La Sombra

###

Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico

**Manuel Alfonso "Manny" Andrade Oropeza** (born November 3, 1989), is a Mexican *luchador* or professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) from 2007 until 2015 under the ring name **La Sombra** (Spanish for "The Shadow"). Andrade is the son of Jose Andrade Salasa, who is better known as the wrestler **Brillante**.

He also made appearances for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is a former IWGP Intercontinental Champion. tye d Andrade, while working as "La Sombra" was one of the founding members of the *Los Ingobernables* ("The Unruly") wrestling group along with Rush, La Máscara and Marco Corleone. *Los Ingobernables* straddles the traditional roles of the "good guys" and "bad guys" in *lucha libre*, as they are positioned to be against anyone who is not a part of their group.

## Personal life

Andrade was born on November 3, 1989 in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico, the son of Jose Andrade Salas. He became part of the third generation of the Andrade family to compete in *lucha libre*. His grandfather, Jose Andrade, wrestled under the ring name "El Moro", his father works as Brillante, his uncles wrestle or wrestled under the names Diamante/Moro III (Sergio Andrade), Zafiro/Pentagoncito (real name unrevealed), Kevin (Juan Andrade), Espanto Jr./Pentagón (Jesus Andrade), Espiritu Magico (Juan Andrade) and one of his cousins works as the current Espanto Jr. (real name unrevealed) Due to the secretive nature of *lucha libre*, where they often do not reveal the real names of masked wrestlers, it is possible that some more of Andrade's siblings or cousins are also professional wrestlers. With his father, uncles and grandfather being involved in running a local *lucha libre* promotion and school in Durango Andrade began training for a professional career from an early age, initially by playing around with his father and uncles, but later began to train seriously for a career in the wrestling ring. He made his professional wrestling debut on October 3, 2003, a month before his 14th birthday, but only after his father signing a waiver for the local boxing and wrestling commission to issue him a license. He began working under the ring name Brillante Jr. in honor of his father. Andrade was previously in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Sarah Stock while Stock worked in Mexico for a number of years.

## Professional wrestling career

Working for his family's wrestling promotion Andrade used the name "Brillante Jr." from 2003 through early 2007. During that period of time he got involved in a storyline rivalry with his uncle who wrestled as "Zafio", leading to his first ever *Lucha de Apuestas*, or bet match. By defeating Zafiro he won his first headline match, forcing Zafiro to have all his hair shaved off after the match per *lucha libre* traditions. He would later win another *Lucha de Apuestas* match, forcing the masked wrestler Camorra to unmask in the middle of the ring and reveal his real name. During this time period Andrade also competed as the *enmascarado* (masked) characters "Guerrero Azteca" ("Aztec Warrior") and "Rey Azteca" ("Aztec King") on occasion.

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2010–2015)

In 2010 La Sombra was selected to be the CMLL representative for New Japan Pro Wrestling's (NJPW) Best of the Super Juniors XVII (BOSJ) tournament that took place from May 30 to June 16, 2010 in Japan. The tournament marked the first time that La Sombra toured Japan. On May 30, 2010 La Sombra wrestled his first match in the tournament, defeating Tiger Mask. On the final day of the tournament he defeated the junior heavyweight wrestling innovator, Jushin Thunder Liger. With just three wins in the tournament and a total of six points he did not advance to the semi-finals. In November 2010 La Sombra and Máscara Dorada took part in New Japan's five-day-long Super J Tag League. After winning two out of their four matches in the group stage, La Sombra and Dorada finished third in their block, missing the finals of the tournament.

La Sombra and Dorada returned to New Japan on January 4, 2011, at *Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome*, where they defeated Jushin Thunder Liger and Héctor Garza in a tag team match, when Sombra pinned Liger. As a result of his victory he was granted a match for Liger's CMLL World Middleweight Championship in the process. La Sombra received his match for the championship on January 22, 2011, at *Fantastica Mania 2011*, but lost to Liger. La Sombra returned to NJPW in August 2011 to take part in the 2011 G1 Climax. La Sombra started the tournament by picking up wins over Wataru Inoue and fellow CMLL worker Strong Man, but then went on to lose his remaining seven matches in the tournament, finishing eighth out of the ten wrestlers in his block. La Sombra returned to Japan in January 2012 to take part in the *Fantastica Mania 2012* events. In the main event of the second night of the tour, La Sombra successfully defended the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship against Volador Jr. La Sombra returned to New Japan in April 2012 to take part in the 2012 New Japan Cup. After defeating Yoshi-Hashi in his first round match, he was eliminated from the tournament in the second round by Hirooki Goto.

In January 2013, La Sombra took part in the three-day *Fantastica Mania 2013* event. During the second night of the tour, La Sombra unsuccessfully challenged Nakamura for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. During the third and final night, La Sombra defeated Dragón Rojo Jr. to win the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship. On May 31, 2013, La Sombra defeated Nakamura in a rematch in Mexico City to win the IWGP Intercontinental Champion, becoming the first Mexican to hold that championship. On July 20, he lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship back to Nakamura during a tour of Japan. From November 23 to December 6, La Sombra took part in the 2013 World Tag League, where he and Tetsuya Naito finished with a record of three wins and three losses, failing to advance to the semifinals. In January 2014, La Sombra took part in the five-day *Fantastica Mania 2014* tour. La Sombra returned to New Japan in November to take part in the 2014 World Tag League, teaming with Tetsuya Naito once more. The team finished in the middle of their block with four wins and three losses. In January 2015, La Sombra returned to Japan to take part in the *Fantastica Mania 2015* tour, during which he feuded with Máscara Dorada, culminating in a singles match between the two on January 19, where La Sombra was victorious.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Brillante Driver* / *Shadow Driver* / *Sombra Driver* (Schoolboy suplex)
	+ Split-legged corkscrew senton, sometimes preceded by a forward fireman's carry slam
* **Signature moves**
	+ Feint springboard moonsault into a standing moonsault
	+ Moonsault
	+ Rope-assisted enzuigiri
	+ Springboard dragonrana
* **Nicknames**
	+ "El Centinela del Espacio" (Spanish for "The Space Sentinel")
	+ "El Ídolo" (Spanish for "The Idol")
	+ "CMLL no Prince" (Japanese for "Prince of CMLL")

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
* ***Pro Wrestling Illustrated***
	+ PWI ranked him #**52** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013

## References

1. ↑ Andrade "Cien" Almas . *WWE*. Retrieved on 2017-06-21.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ocampo, Ernesto 2015-09-18. CMLL: 82 Aniversario — Cobertura en vivo — Atlantis vs. Sombra máscara contra máscara — El adiós de Dark Angel  (in Spanish). *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2015-09-18.
3. ↑ *ja:「ビバ！メヒコ メキシコ通信局」次代のニューヒーロー・ソンブラ* (in Japanese). *NPN* (2009-11-25). Retrieved on 2017-07-03.
4. ↑ Madigan, Dan (2007). "A family affair", *Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizare & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling*. HarperColins Publisher, 128–132. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
5. ↑ Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?", *Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling*. HarperColins Publisher, 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Madigan, Dan (2007). "What's in a name", *Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizare & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling*. HarperColins Publisher, 209–211. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
7. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2015-11-19. WWE announces signing of CMLL star La Sombra . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2015-11-19.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Enciclopedia staff (August 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". *Brillante , Jr.*Spanish. Mexico City, Mexico. p. 21. Tomo I.
9. ↑ Sombra representará al CMLL en el Best Of The Super Jr. XVII de NJPW  (in Spanish). *Superluchas* (2010-05-08). Retrieved on 2010-05-08.
10. ↑ [Results New Japan 5/30 ]. *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-05-30). Retrieved on 2010-05-30.
11. ↑ (Results) New Japan 6/12/10 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-06-12). Retrieved on 2010-06-17.
12. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 11/13/10 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2010-11-13). Retrieved on 2010-11-15.
13. ↑ *ja:レッスルキングダムⅤ ｉｎ 東京ドーム* (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
14. ↑ Error on call to template:ref web: Parameters **archiveurl** and **archivedate** must be both specified or both omittedGerweck, Steve 2011-01-04. 1/4 TNA-NJPW Results: Tokyo, Japan . Wrestleview. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18. Retrieved on 2011-01-04.
15. ↑ Flores, Manuel 2011-01-22. Resultados "Fantasticamanía" – CMLL/NJPW en Japón – Los mexicanos perdieron todos los duelos por campeonatos . *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2011-01-22.
16. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 8/1/11 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2011-08-01). Retrieved on 2011-08-13.
17. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 8/5/11 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2011-08-05). Retrieved on 2011-08-13.
18. ↑ (Results) New Japan, 8/13/11 . *Strong Style Spirit* (2011-08-13). Retrieved on 2011-08-13.
19. ↑ Soy Rudo 2012-01-22. NJPW-CMLL: Resultados "Fantasticamanía 2012″ Día 2  (in Spanish). *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2012-01-23.
20. ↑ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour New Japan Cup 2012  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
21. ↑ NJPW 40th anniversary Tour New Japan Cup 2012  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-04-08.
22. ↑ NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2013  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2013-01-19.
23. ↑ NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2013  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2013-01-20.
24. ↑ Mexicool, Rey 2013-01-20. La Sombra... ¡nuevo Campeón Mundial Histórico NWA de Peso Medio!  (in Spanish). *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2013-01-20.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Mexicool, Rey 2013-05-31. ¡La Sombra... nuevo Campeón Intercontinental IWGP!  (in Spanish). *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2013-05-31.
26. ↑ Salazar López, Alexis A. 2013-06-01. Resultados Arena México Viernes 31 de Mayo '13  (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Archived from the original on 2013-06-01. Retrieved on 2013-06-01.
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 *ja:ラ・ソンブラが新インターコンチネンタル王者に！ 中邑がメキシコで王座陥落！* (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling (2013-06-01). Retrieved on 2013-06-01.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 吉野家Presents Kizuna Road 2013  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2013-07-20.
29. ↑ World Tag League 2013  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
30. ↑ World Tag League 2013  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
31. ↑ 『Fantastica Mania』メンバーが決定!! 2代目ミスティコが参戦!! 素顔のボラドールなど、16名が大挙上陸!!  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2013-11-07). Retrieved on 2014-01-17.
32. ↑ 『World Tag League 2014』出場チーム＆公式戦が決定！ 棚橋はヨシタツとタッグ結成！ 桜庭、AJ、柴田、ROH、NWAも参戦!  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-11-11). Retrieved on 2014-12-05.
33. ↑ World Tag League 2014  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-12-05.
34. ↑ NJPW Presents CMLL Fantastica Mania 2015  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2015-01-19.
35. ↑ World Tag League 2013  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2013-12-08.
36. ↑ 吉野家Presents Kizuna Road 2013  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2013-07-24.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 "Llego la Hora: Máscara vs Máscara". *Box y Lucha Magazine*Spanish. September 12, 2015. pp. 6–7. Issue 3204.
38. ↑ Richard, Trionfo 2016-06-08. WWE NXT TakeOver Report: First ever NXT cage match, a legend debuts , American Alpha versus Revival, is Cien greater than ten? and ,ore . *PWInsider*. Retrieved on 2016-06-09.
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 2008: 191 Volador Jr.". *Pro Wrestling Illustrated*. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. August 2008. p. 95. October 2008.
40. ↑ Ruiz Glez, Alex 2011-03-14. Arena México (resultados 13 de Marzo) ¡La Sombra nuevo campeón mundial histórico NWA de peso Welter!  (in Spanish). *Superluchas*. Retrieved on 2011-06-26.
41. ↑ ミスティコ選手欠場とカード変更のお知らせ  (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling (2013-01-15). Retrieved on 2015-09-17.
42. ↑ Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2013 . *The Internet Wrestling Database*. Retrieved on 2013-08-22.

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