Bobby Bonales

Roberto Aceves (September 25, 1916 – June 26, 1994), better known under the ring name Bobby Bonales, was a Mexican professional wrestler, who was active during the early days of pro-wrestling in Mexico, making his debut in 1934. Aceves’ son Daniel Aceves is an Olympic medal winner in Greco-Roman wrestling. As Bonales, Aceves held several championships including the NWA World Welterweight Championship, the Mexican National Middleweight Championship and the Mexican National Lightweight Championship. In recent years Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) has honored Bonales on several occasions. Known as La Maravilla Moreliana ("The Marvel from Morelia"); Bonales innovated the Topé Suicida wrestling moves. Bonales became one of the first wrestlers to train under Diablo Velasco, Later that same year Bonales began a high-profile storyline feud with El Santo, who at the time was an emerging performer in Mexico. On June 11, 1943, Bobby Bonales defeated El Santo to win the Mexican National Middleweight Championship as part of that storyline. The following year at the EMLL 16th Anniversary Show Bonales teamed up with Tarzán López to defeat El Santo and Gory Guerrero in the main event of the show. On July 11, 1952, defeated Gory Guerrero to win the NWA World Welterweight Championship only to lose it to El Santo two months later. Bonales retired from active, in-ring competition in the mid-1960s and focused on training instead. Early on he trained José de Jesús Díaz Mendoza, who later became known as Villano I as well as his brother José Alfredo Díaz Mendoza, also known as Villano II prior to the Mendoza brother's debut in 1969. Later on he would train his son Daniel Aceves in amateur wrestling, starting him off on a career that would see Daniel represent Mexico at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Aceves won a silver medal in the Men's Greco-Roman 52 kg.

Death and legacy Aceves died from cancer on June 26, 1994, at the age of 77, survived by his son Daniel. In 2009 Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), the renamed EMLL, honored Bobby Bonales by awarding a trophy, the Copa Bobby Bonales to the wrestler voted the "Best Technical wrestler" for that year. The first recipient was Blue Panther, followed by Negro Casas in 2010 and Atlantis in 2011. CMLL did not award the Copa Bobby Bonales from 2012 or 2013 but in 2014 they brought it back and awarded it to Último Guerrero. On March 2, 2012, CMLL honored Bonales as part of their 2012 Homenaje a Dos Leyendas ("Homage to two legends"), including an in-ring dedication to Bonales during the show and presenting his son Daniel with a commemorative plaque in Bonales' honor.

The Copa Bobby Bonales increasingly expanded its purview, was awarded to a larger field of people each year, and has essentially become a lifetime achievement award.

Copa Bobby Bonales winners Year Winner Reference

Mexican National Middleweight Championship (2 times) NWA World Welterweight Championship (1 time) Homenaje a Dos Leyendas honoree (2012)

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesEl Murciélago Enmascarado (mask) Bobby Bonales (hair) Mexico City Live event El Santo (mask) Bobby Bonales (hair) Mexico City EMLL 10th Anniversary Show El Santo (mask) Bobby Bonales (hair) N/A Live event Cavernario Galindo (hair) Bobby Bonales Mexico City Live event Bobby Bonales (hair) El Hindu (hair) Mexico City Live event