Ari Romero

Ari Romero (Jose Luis Arias Romero; born December 20, 1951), is a Mexican professional wrestler who has wrestled in the USA, Japan, and his Native Mexico. Ari "El Rey del Tenedor" is notorious for using a fork to make his adversaries bleed in his matches. He is also known as "El rey de las Cadenas".

Ari began his career in his native city of Queretaro under a mask with the name "el Gato" at the tender age of 15. His father was the local CMLL (in that time known as EMLL) promoter but when he debuted his son he put him in the opening bout and ordered the guys to be a little extra rough with him. After a few years later Ari, a bit more mature and experienced, would get called up to CMLL full time and would debut at the famous Arena Coliseo in downtown Mexico City. After several years, with signs of promise, the CMLL offices would send him to Cd. Juarez with their local affiliate to further season. Cd. Juarez would become Ari's home as he became a local legend in the area and would later play a big role in the beginning of Eddie Guerrero and Konnan's career. An injury while in Juarez forced Ari to return to Mexico City and soon after loose his mask as el Gato to Halcon Dorado in CMLL at the Arena Coliseo part of Martes populares where they would showcase new talent mixed in with some of CMLL's veterans and established stars. After losing the hood, Ari would go back to Juarez but this time with a rival promoter of the area, Gori Guerrero, who would run his shows at the famous Plaza de Torros Balderas only two blocks away from the CMLL afitliate competition at the Gimnasio Municipal on the same day and both places would be at capacity over 10,000. It would be here that Ari would begin his ever lasting feud with the Guerrero family. Ari, having just lost his hood as el Gato, wrestled under his real name, Jose Luis Arias Romero, later shortened to Arias Romero by Gori himself, who debuted him as a face instead of his natural heel. During his debut against a hated local, Ari would showcase his natural talent as a heel that he turned the heel a face in the crowds eye and had them booing him. Ari would quickly move into a feud with local idol Hector Guerrero. Ari accomplished many wins but his main accomplish during his tenure was defeating all four Guerreros in an elimination 4 vs 4. Ari single handedly defeated Chavo, Mando, Gori and lastly Hector. His triumph would be one of the biggest upsets and Ari mocked the Guerreros by writing them a song and singing it to them the following week. This song would become infamous in the Juarez/El Paso area and known as el Rock de Ari Romero. Soon after his time in Juarez, Ari would leave and join la Division del Norte in Monterrey lead by lucha legend Rene Guajardo and composed of mostly ex CMLL guys. It was here that Ari would get his name when he showed and found out the local promoter, Ciclon Veloz, had shortened his name from Arias Romero to Ari Romero. From there Ari would have his first taste of international experience, having his first tour of the US. First in the southwestern part in the Native American Reservations of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Later he would go to Southern Championship Wrestling in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia where he would take American style wrestling back to Mexico. Ari had said that when he first wrestled in the south he finally understood the psychology of pro wrestling. From here Ari would return to CMLL with a lot more experience and had one of his first big runs with the company forming part of one of CMLLs first Central American tour to El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama. From here Ari would get sent by the CMLL offices to Los Angeles where he would work for Mike Labell and the famous Olympic Auditorium for the NWA. The NWA, CMLL and New Japan had formed a working relationship and exchange of talents. This was during the same time CMLL sent Mil Mascaras, Black Gordman and Goliath among others to the Olympic. Ari enjoyed a good run in NWA that sent him to his first tour of Japan, one of many to come, and also a tour of the Pacific Islands in Hawaii, New Zeleand, Guam, Samoa, Fiji, Australia and Tonga for High Chief Peter Maivia. During his stint with them Ari managed to crown himself champion of Polynesian Wrestling defeating the Chief Peter Maivia himself. After this Ari would find himself back in CMLL as an established star, scoring victories over top talents of the time such as La Fiera, Alfonso Dantes and others. Ari once again left CMLL and ventured out to San Antonio for Tully Blanchard's All Star Wrestling. Later he would go back to Juarez where he debuted several up and comers like Eddie Guerrero, Konnan, Blue Demon Jr, Tinieblas Jr, Heavy Metal and others. Ari and Eddie's feud became legendary in the region. Ari would continue wrestling full time locally in Juarez while making yearly part time stints in CMLL and tours to Japan for many distinct promotions, among them All Japan Pro Wrestling. During the early 90's Ari contacted the CMLL offices to ask for his scheduled dates where it was suggested to him to come under a new gimmick under a hood. Here Ari took advantage of the Gulf War going on and would debut back full time with CMLL as El Gran Shiek as an Iraqi with a slave to join him. Ari enjoyed a second great career as "el Gran Shiek" and took part in Michinoku's World Masked Tournament representing Saudi Arabia, although his gimmick was supposed to be Iraki, placing third place. The tournament was won by Dos Caras (Mexico) over Great Sasuke (Japan) and had participations by Funaki, Jerry Lynn, Taka Michinoku, Super Delfin and others. During this time Ari also triumphed outside the ring with his favorite hobby, music. Ari formed a music group composed of nothing but Pro Wrestlers and musicians that would play just for fun at their anniversary shows. The group ended up performing at Mexico's prestigious Teatro Blanquita as headliners. The Group was compossed of Ari Romero -lead guitar and vocals, Kung Fu - drums, El Pantera - guitar, el Apache - Base, Buffalo Salvaje vocals, Mario Prado - percussion and Estrellita - keyboard and vocals. Ari would soon lose the Gran Shiek mask to Blue Demon Jr but would continue his success in the orient that led him to reside in Japan after his loss. Ari spent the next 10 years wrestling all over Asia in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, and even Russia. In late 2003 Ari returned to Juarez to officially debut his son Ari Romero Jr for the local promotion where Ari Sr became a legend. From there both Ari's would venture to Mexico and during his return to Mexico, Ari would record 4 CD's, 3 of which are his own material.