WCW in Canada

Recently on the "What Happened When?" podcast they talked about the WCW Mayhem 1999 pay-per-view with originated from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  It got me thinking if this was the first time WCW had been to Canada.  It wasn't, but it was one of only a handful of shows that that WCW had ever run in Canada.  I'm referring to WCW from when Turner bought JCP in October 1988 to the end of WCW in 2001.

Their first run through Canada came in 1990 with five house shows, three in June and one in October and November.  All of these shows were in Ontario

In 1997 a show was held in Montreal where Jacques Rougeau wrestled Hulk Hogan in the Main Event.  This is at times billed as a WCW house show, but it is not.  In fact this show was promoted by Rougeau who was in WCW at the time.

WCW's second big run in Canada was in 1999 - 2000 with eight shows.  Now I know what you are thinking, eight shows over two years is not a lot especially if you compare it to the number of shows the WWE has run in Canada.  In 1997 WWE promoted 26 shows in Canada.

However of the eight shows you have two Pay-Per-Views, five television tapings and one house show.  I'm pretty sure WCW ran Canada because of Bret Hart in 1999, for their return in late summer 2000 I'm not sure what motivated it.


June 26, 1990 Niagra Falls, Ontario
The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions: Doom: Ron Simmons & Butch Reed in a non-title match
Scott Steiner pinned NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Sweet" Stan Lane
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton
Rick Steiner defeated "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
Rick Steiner defeated "Mean" Mark Callous
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger & The Junk Yard Dog defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & Barry Windham

June 27, 1990 Toronto, Ontario
"Mean" Mark Callous defeated Nick DeCarlo
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated NWA US Tag Team Champions: The Midnight Express: "Sweet" Stan Lane & "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton in a non title match
The Steiner Brothers: Rick & Scott defeated defeated NWA World Tag Team Champions: Doom: Ron Simmons & Butch Reed by disqualification
The Junk Yard Dog defeated NWA World Television Champion: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson in a non-title match
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a non-title match

June 28, 1990 Brantford, Ontario
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated "Dirty" Dutch Mantell
NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton defeated Nick DeCarlo
Scott Steiner pinned NWA US Tag Team Champion: "Sweet" Stan Lane
 NWA World Tag Team Champions: Doom: Ron Simmons & Butch Reed defeated The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger & The Junk Yard Dog defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair & NWA World Television Champion: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson

October 25, 1990 Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario
The Fabulous Freebirds: Michael "P.S." Hayes & Jimmy "Jam" Garvin defeated Ricky Morton & "Wildfire" Tommy Rich  - Rich subbed for Robert Gibson
The Master Blasters: Steele & Blade or Iron defeated Mike Rotunda and Tim Horner
Nick DeCarlo defeated Terry Morgan
Tom Zenk pinned Johnny K-9
The Juicer (Art Barr) defeated Barry Horowitz
"Flying" Brian Pillman defeated The Black Scorpion
NWA US Champion: Lex Luger defeated Sid Vicious

Steele is Kevin Nash, Blade is Al Green, Iron is Cory Pendarvis only lasted a very short time before being replaced by Al Green.

The Black Scorpion could have been portrayed by Al Perez, Randy Culley or Bill Irwin

November 29, 1990 Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario
The Juicer vs. "Nature Boy" Buddy Landell
Mike Rotunda vs. The Candyman Brad Armstrong
Norman vs. The Cuban Assassin
Brian Pillman vs. Bill Irwin
The Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong defeated Johnny K-9 and Nick DeCarlo
NWA US Tag Team Champion defeated The Nasty Boys: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Saggs in a handi-capped match
NWA World Champion: Sting pinned Sid Vicious

The June tour of these shows definitely got the better talent line-up.  Granted the champions didn't fare to well in their matches.  It seems like these shows were part of an attempted expansion and then going forward they didn't return because of cost cutting measures.  I'm just freelancing here.

March 29, 1999 Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario
Monday Nitro
Konnan defeated Vincent
Wrath defeated Kenny Kaos
Rick Steiner pinned Scott Norton
World Television Champion: Booker T pinned Chris Adams
Chris Jericho pinned Jerry Flynn
Buff Bagwell pinned Norman Smiley
Cruiserweight Champion: Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman defeated Tag Team Champions: Foure Horsemen: Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko to win the titles
Hulk Hogan pinned DDP

This show featured the famous angle where Bret Hart called out Goldberg and was speared, however, Hart had a metal plate on and Goldberg knocked himself out.  After Hart quit WCW.

March 30, 1999 Kitchener, Ontario
Television taping for WCW Saturday Night and WCW Worldwide.  See below for complete list of this 24 match card

November 21, 1999 Air Canada Center, Toronto, Ontario
Mayhem 99
Semi-Final Tournament Match: Chris Benoit defeated Jeff Jarrett
Evan Karagia with Madusa defeated Cruiserweight Champion: Disco Inferno with Tony Marinara to win the championship
Norman Smiley defeated Hardcore Champion: Brian Knobbs with Jimmy Hart to win the title
The Revolution: Perry Saturn, Dean Malenko, & Asya with Shane Douglas defeated The Filthy Animals: Eddie Guerrero, Billy Kidman, & Torrie Wilson with Konnan
Buff Bagwell defeated Curt hennig in a retirement match
Semi-Final Tournament Match: Bret "Hitman" Hart defeated Sting
Dog Collar Match: Vampiro w/ Jerry Only defeated Berlyn with The Wall
Meng defeated Lex Luger with Miss Elizabeth
US & Television Champion: Scott Hall defeated Booker T
David Flair & Kimberly Page fought to a no contest after Kanyon, DDP, and Arn Anderson ran in after the referee was knocked down
"I Quit" Match: Goldberg defeated Sid Vicious when the referee stopped the match when Vicious passed out in a rear naked choke
Bret "Hitman" Hart defeated Chris Benoit buy submission to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship

Sadly the main event was marred with interference by Dean Malenko, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, & Goldberg.  Also during the match they cut the back showing them brawling.  The focus should have been on the ring.

February 26, 2000 Winnipeg, Manitoba
House Show
In ring-promo with Bret "Hitman" Hart
Cruiserweight Champion: The Artist Formerly Known As Prince Iaukea defeated Billy Kidman
Ron Harris defeated Mike Rotunda
Hardcore Champion: Brian Knobbs & Fit Finlay defeated The Wall & Norman Smiley
Buff Bagwell defeated Curt Hennig
US Champion: Jeff Jarrett defeated Vampiro
World Champion: Sid Vicious defeated Lex Luger

August 13, 2000 Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, British Columbia
New Blood Rising
Ladder Match: 3 Count: Evan Karagias, Shannon Moore, & Shane Helms w/ Tank Abbott defeated Jung Dragons: Jamie-San, Yang, & Kaz Hayashi
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated The Great Muta
Buff Bagwell defeated Kanyon
Tag Team Champions: Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke defeated Chuck Palumbo & Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak & Sean O'Haire, and General Rection & Lash Laroux with special guest referee Disco Inferno
Strap Match: Billy Kidman defeated Shane Douglas
Major Gunns defeated Miss Hancock
Sting defeated The Demon

US Champion: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome with special guest referee Jacques Rougeau, Bret Hart made an appearance to celebrate with Storm and Rougeau
The Great Muta & Vampiro defeated  Tag Team Champions: Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke to win the titles
Kevin Nash defeated Bill Goldberg and Scott Steiner
World Champion: Booker T pinned Jeff Jarrett

August 14, 2000 Skyreach Place, Kelowna, British Columbia
Monday Nitro
Billy Kidman & Big Vito defeated Shane Douglas & Reno
US Champion: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome with special guest referee Ernest "The Cat" Miller
World Champion: Booker T wrestled Jeff Jarrett to a no contest
Norman Smiley defeated Hardcore Champion: Carl Oulette to win the championship
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Juventud Guerrera defeated Tag Team Champions: Vampiro & The Great Muta to win the titles
Cruiserweight Champion: Elix Skipper pinned Kwee Wee
Sting defeated The Demon, The Great Muta, & Vampiro

August 15, 2000 Riverside Coliseum, Kamloops, British Columbia
Thunder Aired 8/16
Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke defeated Three jobbers in a handicapped match
The Great Muta pinned The Demon
US Champion: Lance Storm, Carl Oulette & Cruiserweight Champion: Elix Skipper defeated Misfits in Action: General Rection, Lash Leroux, & Chavo Guerrero Jr
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated US Champion: Lance Storm by disqualification
Gene Okerlund pinned Mark Madden in a streetfight
Big Vito pinned Carl Oulette

Worldwide Aired 8/26
The Harris Twins: Ron & Don defeated Kory Williams & Bryan McNeal
Vampiro defeated Mad Jack
Mark Jindrak, Shawn Stasiak, & Sean O'Haire w/ Chuck Palumbo defeated Jung Dragons: Jamie-San, Yang, & Kaz Hayashi

September 18, 2000 Don Cardillo Arena, Kitchener, Ontario
Monday Nitro
Rey Mysterio Jr. & Tygress defeated Chuck Palumbo, Shawn Stasiak, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, & Mike Sanders in a handicap elimination match
Shane Douglas & Torrie Wilson defeated Kwee Wee & Paisley
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated Disco Inferno
World Champion: Booker T fought Sting to a no contest
Team Canada: Lance Storm, Jim Duggan, & Elix Skipper defeated Misfists in Action: General

Rection, Lash Laroux, & Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner defeated Kronik: Brian Adams & Bryan Clarke
Hardcore Match: Mike Awesome defeated Vampiro
World Champion: Booker T & Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett & Scott Steiner

The shows in 1999 and 2000 were the best that WCW had to offer at that time, even the house show.  I wonder if they had stayed afloat in 2001 instead of what had happened if they would have returned in 2001.

Results are from The History of WWE website.

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March 30, 1999 Kitchener, Ontario
WCW Saturday Night Taping
Aired April 3rd
World Television Champion: Booker T pinned Erik Watts
Scotty Riggs beat Al Greene
Kenny Kaos defeated Bobby Duncam Jr.
Chris Adams & Mike Enos defeated Disorderly Conduct: Tough Tom & Mean Mike
Vincent beat Barry Horowitz
Prince Iaukea defeated Lenny Lane
Chris Jericho defeated Kaz Hayashi
Raven & Perry Saturn defeated Silver King & Scott Armstrong
Rick Steiner defeated Fit Finlay by DQ
Meng & Jerry Flynn fought The Barbarian & Hugh Morrus to a double count-out

Aired April 10th
Rick Steiner defeated Fit Finlay
Ernest "The Cat" Miller defeated Norman Smiley
Konnan defeated La Cucaracha (Disco Inferno in mask)
Meng & Jerry Flynn defeated The Barbarian & Hugh Morrus in a falls count anywhere match

Worldwide TV Taping
Aired April 10th
Chavo Guerrero Jr defeated Chip Minton
Scott Norton defeated Jason Anderson

Aired April 17th
Bobby Duncum Jr. defeated Kenny Kaos
Van Hammer pinned Ed Gatsky
Billy Kidman pinned Lash Laroux
Wrath defeated The Disciple

Aired April 24th
Bobby Blaze defeated Johnny Swinger
Barry Darsow defeated Villano IV

Aired May 1st
Sick Boy defeated Super Calo
Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Juventud Guerrera

Roy's Review: Beyond Wrestling Americanrana 2017

Here is my review of the Beyond Wrestling's Americanrana Matinee Show at The White Eagle in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 30, 2017.

Match 1: Brian Milonas defeated Ace Romero
Solid big man match but I enjoyed their match at Paying Paul back in January better. There were a few awkward spots and the Vader Bomb finish was very anticlimactic. Despite that, this was a solid match that saw the action spill to the floor early. Good match to open up the day of wrestling.
7/10

In Ring: Cam Zagami comes out and says that this is AmeriCAMrana. He then makes fun of the crowd and issues an open challenge. Good promo.

Match 2: Josh Briggs defeated Cam Zagami
This was pretty much a quick squash. Briggs got the win with an Inverted Crucifix Powerbomb.
4/10

Match 3: Tracy Williams defeated Mikey Webb
Good match. Mikey Webb had dreads which was really weird. People kept making fun of him and for good reason. I wasn't sure if Webb would be able to keep up with Williams' technical style but I was pleasantly surprised. They both fought hard but in the end Williams got the win with a brutal piledriver.
7.5/10

In Ring: Dan Barry, Ryan Galone, Mike Verna and Rex Lawless come out. Barry says that since Lawless is injured, Verna is his replacement. Barry then issues an open challenge to any serious 6 man team. Out comes The Secret City Soldiers: Da Hoodz and Anthony Stone. Barry then makes fun of them and says that Anthony Stone hasn't been relevant in Beyond Wrestling since 2012. Barry says that his guys don't need him to win so it will be a handicap match.

Match 4: Ryan Galone & Mike Verna w/Dan Barry and Rex Lawless defeated The Secret City Soldiers: Da Hoodz: Davey Cash & Kris Pyro and Anthony Stone in a 2 on 3 Handicap Match.
Solid match with Pyro taking a massive beating. When he finally tagged out they had a ton of fast paced offence including a double coast to coast from Pyro and Stone on Galone while Cash hit a running dropkick at the some time. This was pretty sick. The end came when Stone went to break up Verna trying to powerslam both Pyro and Cash but Lawless hit him with a crutch behind the referee's back allowing Galone to toss Stone on the pile and Verna powerslammed them all for the win.
6.75/10

Match 5: Jay Freddie defeated Rory Gulak
I wasn't really sure if this would be a good match or not. Jay Freddie has become on of my favorite guys to watch but Rory Gulak on the other hand hasn't really done much for me since he stopped doing deathmatches. I was impressed with this match though. Gulak showed that he could more than keep up with Freddie in a techincal battle. The match turned to a hard hitting battle towards the end with Gulak taking a very brutal suplex on the ring apron. Freddie got the win with a Fisherman's Suplex.
7.75/10

Match 6: Tom Lawlor w/His Corner Man defeated Bobby Fish
This match had way to much MMA type stuff for my liking but it did turn out to be a solid match. It looks like Lawlor could become another of the MMA guys to transition well into pro wrestling. Lawlor kept going for a rear naked choke throughout the match but Fish kept getting out until the end when he passed out to one and the referee stopped the match.
6.75/10

Match 7: Brandon Watts defeated AR Fox with Shynron as the special referee
This was an awesome match and by far the best on the matinee show. Tons of action all over the place with it spilling to the floor a bunch of times. Fox went to use a chair but referee Kevin Quinn came out and prevented it. Fox shoved Quinn who ripped off his referee shirt and punched Fox allowing Watts to almost get a win with a school boy. Lots more back and forth action followed until Watts his a frog splash elbow for the win. Check this match out its really good.
9/10

In Ring: Shynron congratulates Brandon Watts on his win and puts him over. He then challenges Watts to a match and Watts accepts.

Overall this show scored a 48.75 out of 70 for an overall score of 69.64%. This was solid show with a ton of good wrestling. The main event really stood out as being the best match and is worth the price of the DVD alone. I'm looking forward to the Brandon Watts vs. Shynron match. That should be awesome.

Here is my review of Beyond Wrestling's Americanrana on July 30, 2017 at The White Eagle in Worcester, Massachusetts

Match 1: Team PAWG: Lufisto & Jordynne Grace defeated Doom Patrol: Chris Dickinson & Jaka
Holy Shit, what a crazy match. Grace took a vicious beat down early with Dickinson hitting a brutal German Suplex on her. When Grace finally got the tag the crowd erupted. Many violent looking moves from both teams. In the end Team PAWG got the surprising win with their running double hip attack move on Jaka. The crowd was super into this match and it was an excellent choice for the opener. One of the best inter gender matches I have ever seen.
8.5/10

In Ring: Chris Dickinson says that without Beyond Wrestling he wouldn't be where he is in his career. He then puts over the fans. Then he makes a toast to Beyond Wrestling with Jaka.

Match 2: Jonathan Gresham defeated Brian Cage
I wasn't to sure about this match. Mainly because I'm getting sick of seeing Gresham in the underdog roll against a guy twice his size, but I was pleasantly surprised. Gresham took a beating until he was able to get a hold of Cage's leg. At that point he did a great job of working the leg. This match was solid throughout until the ending. It was very abrupt with Gresham rolling through a submission attempt into a small package for the win.
7.75/10

Match 3: Jon Silver defeated JT Dunn
What an awesome match. I was really looking forward to this one and it blew away my expectations. Many sick spots and Dunn played a excellent hell. Check this match out, you won't be disappointed.
10/10

Match 4: Chuck Taylor w/Orange Cassidy defeated Swoggle in a TLC Match
This match was crazy right from the get to with Swoggle eating chair in the face right as the bell sounded. Now I'm not really into comedy wrestling but I really enjoyed this one. It saw Massage NV, Johnny Cockstrong, The Swamp Monster, Stan Stylez and Dick Justice get involved. Even Trent Barreta came to photo the chaos. Then end came when Taylor hit a piledriver into a bunch of tacks then he rolled up Swoggle for the win. Check this out its some great comedy wrestling.
7/10

Match 5: EYFBO: Angel Ortiz & Mike Draztik defeated The Lucha Bros: Rey Fenix & Pentagon Jr
Awesome match. Tons of high flying from both teams. Draztik and Penta had some vicious chop exchanges. Check this match out it's excellent. You won't be disappointed!
9.75/10

Match 6: David Starr defeated Donovan Dijak
Very good match here. Great leg work by Starr with some great selling by Dijak. Great back and forth action with a bunch of near falls. Near the end Starr took he microphone and dragged Dijak through the mud calling him a sell out. Dijak then came back with a Feast Your Eyes but only got 2. Starr then hit a brainbuster on his knee then an arm clenched german suplex for the win.
8.5/10

In Ring: David Starr puts over Dijak huge, saying that when Biff Busick left Dijak stepped up and filled the void. He went on to say that he was honored to wrestle Dijak and that Dijak is his favorite wrestler. He then gave him well wishes. Dijak took the microphone and said that his last match for Beyond Wrestling will be on August 13th and it will be against Walter.

Match 7: RPG Vice: Trent Barreta & Rocky Romero defeated Da Hit Squad: Dan Maff & Monsta Mack
This was good very heated battle, especially between Monsta Mack and Trent Barreta. For some reason they hate each other. These guys battled hard and all over place with the fight spilling to the floor. The end came when RPG Vice hit a Dudebuster/Double Stomp for the win.
8.25/10

In Ring: Trent Barreta wanted to shake hands with Monsta Mack but when Mack went to shake hands he spit in Trent's face instead.

Match 8: Joey Janela w/Penelope Ford defeated Matt Riddle
Good main event and much better than I expected. I wasn't really sure how the 2 totally different styles would work together but they did. I don't care for Riddle at all but he impressed me in this one. Janela hit some sick spots, a moonsault to the outside, and he even attempted a somersault onto the apron but Riddle moved and Janela smashed his ass. How he didn't break his tailbone is beyond me. Surprisingly Janela got the win with a Crippler Crossface making Riddle tap out.
8.25/10

This show scored a 68 out of 80 for an overall score of 85% What an awesome show. One of the best I have ever seen live. Everyone fought very hard and put forth their best efforts. Silver vs. Dunn was unbelievable and the intergender tag match was completely insane. When this comes out on DVD do yourself a favor and buy it. You won't be disappointed.

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Shared Gimmicks

Sometimes in wrestling one person is given a persona or gimmick and for whatever reason they either can't or don't want to continue as the character so it is given to another wrestler.  Here is a few of those gimmicks.

Max Moon

Konnan as Max Moon

Konnan was the first wrestler to don the Max Moon costume however the character was initially called The Comet Kid for his first two in ring appearances on September 1st & 2nd 1992.  It was September 21, 1992 in Winnipeg, Manitoba that Max Moon made his first tv appearance defeating Jerry Fox at a WWE Superstars taping.  By that time though Paul Diamond was wearing the Max Moon outfit.

Paul Diamond as Max Moon

The character Max Moon only last for a few months and disappeared when Paul Diamond was released from the company in February 1993.  Moon appeared on the debut episode of Monday Night Raw losing to Intercontinental Champion Shawn Michaels.  His only PPV appearance was in the 1993 Royal Rumble Match.

Leatherface

The character was created by the former Corporal Kirchner in the W*ING promotion based on the lead character from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies.  He debuted in December 1992 and for the next several months competed in  many death matches mostly in tag team matches with Freddie Krueger, Jason the Terrible, and others.  In mid 1993 Kirchner was arrested and served time in jail for assaulting a fan.

Kirchner as Leatherface

While he was in jail Rick Patterson was given the Leatherface gimmick and continued Kirchner's ongoing storylines.  By December 1994 when Kirchner returned to wrestling, Patterson had jumped to the IWA taking the character with him.  Kirchner joined him there and the two wrestled three matches together both as Leatherface.  On December 13, 1994 The Leatherfaces lost to Hiroshi Ono & Shoji Nakamaki in a Double Hell Death Match.

After the match Kirchner broke off a piece of a bed of nails board placed it on Ono's throat leg dropping he and Patterson then double powerbombed Ono onto a bed of nails.  They then placed a barbed wire board ontop of Ono and then began jumping on the board onto him while he was lying on a bed of nails!  I remember watching this match years ago, it was and is insane!

Patterson as Leatherface

Rumor is, is that it was a shoot and the Leatherfaces weren't supposed to do what they did.  Other's say it was part of the match.  I can't imagine Ono going along with all of what happened.  After this incident Kirchner left the IWA while Patterson continued to wrestle as Leatherface there until January 1998 he then toured Canada and Mexico limiting the number of matches he wrestled until his Last Match August 8, 2013 against Akira in Kumamoto, Japan.

Kirchner turned up in FMW after leaving IWA wrestling as Super Leather until he left FMN in September of 1999.  Over the next decade he wrestled a dozen matches as Leatherface or Super Leather with his last match being December 12, 2009 defeated Joey Vengeance in Erie, Pennsylvania.

The Demon 

On the August 23, 1999 episode of Monday Nitro from Las Vegas the band KISS played their song God of Thunder and near the end Brian Adams, the former Crush, appeared from a raised sarcophagus wearing face paint the same as Gene Simmon's also using the same moniker of The Demon.  This segment was cut out of the episode on the WWE Network.

Brian Adams as The Demon

On the August 30th episode of Nitro Adams as the The Demon made an appearance confronting Vampiro saying "Hey Vamipro, not here, not now, (long pause) not this time," he then yelled and opened his cape as lasers and fire effects lit up behind him.  Yep, that's all he did.  This is also Adam's last appearance as The Demon.

Dale Torborg as The Demon

The gimmick was passed to Dale Torborg and his first appearance was at a WCW Saturday Night taping January 19, 2000 in Cape Girardeau, MO.  Torborg wrestled as the Demon regularly, mostly on the losing end until September.  He had two matches in February and March 2001 at house shows before WCW folded.

Sin Cara

During a press conference in Mexico City on February 24, 2011 the WWE announced signing CMLL superstar Luis Urive (Mistico) to a contract, a major coup for the WWE.  The very popular and innovated high flyer has been with CMLL since 2004 and singing with the WWE was a surprise for many.  He announced that his new name would be Sin Cara.

Urive as Sin Cara

He debuted March 25, 2011 at a house show in Champaign, Illinois defeating Primo Colon.  His television debut took place April 4th in Atlanta when he ran in saving Daniel Bryan from an post match attack by Sheamus,  On July 18th, the day after competing in the Money in the Bank Ladder match at the pay-per-view Urive was suspended for 30 days for failing the wellness policy.

Urive on the left and Arias on the right

However Sin Cara returned to television on August 12th, however Urive was not in the costume.  Jorge Arias (Hunico) was wearing the mask.  Eventually Urive returned to television and feuded with Arias as Sin Cara Azule vs. Sin Cara Negro.  The had a mask vs mask match at the October 16, 2011 Smackdown television taping in Mexico City that saw Urive's Azule defeated and unmasked Arias Negro.

Arias as Sin Cara

Urive continued as Sin Cara until late 2013 wrestling his last match as the character on October 19, 2013, he was released from the WWE March 26, 2014.  Arias returned as Sin Cara on December 2, 2013 and continues to wrestle as the character to this day.

There are a others that have done the same like Doink the Clown and The Black Scorpion, and other gimmicks that have been used over the years by different wrestlers at different times like Yellow Dog and the Conquistadors.  Perhaps someday I'll explore those other gimmicks on another post.

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