Gran Azteca Sr.

## About

Gran Azteca Sr. was born on December 23rd, 1968 in Tijuana, Mexico. Born into a wealthy family, Gran was brought up to California at a young age to be able to live a more suitable life in California due to how close Tijuana was to the border. Upon turning 14 years old, Gran made the decision to go back to Tijuana with his mother after their parents divorced and pursued professional wrestling. Gran showed a lot of promise at such a young age he had made his professional debut at the age of 16 for *Lucha Libre Mundial.*

## Lucha Libre Mundial (1984-1988)

In 1984, Gran Azteca went by the his usual ring name without the Sr. once debuting. Gran made his long awaited debuted in a winning effort against Reynolando. Upon signing with *Lucha Libre Mundial* Gran Azteca was signed to the only exclusive deal in the promotion. With no family background in the business, Gran was learning very quickly and very quickly climbed the ranks within the promotion. Diego Reyes who was very highly fond of Gran as a luchador that he vouched heavily for him. After two years of winning at big events and headlining shows he was finally given his first world title opportunity in which he defeated El Dragon for the Mexican Lucha Libre Championship once Diego Reyes took ownership of the *Lucha Libre Mundial.* Gran was only 18 at the time of winning the world title.

## Gran Azteca Sr. and El Maestro (1987)

Gran Azteca was now going by Gran Azteca Sr. in hope people would see him as a more experience luchador regardless of his age. At the time of his first reign, *Lucha Libre Mundial* made a deal with *Asociación De Lucha Libre Del Mundo.* Within this deal, Diego Reyes made a deal with former luchador at the time El Maestro to begin a program with him and Gran Azteca Sr. This match was heavily advertised in Mexico as what could be the biggest match of the decade. Gran, being somewhat new to the business he was going along with this. Gran Azteca Sr. reign came to an end on June 16th, 1987 when El Maestro was the first to pin Gran in Arena Mexico. At the conclusion of the event, El Maestro attempted to leave the arena with the belt and attempted to take it back to ALLM in which he would defend the belt. Diego Reyes irate at the matter stopped El Maestro and cut the deal off with LLM and ALLM and released El Maestro there after. Not knowing what to do at the time, El Maestro's win over Gran was recognized, however his title reign isn't. Diego then gave the World Championship back to Gran as it was recognized that he had never lost the belt. Gran held the title for another 748 days before losing it to lifetime rival and friend, El Galante.

During the deal with LLM and ALLM, El Maestro was in negotiations with Gran Azteca to sign with ALLM over LLM. El Maestro was said to make Gran the face of his own company, but rumors showed that El Maestro wanted nothing to do with Gran Azteca potentially being the next face of the company. This ultimately lead to Gran Azteca signing an extension with LLM over ALLM.

## Time in Japan (1990-2002)

Only two years after taking part ownership of LLL, they had made a deal with 1 Warrior Wrestling, a promotion in Japan. With the help of Diego Reyes, he managed to help the group get a deal with the Japanese promotion in which 1WW sent over their top stars to work shows in Mexico, where LLL would send over a majority of their roster to work shows throughout the years. However, there was an excusive deal with Gran Azteca Sr., Magnifico (Jesus), El Galante (Ramon Reyes), Mr. Fuerza and Guerrero de Plata. Being the biggest star at the time in Mexico, Gran was promoted headlining shows with the big stars such as Isa Suzuki, Kagami and Kazuya Mitsushi.

Gran also had a big rivalry with Cazador Dragon, son of El Dragon who he had had retired years earlier. After starting a rivalry with Cazador Dragon Gran was met with Axl Hyatt, a developmental talent who had a classic match with Gran Azteca Sr. El Galante and Gran Azteca Sr. soon began to have 6 man tag team match teaming along with Axl Hyatt, bringing him up in the card.

Gran Azteca Sr. was in a long time program with 1WW top star, Kazuya Mitsushi. The two would constantly be promoted to headline shows in Tokyo and all over Japan but the two would never see each other in a match. Tensions rose as the two finally met in 1995, a match that was nearly 4 years in the making. There match was teased for the year end event in which Kazuya Mitsushi defeated Gran Azteca Sr. Both wrestlers only ever met on two occasions in which Kazuya took the victory over Gran. Gran Azteca Sr. has never defeated Kazuya in Japan, but his first and only victory over him came in Mexico where Gran Azteca Sr. defeated him for the Mexican Worldwide Championship.

It was not long until Gran Azteca Sr. won his championship, winning the Ryu Senshi Championship defeating Isa Suzuki for the title after his program with Kazuya. Gran Azteca Sr. held the title for 569 days before losing the title to Igor Sokolov. Gran went back and forth from Mexico and Japan before taking time off as him and his wife were expecting their first born child in 1995. However, after 12 years the LLL and 1WW deal came to an end as they sent back talent from Mexico back and bringing back their own talent back to Japan. During this process, Axl Hyatt made the decision to go to Mexico and continue his career there with his friends El Galante and Gran Azteca Sr.

## Business and Legado de Lucha Libre (1988-2006)

Diego Reyes was on the verge of selling *Lucha Libre Mundial* to ALLM before El Galante (Ramon Reyes), Gran Azteca Sr, Magnifico (Jesus), Guerrero de Plata and Mr. Fuerza made a deal and bought out *Lucha Libre Mundial* as co-owners, Ramon being the one with the most shares with the promotion. The 5 luchadors would hire back the the staff along with new staff and talent. Gran Azteca Sr. was highly considered the face of the company along with Magnifico and El Dragon. In the years that followed, many disagreements occurred within the group whereas Gran was just there to make what was best for the business. Having matches with greats such as El Dragon, El Galante, Señor Raul, Kazuya Mitsushi, Isa Suzuki, El Galante and Axl Hyatt. His biggest match came at the October 21st, 1988 show in which Gran Azteca Sr. put his title on the line against El Dragon 18 years to the day El Dragon won his first world championship. This was a Title vs. Career match where Gran Azteca Sr. would retain and retire El Dragon in Arena Mexico. This was considered an official passing of the torch. During his time with Legado de Lucha Libre he has the most reigns as the world championships with 8 reigns.

After years with the company being one of the top stars, it all came to an end in 2006 when Mr. Fuerza defeated Gran Azteca Sr. for the Mexican Worldwide Championship. Soon after, Mr. Fuerza, Jesus and Guerrero de Plata decided to cut ties with LLL leaving El Galante (Ramon Reyes) and Gran Azteca Sr. with the company and soon after selling it off. Ultimately they came to a decision disband the promotion as a whole. However, this would cause a Ramon Reyes and Gran Azteca Sr. to have some tension.

## Rivalry with Gran Azteca Sr. and El Galante (2010-2016)

After having to disband their promotion, Gran Azteca Sr. and El Galante went their separate ways, working for various promotions in Mexico and Japan. The two met for the first time in years in *Lucha Extrema.* This match was a long time in the making and it came to a conclusion in a *Lucha de Apuestas* match. Gran Azteca Sr. defeated El Galante and thus ending his career and taking his mask. El Galante was revealed as Ramon Reyes, his son Gretery was in attendance and removed his mask before handing it over to Gran Azteca Sr.

Gran denied the mask and gave it to Gretery, telling him to keep it so he could defeat him and taking the Reyes mask once and for all. However, two years alter Gretery would defeat Gran Azteca Sr. in a *Lucha de Apuestas* match where Gretery defeated Gran for his mask. But, just like years earlier, Gretery took his mask and gave it back to Gran, saying he'll take it once and for all next time. Per Gretery's request, Gran Azteca Sr. was not to reveal his real name. After this, Gran Azteca Sr. and Ramon Reyes rebuilt their former friendship from the past.