El Santo (Spanish for saint) was born Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta on September 23, 1917.

But at the time of his passing in 1984 he was more widely known as Santo, El Enmascarado de Plata.

El Santo is the most famous of all Mexican luchadores. 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.

Santo starred in 54 films, fighting for justice and the forces of good against vampires, aliens, zombies and martians.

Santo’s funeral was among the largest in the history of Mexico. Thousands flooded the streets of Mexico City outside the funeral parlour wanting to catch a glimpse of their fallen hero.

It took hours for Santo’s coffin to make it from the funeral parlour into the hearse. He was placed in a mausoleum in Mexico City with a simple plaque bearing a likeness of his silver mask.

He was buried with the mask on.

Find out more about my obsession with Santo here.

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