Legendary Luchador Villano V Passes Away

The world has lost a lucha libre legend in Villano V, who passed away on Thursday. CMLL has confirmed that Villano, real name Ray Mendoza Jr., passed away following an initial report from luchablog. No word on the details around his passing. He was 62 years old.

CMLL’s statement read:

REST IN PEACE, VILLANO V
CMLL joins in the grief that overwhelms the wrestling family due to the sensitive death of Villano V (Ray Mendoza Jr.), a great protagonist in the history of Mexican Wrestling.

American audiences will likely know Villano best for his run in WCW in the late 1990s alongside his brother Villano IV. The two largely worked as enhancement and lower-card talent in WCW, but he had an incredibly successful run both before and after his time in the US promotion. The fourth son of lucha icon Ray Mendoza, he and all four of his siblings entered the wrestling industry as Villano I through Villano V. Mendoza Jr. was the last to enter the business, debuting a week after his 15th birthday in 1975 as Rokambole. He was not allowed to use the Villano name until he finished his education, which happened in late 1983.

Villano V teamed primarily with Villano I and Villano IV, and had a successful feud with Los Brazos that led to a Mask vs. Mask match which Los Villanos won in October of 1988. They worked with the UWA, AAA and CMLL, as well as IWRG and the WWE. They had runs with the trios and/or tag team titles in all of those promotions.

Following the end of Villano V and Villano IV’s run in 2000, they returned to Mexico and had successful runs there. Villano V had a memorable rivalry with Blue Panther that culminated in a Mask vs. Mask match in 2008 at CMLL’s 75th anniversary show, which Villano ultimately won. He was forced to unmask himself in 2009 after losing a Mask vs. Mask match to Ultimo Guerrero. He continued to work until ultimately retiring in 2017.

On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends and many fans of Villano V.

⚫ DESCANSE EN PAZ, VILLANO V
El CMLL se une a la pena que embarga a la familia luchística por el sensible fallecimiento del Villano V (Ray Mendoza Jr.), gran protagonista de la historia de la Lucha Libre Mexicana. pic.twitter.com/s9jIPYkaNf

— Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) August 29, 2024

Legendary Luchador Villano V Passes Away

Legendary Luchador Villano V Passes Away

Legendary Luchador Villano V Passes Away

Legendary Luchador Villano V Passes Away

Legendary Luchador Villano V Passes Away