Number Five In The “PWI 500”
WHO THE HELL IS MISTICO?

By Mike Spillane

(From The Wrestler/Inside Wrestling Special; Volume 12, 2007; On sale December 12)

The legend of Mistico is spreading through Mexico, but the world’s most spectacular high-flyer is still a relative unknown to most American wrestling fans. Since the summer of 2004, Mistico has moved up from undercard sensation to main-event superstar in lucha libre. But, with just a handful of appearances in the United States and Japan, Mistico has yet to establish himself as a global attraction. So, if you’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about, wonder no more.

Mistico grew up with lucha libre as part of family life. His father competed for years as Dr. Karonte, while Mistico’s uncle, Tony Salazar, was a wrestler and later an administrator for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, or CMLL. In 1998, the man who would become Mistico started his career in the Mexico City independents as Dr. Karonte Jr., paying tribute to his father and trainer.

When CMLL called upon the young aerialist two years later, he was repackaged as the second Astro Boy (the first, coincidentally, was his brother). He became a fixture in the opening matches at Arena Coliseo, the second most popular venue to host regular CMLL cards. He spent several years proving himself to the veterans of CMLL and, in particular, to CMLL head trainer Negro Casas, who would play a pivotal role in his future.

In early-2004, CMLL fans participated in a poll that showed the audience craved more new stars and had tired of the same, stale main events. Responding to the poll, CMLL reinvented some mid-card luchadors—giving them new names, masks, and personalities to spice things up—in hope that one might break out as a new star.

On June 18, 2004, the former Astro Boy emerged on the biggest stage in lucha libre, Arena Mexico in Mexico City. Here, he was something completely different, clad in a largely silver outfit with gold highlights, teaming with bona fide stars such as Felino and fellow high-flyer Volador Jr. Ironically, Volador Jr. was originally considered for the role of Mistico, but CMLL officials, including Salazar, felt the shrewd Arena Mexico fans would immediately recognize who was under the mask. Instead, the character was given to relatively unknown Astro Boy. The choice proved perfect.

By August, Mistico was the talk of lucha libre, and his ascent began with the 2004 Gran Alternativa. In this annual elimination tournament, an established star teams with an up-and-comer to form a new duo. El Hijo del Santo, the biggest star in all of Mexico, chose Mistico as his partner, and together they defeated Ultimo Guerrero and Dr. X in the main event. It would be the first of many main events in which Mistico’s hand would be raised in victory.

The main event at the Gran Alternativa foreshadowed more battles to come. For the next year, Ultimo Guerrero served as the powerful foil for the aerial artist Mistico, and the two feuded throughout Mexico. Guerrero headed the large Guerreros del Infierno stable that also included Rey Bucanero, Averno, and Mephisto. Eventually, Mistico would become a frequent opponent of both Guerrero and Averno. On New Year’s Day, 2005, Mistico won the NWA middleweight title from Averno, sparking a bitter rivalry.

Averno and regular partner Mephisto plagued the fast-rising star until Mistico enlisted the aid of Negro Casas. Together, they became an unstoppable tandem, and overcame Averno and Mephisto on April 14, 2006, capturing their CMLL tag team title in the process.

Mistico proved himself a worthy champion in the singles and tag ranks, and had solidified his position in the main-event picture. At this point, no one was yet calling Mistico legendary, but his impending feud with Black Warrior would change all that.

The summer of 2006 saw Mistico embroiled in a violent rivalry with one-time tag partner Black Warrior. When Warrior turned his back on Mistico, it set the two on a collision course that would take months to navigate. Eventually, the two agreed to settle their differences in a lucha de apuesta, with each man wagering his mask. The two took center stage in the main event at Arena Mexico on September 29, 2006, before a sold-out crowd. With higher-than-usual ticket prices, the gate broke all previous Arena Mexico records. The tension was at a fever pitch, and the crowd could barely wait for the feature match to begin.

In less than a minute, the first of the three falls went to Black Warrior, who used the “Romero Special Surfboard,” or “Tapatia,” to make Mistico submit. The crowd was stunned. In similar fashion, Mistico took a sudden win in the second fall, countering a 360 backbreaker into a small package to even the score. Now, the crowd’s energy was infecting the men in the ring, as the emotion in the arena reached its peak.

During the final fall, Mistico applied his famed finisher, La Mistica, a satellite headscissors converted into a Fujiwara armbar, and Warrior instantly submitted to the hold. A deafening roar came out from the lucha loyalists at Arena Mexico and, the next day, newspapers and magazines touted Mistico as not only the next big thing, but as a legendary figure.

With mind-boggling and gravity-defying moves, Mistico has blazed a path to the top of the Mexican scene in record time. His position as the number-five ranked wrestler in this year’s “PWI 500” should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen at least one of his bouts.

Who the hell is Mistico? By heavens, he’s the best in lucha libre.