El Canek
El Canek | |
---|---|
![]() El Canek in 2018 | |
Birth name | Felipe Estrada |
Born | Frontera, Tabasco, Mexico | June 19, 1952
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Canek / El Canek / Kanek Príncipe Azul El Universitario |
Billed height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
Billed weight | 110 kg (243 lb) |
Trained by | El Chacal Felipe Ham Lee Indio Azteca Maciste El Remington I |
Debut | 1972 |
Felipe Estrada (born June 19, 1952), known as El Canek or simply Canek, is a Mexican
In Lucha Libre it is tradition to keep the real name of any masked wrestler secret from the general audience; the newspapers and magazines in Mexico do not speculate on them, nor do they publish clear photos of their faces.
Personal life
Felipe Estrada was born in Frontera, Tabasco, Mexico on June 19, 1952. He is the older brother of wrestlers Príncipe Maya and El Danés and the uncle of wrestler Rey Maya, the son of Príncipe Maya.[2] Estrada himself has at least two sons, one wrestles as El Hijo del Canek ("The Son of El Canek") and another that has been introduced as Canek Jr., but who has not wrestled.[3] Hijo del Canek is sometimes billed as Canek Jr., confusing him with his much younger brother.[2]
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1972–1973)
Estrada began training for his professional wrestling career in the nearby town of
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (1973–1975)
Shortly after his debut El Canek moved to Mexico City, working for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) while also training at "Gym Ham Lee" under head trainer Felipe Ham Lee as well as Sugi Sito and Fantasma de la Quebrada.[Note 1] During his time with EMLL he would often tour the Northern territories for promoter René Guajardo. At that point he won the Northern Mexico Heavyweight Championship defeating Jose Torres, a man he would later also defeat in a Luchas de Apuestas match.[6] Working mainly in the north El Canek won several headline matches, including unmasking El Destroyer and Lemus as well as winning the hair of Dory Dixon, Sunny War Cloud and Ruben Juarez but never worked regularly in EMLL's main territory in and around Mexico City.[4]
Universal Wrestling Association (1975–1995)

In 1974 EMLL founder and owner
On September 27, 1978, El Canek defeated the legendary
Over the summer of 1982 the UWA made Dos Caras the next UWA World Heavyweight Champion, using the opportunity to revive the feud between Dos Caras and El Canek.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1991–1994, 2004–2006)

By 1991 the UWA began working together with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL, formerly EMLL), putting aside the issues that led to the split in the 1970s. As a result, El Canek began working regularly for CMLL as well beginning in 1991. In 1993 CMLL held a tournament to crown the first ever CMLL World Tag Team Champions and held a CMLL/UWA tournament the stretched out over several weeks. El Canek was teamed up with Dr. Wagner Jr. for the tournament and the team defeated Los Brazos (Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata) in the first round,[14] Atlantis and El Dandy in the second round and finally Apolo Dantés and Rayo de Jalisco Jr. to earn a spot in the finale against Vampiro Canadiense and Pierroth Jr. The finale took place over three shows, with a best-two-out-of-three match stipulation. Canek and Wagner Jr. won the first match on March 19, while Vampiro and Pierroth Jr. won the second match on March 21. The final match took place on March 26, 1993, and saw El Canek and Dr. Wagner Jr. win the fall and thus become the first ever CMLL World Tag Team Champions.[15] The duo had successful title defenses against the teams of El Dandy and Pierroth Jr. as well as El Texano and Silver King.[16] In November, 1994 El Canek stops working for CMLL, forcing CMLL to vacate the championship that he still held with Dr. Wagner Jr. at that point in time.[15]
El Canek returned to CMLL almost a decade later, on March 26, 2005, teaming with
AAA (1996–2003, 2013)

After leaving CMLL in later 1996 he showed up in CMLL's rival AAA only weeks after his last CMLL match. El Canek worked one major match for the
Subsequently, Cibernético turned on El Canek, trying to take the UWA World Heavyweight Championship from him.
Canek returned to AAA for a short stint in 2013, trying to repeat as
International Wrestling Revolution Group (2003–2006, 2009–2012)
After ending his first stint with AAA El Canek turned up in
On April 18, 2010, El Canek, Máscara Año 2000 Jr., Scorpio Jr. and Pirata Morgan were forced to fight each other in a match where the first two men pinned would have to face off for either their mask, hair or in Canek's case the IWRG Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. Scorpio and Morgan both pinned their opponents, forcing Canek and Máscara Año 2000 Jr. to fight. In the end the young Máscara Año 2000 Jr. defeated El Canek ending the 1444 long reign of El Canek.[39] On December 20, 2012, El Canek and El Hijo del Canek competed in a five-team tag team steel cage match that was the main event of the Arena Naucalpan 36th Anniversary Show. The Caneks, Dr. Wagner Jr. and Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr, Los Capos Junior (Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 and Máscara Año 2000 Jr.) and La Familia de Tijuana defeated Los Piratas (Pirata Morgan and El Hijo de Pirata Morgan).
International Wrestling League (2011–present)
El Canek became the first
Today he still wrestles at 72 years old as of 2024.
Mixed martial arts career
Estrada is one of many wrestlers who has also competed in mixed martial arts (MMA). He fought in one MMA match for the Japanese DEEP 2001 promotion. For the match he was billed as "Felipe "El Canek" Estrada", publicly revealing his real name for the first time. He fought the match with his "El Canek" mask on and defeated Osamu Kawahara in his sole MMA match.[41]
Mixed martial arts record
1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 0 |
By submission | 0 | 0 |
By decision | 0 | 0 |
No contests | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 1-0 | Osamu Kawahara | TKO (punches) | Deep - 3rd Impact | December 23, 2001 | 1 | 4:55 | Tokyo, Japan | MMA debut |
Championships and accomplishments
- Alianza Universal De Lucha Libre
- Copa Universo (2014)[42]
- AAA
- Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre/Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
- Independent Wrestling League/International Wrestling League
- IWL Independent Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[40]
- International Wrestling Revolution Group
- Leyendas Inmortales de la Lucha Libre
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Universal Wrestling Association
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Luchas de Apuestas record
Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Príncipe Azul (mask) | Ultratumba (mask) | Villahermosa, Tabasco | Live event | 1972 | [5][6] |
Príncipe Azul (mask) | Ultratumba (hair) | Villahermosa, Tabasco | Live event | 1972 | [5][6] |
Príncipe Azul (mask) | El Noruego (hair) | Villahermosa, Tabasco | Live event | 1972 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | El Destroyer (mask) | Monterrey, Nuevo León | Live event | 1973-1974 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Dory Dixon (hair) | Unknown | Live event | 1973-1974 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Humberto Garza (hair) | Unknown | Live event | Unknown | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | César Valentino (hair) | Unknown | Live event | Unknown | [6] |
El Canek (mask) | La Momia (mask) | San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí |
Unknown | Unknown | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | La Momia (hair) | Unknown | Live event | Unknown | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Pantera Negra (hair) | Unknown | Live event | Unknown | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Coloso Colosetti (hair) | Unknown | Live event | Unknown | [5] |
El Canek (mask) | Coloso Colosetti (hair) | Unknown | Live event | Unknown | [5] |
El Canek (mask) | Lemús (mask) | Monterrey, Nuevo León | Live event | 1974 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Sunny War Cloud (hair) | Monterrey, Nuevo León | Live event | 1975 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Rubén Juárez (hair) | Monterrey, Nuevo León | Live event | 1975 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | José Torres (hair) | Monterrey, Nuevo León | Live event | 1975 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Ángel Blanco (hair) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | UWA Live event | May 4, 1980 | [5][50] |
El Canek (mask) | El Asesino (mask) | Mexico City, Mexico | Live event | July 5, 1981 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Don Corleone (mask) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | 1982 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Abdullah Tamba (hair) | Unknown | Live event | 1983 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Ring Fujinami (hair) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | 1983 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Blue Blazer (mask) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | UWA Live event | May 29, 1991 | [5][6][51] |
El Canek (mask) | Torre Infernal (mask) |
Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | November 15, 1992 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Yamato (hair) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | August 15, 1993 | [5][6] |
El Canek (mask) | Scorpio, Jr. (hair) |
Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | October 3, 1996 | [5][6][Note 2] |
El Canek (mask) | Universo 2000 (mask) | Mexico City, Mexico | CMLL 71st Anniversary Show | September 17, 2004 | [Note 3][21] |
El Canek (Championship) | Máscara Año 2000 Jr. (mask) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | IWRG Live event | May 5, 2010 | [Note 4][39] |
Notes
- ^ This was the original Fantasma de la Quebrada, not a later wrestler also known as Fantasma de la Quebrada who made his wrestling debut in 1986.
- ^ Lost a Relevos Suicidas match to Ultimo Vampiro and El Mexicano and thus had to wrestle for their mask and hair.
- ^ This was a 4-way match that also included Dr. Wagner Jr. and Rayo de Jalisco Jr.
- ^ The two lost a Relevos Suicida match to Scorpio Jr. and Pirata Morgan and were forced to wrestle each other.
References
- ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
- ^ ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Lucha Libre: Conoce la historia de las leyendas de cuadrilátero". Canek (1952) (in Spanish). Mexico. 2008. p. 15. Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Enciclopedia staff (October 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". El Canek (in Spanish). Mexico. p. 21. Tomo I.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Canek, un Gran Luchador Mexicano" (in Spanish). El Siglo del Torreon Newspaper. March 31, 2004. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
- ^ "UWA Debut Show". ProWrestlingHistory. January 29, 1975. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (February 17, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1980: Mil Máscaras y Canek exponen sus respectivas versiones del Campeonato Mundial de Peso Completo". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "9th Anniversary Show". ProWrestlingHistory. February 12, 1984. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (January 31, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1993: El público de El Toreo se entera de la muerte de André el Gigante y Canek pierde el Campeonato UWA ante el Vampiro (con reacción análoga a Roman Reigns)". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (February 26, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1993: Heavy Metal se corona como campeón venciendo a Rey Mysterio… Comienza el torneo por el título de parejas CMLL". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "1993 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 7, 1994. pp. 2–28. issue 2214.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (March 26, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 2004: Canek regresa a la Arena México… Hijo del Perro Aguayo en Tijuana". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (April 1, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 2005: Canek Jr. llega a la Arena México… Vampiro Canadiense regresa a AAA". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2004". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 24, 2005. Issue 91.
- ^ a b c d Súper Luchasstaff (January 24, 2005). "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2004". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). 91.
- ^ a b Ocampo, Jorge (September 26, 2004). "Anniversario 71 de CMLL". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). issue 72.
- ^ "Leyenda de Azul 2000". ProWrestlingHistory.com. October 8, 2004. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "El Canek matches in CMLL". Cagematch. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Royal Rumble 1997". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "Asistencia Asesoría y Administración TripleManía". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ "Asistencia Asesoría y Administración TripleManía". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ^ a b "1997 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 7, 1998. pp. 2–28. issue 2332.
- ^ "Verano de Escándalo". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). September 30, 1997. pp. 3–6. issue 2316.
- ^ "1999 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 10, 2000. pp. 2–28. issue 2436.
- ^ a b c "2002: considerar detrás". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 19, 2003. issue 2593.
- ^ a b "Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion Rey de Reyes Tournament". ProWrestlingHistory.com. March 17, 2002. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh (March 22, 2013). "Viva la Raza! Lucha Weekly 3/22/13". Wrestleview. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
- Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (in Spanish). May 30, 2013. Archived from the originalon June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2003". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 5, 2003. Issue 40.
- ^ a b c "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2006. Issue 192. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "2007 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). December 26, 2007. issue 244. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
- ^ "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana 2008". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 6, 2009. 296. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
- ^ a b "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana 2009". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 8, 2010. 348.
- ^ a b Mejia Eguiluz, Diego (April 19, 2010). "Arena Naucalpan 18 de Abril 2010" (in Spanish). The Gladiatores Magazine. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
- ^ a b "Canek, se proclama primer Campeón Mundial de Peso Completo de Independent Wrestling League". Estrellas del Ring (in Spanish). Blogger. 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ^ "Felipe "El Canek" Estrada". Sherdog. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "AULL 47. Aniversario de Arena Lopez Mateos". Cagematch. May 31, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ "LILL". Cagematch.net. September 16, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "LILL". Cagematch.net. September 30, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 of the PWI Years: 79 El Canek". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. May 21, 2003. p. 21. June 2003.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 1995: 186 El Canek". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. September 21, 1995. p. 38. October 1995.
- ^ "Los Reyes de Mexico: La Historia de Los Campeonatos Nacionales". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). December 20, 2004. Especial 21.
- ^ Hoops, Brian (January 15, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/15): Big John Studd wins 1989 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ "Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine. Archived from the original on November 12, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (May 4, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 2000: Fallece Sugi Sito… 1980: Canek vs. Ángel Blanco, máscara contra cabellera". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (May 19, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1991: Canek desenmascara a Blue Blazer, dando a conocer el rostro de Owen Hart". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
External links
- El Canek's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- El Canek at IMDb