Cuahutémoc Velasco Vargas (April 28, 1919 – June 13, 1999) was a 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 ...

and trainer under the name Diablo Velasco. Velasco trained many famous Mexican wrestlers, including

Gory Guerrero Salvador Guerrero Quesada (January 11, 1921 – April 18, 1990), better known as Gory Guerrero, was one of the premier Mexican American professional wrestlers in the early days of Lucha Libre when most wrestlers were imported from outside Mexico ...

, Raul Armas, Los Hermanos Crucero,

Perro Aguayo Pedro Aguayo Damián (18 January 1946 — 3 July 2019) better known as "(El) Perro Aguayo" (Aguayo the dog) and El Can de Nochistlan (The Nochistlan Dog) was a Mexican wrestler through the 1970s to the 1990s. Aguayo was the first person ever ...

Essa Rios Essa or ESSA may refer to: Places * Essa, Ontario, Canada * Saltash (Cornish: Essa), a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, UK * Essa Academy, Bolton, England, UK * Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ICAO code) People Given name * Essa (rapper) ...

, and

Mil Máscaras Mil Máscaras (born Aarón Rodríguez Arellano, July 15, 1942) is a Mexican luchador (professional wrestler) and actor. He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of the lucha libre tradition in Mexico – along with El Santo and Blue Demon ...

. In 2001, Velasco was inducted into the

Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame The Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON) Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to their professions. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of t ...

in recognition of his career and extensive influence on

lucha libre 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 ...

Professional wrestling career

Velasco started his wrestling career in 1937 after having trained for two years under the tutelage of Raúl Romero, using the name "Telmo Velazco". Because Velasco did not have the physical size to become a top line wrestler, he was never a main eventer, but because of his skills and tenacity he was a respected mid-card wrestler who could be relied on to put on a good match. In 1942 Velasco decided that his skills would be put to better use training wrestlers than performing in the ring. In 1959 he was made the head trainer of the Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara, one of the biggest wrestling schools in Mexico. Over the years he trained a long row of future top stars in

Lucha Libre 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 ...

instilling in them his work ethic and drive. After some time as the head trainer at

Arena Coliseo Arena Coliseo is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico located at República del Perú 77 in the Cuauhtémoc, D.F., Cuauhtémoc Boroughs of the Mexican Federal District, borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or ''lucha ...

, his students would gain a reputation as having good prospects in the ring, if Velasco let them graduate they had to have a certain level of skill. Velasco was in the sport not for the money, but because he genuinely loved the sport, a sentiment he managed to pass along to most of his students. Even after an old hip injury forced Velasco to stop getting in the ring with his students he still oversaw and mentored everyone in his gym. Velasco continued to run his wrestling school until he retired in 1997 at the age of 78, and died in 1999.

Championships and accomplishments

*''

Wrestling Observer Newsletter The ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' (''WON'') is a newsletter that covers professional wrestling and mixed martial arts. Founded in print in 1982 by Dave Meltzer, the ''Wrestling Observer'' website merged with Bryan Alvarez's ''Figure Four We ...

'' **

( Class of 2001)

References

;General * {{DEFAULTSORT:Velasco, Diablo 1919 births 1999 deaths 20th-century professional wrestlers Mexican male professional wrestlers Sportspeople from Guadalajara, Jalisco Professional wrestlers from Jalisco