Fénix (wrestler)

Professional wrestling career

Fénix started his professional wrestling career in 2005, working as Máscara Oriental ("Oriental Mask") on the Mexican independent circuit in places like Puebla, Pachuca and Querétaro. He was eventually also invited by Blue Demon Jr. to work for his NWA Mexico and by Crazy Boy to work for his Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) promotion, before getting the opportunity to work for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), one of the top two promotions in the country.

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (2011–2016)

Prior to his AAA debut, Máscara Oriental was renamed Fénix, after the mythological bird, and given a new mask. He wrestled his debut match on January 27, 2011, when he, Atomic Boy and Gato Eveready defeated his real-life brother Dark Dragon, Tigre Cota and Tito Santana in a six-man tag team match. Fénix was instantly booked in a storyline rivalry with his brother. On June 18 at Triplemanía XIX, Fénix teamed with Aero Star, Argos and Sugi San in an eight-person tag team dark match, where they were defeated by La Milicia Extrema (Dark Dragon, Decnnis, Tigre Cota and Tito Santana). Later in the year, Fénix formed a partnership with Jack Evans and, as a result, got involved in his rivalry with Los Perros del Mal leader El Hijo del Perro Aguayo. On December 16 at Guerra de Titanes, Fénix and Evans teamed with Drago, the former Gato Eveready, in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Aguayo and his Perros del Mal stablemates Halloween and Héctor Garza.

On October 7, 2012, at Héroes Inmortales, Fénix received his first title opportunity in AAA, when he and Lolita unsuccessfully challenged Alan Stone and Jennifer Blake for the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship in a four-way match, which also included the teams of Atomic Boy and Faby Apache and Halloween and Mari Apache, who went on to win the match. On November 3, Fénix entered a tournament to determine the inaugural AAA Fusión Champion, defeating Dark Dragon, Drago and Toscano in his first round four-way match. Before the finals of the tournament, Fénix also received a shot at the AAA Cruiserweight Championship in a six-way ladder match at Guerra de Titanes on December 2, but was defeated by Los Perros del Mal member Daga. On March 17, 2013, at Rey de Reyes, Fénix gained a measure of revenge on Daga, when he defeated not only him, but also Crazy Boy and Juventud Guerrera in a four-way elimination finals of the tournament to become the first-ever AAA Fusión Champion. On June 16 at Triplemanía XXI, Fénix teamed with Drago in a five-way tag team match for the vacant AAA World Tag Team Championship, from which the two were the last team eliminated by the Mexican Powers (Crazy Boy and Joe Líder). On August 18 at Héroes Inmortales VII, Fénix entered the 2013 Copa Antonio Peña, defeating El Mesías, Monster Clown and Silver King in his first round match. Later that same event, Fénix was defeated by La Parka in the finals, a four-way match, which also included Chessman and El Hijo del Fantasma. On March 16, 2014, at Rey de Reyes, Fénix won his first Lucha de Apuestas, when he won an eight-man Domo de la Muerte, saving his own mask and forcing Steve Pain to have his head shaved. On August 17 at Triplemanía XXII, Fénix put his AAA Fusión Championship on the line in a ten-way championship unification match contested also for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship. The match was eventually won by El Hijo del Fantasma. Fénix received another shot at the title on March 18, 2015, at Rey de Reyes, but was again defeated by El Hijo del Fantasma. On September 24, 2016, Fénix announced his departure from AAA.

Japan (2012, 2013, 2016)

On November 27, 2012, Fénix made his Japanese debut in Tokyo's Korakuen Hall, when he took part in an event held by women's wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Wave, which featured participation from several AAA workers. Fénix teamed with Lolita and Pimpinela Escarlata in a six-person tag team match, where they were defeated by Ayako Hamada, Bachiko and Cima.

On September 2, 2013, Fénix announced that he would be returning to Japan on September 7 to work a tour with Pro Wrestling Noah, announcing his intention of going for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. The following day, the title match between Fénix and the reigning champion, Taiji Ishimori, was made official for September 22. Fénix started his tour with a win over Peruvian wrestler Kaiser. On September 12, Fénix pinned Ishimori in a tag team match, where he and Yoshinari Ogawa defeated Ishimori and Atsushi Kotoge. En route to the title match, Fénix scored two more pinfall victories over Ishimori, but on September 22 was defeated by the champion in the match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. The match also marked the end of Fénix's first tour with Noah.

On April 20, 2016, Fénix returned to Japan to take part in the inaugural event of Akebono's Ōdō promotion. At the event, Fénix was defeated by Pentagón Jr.

Lucha Underground (2014–present)

In August 2014, Fénix was announced as one of five AAA wrestlers to star in Lucha Underground, a new American television series on El Rey. Fénix debuted on the third episode on November 12, defeating Drago and Pentagón Jr. in a three-way main event by pinning Pentagón Jr., the former Dark Dragon. Over the next weeks, the two real-life brothers developed a storyline rivalry between them. On the January 14, 2015, episode, Fénix unsuccessfully challenged Prince Puma for the Lucha Underground Championship. Fénix then entered a new rivalry with Mil Muertes, becoming the first wrestler to defeat him in a singles match. As part of the storyline, Muertes' valet Catrina started coming on to Fénix, which eventually led to Muertes turning on her. Fénix, however, saved Catrina and took her as his own valet. The rivalry culminated on the March 18 episode, where Fénix defeated Muertes in a "Grave Consequences" casket match. On April 19 at Ultima Lucha, Lucha Underground's season one finale, Fénix defeated six other winners of Azteca Medallions to become the inaugural Gift of the Gods Champion, earning a future shot at the Lucha Underground Championship. On November 14 at the second season premiere, Fénix lost the Gift of the Gods Championship to King Cuerno. On November 21, Fénix regained the title from King Cuerno in a ladder match. The following day, Fénix defeated Mil Muertes to win the Lucha Underground Championship. He lost the title to Matanza in a 20-man Aztec Warfare match on December 12. At Ultima Lucha Dos on January 31, 2016, Fénix won the Lucha Underground Trios Championship, when he teamed with Aero Star and Drago to defeat Jack Evans, Johnny Mundo and PJ Black, becoming Lucha Underground's first Triple Crown Champion. They lost the title on May 7, when Drago turned on Fénix and Aero Star during a defense against Green Reptile, Kobra Moon and Luchasaurus.

American independent circuit (2015–present)

On August 28, 2015, Fénix made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) by entering the 2015 Battle of Los Angeles tournament, losing to Matt Sydal in his first round match. On September 4, Fénix made his debut for another American promotion, Chikara, when he, Aero Star and Drago entered the 2015 King of Trios tournament as "Team AAA". They defeated the Gentleman's Club (Chuck Taylor, Drew Gulak and The Swamp Monster) in their first round match. The following day, Team AAA defeated the Nightmare Warriors (Frightmare, Hallowicked and Silver Ant) to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On September 6, Team AAA first defeated reigning King of Trios winners, the Devastation Corporation (Blaster McMassive, Flex Rumblecrunch and Max Smashmaster), in the semifinals and then Bullet Club (A.J. Styles and The Young Bucks [Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson]) in the finals to win the 2015 King of Trios. On May 6, 2016, Fénix made his debut for All American Wrestling (AAW), losing to Pentagón Jr. In July 2016, it was reported that Fénix had moved to San Diego in order to start working full-time in the United States. On September 2, Fénix returned to PWG, entering the 2016 Battle of Los Angeles, from which he was eliminated in the first round by Will Ospreay. Two days later, Fénix and Pentagón Jr. unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for the PWG World Tag Team Championship. On October 12, Fénix defeated Jeff Cobb, Jonathan Gresham and Sonjay Dutt at Lucha Ilimitado's inaugural event to become the first-ever Corazón de Oro Champion.

Rey Fénix / Fénix el Rey / Rey Fenix (2016–present)

Following his departure from AAA, Fénix began working under the new ring name "Rey Fénix" (King Phoenix). Even though Fénix came up with the new name after his departure from the promotion, AAA trademarked the name Rey Fénix, which led to him changing his name to "Fénix el Rey" (Phoenix the King). He, however, continued using both Fénix and Rey Fénix while working in the United States. On January 27, Fénix formed a new stable named La Rebelión ("The Rebellion") with three other wrestlers who had recently quit AAA; Daga, Garza Jr. and his brother Pentagón Jr., now known as Penta 0M. The following month, with AAA also registering the Fénix el Rey name, Fénix announced that he would now be known as Rey Fenix (without the accent and stylized in all capital letters).

Personal life

Fénix's father and two brothers are also professional wrestlers; his father worked as Fuego, while his brothers perform as Pentagón Jr. and Niño de Fuego.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments