El Mongol was most famous in the Georgia territory during the late 1960s and early '70s.
17 Facts About El Mongol
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El Mongol got his start wrestling throughout Mexico and the United States, and by January 1966 he was in the Los Angeles-based Worldwide Wrestling Associates, where he captured the vacant World Tag Team Championship with partner Gorilla Monsoon.
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The duo held the belts for little more than two weeks, but El Mongol recaptured a share of the title on April 18,1966, with partner Buddy Austin, holding the championship for a further two months.
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Under the tutelage of dapper manager Dandy Jack Crawford, El Mongol quickly became one of the promotion's top heels.
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On February 24,1967, El Mongol won the Georgia Heavyweight Title for the first time, defeating Buddy Fuller.
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El Mongol lost it after a month to Nick Kozak, but took it back three weeks later.
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In December 1967, El Mongol was suspended by GCW promoter Paul Jones for getting himself disqualified too often so he could retain the title.
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On July 6,1968, El Mongol was partnered with stablemate Tarzan Tyler in a tag match against the Torres brothers.
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El Mongol switched to a face as he feuded with his former manager Crawford and his stable.
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The feud only lasted a few weeks as El Mongol soon departed under the pretense that Crawford had sold El Mongol's contract to a Peruvian company.
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Again a heel, El Mongol became WWA's last Heavyweight Champion before WWA merged with the NWA.
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On February 7,1969, El Mongol won the Heavyweight Title a sixth time, defeating Dale Lewis.
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El Mongol wrestled in the Tampa region during the second half of 1969 before returning to the GCW for a third stint starting in January 1970.
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El Mongol held the GCW Heavyweight Title twice more during 1971 and 1972, for a total of eight reigns over five years.
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El Mongol moved on to Ann Gunkel's short-lived All South Wrestling Alliance, where he co-held another Tag Team Championship with Ray Candy in 1973.
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El Mongol proceeded to wrestle for another decade, briefly holding the AWA Southern Tag Team belts with Killer Karl Krupp during the summer of 1980 as a heel .
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El Mongol operated the Griffin eatery, while Maria ran the Atlanta restaurant.