Lizmark

Juan Baños was a Mexican professional wrestler better known by the ring name Lizmark. The name was taken from the German battleship Bismarck. He was a multiple-time champion, having held singles and tag team championships in both Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre / Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (EMLL/CMLL) and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA). In 2001, Lizmark was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. His nickname was El Geniecillo Azul, which is Spanish for "The Little Blue Genius". He has two sons who are also professional wrestlers, Lizmark, Jr. and El Hijo de Lizmark.

Professional wrestling career Baños grew up in Acapulco, and started a career in hotel management. He was also into bodybuilding, winning the 1971 Mr. Acapulco and 1972 Mr. Guerrero competitions.

Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (1978–1992) After working mainly around Acapulco for a couple of years he was signed to a full-time contract by Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) in 1978. On April 18, 1978 Lizmark defeated Américo Rocca to win the Mexican National Welterweight Championship. His first title reign lasted 346 days, ending on March 29, 1980 when Rocca regained the title, but it was an indicator of things to come for Lizmark.

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (1992–1995) When EMLL booker Antonio Peña left EMLL to create his own promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), in mid-1992 Lizmark was one of the many wrestlers that were loyal to Peña and left to join AAA. In AAA he defeated Universo 2000 to become the first AAA based Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion after Universo 2000 had brought the title with him when he jumped to AAA. Their feud was one of the featured matches at the very first Triplemanía where Lizmark defended the Mexican title against La Parka in a match that originally saw La Parka cheat to win the third fall, only to have it overturned by the wrestling commission. The fourth fall between the two went to a draw that allowed Lizmark to retain his championship. Further fuel was added to the storyline between the two when Lizmark defeated La Parka to win the WWA World Light Heavyweight Championship on October 23, 1993. The Lizmark / La Parka feud was one of the driving forces behind an Eight-man "Atómicos" tag team match that saw Lizmark, Perro Aguayo, El Hijo del Santo, and Máscara Sagráda defeat La Parka, Psicosis, Black Cat and Satánico. On June 20, 1994 La Parka regained the WWA Light Heavyweight title from Lizmark when he pinned him on a show in Monterrey, Nuevo León. Three months later La Parka won the Mexican National Light Heavyweight title from Lizmark on September 9, 1994 which marked the end of the storyline between the two. He subsequently worked for CMLL between 2004 and 2008.

Independent circuit In 2008 Lizmark left CMLL and began working select dates on the Mexican Independent circuit. During this time he introduced a second son, El Hijo de Lizmark to the wrestling world and announced that he was planning on retiring soon.

Death Baños died due to respiratory failure on December 16, 2015, at the age of 64 just two days before his 65th birthday.

Championships and accomplishments All Japan Pro Wrestling January 3 Korakuen Hall Junior Heavyweight Battle Royal (1984) Asistencia Asesoría y Administración Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre / Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Atlantis CMLL World Trios Championship (1 time) – with Atlantis and Mr. Niebla Mexican National Middleweight Championship (2 times) Mexican National Welterweight Championship (1 time) NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (4 times) NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time) NWA World Welterweight Championship (1 time) Homenaje a Dos Leyendas honoree (2016) Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #183 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1995 PWI ranked him #175 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the PWI Years in 2003 World Wrestling Association WWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)