Fishman

Professional wrestling career Nájera began training at the Juárez municipal gym at a young age, training alongside Miguel Ángel Delgado (who would later be known as El Cobarde), Francisco Javier Delgado (later on El Impostor and El Cobarde II) and Jesus Aguilar (the future El Marquez), with the four becoming good friends. His in-ring debut came as a bit of a surprise, as he was asked by the local Juárez wrestling promoter to fill in when one of the scheduled wrestlers failed to show up for that night's show. Wearing what was described as "underwear and old boots" (in reality sports shorts and a pair of borrowed boots) Nájera wrestled under the ring name "Goliath Reyes" and lost the match. He continued his training for several months before he began working as a full-time luchador. Instead of working as Goliath Reyes he created the masked character "Titán", complete with a colorful jacket that his mother helped him create. After making a name for himself in Juárez as Fishman Nájera was called on by Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mexico's largest wrestling promotion, and began working regularly on shows in Mexico City. When he came to Mexico City EMLL officials asked him to change the colors of his mask as the gold and black was too close to the mask of El Solitario, one of EMLL's headline wrestlers. The Apuestas success was followed up by on April 9 when he defeated Blue Demon to win the NWA World Welterweight Championship, one of the top ranked championships in EMLL. In early 1977 he defeated Blue Demon to become a three time Mexican National Welterweight Champion. The following week El Cobarde caused Fishman to lose the Mexican National Weltweight Championship to Kung Fu, leading to the two facing off for their masks the following day.

On October 26, 1980, Fishman unsuccessfully challenged one of UWA's top tecnicos El Solitario for the UWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship but was unable to defeat El Solitario. UWA also enabled Fishman to travel to Japan to work for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in 1981 through their partnership agreement. On December 12, 1980, Fishman defeated Perro Aguayo to win the UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship, holding it until March 1, 1981, where he lost it to Villano III. His first reign with that particular championship only lasted two weeks before Aguayo regained it. On July 19, 1981/ A few months later Sangre Chicana won the UWA Light Heavyweight championship from Fishman.

The UWA had working relationships with promotions all over the world, which allowed Fishman to tour Central America and also worked select shows for the Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling, including an appearance at WCCW's June 1983 "Star Wars" event, where Fishman, Bill Irwin and the Mongol lost to WCCW regulars José Lothario, Chris Adams and Chavo Guerrero. On April 1, 1984, Fishman defeated Villano III in the finals of a tourmane to win his fourth UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship, the most of any wrestler while the UWA was around. On April 1, 1984, in Naucalpan, Mexico Fishman defeated Villano III in a tournament final to win his fourth UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship. Back in Mexico Fishman began to team regularly with former rival Perro Aguayo, forming a team known as Los Compadres del Diablo ("The Devil's Companions"), a team that would later include El Canek as well.

In April 1986 Fishman was wrestling against El Solitario, during said match El Solitario reinjured himself and had to be taken to the hospital straight from the arena after the match. El Solitario, real name Roberto González Cruz, complained of abdominal pain and ended up needing surgery to stop an internal bleeding. The surgery was unsuccessful as González died while on the operating table. After the death of González some lucha libre magazine actually published stories that Fishman was responsible for González' death when in fact it had nothing to do with the match with Fishman but a condition González suffered from before he got in the ring for the match. Only days after the death of González it was decided to end Fishman's UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship run, partially to allow Fishman to take some time off from the public. His regin ended on December 24, 1986, when he lost the championship to former partner Perro Aguayo.

World Wrestling Association (1988–1990) In 1988 Fishman began splitting his time between the UWA and the World Wrestling Association (WWA) based out of Tijuana, Baja California. While working for the WWA he became involved in a long running storyline feud with one of WWA's main tecnico wrestlers, Rey Misterio. The stoyline saw Fishman unmask Rey Misterio on March 25, 1988, when he won a Luchas de Apuestas match. On March 11, 1989, Rey Misterio defeated Fishman in the finals of a tournament to become the first ever WWA World Junior Light Heavyweight Champion. A few weeks later Fishman was part of Triplemania II-C as well, this time teaming with Fuerza Guerrera and Pirata Morgan, losing to El Torero, Rey Misterio, and Rey Misterio Jr. when Rey Misterio Jr. pinned Fuerza Guerrera. The following year gave him his first major victory in AAA when he, Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000 and Jerry Estrada defeated Konnan, Perro Aguayo, Latin Lover and Máscara Sagrada. He also worked the 1996 Triplemanía IV-C, teaming with Jerry Estrada, Villano IV and May Flowers only to lose to La Parka, Winners, Super Caló and El Mexicano In the fall of 1998 he teamed up with Angel Blanco, Jr. Cien Caras and El Halcon to participate in a tournament to determine the first Mexican National Atómicos Championship, defeating the team of Blue Demon Jr., Latin Lover, Mascara Sagrada and Super Calo in the first round. In the second round they lost to eventual tournament winners Pierroth Jr. and Los Villanos (III, IV and V). On March 19, 1999, CMLL held their annual Homenaje a Dos Leyendas: El Santo y Salvador Lutteroth ("Homage to Two Legends" El Santo and Salvador Lutteroth") show. The focal point of the show as the "Salvador Lutteroth Memorial tag team tournament". Fishman teamed up with fellow former UWA main eventer Villano III, but lost to Mr. Niebla and Shocker in the opening round. CMLL held another Ruleta de la Muerte tournament. For this tournament Fishman teamed with La Parka and lost in the first round to Mr. Niebla and Tinieblas Jr., but in the second round were able to defeat eventual tournament losers Shocker and Rey Bucanero.

Later career(1999–2012) In 1999 Fishman left CMLL, working a reduced schedule on the Mexican independent circuit instead. At some point after leaving CMLL he won his final mask, defeating Cina de Oro in his home town of Juárez. Eight months later Fishman was involved in another Relevos Suicida match, organized by the recently formed Global Wrestling All Stars (GWAS). The show did not draw even close to half of the 20,000 capacity, estimates were around 300, partially due to the fact that there was no storylines leading to the main event. During the match the tecnicos La Parka and Máscara Sagrada worked together initially even though there were no actual teams in the match. At one point La Parka attacked Máscara Sagrada, tearing at his mask as he tries to get Sagrada pinned and thu saving his own mask. After the other three took turns attacking Máscara Sagrada they finally pinned him to force him to defend his mask that night. A little later Fishman was pinned as well, which was seen as a surprise as it was expected that Shu El Guerrero would be the one to lose his mask. The subsequent match between Fishman and Máscara Sagrada had the crowd on their feet cheering as Máscara Sagrada's white mask and suit turned crimson with blood, either Sagrada intentionally cut himself to draw blood or it was accidental. In the end Máscara Sagrada defeated Fishman, forcing him to unmask and reveal his real name to everyone in the arena or watching on PPV, José Ángel Nájera Sánchez. During his unmasking he was joined by a young El Hijo del Fishman who helped his father untie his mask and remove it. After the match the promoters informed Fishman that they had not made enough profit from the show to pay him what they had agreed on for the mask loss. The promoters offered to sell their cars to cover the cost, but in the end they offered him a role with the promotion to stop any lawsuits.

Retirement, second-generation and death The Apuestas match would mark Nájera's retirement from lucha libre, although he did make a couple of special appearances in subsequent years, one in 2011 in Japan teaming with Black Tiger and Itoku Hidaka, losing to Original Tiger Mask, The Great Sasuke and Mr. Cacao. He also worked on the "Villano III 40th Anniversary show", teaming with former UWA Headliners Dos Caras, Scorpio Jr. and Villano III to win the main event match over Negro Navarro, Rambo, Sangre Chicana and Villano IV. Following his retirement Nájera helped his youngest son make his pro wrestling debut in 2008 after first introducing the world to El Hijo del Fishman during his final Luchas de Apuestas match. His very last match ever happened on February 2, 2012, when Nájera was 61, as Fishman and Hijo del Fishman defeated long time rival Sangre Chicano and his son Sangre Chicano Jr.

His oldest son originally worked under the ring name "Fishman, Jr.", wearing a green and yellow mask like his father, but in 2007 he changed his name to Black Fish. The oldest son was born out of wedlock and when his other son wanted to use the name Nájera decided to take back the rights to the "Fishman" name to avoid confusion. His oldest son decided to sue for the rights to the name but ended up changing his ring name to Black Fish instead, using a black and silver version of the mask his father made famous. In 2015 the magazine Calistada did a feature on the Museum of Popular Arts exhibition on Lucha Libre, featuring Fishman on the cover, chosen because he was the favorite wrestler of author Miguel Valverde. Fishman was also present for the press conference held by Calista magazine.

Nájera died on April 8, 2017, of a heart attack. It was noted that Nájera had looked frail in his last public appearances.

Championships and accomplishments Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre Mexican National Welterweight Championship (3 times) NWA World Welterweight Championship (1 time) Pro Wrestling Illustrated Ranked No. 324 of the 500 top singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003 Universal Wrestling Association UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (4 times) WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times) Copa Ovaciones y Costalazos – with Perro Aguayo and El Faraón

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesFishman (mask) Dorrel Dixon (hair) N/A Live event N/A Fishman (mask) Professor Konak (mask) N/A Live event Fishman (mask) El Cobarde (mask) Mexico City EMLL 44th Anniversary Show Fishman and Aníbal (masks) César Valentino and Kurisu (hair) Mexico City Live event Fishman (mask) El Médico I (mask) Tamaulipas, Mexico Live event N/A Máscara Sagrada (mask) Fishman (mask) Mexico City GWAS show

Footnotes