Mr. Águila

(Redirected from Mr. Aguila)

José Delgado Saldaña (born December 10, 1977) is a Mexican professional wrestler (or luchador) best known by his ring name Mr. Águila in Mexican wrestling promotions CMLL and AAA. Outside Mexico, Saldaña is best known for his work as Essa Ríos in the WWF.

Mr. Águila
Aguila in 2007
Birth nameJosé Delgado Saldaña[1]
Born (1977-12-10) December 10, 1977 (age 46)[1]
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Águila[1]
Essa Ríos[1]
Mr. Águila[1]
Papí Chulo[1]
Billed height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)[2]
Billed weight215 lb (98 kg)[2]
Billed fromGuadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico[2]
Trained byDiablo Velasco[3][4]
Flash I[4]
DebutJanuary 3, 1994

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1994–1997)

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Saldaña debuted on January 3, 1994.

World Wrestling Federation (1997–2001)

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Delgado made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) on the November 3, 1997 episode of Raw is War as part of its newly relaunched Light Heavyweight division at the age of 19, wrestling under the ring name Águila. This period included a match with Taka Michinoku at WrestleMania XIV for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship.[5] On the May 9, 1998 edition of Shotgun Saturday Night Delgado re-debuted under the name Papi Chulo, this time wrestling without a mask.

He won the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship from Gillberg on his 'debut' as Essa Ríos during the February 13, 2000 edition of Sunday Night Heat. His reign was a short-lived one, as he would lose the title to Dean Malenko a few weeks later. During his time as Essa Ríos, he was managed by Lita who would often repeat Ríos's finishing moves on wrestlers he had just beaten after a match. He and Lita had a feud with Eddie Guerrero and Chyna which led to a European title match between Ríos and then-champion Guerrero at Backlash, which Ríos lost.[6] Ríos' partnership with Lita ended during the May 25, 2000 edition of Smackdown! after an angry Ríos attacked Lita because he had lost a match. It was there that the Hardy Boyz came to Lita's rescue and feuded with him briefly, with Lita becoming their protégé. Ríos lapsed into obscurity by late 2000 but did have a brief feud with Kurt Angle that culminated in a main event match on Sunday Night Heat.

He also had a small involvement in the Invasion angle, most notably unsuccessfully challenging Chris Kanyon for the WCW United States Championship on an episode of WWF Metal, which would be his last televised match with the company on August 27 (aired September 1). Having been off television for months, Ríos was released from the WWF and started accepting Japanese bookings in December 2001.[1][7]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999)

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He had a high-flying match with Taka Michinoku during Extreme Championship Wrestling's 1999 Cyberslam event. This would be his only match in ECW.

AAA (2001–2008)

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After being released in September 2001, he returned to Mexico for several years before working in AAA as part of the LLL storyline. He soon returned to Mexico, however, continuing his feud with El Zorro and forming "X-team" with Juventud Guerrera and Charly Manson. In 2005, he jumped to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre as a member of Los Perros del Mal which was led by Héctor Garza and Perro Aguayo, Jr. who had jumped from AAA in the past. When Perro Aguayo, Jr. left CMLL in the fall of 2008, Mr. Águila left the promotion with him to help for the Perros del Mal Producciones.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004)

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Águila made a comeback to the United States in 2004 as part of Team AAA/Mexico in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling with Abismo Negro, Juventud Guerrera, Héctor Garza and Heavy Metal.[8] He competed in TNA as part of the X Division.[1][9][10]

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2010–2017)

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On May 16, 2010, Mr. Águila returned to CMLL, interfering in a match between Psicosis II and La Sombra, siding with Psicosis II and a group called Los Invasores, the match also saw the return of Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. who ended up siding with CMLL in their war against the outsider group.[11] CMLL later held a press conference announcing that they would hold a special Sin Salida event on June 6, 2010 that would center around the Los Invasores vs. CMLL storyline. During the press conference it was revealed that Mr. Águila and Héctor Garza were the co-leaders of Los Invasores.[12] At the July 16, 2010 Super Viernes, Mr. Águila and Héctor Garza defeated the team of La Sombra and Volador Jr. to win the CMLL World Tag Team Championship.[13] By virtue of holding the CMLL World Tag Team Championship, Mr. Águila participated in the 2010 Universal Championship tournament. He was part of "Block B" that competed on the August 6, 2010 Super Viernes show where he was eliminated from the tournament when he lost to La Máscara in the first round.[14] On November 2, 2010, Águila and Garza lost the CMLL World Tag Team Championship to Dragón Rojo, Jr. and Último Guerrero.[15] On December 3, 2010, at Sin Piedad 2010 Águila had his trademark hair shaved off after being defeated by Rey Bucanero in a Lucha de Apuesta.[16] On June 20, 2012, Águila formed the Los Depredadores del Aire ("The Flying Predators") stable with Black Warrior and Volador Jr.[17] Two days later, Los Depredadores del Aire defeated Los Reyes de la Atlantida (Atlantis, Delta and Guerrero Maya, Jr.) to win the Mexican National Trios Championship.[18] They lost the title back to Los Reyes de la Atlantida on October 30, 2012.[19] Águila, this time teaming with Los Invasores members Kraneo and Psicosis II, regained the title from Los Reyes de la Atlantida on December 16, 2012.[20] In the fall of 2012 Los Invasores began a feud against the CMLL World Trios Champions El Bufete del Amor ("The Law of Love"; Marco Corleone, Máximo and Rush). The two teams fought several occasions with El Bufete's CMLL World Trios Championship on the line, while Los Invasores Mexican National Trios Championship being passed over compared to the more prestigious CMLL title.[21] Mr. Águila was forced to team up with Máximo for the 2013 Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles ("National Incredible Pairs Tournament"), a tag team tournament teaming up wrestlers who would never team up otherwise, often because they are rivals, would be forced to work together. Mr. Águila and Máximo lost to the team of Máscara Dorada and Mephisto even though they were able to put their differences aside for one night.[22][23] On June 30, Los Invasores lost the Mexican National Trios Championship to La Máscara, Rush and Titán.[24] On July 19 at Infierno en el Ring, Águila lost his hair to Shocker in a ten-man steel cage Lucha de Apuestas.[25]

Return to AAA (2017-present)

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In November 2017, Mr. Águila made a surprise appearance at Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

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Luchas de Apuestas record

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Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Último Guerrero (mask) Mr. Águila (mask) Mexico City CMLL 65th Anniversary Show September 11, 1998 [34][35]
Mr. Águila (hair) MS-2 (mask) Tijuana, Baja California Live event December 5, 2003  
Mr. Águila (hair) Blade (hair) Guadalajara, Jalisco Live event January 23, 2005  
Los Guerreros del Infierno (hair)
(Rey Bucanero and Tarzan Boy)
Los Perros del Mal (hair)
(Damián 666 and Mr. Águila)
Mexico City 50. Aniversario de Arena México April 28, 2006 [36][37]
Rey Bucanero (hair) Mr. Águila (hair) Mexico City Sin Piedad December 3, 2010 [16]
Shocker (hair) Mr. Águila (hair) Mexico City Infierno en el Ring July 19, 2013 [a][25]
Mr. Águila (hair) Dark Ozz (hair) Zamora, Michoacán Promotora Zamorana show October 19, 2019 [38]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ This was a 10-man steel cage match, which also included Averno, Blue Panther, Máximo, Negro Casas, Rey Bucanero, Rey Escorpión, Rush and Brazo de Plata.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Mr. Aguila". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  3. ^ Madigan, Dan (2007). "Dorada de lucha libre: Las Leyendas, las peleas, los fósforos del resentimiento (the golden age of lucha libre: the legends, the feuds, the grudge matches): Diablo Velasco". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 203–205. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  4. ^ a b c "Profile". Bodyslamming.
  5. ^ Powell, John (March 20, 1998). "Austin wins WWF World Title at WrestleMania". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Powell, John (May 1, 2000). "Rock victorious at Backlash, Game Over for Triple H". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Federation releases eight developmental talents, Rios". WWF.com. December 5, 2001. Archived from the original on December 7, 2001. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  8. ^ Abreu, Donnie (February 12, 2004). "TNA: Mexico scores America's Cup upset". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ Clevett, Jason (May 27, 2005). "TNA: Extremely exciting X-Cup". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "NWA:TNA Impact (Week #3)". Online World of Wrestling. June 18, 2004. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  11. ^ Rostro Oculto (May 16, 2010). "Resultados Arena México (16 mayo 2010): ¡Mr. Águila es parte de los invasores! ¡Rayo de Jalisco Jr. regresó al CMLL!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  12. ^ Boutwell, Jason (May 21, 2010). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". WrestleView. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  13. ^ a b Velazquez, Israel (July 17, 2010). "Resultados Arena México (16 julio 2010): ¡Garza y Águila, nuevos Campeones de Parejas!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 17, 2010.
  14. ^ Velazquez, Israel (August 7, 2010). "Resultados Arena México (6 agosto 2010): ¡Liger, segundo finalista por el Campeonato Universal! Místico vs. Psicosis, ¿antes de lo esperado?". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  15. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (November 2, 2010). "Arena Coliseo (resultados 2 de noviembre) Último Guerrero y Dragón Rojo Jr. nuevos campeones mundiales de parejas del CMLL". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  16. ^ a b Ruiz Glez, Alex (December 3, 2010). "CMLL "Sin Piedad 2010" (cobertura y resultados 3 de diciembre del 2010) Eléctrico gana la máscara de Pequeño Warrior- Rey Bucanero gana la cabellera de Mr. Águila". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved December 4, 2010.
  17. ^ Mexicool, Rey (June 20, 2012). "Infierno en el Ring de gladiadoras este 29 de junio en la Arena México" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
  18. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (June 22, 2012). "Volador Jr., Mr. Águila y Black Warrior nuevos campeones nacionales de tercias". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  19. ^ Mexicool, Rey (October 30, 2012). "Los Reyes de la Atlántida ¡Nuevos Campeones Nacionales de Tríos!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved October 31, 2012.
  20. ^ Mexicool, Rey (December 17, 2012). "Los Invasores conquistan... ¡la Atlántida!". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved December 17, 2012.
  21. ^ "Sigue reinando el Buffet del Amor en el CMLL". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). February 18, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  22. ^ "Volador y la Sombra a la Final del Torneo de Parejas Increíbles". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). March 2, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  23. ^ Salazar López, Alexis A. (March 1, 2013). "ATLANTIS y ÚLTIMO GUERRERO ¿Estaremos frente a un duelo candidato para conmemorar el 80 Aniversario del CMLL?". Estrellas del Ring (in Spanish). Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  24. ^ Salazar López, Alexis A. (July 1, 2013). "Resultadoes Arena Coliseo Domingo 30 de Junio '13" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
  25. ^ a b Salazar López, Alexis A. (July 20, 2013). "Infierno en el Ring" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Archived from the original on July 15, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  26. ^ "Dr. Wagner por el Megacampeonato, Mr. Águila luchador sorpresa". www.mediotiempo.com.
  27. ^ "National Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  28. ^ "C.M.L.L. World Trios Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  29. ^ "National Trios Title (Mexico)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  30. ^ "I.W.A. World Junior Heavyweight Title (Puerto Rico)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  31. ^ "PWI Years 500". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  32. ^ "U.W.A. World Light Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  33. ^ Westcott, Brian (2007). "UWA World Lightweight Heavyweight Title". Solie's Title Histories.
  34. ^ Arturo Rosas Plata (March 11, 2009). "Último Guerrero, listo para la lucha de Máscaras – Cobaré vengenza!". Ovaciones (in Spanish). Mexico, D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V. p. 19. Número 21523 Año LXII. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2009.
  35. ^ Ruiz Glez, Alex (September 7, 2010). "CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  36. ^ Lucha 2000 Staff (April 2006). "Arena México: 50 anos de Lucha Libre". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). Especial 28.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ^ Centinela, Teddy (April 28, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 2006: Rey Bucanero y Tarzan Boy rapan a Damián 666 y Mr. Águila — Último Guerrero vence a Héctor Garza". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  38. ^ Garcia, Antonio M. (October 19, 2019). "Mr. Águila hace historia al rapar a Dark Ozz". Mas Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved October 22, 2019.
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