Gran Apache

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Balbuena and the second or maternal family name is González.
Gran Apache
Birth nameMario Balbuena González[1]
Born(1959-04-16)April 16, 1959[2]
Mexico City, Mexico[3]
DiedMay 7, 2017(2017-05-07) (aged 58)[1]
Mexico City, Mexico
Cause of deathIntestinal cancer[2]
Spouse(s)Lady Apache (divorced)[2]
Children
Relatives
  • Billy Boy (ex-son-in-law)[2]
  • Natsumi (granddaughter)
  • Marvin Apache (grandson)[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Chiva Rayada I
Cometa Azul III
El Apache
Gran Apache
Great Sasuke Tiga Power Version
Jabagengi
Kimba
Lion
Billed height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)[3]
Billed weight86 kg (190 lb)[3]
Trained byRafael Salamanca
Tony Lopez
Blue Demon[2]
Cometa Azules I[2]
Cometa Azules II[2]
DebutAugust 8, 1975[1]

Mario Balbuena González (April 16, 1959 – May 7, 2017),[4] better known under the ring names Gran Apache and El Apache, was a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler[5] and trainer. Balbuena worked for AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) since 1996, both as a wrestler and a trainer. He was involved in training almost all young wrestlers who worked for the promotion during that period of time.

Two of Balbuena's four daughters—Faby Apache and Mari Apache—followed him into a professional wrestling career. His second wife also became a professional wrestler under the name Lady Apache. Balbuena and his family were part of a long-running "Telenovela" style storyline that also included Faby Apache's then-husband Billy Boy as well as their son, referred to as "Marvin Apache". As Gran Apache, Balbuena held the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship twice and the AAA World Trios Championship once with his daughters. In 2018 he was inducted in the AAA Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ a b c d e "Falleció El Apache, luchador de AAA". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference SLObit was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference PWI500-2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Gran Apache (1959-2017) - wrestlingscout". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  5. ^ "Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database". www.wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved 2020-09-07.