Bandido: Mexico’s Next Big Star

Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, El Santo, Blue Demon, Andrade, Psicosis, La Parka, LA Park and Rush. What do all these names have in common? They are all wrestlers that paved the way for Mexican and Latin American wrestlers to walk on and thrive on the national and international stage.

While many names have come and gone within the eras these wrestlers have been active in, few have a present and a future as bright as the one owned by Wrestling’s Most Wanted Man, Bandido. Since renaming himself to his current moniker in 2016, he has stormed the wrestling scene with incredible athletism and babyface prowess that had not been seen in years. After winning Ring of Honor’s World Heavyweight Championship, it is safe to say that he is on the path to becoming the next big star to come from the country that brought us the world of Lucha Libre.

Bandido is Mexico’s Next Big Thing

Mexico’s Most Wanted Man has been gaining notoriety around the world for being an exciting prospect in the world of Lucha Libre. Bandido stood out so much that he was trusted to be the one given the chance to headline Ring of Honor’s blockbuster, “All Out”, teaming with Rey Fenix & Rey Mysterio against the team of The Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi in the Main Event of the Show. While the other five members of the historic match in “All In” have managed to shine to the highest extent since that show, Bandido has gone through a trial of highs and lows during this time.

He signed with Ring of Honor in December 2018 after showing out in multiple matches with the company, which would lead to him signing with CMLL later in 2019. Unfortunately, his run in the ladder company would be relatively short-lived as he and the iconic Mexican Wrestling company cut their ties in April 2021, with Bandido stated that it was due to a disagreement regarding him booking AAA talent to promote the opening of his gym. An incident of that magnitude could have derailed the career of any man, but the Pride of Torreon managed to keep his focus as he had the intention of getting the major prize in Ring of Honor: The World Heavyweight Championship.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated back in March 2021, he talked about his wish to beat Rush for the title, specifically stating the following: 

"“I want to have the heavyweight championship around my waist, and I want my shot against Rush.”"

The intention and grit were there for all to see, but it seemed very unlikely that we would see him hold the World Championship anytime soon, in spite of his great successes as a former ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champion and being the PWG World Heavyweight Champion since 2019; however, things took a turn when Bandido became the #1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship and was going to face Rush for the most priced asset in Ring of Honor. The match happened on July 11, 2021, and after all the hardships he endured since the beginning of the year, he shocked the world and put his name on the pedestal of Profesional Wrestling as one of the very best in the world by beating Rush and becoming the 2nd ever Mexican Wrestler to win the ROH World Heavyweight Championship.

In the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, Bandido has managed to make a reputation as one of the very best wrestlers in the world and has managed to dazzle us with every ounce of strength in his veins that he is not going to let go easily. He is at the top of Ring of Honor’s rankings and his time to shine is now, and the world cannot wait to see what types of insanity he continues to do in the future.

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