Silver King (1968 - 2019)

Luche Libre wrestling great and former AAA, All Japan, and CMLL champion Silver King (Cesar Gonzalez Barron) unfortunately passed away this evening during a match with long time wrestling rival and friend Juventud Guerrero in London, England. He died doing what he loved. Barron was a second generation pro-wrestler, the son of legendary Mexican Champion Manuel Gonzalez Rivera. He began his pro-wrestling journey in 1985 working with UWA as a singles competitor and, eventually, a tag team champion as a member of Los Cowboys achieving success with many North American promotions including UWA, NWA, WCW, and WWA. In 1994 Silver King would have a banner year winning the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship and six months later in December winning the Tag Team Championships as a member of the Los Cowboys. Being a double champion would not be enough for Gonzalez-Barron as Los Cowboys would go on to to win the Tornea Gran Alternativa tag team tournament in early 1995. By 1997 he signed with WCW as a member of the Cruiserweight Division remaining an active roster member until 2000. After leaving WCW he would reprise the third rendition of the Black Tiger character while working for CMLL and New Japan Pro Wrestling for most of the early 2000s. He would return as Silver King with All Japan Pro in 2007 winning their World Junior Heavyweight Championship holding the title for almost two months. In 2005 he appeared as the main villain in the cult classic film Nacho Libre. He continued his active wrestling career up to the day he passed. A true legend of ring and industry journeyman.