Black Warrior (wrestler)

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Black Warrior
Birth nameJesús Toral López
Born(1969-01-07)January 7, 1969[1]
Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico[1]
DiedJanuary 10, 2023(2023-01-10) (aged 54)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bali
Black Panther
Black Warrior
Bronce
Camorra
Destroyer
Dragón de Oro
La Máscara
Super Star
Vegas (I)
Billed height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Billed weight85 kg (187 lb)[1]
Trained byAsterión[1]
Halcón Suriano[1]
Blue Panther[1]
DebutJanuary 22, 1984[1]

Jesús Toral López (January 7, 1969 – January 10, 2023) was a

luchador or professional wrestler who worked almost exclusively in Mexico. López achieved his most success under the ring name Black Warrior. He was best known for his work for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) between 1995 and 2013, as well for his work in some independent promotions, highlighting his time at the Arena Mamá Lucha-S. Being a coach of this sport, he served as a teacher in the Arena Mamá Lucha-S promotion.[2]

Over the years Black Warrior had played both the rúdo (the Spanish term used for the villains in wrestling) and técnico (the Spanish term used for the good guys in wrestling). Before assuming the "Black Warrior" ring persona, López worked for almost a decade under various ring personas, generally with little success. His only previous ring persona of note was that of "Bronce" (Spanish for Bronze) where he was a part of the "Los Metalicos" team, a team that was popular in the early 1990s, teaming with Oro and Plata. López was the nephew of Luchador Blue Panther, the son-in-law of Mano Negra and the brother-in-law of Mano Negra Jr.

Life and career

Beginnings and first gimmicks (1984–1996)

López made his professional wrestling debut In January 1984 in

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) López was one of the wrestlers who left CMLL with him. Peña had hoped to sign all three Metalicos but in the end only López jumped so Peña was forced to "repackage" him with a new ring persona. From 1992 to 1995 López worked for AAA under various gimmicks such as "Super Star", "Drágon de Oro" (Golden Dragon), "Bali" and "Vegas", but did not achieve the same success as he had as "Bronce". In 1995 he returned to CMLL, in a deal brokered by his uncle who wrestled for CMLL as Blue Panther
. López became "Black Panther" and teamed up with his uncle and other "Lagunero" area wrestlers laying the foundation for a group that would later become known as "Ola Lagunero" (the Lagunero Wave).

Success as Black Warrior (1996–2009)

In May 1996 López changed ring personas once again as he became "Black Warrior", a bad guy (called a

Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.
, beginning a 133-day reign.

After losing the trios title Black Warrior had a hard time finding any direction, at one point he publicly pleaded with CMLL to turn him rudo via an interview for Box y Lucha magazine. In early 2006 Warrior began working with Místico and the two quickly earned a shot at the CMLL World Tag Team Championship, held by Averno and Mephisto. During the third fall of the match, Místico accidentally collided with Black Warrior causing their team to lose. Weeks later, during a rematch, Black Warrior turned on Místico, attacking him during the match and then walking out. The storyline with Místico was further intensified when Black Warrior defeated Místico for the NWA World Middleweight Championship on May 12, 2006.[7] After months of scripted hostility between Warrior and Místico the two faced off in a Luchas de Apuestas (bet fight), mask versus mask match at CMLL's 73rd Anniversary show. The match saw Místico defeat Black Warrior, two falls to one, to win Black Warrior's mask. For the first time in his career Warrior was forced to unmask and show his face in public.[8] Following the loss of his mask Black Warrior made several successful title defenses against Místico until finally losing the NWA World Middleweight Title back to him on April 29, 2007.[7] After the feud with Místico ended Black Warrior worked as an upper-card rudo although not with any major storylines. In late 2007 Black Warrior became involved in a storyline that saw Warrior and Rey Bucanero team up to take on Shocker and Lizmark Jr. in a tag team Luchas de Apuestas with the hair of the losing team on the line. On December 7, 2007 Warrior and Bucanero lost and had their heads shaved completely bald as a result of the stipulation, in the main event of CMLL's pay-per-view Sin Piedad (Without Mercy).[9]

Poder Mexica (2009)

After a draw between

Misterioso, Jr. to take the place of Black Warrior when they worked in Mexico City, making him an unofficial a member of Poder Mexicana.[12]
In mid-April 2009 Warrior returned to Arena Mexico to reunite Poder Mexico.

On July 10, 2009, Black Warrior teamed with

Toscano, and Sagrado, After the match Black Warrior made a challenge on behalf of Yujiro for a "hair vs. hair" match with Garza.[13] This led to all men being involved in a 15-man steel cage Luchas de Apuestas match at Infierno en el Ring that Naito won by pinning Toscano. After not teaming with the other members of Poder Mexica during mid-2009, Black Warrior left the group.[14] Black Warrior's feud with No Limit continued through the fall, leading to a Luchas de Apuesta, hair vs. hair match between Black Warrior and Yujiro on October 16, 2009, a match which Black Warrior lost and subsequently had his hair shaved off after the match.[15]

Later career (2009–2023)

On June 20, 2012, Black Warrior turned rudo and formed the Los Depredadores del Aire ("The Flying Predators") stable with Mr. Águila and Volador Jr.[16] Two days later, Los Depredadores del Aire defeated Los Reyes de la Atlantida (Atlantis, Delta, and Guerrero Maya Jr.) to win the Mexican National Trios Championship.[17] They lost the title back to Los Reyes de la Atlantida on October 30, 2012.[18]

On February 21, 2014, Black Warrior made a surprise return to AAA as the newest member of

La Parka.[20]

After leaving AAA, Black Warrior made his debut for Lucha Libre Elite on November 15, 2015.[21]

In his last years, he won the Arena Mamá Lucha-S Cruiserweight Championship, which he successfully defended against Coyote Azteca in his last match held on January 1, 2023.[22]

Personal life and death

López was the nephew of wrestlers Blue Panther (real name Genaro Vásquez Nevares) and Héctor López. He was married to the daughter of Mano Negra (real name Jesús Reza Rosales).

López died on January 10, 2023, at the age of 54, three days following his birthday.[23]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Black Warrior (mask) Impala (hair) N/A Live event N/A [1]
Black Warrior (mask) Bronco (mask) Mexico City Live event July 19, 1996 [26][27]
Black Warrior (mask) Super Elektra (mask) Los Angeles, California Live event 1997 [28]
Black Warrior (mask) Brazo de Platino (mask) San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí Live event September 30, 2000 [29]
Místico (mask) Black Warrior (mask) Mexico City CMLL 73rd Anniversary Show September 29, 2006 [8]
Lizmark Jr. and Shocker (hair) Rey Bucanero and Black Warrior (hair) Mexico City Sin Piedad December 12, 2007 [30]
Yujiro (hair) Black Warrior (hair) Mexico City Live event October 16, 2009 [15]
Rey Escorpión (hair) Black Warrior (hair) Mexico City Live event June 1, 2012
Carístico
(mask)
Black Warrior (hair) Naucalpan, State of Mexico Prisión Fatal July 23, 2017 [31][b]

Footnotes

  1. La Máscara
    .
  2. steel cage match that also included Trauma II and Mr. Electro

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Rudos – Black Warrior". Fuego en el ring (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  2. ^ "Black Warrior entrenador de Arena Mamá Lucha-S". Arena Mamá Lucha-S (in Mexican Spanish). Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  3. ^ "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Bronce (in Spanish). Mexico. July 2007. p. 42. Tomo I.
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ .
  7. ^ a b c "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2006. 192. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Black Warrior (in Spanish). Mexico. July 2007. p. 35. Tomo I.
  9. ^ Israel Velázquez (December 8, 2007). "Resultados, Arena México (7-dic-07)". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  10. ^ Jorge Ocampo Alcazar (December 25, 2008). "Poder Mexica: La nueva facción de Sangre Azteca – ¿7 facciones de rudos en el CMLL?". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved April 13, 2009.
  11. ^
    D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V. p. 24. Número 21488 Año LXII. Archived from the original
    on February 8, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  12. D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V. p. 18. Número 21522 Año LXII. Archived from the original
    on March 12, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  13. ^ Mario Licona (July 11, 2009). "Ya son sus clientes" (in Spanish). Esto, OEM Online. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  14. ^ López, Jorge (October 7, 2009). "Man impactó pero no sorprendió". El Sol de Puebla (in Spanish). Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  15. ^ a b Ascencio, Alfredo (October 17, 2009). "Warrior no pudo ante Yujiro" (in Spanish). Esto OEM Enlina. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
  16. ^ Mexicool, Rey (June 20, 2012). "Infierno en el Ring de gladiadoras este 29 de junio en la Arena México". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Ruiz Glez, Alex (June 22, 2012). "Volador Jr., Mr. Águila y Black Warrior nuevos campeones nacionales de tercias". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  18. ^ Mexicool, Rey (October 30, 2012). "Los Reyes de la Atlántida ¡Nuevos Campeones Nacionales de Tríos!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  19. Asistencia Asesoría y Administración. February 22, 2014. Archived from the original
    on February 26, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
  20. on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  21. ^ Valdés, Apolo (November 15, 2015). "Van a ver caer a sus ídolos: Cibernético". MedioTiempo (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  22. ^ a b Black Warrior (January 3, 2023). Black Warrior vs Coyote Azteca, Tercer Aniversario Arena Mamá Luchas (in Mexican Spanish). Más Lucha. 5DfhPK3FHBI. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  23. ^ "Falleció Black Warrior, histórico de la Lucha Libre en México". ESPN Deportes. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  24. ^ "2001 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 13, 2002. pp. 10–25. 2540.
  25. ^ Lizárraga, Alfonso (September 4, 2017). "Eterno gana la cabellera de Bombero Infernal". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  26. ^ Centinela, Teddy (July 19, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1996: Black Warrior destapa al Bronco… 1987: Arturito gana la máscara de Mikr". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  27. ^ "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Bronco (in Spanish). Mexico. July 2007. p. 43. Tomo I.
  28. ^ "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Super Elektra (in Spanish). Mexico. October 2007. p. 25. Tomo IV.
  29. ^ "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Brazo de Platino (in Spanish). Mexico. July 2007. p. 42. Tomo I.
  30. ^ Yoav (December 8, 2007). "Resultados Arena Mexico 7-Dic-07". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  31. ^ Lizarraga, Alfonso (July 24, 2017). "En la prisión fatal Carístico se queda con la cabellera de Black Warrior". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved July 24, 2017.