Tinieblas

Infobox Wrestler
name = Tinieblas
names = Tinieblas
img_capt =
height = 6'3"/190 cms
weight = 240 lbs/109 kg
real_height =
real_weight =
birth_date = June 8, 1939
birth_place = Mexico City, Mexico
death_date =
death_place =
resides =
billed =
trainer = Rafael Salamanca, Dick Medrano
debut = August 20, 1971
retired =

Manuel Leal (June 8, 1939 - ), better known as Tinieblas (Darkness), is a Mexican luchador. [http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:oWkfDpUB_p0J:www.wam.umd.edu/~dwilt/lbiogs.htm+%22Manuel+Leal%22+tinieblas&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&client=firefox-a]

Wrestling career

Manuel Leal was originally a body builder and stunt man who was spotted by luchadores Black Shadow and Dory Dixon. They were impressed by Leal's physique and convinced him to begin a career as a luchador. In 1968, "Lucha Libre" magazine editor Valente Pérez, came up with the idea of a character that would act as a rival for luchador Mil Mascaras. He created a character with a faceless hood and named him Tinieblas. Perez selected the former body builder turned luchador to wrestle as that character. Tinieblas debuted as a tecnico on August 20, 1971. He would became a large draw in Mexico and toured internationally. He was also one of the first luchadores to tour Japan in 1974. [ [http://www.superheroeslives.com/internationals/tinieblas_(1970).htm Tinieblas (1970) ] ]

Comic series

Tinieblas was the second luchador (after El Santo) to have a comic book series based on his character. His first comic book was printed between 1976 to 1979. In 1991, a second series titled, "Tinieblas, El Hijo de la Noche" ("Tinieblas, Son of the night") was created. It was printed until 1995. The Tinieblas comic series was relaunched in the year 2000. [ [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/t/tiniebla.htm Tinieblas ] ]

Film career

Tinieblas also made appearances in luchador films. In 1971, he starred as a member of a squadron of masked superheroes in the film '"Los Campeones Justicieros"' (The Champions of Justice). Membership in the Champions of Justice included such legendary Mexican wrestling figures as Mil Mascaras, Blue Demon, El Rayo de Jalisco, Sr., El Medico Asesino, El Fantasma Blanco and Superzan.

Legacy

Tinieblas debuted at a relatively old age of 32, so he never reached the same physical peak as many other popular luchadores of his generation. However, his character remains popular with young lucha libre fans, primarily due to his appearance in comic books and films. Tinieblas still wrestles occasionally and has appeared alongside his son Tinieblas Jr.

In wrestling

*Signature moves
**Plancha
**El Abrazo del Oso (Bearhug)

Championships and accomplishments

*World Wrestling Association:*WWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*"'ALLL (Guatemala):*Junior Heavyweight Title

Films (listed in reverse chronological order)

* "Furia de los karatecas, La" (1982), aka Fury of the Karate Killers
* "Puño de la muerte, El" (1982)
* "Investigador Capulina, El" (1975)
* "Momias de San Ángel, Las" (1975)
* "Leyendas macabras de la colonia" (1974) (as Tinieblas el Gigante)
* "Castillo de las momias de Guanajuato, El" (1973) aka The Castle of Mummies of Guanajuato (International: English title)
* "Rosa sobre el ring, Una" (1973) (uncredited)
* "Campeones justicieros, Los" (1971) (as Tinieblas el Gigante)... aka The Champions of Justice (International: English title)
* "Superzam el invencible" (1971)
* "Las Momias de Guanajuato" (1970), his character was "Satanas", the wrestlimg Mummy.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.luchawiki.org/index.php?title=Tinieblas]