Pantera (wrestler)

Professional wrestling career

Pozas made his professional wrestling debut in 1985, adopting the ring name El Pantera (Spanish for "the Panther"), an enmascarado who wore a panther-inspired mask and outfit. On August 9, 1987 El Pantera defeated Guerrero Samurai to win the Mexican National Lightweight Championship, a title he would hold and defend for the next 298 days before losing it back to Guerrero Samurai on June 2, 1988. On March 8, 1992 América defeated Fuerza Guerrera to win the CMLL World Welterweight Championship, officially moving from the lightweight division (with a weight limit of 70 kg) to the Middleweight division (with a weight limit of 87 kg). América held the title for 131 days before losing the title to El Felino.

In 1993 Pozas abandoned the América ring persona and became El Pantera once more. CMLL even acknowledge the change in characters as he was billed as a two time CMLL World Welterweight Champion when he defeated El Felino on June 21, 1994. Pantera held the title for over 600 days, with several successful defenses in the period. By March 1996 Pantera had decided to leave CMLL and lost the Welterweight title to Super Delfin while on tour in Japan. The title change was not sanctioned by CMLL, who stripped Pantera of the title and vacated it. Pantera ended up working for International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) where he became the first ever IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Champion when he defeated Tony Rivera in the finals of a tournament. Pantera held the title for 157 days in total before being defeated by El Hijo del Gladiador

In early 1998. He worked for WWF's Super Astros programming until the program ended in August 1999. By 2001 Pantera had mended fences with CMLL and began working for the promotion due to a working agreement between CMLL and IWRG. On March 2, 2001 Pantera defeated Nosawa to win his third CMLL World Welterweight Championship, holding it for just 31 days before Nosawa won the title back.

Private life

Pozas is the uncle of luchador Último Gladiador, and the father of El Hijo del Pantera.

Championships and accomplishments

• Chikara
  • King of Trios (2008) – with Incognito and Lince Dorado
• Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
  • CMLL World Welterweight Championship (3 times)
  • Mexican National Lightweight Championship (1 time)
• Comision de Box y Lucha Distrito Federal
  • Distrito Federal Lightweight Championship (1 time)
  • Distrito Federal Trios Championship (1 time) – with Águila Solitaria and Ciclón Ramírez
• International Wrestling Revolution Group
  • IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship (3 times)
  • IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with El Felino (1), and El Hijo del Pantera (2)
  • IWRG Intercontinental Trios Championship (1 time) – with Black Tiger III and Pentagon Black
  • Copa Higher Power (1998) – with Mr. Niebla, Shocker, El Solar, Star Boy and Mike Segura
  • IWRG Rey del Ring (2011)
• Mexican Regional championships
  • Nuevo León Trios Championship (1 time) – with Águila Solitaria and Ciclón Ramírez
  • Veracruz Trios Championship (1 time) – with Águila Solitaria and Ciclón Ramírez
• Universal Lucha Libre / Universal Wrestling Federation
  • UWF Super Welterweight Championship (3 times)
• World Wrestling Association
  • WWA Middleweight Championship (1 time)

''Luchas de Apuestas'' record

Notes

References

References

1. PWI Staff. (August 2008). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 - 2008 :344 Pantera". Sports and Entertainment publications LLC.
2. Enciclopedia staff. (August 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". América.
3. Arturo Montiel Rojas. (August 30, 2001). "Reglamento de Box y Lucha Libre Professional del Estado de Mexico". Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F..
4. "No Way Out of Texas Results". WWE.
5. Madigan, Dan. (2007). "Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling". HarperCollins Publishers.
6. Royal Duncan & Gary Will. (2000). "Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present". Archeus Communications.
7. Box y Lucha staff. (January 13, 2002). "2001: Los Campeones". Box y Lucha Magazine.
8. Royal Duncan & Gary Will. (2000). "Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present". Archeus Communications.
9. Royal Duncan & Gary Will. (2000). "Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present". Archeus Communications.
10. Royal Duncan & Gary Will. (2000). "Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present". Archeus Communications.
11. Royal Duncan & Gary Will. (2000). "Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present". Archeus Communications.
12. Hoops, Brian. (January 24, 2020). "Pro wrestling history (01/24): WWF Royal Rumble 1999". [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]].
13. [[Súper Luchas]]staff. (December 23, 2006). "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". [[Súper Luchas]].
14. Mejía Eguiluz, Diego. (July 20, 2015). "Pantera y su hijo, nuevos campeones intercontinentales de parejas". The Gladiatores.
15. [[Súper Luchas]]staff. (January 3, 2006). "2005 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". [[Súper Luchas]].
16. Mexicool, Rey. (June 17, 2011). "IWRG (Resultados 16 de junio): El nuevo Rey del Ring es El Pantera". [[Súper Luchas]].
17. Royal Duncan & Gary Will. (2000). "Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present". Archeus Communications.
18. Enciclopedia staff. (October 2007). "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Pantera.
19. Boutwell, Josh. (March 6, 2010). "Viva La Raza! Lucha Weekly". WrestleView.
20. Reyes Ruiz, Eduardo. (February 25, 2010). "さようなら sayônara Fuka y el Pantera rapado por el Trauma I.". Estrellas del Ring.