Apolo Dantés

José Luis Amezcua Muñoz (born September 28, 1968) is a Mexican ''luchador'', or professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, best known by his ring name Apolo Dantés. He is the son of Alfonso Dantés, a successful and respected ''luchador'' during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a longtime mainstay of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) throughout the 1990s and now owns and operates "Dantés Lucha Factory" in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

During his in-ring career he's won the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship, CMLL World Middleweight Championship, and the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship. He also won the 1994 ''Copa de Oro'' tournament with El Dandy, the '' Copa de Arena México'' with Black Warrior and Shocker and the Second Generation Tag Team Tournament with Emilio Charles Jr.

Dantés was a part of the ''Los Capos'' ("The Bosses") stable alongside Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000, and Universo 2000. He also worked for the World Wrestling Federation in 1998 and 1999 on their hispanic focused show '' Super Astros''. His in-ring career ended in the mid-2000s, followed by him transitioning into a behind the scenes role of training and booking matches at ''Arena Coliseo'' and late founded his own wrestling promotion, Dantés' Lucha Factory in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

Personal life

José Luis Amezcua Muñoz was born on September 28, 1968 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He is the son of José Luis Amezcua Díaz, a professional wrestler known under the ring name Alfonso "Tanque" Dantés. His grandfather, Alfonso Amezcua, was also a professional wrestler, known as "Al Amezuca". José Amezcua's uncles, Alberto Muñoz, Virgilio Amezcua ("Septiembre Negro") and Índio Jerónimo were also professional wrestlers. José Amezcua younger brother, César Antonio Amezcua, would also become a wrestler later in life, known under the names César Dantés, "All Star" and "Máscara Mágica"

Professional wrestling career

Amezuca trained for his professional wrestling career under his father, his uncle Alberto Muñoz, and renowned ''Lucha libre'' trainier Diablo Velazco. He made his debut on December 4, 1988, under the name "Apolo Dantés", adopting the same last name as his father used.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1989–2006)

Through his fathers connections Dantés began working regularly for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in 1989. On July 25, 1992, Dantés became the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion when he defeated El Satánico. Dantés held the prestigious title for 243 days until Jaque Mate defeated him for it. On September 11, 1994, Dantés won the CMLL World Middleweight Championship by defeating Javier Llanes, but lost the belt 77 days later to Satánico. He defeated Silver King to win the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship on June 23, 1995. During his reign as Heavyweight Champion Dantés successfully defended it against both Corazon de Leon and Vampiro. Dantés lost the title to Rayo de Jalisco Jr. on April 14, 1996.

Los Capos (1996–2005)

In mid-1996 Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000 returned to CMLL after working elsewhere for four years. The trio began teaming with Apolo Dantés to form a group called ''Los Capos'' ("The Bosses"), a ''Rudo'' (bad guy) group that was heavily featured in CMLL's heavyweight division. Dantés competed in the 1997 CMLL International Gran Prix but was defeated in the semi-final by eventual tournament winner Steel. A year later he made it all the way to the finals of the 1998 version of the Gran Prix but lost to Rayo de Jalisco Jr. In 2003 Apolo Dantés last in-ring highlight saw him earn a match for the CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Mr. Niebla but was defeated in three falls.

World Wrestling Federation (1998–1999)

Starting in late 1998, CMLL began working with the United States-based World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to allow several of CMLL's workers to appear on WWF's weekly Spanish language, Latino focused ''WWF Super Astros'' show. For approximately 10 months, Dantés worked several ''Super Astros'' shows, wrestling against CMLL luchadors, Puerto Ricans and Japanese wrestlers. In his first match, which was taped on November 16, 1998, Dantés defeated El Merenguero. His last ''Super Astros'' match took place on May 25, 1999 where he defeated Funaki. In his last match for the WWF, he, Pantera, and Papi Chulo lost to ''Los Boricuas'' (El Merenguero, José Estrada Jr., and Miguel Pérez Jr.) in match that took place before WWF's ''Shotgun Saturday Night'' show.

Semi-retirement and booker (2006–current)

By the middle-2000s Apolo Dantés was more active as a wrestling trainer and match-maker at CMLL's ''Arena Coliseo'' in his native Guadalajara, Jalisco. For the next couple of years he booked matches for the weekly shows, as well as training various trainees for CMLL. In mid-2009 Dantés was fired from his position at ''Arena Coliseo'' and replaced by Rubén Soria. Following his dismissal from ''Arena Coliseo'' Dantés formed his own wrestling school and promotion called "Dantés' Lucha Factory", based in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Apolo Dantés owned and operated the Dantés Lucha Factory from 2009 until 2011, at which point his brother César took ownership the company, as Apolo replaced Soria to become the CMLL Guadalajara booker once more when Soria retired. By 2015 Dantés was once again replaced as the booker for CMLL. Since Dantés began working more behind the scenes he has only wrestled on a very limited schedule, with records of one match in 2010, 2011, and 2017.

Other media

Amezcua was one of several wrestlers interviewed for the documentary "50", chronicling the first 50 years of Arena Coliseo in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Championships and accomplishments

*Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
** Copa de Arena México: 2001 – with Black Warrior and Shocker
** Copa de Oro 1994 – with El Dandy
**CMLL World Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time)
**CMLL World Middleweight Championship ( 1 time)
** Second Generation Tag Team Tournament – with Emilio Charles Jr.
**NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time)
*''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''
**PWI ranked him 169 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1999

''Luchas de Apuestas'' record

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dantes, Apolo
1968 births
Living people
Mexican male professional wrestlers
Professional wrestling promoters
Professional wrestling trainers
Professional wrestlers from Jalisco
Sportspeople from Guadalajara, Jalisco
20th-century professional wrestlers
21st-century professional wrestlers
CMLL World Heavyweight Champions
CMLL World Middleweight Champions
NWA World Light Heavyweight Champions