This year we celebrate 35 years of Wrestlemania. It grew in no time to be the greatest annual event in wrestling history. The template of many future events such as Triplemania and Wrestle Kingdom. Rich in history on many fronts. Today w give you a look at 5 memorable moments in Wrestlemania history revolving Latino wrestlers. In particular many Mexican and Mexican Descent wrestlers have had a major effect on the Grand Daddy Of Them All. We present 5 Memorable Latino Moments At WrestleMania.
5 Memorable Latino Moments At WrestleMania
#5 – Tito Santana Wins First Match In Wrestlemania History [Wrestlemania]
Why not start at the beginning? Wrestlemania was first celebrated on March 31st, 1985 from the World’s Most Famous Arena. The first televised match in Wrestlemania history? Wrestler of Mexican descendant Tito Santana defeats The Executioner (played by ‘Playboy’ Buddy Rose).
While the match was not much to talk about, lasting a mere 4 and a half minutes, this is where the legend of 35-years we are on first got its start.
#4 – Alberto Del Rio Defeats Jack Swagger To Retain World Heavyweight Championship [Wrestlemania 29]
Off to a more notable match as Alberto Del Rio is being pushed as the next top Latino babyface. A demographic that proved to be very critical to WWE Smackdown from 2004 until 2008 due to syndication. The likes of Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, and even non-Latino Batista were massively popular among the demographic. They were selling merchandise on top of high ratings and TV rates. As such, WWE tried to create a second crop of Latino stars with the likes of Sin Cara, Epico, and Alberto Del Rio.
The success is disputable but this would be the highest point of this ‘second crop’. While Alberto Del Rio would win the 2011 Royal Rumble and face Edge in the opening match of Wrestlemania 27, he lost that match and ended up opening the show. This time, Del Rio was coming in as the babyface, the Champion and higher on the card. While there was a bit of issue given his opponent Jack Swagger was arrested a month previously due to marihuana possession, Alberto remained the star and came out the victor, defeating Jack Swagger in his anti-immigrant character.
5 Memorable Latino Moments At WrestleMania
#3 – Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk [Wrestlemania XXVI]
While the ‘Lucha de Apuestas’ stipulation would be done several months later, this saw the first chapter of a well-remembered feud between CM Punk and Rey Mysterio. Kicked off by a very memorable segment that saw CM Punk singing “Happy Birthday” to Rey’s daughter Aaliyah in a very creepy manner.
The match itself was cut for time but that didn’t stop these two from doing their best to steal the show. This was classic ‘lucha libre’ mixed with the best of American wrestling’s storytelling. It would go on to be one of the more memorable matches of the card, quite the task given this show was headlined by Undertaker vs Shawn Michaels in Shawn’s retirement plus had Batista vs John Cena and Bret Hart vs Vince McMahon. It would go on to be one of the more memorable feuds of the year.
#2 – Eddie Guerrero Defeats Kurt Angle To Retain WWE Championships [Wrestlemania XX]
This was the first time we had a Mexican World Champion in the WWE and would have his first major title defense. It was not just at Wrestlemania, but at Wrestlemania XX in Madison Square Garden.
Just a step behind the main event Triple Threat between Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit and Triple H, this saw Angle and Guerrero show fantastic chemistry with the great mix of Angle’s technical wrestling and variety of Suplexes matching perfectly with Guerrero’s mix of similar technical wrestling, great theatrics and charisma and good ol’ ‘lucha libre’. The match climaxed with a very creative finish as Eddie Guerrero looks for a way out of the Ankle Lock. He unties his wrestling boot making Angle accidentally take it off to surprise him with a Small Package for the win. The match helped solidify Eddie as one of the most popular stars of the time in the WWE and kick off the previously mentioned spike in the Latino demographic which would be of great success for Smackdown.
5 Memorable Latino Moments At WrestleMania
#1 – Rey Mysterio Defeats Randy Orton & Kurt Angle to Win World Heavyweight Championship {Wrestlemania 22]
While this may be the crux of Eddiesploitation, this match was cut from 20 minutes to 11 resulting in the three wrestlers in the prime of their careers. They were sprinting to fit 20 minutes of action into 11. It resulted in an action-packed match very similar to TNA’s X Division of the time. Except this one involved the main event stars in the semi-main event of the card. Angle utilized his technical prowess for some amazing spots including a double German Suplex to both Orton and Rey. He was tossing both men over with Belly To Bellies in rapid succession. Orton had to showcase his athleticism to keep up with the competitors.
Rey Mysterio would cap off the match with the returning West Coast Pop for the big win. Going into Wrestlemania, this was pushed as the biggest match on the card. We saw the first crowning of a Latino as World Champion in the event. All coming off a match that very much resembled the speed, precision, emotion, and quickness. It was what you’d expect from a CMLL match. This match would very much be a gateway into how wrestling matches would play out in the future with a focus on speed and precise movements to keep crowd energy up.
Despite the exploitive nature of the storyline, it was one of the most emotional moments of the night. This was coming the day after Eddie Guerrero was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame. Rey would celebrate his victory alongside Chavo Guerrero and Vickie Guerrero
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Originally posted by AB Morales
