Tony Rivera worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre for over 10 years, followed by him working on the Mexican independent circuit, particularly for International Wrestling Revolution Group and International Wrestling League.
26 Facts About Tony Rivera
1.
2.
Tony Rivera originally worked as an Enmascarado or masked wrestler under the ring names Paris and Renegado but has used the name Tony Rivera since 1996.
3.
Not long after the loss of his mask Espinosa began working as "Tony Rivera", an unmasked tecnico wrestling character.
4.
Tony Rivera started wrestling at Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre wrestling school under Tony Salazar.
5.
Tony Rivera participated in a tournament to determine the first IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Champion.
6.
Tony Rivera lost in the finals of the tournament to El Pantera.
7.
Later in the year Rivera, Fantasy, Mr Aguila, Neblina and Tony Rivera won the 1997 Copa Higher Power tournament, an IWRG tournament for wrestlers who were still considered "trainees" A few months later he competed in Toryumon's Young Dragon's Cup, where he made it to the finals, but was defeated.
8.
On November 30,1997 Tony Rivera won his first significant Luchas de Apuestas match as he defeated Reyes Veloz during a show in CMLL's Arena Coliseo, forcing Veloz to have all his hair shaved off after the match.
9.
In June, 1998 Tony Rivera was teamed up with Emilio Charles Jr.
10.
Only weeks later Tony Rivera defeated Guerrero de la Muerte in a Luchas de Apuestas, forcing Guerrero de la Muerte to be shaved bald after the match.
11.
Tony Rivera was one of 16 competitors in a torneo cibernetico elimination match that was part of the 2000 Juicio Final show held by CMLL on March 17,2000.
12.
On May 18,2000 Tony Rivera defeated Super Cacao after the two lost a Relevos Suicidas match to Brazo de Oro and Fugaz.
13.
CMLL had a working relationship with the regional International Wrestling Revolution Group, which meant that wrestlers such as Tony Rivera often traveled to Naucalpan to work for IWRG.
14.
On July 28,2002 Tony Rivera defeated Bombero Infernal to win the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship.
15.
Tony Rivera was one of the competitors in the sixth International Gran Prix tournament, held on March 22,2002 in Arena Mexico.
16.
Tony Rivera held the dubious distinction of being the first man eliminated, pinned by Halloween.
17.
In 2003 Tony Rivera was one of 10 low ranked wrestlers who competed in Guapos U competing against El Terrible, Mr Power, Genetico, Zumbido, Ricky Marvin, Loco Max, Alex Steel, Marshall and Caballero for membership in a group called Los Guapos.
18.
Tony Rivera worked on a regular basis from the Naucalpan based International Wrestling Revolution Group with his first major show being the Arena Naucalpan 33rd Anniversary where he teamed up with El Angel and El Pantera to defeat Los Gringos VIP.
19.
On June 17,2011 CMLL was getting ready to hold their 2011 Juicio Final show, but prior to the show Tony Rivera orchestrated a protest, blocking the entrance to Arena Mexico with a fleet of buses, claiming that CMLL were not paying their workers a fair wage.
20.
On January 12,2012 Tony Rivera was teamed up with Triton for their annual El Protector tag team tournament, a tournament where a veteran wrestler would team up with a rookie for a one night tournament.
21.
Tony Rivera escaped the cage with Chico Che ending up bald by the end of the night.
22.
In May, 2012 Tony Rivera was one of eight men competing in a tournament for the vacant IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship, Tony Rivera would lose in the first round to The Mummy.
23.
Tony Rivera made regular appearances for the International Wrestling League, taking part in their 'Guerra de Empresas tournament, but did not make it to the finals.
24.
Tony Rivera later teamed up with Veneno to compete for the vacant IWL International Tag Team Championship.
25.
Back with IWRG Tony Rivera ended up winning the hair of Bombero Infernal as he defeated him in the finals of that year's El Castillo del Terror.
26.
Tony Rivera followed up his IWRG success by defeating Oficial AK-47 in a Luchas de Apuestas match on March 16,2014.