Real Name - Juan EscaleraBirthdate - 3/27/61
5'8" 190 lbs. - Jalapa, Mexico
Athletic Background - Shotokan Karate
Teacher(s) - Raúl Reyes
Professional Background - EMLL/CMLL(`81-`93), AAA(`93-`14)
Aliases - Dragon Dorado, La Amenaza Elegante
Groups - none
Peak Years - `90-`95
Finisher(s) -
- La Escalera (Russian Legsweep into Armbar)
Favorites -
- Spinebuster
- La Silla
- Suicide Dive
- La Jarocha (Spin into Armdrag)
- Quebradora
Ringwork Rating -
| Move Set | 5 |
| Science | 3 |
| Aerial | 4 |
| Power | 5 |
| Strikes | 6 |
Intangibles Rating -
| Entertainment | 6 |
| Selling | 6 |
| Bumping | 5 |
| Carrying | 5 |
| Heat | 7 |
| Legacy | 6 |
Place in History - In the early 1990s, lucha libre was going through a metamorphosis. Antonio Peña was a visionary creative force and perhaps his first great creation was a ninja-inspired technico that became one of the hottest personalities in EMLL. Octagón, named for a Chuck Norris movie, was the height of the martial artist luchadors. Kung Fu, Kato Kung Lee, Black Man and others were successful, Octagón was turned into a strong babyface, doing charity work, fighting crime in movies and put in opposition to rudos like Fuerza Guerrera, Emilio Charles Jr. and Blue Panther. Octagón was well-protected by Peña in EMLL and later in AAA. He was an average performer who could sell well enough and could be carried by the amazing rudos he was put against. El Hijo Del Santo, who was at his peak, buddied up with Octagón, who excelled in that sidekick role. As AAA went into a downward turn, Octagón himself declined. He developed a reputation as an arrogant drug addict who put on weight, noticeably slowed down and was only a ghost of his former self. While AAA kept him around and tried to maximize his once great name, keeping him in an endless feud with Pentagón (several different versions nonetheless) and still pairing him with talent that could get the most out of him. With Antonio Pena’s death in 2006, Octagón lost his biggest advocate. He was in his 50s when he parted ways with AAA. A very popular character with passable ability, but seemed to be unable to improve and adapt to handle his superstardom. His case is certainly not rare in pro-wrestling, but Octagón still remains one of the most recognizable luchadors of the modern era.