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Blue Demon

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Alejandro Muñoz Moreno was a legendary figure in the world of lucha libre. He was a luchador enmascarado, which is the Spanish term for a masked professional wrestler. To many, he was simply known as Blue Demon. He became a massive icon in Mexico and beyond through his incredible skill in the ring. His fame also grew from his roles as a movie star. He remains one of the most influential figures in the history of professional wrestling.

Blue Demon's career in the ring lasted for 41 years. He began his professional journey in 1948. His first official match took place on March 12, 1948, against Chema Lopez in Laredo, Texas. After his start in Texas, he moved to Mexico City to wrestle full-time. He adopted the Blue Demon persona and his famous blue and silver mask there. He competed until his retirement in 1989 at the age of 67. Throughout his entire career, he never lost a Lucha de Apuestas match. These are special high-stakes matches where wrestlers wager something important, like their hair or their mask.

In the ring, wrestlers often follow specific roles. Blue Demon began his career as a rudo, which means a "bad guy." During this time, he formed a tag team with the masked wrestler Black Shadow. Together, they were known as Los Hermanos Shadow, or The Shadow Brothers. Later, Blue Demon changed his role to a técnico, which means a "good guy." This shift happened after El Santo defeated and unmasked Black Shadow in 1952. This event led to a legendary rivalry between Blue Demon and El Santo. They fought many famous matches, including a series in 1952 and 1953 where Blue Demon won the NWA World Welterweight Championship.

Blue Demon achieved many impressive titles and victories. He won the NWA World Welterweight Championship twice. He also secured the Mexican National Welterweight Championship three times. He held the Mexican National Tag Team Championship alongside Black Shadow. He was also famous for winning the masks of other legendary wrestlers. These victories included the masks of Espectro II, Matemático, and Rayo de Jalisco. In 1988, near the end of his career, he defeated Rayo de Jalisco in a mask versus mask match.

Beyond the wrestling ring, Blue Demon was a successful film actor. He appeared in many action, horror, and science fiction films. Between 1964 and 1979, he starred in a total of 25 films. Many of these movies featured his rival, El Santo, as a co-star. In three of these films, Blue Demon led a group of masked superheroes. This group was called Los Campeones Justicieros, or The Champions of Justice. The team included other famous wrestlers like Mil Máscaras and Tinieblas.

Muñoz was born on October 12, 1922, in García, Nuevo León, Mexico. He was the fifth of twelve children born to farmers. As a young man, he worked for the National Railroad in Monterrey. His coworkers called him "Manotas" because of his large, powerful hands. His interest in wrestling grew after meeting the famous wrestler Rolando Vera. Vera offered to tutor him and help him start his career. Blue Demon eventually passed away on December 16, 2000, following a heart attack. He was buried wearing his signature blue and silver mask.

The legacy of Blue Demon continues to inspire people today. The Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) holds a tournament called Leyenda de Azul. This means "The Blue Legend" and honors his memory. The winner of this tournament receives a championship belt and a plaque. His name is also recognized by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. He was part of the very first group selected for this honor in 1996. Even a television series was made to tell the story of his life and career.

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