Pantera (wrestler)

El Pantera
El Pantera in January 2016
Birth nameFrancisco Javier Pozas
Born (1964-02-03) February 3, 1964 (age 60)
Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • América
  • El Manaya
  • El Pantera
  • El Pantera II
  • Internacional Pantera
  • Pantera
  • Tanaka
  • Tritón
Billed height1.71 m (5 ft 7+12 in)[1]
Billed weight85 kg (187 lb)[1]
Billed fromQuerétaro, Querétaro, Mexico[1]
Trained byCarnicerito
Pirata Moreno
Rafael Salamanca
Raul Reyes
Debut11 November 1985

Francisco Javier Pozas (born February 3, 1964) is a Mexican professional wrestler, or luchador, who is best known under the ring name El Pantera, but has also worked as Pantera II, El Manaya, América, Tritón and Tanaka over the years. Pozas made his wrestling debut in 1985, working as an enmascarado (masked wrestler) with a panther-inspired mask to go with his ring character of "El Pantera". Over the years Pozas has worked in Mexico, Japan and the United States; In Mexico he has worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), in Japan he's worked for Universal Lucha Libre (ULL) and All-Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and in the United States he's most known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1997 to 1999 and Chikara where he has worked shows since 2007. In 2006 Pantera lost his mask as a result of a match. He, however, continued wearing the mask when working for Chikara and in 2011 also began wearing it again in Mexico.

  1. ^ a b c d PWI Staff (August 2008). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 - 2008 :344 Pantera". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, USA: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. October 2008.