Espectrito
Encyclopedia
Mario Mejia Jiminez is a Mexican
Mini-Estrella
luchador
, or Mini professional wrestler
, best known under the ring name
Espectrito. Jiminez worked for the World Wrestling Federation
as "Mini Vader" and "El Torito" between 1997 and 1999. Jiminez was the first ever Mexican National Mini-Estrella Champion
and IWC World Mini-Estrella Champion. Jiminez was originally an enmascarado
, or masked wrestler, under the Espectrito name but lost it to Mascarita Sagrada
in a Luchas de Apuestas match, a bet match where each wrestler puts his mask on the line. The Espectrito ring character is a Mini-version of wrestler Espectro, who was a well known Luchador from the 1960s-1980s.
, or "Mini", division; working in the Mini division does not necessarily mean that Jiminez has dwarfism
, as short wrestlers can also work in the "Mini" division. In 1989 Jimenez became part of Empressa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
's (EMLL) newly created Mini-Estrella division. He was given the ring persona of "Espectrito" (Spanish for "Little Ghost"), a mini version of a wrestler named Espectro (Ghost) who had been very successful in the 1960s and 1970s. As Espectrito he began working a storyline
feud against Mascarita Sagrada
, a feud that still exists between the two to this day. In 1992 CMLL created the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship
and held a one day tournament to find the first champion. Espectrito defeated Octagóncito in the first round but lost to rival Mascarita Sagrada in the finals.
A few months after the creation of the Mini-Estrella title Antonio Peña
, the creative force behind the Mini-Estrella division and a CMLL Booker decided to leave CMLL to create his own promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
(AAA). Both Espectrito and Mascarita Sagrada decided to leave CMLL for AAA, staying loyal to the man that was responsible for creating the Minis division. The storyline between Espectrito and Mascarita Sagrada continued in AAA; AAA created their own Minis title, the Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
and this time it was Espectrito who defeated Mascarita Sagrada to become the first champion. Espectrito would only hold the Minis title for three months before Sagrada defeated him for the belt. On August 6, 1994 Espectrito lost his mask as a result of losing a Luchas de Apuestas match, a "bet match" where the loser would unmask afterwards. On May 5, 1995 Espectrito defeated Mascarita Sagrada to win the IWC World Mini-Estrella Championship, holding it for two months before it was merged with the Mexican National Minis title in July, 1995 when Espectrito lost to Super Muñequito. Espectrito became a two time Mexian National Minis champion only days later when he defeated Super Muñequito for the title on July 26, 1996. Espectro's second title reign lasted less than two months, ending when Mascarita Sagarda, Jr.
defeated him for the belt.
In 1997 AAA began a working agreement with the North American based World Wrestling Federation
, which meant that several AAA workers appeared on WWF television programming. Jiminez was given the ring personal "Mini Vader", a miniature version of WWF wrestler Vader
as he bore a striking resemblance both physically and facially. Mini Vader made a couple of appearances in early 1997, at times teaming with "Mini Mankind", Jiminez' real life brother. In Mid-1997 all the "Minis" that worked for the WWF were repackaged and Jiminez became "El Torito" (Little bull), a "human bull" character. As Torito he would work a series of matches against Mascarita Sagrada, repackaged as "Mini Nova" (after Super Nova
) and Mascarita Sagrada, Jr. who had been repackaged as "Max Mini". Jiminez even made a Pay-Per-View
appearance for the WWF, teaming with Battalion and Tarantula (his brother under a new name) in a losing effort against Mini Nova, Max Mini and Mosaic at the 1998 Royal Rumble
. After AAA and WWF stopped working together in 1999 Jiminez still made appearances as El Torito until 2001 where he lost the mask in a Luchas de Apuestas against Pierrothito
.
In recent years Jiminez has made appearances for Lucha VaVoom, worked for over a year in CMLL and made appearances for International Wrestling Revolution Group
and now primarily works on the Mexican independent circuit
.
, who wrestled as the original La Parkita . The Jiminez twins were both murdered on June 30, 2009, in a crime that made the news world wide.
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...
Mini-Estrella
Mini-Estrella
The term Mini-Estrella is used in lucha libre to describe a division of short professional wrestlers or luchadors, some of whom have dwarfism. The Mexican Mini-Estrellas is comparable to Midget professional wrestling practiced around the world, but with the notable exception that some of the...
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 Mini 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...
, best known under the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Espectrito. Jiminez worked for the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as "Mini Vader" and "El Torito" between 1997 and 1999. Jiminez was the first ever Mexican National Mini-Estrella Champion
Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
The Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship endorsed by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . The championship is exclusively for Mini-Estrellas or Minis, in Mexico...
and IWC World Mini-Estrella Champion. Jiminez was originally 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...
, or masked wrestler, under the Espectrito name but lost it to Mascarita Sagrada
Mascarita Sagrada
Mascarita Sagrada is a Mexican Mini Luchador enmascarado and one of the most well known Mexican Minis of the modern era. He is the original Mascarita Sagrada although there have been several wrestlers who have used the same gimmick through the years...
in a Luchas de Apuestas match, a bet match where each wrestler puts his mask on the line. The Espectrito ring character is a Mini-version of wrestler Espectro, who was a well known Luchador from the 1960s-1980s.
Professional wrestling career
Mario Jiminez made his professional wrestling debut in 1984 under the ring name Centellita, working as a Mini-EstrellaMini-Estrella
The term Mini-Estrella is used in lucha libre to describe a division of short professional wrestlers or luchadors, some of whom have dwarfism. The Mexican Mini-Estrellas is comparable to Midget professional wrestling practiced around the world, but with the notable exception that some of the...
, or "Mini", division; working in the Mini division does not necessarily mean that Jiminez has dwarfism
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
, as short wrestlers can also work in the "Mini" division. In 1989 Jimenez became part of Empressa Mexicana 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...
's (EMLL) newly created Mini-Estrella division. He was given the ring persona of "Espectrito" (Spanish for "Little Ghost"), a mini version of a wrestler named Espectro (Ghost) who had been very successful in the 1960s and 1970s. As Espectrito he began working a storyline
Narrative thread
A narrative thread, or plot thread , refers to particular elements and techniques of writing to center the story in the action or experience of characters rather than to relate a matter in a dry 'All knowing' sort of narration...
feud against Mascarita Sagrada
Mascarita Sagrada
Mascarita Sagrada is a Mexican Mini Luchador enmascarado and one of the most well known Mexican Minis of the modern era. He is the original Mascarita Sagrada although there have been several wrestlers who have used the same gimmick through the years...
, a feud that still exists between the two to this day. In 1992 CMLL created the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship
CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship
The CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha libre wrestling-based promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The championship is exclusively competed for in the Mini-Estrellas, or Minis, division...
and held a one day tournament to find the first champion. Espectrito defeated Octagóncito in the first round but lost to rival Mascarita Sagrada in the finals.
A few months after the creation of the Mini-Estrella title Antonio Peña
Antonio Peña
Antonio Hipolito Peña Herrada was the founder of the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración in 1992, which today is the largest wrestling promotion in Mexico. Peña's promotion reached its height of popularity in the early 1990s before the downturn of the...
, the creative force behind the Mini-Estrella division and a CMLL Booker decided to leave CMLL to create his own promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico...
(AAA). Both Espectrito and Mascarita Sagrada decided to leave CMLL for AAA, staying loyal to the man that was responsible for creating the Minis division. The storyline between Espectrito and Mascarita Sagrada continued in AAA; AAA created their own Minis title, the Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship
The Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship endorsed by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . The championship is exclusively for Mini-Estrellas or Minis, in Mexico...
and this time it was Espectrito who defeated Mascarita Sagrada to become the first champion. Espectrito would only hold the Minis title for three months before Sagrada defeated him for the belt. On August 6, 1994 Espectrito lost his mask as a result of losing a Luchas de Apuestas match, a "bet match" where the loser would unmask afterwards. On May 5, 1995 Espectrito defeated Mascarita Sagrada to win the IWC World Mini-Estrella Championship, holding it for two months before it was merged with the Mexican National Minis title in July, 1995 when Espectrito lost to Super Muñequito. Espectrito became a two time Mexian National Minis champion only days later when he defeated Super Muñequito for the title on July 26, 1996. Espectro's second title reign lasted less than two months, ending when Mascarita Sagarda, Jr.
Tzuki
Tzuki is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works as a Mini-Estrella or "Mini" division in Mexico. Throughout his career Tzuki has worked under various ring names, most notably Máscarita Sagrada, Jr., Mini Rey Misterio Jr. and Max Mini...
defeated him for the belt.
In 1997 AAA began a working agreement with the North American based World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, which meant that several AAA workers appeared on WWF television programming. Jiminez was given the ring personal "Mini Vader", a miniature version of WWF wrestler Vader
Leon White
Leon Allen White better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or Vader, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. White is perhaps best known for his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation and All Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1990s...
as he bore a striking resemblance both physically and facially. Mini Vader made a couple of appearances in early 1997, at times teaming with "Mini Mankind", Jiminez' real life brother. In Mid-1997 all the "Minis" that worked for the WWF were repackaged and Jiminez became "El Torito" (Little bull), a "human bull" character. As Torito he would work a series of matches against Mascarita Sagrada, repackaged as "Mini Nova" (after Super Nova
Mike Segura
Miguel Angel Nava is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler best known under the ring name, Mike Segura. North American fans knows Nava under the name Super Nova from his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation...
) and Mascarita Sagrada, Jr. who had been repackaged as "Max Mini". Jiminez even made a Pay-Per-View
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
appearance for the WWF, teaming with Battalion and Tarantula (his brother under a new name) in a losing effort against Mini Nova, Max Mini and Mosaic at the 1998 Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (1998)
Royal Rumble was the eleventh annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 18, 1998 at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California....
. After AAA and WWF stopped working together in 1999 Jiminez still made appearances as El Torito until 2001 where he lost the mask in a Luchas de Apuestas against Pierrothito
Pierrothito
Pierrothito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pierrothito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is a former CMLL World Mini-Estrella Champion. He is also the first Mini to hold the Mexican National Lightweight...
.
In recent years Jiminez has made appearances for Lucha VaVoom, worked for over a year in CMLL and made appearances for International Wrestling Revolution Group
International Wrestling Revolution Group
International Wrestling Revolution Group is a Lucha Libre promotion based in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. Founded in 1996 by Adolfo Moreno and since Moreno's death in late 2007 has been controlled by his sons Alfredo and Marco Moreno...
and now primarily works on the Mexican independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
.
Personal life
Mario Mejia Jiminez is the brother of twins Alejandro Jiminez, who wrestled as Espectrito II, and Alberto JiminezLa Parkita
Alberto Perez Jiménez was a Mexican Luchador enmascarado who worked in the Mini-Estrella division from 1990 until his death in 2009. Jiménez was best known under the ring name La Parkita, having used the name in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración , the Mexican Independent circuit and Chikara in...
, who wrestled as the original La Parkita . The Jiminez twins were both murdered on June 30, 2009, in a crime that made the news world wide.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Senton
- Kick to the face
Championships and accomplishments
- Asistencia Asesoría y AdministraciónAsistencia Asesoría y AdministraciónAsistencia Asesoría y Administración is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico...
(AAA) - Mexican National Mini-Estrella ChampionshipMexican National Mini-Estrella ChampionshipThe Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship is a professional wrestling championship endorsed by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. . The championship is exclusively for Mini-Estrellas or Minis, in Mexico...
(2 times) - IWC Mini-Estrella Championship (2 times)"International Wrestling Council" was the name used to Promote AAA in the United States between 1994 and 1995
Lucha de Apuesta record
| Wager | Winner | Loser | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask | Mascarita Sagrada Mascarita Sagrada Mascarita Sagrada is a Mexican Mini Luchador enmascarado and one of the most well known Mexican Minis of the modern era. He is the original Mascarita Sagrada although there have been several wrestlers who have used the same gimmick through the years... |
Espectrito | Los Angeles, CA, USA | ||
| Hair | Octagóncito | Espectrito | 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... |
||
| Hair | Torerito | Espectrito I | 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 | Tzuki Tzuki Tzuki is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works as a Mini-Estrella or "Mini" division in Mexico. Throughout his career Tzuki has worked under various ring names, most notably Máscarita Sagrada, Jr., Mini Rey Misterio Jr. and Max Mini... |
Espectrito I | Tijuana Tijuana Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics... , Baja California Baja California Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North... |
||
| Mask | Pierrothito Pierrothito Pierrothito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Pierrothito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is a former CMLL World Mini-Estrella Champion. He is also the first Mini to hold the Mexican National Lightweight... |
El Torito | Puebla Puebla, Puebla The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded... , Puebla Puebla Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla.... |
'Relevos Suicidas: Lost to Tzuki Tzuki Tzuki is a Mexican Luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who works as a Mini-Estrella or "Mini" division in Mexico. Throughout his career Tzuki has worked under various ring names, most notably Máscarita Sagrada, Jr., Mini Rey Misterio Jr. and Max Mini... and Ultimo Dragoncito Ultimo Dragoncito Ultimo Dragoncito is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Ultimo Dragoncito is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's Mini-Estrella, or "Mini", division and is the only wrestler to hold the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship two times... |
|
| Hair | Asturiano | Espectrito I | Puebla Puebla, Puebla The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded... , Puebla Puebla Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla.... |