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MANUEL RIVERA / DR. WAGNER
1941-2004 |
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The original Dr. Wagner, Manuel González Rivera, died on September 12, 2004 at his home in Torreón, Mexico after suffering a fatal hear attack. He was 63 years old.
He was born April 13, 1941 in Zacatecas, Mexico. He made his professional debut not long after his 20th birthday, on July 16, 1961 in Guadalajara. He was originally El
Hijo del Médico Asesino (after Lucha star Médico Asesino), but later changed his name to Dr. Wagner, to create his own legacy.
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With Angel Blanco, he formed one of the premier tag teams in Mexican wrestling history. Wrestler Jose Fernandez remembers, “Blanco and Wagner were the epitome of old school rudos, as they were mean
brawlers who would punch and kick their opponents to death, but would
dominate and finish them with polished submission work. They had a knack
for getting the crowd to hate them, even though they were two of the coolest
rudos of the era. They were considered cool because they looked like such
major superstars in posed pictures celebrating after the matches, or in
studio shots for the magazines, with Wagner wearing his full doctor outfit
while Angel boasted his impressive physique clad in his white cape.”
Rivera was the father of Dr. Wagner Jr. and Black Tiger (Silver King), who have had their own share of success on the international wrestling scene. CAC executive vice president Karl Lauer, who was a promoter for many years said, “He worked for me in California towards the end of his career (in the mid-1980s), teaming with his sons. The people truly respected him as one of Mexico’s greatest stars.”
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