Wikipedia

Raul Mendoza

(Redirected fromCruz Del Toro)
For the American basketball coach, seeRaul Mendoza (coach).

Raúl Mendoza(born November 25, 1991) is a Mexican professional wrestler. As of 2016, he is signed toWWE,where he performs on theRawbrandunder the nameCruz Del Toroand is a member of theLatino World Order.He was a former founding member ofLegado Del Fantasma.

Raul Mendoza
Birth nameRaúl Mendoza
Born(1991-11-25)November 25, 1991(age 33)
Cosio, Aguascalientes,
Mexico
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Cruz Del Toro
Jinzo[1]
Raul Mendoza[1]
Ronnie Mendoza[1]
Tribal[1]
Billed height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Billed weight190 lb (86 kg)[2]
Billed fromCórdoba, Veracruz[2]
Trained byAngel del Futuro[1]
Black Tiger[1]
Gran Apache[1]
El Mexicano[1]
Ricky Marvin[3]
Simba I[1]
DebutSeptember 16, 2006[1]

Professional wrestling career

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Early career

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Mendoza made hisprofessional wrestlingdebut on September 16, 2006.[1]Over the next ten years, Mendoza would primarily compete on the Mexicanindependent circuit,most notably appearing for independent promotions Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU),Perros del Mal(PdM), and theInternational Wrestling Revolution Group(IWRG), while also appearing for national promotionLucha Libre AAA Worldwide(AAA) and Japanese promotionPro Wrestling Noah.

WWE (2016–present)

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Cruiserweight Championship pursuit (2016–2020)

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In June 2016, Mendoza was announced as a participant in theWWE Cruiserweight Classic,a 32-man single-elimination tournament featuring competitors 205 lbs. and under, as a representative from Mexico.[4][3]Mendoza was eliminated from the tournament in the first round byThe Brian Kendrick.[5]Following the Cruiserweight Classic, Mendoza was signed by WWE, who assigned him to compete in theNXTdevelopmental territory.Mendoza made hisNXTdebut on the May 25, 2017 episode, being defeated byVelveteen Dream.[6]On February 9, 2018, at an NXT live event, Mendoza won a battle royal to become the number one contender to theNXT Championship.[7]The following day on February 10, Mendoza was defeated by NXT ChampionAndrade "Cien" Almas.[7]Mendoza made his205 Livedebut on the July 23, 2019 episode of205 Live,where he teamed withHumberto Carrilloto defeatKalistoandGran Metalik.On the November 1 episode of205 Live,Mendoza unsuccessfully challenged theNXT Cruiserweight ChampionLio Rush.

Legado Del Fantasma and Latino World Order (2020–present)

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See also:Legado Del FantasmaandLatino World Order

On the March 11 episode of NXT, Mendoza was abducted by a group of masked men and thrown into a van in the parking lot in what was originally an interview ofMia Yim.On the April 1 episode of NXT,Joaquin Wildewas similarly abducted during a post-match interview. On the June 10 episode of NXT, Mendoza made his return as he along with Wilde (who was also kidnapped) were revealed as the mysterious masked men and they aligned themselves withSantos Escobaras they attackedDrake Maverick,thus establishing himself as aheel.[8]At night one ofThe Great American Bash,the trio was named "Legado Del Fantasma".In their first match as a team, Legado del Fantasma defeated Maverick and Breezango in a six-man tag team match on the second night of The Great American Bash.

Wilde and Mendoza would start competing in NXT's tag team division and205 Live.AtNXT TakeOver XXX,Wilde and Mendoza competed against Breezango (FandangoandTyler Breeze) and the team ofOney LorcanandDanny Burchin a triple threat match to determine the #1 contenders for theNXT Tag Team Championshipbut were unsuccessful in winning the match. On night one ofSuper Tuesday,Legado lost toIsaiah "Swerve" Scottand Breezango in astreet fightwhen Scott pinned Escobar, leading up to a match between Escobar and Scott for Escobar's Cruiserweight Championship atNXT TakeOver 31,where Wilde and Mendoza assisted Escobar in retaining the title.

In 2021, Wilde and Mendoza entered the2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classicin which they lost to the eventual winnersMSK(Nash CarterandWes Lee) in the semifinal round. They also faced MSK andGrizzled Young Veterans(James DrakeandZack Gibson) on night one ofNXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliverin a match with the Tag Team titles on the line, which MSK won. AtNXT Takeover: In Your House,Legado del Fantasma would face NXT North American champion,Bronson Reedand NXT Tag Team champions,MSKin a winners take all, six-man tag team match in which, Legado del Fantasma were unsuccessful in winning the titles. On the August 24 episode ofNXT,Elektra Lopez made her debut helping Legado Del Fantasma win againstHit Row.In April 2022 Mendoza's name would be changed to Cruz Del Toro.

On the October 7 episode ofSmackDown,Del Toro alongside Wilde and Escobar would joinZelina Vegaon theSmackDownbrand.[9]On the March 10 episode ofSmackdown,Del Toro alongside the rest of Legado Del Fantasma helpedRey MysterioagainstThe Judgment Day,turning face in the process.[10]On the 31 March episode ofSmackDown,Rey reformed theLatino World Orderand invited Legado Del Fantasma to join as a token of appreciation for aiding him in his fight against his son,Dominik,and The Judgment Day.[11][12]

On the November 10 episode ofSmackDown,Escobar defected from LWO and removed Vega, Wilde and Del Toro from Legado del Fantasma the following week.[13][14]Wilde and Del Toro participated in the2024 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classictournament, defeatingChase University'sDuke Hudsonand Riley Osborne on the January 16, 2024 episode ofNXTbut lost toCarmelo HayesandTrick Williamsin the semifinals two weeks later.[15][16]At Night 2 of the2024 WWE Draft,LWO were drafted to theRawbrand.[17]

Other media

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Mendoza has appeared inWWE SuperCard,[18]WWE 2K22,[19]WWE 2K23[20]andWWE 2K24[21]as a playable character.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijkRaul Mendoza at Cage Match
  2. ^abc"Raul Mendoza".WWE.RetrievedMay 12,2018.
  3. ^ab"Cruiserweight Classic competitor: Raul Mendoza".WWE.RetrievedMay 12,2018.
  4. ^Joel Lampkin (July 6, 2016)."CWC participant Raul Mendoza on representing Mexico".Vavel.RetrievedMay 12,2018.
  5. ^"2016 WWE matches fought by Raul Mendoza".
  6. ^"2017 WWE matches fought by Raul Mendoza".cagematch.net.
  7. ^ab"2018 WWE matches fought by Raul Mendoza".cagematch.net.
  8. ^Moore, John (June 10, 2020)."6/10 NXT TV results: Moore's review of NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. Dexter Lumis in a non-title match, Finn Balor vs. Cameron Grimes, the fallout from NXT Takeover: In Your House".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.RetrievedJune 11,2020.
  9. ^"Zelina Vega returns, Legado Del Fantasma debuts on WWE Friday Night SmackDown".Wrestling News | Wwe and Aew Results, Spoilers, Rumors & Scoops.Wrestling News. October 7, 2022.RetrievedOctober 7,2022.
  10. ^"32-year-old returning star turns face for the first time in 6 years after confronting The Judgment Day on SmackDown".March 11, 2023.
  11. ^Rey Mysterio forms the new LWO with Legado del Fantasma: SmackDown, March 31, 2023,retrievedApril 1,2023
  12. ^Powell, Jason (March 31, 2023)."3/31 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of the final Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes confrontation before WrestleMania 39, the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci, Raquel Rodriguez vs. Natalya vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Sonya Deville in a four-way".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.
  13. ^Lambert, Jeremy (November 10, 2023)."Santos Escobar Turns On Rey Mysterio And LWO On 11/10 WWE SmackDown | Fightful News".Fightful.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
  14. ^Aguilar, Matthew (November 17, 2023)."WWE's Santos Escobar Reveals Why He Turned on Rey Mysterio and Leaves The LWO on SmackDown".ComicBook.RetrievedNovember 18,2023.
  15. ^Berge, Kevin (January 16, 2024)."WWE NXT Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Jan. 16".Bleacher Report.RetrievedJanuary 17,2024.
  16. ^Defelice, Robert (January 30, 2024)."Carmelo Hayes And Trick Williams Advance To Finals Of Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic At NXT Vengeance Day | Fightful News".Fightful.RetrievedJanuary 31,2024.
  17. ^Powell, Jason (April 30, 2024)."WWE Draft Tracker: The full list of wrestlers to Raw and Smackdown".Pro Wrestling Dot Net.Archivedfrom the original on April 30, 2024.RetrievedApril 30,2024.
  18. ^Staff, Www.thesmackdownhotel."Cruz Del Toro / Raul Mendoza".Www.thesmackdownhotel.RetrievedJanuary 11,2025.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^Staff, Www.thesmackdownhotel."Raul Mendoza".Www.thesmackdownhotel.RetrievedJanuary 11,2025.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^Staff, Www.thesmackdownhotel."Cruz Del Toro".Www.thesmackdownhotel.RetrievedJanuary 11,2025.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^Staff, Www.thesmackdownhotel."Cruz Del Toro".Www.thesmackdownhotel.RetrievedJanuary 11,2025.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^"DTU Alto Impacto Championship".cagematch.net.RetrievedMay 12,2018.
  23. ^"Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016".The Internet Wrestling Database.RetrievedSeptember 1,2016.
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