Jesús Velázquez Quintero (February 22, 1910 – May 26, 1972), better known under the
ring names El Murciélago Enmascarado
[Literally translated as "Bat", Murciélago was a legendary fighting bull whose amazing fighting spirit during a corrida in ]Córdoba, Spain
Córdoba (; ),, Arabic: قُرطبة DIN: . or Cordova () in English, is a city in Andalusia, Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. It is the third most populated municipality in Andalusia and the 11th overall in the country.
The ...
on 5 October 1879 led to its his life being spared, becoming a byword for gallantry and indomitable courage in the Spanish-speaking world. and Murciélago Velázquez, 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 o ...
). Velázquez was the fourth wrestler in Mexico to wear a
wrestling mask
A wrestling mask is a fabric-based mask that some professional wrestlers wear as part of their in-ring persona or gimmick. Professional wrestlers have been using masks as far back as 1915 and they are still widely used today, especially in Lucha ...
and the second Mexican to work as an ''enmascarado'' ("masked wrestler") in the history of ''lucha libre''. He became the first wrestler in Mexico to be forced to unmask, losing a ''
Lucha 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 ...
'' (or "Bet match") to
Octavio Gaona, creating the most prestigious match type in ''lucha libre''. He once held the
Mexican National Middleweight Championship
The Mexican National Middleweight Championship ''()'' is a professional wrestling championship controlled by the ' (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission). The official weight definition of the middleweight division in Mexico is from . The ...
and after his retirement was the head of the Mexico City boxing and wrestling commission for a while.
Near the end of his in-ring career, Velázquez began acting in various Mexican films, including several
''luchador'' films, working both with
El Santo and
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 ...
. He also became involved in the creative aspects of movie making, writing several screenplays and stories over the years. The last movie he wrote the story for, ''La mujer del diablo'', opened two years after his death.
Professional wrestling career
Jesús Velázquez made his professional wrestling debut on April 3, 1938 in the original
Arena México
Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico, located in the Colonia Doctores neighborhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or ''lucha libre'', shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Luc ...
, 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). He started out his career wrestling as the ''
enmascarado'' (Masked) character "El Murciélago Enmascarado". Velázquez was the fourth wrestler in Mexico to wrestle in a mask, and the second Mexican wrestler to do so, second only to "El Enmascarado" (The Masked Wrestler).
Velázquez was one of the first native Mexicans to really play up the show aspects of ''
lucha libre'', wearing a black leather vest with a hood as he would stalk towards the ring and wrestle in black trunks and mask. His entrance theatrics would at times include him hiding a couple of live bats under his vest, releasing them in the arena during his in-ring introduction, letting them fly free among the audience.
His rough, brutal in-ring wrestling style added to the aura of El Murciélago Enmascarado, quickly pushing him up the rankings as he was wrestler that drew fans by the fact that they wanted to see him lose.
[ Within a few months of his debut he was wrestling against some of the top names in EMLL such as ]Bobby Bonales
Roberto Aceves, (September 25, 1916 – June 26, 1994), better known under the ring name Bobby Bonales, was a Mexican '' luchador'', or professional wrestler who was active during the early days of ''Lucha Libre'' in Mexico, making his debut in ...
and Dientes Hernández. One of the defining moments of Velázquez' early career was his storyline feud with Merced Gómez that began only a few weeks after his debut. During a match against Gómez a kick from Velázquez hit Gómez in the face, knocking him down. Moments later the crowd was shocked to discover that Gómez' eye was missing, supposedly from the brutal kick from Velázquez. Gómez had actually lost the eye due to boxing several years prior and had a glass eye that he popped out after the kick to give the impression that Velázquez caused him to lose an eye.[ Some ''lucha'' magazines tried to claim that it was Gómez "good eye" that had been injured in the match, trying to keep the illusion that it was a legitimate injury, but the fact that Gómez would continue to wrestle for years underscored the fact that this was indeed a storyline.][ The storyline had its desired effect, portraying El Murciélago Enmascarado as a heartless villain or '']rudo
Rudo ( sr-cyrl, Рудо) is a town and municipality located in Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, it has a population of 7,963 inhabitants, while the town of Rudo has a population of 1,949 inhabitants.
It is f ...
''.[ In 1939, Velázquez participated in a tournament for the vacant ]Mexican National Middleweight Championship
The Mexican National Middleweight Championship ''()'' is a professional wrestling championship controlled by the ' (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission). The official weight definition of the middleweight division in Mexico is from . The ...
where he defeated the likes of Jack O'Brien and Ciclón Veloz but lost to eventual tournament winner Dientes Hernández.[ During the early parts of his career Velázquez also worked as a policeman, both to make money but also to gain access to the ''Casino de la Policia'' training facilities to further his physical abilities in the ring.]
In 1940, EMLL began a storyline between El Murciélago Enmascarado and Octavio Gaona that would lead to one of the pivotal moments of the early years of ''lucha libre''. In the United States masked wrestlers were common place and there had been matches where a masked wrestler was forced to unmask as far back as 1926 where Jim Londos
Christos Theofilou ( el, Χρήστος Θεοφίλου; January 2, 1894 – August 19, 1975), better known as "The Golden Greek" Jim Londos (Greek: Τζίμ Λόντος), was a Greek American professional wrestler. Londos was one of the most p ...
defeated the Masked Marvel and he was forced to reveal himself to be Ray Steele. The storyline between played out in a way that the brutal ''rudo'' Murciélago drew the normally more technical Gaona into a series of brawls, matches that often ended inconclusively. After a particularly violent match Gaona challenged Murciélago to put his mask on the line in a match. With El Murciélago being lighter than Gaona he demanded that Gaona put his hair on the line as well. With the challenge, the ''Lucha 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 ...
'' (or "Bet match") was created. In the build up to the high profile match El Murciélago Enmascarado faced and defeated a number of other wrestlers in ''Luchas de Apuestas'' matches leaving Merced Gómez, Bobby Bonales, Dientes Hernández and Ciclón Veloz bald as a result as they built to the match with Gaona. On July 14, 1940, Gaona defeated El Murciélago Enmascarado, forcing him to unmask after the match and reveal his birth name, something that became a ''lucha libre'' tradition.[ Since then ''Apuesta'' matches have become the highest profile match in Mexico; winning the mask of an opponent is considered a higher achievement than winning a championship match.][ After being unmasked he modified his ring name to Murciélago Velázquez and continued to be a hated ''rudo'' wrestler as his natural charisma was even more obvious without the mask.]
In 1942, Velázquez would gain a measure of revenge on Octavio Gaona when he defeated Gaona in the finals of a tournament for the vacant Mexican National Middleweight Championship.[ In the late 1930s, a young wrestler, Rodolfo Guzmán, began working as El Murciélago II in and around Mexico City, but Velázquez complained to the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission that the name was too close to his own ring name and that Velázquez had not given permission for the use. The Commission ruled that Velázquez had the rights to the name, forcing Guzmán to choose a different name.] Guzmán adopted a new ring character, El Santo, and in subsequent years became one of the most popular wrestlers in Mexico. EMLL paired the two up for a long running feud that saw the masked El Santo defeat Velázquez in a ''Luchas de Apuestas'' match in January 1943, leaving Velázquez bald as a result. Two months later, on March 19, 1943, El Santo won the Mexican National Middleweight Championship from Velázquez as well.[ By the end of the year, other Mexican wrestlers, such as El Santo rose to the top, relegating Murciélago Velázquez to the lower ranks, working shows all over Mexico but not making as many headlines as his heyday from 1937 through 1942. In 1955, he experienced a career resurgence, teaming with Samar Saleem, forming a ]tag team
Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...
that quickly gained a reputation for disregarding the rules and engaging in out of control brawls with their opponents. The team received a push from the promoters as they were given victories over Cavernario Galindo
Rodolfo Galindo Ramirez (September 27, 1923 – July 19, 1999) was a Mexican luchador and film actor, best known by his ring name Cavernario Galindo (Caveman Galindo), who was active in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre from the 1930s to the 1990s. W ...
and El Verdungo, another team known for their wild wrestling style, as well as "Tough" Tony Borne
Anthony Wayne Osborne (July 13, 1926 – August 27, 2010) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Tough" Tony Borne.
Professional wrestling career
Osborne was an amateur wrestler in both high school and in the Unit ...
and Tony Barbetta, El Santo and Pancho Valentino, ''Los Hermano Shadow'' ("The Shadow Brothers"; Black Shadow and Blue Panther) and the team of Tarzán López
Carlos López Tovar (28 August 1912 – 28 August 1975) was a luchador who was active in the 1930s and 1940s, better known by the ring name Tarzán López. Known as "Tarzan" because of his bodybuilder's physique, Lopez held the Mexican national ...
and Enrique Llanes
Enrique Juan Yañez González (August 24, 1919 – September 18, 2004), best known under the ring name Enrique Llanes, was one of the premier Hispanic professional wrestlers in the early days of Lucha Libre when most wrestlers were imported ...
. One particular match, against López and Henry Pilusso, got so out of hand and bloody that the Mexico City wrestling and boxing commissioner Manuel Muñoz decided to ban both Velázquez and Saleem from wrestling in Mexico City for life.[ The ban ended the team of Velázquez and Saleem as Velázquez left professional wrestling a short time later to become an actor.][
While he retired from in-ring competition in 1955, he never truly left ''lucha libre''. Over the years, he trained wrestlers such as Dick Angelo, Fili Espinoza and Humberto Garza.] He also worked in several ''luchador'' films in his acting career. In the early 1960s he was the Distrito Federal boxing and wrestling commissioner, going from being a hated rule breaker to the highest authority.[
]
Movie career
In 1957, Velázquez had a small, uncredited role in a Mexican movie called ''Ladron de Cadaveres'' ("The Body Snatcher"). He made his first credited on screen appearance in ''La momia Azteca
''The Aztec Mummy'' (Spanish: ''La Momia Azteca'', also known in the USA as simply ''La Momia'') is a 1957 Mexican horror film produced by Guillermo Calderon from his own story idea, scripted by Alfredo Salazar, and directed by Rafael Portillo.
...
'', where he played a villain known as ''El Murciélago'' and being billed as "Murciélago" Velázquez, taking his ring name onto the silver screen. Over the next 10 years, Velázquez had roles in a number of different films, including ''luchador'' films starring El Santo and Blue Demon. During this time period, he also began writing screenplays and stories, the first being ''Triunfa la pandilla'' ("The triumphant gang") that premiered in 1963.[ Among his other credits were '']El mundo de los vampiros
'' El mundo de los vampiros'' (''The World of the Vampires'') is a 1961 Mexican horror film, directed by Alfonso Corona Blake. The film is about a vampire, Count Sergio Subotai, who seeks revenge against the descendant of an enemy family. The ...
'' ("The world of Vampires"), ''Tlayucan
''Tlayucan'' is a 1962 Mexican comedy film directed by Luis Alcoriza and based on a novel by Jesús Murciélago Velázquez. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Cast
* Julio Aldama as Eufemio Zárate
* Norma An ...
'' and ''Santo contra los jinetes del terror'' ("Santo vs. the Riders of Terror"). The final movie he wrote the story for, ''La mujer del diablo'' ("The Devil Woman"), opened in 1974, a year after Velázquez' death.[
]
Personal life
While Velázquez' in-ring character was brutal and bloodthirsty, the man behind the character was the complete opposite, something not revealed publicly until years after his death. His wrestling peers described him as very friendly and well-read.[ Velázquez stayed active, writing movie scripts and various stories until his death on May 27, 1972. The autopsy revealed that Velázquez died from ]cirrhosis
Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, and end-stage liver disease, is the impaired liver function caused by the formation of scar tissue known as fibrosis due to damage caused by liver disease. Damage causes tissue rep ...
of the liver which led to a heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...
.
Championships and accomplishments
*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 ...
:*Mexican National Middleweight Championship
The Mexican National Middleweight Championship ''()'' is a professional wrestling championship controlled by the ' (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission). The official weight definition of the middleweight division in Mexico is from . The ...
( 1 time)
''Luchas de Apuestas'' record
Filmography
Actor
Writer
Footnotes
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Velazquez, Murcielago
1910 births
1972 deaths
20th-century Mexican male actors
Mexican male film actors
Mexican male professional wrestlers
Masked wrestlers
Professional wrestlers from Guanajuato
Mexican National Middleweight Champions