04/24/1922
García, Nuevo Leon, Mexico:
Alejandro Muñoz Moreno, better known by the ring name Blue Demon (Demonio Azul in Spanish), was a Mexican film actor and luchador enmascarado (Spanish for masked professional wrestler). Blue Demon is considered a legend of lucha libre, partially from starring in a series of Lucha films between 1961 and 1979, often alongside in-ring rival El Santo. His in-ring career began in 1948 and stretched for 41 years until his retirement in 1989. Throughout his career Muñoz never lost a Lucha de Apuestas match and retired without exposing his face to the public, he would later be buried in the signature blue and silver mask as well. In his 41-year career he won the NWA World Welterweight Championship twice, the Mexican National Welterweight Championship three times and the Mexican National Tag Team Championship with long time tag team partner Black Shadow. He also won the hair of Cavernario Galindo and the masks of Espectro II, Matemático, and most notably the mask of Rayo de Jalisco. Near the end of his career Muñoz introduced Blue Demon Jr. to the wrestling world, promoted as the son of Blue Demon, he did not share a blood connection to Muñoz and was later claimed to be the "adopted son". Muñoz's actual son owns the trademarks to the name "Blue Demon", while Blue Demon Jr. owns the trademark to the "Blue Demon Jr." name. Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) honors the legacy of Blue Demon by holding the Leyenda de Azul ("The Blue Legend") tournament at irregular intervals. He was voted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996 as part of the inaugural HOF selection.
