Rayo de Jalisco

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Rayo de Jalisco (Ray of Jalisco)

Name Rayo de Jalisco (Ray of Jalisco) Real name Máximino "Max" Linares Moreno Nicknames none Name history Mr. Misterio (50 - ??), Águila Negra, Dr. Curtis (08/54 - 57), Tony Curtis (57), El Rayo (?? - 03/58), Rayo de Jalisco (03/58 - retirement) Family Tony and Black Sugar (brothers), Rayo de Jalisco Jr. (son), Mitzuki Wong (daughter-in-law), Rayman (grandson), Ultra Rayo (nephew), Mister Rayo (nephew), Rayo Star (nephew) Maestro(s) Tony Sugar Birth date, location November 22, 1932 - Milpa Alta, Mexico City Obituary date Debut, location 1950 - Tulancingo, Hidalgo Lost mask to Blue Demon - July 30, 1989 - Plaza de Toros Monumental - Monterrey, Nuevo León Height Weight Signature moves Tope en reversa Titles: Occident Welterweight Title, NWA World Middleweight Title (3), National Tag Team Titles (2, w/ El Santo)

Wrestling Observer Hall Of Fame Member

Biography

Maximino Linares Moreno is the real name of the man who gave life to Rayo de Jalico for more than 30 years. Máx Linares was born November 22, 1932 around Milpa Alta. When he turned 18, and was now living in Tulancingo, Linares decided to become a wrestler, and ended up becoming a legend.

pre-Rayo de Jalisco career

As with many luchadores Máx. Linares wrestled under other identites before his famous one. He debuted in Feburary 1950 as Mr. Misterio, then changed to Aduila Negro when wrestling in Mexico City. By 1954, he was in Torreón, having been taught by his brother Tony Sugar and then under the name as Dr. Curtis. Linares changed his name once again in 1957, becoming Tony Curtis when he moved to Guadlajara.

In 1960, Linares moved to Aguascalientes took the el Rayo name, and actually became Rayo de Jalisco outside of Jalisco (in Juarez); he wasn't legally allowed to use the name in Guadalajara (though he did in 1962) because another wrestler (Fili Espinoza) owned the rights. Fili eventually gave the rights to the name, and Rayo de Jalisco offically debuted in Coliseo Tapatia against el Enfermero in 1962.

Career Highlights

Rayo de Jalisco immediatly was succesful, winning the NWA World Middleweight Championship and Occidente Welterweigth Championship quickly. Rayo won his first hair, Chino Chow and defeated rival La Bestia for his mask by 1964. Rayo formed a popular tag team with Blue Demon and was named best wrestler of 1963.

Rayo was famous for his reverse tope, and was among the top stars of his era. His fame could be compared to Santo, Blue Demon, and Black Shadow. Like many other stars, he appeared in movies (including Superzam el Invencible (1971), El Robo de las Momias de Guanajuato (1972), Los Campeones Justicieros (1972) and El Triunfo de los Campeones Justicieros (1974). Rayo was an exciting wrestler and a regional hero. Most believed he was a Jalisco-born wrestler who'd gone onto great success.

End of Career

Rayo de Jalisco feuded with Blue Demon near the end of both their careers. Demon was actually retired before Rayo drew him back in the ring for a big mask match between the two. Rayo was defeated, revealing himself to the world as Maximino Linares Moreno, and wrestled a few matches unmasked before retiring.

Rayo de Jalisco is still remembered today, based on his success and his son, Rayo de Jalisco Jr.

Partial Source: Biografias de Leyenda

Luchas de apuestas record

Date	Apuesta	Winner(s)	Loser(s)	Arena and/or Place
??/??/??	hair	Rayo de Jalisco	Chino Chow	unknown
63/??/??	mask	Rayo de Jalisco	La Máscara	unknown
64/??/??	mask	Rayo de Jalisco	La Bestia	Arena México - Mexico City
75/04/06	mask	Rayo de Jalisco	Guerrero Negro	unknown
78/09/17	masks	Rayo de Jalisco & Huracán Ramírez	Los Hermanos Muerte	unknown
89/07/30	mask	Blue Demon	Rayo de Jalisco	Plaza de Toros Monumental - Monterrey, N.L.

Gallery

rayo sr 60's

magazing showing the mask match 1964

rayo de jalisco 70's