Wrestlers With The Most World Titles (Across All Major Federations)
3. El Canek (15)
15 UWA World Heavyweight Championships
At 6 ft and 243 lb, El Canek is not your typical luchador. It's not often you see one slam Andre The Giant for example (minute 12:16).
In 1975, Francisco Flores and Ray Mendoza left EMLL (as CMLL was formerly known) to create the Universal Wrestling Association and took many of EMLL's youngest wrestlers with them. At the time El Canek was struggling to make his mark, and no one benefited from the exodus more than him. After taking the title from inaugural champion Lou Thesz (!), El Canek would turn into the undisputed face of UWA and their top guy for the two decades to come.
During the '80s, El Canek became a huge draw in Mexico due to his bouts (both home and away) against American and Japanese stars. We've already mentioned Andre The Giant, but other names include Hulk Hogan, Vader, Yokozuna, Stan Hansen, Antonio Inoki, Tatsumi Fujinami or Riki Choshu. As for Mexican opponents, El Canek had glorious rivalries with fellow heavyweights Mil Mascaras or Dos Caras.
El Canek has been UWA's top star like few other people have been top stars for their company. From 1978 to 2002, there has barely been a year he actually *didn't* hold the UWA championship, with a combined reigns total of more than 7,000 days.
He will remain one of the most popular stars in Lucha Libre history, as well as one of the most decorated.