Murciélago Velázquez
Birth nameJesús Velázquez Quintero
Born(1910-02-22)February 22, 1910
Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, Mexico
DiedMay 26, 1972(1972-05-26) (aged 62)
Mexico City, Mexico
Cause of deathCirrhosis
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)El Murciélago Enmascarado
Murciélago Velázquez
Billed height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Billed weight75 kg (165 lb)
Trained byCasino de la Policía
DebutApril 18, 1938
Retired1956

Jesús Velázquez Quintero (February 22, 1910 – May 26, 1972), better known under the ring names El Murciélago Enmascarado[Note 1] and Murciélago Velázquez, was a Mexican luchador (or professional wrestler). Velázquez was the fourth wrestler in Mexico to wear a wrestling mask and the second Mexican to work as an enmascarado ("masked wrestler") in the history of lucha libre. He became the first wrestler in Mexico to be forced to unmask, losing a Lucha de Apuestas (or "Bet match") to Octavio Gaona, creating the most prestigious match type in lucha libre. He once held the Mexican National Middleweight Championship and after his retirement was the head of the Mexico City boxing and wrestling commission for a while.

Near the end of his in-ring career, Velázquez began acting in various Mexican films, including several luchador films, working both with El Santo and Blue Demon. He also became involved in the creative aspects of movie making, writing several screenplays and stories over the years. The last movie he wrote the story for, La mujer del diablo, opened two years after his death.

Professional wrestling career

Jesús Velázquez made his professional wrestling debut on April 3, 1938 in the original Arena México, working for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL). He started out his career wrestling as the enmascarado (Masked) character "El Murciélago Enmascarado". Velázquez was the fourth wrestler in Mexico to wrestle in a mask, and the second Mexican wrestler to do so, second only to "El Enmascarado" (The Masked Wrestler).[1][2] Velázquez was one of the first native Mexicans to really play up the show aspects of lucha libre, wearing a black leather vest with a hood as he would stalk towards the ring and wrestle in black trunks and mask. His entrance theatrics would at times include him hiding a couple of live bats under his vest, releasing them in the arena during his in-ring introduction, letting them fly free among the audience.[3] His rough, brutal in-ring wrestling style added to the aura of El Murciélago Enmascarado, quickly pushing him up the rankings as he was wrestler that drew fans by the fact that they wanted to see him lose.[3] Within a few months of his debut he was wrestling against some of the top names in EMLL such as Bobby Bonales and Dientes Hernández.[1][2] One of the defining moments of Velázquez' early career was his storyline feud with Merced Gómez that began only a few weeks after his debut. During a match against Gómez a kick from Velázquez hit Gómez in the face, knocking him down. Moments later the crowd was shocked to discover that Gómez' eye was missing, supposedly from the brutal kick from Velázquez. Gómez had actually lost the eye due to boxing several years prior and had a glass eye that he popped out after the kick to give the impression that Velázquez caused him to lose an eye.[2][3] Some lucha magazines tried to claim that it was Gómez "good eye" that had been injured in the match, trying to keep the illusion that it was a legitimate injury, but the fact that Gómez would continue to wrestle for years underscored the fact that this was indeed a storyline.[3] The storyline had its desired effect, portraying El Murciélago Enmascarado as a heartless villain or rudo.[3] In 1939, Velázquez participated in a tournament for the vacant Mexican National Middleweight Championship where he defeated the likes of Jack O'Brien and Ciclón Veloz but lost to eventual tournament winner Dientes Hernández.[4] During the early parts of his career Velázquez also worked as a policeman, both to make money but also to gain access to the Casino de la Policia training facilities to further his physical abilities in the ring.[2]

In 1940, EMLL began a storyline between El Murciélago Enmascarado and Octavio Gaona that would lead to one of the pivotal moments of the early years of lucha libre. In the United States masked wrestlers were common place and there had been matches where a masked wrestler was forced to unmask as far back as 1926 where Jim Londos defeated the Masked Marvel and he was forced to reveal himself to be Ray Steele.[5] The storyline between played out in a way that the brutal rudo Murciélago drew the normally more technical Gaona into a series of brawls, matches that often ended inconclusively. After a particularly violent match Gaona challenged Murciélago to put his mask on the line in a match. With El Murciélago being lighter than Gaona he demanded that Gaona put his hair on the line as well. With the challenge, the Lucha de Apuestas (or "Bet match") was created.[6][7] In the build up to the high profile match El Murciélago Enmascarado faced and defeated a number of other wrestlers in Luchas de Apuestas matches leaving Merced Gómez, Bobby Bonales, Dientes Hernández and Ciclón Veloz bald as a result as they built to the match with Gaona.[1] On July 14, 1940, Gaona defeated El Murciélago Enmascarado, forcing him to unmask after the match and reveal his birth name, something that became a lucha libre tradition.[6][7] Since then Apuesta matches have become the highest profile match in Mexico; winning the mask of an opponent is considered a higher achievement than winning a championship match.[5][7] After being unmasked he modified his ring name to Murciélago Velázquez and continued to be a hated rudo wrestler as his natural charisma was even more obvious without the mask.[2]

In 1942, Velázquez would gain a measure of revenge on Octavio Gaona when he defeated Gaona in the finals of a tournament for the vacant Mexican National Middleweight Championship.[4][8] In the late 1930s, a young wrestler, Rodolfo Guzmán, began working as El Murciélago II in and around Mexico City, but Velázquez complained to the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission that the name was too close to his own ring name and that Velázquez had not given permission for the use. The Commission ruled that Velázquez had the rights to the name, forcing Guzmán to choose a different name.[9] Guzmán adopted a new ring character, El Santo, and in subsequent years became one of the most popular wrestlers in Mexico.[9] EMLL paired the two up for a long running feud that saw the masked El Santo defeat Velázquez in a Luchas de Apuestas match in January 1943, leaving Velázquez bald as a result. Two months later, on March 19, 1943, El Santo won the Mexican National Middleweight Championship from Velázquez as well.[4][8] By the end of the year, other Mexican wrestlers, such as El Santo rose to the top, relegating Murciélago Velázquez to the lower ranks, working shows all over Mexico but not making as many headlines as his heyday from 1937 through 1942. In 1955, he experienced a career resurgence, teaming with Samar Saleem, forming a tag team that quickly gained a reputation for disregarding the rules and engaging in out of control brawls with their opponents. The team received a push from the promoters as they were given victories over Cavernario Galindo and El Verdungo, another team known for their wild wrestling style, as well as "Tough" Tony Borne and Tony Barbetta, El Santo and Pancho Valentino, Los Hermano Shadow ("The Shadow Brothers"; Black Shadow and Blue Panther) and the team of Tarzán López and Enrique Llanes.[2] One particular match, against López and Henry Pilusso, got so out of hand and bloody that the Mexico City wrestling and boxing commissioner Manuel Muñoz decided to ban both Velázquez and Saleem from wrestling in Mexico City for life.[3] The ban ended the team of Velázquez and Saleem as Velázquez left professional wrestling a short time later to become an actor.[3]

While he retired from in-ring competition in 1955, he never truly left lucha libre. Over the years, he trained wrestlers such as Dick Angelo, Fili Espinoza and Humberto Garza.[2] He also worked in several luchador films in his acting career. In the early 1960s he was the Distrito Federal boxing and wrestling commissioner, going from being a hated rule breaker to the highest authority.[3]

Movie career

In 1957, Velázquez had a small, uncredited role in a Mexican movie called Ladron de Cadaveres ("The Body Snatcher"). He made his first credited on screen appearance in La momia Azteca, where he played a villain known as El Murciélago and being billed as "Murciélago" Velázquez, taking his ring name onto the silver screen.[3][10] Over the next 10 years, Velázquez had roles in a number of different films, including luchador films starring El Santo and Blue Demon.[2] During this time period, he also began writing screenplays and stories, the first being Triunfa la pandilla ("The triumphant gang") that premiered in 1963.[10] Among his other credits were El mundo de los vampiros ("The world of Vampires"), Tlayucan and Santo contra los jinetes del terror ("Santo vs. the Riders of Terror"). The final movie he wrote the story for, La mujer del diablo ("The Devil Woman"), opened in 1974, a year after Velázquez' death.[10]

Personal life

While Velázquez' in-ring character was brutal and bloodthirsty, the man behind the character was the complete opposite, something not revealed publicly until years after his death. His wrestling peers described him as very friendly and well-read.[3] Velázquez stayed active, writing movie scripts and various stories until his death on May 27, 1972. The autopsy revealed that Velázquez died from cirrhosis of the liver which led to a heart attack.[2]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
El Murciélago Enmascarado (mask)Merced Gómez (hair)Mexico CityEMLL showJune 23, 1940[6]
El Murciélago Enmascarado (mask)Bobby Bonales (hair)Mexico CityEMLL showJune 30, 1940[6]
El Murciélago Enmascarado (mask)Dientes Hernández (hair)Mexico CityEMLL showJuly 4, 1940[6]
El Murciélago Enmascarado (mask)Ciclón Veloz (hair)Mexico CityEMLL showJuly 11, 1940[6]
Octavio Gaona (hair)El Murciélago Enmascarado (mask)Mexico CityEMLL showJuly 18, 1940[6]
El Santo (mask)Murciélago Velázquez (hair)Mexico CityEMLL showJanuary 1943[11]

Filmography

Actor

Year Original title English title Role Notes Refs.
1957Ladron de CadaveresThe Body SnatcherUncredited [10][12]
1957La momia aztecaThe Aztec MummyEl MurciélagoCredited as Murcielago Velazquez[13]
1957La maldición de la momia aztecaThe Curse of the Aztec MummyEl Murciélagocredited as Murcielago Velázquez[13]
1957Furias desatadasFury Unleased Credited as Jesús Velázquez 
1958 La momia azteca contra el robot humanoThe Robot vs. The Aztec MummyEl MurciélagoCredited as Murcielago Velázquez[13]
1959El hombre del alazánThe sorrel man   
1960Los Tigres del RingTigers of the Ring Credited as Jesús Velázquez 
1960Ladrón que roba a ladrónTo rob a thiefUncredited [10]
1960El torneo de la muerteThe tournament of death Credited as Jesús Velázquez 
1961Guantes de oroGolden Gloves Credited as Jesús 'Murcielago' Velázquez 
1962Camino de la horcaRoad to the gallowsUncredited  
1963El señor TormentaMr. Storm Credited as Murcielago Velazquez[10]
1963Las luchadoras contra el médico asesinoDoctor of DoomMarcadoCredited as 'Murcielago' Velazquez 
1964Las Luchadoras contract la momiaWrestling Women vs. the Aztec MummyMaoCredited as Murcielago Velasquez 
1966Duelo de pistolerosDuel of the gunmenToribio [10]
1967La isla de los dinosauriosThe island of the dinosaursCaveman  
1968La Sombra del murcielagoThe Shadow of the BatEntrenador del murcielagoCredited as Murcielago Velazquez[14]
1968Blue Demon contra cerebros infernalesBlue Demon vs the internal brains Credited as Jesus Velazquez 'El Murcielago'[15]

Writer

Year Original title English title Wrote Notes Refs.
1959Triunfa la pandillaThe triumphant gangScreenplay [10]
1959La pandilla se divierteThe gang has funScreenplay [10]
1959La pandilla en acciónThe gang in actionScreenplay [10]
1959Aventuras de la pandillaAdventures of the gangScreenplay [10]
1960Venganza fatalFatal VengeanceStoryCredited as Jesus Murcielago Velazquez 
1961El duende y yoThe Goblin and IStory [10]
1961El mundo de los vampirosThe world of vampiresStory [10]
1962TlayucanTlayucanStory [10]
1963El señor TormentaMr. StormStoryCredited as Jesús Murcielago Velazquez[10]
1963Tesoro de mentirasTresury liesStory  
1964Yo, el valienteI, the braveAdaptation  
1965Los Tales por cualesThe tales by whichStoryCredited as Jesus Velazquez 
1965El pozoThe WellStory  
1965Las lobas del ringThe wolves of the ringScenario / Adaptation [10]
1965Audaz y braveroBold and braveAdaptation  
1966Esta noche noNot tonightAdaptation  
1967Mi caballo prieto rebeldeMy black horse rebelStory / AdaptationCredited as Jesus Murcielago Velazquez 
1967Los hombres de Lupe AlvírezThe men of Lupe Alvirez Credited as Jesus Murcielago Velazquez 
1967El centauro Pancho VillaPancho Villa the CentaurStory /ScreenplayCredited as Jesús Murcielago Velázquez 
1968La Sombra del murcielagoThe Shadow of the BatScreenplayCredited as Jesus Murcielago Velazquez[14]
1969El YaquiThe YaquiWriter  
1969La maestra inolvidableThe Unforgettable masterWriter  
1970Santo contra los jinetes del terrorSanto vs. the Riders of TerrorScreenplay / StoryCredited as Jesus Velazquez Quintero[16][17]
1974La mujer del diabloDevil WomanStory  

Footnotes

  1. Literally translated as "Bat", Murciélago was a legendary fighting bull whose amazing fighting spirit during a corrida in Córdoba, Spain on 5 October 1879 led to its his life being spared, becoming a byword for gallantry and indomitable courage in the Spanish-speaking world.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Enciclopedia de las Máscaras". Murciélago Velázquez (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. October 2007. p. 37. Tomo III.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre". Murciélago Velázquez (in Spanish). Portales, Mexico. November 2008. p. 41. 17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Madigan, Dan (2007). "El Murciélago". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 100–102. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Los Reyes de Mexico: La Historia de Los Campeonatos Nacionales". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). December 20, 2004. Especial 21.
  5. 1 2 Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lourdes Grobet; Alfonso Morales; Gustavo Fuentes & Jose Manuel Aurrecoechea (2005). Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Trilce. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-933045-05-4.
  7. 1 2 3 Madigan, Dan (2007). "The Mask in the match". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  8. 1 2 3 Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Middleweight Championship". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 392. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. 1 2 Madigan, Dan (2007). "El Santo". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre& honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 71–78. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "VELÁZQUEZ Quintero, Jesús "Murciélago"" (in Spanish). Cine Mexicano. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  11. L.L. Staff (2008). "Lucha Libre: Conoce la historia de las leyendas de cuadrilátero". Santo (1917–1984) (in Spanish). Mexico. p. 54. Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre.
  12. Pitts, Michael R. (2010). "Ladron de Cadaveres (The Body Snatcher)". Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982. McFarlane. pp. 132–133. ISBN 9780786457663.
  13. 1 2 3 Rovin, Jeff (1989). The Encyclopiedia of Monsters. New York, New York: Facts on File Inc. p. 15.
  14. 1 2 Pitts, Michael R. (2010). "La Sombra del Murcielago (The Shadow of the Bat)". Columbia Pictures Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Films, 1928–1982. McFarlane. p. 223. ISBN 9780786457663.
  15. Various (2005). "El Demonio Azul / Blue Demon". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. pp. 162–186. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
  16. Various (2005). "the villain of the small screen". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. pp. 150–183. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
  17. "the Films of El Santo". D. Wilt. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
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