Rodolfo Gúzman Huerta: All About El Santo,Mexican Wrestler

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Inside: Learn about Rodolfo Gúzman Huerta, the famous Mexican luchador nicknamed “El Santo.”

“El Santo” was one of the most famous Mexican wrestlers of all time, known for always hiding his face behind a silver mask, both in and out of the ring.

Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta cemented his legendary hero status by starring in films and a comic-books series that ran for more than 30 years.

“Santo, along with Blue Demon & Mil Máscaras, is one of the most famous and iconic of all Mexican luchadores, and has been referred to as one of “the greatest legends in Mexican sports.
His wrestling career spanned nearly five decades, during which he became a folk hero and a symbol of justice for the common man through his appearances in comic books and movies.”
– El Santo, Wrestlemania

Here’s an index of what’s included in the post. You can click on any link to jump straight to that section:

1. Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta Biography (Mario Moreno)
2. El Santo Quotes in English
3. El Santo Quotes in Spanish
4. List of El Santo Films
5. YouTube Biography Videos

Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta “El Santo” Biography

Fast Facts About Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, “El Santo”

Born: September 23, 1917
Birthplace: Mexico
Died: February 5, 1984
Family: María de los Ángeles Rodríguez (1st spouse), 10 children, Eva Enriqueta Vallejo Vadager (2nd spouse), 1 child
Career: Wrestler, Actor
Legacy: Among the most famous “luchadores” (fighters) in Mexico, of all time.

Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta was born September 23, 1917, in Tulancigo, Mexico. His family later moved to Mexico City, and Huerta played different sports, such as baseball, American football, and wrestling.

He began his professional wrestling career in the early 1930’s, at 16 years old. He used different names, including El Demonio Negro, El Hombre Rojo, and El Murcielago. In 1942, his manager organized a group that dressed in silver, and Huerta chose the name El Santo. He was called this, or often just Santo, for the rest of his career.

In those times, most wrestlers had a “good” or “bad” persona. At the beginner, Huerta fought as a “rudo” (bad) wrestler. He later switched to being “técnico” (good) wrestler.

As recorded in La Jornada, Huerta explained the change this way:

“When I decided to mask myself I also thought about changing my style: to become a soulless tough guy. Then I wanted to use the name Angel, but finally I decided on El Santo…. I would fight dirty and people would applaud; sometimes I would fight clean and the ovation was bigger.

… The image of El Santo began to be commercially popularized in magazines and movies. El Enmascarado de Plata fought against the bad guys, he was on the side of justice. Children made me change my mind.”

In the 1950’s, El Santo began starring in a comic book series that told his exploits of fighting crime. The series ran for more than 30 years. A few years after the comics began, he acted in his first movies. The first attempts were poor quality, but in 1961 he starred in his first of many successful films, “Santo contra los zombies.” El Santo starred in more than 50 movies over his careers.

El Santo’s career was long, spanning 48 years. He fought his last match in 1982, at 65 years old. His son Jorge also became a wrestler, known as El Hijo del Santo.

Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta died of a heart attack on February 5, 1984. Only a week earlier he had given a famous interview in which he unmasked himself publicly. His children honored his request to be buried in his mask.

10 El Santo Quotes in English

1. “I am nothing but a workmen of wrestling.”

– El Santo

2. “I must have an irreproachable conduct, because children believe in me. In my movies I always defend them from evil, I always do justice, I always right wrongs; in real life I must live up to the ideals I live on the screen; they have made me an idol.”

– El Santo

3. (On acting in movies): “At that time you earned 15 or 20 pesos per fight, so you had to go looking for the most money you could get. You had to look for what brought the most money.”

– El Santo

4. “I believe that we, the wrestlers, with our grain of sand each, on our daily effort, have made the sport we love a greater thing.”

– El Santo

5. “First of all [wrestling] is a sport, because if there is no good activity, no reflexes, no physical condition, there can be no wrestling, no athlete. The athlete is made in the gym. It sells like any profession. It is a lie that a wrestler is made in one or two years.”

– El Santo

6. “I took care of myself, with my knowledge and experience. I was always very professional and tried to give my best. To give my best in every fight, there were many people who wanted to displace me. All the opponents were very tough.”

– El Santo

7. “Before being a clown, the wrestler must be an athlete.”

– El Santo

8. “The beginning of my career, like any other career… was very hard.”

– El Santo

9. “Leaving fighting was a very sad thing. I still remember the reaction of the public when I retired. They said goodbye to me in their own way, with a standing ovation. That is one of the greatest satisfactions I have received in my life.”

– El Santo

10. “The image of El Santo began to be commercially popularized in magazines and movies. El Enmascarado de Plata fought against the bad guys, he was on the side of justice. Children made me change my mind. Childhood did not deserve a bad idol.”

– El Santo