Before we get started, let me give you all a little update on Perry Saturn. Saturn was unable to attend the Hardcore Homecoming event due to a neck injury. Word is that this was related to an incident a couple of years ago. Saturn was walking through a parking lot and saw a woman about to be raped. Saturn saved her, but was shot in the neck by her attacker. I’d like to send out best wishes for a speedy recovery to Saturn – a good guy who deserves better than he got.
Los Guerreros del Infierno – CMLL, 2001-present
Before we get started, let me give you a little lucha background to put things in perspective. CMLL is the long-time Mexican promotion, kind of like the WWF. Their main competition is AAA, which started in the mid-90’s when Konnan and the CMLL booker left CMLL (and the WCW comparisons are quite fair considering the product they’re putting out now).
The traditional lucha match is a 6-man tag, best 2 out of 3 falls. However, to earn a fall, either the captain of the team or his two teammates have to be pinned, submit, or (of course) earn a DQ (which immediately ends the fall, regardless of who did what).
The other thing you need to know is a little terminology. Tecnicos are the faces, rudos are the heels. Also, there is a time difference between the airings in Mexico and the US. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll be using the US airdates. Let’s begin:
History
Back in 2000, the Infernales were a powerful rudo stable consisting of Satanico (the leader), Ultimo Guerrero, and Rey Bucanero. Unfortunately, cracks began to appear in the alliance.
The first was when a handsome young upstart named Tarzan Boy was taking on Satanico in a one-on-one match on January 2nd. Surprisingly, Tarzan Boy was seconded by Ultimo Guerrero, instead of being in his mentor’s corner. Ultimo took advantage of every opportunity to interfere, eventually becoming the reason that Tarzan Boy took the match. After the match, Ultimo grabbed the microphone and explained that he didn’t care about Tarzan, he just wanted to make sure Satanico lost. Satanico was furious and demanded a match against Tarzan for the NWA Light Heavyweight title (which Tarzan had held for about a year), but Tarzan did not give any answer.
Despite was Ultimo had said, the next time we saw Tarzan and the Infernales (as Rey and Ultimo were still calling themselves after apparently ousting Satanico) taking on Mr. Niebla, Atlantis, and Negro Casas. After losing the first fall, Tarzan had Casas locked in a Boston crab, only to have Satanico run in and attack him, causing the Infernales to lose by DQ.
The next week, we saw Rey, Ultimo, and Tarzan out at lunch when Tarzan was formally invited to join the group. In their match for the week, they easily defeated the team of Negro Casas, Emilio Charles, and Super Porky.
Unfortunately, the Infernales did not escape the injury bug for long, as Tarzan almost immediately suffered a separated shoulder. Various wrestlers joined in as partners, but not as full-fledged members of the group.
On February 14th, Satanico assembled a team consisting of himself, Black Warrior, and Fuerza Guerrera (Juvi’s father) to take on Ultimo, Bucanero, and their partner Rencor Latino. He vowed in a prematch interview to retire Ultimo and Rey, and appeared to be well on his way as his team defeated the Guerreros in the last 2 falls of the match.
Needless to say, the Infernales were furious. They vowed to destroy Satanico and anyone he brought with him. They then went to the ring to take out some frustrations on Juventud Guerrera, Negro Casas, and Atlantis. However, things didn’t go as planned as Team Juvi won the match in the third fall.
Satanico assembled Black Warrior and Apollo Dantes to give them the chance on March 13. Ultimo and Rey were ready, despite having to replace the again-injured Tarzan Boy with Gran Markus Jr. Satanico ended an incredibly violent match by faking a foul in the second fall after Ultimo had gotten his team DQed in the first fall.
The Infernales got another chance the very next week. Again allied with Gran Markus Jr., they took on Satanico’s team another time. This time the Infernales controlled themselves, and the fight went all three falls. After losing the first fall, Satanico’s team rebounded to win again, although again by underhanded means.
The next week, Satanico had a surprise. He announced the third member of his Infernales, who would be challenging the others on a CMLL pay-per-view. Satanico’s Infernales (as opposed to the Ultimo & Rey’s Nuevo Infernales (for clarity’s sake)) would consist of Satanico himself, Black Warrior… and Shocker.
They then went into a match where the Infernales took on the New Infernales team of Ultimo Guerrero, Tarzan Boy, and Cien Caras (Bucanero was injured). Things were against the New Infernales from the start as they attempted to lock in a submission hold on Black Warrior only to have Warrior’s mask slip off, drawing a DQ for the first fall. Satanico ensured his team’s victory in the second fall, going on to unmask Ultimo after the match.
To say that the New Infernales were furious would be an understatement. Ultimo and Tarzan replaced Caras with Gran Markus Jr. for the rematch. The match went back and forth with Team Ultimo taking the first fall and Team Satanico the second. Satanico was on a roll in the third fall when Rey Bucanero, although injured, came down to the ring and distracted the referee, which allowed Tarzan to nail a low blow on Satanico and earn the win for his team.
At this point things got kind of strange as Tarzan Boy was injured again and disappeared as well. CMLL did not drop the feud, however – Ultimo Guerrero recruited Emilio Charles Jr. and Bestia Salvaje and kept on going. May 8th saw another victory for Satanico’s Infernales, as Satanico took the last fall by faking a low blow. While Ultimo argued with the ref, Emilio simply walked over and took all the faking out of Satanico’s pain.
The weirdness continued the next week as Ultimo was getting ready for the match. Satanico suddenly appeared in his mirror and started taunting him. Unfortunately, Eric Bischoff was not there to ask what he saw. The match that week saw Ultimo getting the win (with the help of William Regal’s Power of the Punch). Satanico and Ultimo then agreed to meet in a one on one match.
That happened the very next week. Before the match, Ultimo swore revenge for Rey Bucanero and Tarzan Boy’s injuries (arm and neck, respectively). In the match, Ultimo took the first fall and Satanico the second. Then both men were overcome by their emotions and started brawling on the floor, resulting in a double countout. The match was a draw.
On the 29th, we got another unusual match. Ultimo teamed with Apollo Dantes and Scorpio Jr. to take on Shocker, Black Warrior, and Renco Latino. Shocker’s team took both falls – the first by DQ when Renco Latino was unmasked, and the second by submission. After the match, Warrior talked about wanting to take Ultimo’s mask.
The next week saw Ultimo talking to Renco in the gym, hinting that his Infernales may be interested in having him join. Satanico then hurried over and warned him about them.
That week’s match saw Ultimo, Fuerza Guerrera, and Renco taking on Felino, Tony Rivera, and Mascara Magica. The match ended in chaos as Satanico made his way down to the ring and went after Ultimo.
Renco Latino’s fate was decided the next week, as he accepted Satanico’s offer to join his Infernales and his name was changed to Averno. The match saw Averno and Satanico going against Ultimo and Mascara Magica – a very interesting setup, because Mascara was the only tecnico in the match. It ended with Rey Bucanero making his return and attacking Satanico’s team. Mascara then announced he was turning rudo and joined the newly named Guerreros De Infernales.
Bucanero made his actual in-ring return the next week as he, Ultimo, and Mascara took on Satanico, Fuerza Guerrero, and Averno. The match ended in true rudo fashion – after each side took one of the first two falls, Ultimo pulled off his own mask and threw it before crumpling to the mat. Mascara got the ref’s attention, and Satanico’s team was disqualified.
The next week saw a rematch, which Satanico wound up winning for his team. Ultimo then challenged Satanico to a tag match – Ultimo and Rey vs. Satanico and Averno. Satanico said no problem and the match was set.
June 9th started off really weird. Rey’s sitting in the locker room, thinking about something troubling. A girl goes to get him coffee and when he hears a knock at the door, it’s a new ally of Satanico’s! No, wait. It’s just Ultimo. The girl then goes after coffee for Ultimo. A knock at the door – it’s Averno! No, wait. It’s just Mascara Magica. The three look at the coffee. We then see the coffee girl again, and she’s laughing… with Satanico’s voice.
The match saw Rey taking on Averno, with both men seconded by their partners – Ultimo and Satanico. Rey took the first fall, and Averno the second. In the third fall, Mascara Magica started down toward the ring with a weapon. Satanico alerted the referee and while they were dealing with that, Ultimo slid into the ring and chokeslammed Averno. Then Satanico’s new ally (the one from the coffee bit) came out and attacked Mephisto, again distracting the ref. Satanico hit the ring and helped Averno pull out the win.
The next week saw Satanico finally giving his mystery man a name – Mephisto. Averno and Satanico then teamed with Shocker to take on Ultimo, Rey, and Mascara. Satanico won the match in the third fall with a low blow on Ultimo.
On August 14th, something new entered the battle between the Guerreros and Infernales – tag team gold. The Guerreros had won the tag team titles in a tournament nearly a year before. Before the match, we saw Satanico and Averno in the hospital – the Guerreros had jumped Mephisto in the gym and injured his arm. The match itself went off as planned – the Guerreros (with Mascara Magica in their corner) took the first fall and the Infernales took the second. Then things got interesting. As Rey and Satanico brawled outside the ring, Ultimo got knocked loopy by a missed moonsault and Averno headed up top to capitalize. Mascara was right behind him and nailed him with a low blow on the top rope. Ultimo scooped Averno up and put him in a submission hold. Outraged, Satanico hit the ring and kicked a field goal on Ultimo – in front of the referee. Oops. DQ, champs retain. Mascara then pulled his mask off to reveal that he was really Tarzan Boy, finally returning from his neck injury, a fact that did not please the CMLL Commissioner.
The next week we saw the CMLL governing commission discussing the case. The commissioner pointed out that Mascara was supposed to be the second, not Tarzan Boy. Despite Ultimo Guerrero’s arguing on behalf of his tag partner, the decision was made to suspend Tarzan for two weeks.
Later in the show, Mascara, Ultimo, and Rey took on El Hijo del Santo, Atlantis, and Rayo III. The match ended with Ultimo committing a cardinal sin in the world of Mexican wrestling. You see, Santo is one of their most revered wrestlers. There is nobody in the US who can compare. The closest I could think of is Hulk Hogan when Hulkamania was at its peak, but even that doesn’t measure up. In 1984, Santo passed away. News reports say that his funeral drew over 10,000 mourners. El Hijo del Santo is his son, who is revered as well due to his carrying on his father’s name. In the end of the match, Ultimo pulled off Hijo del Santo’s mask, then pinned him with the help of a rudo referee. Santo was furious. He demanded a tag team title match, which Ultimo blew off. The end of the show degenerated into an all-out brawl.
The next week we got a rematch as Santo, Negro Casas, and Rayo de Jalisco III took on the GdI. After Santo’s team won, they again demanded a tag team shot, which was an idea Ultimo didn’t like.
That match happened the next week. Rey and Ultimo defended their tag titles against Negro Casas and El Hijo Del Santo. Things got off to a rocky start as all four Guerreros came out. The referee said that Rey and Ultimo could only have one second, so Mascara Magica headed back to the back. Stereo camel clutches took the first fall for Team Santo, and the Guerreros took the second. Things were going well during the third fall – until Mascara Magica ran in and attacked Santo and Negro. The referee immediately called for the DQ. Then another Mascara came out of the back, this one taller and thinner, like the Mascara we were used to. The Guerreros put 2 and 2 together and realized that it was Satanico under the mask. The referee finally held up the titles (after preparing to award them to Santo and Negro) and the show closed out with a brawl between everybody.
Things kept falling apart as the lucha commission decided to hold up the tag titles until they could decide what to do. At least Rey, Ultimo, and Mascara got to take out some frustrations that night in a match against Satanico, Mephisto, and Averno. The Guerreros took the first fall, only to have the decision overturned as Mascara Magica ignored the referee and continued using the ropes to choke Satanico. As the second fall started, Ultimo had stolen Mephisto’s mask, and was showing it off up on the stage. Finally the Infernales managed to win the second fall and then began loosening Ultimo’s mask. Tarzan Boy ran out from the back to help his teammates. Shocker and Apollo Dantes then joined in to help out the Infernales. In the end, the Infernales came out on top and left victorious.
The Guerreros took on Santo, Negro, and Hijo del Rayo next. Santo’s team took the first fall and was in control of the second until Tarzan Boy came out from the back, drawing a DQ for the Guerreros. Still, the tag titles weren’t on the line, so the Guerreros didn’t seem to mind the loss too badly.
On the next episode Satanico, Mephisto, and Averno took on Blue Demon, Atlantis, and Negro Casas. Atlantis won the first fall for his team. In the second, Satanico was in the ring when the Guerreros came out of the back and destroyed his partners. With that distraction, Atlantis was able to put him away with no problems. The show that week ended in a brawl as both teams tried to destroy each other.
Then came the big night – the Infierno en el Ring PPV. The match was a Cage of Death match. The Cage of Death is different in Mexico than in the States. Here, all seven men were locked in a cage. The last man out lost not only the name of the Infernales for his team, he also lost his mask or his hair! That unlucky man was Mascara Magica.
Analysis
This is simply incredible when put in comparison with some of the feuds we see today. Just imagine – a feud that runs for eight months! Today we’re lucky if they last 2 – unless HHH is still trying to get his belt back.
Something else to consider here that’s missing from feuds in the WWE is the pure emotion. These guys wanted to get their hands on each other. They didn’t care about rules. They would shred each others’ masks and Satanico’s group even shredded the Guerreros’ tights because they had the Infernales logo on them! You really believed that these two groups truly hated each other and would do whatever it took to attack the others.
The other thing this feud did was to escalate these wrestlers. The Guerreros were main eventing Arena Mexico (CMLL’s biggest arena). Ultimo even went on to hold the CMLL light heavyweight title – arguably CMLL’s most respected belt.
Where are they now?
The Guerreros del Infernales changed their name to the Guerreros del Infierno, and all four men remained in CMLL. Mascara Magica eventually turned tecnico and allied himself with Shocker, leaving the GdI as Ultimo Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, and Tarzan Boy.
2004 showed some changes for the group. On January 24th (real time), Rey Bucanero and Ultimo Guerrero took on L.A. Park (the original La Parka from WCW) and Shocker for the CMLL tag team titles. The Guerreros took the first fall. Park and Shocker took the second. During the third, Rey was fighting with Shocker at ringside and somehow got his leg stuck in one of the theater-type chairs CMLL uses. Ultimo was then thrown out of the ring. He got back to his feet in front of Rey and Shocker. Park then came over the top rope and dove onto Ultimo. The force threw both men back into Shocker, then all three landed on top of Rey, whose leg was still caught. Rey would go on the shelf for a couple of months with the knee injury. (As a side note, it is believed that the GdI were originally booked to retain the titles. When Shocker pinned Ultimo to end the match, Rey could be seen in the background. Despite being in such agony that he couldn’t even stand for the ringside doctor to touch his leg, he was still trying to get back into the ring to break up the fall. L.A. Park had to hold him back. That, ladies and gentlemen, is guts.)
The next blow came a few months later, when Hector Garza jumped from AAA to join CMLL. Although never technically leaving the group, Tarzan Boy wound up working more with Garza and El Terrible than with the GdI. Tarzan recently did an interview with halcon.net which confirms this – he says that he is still the fourth member of the GdI, but is also part of the Trios Champion team with Hector Garza and Terrible. Tarzan also mentions that he worked with the WWF years ago (presumably for the old Super Astros program) but he and the rest of the Mexican wrestlers were released when the WWF started slashing the budget to cover the Hart family settlement over Owen Hart’s death. He also mentions that he didn’t miss his time there and describes the atmosphere as very racist.
The next major occurrence happened during the Guerreros’ feud with Shocker. Shocker was running “Guapo University” – a sort of training for young tecnicos. The Guerreros responded with Guerrero University – the same thing for undercard rudos. The Universities finally faced off in a ten-man elimination match – with Olimpico won for the Guerreros. Olimpico was then invited to join the GdI, where he remains today, despite suffering and recovering from a severe neck injury.
Now it appears that backstage politics may do what Satanico could not. Rumors are swirling that Tarzan Boy and/or Rey Bucanero may be looking to jump to AAA, which could spell the end of the Guerreros del Infierno.
Satanico remains in CMLL. His website can be found at satanicomansonlucha.galeon.com. However, the page is in Spanish.
Shocker jumped to AAA with Vampiro earlier this year. He is also wrestling in TNA’s X Division, recently challenging Christopher Daniels for the X Title at the Hard Justice PPV.
Next Week
By request: What happens when a 16-time former world champ’s son goes nuts and brings in his friends? (Keep those requests coming!)
