Carlos López Tovar (28 August 1912 – 28 August 1975) was a

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 ...

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 welterweight championship from 1936 through 1939. He also captured the NWA middleweight title several times and was named MVP in Mexico in 1940, 1944, and 1948.

Professional wrestling career

Carlos made his professional debut in 1934 under the name Carlos López, and was soon recruited by trainer Gonzalo Avendaño. He was launched into his first feud against

Salvador Flores Salvador Flores (Jose Salvador Ramon Flores) (ca. 1806–1855) served as a volunteer in the Texan Army in 1835–1836. He was instrumental in organizing and commanding Texian volunteers in support of the Texas Revolution. He participated in ...

, a feud that made the young López very popular. This popularity eventually resulted in López being signed to

Empresa Mexicana de la 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), where he gained his first title, 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 ...

, which he won on March 11, 1936. López was one of the most popular ''luchadores'' of his era, winning the title of Luchador of the Year in 1940, 1944, and 1948.Madigan, Dan, ''Mondo Lucha a Go-Go: The Bizarre & Honorable World of Wild Mexican Wrestling'', HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2007, Although still one of the most popular wrestlers in

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, López's career ended early over a monetary dispute with EMLL. López requested a loan with which he intended to help a friend who desperately needed the money. When the owners of EMLL refused, an angry López retired from the professional wrestling business and never looked back.

Championships and accomplishments

Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship The Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (''Campeonato Nacional Semicompleto'' in Spanish) is a national Mexican singles professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the ''Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.'' (''Mexico City ...

( 3 times) **

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 ...

( 1 time) **

Mexican National Tag Team Championship The Mexican National Tag Team Championship ''()'' is a national Mexican professional wrestling championship controlled by the (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission) and competed for by two-man tag teams. The championship was created in ...

( 1 time) – with Henry Pilusso **

( 1 time) **

NWA World Middleweight Championship The NWA World Middleweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) between 1939 and 2010. For most of its existence, it was defended in the Mexican '' lucha libre'' promotion Consejo Mundial ...

(

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 ...

) ** NWA World Middlweight Championship ( 1 time)¹ **

World Middleweight Championship In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...

(

)² *

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards This is a list of both active and inactive ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter'' awards created by professional wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Dave Meltzer. The first fourteen awards were created in 1980 as an informal poll between ...

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 ...

( Class of 2004) ¹This championship was under the control of the

National Wrestling Association The National Wrestling Association (NWA) was an early professional wrestling sanctioning body created in 1930 by the National Boxing Association (NBA; now the World Boxing Association, WBA) as an attempt to create a governing body for professional ...

, a governing body in professional wrestling that existed prior to the

National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and former professional wrestling governing body operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA ...

. The title was abandoned in 1940.
²This title is actually the same championship that the National Wrestling Alliance would come to adopt and recognize. However, the title was created before the founding of the National Wrestling Alliance but after the World Middleweight Championship used by the National Wrestling Association was abandoned.

References

;General sources – Championship Information * ;General sources – Career * * ;Specific {{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Tarzan 1975 deaths 1912 births 20th-century professional wrestlers Mexican male professional wrestlers Professional wrestlers from Zacatecas Mexican National Middleweight Champions Mexican National Tag Team Champions Mexican National Welterweight Champions NWA World Middleweight Champions Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champions