Espanto Jr. (CMLL)

Espanto Jr. was born on March 28, 1986, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. In Lucha libre it is traditional to preserve the privacy of any enmascarado ("Masked wrestler") unless they are unmasked.[1] Due to this secrecy Espanto Jr.'s birth name is not common knowledge and traditionally not something Mexican news sources would report on.[1] It has been revealed that his paternal last name is "Andrade" as he has publicly stated that he is the son of professional wrestler Jesús Andrade Salas, who was the first wrestler to use the ring name Espanto Jr. Jesús Andrade also worked as Pentagón and Santo Negro during his career.[2][3]

He is the grandson of El Moro (Spanish for "The Moor") and has at least nine uncles that are or were involved with professional wrestling over the years.[2] The most well known second-generation Andrade brother are three that worked as Lo Gemelos del Ring ("The Gems of the Ring") – Brilliante (Jose Andrade Salasa), Zafiro (Who was also the original Pentagoncito) and Diamante (Sergio Andrade Salas, also known as "Moro III"). Other Andrade brothers have played the part of Zafiro (Juan Andrade Salas, now known as "Espirtu Magico") and Diamante (César Andrade Salas, better known as Kevin, Radioactivo, El Pollo and El Pollo Asesino). Sergi Andrade Salas is another uncle who at one point was a professional wrestler, having briefly worked as "Hijo del Espectro", but it is unclear if he is still wrestling or retired. Manuel Andrade worked for a while as El Fúnebre. In interviews the Andrade family has indicated that at least two other Andrade brothers are involved with wrestling, but not clearly identified who they were.[2][4] His cousin Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza, son of Jose Andrade, worked under the ring name La Sombra from 2007 until 2015.[5]

Growing up as part of a lucha libre family the future Espanto Jr. decided he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather at an early age. In a 2010 interview he recalled how he would be in the front row watching his father wrestle from the time he could walk.[6] In 1996 his father suffered an injury during a match and was briefly clinically dead while in the ring until he was revived.[7] While the injury left a big impression on the then-10 year old he later accepted that it was an accident and tried not to think about it, but did comment that his mother still worried about him every time he competed.[6]

Espanto Jr. made his debut in October or November 2001, wearing a mask and using the ring name "El Moro Jr." a tribute to his grandfather. Initially, he worked in the Andrade family owned Arena Olimpico Laguna in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico while still developing his wrestling skills.[8] Early on in his career Moro Jr. teamed up with Espanto V on multiple occasions, a name that would later become more significant in his career. In 2005 he was one of ten wrestlers participating in the first ever Copa Moro in honor of his grandfather. Moro Jr. teamed up with Oso Negro, Latino Junior, Psycho and his uncle Zafiroto taking on the team of Brillante Junior, Cadete de la Atlántida I, Cadete de la Atlántida II, Espacial and Tigre Chong in an elimination match.[9] In 2008 Moro Jr. became involved in a storyline feud with local Exótico wrestler Sexy Psicis. After several matches between the two they both agreed to put their hair on the line in a Lucha de Apuestas, or bet match, while Moro Jr. was masked for this specific match he put his hair on the line. Sexy Psicis won the match, forcing Moro Jr. to remove his mask enough to have his hair shaved off afterwards as per the stipulations.[10] The match between the two was described as "the best match of the night" by the El Siglo del Torreon newspaper.[10] After the match Moro Jr. put out a challenge against Sexy Psicis where he would put his mask on the line.[10] In early 2009 Moro Jr. worked a four-way feud against Kato Kung Lee Jr., Galaxy and Radioactivo, a feud that led to a four-way liLucha de Apuestas match where all four wrestlers put their masks on the line.[11] On February 28 Moro Jr. pinned Radioactivo, winning his first Lucha de Apuestas match. After the match Radioactivo was unmasked and revealed that he was César Andrade Salas, Moro Jr.'s uncle.[12]

In 2009 Moro Jr. changed his ring character, adopting the name "El Hijo del Pentagón", playing off the fact that his father portrayed the original Pentagón late in his career.[7] He remain primarily in Gómez Palacio, Durango out of the national spotlight.[13]

• Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre

• CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship - with Akuma (1 time, current)

• Mexican independent circuit

• Laguna Extreme Championship (1 time)