Cavernario Galindo
Encyclopedia
Rodolfo Galindo Ramirez was a Mexican
luchador
and film actor, best known by his ring name Cavernario Galindo (Caveman Galindo), who was active in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
from the 1930s to the 1990s. Well known for inventing La Cavernaria, a commonly used submission hold in modern Lucha Libre
. As a young boy he would survive a car accident that would leave him with noticeable facial scars for the rest of his life.
Galindo made his debut as a wrestler in 1938 at the age of fifteen under the name Ruddy Valentino. He would also wrestle as Ruddy Galindo before taking up the name that made him famous. His slight build combined with his brawler style of fighting made it unlikely that he would find much success in Mexican lucha libre.
A few years into Galindo's career Salvador Lutteroth
, the founder and owner of Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre
noticed the young brawler and taking note of the young man's ugly appearance that resulted from his facial scars, gave him the gimmick as the animalistic Cavernario Galindo. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Galindo played his character for all that it was worth. In the ring his character would bite, claw, and brutally brawl with any opponent he came across to the boos of sold out crowds across Mexico
. One particular story, which may be an urban legend
, persists to this day. According to some accounts, in the 1940s, Galindo tore a live snake apart with his bare hands and teeth in front of a horrified audience before one of his matches.
On July 1, 1949, he defeated Tarzán Lopez in Mexico City to win the only title he'd ever hold during his career, the National Light Heavyweight Title. He successfully defended the title for more than a year until he lost it during December 1950 against Enrique Llanes
.
The feud that defined Galindo's career more than any other took place in the 1950s. Gory Guerrero
was a handsome and skilled technical wrestler, the exact opposite of Galindo's brawling character. Their multiple feuds are seen to this day as being among the bloodiest and most violent in the history of lucha libre. Galindo was known for his hoarse speaking voice which was the result of a throat injury he suffered during one of his matches against Guerrero. Galindo also feuded with the top luchadores of his generation, including El Santo, Blue Demon
, and Black Shadow
.
His popularity lasted for decades and he continued to wrestle until the 1990s, in his seventies. His career only ended when he broke one of his vertebra. He died a few years after this injury on July 19, 1999 at the age of seventy-five. In 1996, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
s, usually in a supporting role or as a villain, but sometimes as a zombie or another fictitious character.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
luchador
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
and film actor, best known by his ring name Cavernario Galindo (Caveman Galindo), who was active in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
from the 1930s to the 1990s. Well known for inventing La Cavernaria, a commonly used submission hold in modern Lucha Libre
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
Biography
Ramirez was born and raised in Chihuahua, MexicoChihuahua, Chihuahua
The city of Chihuahua is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It has a population of about 825,327. The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras.-History:It has been said that the...
. As a young boy he would survive a car accident that would leave him with noticeable facial scars for the rest of his life.
Galindo made his debut as a wrestler in 1938 at the age of fifteen under the name Ruddy Valentino. He would also wrestle as Ruddy Galindo before taking up the name that made him famous. His slight build combined with his brawler style of fighting made it unlikely that he would find much success in Mexican lucha libre.
A few years into Galindo's career Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth
Salvador Lutteroth was a Mexican professional wrestling promoter of the mid-twentieth century. Lutteroth's promotion, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre , has been the dominant Mexican promotion since its founding in 1933, until Lutteroth left the company in the 1950s...
, the founder and owner of Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...
noticed the young brawler and taking note of the young man's ugly appearance that resulted from his facial scars, gave him the gimmick as the animalistic Cavernario Galindo. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Galindo played his character for all that it was worth. In the ring his character would bite, claw, and brutally brawl with any opponent he came across to the boos of sold out crowds across Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. One particular story, which may be an urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
, persists to this day. According to some accounts, in the 1940s, Galindo tore a live snake apart with his bare hands and teeth in front of a horrified audience before one of his matches.
On July 1, 1949, he defeated Tarzán Lopez in Mexico City to win the only title he'd ever hold during his career, the National Light Heavyweight Title. He successfully defended the title for more than a year until he lost it during December 1950 against Enrique Llanes
Enrique Llanes
Enrique Juan Yañez González , best known under the ring name Enrique Llanes, was one of the premier Hispanic professional wrestlers in the early days of Lucha Libre when most wrestlers were imported from outside of Mexico...
.
The feud that defined Galindo's career more than any other took place in the 1950s. Gory Guerrero
Gory Guerrero
Salvador Guerrero Quesada , better known as Gory Guerrero, was one of the premier Hispanic professional wrestlers in the early days of Lucha Libre when most wrestlers were imported from outside of Mexico. He wrestled primarily in Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre between the 1940s and 1960s...
was a handsome and skilled technical wrestler, the exact opposite of Galindo's brawling character. Their multiple feuds are seen to this day as being among the bloodiest and most violent in the history of lucha libre. Galindo was known for his hoarse speaking voice which was the result of a throat injury he suffered during one of his matches against Guerrero. Galindo also feuded with the top luchadores of his generation, including El Santo, Blue Demon
Blue Demon
Alejandro Muñoz Moreno , better known as Blue Demon , was a Mexican luchador Enmascarado who was widely considered to be one of the greatest Mexican wrestlers of his time...
, and Black Shadow
Black Shadow
Black Shadow may refer to:*Sombra Negra, a vigilante group in El Salvador*Vincent Black Shadow, a British motorcycle produced from 1948 to 1955*Black Shadow, a character in the F-Zero series....
.
His popularity lasted for decades and he continued to wrestle until the 1990s, in his seventies. His career only ended when he broke one of his vertebra. He died a few years after this injury on July 19, 1999 at the age of seventy-five. In 1996, he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- La Cavernaria (Modified surfboard) - Innovated
Championships and accomplishments
- Mexican National Championship
- Mexican Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1996)
Filmography
Galindo starred in several lucha filmLucha film
The sport of Lucha Libre became so popular in Mexico, that it spawned a genre of Luchador films starring some of the most popular masked luchadores in the sport. These masked superheroes engaged in battles against a range of characters from spies, to vampires and martians...
s, usually in a supporting role or as a villain, but sometimes as a zombie or another fictitious character.
- Ruletera, La - 1987
- Leones del ring contra la Cosa Nostra, Los - 1974
- Leones del ring, Los - 1974
- Bestias del terror, Las - 1973
- Santo el enmascarado de plata y Blue Demon contra los monstruos - 1970
- Blue Demon contra cerebros infernales - 1968
- Isla de los dinosaurios, La - 1967
- Mujeres panteras, Las - 1967
- Lobas del ring, Las - 1965
- Fenómenos del futbol, Los - 1964
- Santo en el museo de cera - 1963
- Luchadoras contra el médico asesino, Las - 1963
- Señor Tormenta, El - 1963
- Tigres del ring, Los - 1960
- Última lucha, La - 1959
- Bestia magnifica (Lucha libre), La - 1953