Gran Apache

Apr 20, 2026 - 14:29
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Gran Apache

← Previous revision Revision as of 08:58, 20 April 2026
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'''Mario Balbuena González''' (April 16, 1959 – May 7, 2017),{{Cite web|title=Gran Apache (1959-2017) - wrestlingscout|url=https://sites.google.com/site/wrestlingscout/profiles-by-country/profiles/granapache|access-date=2020-09-07|website=sites.google.com}} better known under the [[ring name]]s '''Gran Apache''' and '''El Apache''', was a Mexican ''[[lucha libre|luchador]]'', or [[professional wrestler]]{{Cite web|title=Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=2412|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.wrestlingdata.com}} and [[professional wrestling school|trainer]]. Balbuena worked for [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide]] (AAA) since 1996, both as a wrestler and a trainer. He was involved in training almost all young wrestlers who worked for the promotion during that period of time.
'''Mario Balbuena González''' (April 16, 1959 – May 7, 2017),{{Cite web|title=Gran Apache (1959-2017) - wrestlingscout|url=https://sites.google.com/site/wrestlingscout/profiles-by-country/profiles/granapache|access-date=2020-09-07|website=sites.google.com}} better known under the [[ring name]]s '''Gran Apache''' and '''El Apache''', was a Mexican [[professional wrestler]]{{Cite web|title=Wrestlingdata.com - The World's Largest Wrestling Database|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=2412|access-date=2020-09-07|website=www.wrestlingdata.com}} and [[professional wrestling school|trainer]]. Balbuena worked for [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|AAA / Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide]] (AAA) since 1996, both as a wrestler and a trainer. He was involved in training almost all young wrestlers who worked for the promotion during that period of time.


Two of Balbuena's four daughters—[[Faby Apache]] and [[Mari Apache]]—followed him into a professional wrestling career. His second wife also became a professional wrestler under the name [[Lady Apache]]. Balbuena and his family were part of a long-running "Telenovela" style storyline that also included Faby Apache's then-husband [[Billy Boy (wrestler)|Billy Boy]] as well as their son, referred to as "Marvin Apache". As Gran Apache, Balbuena held the [[AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship]] twice and the [[AAA World Trios Championship]] once with his daughters. In 2018 he was inducted in the [[AAA Hall of Fame]].
Two of Balbuena's four daughters—[[Faby Apache]] and [[Mari Apache]]—followed him into a professional wrestling career. His second wife also became a professional wrestler under the name [[Lady Apache]]. Balbuena and his family were part of a long-running "Telenovela" style storyline that also included Faby Apache's then-husband [[Billy Boy (wrestler)|Billy Boy]] as well as their son, referred to as "Marvin Apache". As Gran Apache, Balbuena held the [[AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship]] twice and the [[AAA World Trios Championship]] once with his daughters. In 2018 he was inducted in the [[AAA Hall of Fame]].
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==Professional wrestling career==
==Professional wrestling career==
In January 1975 Balbuena met [[professional wrestlers]] Cometa Azules I and II{{Cite web|title=Falleció el reconocido luchador mexicano Mario Balbuena "El Apache"|url=https://www.espn.co.cr/otros-deportes/nota/_/id/3125548/fallecio-el-reconocido-luchador-mexicano-mario-balbuena-el-apache|website=www.espn.co.cr|date=7 May 2017}} who invited the athletic Balbuena to come train with them. Initially, he had no specific interest in ''[[lucha libre]]'', but as soon as he started to train he was hooked by the physicality of the sport. Balbuena trained with Los Cometas Azlues for eight months before making his in-ring debut in August 1975. For his first match he worked as the ''enmascarado'', or [[wrestling mask|masked]] character, Cometa Azules III, using the name as an homage to his teachers. Following the match, [[El Santo|Santo]], one of the biggest stars of ''lucha libre'', greeted Balbuena, who was so fascinated by the culture and respect shown backstage that he decided to become a full-time wrestler.
In January 1975 Balbuena met [[professional wrestlers]] Cometa Azules I and II{{Cite web|title=Falleció el reconocido luchador mexicano Mario Balbuena "El Apache"|url=https://www.espn.co.cr/otros-deportes/nota/_/id/3125548/fallecio-el-reconocido-luchador-mexicano-mario-balbuena-el-apache|website=www.espn.co.cr|date=7 May 2017}} who invited the athletic Balbuena to come train with them. Initially, he had no specific interest in ''[[lucha libre]]'', but as soon as he started to train he was hooked by the physicality of the sport. Balbuena trained with Los Cometas Azlues for eight months before making his in-ring debut in August 1975. For his first match he worked as the ''enmascarado'', or [[wrestling mask|masked]] character, Cometa Azules III, using the name as an homage to his teachers. Following the match, [[El Santo|Santo]], one of the biggest stars of [[professional wrestling in Mexico]], greeted Balbuena, who was so fascinated by the culture and respect shown backstage that he decided to become a full-time wrestler.


Following his decision to pursue a full-time career, he trained at [[Blue Demon]]'s gym to further his skills. During his training Balbuena's long hair and [[Indigenous peoples of Mexico|Native American]] features led to him being referred to as "El Apache" by everyone in the gym, a name he would adopt as his [[ring name]]. In later interviews Balbuena stressed that he was not a "Cowboys and Indians" stereotypical Apache, but a "Mexican Apache", related to the [[Apache]] nation that lived in Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. During his training Balbuena showed such aptitude for wrestling that he was made an instructor's assistant. In 1984 one of Balbuena and one of his students, Luis García Vergara, were trained as a team by ''[[Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre]]'', with the idea that they would work as a pair of masked Native American characters known as Pluma Blanca (white feather) and Pluma Amarilla (yellow feather). The duo got a better offer from the promoters at the ''Pavillón Azteca'', where they became known as Gran Apache I (Balbuena) and Gran Apache II (García).
Following his decision to pursue a full-time career, he trained at [[Blue Demon]]'s gym to further his skills. During his training Balbuena's long hair and [[Indigenous peoples of Mexico|Native American]] features led to him being referred to as "El Apache" by everyone in the gym, a name he would adopt as his [[ring name]]. In later interviews Balbuena stressed that he was not a "Cowboys and Indians" stereotypical Apache, but a "Mexican Apache", related to the [[Apache]] nation that lived in Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. During his training Balbuena showed such aptitude for wrestling that he was made an instructor's assistant. In 1984 one of Balbuena and one of his students, Luis García Vergara, were trained as a team by ''[[Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre]]'', with the idea that they would work as a pair of masked Native American characters known as Pluma Blanca (white feather) and Pluma Amarilla (yellow feather). The duo got a better offer from the promoters at the ''Pavillón Azteca'', where they became known as Gran Apache I (Balbuena) and Gran Apache II (García).
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