Raymundo Díaz Mendoza (March 22, 1962 – August 29, 2024), best known by his ring name Villano V (Spanish: "Villano Quinto"; English: "Villain the fifth"), was a Mexican luchador (or professional wrestler). Following his unmasking in 2009, he worked under the ring name Ray Mendoza Jr., as a tribute to his father Ray Mendoza.
Villano V | |
---|---|
Birth name | Raymundo Díaz Mendoza |
Born | Mexico City, Mexico[1] | March 22, 1962
Died | August 29, 2024 | (aged 62)
Children | Villano V Jr. (son) Rokambole Jr. (son) |
Parent(s) | Ray Mendoza (father) |
Relatives | Villano I (brother) Villano II (brother) Villano III (brother) Villano IV (brother) Villano III Jr. (nephew) El Hijo del Villano III (nephew) Alendis (daughter-in-law) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Ray Mendoza Jr. Rokambole Villano V Villano Quinto |
Billed height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2] |
Billed weight | 100 kg (220 lb)[1] |
Billed from | Mexico City, Mexico[1] |
Trained by | Ray Mendoza Villano I[3] |
Debut | March 15, 1975[3] |
Retired | 2017 |
Díaz was part of a well-known Mexican wrestling family that includes four other Villanos, I, II, III and IV. Since making his debut in 1975, Díaz wrestled for every major Mexican wrestling promotion, including Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).[4] He also worked for the United States–based World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as enhancement talent, usually appearing on secondary shows like WCW Saturday Night.
Professional wrestling career
editEarly career (1975–1983)
editRaymundo Díaz Mendoza was the son of Ray Mendoza, a well known Mexican wrestler and wrestling trainer and the brother of Villano I (José de Jesús Díaz Mendoza), Villano II (José Alfredo Díaz Mendoza), Villano III (Arturo Díaz Mendoza), and Villano IV (Tomás Díaz Mendoza). Trained by his father and oldest brother, he was not allowed to use the Villano name until he finished his education. Because Díaz's younger brother finished his degree faster than him, he was known as "V" (or 5), even though he is the fourth son of Ray Mendoza.[4] In May 1976, Díaz made his professional wrestling debut using the name "Rokambole" (originally used by his older brother Arturo before he became Villano III). Mendoza worked for several years under this name, gaining experience without the pressure of the Villano name.[5]
Mexican promotions (1983–1996)
editIn September 1983, Díaz finally took the mask and the name of his brothers and became Villano V. He immediately began teaming with his brothers, especially Villano I and Villano IV and engaged in a heated and very popular feud with the trios team of Los Brazos (Brazo de Plata, Brazo de Oro and El Brazo). On October 21, 1988, Villano I, IV, and V defeated Los Brazos in a mask vs. mask match and thus unmasked Los Brazos.[4] Over the years, Villano V and his brothers worked for Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and with shorter runs with International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) and World Wrestling Association holding tag team and trios titles in all federations.[6]
World Championship Wrestling (1996–2000)
editVillano IV and V began working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as part of the influx of luchadores in 1996. Villano V made his debut at the 1996 World War 3 event as part of the Three Ring, 60 man battle royal.[7] Subsequently, Los Villanos worked mainly the weekend shows such as WCW World Wide and WCW Saturday Night.[8] The brothers played the role of a heel and would occasionally cheat by switching places while the referee was distracted (all Villanos wore identical attire, aside from their Roman numeral distinctions). Los Villanos made a couple of appearances on WCW's main shows and PPVs such as Villano IV teaming with Konnan and La Parka to defeat Juventud Guerrera, Ciclope and Super Calo at SuperBrawl VII.[9] They also worked an eight-man tag match at Clash of the Champions XXXV, alongside Psychosis and Silver King against Guerrera, Super Calo, Héctor Garza and Lizmark Jr.[10] While working in WCW, Villano IV suffered a neck injury as a result of a failed move by Kanyon and Raven. The injury threatened to force Villano IV into retirement, but he was able to recover and was back teaming with Villano V in WCW in 2000.[11]
Mexican promotions (2000–2017)
editAt the CMLL 75th Anniversary Show on September 19, 2008, Villano V defeated longtime rival Blue Panther in a mask vs. mask match to unmask Panther after 30 years of wearing the mask. The ending was very popular with the vocal crowd at Arena Mexico prompting them to throw money into the ring (a tradition in Mexico after a great match).[12] On March 20, 2009, Villano V lost a mask vs. mask match against Último Guerrero on the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show and was forced to unmask and reveal his real name as per Lucha Libre traditions.[13] Since losing his mask Villano V regularly wrestles under the ring name "Ray Mendoza Jr." in honor of his father.[14][15] His brother Villano IV had also wrestled under the name Ray Mendoza Jr. briefly in WCW many years before.[16] He, along with his brothers Villano III and Villano IV were on hand for the 2010 Homenaje a Dos Leyendas show where CMLL honored their father Ray Mendoza with an in-ring ceremony.[17] On September 20, 2012, Mendoza Jr. made his debut for the Japanese Wrestling New Classic (WNC) promotion, when he was defeated by Dave Finlay in the main event at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall.[18] Two days later in Osaka, Mendoza Jr. defeated Tajiri in another main event.[19]
Mendoza announced that he would be retiring in early 2013, with a show on March 16, 2013, as his last wrestling appearance. The main event of the show was a Ruleta de la Muerta tag team tournament, where the losing teams advance instead of the winners and the team that loses in the main event would have to wrestle against each other to determine who would unmask. The teams for the Ruleta de la Muerta were announced as Ray Mendoza Jr. and Villano IV, El Mesias and Mil Máscaras, Máscara Año 2000 and Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Casandro and Hijo de Pirata Morgan, Cien Caras and Dr. Wagner Jr., L. A. Park and Universo 2000, and El Solar and Toscano. The Villano duo lost to Máscaras and El Mesias in the first round and lost to El Texano Jr. and Súper Nova in the second round qualifying them for the finals where the losing team would be forced to either unmask (Villano IV) or have their hair shaved off (Mendoza Jr.). The team faced, and defeated the team of El Hijo de Pirata Morgan and Cassandro which meant El Hijo de Pirata Morgan had to unmask and reveal his birthname, Antheus Ortiz Chávez, while Cassandro had all his hair shaved off as is traditional with Luchas de Apuestas losses.[20] The undercard featured a match with Ray Mendoza Jr.'s sons Kaving and Kortiz, teaming with Dr. Cerebro and Cerebro Negro losing to the team of Eita, Fénix, Freelance, and Mike Segura.[21] On March 21, 2013, only 4 days after his official retirement show Ray Mendoza Jr. was announced as working on CMLL's Arena Coliseo 70th Anniversary Show on April 7, claiming that due to poor attendance for his retirement show he personally lost $38,000 promoting the show and thus was forced to return to wrestling to make that money back.[22] On June 16, Mendoza returned to AAA at Triplemanía XXI, challenging El Texano Jr. to a future match for the AAA Mega Championship.[23]
Personal life
editRaymundo Díaz Mendoza was the fourth son and seventh child overall of José Díaz Velazquez and Guadalupe "Lupita" Mendoza. His brothers, like himself all became wrestlers: José de Jesús (Villano I), Alfredo (Villano II), Arturo (Villano III) and Tomás (Villano IV).[5] His mother Lupita died in 1986, his second oldest brother Alfredo died in 1989, his oldest brother José de Jesús died in 2001 and his father José Diaz died on April 16, 2003.[5] Díaz was adamant that his sons get a good education instead of becoming wrestlers, wishing that they become lawyers or doctors as he wanted to spare them the physical suffering he experienced himself. Once he realized that his two oldest sons had begun wrestling under masks he agreed to train them and help their wrestling careers. He was also instrumental in training his youngest two sons, although he insisted they both get college degrees before they were allowed to begin wrestling. Since his youngest son Tomás finished his education first he became known as "Villano IV" while Raymundo, the second youngest son, became "Villano V".[5] Mendoza has two sons, who are also professional wrestlers, the two began their careers as the masked characters Kortiz, and Kaving. Mendoza's nephews (sons of Arturo Mendoza) wrestle as Villano III Jr. and El Hijo del Villano III.[24] On June 6, 2017, Mendoza introduced Villano V Jr., his oldest son who had worked as "Kaving" up until that point, to the public after the young luchador was officially licensed under the name and presented him with the distinctive Villano mask.[25]
Díaz died on August 29, 2024, at the age of 62.[26]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- Asistencia Asesoría y Administración / AAA
- AAA Americas Trios Championship (2 times) – with Villano III and Villano IV[27]
- Mexican National Atómicos Championship (1 time) – with Villano III, Villano IV and Pierroth Jr.[28]
- International Wrestling Revolution Group (Grupo Internacional Revolucion)
- IWRG Intercontinental Trios Championship (1 time) – with Villano III and Villano IV[29]
- Copa Higher Power (2003)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Universal Wrestling Association
- UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[31]
- UWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Villano IV[32]
- UWA World Trios Championship (5 times) – with Villano I and Villano IV (4), Scorpio Jr. and Shu El Guerrero (1)[33]
- Universal Wrestling Entertainment
- UWE Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Villano IV[34]
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Villano IV[35]
- WWA World Trios Championship (1 time) – with Villano III and Villano IV[36]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Worst Match of the Year (2015) with Villano III and Villano IV vs. Monster Clown, Murder Clown and Psycho Clown on August 9[37]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2022)
Luchas de Apuestas record
editWinner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rokambole (mask) | Perro Sosa (hair) | Mexico City | Live event | February 12, 1977 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Bronco (hair) | Toluca, Mexico State | Live event | March 27, 1977 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Cuervo Blanco (hair) | Moctezuma, Mexico State | Live event | October 1977 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Perro Sosa (hair) | Mexico City | Live event | December 17, 1977 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Super Libre (mask) | Puebla, Puebla | Live event | May 12, 1978 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Comanche (hair) | Mexico City | Live event | June 13, 1978 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Azcasgary (hair) | Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas | Live event | August 13, 1978 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Caballero Negro (hair) | Xalapa, Veracruz | Live event | December 14, 1978 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Socio (mask) | Acapulco, Guerrero | Live event | January 6, 1980 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Jose Luis Mendieta (hair) | Mexico City | Live event | May 1980 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Huichol Tapatío (hair) | Querétaro, Querétaro | Live event | March 20, 1980 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Castorcito (hair) | Mexico City | Live event | June 1980 | |
Rokambole (mask) | Guerrero Negro (hair) | Celaya, Guanajuato | Live event | September 21, 1980 | |
Los Villanos (mask) (Villano I, Villano IV and Villano V) |
Los Brazos (mask) (Brazo de Plata, Brazo de Oro and El Brazo) |
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon | Live event | October 21, 1988 | [38] |
Los Villanos (mask) Villano I, Villano IV and Villano V |
Mercenarios Americanos (mask) Tim Patterson, Louie Spicolli and Bill Anderson |
Tijuana, Baja California | Live event | July 19, 1991 | |
Villano V (mask) | Blue Panther (mask) | Mexico City | CMLL 75th Anniversary Show | September 19, 2008 | [12] |
Último Guerrero (mask) | Villano V (mask) | Mexico City | Homenaje a Dos Leyendas | March 20, 2009 | [13] |
Villano IV (mask) and Ray Mendoza Jr. (hair) | Hijo de Pirata Morgan (mask) and Cassandro (hair) | Naucalpan, Mexico State | Rey Mendoza Jr. retirement show | March 16, 2006 | [Note 1][20] |
Rey Mendoza Jr. (hair), Kaving (mask) and Kortiz (mask) | Tony Rivera, Dr. Killer Jr. and Ciclon Black (hair) | Los Reyes la Paz | live event | November 28, 2014 | [39] |
Ray Mendoza Jr. (hair) | Mr. Elektro (hair) | Naucalpan, Mexico State | 55th Anniversary of Lucha Libre in Estado de México | December 3, 2017 | [40] |
- ^ Finals of a Ruleta de la Muerte tournament
References
edit- ^ a b c "PWI Official Ratings". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. London Publishing. February 2009. p. 145. Vol 30, Nr. 2 2009.
- ^ Ocampo, Jorge (September 24, 2007). "Infierno en el ring, 74 aniversario de la arena mexico". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ a b Kristian Pope & Ray Whebbe (2003). The Encyclopedia of Professional Wrestling: 100 Years of History, Headlines and Hitmakers (2nd ed.). Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87349-625-4.
- ^ a b c Lourdes Grobet; Alfonso Morales; Gustavo Fuentes & Jose Manuel Aurrecoechea (2005). Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Trilce. ISBN 978-1-933045-05-4.
- ^ a b c d Madigan, Dan (2007). "Dorada de lucha libre: Las Leyendas, las peleas, los fósforos del resentimiento (the golden age of lucha libre: the legends, the feuds, the grudge matches): Ray Mendoza and Los Villanos". Mondo Lucha a Go-Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 193–197. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "World War 3 1996". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ Cawthon, Graham. "Ring Results: WCW 1997". thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
Rey Mysterio Jr. would face Villano IV the following weekend on WCW Saturday Night
- ^ "SuperBrawl VII". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ "Clash of Champions XXXV". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
- ^ Cawthon, Graham. "Ring Results: WCW 2000–2001". thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
WCW Saturday Night taping: 2/12/00: Ron and Don Harris defeated Villano IV and V
- ^ a b "And the loser of tonight's big mask match was". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- ^ a b "Adiós Villano V; hola Ray Mendoza Jr". Ovaciones (in Spanish). Mexico, D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V. March 30, 2009. p. 22. Número 21542 Año LXII. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2009.
- ^ Manuel Flores; Manuel Rivera (March 23, 2009). "Cayó la máscara de Villano V". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Mexico, D.F. pp. 3–7. 307.
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (March 27, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 2009: Villano V se convierte en Ray Mendoza Jr… Perros del Mal vs. Santo, Wagner, Park". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
- ^ Cawthon, Graham (2015). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995-2001. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1499656343.
- ^ Marquina, Alva (March 19, 2010). "CMLL- Arena México (Cobertura y Resultados 19 marzo 2010) – Felino y Místico vs. Volador Jr. y Sombra por las máscaras". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 20, 2010.
- ^ 皇帝対決の行方は!? 9・20後楽園ホール大会 全試合結果 (in Japanese). Wrestling New Classic. September 20, 2012. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
- ^ メキシコの皇帝、大阪降臨! 9・22ムーブ・オンアリーナ大会 全試合結果 (in Japanese). Wrestling New Classic. September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- ^ a b Valdés, Apolo (March 17, 2013). "Ray Mendoza Jr. dijo adiós a la Lucha Libre". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ "Torneo de la muerte en despedida de Ray Mendoza Jr". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh (March 22, 2013). "Viva la Raza! Lucha Weekly 3/22/13". WrestleView. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
- ^ Cano Vela, Eduardo (June 11, 2013). "AAA #TripleManíaXXI (Cobertura y Resultados 16 de junio de 2013) – El Hijo del Perro Aguayo vs. Cibernético por las Cabelleras – Blue Demon Jr. vs. El Mesías por el Campeonato Latinoamericano". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 16, 2013.
- ^ "El Villano III anunció su retiro". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ Vacah, Jose (June 6, 2017). Ocampo, Ernesto (ed.). "¡Nace el Villano V Jr.! — se presentará en el Festival de las Máscaras, de IWRG" [Villano V Jr. is born! Will be at IWRG's Festival de las Máscaras]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico: Impresos Camsam, SA de CV. ISSN 1665-8876. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (August 29, 2024). "Hall of Fame luchador Villano V passes away". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: AAA American Trios Titles". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Atómicos Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 402. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "2000 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 9, 2001. pp. 2–20. issue 2488.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 1998 :112. Villano IV". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. August 1998. p. 35. October 1998.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: UWA Lightweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 400. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: UWA Tag Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: UWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Mexicool, Rey (July 4, 2011). "UWE "Tarde de Campeones" (Resultados 3 de julio): La Dinastía Imperial, nuevos Campeones de Parejas UWE". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 4, 2011.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: WWA Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 401. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: WWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 401. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (January 25, 2016). "January 25, 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2015 Observer Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 42. ISSN 1083-9593.
- ^ "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Brazo, Brazo de Oro, Brazo de Plata (in Spanish). Mexico. July 2007. pp. 39–41. Tomo I.
- ^ Mas Luchas TV (December 4, 2014). "Resumen: Ray Mendoza Jr., Kaving y Kortiz vs Tony Rivera, Dr. Killer y Ciclón Black" (in Spanish). YouTube. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ Lizarraga, Alfonso (December 4, 2017). "Ray Mendoza Jr. deja sin cabellera a Mr. Electro". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved September 15, 2018.
External links
edit- Ray Mendoza Jr. at IMDb
- Villano V's profile at Cagematch.net , Internet Wrestling Database