Álvaro Meléndez Tibanez (February 19, 1949 – February 28, 2022) was a Mexican luchador (Spanish for professional wrestler) better known as Black Man. He was considered a very talented wrestler, and innovative when it comes to high flying moves.

Black Man
Birth nameÁlvaro Meléndez Tibanez
Born(1949-02-19)February 19, 1949
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
DiedFebruary 28, 2022(2022-02-28) (aged 73)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Black Man
  • Celestial
  • La Gacela
  • Spiderman
Billed height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Billed weight86 kg (190 lb)
Trained byDiablo Velasco
Debut1965
RetiredMarch 13, 1993

Tibanez died on February 28, 2022, aged 73.[1]

Professional wrestling career

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He is most known for a being part of a tag team, first with White Man, Alberto Muñoz, who formed a fan favorite tag team. The two teamed for a while but never won a tag team title, despite several chances at the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship.[2] By 1978 Muñoz dropped the "White Man" character as he was forced to work a reduced schedule due to age and injuries.[2]

Later, Black Man would form Los Fantasticos with Kung Fu and Kato Kung Lee, a very popular trios team from the early 1980s.[3] Black Man would later try to reform Los Fantasticos with Kendo and Avispon Negro, but the trio was never as popular as the originals.[4] He was once El Santo's high risk move double in a movie. Late in his career he worked under the ring name Celestial, complete with a new mask and outfit to not reveal his real identity.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

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Luchas de Apuestas record

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Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Dr. O'Borman (mask) Spiderman (mask) Tijuana, Baja California Live event 1966 [4]
Black Man (mask) Demonio Azul (mask) N/A Live event April 7, 1977 [4][a]
Black Man and El Matemático (masks) El Signo and Lobo Rubio (hair) Naucalpan, State of Mexico Live event January 20, 1978 [4]
Black Man (mask) Pantera Negra (hair) Pachuca, Hidalgo Live event October 2, 1983 [4]
Blue Panther and Black Man (masks) Las Sombras de Plata (masks) Naucalpan, State of Mexico Live event November 20, 1984 [4]
Blue Panther (mask) Black Man (mask) Naucalpan, State of Mexico Live event February 16, 1986 [4]
El Brazo (hair) Black Man (hair) Naucalpan, State of Mexico Live event February 7, 1990 [4]
Black Man (hair) Black Terry (hair) Querétaro, Querétaro Live event October 30, 1990 [4]
Negro Casas (hair) Black Man (hair) Nezahualcoyotl, State of Mexico Live event February 5, 1991 [4]
Celestial (mask) Demonio Arrieta (hair) Mexico City Live event June 4, 1992 [4]
Celestial (mask) Pólvora (mask) Querétaro, Querétaro Live event August 11, 1992 [4][b]
Super Delfin (mask) Black Man (mask) Tokyo, Japan Live event March 13, 1993 [4][c]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Not Blue Demon
  2. ^ Not the current wrestler working as Pólvora.
  3. ^ Remasked as Black Man to lose the mask in Japan.

References

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  1. ^ Boutwell, Josh (March 1, 2022). "Lucha legend Black Man passes away at age 73". WWE News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW Results. Retrieved December 11, 2022. Legendary luchador Black Man – real name Alvaro Melendez Tibanez – passed away on Feb. 28 at the age of 73.
  2. ^ a b "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". White Man (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. December 2007. p. 39. Tomo VII.
  3. ^ "Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre". Kung Fu (in Spanish). Portales, Mexico. November 2008. p. 34. 17.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Black Man (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. August 2007. p. 32. Tomo I.
  5. ^ Valdés, Apolo (October 14, 2012). "Reapareció Black Man para estar con sus aficionados". Medio Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  6. ^ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: Universal Wrestling Federation Lightweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 400. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ^ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: UWA Trios Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 399. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "MEXICO: Universal Wrestling Federation Welterweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 397. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.