Alberto Muñoz
Encyclopedia
Alberto Muñoz is a retired Mexican
Luchador
or professional wrestler
who was active from at least the 1960s until the 1980s. Muñoz worked for most of his career using his real name, but in the 1970s he also wrestled as the enmascarado
(masked wrestler) White Man, teaming with Black Man
to form a popular tag team
. In his career Muñoz held several top championships promoted by Empressa Mexican de Lucha Libre
(EMLL).
(EMLL), the oldest wrestling promotion in the world. Initially he wrestled in the lightweight weightdivision, which in Mexico means between 63 kg (138.9 lb) and 70 kg (154.3 lb). On August 7, 1965 Muñoz defeated Rodolfo Ruíz to win the Mexican National Lightweight Championship
. Over the following six months Muñoz defended the title against both the deposed champion and other lightweight contenders. On February 6, 1966 Muñoz moved up to the Welterweight division (between 70 kg (154.3 lb) and 78 kg (172 lb)) when he defeated Huracán Ramírez
for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
. After winning the Welterweight title Muñoz vacated the Lightweight title to focus on the more prestigious Welterweight division. Muñoz held the Welterweight title from February 6, 1966 until October 20, 1968 for a total of days, the longest reign of any Mexican National Welterweight Champion to date. On March 9, 1968 Muñoz defeated Rene Guajardo
to win the Mexican National Middleweight Championship
. Muñoz wrestled in both the Welterweight and the middleweight division (between 82 kg (180.8 lb) and 87 kg (191.8 lb)), holding and defending both titles for seven months. On October 20, 1968 Muñoz vacated the Welterweight title to focus on the Middleweight title. Muñoz would hold the Middleweight title until November 20, 1969 where Rene Guajado regained the title. Alberto Muñoz held a championship from August 7, 1965 until November 20, 1969, more than four years in total. On July 11, 1971 Muñoz defeated Karloff Lagarde
to win the NWA World Welterweight Championship
, perhaps the most prestigious championship in Mexico at the time. Muñoz held the title until some time in 1973 where he was forced to vacate the title due to a knee injury. When Muñoz returned to the ring almost a year later he adopted a new ring persona, an enmascarado
(masked wrestler) called "White Man", teaming up with Black Man
to form a very popular and successful tag team
. The two teamed for a while but never won a tag team title, despite several chances at the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship
. by 1978 Muñoz dropped the "White Man" character as he was forced to work a reduced schedule due to age and injuries. Muñoz' last notable wrestling appearance came in April, 1979 when he lost a Luchas de Apuesta, hair vs. mask match, to Villaño III
. Apuesta matches often pay a quite a lot to the person agreeing to lose his hair or mask, giving Muñoz one last big payday before retiring in the early 1980s.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Luchador
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
or professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
who was active from at least the 1960s until the 1980s. Muñoz worked for most of his career using his real name, but in the 1970s he also wrestled as the enmascarado
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 Libre in Mexico.-History:In 1915 a North American...
(masked wrestler) White Man, teaming with Black Man
Black Man (wrestler)
Álvaro Meléndez Tibanez , better known as Black Man, was a legendary but not highly successful Mexican . He was an extremely talented flyer and innovated various moves...
to form a popular tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
. In his career Muñoz held several top championships promoted by Empressa Mexican de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(EMLL).
Professional wrestling career
Muñoz made his professional wrestling debut in the early 1960s and within a couple of years began working regularly for Empressa Mexican de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
(EMLL), the oldest wrestling promotion in the world. Initially he wrestled in the lightweight weightdivision, which in Mexico means between 63 kg (138.9 lb) and 70 kg (154.3 lb). On August 7, 1965 Muñoz defeated Rodolfo Ruíz to win the Mexican National Lightweight Championship
Mexican National Lightweight Championship
The Mexican National Lightweight Championship is a Mexican professional wrestling singles championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F....
. Over the following six months Muñoz defended the title against both the deposed champion and other lightweight contenders. On February 6, 1966 Muñoz moved up to the Welterweight division (between 70 kg (154.3 lb) and 78 kg (172 lb)) when he defeated Huracán Ramírez
Huracan Ramirez
Huracán Ramírez was a fictitious character invented for the 1952 Mexican Lucha film of the same name. In the film a young Mexican, whose father is a professional wrestler, decides to follow in his father's footsteps by adopting the secret identity of Huracán Ramírez, a masked luchador, and he...
for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
Mexican National Welterweight Championship
The Mexican National Welterweight Championship is a Mexican professional wrestling championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . While the commission sanctions the title, it does not promote the events at which the title is defended...
. After winning the Welterweight title Muñoz vacated the Lightweight title to focus on the more prestigious Welterweight division. Muñoz held the Welterweight title from February 6, 1966 until October 20, 1968 for a total of days, the longest reign of any Mexican National Welterweight Champion to date. On March 9, 1968 Muñoz defeated Rene Guajardo
René Guajardo
Manuel Guajardo Mejorado , better known as René Guajardo, was a Mexican professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:...
to win the Mexican National Middleweight Championship
Mexican National Middleweight Championship
The Mexican National Middleweight Championship is a national Mexican professional wrestling championship controlled by a "National title" controlled by the "Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F." , which regulates all matches where the title is defended...
. Muñoz wrestled in both the Welterweight and the middleweight division (between 82 kg (180.8 lb) and 87 kg (191.8 lb)), holding and defending both titles for seven months. On October 20, 1968 Muñoz vacated the Welterweight title to focus on the Middleweight title. Muñoz would hold the Middleweight title until November 20, 1969 where Rene Guajado regained the title. Alberto Muñoz held a championship from August 7, 1965 until November 20, 1969, more than four years in total. On July 11, 1971 Muñoz defeated Karloff Lagarde
Karloff Lagarde
Carlos de Lucio Lagarde is best known as Karloff Lagarde, a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler, who was immensely popular during the 1960s and 1970s...
to win the NWA World Welterweight Championship
NWA World Welterweight Championship
The NWA World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship governed by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence, the title has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato Mundial Welter de...
, perhaps the most prestigious championship in Mexico at the time. Muñoz held the title until some time in 1973 where he was forced to vacate the title due to a knee injury. When Muñoz returned to the ring almost a year later he adopted a new ring persona, an enmascarado
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 Libre in Mexico.-History:In 1915 a North American...
(masked wrestler) called "White Man", teaming up with Black Man
Black Man (wrestler)
Álvaro Meléndez Tibanez , better known as Black Man, was a legendary but not highly successful Mexican . He was an extremely talented flyer and innovated various moves...
to form a very popular and successful tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
. The two teamed for a while but never won a tag team title, despite several chances at the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship
CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship
The CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling Tag team championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha Libre wrestling based promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre since 2000...
. by 1978 Muñoz dropped the "White Man" character as he was forced to work a reduced schedule due to age and injuries. Muñoz' last notable wrestling appearance came in April, 1979 when he lost a Luchas de Apuesta, hair vs. mask match, to Villaño III
Villano III
Arturo Díaz Mendoza is a Mexican professional wrestler best known for performing under the stage name Villano III and unmasking a very large number of wrestlers , he is most famous for teaming with one or more of his brothers: Villano I, Villano II, Villano IV, Villano V, Villano VI and Villano VII...
. Apuesta matches often pay a quite a lot to the person agreeing to lose his hair or mask, giving Muñoz one last big payday before retiring in the early 1980s.
Championships and accomplishments
- Empressa Mexican de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha LibreConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
- Mexican National Lightweight ChampionshipMexican National Lightweight ChampionshipThe Mexican National Lightweight Championship is a Mexican professional wrestling singles championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F....
(2 times) - Mexican National Middleweight ChampionshipMexican National Middleweight ChampionshipThe Mexican National Middleweight Championship is a national Mexican professional wrestling championship controlled by a "National title" controlled by the "Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F." , which regulates all matches where the title is defended...
(2 times) - Mexican National Welterweight ChampionshipMexican National Welterweight ChampionshipThe Mexican National Welterweight Championship is a Mexican professional wrestling championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . While the commission sanctions the title, it does not promote the events at which the title is defended...
(2 times) - NWA World Welterweight ChampionshipNWA World Welterweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship governed by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence, the title has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato Mundial Welter de...
(2 timesNWA World Welterweight ChampionshipThe NWA World Welterweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship governed by the National Wrestling Alliance . For the majority of its existence, the title has been promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where it was known as the Campeonato Mundial Welter de...
)
- Mexican National Lightweight Championship
Lucha de Apuesta record
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | Alberto Muñoz | El Conde Negro | Unknown | ||
| Hair | Alberto Muñoz | Rizado Ruíz | Unknown | ||
| Hair | Alberto Muñoz | Huriki Sito | Guadalajara Guadalajara Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco... , Jalisco Jalisco Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states... |
||
| Hair | Villaño III Villano III Arturo Díaz Mendoza is a Mexican professional wrestler best known for performing under the stage name Villano III and unmasking a very large number of wrestlers , he is most famous for teaming with one or more of his brothers: Villano I, Villano II, Villano IV, Villano V, Villano VI and Villano VII... |
Alberto Muñoz | Veracruz, Veracruz Veracruz, Veracruz Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most... |