogue), Timaeus'' and ''Critias (dialogue), Critias'' ...

in 1984 and the Hijo del Gladiador mask to

Rencor Latino Renato Ruíz Cortes (born May 9, 1977) is a Mexican professional wrestler better known by the ring name Averno (''Hell''). Ruíz initially worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as Rencor Latino in 1995, but did not achieve any signi ...

in 2000. As Talismán, Beristain won the

Mexican National Welterweight Championship The Mexican National Welterweight Championship (''Campeonato Nacional Peso Welter'' in Spanish language, Spanish) is a Lucha libre, Mexican professional wrestling championship (professional wrestling), championship created and sanctioned by Comisi ...

twice, the

Mexican National Middleweight Championship The Mexican National Middleweight Championship ''()'' is a championship (professional wrestling), professional wrestling championship controlled by the ' (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission). The official weight definition of the Professi ...

and the

Mexican National Lightweight Championship The Mexican National Lightweight Championship (''Campeonato Nacional de Peso Ligero'' in Spanish) is a Mexican professional wrestling singles championship created and sanctioned by ''Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.'' ("the Mexico City B ...

. As el Hijo del Gladiador he has won the

CMLL World Trios Championship The CMLL World Trios Championship (Spanish: "''Campeonato Mundial de Trios''") is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in Mexico. The title has existed since 1991 and is contested for by teams ...

with Gran Markus, Jr. and

Dr. Wagner Jr. Juan Manuel González Barrón (born August 12, 1965) is a Mexican ''luchador'' (Spanish for "professional wrestler") who is best known under the ring name Dr. Wagner Jr., having used that name since 1987. He is the son of Manuel González Rivera ...

and the

IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship The IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship (''Campeonato Intercontinental de Peso Medio IWRGL'' in Spanish) is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWR ...

. When Beristain lost the "Hijo del Gladiador" he was announced as "Arturo Beristain Ramírez" to further the storyline that he was actually the son of wrestler "El Gladiador", but his last name is not actually Ramírez.

Professional wrestling career

Beristain made his professional wrestling debut in 1971 at the age of 21, wrestling under the

ring name A ring name is a type of stage name used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons, or projecting ...

Santiago Ayala. A few years later Beristain adopted an '' enmascarado'' (masked) ring persona by the name of ''Talismán''. The change to the Talismán character was so successful that Beristain began working for

Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as ''Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre'' (''EMLL'') (''Mexi ...

(EMLL), Mexico's largest wrestling promotion. On August 30, 1978, Talismán defeated Mario Valenzuela to win the

, his first professional wrestling championship. He held the title for 221 days before losing the title to Rodolfo Ruiz on April 8, 1979. It would be almost two years before Talismán won another title, defeating El Supremo for the

on March 30, 1982. Talismán successfully defended the title several times, including a rematch with the deposed champion, until losing it on November 12, 1982, to

Mocho Cota Manuel Cota Soto (June 5, 1954 – December 22, 2016) was a Mexican ''luchador'', or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Mocho Cota. "Mocho" is Spanish for "mutilated", and Cota had lost two fingers. In his career, which began ...

. In 1984 Talismán entered and won a tournament for the vacant Mexican National Welterweight Championship, defeating

Américo Rocca Javier Hernández Padilla (born September 22, 1952) is a semi-retired Mexican ''Luchador'', or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Américo Rocca. Hernández also worked as the '' enmascarado'' (masked) ''Ponzoña'' from 1990 un ...

in the finals. On September 21, 1984, Talismán lost a '' Luchas de Apuesta'', bet match, to

and was forced to unmask after the match and reveal his real name per lucha libre traditions. Talismán held the Welterweight title for 222 days before Rocca finally managed to defeat Talismán. On March 2, 1986, Talismán gained a measure of revenge on Atlantis by defeating him for the

. He successfully defended the title for 273 days before losing it to Mogur on November 30, 1986. In the late 1980s Beristain switched ring characters, becoming an ''enmascarado'' once more, using the name ''El Hijo del Gladiador'' (

for "The Son of the Gladiator"), using a storyline blood relation to deceased wrestler

El Gladiador EL, El or el may refer to: Religion * El (deity), a Semitic word for "God" People * EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer * El DeBarge, music artist * El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...

. Hijo del Gladiador began teaming with Dr. Wagner, Jr. and Gran Markus, Jr. to form the group ''La Ola Blanca'', a group that continued the tradition started by Dr. Wagner, Jr's father

Dr. Wagner Manuel González Rivera (April 13, 1936 – September 12, 2004) was a Mexican professional wrestler, or ''Luchador'' best known under the ring name Dr. Wagner. González made his professional wrestling debut in 1961 and worked the majority of ...

and

Ángel Blanco José Ángel Vargas Sánchez (August 2, 1938 – April 26, 1986) 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 t ...

in the 1960s and 1970s. On April 22, 1994, ''La Ola Blanca'' defeated ''Los Brazos'' (

El Brazo Juan Alvarado Nieves (July 30, 1961 – October 15, 2013) was a Mexican Luchador (professional wrestler). He was best known under the ring name El Brazo (Spanish for "the Arm"), which he used since his debut in 1980. Alvarado was part of the Al ...

, Brazo de Oro and

Brazo de Plata José Luis Alvarado Nieves (March 19, 1963 – July 26, 2021) was a Mexican luchador best known under the ring name Brazo de Plata, a name he had used since his debut in 1977. He is also well known for his appearances in WWE as Super Porky. Al ...

) to win the

(EMLL had been renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in 1990). The trio held the title for almost a year, 343 days in total, before losing the Trios title to

Bestia Salvaje Juan Manuel Rodriguez Carillo (February 11, 1962 – March 20, 2008) was a Mexican luchador, best known by his ring name Bestia Salvaje, who competed in Mexican and international promotions during the 1980s and 1990s, most notably with Emili ...

, Emilio Charles, Jr. and

Sangre Chicana Sangre Chicana (Spanish for "Chicano Blood") is the ring name of retired Mexican professional wrestler Andrés Durán Reyes (born November 30, 1951). Reyes made his professional wrestling debut in 1973, wearing a red mask with a gold stripe, unde ...

on March 31, 1995. On August 6, 1996, Hijo del Gladiador and Gran Markus, Jr. teamed up to defeat Atlantis and Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. to win the

CMLL World Tag Team Championship The CMLL World Tag Team Championship (''CMLL Campeonato Mundial de Parejas'' in Spanish) is a professional wrestling World Tag Team Championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; Spanish for "World Wrestling Council") in Mexico ...

. The team only held the title for 43 days before losing it to Atlantis and

Lizmark Juan Baños (December 18, 1950 – December 16, 2015) was a Mexican '' luchador enmascarado'', or masked professional wrestler better known by the ring name Lizmark. The name was taken from the German battleship Bismarck. He was a multiple-time ...

on September 18, 1996. After the loss of the tag team title ''La Ola Blanca'' broke up with each wrestler going their separate ways. Due to the CMLL/

International Wrestling Revolution Group International Wrestling Revolution Group (Grupo Internacional Revolución in Spanish; the Spanish name is used for the promotion while the English initials are used for the title governing body) is a Lucha Libre promotion based in Naucalpan, Sta ...

(IWRG) talent-exchange agreement Hijo del Gladiador began working for IWRG in late 1997, and in early 1998 he defeated

El Pantera ''El Pantera'' (English: ''The Panther'') is a Mexican television series that aired on Canal 5 from May 14, 2007 to November 26, 2009. It is based on a comic book of the same name. It narrates the life of Gervasio, a young man who fights crime ...

to win the

. He defended it a couple of times in the following 186 days before losing the title to Magnum Tokyo on July 5, 1998. On August 4, 2000, El Hijo del Gladiador was one of the participants in a ''

Torneo cibernetico A ''torneo cibernetico'' is a multi-man professional wrestling elimination match that was created and primarily used in Mexican ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotions, especially in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The match format ...

'', where the last man eliminated would be forced to unmask. On that night he was bested by

and forced to unmask as a consequence of his loss. Beristain announced that his full name was "Arturo Beristain Ramírez" to keep up the storyline that he really was the son of El Gladiador. It was later confirmed that his last name was not Ramirez. Arturo Beristain retired from wrestling in 2005 and became a full-time wrestling trainer for CMLL in their wrestling school in Mexico City, where he still works, training several of CMLL's rookie wrestlers.

Championships and accomplishments

( 1 time) – with Gran Markus, Jr. **

( 1 time) – with Gran Markus, Jr. and

( 1 time) **

(

2 times "2 Times" is a song co-written and recorded by British Italian-based singer Ann Lee. It was released in 1999 as the lead single from her debut album, ''Dreams'' (1999). The single entered and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Outside ...

) *

( 1 time)

''Luchas de Apuestas'' record

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beristain, Arturo 1949 births Living people Mexican male professional wrestlers Professional wrestling trainers Professional wrestlers from Mexico City Mexican National Middleweight Champions CMLL World Tag Team Champions 20th-century professional wrestlers 21st-century professional wrestlers CMLL World Trios Champions Mexican National Welterweight Champions