Franco Columbo

Javier Esparza Coronado (born August 11, 1953) is a Mexican retired Luchador, or professional wrestler, currently working as a match maker for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Esparza is best known under the ring name Franco Columbo, a name he uses even after retiring from wrestling.

Not to be confused with Franco Colomba, Franco Colombo, or Franco Columbu.
Franco Columbo
Birth nameJavier Esparza Coronado
Born (1953-08-11) August 11, 1953
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Franco Columbo
Billed height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Billed weight84 kg (185 lb)
Trained byDiablo Velasco
DebutSeptember 1975

Professional wrestling career

Esparza was trained for his professional wrestling career by legendary Mexican wrestling trainer Diablo Velazco before making his debut in 1975 as "Franco Columbo". Due to Velazco's connections to Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mexico's largest and the world's oldest professional wrestling promotion, Columbo landed job with EMLL only a few years after making his debut. On November 1, 1980 Columbo defeated Américo Rocca to win the Mexican National Welterweight Championship, holding it for 92 days before El Supremo won it on February 1, 1981.[1] Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s Columbo began working as a trainer for EMLL (later renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre; CMLL) helping improve young wrestlers under EMLL/CMLL contract. After retiring from active competition in the late 1990s, Columbo began being more involved in the booking aspects of CMLL, moving up the ranks to being second in charge along with Juan Manuel Mar. The two are currently responsible for planning CMLL's weekly shows in Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo, CMLL's two most popular venues.

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Dr. O'Borman (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)N/ALive eventN/A 
Gran Cochisse (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)Mexico CityLive eventN/A 
Franco Colombo (hair)Guerrero Negro (hair)Puebla, PueblaLive eventJanuary 10, 1982 
Águila Solitaria (mask) and Franco Colombo (hair)Cid Campeador (mask) and Ari Romero (hair)Mexico CityLive eventJune 19, 1982 
Franco Colombo (hair)Divino Roy (hair)Mexico CityLive eventJuly 30, 1982 
Faisán (mask) and Franco Colombo (hair)Pánico (mask) and Manuel Robles (hair)Mexico CityLive eventAugust 17, 1982 
Jerry Estrada (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)Mexico CityLive eventJuly 1, 1983 
Hombre Verde (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)Mexico CityLive eventMarch 24, 1984 
Ari Romero and Franco Colombo (hair)Los Destructores (hair)
(Vulcano and Tony Arce)		Mexico CityLive eventAugust 26, 1984 
Javier Cruz (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)Mexico CityLive eventDecember 16, 1984[3]
Javier Cruz (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)Cuernavaca, MorelosLive eventAugust 1, 1985 
Javier Cruz (hair)Franco Colombo (hair)Mexico CityLive eventMarch 23, 1986 

References
  1. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Welterweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 392. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. Lucha 2000 Staff (December 20, 2004). "Los Reyes de Mexico: La Historia de Los Campeonatos Nacionales". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). Especial 21.
  3. Centinela, Teddy. "En un día como hoy… Carnaval de Campeones en El Toreo". Súper Luchas (in Spanish).
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