| Ray Mendoza | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | José Díaz Velázquez |
| Born | July 6, 1929 Mexico City, Mexico |
| Died | April 16, 2003 (aged 73)[1] Naucalpan, Mexico |
| Spouse(s) |
Lupita Mendoza (m. 1944–1986) |
| Children | 8, including Villano I, Villano II, Villano III, Villano IV and Villano V |
| Relatives | Villano III Jr. (grandson) El Hijo del Villano III (grandson) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Chato Ortiz "Indio" Mendoza El Hombre del Rayo Rojo El Rayo Rojo Gargantua Ray Mendoza |
| Billed height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Billed weight | 100 kg (220 lb) |
| Trained by | Juan Espinoza (boxing) Ray Carrasco Rogelio de la Paz Genaro Contreas Raul Rojas Daniel García |
| Debut | 1954 |
| Retired | 1983 |
José Díaz Velázquez (July 6, 1929 – April 16, 2003), better known by his ring name Ray Mendoza, was a Mexican luchador (or professional wrestler). After working for Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mendoza had great success in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he was a five-time World Light Heavyweight Champion, as well as the first Mexican to hold the championship. In 1975, he helped establish Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), with Francisco Flores and Benjamín Mora Jr.
During his many title reigns, Mendoza faced many present or future stars, such as Gran Hamada, Killer Kowalski, John Tolos, El Solitario, Fishman, René Guajardo, Gory Guerrero, El Santo, and Cavernario Galindo. He also appeared in a number of luchador films. Mendoza was the father of Los Villanos, Villano I, Villano II, Villano III, Villano IV, and Villano V, and the grandfather of Villano III Jr., El Hijo del Villano III (both sons of III), Villano V Jr., and Rokambole Jr. (both sons of V).
- ^ Centinela, Teddy (April 16, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1989: Fallece Villano II — 2003: Fallece Ray Mendoza". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.