Apolo Dantés

Apolo Dantés
Birth name José Luis Amezcua Muñoz
Born (1968-09-28) September 28, 1968[1]
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Apolo Dantés[1]
Billed height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) [1]
Billed weight 105 kg (231 lb)[1]
Billed from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Trained by Alfonso Dantés[1]
Diablo Velazco[1]
Alberto Muñoz[1]
Debut December 4, 1988[1]

José Luis Amezcua Muñoz (born September 28, 1968) is a Mexican Luchador, or professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Apolo Dantés. He was a longtime mainstay of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) throughout the 1990s and now owns and operates "Dantés Wrestling Factory" in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He is the son of Alfonso Dantés, a legendary luchador during the 1960s and 1970s. Dantés has toured Japan and often teamed with El Hijo del Santo and Dr. Wagner, Jr. in six-man tag team matches against The Headhunters and various partners during the mid-1990s. And was a member of the group Los Capos along with Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000, and Universo 2000.

Professional wrestling career

Amezuca trained for his professional wrestling career under his father Alfonso Dantés, Alberto Muñoz and renowned Lucha libre trainier Diablo Velazco.[1] He made his debut on December 4, 1988, under the name "Apolo Dantés", adopting the same last name as his father used.[1] Through his fathers connections Dantés began working regularly for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in the very early part the 1990s. On July 25, 1992, Dantés became the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion when he defeated El Satánico.[2] Dantés held the prestigious title for 243 days until Jaque Mate defeated him for it.[2] On September 11, 1994, Dantés won the CMLL World Middleweight Championship by defeating Javier Llanes, but lost the belt 77 days later to Satánico.[3] He defeated Silver King to win the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship on June 23, 1995.[4] During his reign as Heavyweight Champion Dantés successfully defended it against both Corazon de Leon and Vampiro.[5] Dantés lost the title to Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. on April 14, 1996.[4] In mid-1996 Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000 returned to CMLL after working elsewhere for four years. The trio began teaming with Apolo Dantés to form a group called Los Capos ("The Bosses"), a Rudo (bad guy) group that was heavily featured in CMLL's heavyweight division. Dantés competed in the 1997 CMLL International Gran Prix but was defeated in the semi-final by eventual tournament winner Steel.[6] A year later he made it all the way to the finals of the 1998 version of the Gran Prix but lost to Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.[7]

In late 1998 and into 1999 Apolo Dantés worked for the United States-based World Wrestling Federation appearing exclusively on the Spanish language show WWF Super Astros where he wrestled against other Mexican Luchadors. In 2003 Apolo Dantés last in-ring highlight saw him earn a match for the CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Mr. Niebla but was defeated in three falls.[5] By the middle-2000s Apolo Dantés was more active as a wrestling trainer and match-maker at CMLL's Arena Coliseo in his native Guadalajara, Jalisco. For the next couple of years he booked matches for the weekly shows, as well as training various trainees for CMLL. In mid-2009 Dantés was fired from his position at Arena Coliseo by CMLL after holding the job for four years.[8] Following his dismissal from Arena Coliseo Dantés formed his own wrestling school and promotion called "Dantés' Wrestling Factory", based in Guadalajara, Jalisco.[9]

Personal life

Amezcua is the son of professional wrestler Alfonso "Tanque" Dantés who had a hand in training both José and his brother Cesar Dantés. His grandfather used to wrestle as Al Amenzuca and Alfonso Dantés' brothers wrestle as Septiembre Negro and Indio Jerónimo. Amezuca is also related on his mother's side to retired wrestler Alberto Muñoz.[10]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Apolo Dantés (hair) Super Brazo (hair) Unknown Live event Unknown  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Asesino Negro (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event Unknown  
El Dandy (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Unknown Live event Unknown  
El Dandy (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Unknown Live event Unknown  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Bestia Salvaje (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event 1980s  
Apolo Dantés (hair) La Araña (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event 1989  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Javier Cruz (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event August 9, 1991  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Cachorro Mendoza (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event April 1992  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Javier Cruz (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event April 5, 1992  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Comando Ruso (hair) Cuernavaca, Morelos Live event July 30, 1992  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Mogur (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event December 18, 1994  
Apolo Dantés (hair) Miguel Pérez, Jr. (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event October 13, 1995  
Ricky Santana (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City, Mexico CMLL 65th Anniversary Show September 18, 1998 [15]
Apolo Dantés (hair) Pepe Aguayo (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event July 4, 1999  
Brazo de Plata (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event November 26, 1999 [Note 2]
Emilio Charles, Jr. (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event November 23, 2001  
Pierroth, Jr. (hair) Apolo Dantés (hair) Mexico City, Mexico Live event February 18, 2003  

Notes

  1. ↑ Despite its use of the NWA for some of its championships, CMLL is not an NWA affiliated promotion and hasn't been since 1990. As a result, the National Wrestling Alliance no longer sanctions or recognizes any of those championships.
  2. ↑ This was a triangle match that also included Pierroth, Jr..

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Apolo Dantés". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 389. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  3. 1 2 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Middleweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 395. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  4. 1 2 3 Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 39. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. 1 2 Boutwell, Josh (March 13, 2009). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". WrestleView. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Gran Prix Tournament 1997". Pro Wrestling History. April 4, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Gran Prix Tournament 1998". Pro Wrestling History. August 14, 1998. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  8. ↑ Ruiz Glez, Alex (July 4, 2009). "Apolo Dantes queda fuera de la direccion de la Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  9. ↑ Ruiz Glez, Alex (August 8, 2009). ""Dante's Lucha Factory" La nueva empresa de Lucha Libre de Apolo Dantes ahora de manera independiente". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  10. ↑ Madigan, Dan (2007). "A family affair". Mondo Lucha a Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperColins Publisher. pp. 128–132. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  11. ↑ "2001 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 13, 2002. pp. 10–25. 2540.
  12. ↑ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: Copa de Oro 1994". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 398. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  13. ↑ "Copa Junior Tag Team Tournament 1995". Pro Wrestling History. September 1, 1995. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 – 2003 :204 – Apolo Dantes". Pro Wrestling Illustrated (Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC). August 2003. p. 103. October 2003.
  15. ↑ "65th Anniversary Show". Pro Wrestling History. September 21, 1998. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
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