Mosco de la Merced

Mosco de la Merced (Juan Valdez Valentino) (June 26, 1964 – August 19, 2024) was a Mexican professional wrestler, best known for his time in Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) where he was a part of Los Vipers for many years. Before adopting the Mosco de la Merced ring name he worked as Loco Valentino for over 10 years. He was a former holder of the Mexican National Tag Team Championship with Fuerza Guerrera and held the Mexican National Atómicos Championship four times with Histeria, Psicosis II and Maniaco. His name roughly translates to "Fly of Mercy".

Professional wrestling career He began his professional wrestling career under the name Loco Valentino, son of the original Loco Valentino who also trained him for his professional wrestling career. Valentino wrestled for the Universal Wrestling Association in the early 1990s, where he defeated Semanarista to win the UWA World Lightweight Championship on September 22, 1994. Later in 1997 he teamed up with Picudo to compete in a tournament for the Mexican National Tag Team Championship, but were eliminated in the first round by Heavy Metal and Venum. At the 1997 Verano de Escandalo teamed up with Los Hampones once again, only to lose to a team composed mostly Los Cadetes (Discovery, Ludxor and Venum) with added the spectacular undercarder Flying.

Los Vipers

In August, 1997 Cibernético formed a "Super Rúdo" group called Los Vipers a group that included Abismo Negro, Maniaco, Histeria, Mosco de la Merced and Psicosis II. A few weeks after Los Vipers was born Histeria was replaced by a new Histeria. Mosco de la Merced left AAA not long after the formation of Los Vipers, leaving AAA a man short in the stable. Mosco also held the Mexican National Tag Team Championship with Fuerza Guerrera and his departure forced AAA to either vacate the championship or come up with an alternative plan. Los Vipers regained the Atómicos title on April 15, 2000 effectively ending the storyline with Los Vatos Locos. Los Vipers took part in an eight-man Steel cage match at Triplemanía X against Los Diabolicos (Mr. Condor, Ángel Mortal and El Gallego) and Gran Apache where the last wrestler in the cage would lose either his mask or be shaved bald. Mosco de la Merced was able to escape the cage and thus save his mask, although his fellow Viper Maniaco was less fortunate and was unmasked. Following Maniaco's mask loss Los Vipers were used less and less in AAA, especially Mosco de la Merced. During mid-2004 Los Vipers, in this case Mosco, Histeria and Psicosis II became involved in a feud with Heavy Metal, El Intocable and Zorro that led to a Steel Cage match at Verano de Escandalo 2004 in which the last man in the cage would be unmasked or have his hair shaved off. This time Mosco de la Merced was the last man in the ring and was forced to unmask per lucha libre (the professional wrestling style originary from Mexico) traditions.

Independent circuit Not long after his mask loss Mosco de la Merced left AAA, but continued to wrestle as Mosco de la Merced on the independent circuit. In 2009 he began working for the Perros del Mal promotion, teaming with former Vipers' team mates Histeria and Psicosis II after they left AAA as well. He also teamed up with the original Mosco de la Merced, who wrestles as X-Fly.

Championships and accomplishments Asistencia Asesoría y Administración Mexican National Atómicos Championship (5 times) – with Histeria, Maniaco and Psicosis II (4) Mexican National Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Fuerza Guerrera Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #106 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1999 Universal Wrestling Association UWA World Lightweight Championship (1 time)

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesGran Apache (hair) Loco Valentino (hair) León, Guanajuato Live event Kid Guzmán (hair) Loco Valentino (hair) Acapulco, Guerrero Live event

Footnotes