3. Mil Máscaras
The uncle of Alberto del Rio and the brother of Dos Caras, the Man of a Thousand Masks was the Lucha Libre wrestler who introduced the style to an international audience. Ironically, in his native Mexico, he was a heavyweight and not what most observers would call a cruiserweight, but that didnt prevent him from being one of Mexicos Big Three in Lucha Libre. Because he was more of a mat-based wrestler in Mexico, he used his high-flying style while traveling around the world. Many now-common aerial maneuvers, including the plancha and tope suicida, were first used by Mil Máscaras in his matches in the United States and in Japan. He would also wrestle the likes of Superstar Billy Graham in WWF, and was the first masked wrestler to ever perform in Madison Square Garden. In terms of legacy, Mil Máscaras set the bar for light heavyweight wrestling for generations to come. According to Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask), without Mil Máscaras, there wouldnt have been any opportunity for Jushin Thunder Liger, Ultimo Dragon, or even Rey Mysterio, to succeed in wrestling. That says a lot about his popularity and impact on the professional wrestling business. Interestingly enough, Mil Máscaras still wrestles, even as he enters his 70s. His family, especially his nephew Alberto el Patrón, must be very proud of his achievements and legacy in professional wrestling.