10 Best Lucha Libre Wrestlers Of All Time

5. Ray Mendoza

Mendoza is considered the biggest and most important wrestler in Mexican history who did not wear a mask during most of his career. Despite initially training as a boxer, fate would eventually turn him to wrestling instead. Saldavor Lutteroth had so much faith in this young man when he was just starting out that, in 1956, in his Arena Coliseo debut, he was put in a battle royal with El Santo, Gory Guerrero, Blue Demon, Black Shadow, and Cavernario Galindo, the 5 biggest names in Lucha Libre at the time. In later years, he would form a partnership with Karloff Lagarde and René Guajardo, and the three of them would become the greatest heel wrestling team in Lucha Libre history. As a trio, not only did their matches with the top faces of the time sell out shows, but they used their position in the company to better the conditions of their fellow wrestlers, including higher pay. Given how popular Mendoza and his team were, EMLL conceded to their demands. Mendoza was also the first Mexican to hold the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title, and, because the NWA World Heavyweight Champion would rarely tour in Mexico, Mendoza became the most important champion in the entire country. He would go on to have several outstanding matches for it, including a series of bouts against Gory Guerrero. Over the years, many would debate between who was better between the two, in a similar vein as Kobashi/Misawa, Race/Flair, and Hart/Michaels. Not only does he have a huge number of famous rivalries and matches under his belt, but Mendoza was a central figure in the opening of the Universal Wrestling Association, as well as a central figure in rivalries with American wrestlers like John Tolos and Killer Kowalski. He is a legendary figure in the rich history of Mexican wrestling, and his rivalries are among the best the country has ever seen.