Mil Máscaras Aaron Rodríguez Arellano ( July 15 , 1942 ) , best known as Mil Máscaras ( " A Thousand Masks " ) , is a semi - retired Mexican wrestler and actor who has starred in several films with fellow luchadores . He is a member of one of lucha libre ' s most well - known families ; he is the brother of both Dos Caras and Sicodélico and uncle to Alberto Del Rio and Sicodélico Jr . . Professional wrestling career . Mil Máscaras made his professional wrestling debut in April 1965 in Guadalajara . Máscaras became popular in Mexico for being one of the best conditioned luchadores in the heavyweight division , which was dominated by foreigners at the time . It was also his size which permitted him to wrestle in the US and Japan under the heavyweight division . Máscaras was one of the first masked luchadores outside of Mexico to play a non - heel role . He rarely resorted to rule breaking , instead relying on his repertoire of moves and counter - moves . Máscaras was also one of the first wrestlers to introduce the high - flying moves of lucha libre , such as the plancha and tope suicida , to Japanese fans . This brought him international fame as one of the first high - flyers , something he was not considered in Mexico where he fell under the mat - power category . A year after his wrestling debut , Mil Máscaras starred in his first film , a self - titled picture . As with many luchadores , his character is that of a superhero . He has since starred in several films spanning five decades , the best known is " Las Momias de Guanajuato " ( a reference to the actual mummies of Guanajuato ) . Máscaras made his international wrestling debut in 1968 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles , getting involved in great rivalries against the likes of Ernie Ladd , John Tolos , Black Gordman , and Goliath . In Mexico City , he unmasked El Halcon in a triangular tournament that included Alfonso Dantés in the 1970s . Máscaras performed for All Japan Pro Wrestling ( AJPW ) during the ' 70s . In his Japanese debut on February 19 , 1971 , he defeated Kantaro Hoshino in Tokyo . It was during this time that he had his best known international feud with American masked wrestler The Destroyer . During the ' 70s , Máscaras also had feuds with Mexican wrestlers such as TNT , El Canek , El Halcon , and Angel Blanco . These feuds took place mostly in Mexico and the US , and were broadcast on Spanish language stations in the U . S . Mascaras was also the heavyweight champion of the IWA wrestling promotion , which was founded by Eddie Einhorn , and still holds the title to this day . Mil Máscaras appeared in World Wrestling Federation ( WWF , now called WWE ) . He performed at Madison Square Garden several times after a ban on masked wrestlers was lifted for him , making him the first masked wrestler in the Garden , he defeated the Spoiler ( who was not permitted to wear his mask ) . During this time , he feuded with " Superstar " Billy Graham over the WWF World Heavyweight Championship . Mascaras also wrestled in World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) , where his most notable match was a match with Cactus Jack at " " on February 6 , 1990 in the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi , Texas . Foley , Mick . Have A Nice Day : A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks ( p . 169 ) On September 10 , 1991 , at the age of 49 , Máscaras won his final title , the WWA ( Mexico ) World Heavyweight Championship . He held the title until 1994 and assumed a state of semi - retirement after his final reign . Slagle , Steve . Máscaras ' first American pay - per - view appearance was competing in WWF ' s 1997 " Royal Rumble " match . He eliminated himself , diving off the top rope out of the ring onto Pierroth , Jr . , whom he himself had just eliminated . Such a move is common in lucha libre but it is technically a mistake in the Royal Rumble as it leads to elimination . On December 5 , 2002 , Mascaras defeated Manny Fernandez at the inaugural show for Legacy Wrestling Enterprises in Fort Worth , TX . Film career . Máscaras also achieved fame outside of the ring , starring in a series of seventeen luchador action films from 1966 through 1990 ( he also has appeared in several other films made more recently ) . His first starring role was in the self - titled film " " Mil Máscaras " " which was shot in black and white and gave Máscaras a comic book style origin story . According to the film , an infant Máscaras was found clutching his dead mother ' s arms in a war - torn area of Europe during World War II . A group of scientists adopts Máscaras as a boy , and subjects him to an intensive regimen of physical and mental training as he matures . When Máscaras reaches adulthood , he has developed into a super - human , achieving both mental and physical perfection . The scientists then send him out into the world to help downtrodden people everywhere , to fight criminals and to right wrongs . In 1970 , Máscaras starred alongside Blue Demon and El Santo in Las Momias de Guanajuato ( The Mummies of Guanajuato ) . " Las Momias de Guanajuato " became the highest grossing Mexican luchador film of all time , pitting the three masked luchadores against a group of reanimated mummies . Mascaras also starred as a member of a squadron of masked superheroes known as " " Los Campeones Justicieros " " ( The Champions of Justice ) . Membership in the Champions included such legendary Mexican wrestling figures as Blue Demon , Tinieblas , El Rayo de Jalisco , El Médico Asesino , El Fantasma Blanco , and Superzan . In 2007 Máscaras starred in " Mil Mascaras vs . the Aztec Mummy " ( also known as " Mil Mascaras : Resurrection " ) , the first lucha film featuring any of the so - called " Big Three " stars of the genre ( Máscaras , Blue Demon , Santo ) to be produced in English . The film screened at festivals around the world garnering awards and award nominations along with positive critical reviews . The film " Mil Máscaras : Héroe " , which is a hybrid of live action sequences and Japanese manga - style animation , is currently in production . Criticism . Multiple wrestlers have publicly complained of Mascaras ' unwillingness to sell moves and put opponents over . One of the most vocal critics is Mick Foley who , in his book " " , complained about Máscaras ' refusal to sell moves in their match . Foley , Mick . Have A Nice Day : A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks . In his book , " A Lion ' s Tale " , Chris Jericho describes the stories of Máscaras ' large ego and states that , if anything , " The tales were toning it down . "