10 Things WWE Fans Need To Know About Cain Velasquez

1. The Reason Behind His Tattoo

Cain Velasquez Ghost
John Locher/AP

The words 'BROWN PRIDE' are very prominently emblazoned across Cain Velasquez's chest, in a strikingly similar style to the 'MEXICO' buddy Rey Mysterio has spread over his stomach.

It isn't just the font that their respective ink has in common. They also share a congruity of meaning: both skin etchings are designed to evince pride in the pair's respective Mexican heritage (perhaps rather obviously, in Rey's case).

Velasquez explained the origin of his tattoo in a 2016 interview with Vice Sports. "Being a kid, I didn’t have those dreams as a professional athlete because I never saw a guy that was a big Mexican playing professional sports," he said. The purpose of the message, then, was to let everybody know his background, and that he was rightly proud of it.

Cain also explained a more personal reason for his distinctive body art: "It’s more so a tribute to my dad as far as all the stuff that he had to go through to get here to this country." Velasquez's father faced a lot of hardships when he crossed the border; he was deported three times before finally gaining American citizenship.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.