El Santo, Not To Be Confused with the Wrestler

As I've been updating The Saint in Spanish bibliography I keep running accross El Santo the Mexican wrestler. His real name was Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, but much of the world knew him as "El Santo," the most beloved wrestler in Mexican Lucha Libre history.

El Santo was famous for his silver mask, and the fact that he was never seen without it. More than any other wrestler, El Santo was able to keep his true identity and face a mystery and this served him well in creating a mystique which increased his popularity with wrestling fans across Mexico. His appeal, however, did not stop with grappling fans and he would eventually became one of the most popular movie stars in all of Mexico, performing in movies such as Santo vs. the Vampire Women, Santo in the Wax Museum, Mummies of Guanauato, and others. With all of his success and after so many years as an active performer, El Santo decided to call it quits and retired from the Ring in 1983, one year after the debut in the Ring of his son, El Higo Del Santo (The Son of The Saint). For the next two years El Santo worked as a performer in a nightclub, continuing to entertain his fans. On February 5, 1984 he suffered a fatal heart attack in Mexico City, Mexico and the world mourned the loss of an honored champion. True to his larger than life persona, El Santo was buried days later - with his mask on.


Take a further look at the wrestling career of El Santo at the Wrestling Museum, or view the Wikipedia article on El Santo.

For more Spanish information about Simon Templar, alias El Santo, as written about by Leslie Charteris, check out The Saint Around The World: Spain, Mexico, Chile, and Argentina.

Labels: 2007, El Santo, Spanish, Wikipedia

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