Oro (wrestler)

Jesús Javier Hernández Silva
Ring name(s)	Oro
Billed height	6 foot (1.88 mts)
Billed weight	200 pounds (100 kgr.)
Born	December 24, 1971(1971-12-24) Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Died	October 26, 1993(1993-10-26) (aged 21) Mexico City, Mexico
Trained by	Diablo Velasco
Debut	November 23, 1990

Jesús Javier Hernández Silva (December 24, 1971 – October 26, 1993), better known as Oro (Gold), was an influential Mexican professional wrestler who died inside the ring.^[1]

Wrestling career

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, he and his brother Esteban Hernández Silva (Plata) wanted to become professional luchadores like their father, Esteban Hernandez, who wrestled as "Calavera II" (The Skull II). His father was initially reluctant, but finally agreed to teach them some basic moves before sending them to the Arena Mexico gym, where they would be trained by Diablo Velasco.

On November 23, 1990, at the age of 18, he debuted as "Oro" (Gold) alongside his brother "Plata" (Silver) for the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) promotion. Oro and Plata would team up with a third wrestler named "Platino" (Platinum), forming the trio tag team "Los Metalicos" (The Metallics). Los Metalicos would feud with "Los Destructores" in a series of tag team matches. Los Metalicos would win their first tag team belt on December 4, 1991.

Los Metalicos quickly became a popular tag team as Plata and Platino where both talented high flyers, but it was Oro's spectacular aerial attacks that really made them stand out. Although high flying maneuvers had long been a part of lucha libre, Oro is credited with starting the high flying craze that would come to dominate modern lucha libre. Oro would perform moonsault variations from different positions both inside and outside of the ring, along with a variety of planchas and topes. Oro was also noted for his sharp execution, his skills as a mat wrestler, and his ability to set up his big moves to make them look even more impressive. His skill and technique weren't the only things that set him apart, at 6 feet and 200 pounds, he was also much larger and more powerful than the typical high flyer.

Oro made his Japanese debut in April, 1992 for Gran Hamada's Universal Lucha Libre promotion. His performance inside the ring was well received by Japanese fans, so he returned to Japan in mid-December when he toured for the newly formed "FULL" promotion. The reputation he gained in Japan was so impressive that when he arrived back in Mexico, he briefly teamed with Mil Máscaras and Último Dragón to form a trio that was described as a dream team of high flyers.

In 1993, CMLL started pushing him as a singles wrestler, another wrestler named "Bronce" (Bronze) replaced him on the Metálicos team, although he still teamed with them on several occasions. Starting his singles push, he was almost immediately put into a feud with Mano Negro (The Black Hand). On May 23, 1993, Oro would defeat Mano Negra to win the NWA World Middleweight Championship. This would be the only singles title Oro would hold during his short but memorable career. Mano Negra would regain the title on July 3.

Many wrestling magazines hinted at an upcoming mask vs. mask match between Oro and Mano Negra, however, Oro's family was pressuring him to retire from the sport and he reportedly told Canek and his brothers that he was considering quitting the business in 1994. The CMLL was aware of this, so they decided to give Negra's mask to Atlantis, a wrestler who would benefit from the match.

Oro was very driven to improve as a wrestler and was willing to take great risks in order to entertain the audience. He would often perform dives outside of the ring while his opponent was in motion, risking crashing into the hard floor beneath. Oro would watch the undercard matches on his shows, and if a wrestler took a huge bump or performed a spectacular dive, he'd make sure that he outbumped that wrestler in his match. He would also watch tapes of Japanese and U.S. wrestlers in order to pick up new moves.

Death

On October 26, 1993, a tag team match had been scheduled between Oro, La Fiera and Brazo de Plata vs. Kahoz, Dr. Wagner, Jr. and Jaque Mate at Arena Coliseo. Before the match, Oro told the other wrestlers that he would take a "Kobashi bump", in reference to the head first backdrop driver which Kenta Kobashi took in a match against Steve Williams in All Japan Pro Wrestling. That particular bump had a dramatic effect, as it looked like Kobashi had broken his neck.

During the match, Kahoz clotheslined Oro, who spun and landed on his head. His opponent tried to pick him up, but soon thereafter he collapsed and his pulse became weak. Oro was put on a stretcher at the start of the second fall while his brother screamed, "Don't fall asleep!", warning him to remain alert so that he wouldn't lose consciousness. Oro died before being placed in an awaiting ambulance. He was twenty-one years old at the time of his death. Oro's family requested that an autopsy not be performed; however, it is believed that he died of a brain aneurysm.

The following day the news of Oro's death headlined every lucha libre publication and even the rival promotion AAA had a tribute to him before a championship match.

His brother Ismael Hernandez Silva changed his name to "Oro II" as a tribute to his brother and kept wrestling in the CMLL for a while.

Although his career only spanned a little over 3 years, Oro has become regarded as one of the most influential Mexican luchadores of his generation and continues to influence new generations of luchadores.^[2][3][4]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Quebrada Suicida
  • Diving crossbody
  • La Quebrada(Springboard Moonsault)
  • Plancha
  • Tope Suicida

Championships and accomplishments

• Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre

• NWA World Middleweight Championship (1 time)

• Other titles

• Distrito Federal Trios Championship (1 time) - with Plata and Platino ^[5]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him # 249 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the PWI Years in 2003.

References

1. ^ http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.cmll.com/08historia/estremecedores.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Doro%2Bsite:www.cmll.com%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS247US248
2. ^ Deceased Superstars - Oro
3. ^ http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.elpancracio.com.mx/874112/876454.html%3F*session*id*key*%3D*session*id*val*&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=5&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522los%2Bdestructores%2522%2B%2522los%2Bmetalicos%2522%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS247US248%26pwst%3D1
4. ^ http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.conaculta.gob.mx/saladeprensa/2002/feb/220202/cool.html&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=3&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Doro%2Bluchador%2B%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS247US248%26pwst%3D1
5. ^ Distrito Federal Trios Titles History

Persondata
Name	Oro
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 24, 1971
Place of birth	Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Date of death	October 26, 1993
Place of death	Mexico City, Mexico