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5 notable WWE Superstars who portrayed fake luchadores

By Suhas Jirgi
Modified Oct 22, 2020 22:03 GMT
John Cena and Becky Lynch [Pc: Thejohncenablog.blogspot.com and lastwordonprowrestling.com ]
John Cena and Becky Lynch [Pc: Thejohncenablog.blogspot.com and lastwordonprowrestling.com ]

Every wrestling fan is probably familiar with the term luchador. They are a staple of modern wrestling across every major promotion. WWE too has recognized the value of these proud wrestlers and featured them prominently in their roster. The Lucha libre culture is so strongly ingrained into wrestling that it has influenced various WWE storylines.

On multiple occasions, major WWE stars have hidden their identity behind an iconic Lucha mask. While some of these instances are to build genuine suspense and intrigue, others are just to manufacture hilarious segments.

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The faux luchador gimmick has allowed WWE to book numerous memorable moments in the past. Fans enjoy watching their favorite WWE superstar wrestle under a luchador mask. Few wrestlers even take it a step further, subtly incorporating Lucha libre components into their character.

Here is a look at a few of the noteworthy WWE Superstars who donned a mask to impersonate a luchador in the past.

#5. WWE Money in the Bank winner Otis

Otis as El Grand Gordo [Pc: Solowrestling.mundodeportive.com ]
Otis as El Grand Gordo [Pc: Solowrestling.mundodeportive.com ]

On this week's episode of WWE RAW, a heavy-set man in a pink luchador mask and cape produced one of the most hilarious segments of 2020.

The WWE Draft split up Heavy Machinery as Tucker moved to RAW and Otis remained on SmackDown. Unfortunately, their rivals also made the move to the red brand.

The Miz and John Morrison challenged Tucker to a tag match and tasked him with finding a new ally. Tucker walked out before the match and told his opponents that he scoured the globe. He had searched far and wide and tracked down the best wrestler ever, El Gran Gordo, which literally translates to the big fat man.

A man who could only be Otis ran out with a bright pink mask and cape. It immediately hysterical because Otis put little to no effort into concealing his true identity.

His characteristic beard poured out from under his mask and he even held the Money in the Bank briefcase. His goofy attempts at Spanish were the last straw as The Miz and Morrison became inconsolable and ultimately lost the tag match that ensued.

The icing on the cake came later when El Gran Gordo went backstage to celebrate with The New Day and Mandy Rose.

#4. WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle as El Conquistador[Pc: Skysports.com]
Kurt Angle as El Conquistador[Pc: Skysports.com]

Kurt Angle was the General Manager of WWE RAW in 2018 when a disgruntled Ronda Rousey put Stephanie McMahon in an armbar.

McMahon blamed Angle because WWE RAW was in disarray and forced him to take a vacation. She then appointed Baron Corbin as the interim General Manager of WWE's flagship brand. Corbin quickly started a reign of terror on the red brand.

A month later, WWE hosted a 10-man Battle Royal for a spot in the WWE World Cup at Crown Jewel. Corbin seemingly eliminated all the other competitors when a luchador, clad in a golden spandex suit like The Conquistadors of old, slid into the ring.

There were no prizes for guessing who was under the mask as El Conquistador hit Corbin with an Angle Slam and threw him over the rope.

Afterward, Kurt Angle took off his mask and celebrated in front of the jubilant WWE Universe. Interestingly, this was Kurt Angle's first win on WWE television after more than a decade.

#3. Former WWE Champion The Miz

The Miz as the Calgary Kid[Pc: WWE.com]
The Miz as the Calgary Kid[Pc: WWE.com]

In 2009, The A-lister donned a Lucha mask on the same night where he reclaimed a WWE contract and coined his popular catchphrase, "I'm The Miz, and I'm Awesome!"

On the Aug. 3 episode of RAW, The Miz lost a match against John Cena on WWE RAW, which meant he would be fired and banned from appearing on the following episode.

Next week, WWE announced a contract-on-a-pole match. The winner would have to scale a tall pole placed next to the ring and grab the contract at the top to earn a job with WWE.

Eugene, Eric Bischoff's nephew, became the first contestant. The second was an eerily familiar red luchador called The Calgary Kid.

The match lasted a mere 84 seconds as The Calgary Kid outsmarted and outwrestled a hapless Eugene to reach the dangling WWE contract. After the bell, the luchador took off his mask to reveal that it was The Miz all along.

Holding his fresh WWE contract up high, the Miz announced his return to the WWE and, for the first time, proclaimed that he was awesome.

#2. La Luchadora: Multiple female WWE superstars

La Luchadoras [Pc: Reddit]
La Luchadoras [Pc: Reddit]

La Luchadora appeared regularly on WWE programming for a span of one month. Four different Superstars—Becky Lynch, Deonna Purrazzo, Alexa Bliss, and ultimately Mickie James—portrayed the mysterious character during that time.

In December 2016, the SmackDown Women's Champion, Alexa Bliss, faced a local masked wrestler calling herself La Luchadora. From the moment the match began, it became evident that the newcomer wasn't a pushover.

La Luchadora pinned Alexa Bliss and revealed that Becky Lynch was under the mask the whole time.

The following week, Alexa Bliss and Becky Lynch wrestled in a singles match when La Luchadora appeared and attacked The Man. This time, a heel Deonna Purrazzo disguised herself to interfere.

In the following week, Becky Lynch defeated La Luchadora in the ring, who was Bliss in disguise. However, Purrazzo ran down in a second La Luchadora costume to beat down Becky Lynch alongside Alexa Bliss.

The short-lived legacy of the masked luchadora finally came to an end two weeks later. Lynch nearly pinned Bliss for the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship when La Luchadora ran down to cost her the match.

This time, a returning Mickie James donned the Lucha Mask in the last appearance of the La Luchadora character in WWE.

#1. 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena

[Pc: Wrestlingnews.com]
[Pc: Wrestlingnews.com]

Or should we say, Juan Cena? The cousin of WWE's Leader of Cenation.

In 2009, John Cena was embroiled in a feud against the group led by Wade Barrett known as The Nexus. Wade Barrett pinned Cena at Hell in a Cell 2010, forcing Cena to join The Nexus.

Later, Wade Barrett faced Randy Orton at Survivor Series with Cena as the special guest referee. As a special stipulation, John Cena would be fired if Barrett lost, which he did.

On the following episode of WWE RAW, Cena deliver a heartfelt farewell speech to his adoring fans. Then, he ran out later on to cost Barrett the title in a match with Randy Orton but his future was still uncertain.

While Cena did make his return on RAW the following week, he was contractually obligated to appear at a house show prior to that.

WWE found a way around this when they introduced Juan Cena, The Leader of Cenation's luchador cousin. Juan Cena wore the same attire as his cousin and even performed the Five Knuckle Shuffle and Attitude Adjustment to win the triple-threat against Barrett and The Miz.

Needless to say, Juan Cena was as proficient in the ring as his cousin and won his only match for the WWE, never to be seen again.

Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE

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