Gory was a natural wrestling talent with a strong affinity for submission wrestling. He quickly picked up on the fundamentals of amateur wrestling, which he incorporated into his pro arsenal. He is credited with inventing both the camel clutch (which he called le de a caballo) and the Gory special, a hanging backbreaker used today by such stars as his son Eddie, grandson Chavo Guerrero Jr., and “American Dragon” Bryan Danielson. Gory was one of the first Hispanic Americans to enter Lucha Libre when it developed in Mexico.

Also known as El Ave de las Tempestades (“Storm Bird”) for his quick-moving, aggressive-yet-graceful style, he was recognized as Luchador of the Year by the Mexican sporting press in both 1946 and 1960. He and the legendary El Santo were considered Lucha Libre’s great dream team, La Pareja Atomica (“The Atomic Pair”), beloved technicos battling the villainous rudos of Lucha.

Gory was a major draw both in Mexico and in Los Angeles, winning the Mexican national welterweight title and NWA Americas tag team title. Gory also had runs as NWA welterweight champion, NWA middleweight champ, NWA light heavyweight champ, and national middleweight champ.

Gory was also hugely popular in Texas and Oklahoma, where he defended the NWA Texas tag title with Cyclone Anaya, the Southwest junior heavyweight title, and the Oklahoma junior heavyweight title. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, he was arguably the most accomplished light heavyweight in North America.

Gory’s most notable feuds included battles with Cavernario Galindo and Bobby Bonales. The feud against Galindo was thought by some to be the bloodiest in wrestling history to that point, and it helped popularize blood bouts throughout Mexico. It took Bonales an amazing 1 hour 50 minutes to beat Gory for the NWA welterweight title in a match that is still considered a Lucha Libre classic.

The closest Gory ever came to winning a world heavyweight title was on November 16, 1954, when he faced NWA champion Lou Thesz at Arena Coliseo. Though Gory lost the bout, Thesz professed a deep respect for him and his skills. His last title run came in 1976, when he and son Chavo Sr. (Chavo Classic) teamed to beat Senior X and Karl Von Brauner for the NWA Americas tag title. The Guerreros dropped the belts to Crusher Verdu and a youngster by the name of Roddy Piper.

Gory’s legacy extends beyond titles and the invention of two of the sport’s most durable submission holds. He also trained up-and-coming wrestlers, including Pepe Mendieta and sons Mando, Chavo, Hector, and Eddie. In addition, he worked as a promoter in Texas and Mexico throughout the 1970s. He cut back on his wrestling but never truly retired until the early-1980s.

Gory died on April 18, 1990, in El Paso, Texas. He was a charter member of the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame, inducted in 1996. He is remembered as one of the sport’s most innovative and accomplished wrestlers and promoters.

Although Gory Guerrero was proud to call himself a Luchador, he wasn’t all about high-flying and acrobatics. Far from it. In addition to being a strong submission wrestler, he was very proficient on the mat.

The Guerrero family patriarch could use a lot of unorthodox holds to pin an opponent’s shoulders to the mat, including some that appeared that cause him some pain.

Gory had some terrific battles with another Lucha legend by the name of Ray Mendoza (left and below). He was so popular and so accomplished in both the United States and Mexico.