Black Man (wrestler)
Álvaro Meléndez Tibanez (February 19, 1949 – February 28, 2022) was a Mexican Luchador (Spanish for professional wrestler), better known as Black Man. He was considered a very talented wrestler, and innovative when it comes to high flying moves.
| Black Man | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Álvaro Meléndez Tibanez |
| Born | February 19, 1949 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Died | February 28, 2022 (aged 73) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) |
|
| Billed height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) |
| Billed weight | 86 kg (190 lb) |
| Trained by | Diablo Velasco |
| Debut | 1965 |
| Retired | March 13, 1993 |
Tibanez died on February 28, 2022, aged 73.[1]
Professional wrestling career
He is most known for a being part of a tag team, first with White Man, Alberto Muñoz, who formed a fan favorite tag team. The two teamed for a while but never won a tag team title, despite several chances at the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship.[2] By 1978 Muñoz dropped the "White Man" character as he was forced to work a reduced schedule due to age and injuries.[2]
Later, Black Man would form Los Fantasticos with Kung Fu and Kato Kung Lee, a very popular trios team from the early 1980s.[3] Black Man would later try to reform Los Fantasticos with Kendo and Avispon Negro, but the trio was never as popular as the originals.[4] He was once El Santo's high risk move double in a movie. Late in his career he worked under the ring name Celestial, complete with a new mask and outfit to not reveal his real identity.[5]
Championships and accomplishments
- Universal Wrestling Association
- UWA World Lightweight Championship (1 time)[6]
- UWA World Trios Championship (1 time) – with Kung Fu and Kato Kung Lee[7]
- UWA World Welterweight Championship (3 times)[8]
Luchas de Apuestas record
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. O'Borman (mask) | Spiderman (mask) | Tijuana, Baja California | Live event | 1966 | [4] |
| Black Man (mask) | Demonio Azul (mask) | N/A | Live event | April 7, 1977 | [4][lower-alpha 1] |
| Black Man and El Matemático (masks) | El Signo and Lobo Rubio (hair) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | January 20, 1978 | [4] |
| Black Man (mask) | Pantera Negra (hair) | Pachuca, Hidalgo | Live event | October 2, 1983 | [4] |
| Blue Panther and Black Man (masks) | Las Sombras de Plata (masks) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | November 20, 1984 | [4] |
| Blue Panther (mask) | Black Man (mask) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | February 16, 1986 | [4] |
| El Brazo (hair) | Black Man (hair) | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Live event | February 7, 1990 | [4] |
| Black Man (hair) | Black Terry (hair) | Querétaro, Querétaro | Live event | October 30, 1990 | [4] |
| Negro Casas (hair) | Black Man (hair) | Nezahualcoyotl, State of Mexico | Live event | February 5, 1991 | [4] |
| Celestial (mask) | Demonio Arrieta (hair) | Mexico City | Live event | June 4, 1992 | [4] |
| Celestial (mask) | Pólvora (mask) | Querétaro, Querétaro | Live event | August 11, 1992 | [4][lower-alpha 2] |
| Super Delfin (mask) | Black Man (mask) | Tokyo, Japan | Live event | March 13, 1993 | [4][lower-alpha 3] |
Footnotes
- Not Blue Demon
- Not the current wrestler working as Pólvora.
- Remasked as Black Man to lose the mask in Japan.
References
- Boutwell, Josh (March 1, 2022). "Lucha legend Black Man passes away at age 73". WWE News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW Results. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
Legendary luchador Black Man – real name Alvaro Melendez Tibanez – passed away on Feb. 28 at the age of 73.
- "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". White Man (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. December 2007. p. 39. Tomo VII.
- "Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre". Kung Fu (in Spanish). Portales, Mexico. November 2008. p. 34. 17.
- "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Black Man (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. August 2007. p. 32. Tomo I.
- Valdés, Apolo (October 14, 2012). "Reapareció Black Man para estar con sus aficionados". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: Universal Wrestling Federation Lightweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 400. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: UWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "MEXICO: Universal Wrestling Federation Welterweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 397. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.