Máscara Sagrada

Professional wrestling career The wrestler who would later be known as Máscara Sagrada was trained for his professional wrestling career by Espectro I, Villano I, Shadito Cruz, and Antonio Hernández before making his debut on September 2, 1978. The vibrant colors of Máscara Sagrada's full bodysuit and mask, coupled with a very innovative mask design for the times made Máscara Sagrada a character the fans took notice of, and coupled with Máscara Sagrada's wrestling skills and charisma, he soon began moving up the ranks of EMLL. On March 21, 1991, Máscara Sagrada's climb up the ranks was rewarded with the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship, which he won from Pierroth, Jr. Following Triplemanía I Máscara Sagrada became involved in a storyline feud with AAA's main rudo (bad guy) group Los Gringos Locos of Eddy Guerrero, Love Machine, Konnan and Black Cat. Máscara Sagrada's main opponent was Black Cat, building to a Lucha de Apuesta, mask vs. mask match between the two at Triplemanía II-B. The match was the semi-main event of the show and saw Máscara Sagrada defeated Black Cat two falls to one, forcing Black Cat to unmask and reveal his real name. A few weeks later Máscara Sagrada also appeared at Triplemanía II-C, teaming with Hijo del Santo, Lizmark and Perro Aguayo to defeat the team of Black Cat, El Satánico, La Parka and Psicosis two falls to one. At Triplemanía III-C, he teamed with Konnan, Aguayo, and Latin Lover, losing to the team of Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000, Fishman, and Jerry Estrada as one of the featured matches. On September 20, 1996 Máscara Sagrada defeated Pierroth, Jr. to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship, a title he held for 275 days in total before losing it to Cibernético.

Copyright problems In 1995, Máscara Sagrada was made controller of AAA along with Super Muñeco; as controller he discovered that Televisa, the TV channel that technically owned AAA and showed its programming, was receiving royalty payments on merchandise for various wrestlers including Máscara Sagrada himself. When he asked about why he did not receive any royalty payments, Televisa executives told him that Peña had given the rights to the name "Máscara Sagrada" to Televisa and thus owned all royalties made from the name. This coupled with the frustration of AAA creating a Máscara Sagrada, Jr. character to capitalize on the fame of the original Máscara Sagrada caused Máscara Sagrada to leave AAA in 1997. He also participated in the 2004 Leyenda de Azul as well as the 2005 Leyenda de Azul tournaments, being eliminated early on in each tournament. Máscara Sagrada wrestled his last match for CMLL in 2007, working occasional matches on the Mexican Independent circuit. In 2008 he worked a series of matches for Alianza Universal de Lucha Libre (AULL). He also worked the first two shows of Blue Demon, Jr.'s NWA Mexico promotion. In 2009 and 2010 he wrestled several matches for the California based Pro Wrestling Revolution (PWR) promotion, including teaming with Blue Demon, Jr. and Jon Andersen wrestling against the Border Partrol, PWR's top heel group. He also teamed with Rey Tigre to defeat Psicosis II and Vaquero Fantasma on a PWR show on May 5, 2010.

Private life Máscara Sagrada has two sons who have joined their father as professional wrestlers, using the ring names "Máscara Sagrada, Jr." and "Hijo de Máscara Sagrada".

Not to be mistaken for Since leaving AAA in 1997 AAA had several other wrestlers wrestling under the name and wearing the outfit. It is likely that AAA has used other wrestlers for short periods of time but the following are the wrestlers who have wrestled as Máscara Sagrada: Cachorro Mendoza was the first man AAA used as Máscara Sagrada after the original left the promotion. His time under the mask was very short-lived. The wrestler now working as El Alebrije wrestled as Máscara Sagrada in 1997 and 1998. Mexican National Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Colossal Copa Frontera (2014) - with LA Par-K and Octagón Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) Mexican National Trios Championship (1 time) – with Atlantis and Octagón Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him # 294 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1997 WAR WAR Heavyweight Championship (1 time) World Wrestling Organisation WWO Heavyweight Championship (2 times) Mexican State championships Texcoco Welterweight Championship (1 time)

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