Cyclone Negro

Background Rodriguez was born in San Felipe, Venezuela on April 7, 1932. In his early days he was a welder, an occupation he would return to in later years. At the height of his popularity he was recognized as being one of the best wrestlers of the day. He was also something of a showman and broke boards and objects over his head to show how hard it was. He was successful in the 1970s with his matches against Dory Funk Sr. and Terry Funk.

Professional wrestling career 1950s to 1960s Negro had a 28-year career that lasted until his retirement in the 1980s. He was also responsible for helping the careers of two wrestlers, Omar Atlas and Mario Milano, the latter who he helped bring to the United States.

He trained as a boxer in his early days. Due to his physique and increase in size, he switched to wrestling, becoming a pro wrestler in 1956. He went under the name of Ciclon Venezolano which in English meant the Venezuelan Cyclone. He had met Omar Atlas in a gym and they became friends. It was Negro who introduced Atlas to wrestling and thus kick started his career. Negro went to Europe in 1958 and over the next six years at various stages, he wrestled in Spain, France, Belgium, England, Germany and Italy. In 1978, he defeated Dusty Rhodes and took the NWA Florida Heavyweight title. In 1982, he defeated El Monarca and took the NWA Americas Heavyweight title. In 1984, he retired from wrestling after a tour with the Japanese UWF.

Death Rodriguez died February 20, 2013, at age 80. NWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Dory Dixon, Oscar Salazar and Ricki Starr NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Torbellino Blanco (3) and Dory Dixon NWA Tri-State NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time) – Dr. X NWA Western States Sports NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (6 times) NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Amarillo version) (3 times) NWA International Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (4 times) NWA Rocky Mountain Heavyweight Championship (2 times) NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – with Karl Von Steiger World Championship Wrestling NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship (1 time) World Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)