BLANCO SOMBRE, THIRD GENERATION ENMASCARADO
DoB: Undisclosed
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 175 lbs.
Build: Lean and wiry, some would even say ‘scrawny.’
Physicality: Athletic and dexterous, relies on fast precise movements when grappling and using the ring around him for leverage. Cannot pull off power moves but will utilize springboards off the ropes to assist with some slams and drops when he’s able. Durable for his size due to his training, can withstand a surprising amount of punishment before his body gives out.
Hometown: Undisclosed
Entrance Music::
Background: The third in a line of masked tecnicos, Blanco Sombre comes from what is considered minor lucha royalty in Mexico, his grandfather being a mainstay in golden age lucha libre named El Hombre, and his father dominating rings from Mexico to the southwestern United States for a few decades as Blanco Tigre. However, the current Blanco is also considered something of the runt of the litter, lacking in the sheer physical size of his predecessors. The only child of the second Blanco, Sombre felt an extra pressure to lace up a mask of his own and keep that legacy alive, despite lacking the physical gifts of those who came before him. Sombre’s training started at an incredibly early age, with his father connecting him to trainers that could give him an early start and get him ring-ready when it came time to seriously take up the trade. At the age of fifteen, the young man was ready to begin training in earnest, his body and mind already conditioned to the ring. Taking on his own mask, the young man decided to go by “Blanco Sombre” in the ring, a self-deprecating joke at being a ‘shadow’ of his legacy. Starting out in unsanctioned matches in street corner rings, Blanco would eventually 'graduate' to the same promotion his forebears helped establish, the classic Lucha Libre Campeonato, where his training would start to come together.
The question of legacy would follow young Blanco Sombre through Mexico, and no matter what arenas he would compete in, comparisons to his predecessors would follow. While wanting to keep the family name alive in the hearts of the fans, Blanco felt he still needed to grow out of that shadow and create a role for himself in the history of lucha libre. In order to do so, the young luchador began making connections in an attempt to get himself booked outside of Mexico, so that he could improve his lucha libre style with international influences. From there, he began excursions to locations like Puerto Rico, the United States, the United Kingdom, even the People's Republic of the Congo, before landing in Japan.
WRESTLING INFORMATION
Training & Style: Blanco has solid fundamentals in lucha, having trained from his family’s home when he was 15, to various Mexico City gyms all through his teens, and then into his twenties wrestling internationally. Sombre is well versed in grappling and reversals, and utilizes a high-energy, high-movement style to compensate for his lack of physical size and power compared to many of his competitors. He is also a skilled escapist when need be, ready with often unorthodox or baffling reversals for the holds his opponents use.
As a modern luchador, Blanco also tries to be ready to take to the air at a moment’s notice. Having almost grown up between the ropes, Blanco is able to bounce between the ropes and turnbuckles with precision and ease, seeming just as at home on the ropes as he is on the mat. Blanco likes to use gravity and leverage to add to his physical mass when dropping on an opponent, sometimes a necessity when he’s trying to keep pace with larger foes.
Signature Moves: Arm wringer, armbar, hurricanrana, springboard arm drag, legscissor takedown, irish whip, enzuigiri, shining wizard, roundhouse kick, backflip kick, springboard moonsault, suicide dive, plancha, tornillo, frog splash, schoolboy rollup, the tiger feint kick, the sunset flip, the corkscrew senton (springboard and standing), monkey flip, spinning takeover into a tornado DDT, headscissor takedown or armbar.
The Blanc-Out: Hooking an opponent’s arms and wrapping a leg around their neck, Blanco will settle his entire body weight down on them for a modified octopus stretch. The dangerous thing about this move is that Blanco can drop into it from a variety of positions, such as being mounted on a dominant opponent’s shoulders. He’s even used it to make much stronger foes pass out!
Spoiler
Spoiler
Favorite Match Types: Blanco likes trios and tag matches, always ready to lend a hand when anyone asks for it. Blanco also likes to take on larger opponents, feeling like the challenge is great and the best test of his growing skills. Besides that, he's learned that crowds love an underdog, and Blanco is willing to put it all on the line in an attempt to give the fans that thrill!
Attitude: A traditional tecnico, Blanco adheres to the rules. He feels extra pressure to do so, as he takes his family’s modest legacy overseas and feels he must reflect them in all he does. On a similar note, Blanco also feels pressure to entertain and impress the fans whenever he can, making certain that he hits the leaping high-spots that lucha is known for, to make certain that they remember the Blanco name long after he leaves the ring.
Crowd Reaction/Fan Base: Blanco’s slender frame and honorable demeanor make him a natural underdog babyface, which helps him connect with fans. Some of the hardcore indie fans recognize him from his travels, even, which gives him some goodwill.
Titles Held: Formerly the leader of Las Superestrellas, a stable in Mexico, until Santa Tigresa IV beat him for that honor. Minor international indie titles, and LLC Trios.
Wrestling Ambitions: Blanco wishes to return to Mexico with a well-rounded move set, and an identity that is at once honoring his predecessors and mentors in the ring, while also uniquely and distinctly is own.
LAW Match Record:
Tag Team Record: Wins-1/Losses-3
Singles Record: Wins- 5/Losses- 1
1. Las Superestrellas defeated The Wings of Wrestling best two out of three falls
2. Eileen Sommers defeated Blanco Sombre w/Holly Matheson via submission
3. Blanco Sombre d. Alisha Grace via knockout
4. Cyber Widow d. Blanco & Holly via ref stoppage
5. Mixed POW Tag Match: The Queen & Her Chain d. Blanco & Holly via submission
6. Blanco vs. Sienna Smith- ONGOING
7. Blanco DEFEATED The Morrigan via Pinfall
8. Blanco DEFEATED Dominique Haywood
9. S+M DEFEATED Blanco & Holly in a POW Match
10. Blanco DEFEATED Hinata Huerta via Pinfall
11. Blanco VS Death Bunny in a Casket Match- ONGOING
12. Blanco Sombra defeated Danny Haines via pinfall
13. Yaoi Match: Blanco Sombra vs. Rai Kamiya: ONGOING
IMAGE GALLERY
Spoiler
Street Fight Attire
Beach Match Attire
Celebrating a win on the top turnbuckle ...
Suffering a particularly brutal loss
Partners, Friends, Etc.: “My girlfriend Holly Matheson and I will valet one another, and I’ve been trying to help her with her recent … difficulties. I’ve also tagged with Santa Tigresa IV, and even if we don’t always get along, I would do that again any day. I also mentored some of the girls in Las Superestrellas, and I hope they get to make it to Japan, more often.”
Favorite Opponents/Rivals: “I like fighting bigger opponents. Heavyweights, giants, even just the really buff ones. I don’t always win those matches, but when I do, it gives me something I can point to and say, hey, I belong here.”
Biggest Win: “Defeating the Wings of Wrestling in my LAW debut, with Santa Tigresa. Not just because we worked our asses off for that win and got to show everyone what we were made of, but because those two also went on to be a pretty serious tag team in LAW. So, with every bit of ground they gain, and they deserve it, it’s always going to be on the books that we got a win over them!”
Worst Loss: “Easily my loss to Eileen Summers. She got my neck in a bad state early in the match, and I ended up not just tapping out, but begging for mercy. At which point she decided to ‘show mercy’ by torturing me more, knocking me out, then knocking out my girlfriend. And that, that is a humbling kind of night … “
Trivia & Fun Facts:
- El Blanco Sombre’s actual name is undisclosed to the public, as is tradition in Mexico. However, Holly has a problem with accidentally calling him by his given name, a habit he's still trying to break her of.
- As is tradition, El Blanco Sombre never removes his mask in public. He actually has a variety of masks for various social functions, masks with a larger mouth for eating, and has actually managed to defend his right to his mask in court (in Mexico, during a legal proceeding related to copyright of the Blanco name). He actively doesn't drive, simply for the sake of his mask.
- Blanco has established numerous ties with wrestlers the world over, not just in lucha libre. If you have a wrestler who has a long-established career in Mexico, the United States or the United Kingdom, they might know Blanco. Either positively or negatively.
- Blanco has starred in a handful of independent movies trying to bring back the ‘lucha horror’ genre; these schlocky b-movie extravaganzas are usually available on YouTube or on free streaming apps; Holly has gotten some bit parts in them, but to her chagrin, her roles are usually ‘vampire woman #2’ and ‘space mummy victim #3.’
- Ever since being blessed with their first child, Blanco has gone all-in on fatherhood. Supporting his family is always on his mind, and Blanco does a lot to demonstrate that. He makes dad jokes, shows off pictures of his child, and brags about her tiniest accomplishments. There is also a tiny knit lucha mask in their home …
- Blanco still feels like his international tour is only beginning, but he has already made connections in the United States, United Kingdom and now Japan. Characters who have worked independent promotions in those regions may recognize Blanco, or even have some kind of history with him.
BLANCO'S 'LUCHA CLASSICO' LOOK
Spoiler
Spoiler
Spoiler
