Former Mexican National Lightweight Champion Rodolfo Ruíz died over the weekend at 86.
CMLL issued a statement on his passing on Sunday and held a moment of silence at its card on Sunday at Arena México. His son, Averno, worked in the main event of the show, teaming with Euphoria and Mephisto.
Honor a quien honor merece: la Arena México rindió homenaje a la memoria del legendario Rodolfo Ruiz, con un minuto de aplausos que unió a la afición y a los luchadores tras su sensible fallecimiento este día.#DomingoFamiliarCMLL|| @Arena_MX pic.twitter.com/akVdGBPQH4
— Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) September 8, 2025
Ruíz was born on March 13, 1939, and debuted in 1962, primarily wrestling under his real name as well as El Porro and Rencor Latino. His older brother, Rizado, also became a wrestler, debuting in 1958 and becoming the Mexican National welterweight champion.
The brothers were trained by Gonzalo Avendaño.
Just over two years after his debut, he won the Mexican National lightweight championship from Chanoc. He regained the title in September 1969 and from Estrella Blanca and held it for nearly two years before Estrella Blanca won it back. He is listed as holding the belt for a third and final time from April 1979 until June 1980.
His feuds with Chanoc and Estrella led to Ruiz losing his hair multiple times in contests with the two.
As El Porro, he was unmasked by El Hijo del Santo, and as Rencor Latino, unmasked by Black Shadow.
Late in his career, he wrestled for the UWA and won the promotion’s featherweight title in February 1990 and held the belt for eleven months, dropping it to Super Archie.
After retiring, he would become a long-time referee for CMLL, but returned for a match with Blue Panther just after his 60th birthday in March 1999.
He remained a referee through 2011.
Rodolfo Ruiz (86) passed away today. He is the father of CMLL wrestler Averno (who is scheduled to main event Arena Mexico in ~3 hours). A smaller sized wrestler who held titles in the Lightweight/Featherweight divisions. Worked as a CMLL referee & trainer after retiring. QEPD pic.twitter.com/XGUYxw7gnf
— RobViper (@RobViper) September 7, 2025
Notes:
– Fox Sports Mexico
– El Financiero
– Luchawiki
