One month exactly before its iconic show, TripleMania, Lucha Libre AAA is mourning the loss of its founder. Perro Aguayo, real name Pedro Aguayo Damián, passes away yesterday. The news was reported in the Facebook account of Perros del Mal. “The Aguayo Ramirez Family, with much pain, communicated the sensitive death of our beloved father and husband, Don Pedro “ Perro Aguayo, “ the statement said. Aguayo has been described by American experts as a cross between Terry Funk and Bruno Sammartino, for his willingness to brawl and overpower opponents.

Aguayo was born on January 18, 1946, in Nochistlán, Zacatecas, however, he lived much of his life in Guadalajara, Jalisco. His career in the ring began in 1970 when Cuauhtémoc’s “ Diablo Velasco“ supervision went down. Velazco debuted in the ring with his characteristic outfit consisting of a vest and boots, simulating dog fur, and black trunks.

During his wrestling career, Perro Aguayo starred in great rivalries, the most important against El Santo. Among his movements in the ring are the “ Lanza Zacatecana “ and “ La Silla “, moves that allowed him to become a multi-time Champion and win several Lucha de Apuestas matches (hair vs mask), notably against Máscara Año 2000 and Cien Caras. 

Aguayo was synonymous with the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA) as one of its top heels and one of the top heels Lucha Libre overall. In the 1990s, Aguayo helped found Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, later known simply as AAA, and his three-way feud with Konnan and Cien Caras proved to be one of the most successful programs in terms of box office receipts. He stayed with AAA until 2000, even making an appearance on WWF’s Royal Rumble in 1997 in a match that featured Lucha Libre legends like El Canek, Mil Máscaras and up and comers who would later make names for themselves like Héctor Garza and Heavy Metal.

He came to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre to feud with Los Capos. He was successful in taking the hair of Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000 but he lost his slated retirement match against Universo 2000 in a Best two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, mask vs. hair match, where Perro was shaved bald. He remained in retirement until his son began feuding with Los Capos as well.

Cien Caras claimed he could not retire until his business with Aguayo was finished so a double hair vs. hair match was set with Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr. taking on Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000. The Aguayos were successful and Perro Aguayo returned to retirement and Cien Caras went into semi-retirement. On August 5, 2012, at Triplemanía XX, Aguayo was inducted into the AAA Hall of Fame. He would later mourn the loss of his son who, in 2015, died in the ring.

‘People loved Perro Aguayo because he lived up to his name’, said Canek, one of the great rivals of Aguayo in the 80s. He admired him for “honouring his name”, the reason for which the public loved it so much.”He lived up to his name: he was a dog, he fought like a dog. He demanded the maximum, that everyone gives everything, 100% to give the public what they needed.”

Besides being a great opponent, Canek remembers him as a great person, a good friend with whom he lived a lot. “He was a great friend, a great companion, he was one of the people with whom I lived the most. I remember that we lived nearby,” reminded Canek.

The World Wrestling Council (CMLL) mourned the death of the one who was considered “one of the greatest figures of this sport” in Mexico. Lucha Libre AAA, of which Aguayo was part, also expressed its condolences for the death of the “idol and legend of Mexican wrestling” that is part of its Hall of Fame. Perro Aguayo had been was one of the biggest box office attractions in Lucha Libre history. He will be reminded as forever.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwp_QmF_OWk]

All pics and videos courtesy of Cuartoscuro and Lucha Libre AAA.