Jerry Estrada

Jerry Estrada (full name, Gerardo Hernández Estrada; born January 10, 1958, Monclova, Coahuila), is retired a Mexican professional wrestler or Luchador. Estrada was a major star for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) during the 1980s but was one of the first wrestlers to leave EMLL to work for Antonio Peña's newly started Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) promotion during the 1990s. He had a brief run in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1997 and 1998 when AAA and WWF had a working agreement. In 2003, he was forced to retire due to chronic injuries caused by his signature bumps to the outside of the ring. Unlike the majority of luchadors in Mexico Jerry Estrada never wore a mask during his career.

Professional wrestling career

Gerado Estrada trained for his professional wrestling career under Herodes and Alberto Moras, both renowned pro wrestling trainers in Mexico.^[2] He decided use his nickname "Jerry" as his ring name and opted to not start out as a masked wrestler unlike the majority of wrestlers in Mexico.

Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre/Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1978–1992)

It was not long after making his in-ring debut that Jerry Estrada began working regularly for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), which was the world's oldest and one of Mexico's largest wrestling promotions. His first championship reign began on March 4, 1984, when he defeated Ultraman to win the Mexican National Middleweight Championship.^[3] Over the subsequent 273 days, he successfully defended the championship against Águila Solitaria, Cachorro Mendoza, Atlantis and Mogur. Estrada was slated to wrestle at the EMLL 52nd Anniversary Show on September 20, but the show was cancelled due to the Mexico City earthquake the day before.^[4] On November 30, 1984, Atlantis defeated Jerry Estrada to win the Mexican National Middleweight Championship.^[3] In 1986 EMLL decided to team Estrada up with Pirata Morgan and Hombre Bala to form a trio known as Los Bucaneros ("The Buccaneers") as part of EMLL's emerging Trios division. Los Bucaneros went on to defeat the trio of Kiss, Ringo Mendoza, and Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. to win the Mexican National Trios Championship on August 30, 1987.^[5] Their reign ended when Los Destructores ("The Destroyers"; Tony Arce, Emilio Charles, Jr. and Vulcano) were chosen by EMLL to become the next champions, taking the titles on January 31, 1988.^[5] Los Bucaneros disbanded not long after the title loss. In 1990 EMLL created a Mini-Estrella ("Mini Star") division and several of the small-sized wrestlers were given ring characters matching the regular-sized wrestlers; one such wrestler was Jerrito Estrada (Spanish for "Little Jerry Estrada") who bore quite a physical resemblance to Estrada himself and wrestled a similar style. While he was a smaller version of Jerry Estrada, the conservative booking style of EMLL kept the regular-sized wrestlers and the Mini-Estrellas from appearing or wrestling together.^[6] In late 1991 EMLL changed their name to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and created a number of "World" championships to help usher in the new name; one such title was the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship. CMLL held a tournament in late 1991 that saw Jerry Estrada defeat MS-1, Mascara Año 2000 and Black Magic on his way to the finals, where he defeated Pierroth, Jr. to become the first champion.^[7] Estrada held the championship for 175 days until Pierroth, Jr. won it from him.^[7]

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (1992-1997)

In early 1992 CMLL booker Antonio Peña decided to leave the conservative CMLL to create his own wrestling promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA). Estrada was one of the first CMLL wrestlers to leave to go to AAA, causing an exodus of a large number of CMLL wrestlers to AAA at the time. In AAA Jerry and Jerrito Estrada teamed up on several occasions, including the first ever Triplemanía show on April 30, 1993 where Jerry, Jerrito and Blue Panther lost to rivals Máscara Sagrada, Mascarita Sagrada and Love Machine.^[8] In 1994 Estrada became involved in a storyline feud with one of AAA's top tecnicos (good guys) Heavy Metal with the now veteran Estrada playing the role of the grizzled vet who does not believe Heavy Metal is tough enough to be a top level wrestler. The storyline between the two became the background for the main event of AAA's Triplemanía II-A, where Heavy Metal defeated Estrada in a Lucha de Apuesta, or bet match, which meant Estrada had all his hair shaved off after the loss.^[9] Later that year Estrada represented AAA on the When Worlds Collide show, a joint AAA/World Championship Wrestling (WCW) pay-per-view where he teamed with La Parka and Blue Panther, losing to the team of The Pegasus Kid, 2 Cold Scorpio, and Tito Santana.^[10] In March, 1995 Estrada defeated La Parka to win the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship, holding it for 131 days before losing it back to La Parka.^[11] During his time as the champion he successfully defended the title against Rey Misterio, Latin Lover and Lizmark. In 1995 he also worked at two of the three Triplemanía shows held that year, first at Triplemanía III-A the team of Konnan, Perro Aguayo, La Parka and Octagón defeated Cien Caras, Máscara Año 2000, Pentagón and Jerry Estrada.^[12] Later on at Triplemanía III-C Estrada got a small measure of revenge as he teamed up with Cien Caras, Máscara Año 200 and Fishman to defeat the team of Konnan, Perro Aguayo, Latin Lover and Máscara Sagrada.^[13] The following year he worked all three Triplemanía shows; first teaming up with Juventud Guerrera to defeat El Pantera and Super Caló at Triplemanía IV-A, then Estrada, El Sanguinario, and Arandu lost to Latin Lover, Sergio Romo, Jr., and Antifaz at Triplemanía IV-B and finally Estrada, Fishman, Villano IV and May Flowers lost to La Parka, Winners, Super Caló and El Mexicano on the undercard of Triplemanía IV-C.^[14][15][16]

In early 1997 AAA began a working relationship with the North American based World Wrestling Federations (WWF), with AAA sending several of their wrestlers to the US to work WWF shows. Estrada made his only WWF appearance when he teamed up with Fuerza Guerrera and former rival Heavy Metal, only to lose to Héctor Garza, Perro Aguayo and El Canek at the 1997 Royal Rumble.^[17] Estrada was also one of the first participants in AAA"s Rey de Reyes ("King of Kings") which would become an annual tournament. In the first round Latin Lover outlasted Estrada, Mascara Sagrada, Jr. and Killer.^[18] At Triplemanía V-A Estrada teamed up with El Picudo to be one of four teams competing in a Luchas de Apuestas match. Estrada and his team mate survived the match without losing their hair as it ended with Leon Negro pinning Halcón Dorado, Jr.^[19]

Promo Azteca / World Wrestling Council (1997-1998)

Up until 1997 AAA and Promo Azteca had been working closely together but the two groups split in early 1997 with Estrada being one of the AAA wrestlers that chose to work exclusively for Promo Azteca until the promotion shut down in 1998. During this time he also worked on the independent circuit as well as making several appearances for the Puerto Rico based World Wrestling Council (WWC) during that time period. In WWC he defeated Steve Corino on November 16, 1997 to win the WWC Junior Heavyweight Championship.^[20] 27 days later he lost the title to local wrestler La Ley, but regained it on JAnuary 6, 1998.^[20] After 221 days as the Junior Heavyweight Champion Estrada lost the title to El Rockero, ending his time with WWC shortly afterwards.^[20]

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (1998-2001)

Estrada returned to AAA in 1998, working with them especially when they toured through Monterrey. On December 8, 2000 Estrada teamed up with The Headhunters to wrestle on AAA's 2000 Guerra de Titans show. The trio lost to the veteran trio of El Canek, Dos Caras and Máscara Sagráda.^[21] A year later, on September 16, 2001 Estrada, Pirata Morgan, El Texano and El Engendrop lost to La Parka, Jr., Máscara Sagrada, Sangre Chicana and Octagón on the undercard of the 2001 Verano de Escándalo show.^[22] A few months later Estrada, Pirata Morgan, El Texano and Sangre Chicana lost to El Canek, Dos Caras, Jr., La Parka and Máscara Sagráda on the undercard of the 2001 Guerra de Titanes.^[23]

Independent circuit and retirement

The 2001 Guerra de Titanes show was Estrada's last AAA appearance as he worked on the Monterrey independent circuit for the last couple of years of his active career, working a limited scheduled due to his health issues. in mid-2003 Estrada announced that his physical condition would force him to retire. Over the years Estrada had become known for a move known as Salida de Bandera ("the Exit Flag") where he would be thrown over the top rope with great height and crash to the floor. While professional wrestling is a staged event and his opponents would do their best to protect Estrada the years of hitting the floor took a toll on his body and he was forced to retired. On May 25, 2003 Jerry Estrada teamed up with former rival Pierroth and Super Crazy, losing his retirement match to the team of Perro Aguayo, Jr., Tinieblas and Villano III. In mid-2009 the Perros del Mal wrestling promotion held a benefit show for Jerry Estrada, with a portion of the proceeds going to Estrada.^[24] Later in the year a Monterrey wrestling promotion known as Poder y Honor held another benefit show for Jerry Estrada, honoring him during the show.^[25] On August 8, 2013 Jerry Estrada actually came out of retirement for one last match, headlining a show actually billed as "Jerry Estrada's Retirement Show", 10 years after his last in ring match. Jerry Estrada, Gato Fantasma and Silencio defeated Memo, Rey Demonio, Jr. and Stuka on the show.^[26]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Media Cerrajera (Standing neck trap/Hammerlock submission hold)^[1]
  • Flying Senton^[1]
• Signature moves
  • Topé Suicida^[1]
  • Salida de Bandera ("Exit Flag"; being thrown over the top rope to the floor)^[1]
• Nicknames
  • El Puma^[1]

Championships and accomplishments

• Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
  • Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^{[11][Notes 1]}
• Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre / Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
  • CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[7]
  • Mexican National Middleweight Championship (1 time)^{[3][Notes 2]}
  • Mexican National Trios Championship (1 time) – with Hombre Bala and Pirata Morgan^{[5][Notes 3]}
• International Wrestling All-Stars
  • IWAS Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Juventud Guerrera
• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[20]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 110 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991.^[1]

Luchas de Apuestas record

Footnotes

References