The unofficial Chairman of WCW, La Parka was easily one of the most entertaining cruiserweights in the company. Frequently seen carrying a steel chair, playing air guitar, and dancing to the ring, La Parka was a mysterious masked luchador from Mexico. Sadly, La Parka was never able to attain the WCW Cruiserweight Championship -- a gross miscarriage of justice, if there ever was one. Despite his lack of a title reign, La Parka thoroughly entertained the WCW masses during his four-year run with the company. However, La Parka -- real name, Adolfo Tapia -- ran into some trouble upon his return to Mexico. Tapia had previously competed with the AAA promotion and upon his departure for WCW in 1996, AAAs owner, Antonio Pena, assigned the La Parka gimmick to another competitor. Billed as La Parka Jr., the doppelganger was meant as a way to capitalize on Tapias popularity in the United States. Surprisingly, there were no real disputes or issues between Tapia and Pena initially. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9aOc9qxlKg However, trouble arose when Tapia returned to Mexico and began competing for AAAs rival, CMLL. A legal battle ensued, and ultimately, Tapia was forced to change his name. Now dubbed L.A. ParK, standing for La Autentica ParK -- essentially the Original Parka -- Tapia has continued to compete around the world. Furthermore, despite the name change and a subtle mask design change, Tapia continues to employ the same techniques he did at the height of his fame.
Douglas Scarpa is a freelance writer, independent filmmaker, art school graduate, and pro wrestling aficionado -- all of which mean he is in financial ruin. He has no backup plan to speak of, yet maintains his abnormally high spirits. If he had only listened to the scorn of his childhood teachers, he wouldn't be in this situation.
