Ray Mendoza

José Díaz Velázquez (July 6, 1929 – April 16, 2003), better known by his ring name Ray Mendoza, was a Mexican professional wrestler. After working for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mendoza had great success in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he was a five-time World Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as the first Mexican to hold the championship. In 1975, he helped establish Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), with Francisco Flores and Benjamín Mora Jr.

During his many title reigns, Mendoza faced many present or future stars, such as Gran Hamada, Killer Kowalski, John Tolos, El Solitario, Fishman, René Guajardo, Gory Guerrero, El Santo, and Cavernario Galindo. He also appeared in a number of luchador films. Mendoza was the father of Los Villanos, Villano I, Villano II, Villano III, Villano IV, and Villano V, and the grandfather of Villano III Jr., El Hijo del Villano III (both sons of III), Villano V Jr., and Rokambole Jr. (both sons of V).

Biography José Díaz Velazquez was born on July 6, 1929, and grew up in the Tepito district of Mexico City, a very poor and violent neighborhood. Díaz never finished any formal education as he had to start earning a living at a very early age to support himself and his wife Lupita Mendoza, whom he married when he was just 15 years old. While working in a bakery, Díaz also worked hard to keep in shape, participating in cycling, swimming and baseball.

Boxing career Díaz decided to become a professional boxer and made his debut in 1950, keeping his day job in the bakery as well. Díaz boxed under name "Joe Díaz", a shortened version of his real name. Mendoza was originally adamant that his sons get a good education instead of becoming wrestlers, wishing that they become lawyers or doctors as he wanted to spare them the physical suffering he experienced himself. Once he realized that his two oldest sons had begun wrestling under masks, he agreed to train them and help their wrestling careers. He was also instrumental in training his youngest two sons, although he insisted they both get college degrees before they were allowed to begin wrestling. Since his youngest son Tomás finished his education first, he became known as "Villano IV", while the second youngest son became "Villano V". His funeral was held two days later and was attended by over 100 people, longtime friends and luchadors who grew up admiring Ray Mendoza's in-ring exploits paid their last respect. Other than his family, the funeral was attended by wrestlers such as La Infernal (Villano III's wife), El Canek, Super Astro, Mano Negrao, Fuerza Guerrera, Pierroth Jr., Olímpico, Shocker, Karloff Lagarde, and his nephew Karloff Lagarde Jr., as well as Ringo Mendoza.

Championships and accomplishments Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre EMLL Arena México Tag Team Championship (2 times) with Espectro I (1) and El Santo (1) Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time) NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (6 times) NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time) Homenaje a Dos Leyendas honoree (2010) NWA Hollywood Wrestling NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Mil Máscaras (1), Raul Mata (1) and Raul Reyes (2) NWA United National Championship (1 time) Universal Wrestling Association UWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times) Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesAl Velasco (mask) Gigantua (mask) N/A Live event Ray Mendoza (hair) Sunny War Cloud (hair) N/A Live event N/A Ray Mendoza (hair) El Audaz (hair) N/A Live event N/A Ray Mendoza (hair) Karloff Lagarde (hair) Mexico City Live event René Guajardo (hair) Ray Mendoza (hair) Mexico City Live event Ray Mendoza (hair) El Nazi (hair) Mexico City Live event Black Shadow and Ray Mendoza (hair) Los Hippies (hair)(Renato Torres and El Vikingo) Mexico City 13. Aniversario de Arena México El Solitario (mask) Ray Mendoza (hair) Mexico City Live event Ray Mendoza and Dory Dixon (hair) René Guajardo and Shibata (hair) Mexico City Live event Ángel Blanco (hair) Ray Mendoza (hair) Mexico City Live event Ray Mendoza and Ringo Mendoza (hair) Ángel Blanco and Kim Chul Won (hair) Mexico City EMLL 40th Anniversary Show Perro Aguayo (hair) Ray Mendoza (hair) Mexico City 19. Aniversario de Arena México Ray Mendoza (hair) Ángel Blanco (hair) Mexico City Live event Ray Mendoza (hair) César Valentino (hair) Mexico City Live event