{{Short description|American professional wrestler (1922–1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Bull Ortega |birth_name = Jesús Melendez Ortega |names = Bull Ortega<br />Chuy Cárdenas<br />Don Ortega<br />Jesse Cardenas<br />Jess Ortega<br />Jesús Cárdenas<br />Jesús Ortega<br />Mighty Ortega<br />Mighty Ursus<br />Ortega-San<br />La Roca Ortega<br />La Rocca Ortega<br />El Toro Ortega |image = Bull Ortega.jpeg |image_size = |caption = |height = 5 ft 11 in |weight = 352 lb<ref name="cagematch">{{cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=3636 |title=Bull Ortega: Profile |publisher=CageMatch}}</ref> |birth_date = May 12, 1922<ref name="SSA">{{cite document |title=Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Social Security Administration }}</ref> |birth_place = Douglas, Arizona, U.S.<ref name="SSA"/> |death_date = {{death date and age|1977|7|28|1922|5|12}}<ref name="SSA"/> |death_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada |death_cause = |billed = |trainer = |debut = 1952 |retired = 1975 |website = }}
'''Jesús Melendez "Jess" Ortega''' (May 12, 1922–July 28, 1977)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/bull-ortega-4984.html|accessdate=March 5, 2024|website=Internet Wrestling Database|title=Bull Ortega}}</ref> was an American professional wrestler known as Bull Ortega and Mighty Ursus. He worked for Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Big Time Wrestling in Detroit, Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto and the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1966 to 1969.
== Early life == Jesús Melendez Ortega was born in Douglas, Arizona on May 12, 1922, the son of Juana (''née'' Melendez) and Thomas Ortega.<ref name="SSA"/><ref name="CalgaryHerald">{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=July 30, 1977 |title=Deaths |page=69 |work=Calgary Herald |quote=ORTEGO - July 28, 1977. Jesus (Jesse) Melendez, aged 55 years, beloved husband of Mrs. Edna Ortego, 3412-6 St. S.W. Born at Douglas, Arizona, he had been a resident of Calgary since 1963. He was a professional wrestler for the past 31 years. Besides his loving wife, he is survived by: a stepson, Barry Snell, of Calgary; two brothers, Raul, of Los Angeles, and Manuel, of San Fernando Valley, California; a sister, Mrs. Lucia Fronda, of Los Angeles, his mother, Mrs. Juana Ortego, Los Angeles. Funeral services will be conducted in PARK MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1507 4 St. S.W. Tuesday morning 08 11:00 o'clock. Cremation. McINNIS AND HOLLOWAY LTD. Funeral Directors. Telephone 262-3030. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Canadian Heart Fund, Alberta Division, 2011-10 Ave. S.W., Calgary. Y9044}}</ref> Ortega later served with the 160th Infantry Regiment during World War II rising to the rank to staff sergeant. In January 1945, Ortega was wounded by artillery fire which required operations on his arm and thorax.<ref>National Archives and Records Administration; ''Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970''; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112</ref>
== Professional wrestling career == Ortega would make his professional wrestling debut in 1952. He would work in various territories in the States as Jesse Ortega. In 1954 he began wrestling in Toronto, Canada for Maple Leaf Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling in Calgary in 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=2642|title=Mighty Ursus - Facts @ Wrestlingdata.com|website=wrestlingdata.com|access-date=2024-01-17}}</ref>
In 1959 he won the NWA International Tag Team Championship ''(Calgary version)'' with Shag Thomas and the NWA International Tag Team Championship ''(Calgary version)'' with Thomas and Tarzan Tyler in 1960. He had a lot of success in Stampede and was the longest promotion Ortega worked for.
Also in 1959, Ortega worked for Japan's Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance where he appeared in the Grand Finals where he lost to Rikidozan in the 1st Annual World League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/jwa/world.html |title=JWA World League Tournaments }}</ref>
Ortega and Ed Miller were the very last NWA World Tag Team champions in San Francisco when the promotion folded in 1961.
Ortega continued working in Canada in Toronto, Vancouver, and in Calgary until leaving in 1966.
He would make his debut in the World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1966 as Bull Ortega and sometimes using the name Mighty Ursus. He would have a feud with WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino in late 1966 and early 1967. On November 9, 1966, Morgan fought Bruno Sammartino in 17:00 minutes in Baltimore in which Sammartino retained the title.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/1966.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1966 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= 13 January 2024|website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com }}</ref> He also feuded with Louis Cerdan, Ox Baker, Bobo Brazil, Tony Parisi, and Gorilla Monsoon.<ref name=Encyclopedia1>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia: Updated & Expanded|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=118|publisher=DK|year=2012|isbn=978-0-7566-9159-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/1967.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1967 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= 13 January 2024|website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com }}</ref> Ortega left the WWWF by the end of 1967 and went to Japan.
In 1968, Ortega made his debut in for Big Time Wrestling in Detroit.
Ortega returned to the WWWF in 1969 for a few matches and left.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/1969.htm |title=Yearly Results: 1969 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date= 13 January 2024|website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com }}</ref>
In 1970, he returned to Calgary for Stampede.
Ortega's last known matches were in Calgary in 1975.
== Death == On July 28, 1977, Ortega died from a heart attack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/bull-ortega/|title=Bull Ortega|website=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=2024-01-17}}</ref>
== Championships and accomplishments == *'''NWA San Francisco''' **NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship ''(San Francisco version)'' (1 time) - with Enrique Torres **San Joaquin Valley Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Enrique Torres (1) and Vic Christy (1) **NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(San Francisco version)'' (2 times) - with Ed Miller (2) *'''Stampede Wrestling''' **NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship ''(Calgary version)'' (1 time) - with Shag Thomas<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-can-t.html| title=NWA Canadian Tag Team Title [Alberta & Saskatchewan] | accessdate=January 1, 2020 | work=Wrestling-Titles.com}}</ref> **NWA International Tag Team Championship ''(Calgary version)'' (2 times) - with Shag Thomas and Tarzan Tyler<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title |url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-int-t.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008161845/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-int-t.html |archive-date=October 8, 2014 |access-date=July 5, 2023 |publisher=Wrestling Titles}}</ref> * '''Pacific Northwest Wrestling''' ** NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Stan Stasiak (1) and Enrique Torres (1)<ref name="cagematch" /> * '''Western States Sports''' ** NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version) (1 time) - with Alex Perez
==References== '''General''' * *{{cite book |last=McCoy |first=Heath |date=2005 |title=Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling |location=Toronto |publisher=CanWest Books |isbn=0-9736719-8-X}} * {{cite book |last=Nevada |first=Vance |author-link=Vance Nevada |date=2022 |title=(Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy |location= |publisher=FriesenPress |isbn=9781039154797 }}
'''Specific''' {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{Facebook|alxrod007}}, a tribute page owned by Bull Ortega's grandson *{{Find a Grave|190985452/jesus-melendez-ortega}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortega, Bull}} Category:1922 births Category:1977 deaths Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni