Rayo de Jalisco Jr.

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = Rayo de Jalisco Jr.

|image =CMLL November 30 Atlantis Blue Panther and Rayo de Jalisco Jr.jpg

|alt =

|caption = Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (right), Atlantis (middle) and Blue Panther (left) in 2018

|birthname = Unrevealed

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|1|1}}{{cite news|title=Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre|work=Rayo de Jalisco Jr.|location=Portales, Mexico|id=17|page=48|date=November 2008|language=es}}

|birth_place = Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

|death_date =

|death_place =

|parents = Rayo de Jalisco (father)

|children = Rayman (son)

|relatives = Tony Sugar (uncle)
Black Sugar (uncle)

|names = Rayman
Rayo de Jalisco Jr.
Rayo de Jalisco

|height = 186 cm{{cite news|title=Statistics for Professional wrestlers|work=PWI Presents: 2008 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts|publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2008 Edition|pages=37–53}}

|weight = 115 kg

|billed = Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

|trainer = {{Unbulleted list|Rayo de Jalisco|Diablo Velazco{{cite book|author=Madigan, Dan|title=Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling|publisher=HarperCollins Publisher|year=2007|chapter=Dorada de lucha libre: Las Leyendas, las peleas, los fósforos del resentimiento (the golden age of lucha libre: the legends, the feuds, the grudge matches): Diablo Velasco|pages=203–205|isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}}}}

|debut = November 11, 1975
Tlaquepaque, Jalisco

|retired =

}}

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (Spanish: "Lightning Bolt from Jalisco Jr."; born January 1, 1960) is an active Mexican luchador enmascarado (or masked professional wrestler). He is currently performing as a freelancer on the Mexican independent circuit, and is best known for his longtime association with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). A second-generation wrestler, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. is the son of Rayo de Jalisco, a famous wrestler from the early days of lucha libre; he also has a son who wrestles under the name Rayman.

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. is a two-time CMLL World Heavyweight Champion and WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a title he has held from March 21, 2003 to 2011. His real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico, where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.{{cite book|author=Madigan, Dan|title=Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|year=2007|chapter=Okay... what is Lucha Libre?|pages=29–40|isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}}

Early life

Rayo de Jalisco Jr. was born on January 1, 1960, in Guadalajara, the son of legendary wrestler Rayo de Jalisco and the nephew of wrestlers Tony Sugar and Black Sugar. He was not initially trained by his father as his father did not want his son to follow into his profession; instead he trained under Diablo Velazco.

Professional wrestling career

The future Rayo de Jalisco Jr. turned professional at the age of 15 and initially wrestled under the name "Rayman" to keep his father from finding out he was wrestling. After working as a wrestler for a year he finally revealed to his father that he was wrestling and that he was serious. After seeing his son wrestle, Rayo de Jalisco Sr. decided to allow his son to work as "Rayo de Jalisco Jr." and wear the lightning bolt mask that was synonymous with the Rayo de Jalisco character.{{cite book|author=Madigan, Dan|title=Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|year=2007|chapter=A Family affair|pages=128–132|isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}} Rayo de Jalisco Jr. worked most of the 1970s alongside his father, receiving further training along the way. By the early 1980s he was working for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mexico's largest professional wrestling promotion. In 1982, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. began a wrestling storyline, called a feud, with MS-1 that ended when Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated MS-1 in a Luchas de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match to unmask the hated rudo ("bad guy").{{cite news|title=Enciclopedia de las Mascaras|work=MS-1|location=Mexico City, Mexico|id=Tomo III|page=42|date=October 2007|language=es}} Throughout the early 1980s, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. teamed up with equally popular Cien Caras to form a very successful team, working main events all over Mexico. On January 8, 1984, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. captured his first singles championship as he defeated Pirata Morgan to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship. His first championship success also led to his greatest rivalry as Cien Caras turned on Rayo de Jalisco Jr. in his quest to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Title. Cien Caras defeated his former teammate for the title on March 30, 1984. On June 21, 1985, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated MS-1 to capture the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship in the main event of an Arena Mexico show. In November 1985, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. teamed with Ringo Mendoza and the Kiss to win the Mexican National Trios Championship from Los Brazos (El Brazo, Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata). The trio held the title for 275 days before losing it to Pirata Morgan, Jerry Estrada and Hombre Bala. On March 20, 1987, Rayo de Jalisco's 637-day reign as NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion ended as he lost to MS-1. By 1990, the storyline between Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Cien Caras became so heated that they were the main event of EMLL's 57th Anniversary show in a Luchas de Apuestas, mask vs. mask match. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Cien Caras two falls to one and forced Cien Caras to unmask.{{cite web|url=http://Superluchas.com/recordando-los-aniversarios-del-cmll-el-rayo-de-jalisco-gana-la-mascara-de-cien-caras/ |title=Recordando los aniversarios del CMLL: El Rayo de Jalisco gana la Máscara de Cien Caras|author=Ruiz Glez, Alex|date=September 17, 2009|access-date=September 18, 2009|work=Súper Luchas|language=es}}{{cite news|title=Enciclopedia de las Mascaras|work=Cien Caras|location=Mexico City, Mexico|id=Tomo I|page=54|date=July 2007|language=es}}

Over the next couple of years, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. won the Mexican National Heavyweight Title on a further two occasions, defeating Gran Markus Jr. and El Egipico to win the title. His third and final reign ended on February 21, 1994, when he lost to Pierroth Jr. On November 3, 1995, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Atlantis teamed up to win the CMLL World Tag Team Championship from The Headhunters. The duo successfully defended it against Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000, and against Apolo Dantés and El Canek. On August 6, 1996, Gran Markus Jr. and El Hijo del Gladiador won the title from Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Atlantis. On April 14, 1996, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. won the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship from Apolo Dantés, the highest singles championship in the company. He made three successful defenses against the former champion Apolo Dantés, as well as thwarting the challenges of Gran Markus Jr. and Máscara Año 2000.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1236925821.php|title=Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly|author=Josh Boutwell|date=March 13, 2009|access-date=July 19, 2009|publisher=WrestleView}} On April 18, 1997, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. lost the title to Steel after a slow building storyline between the two. In 1997, Steel left CMLL to work for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as "Val Venis", ending the storyline with Rayo de Jalisco Jr. without a satisfactory conclusion. CMLL convinced the WWF to let Steel return to CMLL for a brief visit, just long enough to lose a Luchas de Apuestas to Rayo de Jalisco Jr. giving him another mask win.{{cite news|title=Enciclopedia de las Mascaras|work=Steel|location=Mexico City, Mexico|id=Tomo IV|pages=56|date=October 2007|language=es}} A few months after unmasking Steel, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. became a two-time CMLL World Heavyweight Champion when he defeated Universo 2000 for the belt. He successfully defended the championship against Cien Caras and Mascara Año 2000, before losing it back to Universo 2000. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. was injured in the match against Universo 2000, as a mistimed tombstone piledriver injured his neck, forcing him out of the ring for over six months and almost causing him to retire.

In 2001, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. dropped the "Junior" part of his name as his son, who had wrestled for two years, took the "Rayo de Jalisco" name, sometimes billed as el Hijo de Rayo de Jalisco Jr. ("the son of Rayo de Jalisco Jr.") and other times simply Rayo de Jalisco Jr.. The confusing name changes only lasted for a couple of months, before his son changed his name to Hombre sin Nombre ("the man without name"), as part of a storyline where the son was trying to get out from the father's shadow. His son would later begin working as "Rayman", the same name that Rayo de Jalisco Jr. originally used. Since 2003, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. has not worked for CMLL on a regular basis, instead he works for a number of promotions of the Mexican independent circuit. On March 21, 2003, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship, defeating Rey Misterio Sr. in the finals of a tournament to crown a new champion. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. still holds that title to this day, {{age in years and days|March 21, 2003}} later. In 2004, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. made a brief return to CMLL teaming up with Black Warrior and El Canek to win the CMLL World Trios Championship from Dr. Wagner Jr., Universo 2000, and Black Tiger (III). The team quickly lost the title to Héctor Garza, Tarzan Boy, and El Terrible. In 2005, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. suffered another serious injury when he injured both his knees in a match against Máscara Año 2000; his legs got caught on the ropes as he jumped out of the ring and he tore ligaments in both knees. The injury kept him out of the ring for almost half a year but he made a full recovery and returned to the ring. Rayo de Jalisco Jr. made his return to CMLL in May 2010, siding with the CMLL loyalists in their feud with Los Invasores, especially Invasore members Universo 2000 and Máscara Año 2000, reigniting the long-running storyline between them.{{cite web|url=http://superluchas.com/2010/05/16/resultados-arena-mexico-16-mayo-2010-%c2%a1mr-aguila-es-parte-de-los-invasores-%c2%a1rayo-de-jalisco-jr-regreso-al-cmll/|title=Resultados Arena México (16 mayo 2010): ¡Mr. Águila es parte de los invasores! ¡Rayo de Jalisco Jr. regresó al CMLL!|author= Rostro Oculto|date=May 16, 2010|access-date=May 17, 2010|work=Súper Luchas|language=es}} Rayo de Jalisco Jr. only worked a few matches for CMLL in mid-2010 but returned to the promotion in early 2013. He was on hand for a press conference, announcing that CMLL's annual Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show would pay tribute to his father, Rayo de Jalisco Sr. During the press conference, he was confronted by longtime rival Universo 2000, who challenged him to a match for the Dos Leyendas show.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmll.com/noticias.htm|title=Candente Conferenic en la Arena México|work=Noticias|publisher=Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|date=February 21, 2013|access-date=February 22, 2013|language=es|archive-date=November 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122144736/http://cmll.com/noticias.htm|url-status=dead}} At the show, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Shocker and Rush defeated Universo 2000, Mr. Niebla and El Terrible by disqualification.{{cite web|url=http://cmll.com/02_resultados/super_viernes/super_viernes_cmll.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420065053/http://cmll.com/02_resultados/super_viernes/super_viernes_cmll.htm|title=Resultados Arena México|archive-date=April 20, 2013|url-status=dead|date=March 15, 2013|access-date=March 17, 2013|publisher=Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre|language=es}} Two days later, on March 17, 2013, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. competed in a four-way, steel cage match billed by IWRG as Prison Fatal ("Deadly Prison") against Cien Caras Jr., Máscara Año 2000 Jr. and Pirata Morgan. During the match, Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 interfered, which caused Pirata Morgan Jr. to enter the match as well to escalate the rivalry between Los Piratas and Los Capos Junior. The match ended with Pirata Morgan being the last man in the cage and thus had his hair shaved off.{{cite web|url=http://superluchas.com/2013/03/18/prision-fatal-pirata-pelon/|title=Prison Fatal" Pirata... Peleon!|date=March 18, 2013|access-date=March 18, 2013|work=Súper Luchas|language=es}}

Championships and accomplishments

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
CMLL World Heavyweight Championship (2 times){{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present.|publisher=Archeus Communications | location=London, ON|chapter=Mexico: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth] |page=395|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
CMLL World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Atlantis{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. | location=London, ON|publisher=Archeus Communications|chapter=Mexico: EMLL CMLL Tag Team Title [Lutteroth] |page=396|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
CMLL World Trios Championship (1 time) – with El Canek and Black Warrior{{cite news|title=Número Especial – Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2004|work=Súper Luchas|id=91|date=January 24, 2005|language=es}}
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship (3 times){{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. | location=London, ON|chapter=Mexico: National Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth] |pages=390–391|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
Mexican National Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tony Benetto{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan and Gary Will|chapter=Mexico: National Tag Team Titles|pages=396–397|title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. | location=London, ON|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
Mexican National Trios Championship (1 time) – with Ringo Mendoza and El Kiss{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. | location=London, ON|publisher=Archeus Communications|chapter=Mexico: National Trios Title|page=393|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. | location=London, ON|chapter=Mexico EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title [Lutteroth] |page=389|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
Copa de Arena Mexico: 2002 – Black Warrior and Lizmark Jr.{{cite news|title=2002: considerar detrás|work=Box y Lucha Magazine|id=2593|date=January 19, 2003|language=es}}
International Gran Prix (1994, 1998){{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/mexico/emll/g-prix.html#1994|title=Gran Prix Tournament 1994|date=April 15, 1994|access-date=August 30, 2009|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/mexico/emll/g-prix.html#1998|title=Gran Prix Tournament 1998|date=August 14, 1998|access-date=August 30, 2009|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}
Federación Internacional de Lucha Libre
FILL Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Nueva Generación Lucha Libre
NGLLHeavyweight Championship (1 time, current){{cite tweet|number=1530773735245946880|user=mas_lucha|title=#NGLL: Rayo de Jalisco Jr vence a Carlito y se convierte en el primer Campeón Peso Completo NGLL. En la lucha tambi…|date=May 29, 2022}}
World Wrestling Association
WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current){{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/wwa/mx-wwa-h.html|title=World Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title (Mexico)|date=March 29, 2009|access-date=July 19, 2009|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}
WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rayman

''Luchas de Apuestas'' record

{{see also|Lucha libre#Luchas de apuestas|l1=Luchas de apuestas}}

class="wikitable sortable" width=100% style="text-align: center" !width=20% scope="col"\|Winner (wager) !width=20% scope="col"\|Loser (wager) !width=20% scope="col"\|Location !width=20% scope="col"\|Event !width=15% scope="col"\|Date !class="unsortable" width=5% scope="col"\|Notes
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Martín Escobedo (hair)	N/A	Live event	N/A	{{cite news\|title=Enciclopedia de las Mascaras\|work=Rayo de Jalisco Jr.\|location=Mexico City, Mexico\|id=Tomo IV\|pages=8–9\|date=October 2007\|language=es}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Herodes (hair)	N/A	Live event	N/A
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask) and El Jalisco (hair)	MS-1 (mask) and Carlos Plata (hair)	Mexico City	Live event	{{dts\|1982\|07\|2}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Gorila Asesino (mask)	Puebla, Puebla	Live event	{{dts\|1983\|04\|10}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	El Egipcio (mask)	Mexico City	Juicio Final	{{dts\|1983\|12\|9}}	Relevos suicida match: Hombre Bala and Masakre defeated the team to force them to fight each other for their masks.
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Super Halcón (mask)	Mexico City	Live event	{{dts\|1989\|04\|23}}	{{cite web \| url=https://superluchas.com/2015/04/23/en-un-dia-como-hoy-1989-rayo-de-jalisco-jr-desenmascara-a-super-halcon/ \| title=En un día como hoy… 1989: Rayo de Jalisco Jr. desenmascara a Súper Halcón \| first=Teddy \| last=Centinela \| date=April 23, 2015 \| access-date=July 1, 2015 \| work=Súper Luchas \| language=es}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Cien Caras (mask)	Mexico City	EMLL 57th Anniversary Show	{{dts\|1990\|09\|21}}	{{cite web\|url=http://superluchas.com/2010/09/07/cmll-77-historias-77-aniversario-las-77-luchas-estelares/\|title=CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares\|first=Alex\|last=Ruiz Glez\|date=September 7, 2010\|access-date=October 20, 2012\|work=Súper Luchas\|language=es}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Steel (mask)	Mexico City	Live event	{{dts\|1998\|06\|8}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Cien Caras (hair)	Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco	Live event	{{dts\|1999\|11\|29}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Gran Markus Jr. (hair)	Guadalajara, Jalisco	Live event	{{dts\|2000\|01\|30}}	{{cite web \| url=http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingInternational/mexico_timeline-can.html \| title=SLAM! Wrestling International -- 2000: The Year-In-Review Mexico \| access-date=July 31, 2015 \| work=Slam Wrestling! \| publisher=Canoe \| url-status=usurped \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224111649/http://www.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingInternational/mexico_timeline-can.html \| archive-date=February 24, 2016}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Dr. Muerte (mask)	Mexico City	Live event	{{dts\|2001\|06\|9}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Comando Asesino (mask)	Guadalajara, Jalisco	Live event	{{dts\|2002\|07}}	Relevos suicida match: El Charro and Sancara defeated the team to force them to fight for their mask.
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Yankee Star (mask)	Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas	Live event	{{dts\|2003\|06\|20}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Senor Muerte (mask)	Guadalajara, Jalisco	Live event	{{dts\|2003\|12\|7}}
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Sombra de Jalisco (mask)	Monterrey, Nuevo León	Live event	{{dts\|2004\|04\|18}}	Match also included Villano III and Jerry Estrada
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Enterrador 2000 (mask)	Mexico City	Live event	{{dts\|2007\|11\|2}}	Last two competitors in a multi-man cage match.
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (mask)	Super Parka (hair)	Tijuana, Baja California	Live event	{{dts\|2013\|12\|06}}	{{cite web \| url= http://www.mediotiempo.com/mas-deportes/lucha-libre/noticias/2013/12/08/el-rayo-de-jalisco-jr-rapo-a-super-parka \| title= El Rayo de Jalisco Jr. rapó a Súper Parka \| date= December 8, 2013 \| access-date= December 9, 2013 \| work=MedioTiempo \| language=es}}