Mario Balbuena González (April 16, 1959 – May 7, 2017) -- better known 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 ...
s Gran Apache and El Apache -- was a Mexican ''
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 ...
'', or
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. Balbuena worked for
AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) since 1996, both as a wrestler and a trainer. He was involved in training almost all young wrestlers who worked for the promotion during that period of time.
Two of Balbuena's four daughters—
Faby Apache
Fabiola Balbuena Torres (born 26 December 1980) is a Mexican ''Luchadora'', or female professional wrestler known for her time with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) where she performed as Faby Apache (sometimes written as "Fabi Apache").
Between 2 ...
and
Mari Apache
Mariella Balbuena Torres (born October 19, 1979) is a Mexican ''Luchadora'', or female professional wrestler best known under the ring name Mari Apache (sometimes written as "Mary Apache"). She is the daughter of ''Luchador'' Gran Apache and th ...
—followed him into a professional wrestling career. His second wife also became a professional wrestler under the name
Lady Apache
Sandra González Calderón (born June 26, 1970) is a Mexican professional wrestler or ''luchadora'', best known under the ring name Lady Apache. As Lady Apache, González has mainly worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and AAA, Mexi ...
. Balbuena and his family were part of a long-running "Telenovela" style storyline that also included Faby Apache's then-husband
Billy Boy
"Billy Boy" is a traditional folk song and nursery rhyme found in the United States, in which "Billy Boy" is asked various questions, and the answers all center on his quest to marry a girl who is said to be too young to leave her mother.
It has ...
as well as their son, referred to as "Marvin Apache". As Gran Apache, Balbuena held the
AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship
The AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship (''Campeonato en Parejas Mixtas AAA'' in Spanish) is a tag team title contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). The championship is exclusively for teams composed ...
twice and the
AAA World Trios Championship
The AAA World Trios Championship ("''Campeonato Mundial de Tercias AAA''" in Spanish) is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) promotion in Mexico. It is contested for by teams of three wrestlers (o ...
once with his daughters. In 2018 he was inducted in the
AAA Hall of Fame
The AAA Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which honors professional wrestlers and wrestling personalities, established and maintained by the Mexico based national wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).
Inductees
Individuals
See als ...
.
Early life
Mario Balbuena González was born on April 19, 1959, in
Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley of Mex ...
. Growing up, Balbuena was interested both in sports and music, so much so that by the age of 14 he was already part of a
Salsa band and was hoping to make that his career.
[
]
Professional wrestling career
In January 1975 Balbuena met professional wrestlers
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 ...
Cometa Azules I and II who invited the athletic Balbuena to come train with them. Initially, he had no specific interest 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 ...
'', but as soon as he started to train he was hooked by the physicality of the sport.[ Balbuena trained with Los Cometas Azlues for eight months before making his in-ring debut in August 1975. For his first match he worked as the ''enmascarado'', or masked character, Cometa Azules III, using the name as an homage to his teachers.][ Following the match, Santo, one of the biggest stars of ''lucha libre'', greeted Balbuena, who was so fascinated by the culture and respect shown backstage that he decided to become a full-time wrestler.][
Following his decision to pursue a full-time career, he trained at ]Blue Demon
Alejandro Muñoz Moreno (April 24, 1922 – December 16, 2000), better known by the ring name Blue Demon (''Demonio Azul'' in Spanish), was a Mexican film actor and ''luchador enmascarado'' (Spanish for masked professional wrestler). Blue Demo ...
's gym to further his skills. During his training Balbuena's long hair and Native American features led to him being referred to as "El Apache" by everyone in the gym, a name he would adopt as his 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 ...
. In later interviews Balbuena stressed that he was not a "Cowboys and Indians" stereotypical Apache, but a "Mexican Apache", related to the Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
nation that lived in Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.[ During his training Balbuena showed such aptitude for wrestling that he was made an instructor's assistant.][ In 1984 one of Balbuena and one of his students, Luis García Vergara, were trained as a team by '']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 ...
'', with the idea that they would work as a pair of masked Native American characters known as Pluma Blanca (white feather) and Pluma Amarilla (yellow feather). The duo got a better offer from the promoters at the ''Pavillón Azteca'', where they became known as Gran Apache I (Balbuena) and Gran Apache II (García).[
''Los Gran Apaches'' won the Pavillón Azteca Tag Team Championship, sometimes referred to as the AWWA Tag Team Championship. Their most notable achievement, however, was a long running storyline feud with a team known as ''Los Mohicanos'', a rivalry noted for the violent matches that included the use of various foreign objects and often left one or more of the participants covered in blood.][ In 1987 ''Los Gran Apaches added ]Lady Apache
Sandra González Calderón (born June 26, 1970) is a Mexican professional wrestler or ''luchadora'', best known under the ring name Lady Apache. As Lady Apache, González has mainly worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and AAA, Mexi ...
as their valet; Lady Apache was Balbuena's second wife and had been trained by him for her professional wrestling career.[ In 1989 Pavillón Azteca closed down and both Balbuena and García went their separate ways with Balbuena keeping the Gran Apache name.][
In 1992 Balbuena 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, later known as ''Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre''; CMLL). In EMLL Balbuena formed a group known as ''Rudos del Ritmo'' (bad guys
A villain (also known as a " black hat" or "bad guy"; the feminine form is villainess) is a stock character, whether based on a historical narrative or one of literary fiction. '' Random House Unabridged Dictionary'' defines such a character ...
with rhythm) alongside several CMLL wrestlers such as Ari Romero
Jose Luis Arias Romero (December 20, 1951 – December 29, 2013), was a Mexican professional wrestler who wrestled in Mexico, the United States and Japan, under the ring name Ari Romero. Romero earned the nickname "El Rey del Tenedor" ("The King ...
, Kung Fu
Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common ...
, Búfalo Salvaje, América, Halcón Negro, Mario Prado and Estrellita.[
]
Japan
In 1994 Balbuena, dissatisfied with the opportunities EMLL was giving him, left the promotion to work for Carlos Máynes' promotion. While the promotion was past its heyday in Mexico, Máynes' connections allowed Balbuena to start working in Japan for the International Wrestling Association of Japan
The International Wrestling Association of Japan, more commonly known as IWA Japan, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion operating from 1994 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2014. It was formed by Víctor Quiñones as a successor to the W ...
(IWA Japan). While in Japan he resumed working as a trainer outside of the ring and wrestling against his trainees on shows to help teach them how to actually work matches. During his time in Japan, he began training his two oldest daughters, Mariella and Fabiola for their wrestling careers. While in Japan Balbuena portrayed various masked characters such as Jabagengi, with a mask like a monkey, and Lion, a wrestling lion, before leaving Japan in 1995. Balbuena returned to Japan in 2000 for a short stint to work for CMLL Japan, using the masked character "Kimba". Starting in 2001 Balbuena, as Gran Apache, returned to Japan, working for Michinoku Pro
(originally known as North Eastern Wrestling) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded by The Great Sasuke on October 1, 1992. It was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather ...
off and on for several years both wrestling and training Japanese wrestlers.
AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (1995–2017)
In 1995 Balbuena joined Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
Antonio Peña Promotions, S.A. de C.V. d/b/a Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide is a Mexican Lucha Libre (professional wrestling) promotion based in Mexico City, Mexico. Commonly referred to as simply AAA (pronounced "triple A"; an abbreviation of its or ...
as both a wrestler and a trainer, later becoming the head trainer for AAA.[ In AAA he reunited with his former ''Los Gran Apaches'' partner, with the two adopting the masked comedy gimmick ''Las Chivas Rayadas'', two "wrestling soccer goats" inspired by the '']Club Deportivo Guadalajara
Club Deportivo Guadalajara (); often simply known as Guadalajara () and their nickname ''Chivas'' (), is a Mexican professional football club based in Zapopan, Jalisco. Guadalajara is one of the ten founding members of the Mexican First Divisi ...
'' mascot. The masked gimmick allowed the veteran wrestlers to train younger wrestlers by working against them and even allowed various trainees to work as "Chiva Rayada III".[
]
Apache family feud (2005–2009)
Starting in 2005 Balbuena and his family became the focal point of a storyline that would come to define their careers more than any other.[ In real life Balbuena's daughter Fabiola, now working as "Faby Apache", had married José Roberto Islas García, better known as professional wrestler ]Billy Boy
"Billy Boy" is a traditional folk song and nursery rhyme found in the United States, in which "Billy Boy" is asked various questions, and the answers all center on his quest to marry a girl who is said to be too young to leave her mother.
It has ...
. The storyline AAA presented depicted Gran Apache as the "overprotective father" who did not think that Billy Boy was good enough for her daughter. The storyline, sometimes described as a ''Telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
'', began when Billy Boy began showing up ringside during Faby's matches with flowers and signs professing his love for her. Gran Apache objected to the relationship and attacked Billy Boy as he was not "worthy" of his daughter. The storyline played out over several years and even had the birth of Billy Boy and Faby's son Marvin written into the storyline. At one point Gran Apache defeated Billy Boy, forcing him to not have anything to do with either Faby Apache or his son Marvin. Following the loss the storyline was that Billy Boy was so depressed that he was committed to a mental institution.[
Billy Boy later returned as the masked "Alfa", a trainee of Gran Apache, who earned the respect of the harsh father who declared that "Alfa" was worthy of his daughter. Following the statement Billy Boy unmasked to the surprise of everyone, reuniting with Faby Apache and Marvin, though the ruse did not please Gran Apache.][ During AAA's 2008 '']Guerra de Titanes
Guerra de Titanes (Spanish for "War of the Titans") is a major annual professional wrestling event in Mexico promoted by the Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) promotion. The show is the "End of year" show and is traditionally held in December with ...
'' show Billy Boy came to Faby Apache's aid after she lost a match, this, in turn, led to Faby Apache slapping Billy Boy, causing Billy Boy to attack her, turning ''rudo''. During an in-ring celebration of Gran Apache's 50 years in professional wrestling, Billy Boy attacked his father-in-law with a steel chair, injuring Apache's knee so he had to be taken from the ring on a stretcher. This turn of events was written into the storyline due to Gran Apache actually suffering a knee injury, and this was used as a way to explain why he was not able to wrestle. The storyline later ended when Faby Apache defeated Billy Boy in a Steel Cage match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or " gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
at the 2009 ''Verano de Escándalo
Verano de Escándalo (Spanish Language, Spanish for "Summer of Scandal") is a major annual professional wrestling event in Mexico promoted by the Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) promotion. The show is as the name indicates a summer show, traditi ...
'' show.
Later years (2010–2017)
After the Apache family feud ended Gran Apache focused primarily on working with younger ''luchadors'', teaching them how to plan out matches and work in front of live audiences by wrestling against them on AAA shows. In 2016 his daughters Faby and Mari became involved in a feud with a group of males known as ''Los OGT'' ( Averno, Chessman and Ricky Marvin
Ricardo Fuentes Romero (born January 8, 1980) is a second-generation Mexico, Mexican Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, known by his ring name Ricky Marvin, and is most known for his work in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. ...
), initially siding with the men, claiming that "men were superior wrestlers".[ At '']Triplemanía XXIV
Triplemanía XXIV was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced and scripted by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA). The event took place on August 28, 2016, and was held in the Arena Ciudad ...
'' Faby and Mari wrestled against Averno and Chessman in a match where Gran Apache served as the guest referee. During the match Gran Apache became concerned over the violence that Averno and Chessman displayed, protecting them as they were about to be hit with a fluorescent lighttube, reuniting with his daughters after the match. At ''Héroes Inmortales X
''Héroes Inmortales'' X (Spanish for "Immortal Heroes Ten") was a professional wrestling event produced and scripted by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA). The event took place on October 2, 2016 at Are ...
'' ''Los OGT'' defeated the Apaches. In the spring of 2017 Los Apaches were scheduled to face ''Los OGT'' for the AAA World Trios Championship
The AAA World Trios Championship ("''Campeonato Mundial de Tercias AAA''" in Spanish) is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) promotion in Mexico. It is contested for by teams of three wrestlers (o ...
, but Mari had suffered a serious injury and Gran Apache was unable to compete; at the time they did not explain the health issues he was dealing with. Instead of the trios match Faby Apache wrestled against Ricky Marvin, defeating him to win the AAA World Trios Championship on behalf of her family. Neither Mari nor Gran Apache ever appeared in AAA to defend the championship. On April 21 Faby, teaming with Psycho Clown
Psycho Clown (born December 16, 1985) is the ring name of a Mexican '' Luchador'' '' enmascarado'', or masked professional wrestler currently signed to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). Psycho Clown's ring character is that of a nightmarish clown a ...
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 ...
, lost the championship to ''El Poder del Norte'' (Carta Brava Jr.
Sergio Marca (born January 18, 1987) is a Mexican ''luchador'', or professional wrestler known as Carta Brava Jr., currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) portraying a ''rudo'' ("bad guy" ...
, Mocho Cota Jr.
Alejandro Cota (born July 2, 1977) is a Mexican '' luchador'', or professional wrestler known by his ring name as Mocho Cota Jr., currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) portraying a ''ru ...
and Soul Rocker
Ignacio Patiño (born February 11, 1986), better known under the ring names Soul Rocker and Tito Santana is a Mexican '' luchador'', or professional wrestler, currently working for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). He is the son of retired ''lucha ...
).
Wrestling trainer
Having worked as the AAA head trainer for over a decade and as a trainer off and on since the mid-1980s, Balbuena had a hand in training almost every young wrestler that worked for AAA during the period of time, as well as many non-AAA wrestlers who attended his wrestling school. He was often cited as one of the best trainers of female wrestlers, starting in the mid-1980s where very few trainers would even consider working with women.
Personal life and death
Balbuena had four daughters and was married at least twice. Balbuena and his first wife were the parents of Mariella Balbuena Torres (Mari Apache) born in 1979 and Fabiola Balbuena Torres (Faby Apache) born in 1980 and a third daughter before divorcing. In 1986 Balbuena married Sandra González Calderón (Lady Apache), and together the couple had one daughter before divorcing later on.[
Balbuena was diagnosed with ]intestinal cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is the development of cancer from the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). Signs and symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel ...
in either late 2016 or early 2017, causing his health to rapidly deteriorate. On May 7, 2017 he died from the cancer.[ Following his death many ''luchadors'' all over Mexico commented on the loss of a great teacher and a great friend.]
Championships and accomplishments
* AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
**AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship
The AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship (''Campeonato en Parejas Mixtas AAA'' in Spanish) is a tag team title contested for in the Mexican lucha libre promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). The championship is exclusively for teams composed ...
(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 ...
) – with Faby Apache
Fabiola Balbuena Torres (born 26 December 1980) is a Mexican ''Luchadora'', or female professional wrestler known for her time with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) where she performed as Faby Apache (sometimes written as "Fabi Apache").
Between 2 ...
(1) and Mari Apache
Mariella Balbuena Torres (born October 19, 1979) is a Mexican ''Luchadora'', or female professional wrestler best known under the ring name Mari Apache (sometimes written as "Mary Apache"). She is the daughter of ''Luchador'' Gran Apache and th ...
(1)[
**]AAA World Trios Championship
The AAA World Trios Championship ("''Campeonato Mundial de Tercias AAA''" in Spanish) is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) promotion in Mexico. It is contested for by teams of three wrestlers (o ...
( 1 time) – with Faby and Mari Apache
**AAA Hall of Fame
The AAA Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which honors professional wrestlers and wrestling personalities, established and maintained by the Mexico based national wrestling promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).
Inductees
Individuals
See als ...
(Class of 2018)
* Pavillón Azteca
**Pavillón Azteca Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gran Apache II
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publish ...
**PWI ranked him #229 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishi ...
in 2002
''Luchas de Apuestas'' record
Footnotes
References
{{Navboxes,
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{{Portal bar, Biography, Mexico
{{AAA Hall of Fame
{{AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship
{{AAA World Trios Championship
1959 births
2017 deaths
Deaths from colorectal cancer
Mexican male professional wrestlers
Masked wrestlers
Professional wrestling trainers
Professional wrestlers from Mexico City
Deaths from cancer in Mexico
AAA World Trios Champions
AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champions