19 Facts About Ray Mendoza

Jose Diaz Velazquez, better known by his ring name Ray Mendoza, was a Mexican luchador.

Ray Mendoza was the father of Los Villanos, Villano I, Villano II, Villano III, Villano IV, and Villano V, and the grandfather of Villano III Jr.

Ray Mendoza worked for a while as an enmascarado character called Gargantua between 1954 and 1955.

In 1956, Ray Mendoza began working for Salvador Lutteroth's Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre, the world's oldest and Mexico's largest wrestling promotion.

Ray Mendoza made his debut at EMLL's main arena Arena Coliseo in February 1956 in a battle royal that included EMLL headliners Gory Guerrero, El Santo, Cavernario Galindo, Blue Demon and Black Shadow, a match that immediately established him as someone who Lutteroth saw potential in.

In EMLL, Ray Mendoza struck up a friendship with Rene Guajardo and Karloff Lagarde out of the ring and a "partnership in crime" in the ring as the three became one of the most hated trio in lucha libre at the time.

In 1959, Ray Mendoza won his first championship, defeating Dory Dixon to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship.

In 1965, Ray Mendoza's in-ring success helped make him very popular with the fans, so popular it was decided to turn him tecnico.

Guajardo and Ray Mendoza feuded over the NWA World Middleweight Championship, although once Ray Mendoza won it, he vacated it to focus on the Light Heavyweight division.

Years later, Ray Mendoza was instrumental in the careers of his sons who wrestled as Villano I, Villano II, and Villano III.

Ray Mendoza was already unhappy with the lack of attention his sons were getting in EMLL as well as the very rigid and conservative way of running show; when Lutteroth Jr.

Ray Mendoza vacated the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship and along with Guajardo and Lagarde resigned from EMLL.

Since Ray Mendoza had been synonymous with the Light Heavyweight division throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it was not a great surprise that he became the first UWA World Light Heavy Champion, although at this point in his career, he was used more to help wrestlers such as El Solitario and Gran Hamada gain credibility as they defeated Ray Mendoza for the title.

Ray Mendoza spent a lot of time guiding the careers of his three youngest sons Villano I, II, and III who were quickly gaining fame in the UWA.

Ray Mendoza announced his retirement in late 1982 and following a retirement tour of Mexico and Panama, he retired from in-ring action in early 1983.

Ray Mendoza trained various wrestlers at the UWA school along with his son VIllano I, Lagarde and Felipe Ham Lee, training wrestlers up until the UWA closed in 1995.

Ray Mendoza was originally 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.

Ray Mendoza was instrumental in training his youngest two sons, although he insisted they both get college degrees before they were allowed to begin wrestling.

Ray Mendoza's funeral was held two days later and was attended by over 100 people, longtime friends and luchadors who grew up admiring Ray Mendoza's in-ring exploits paid their last respect.