Ciclón Negro

Ramon Eduardo Rodriguez (April 7, 1932 – February 20, 2013),[1] better known by the ring name Ciclón Negro (Black Cyclone), was a professional wrestler who was originally from Venezuela. He toured the Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States. He achieved a good amount of popularity and recognition during the 1970s.

"Mr. Uganda" redirects here. For other uses, see Uganda (disambiguation).
Ciclón Negro
Birth nameRamon Eduardo Rodriguez
Born(1932-04-07)April 7, 1932[1]
San Felipe, Venezuela[1]
DiedFebruary 20, 2013(2013-02-20) (aged 80)
Melbourne, Florida, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Ciclón Negro[1]
Cyclone Negro[1]
Calypso Hurricane
Caripus Hurricane
Caribs Hurricane
Chief Guacanopoulos[1]
Cyclops
Eduardo Rodríguez
Lalo Rodríguez[1]
Reyes Rodríguez
El Patriota
Mr. Uganda[1]
Punchy Pinero[1]
Ciclon Venezuelano
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Billed weight250 lb (110 kg)[1]
Debut1956
Retired1984

Background

Rodriguez was born in San Felipe, Venezuela on April 7, 1932. In his early days he was a welder, an occupation he would return to in later years.[2] At the height of his popularity he was recognized as being one of the best wrestlers of the day. He was also something of a showman and broke boards and objects over his head to show how hard it was. He was successful in the 1970s with his matches against Dory Funk Sr. and Terry Funk.[3]

Professional wrestling career

1950s to 1960s

Negro had a 28-year career that lasted until his retirement in the 1980s.[4] He was also responsible for helping the careers of two wrestlers, Omar Atlas and Mario Milano, the latter who he helped bring to the United States.[2][5]

He trained as a boxer in his early days.[2] In 1951, he fought Floyd Patterson in the Pan-American Games.[6] Due to his physique and increase in size, he switched to wrestling, becoming a pro wrestler in 1956. He went under the name of Ciclon Venezuelano which in English meant the Venezuelan Cyclone. He had met Omar Atlas in a gym and they became friends. It was Negro who introduced Atlas to wrestling and thus kick started his career. Negro went to Europe in 1958 and over the next six years at various stages, he wrestled in Spain, France, Belgium, England, Germany and Italy.[2]

1970s to 1980s

In 1974, Negro defeated Brute Bernard in New York for the World Brass Knuckles Championship.[7] In 1978, he defeated Dusty Rhodes and took the NWA Florida Heavyweight title. In 1982, he defeated El Monarca and took the NWA Americas Heavyweight title.[8] In 1984, he retired form wrestling.

Death

Rodriguez died February 20, 2013, at age 80.[4]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Cyclone Negro Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  2. Slam.canoe.com - Singing a song of Ciclon Negro By Greg Oliver
  3. 411mania.com, February 25, 2013 - International Star Ciclon Negro Passes Away - Larry Csonka
  4. Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers, By Tim Hornbaker - Cyclone Negro
  5. The Post and Courier, Dec 17, 2016 - Pro wrestling great Mario Milano - ‘Australia's Elvis’ - dies at 81 - By Mike Mooneyham
  6. Australian Wrestling - Cyclone Negro
  7. Wrestling-Titles.com - World Brass Knuckles Title
  8. Online World of Wrestling - Cyclone Negro
    • Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  10. "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  11. Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  12. "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  13. Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  14. "NWA Texas Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
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