Tomás Marín Rodríguez (July 7, 1934 – November 23, 2018), better known by the ring name Tomás Marín, was a former Puerto Rican professional wrestler in the World Wide Wrestling Federation and mostly known as a referee for the World Wrestling Council.[1][2]
| Tomás Marín | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Tomás Marín Rodriguez |
| Born | July 7, 1934 Las Piedras, Puerto Rico |
| Died | November 23, 2018 (aged 84) Hato Rey, Puerto Rico |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Eugenio Marin Tomás Marín El Martillo |
| Billed weight | 229 lb (104 kg) |
| Billed from | Puerto Rico |
| Trained by | Murcielago Velazquez Medico Asesino |
| Debut | 1958 |
| Retired | 1976 |
Professional wrestling career
editTomás Marín was born in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico on July 7, 1934, and grew up in Santurce. Immigrating to the United States in the late 1950s, Marín trained to be a professional wrestler in New York City and made his pro debut in 1958. He started his career with NWA Capitol Wrestling mostly as enhancement talent. He also worked for the Arizona Athletic Association, a territory based in Tucson, Arizona. In 1975 worked at the International Wrestling Association in New Jersey.[3]
In 1976 Marín returned to Puerto Rico as a regular wrestler for the World Wrestling Council where worked as a heel. He also wrestled in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Due to the fact that he generated massive heat and created riots, the WWC office decided to give him a job as referee. Went to work as referee for the American Wrestling Association AWF in Puerto Rico. He stayed working as referee at independent shows until 2002.[3]
After his retirement, Marín opened a gym in Santurce and became a professional wrestling trainer.[4]
Death
editTomás Marín died on November 23, 2018, at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico after a battle with colorectal cancer.[5]
References
edit- ^ McLeer, Doug. "SPOTLIGHTING THE WWF: A LOOK BACK AT WWWF JOBBERS OF THE 1970s". Wrestling Then and Now. Flushing, New York.
A real seasoned veteran, he later went on to be a top referee for Carlos Colon's promotion in Puerto Rico.
- ^ Feliciano, Alfred (November 26, 2018). "Peurto [sic] Rican Wrestling News and Notes". Georgia Wrestling News & Notes. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
Tomas Marin "El Martillo" Marin was a longtime referee in WWC Puerto Rico's golden years as a member of the National Wrestling Alliance for 15 years as well as being a former wrestler in the 1960's and 1970's not just in Puerto Rico he was well known throughout the Southeast, especially in the NWA Mid-South and Georgia Championship Wrestling days.
- ^ a b "PR: Entrevista a Tomás Marín "El Martillo"" [PR: Interview with Tomás Marín "El Martillo"]. PRWrestling.com (in Spanish). November 28, 2002. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Fallece Tomás Marín "El Martillo"" [Tomás Marín "El Martillo" dies]. PRWrestling.com (in Spanish). November 22, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Torres, Joel (November 23, 2018). "ULTIMA HORA: Fallece el gran maestro Tomás Marín 'El Martillo'". contralona.