Lucha Libre
Yaqui Joe: The Forgotten Pioneer of Mexican Wrestling
TL;DR:Yaqui Joe, born José Francisco Carlos Close, was a key figure in the birth of professional wrestling in Mexico. He participated in the very first event organized by the Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (now CMLL) in 1933 and became the first National Middleweight Champion. While his exact birthplace remains uncertain—possibly Guaymas, Sonora or Cuchillo Parado, Chihuahua—his legacy as a trailblazer of lucha libre is undisputed. When we talk about the early days of lucha libre in Mexico, few names are as important—and as overlooked—as Yaqui Joe. Born José Francisco Carlos Close, he played a historic role in shaping the
