Octavio Gaona

Octavio Gaona (1902–1996) was a Mexican professional wrestler, known for his participation in the first ever high profile Lucha de Apuesta, or wager fight, against Murciélago Velázquez. Gaona held both the Mexican National Middleweight Championship and the Mexican version of the World Middleweight Championship. Gaona's son, adopted son, grandson and great grandson have all or are all professional wrestlers.

Professional wrestling career Octavio Gaona made his professional wrestling debut in 1934, wrestling for various small promoters in Guanajuato and surrounding states. By 1937, Gaona wrestled full-time for Salvador Lutteroth's Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL). On February 6, 1937, Gaona defeated Black Guzmán to win the vacant Mexican National Middleweight Championship. After a long buildup of a storyline between Gaona and Murciélago Velázquez, one of the top Rudos ("Bad guy" or Heel character) of the time, Gaona challenged Velázquez to face him in a match where the masked wrestler would "bet" his mask on the outcome of the match. Since Velázquez was so much lighter than Gaona he requested a further condition before he would sign the contract: Octavio Gaona would have to put his hair on the line as well, creating the first match in Mexico where a two wrestlers "bet" either their hair or their mask. In 1942 Velázquez would get his revenge on Gaona when he defeated him to win the vacant Mexican National Middleweight Championship, although the victory could never equal the loss of the mask. Octavio Gaona also adopted Francisco Ruiz Arreola, who would wrestle under the name "Tamba", nicknamed "the Flying Elephant". NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time) National Wrestling Association World Middleweight Champion (1 time)

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesOctavio Gaona (hair) Murciélago Velázquez (mask) Mexico City EMLL Live event Octavio Gaona (hair) Chale Romero (hair) Mexico City Live event Octavio Gaona (hair) Tamba (mask) Mexico City Live event