Ramon Eduardo Rodriguez (April 7, 1932 – February 20, 2013),[1] better known by the ring nameCiclón Negro (Black Cyclone), was a professional wrestler who was originally from Venezuela. He toured Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico and the United States. He achieved a good amount of popularity and recognition during the 1970s.
Background
Rodriguez was born in San Felipe, Venezuela on April 7, 1932. In his early days he was a welder, an occupation he would return to in later years.[2] At the height of his popularity he was recognized as being one of the best wrestlers of the day. He was also something of a showman and broke boards and objects over his head to show how hard it was. He was successful in the 1970s with his matches against Dory Funk Sr. and Terry Funk.[3]
Professional wrestling career
1950s to 1960s
Negro had a 28-year career that lasted until his retirement in the 1980s.[4] He was also responsible for helping the careers of two wrestlers, Omar Atlas and Mario Milano, the latter who he helped bring to the United States.[2][5]
He trained as a boxer in his early days.[2] In 1951, he fought Floyd Patterson in the Pan-American Games.[6] Due to his physique and increase in size, he switched to wrestling, becoming a pro wrestler in 1956. He went under the name of Ciclon Venezolano which in English meant the Venezuelan Cyclone. He had met Omar Atlas in a gym and they became friends. It was Negro who introduced Atlas to wrestling and thus kick started his career. Negro went to Europe in 1958 and over the next six years at various stages, he wrestled in Spain, France, Belgium, England, Germany and Italy.[2] In 1964 and 1968 he showed up in the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance as Calypso Hurricane.
In 1974, Negro defeated Brute Bernard in New York for the World Brass Knuckles Championship.[7] In 1978, he defeated Dusty Rhodes and took the NWA Florida Heavyweight title. In 1982, he defeated El Monarca and took the NWA Americas Heavyweight title.[8] In 1984, he retired from wrestling after a tour with the Japanese UWF.
^*Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
^Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Tag Team Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 275–276. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
