# Espantito

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{{Short description|Mexican professional wrestler (1968–2020)}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Espantito
| image = Espantito.JPG
| image_size = 
| caption = 
| birth_name = Martín Rodríguez
| birth_date = {{birth date|1968|4|24}}<ref name="EncyEspantito"/>
| birth_place = [Torreón, Coahuila](/source/Torre%C3%B3n%2C_Coahuila), Mexico<ref name="EncyEspantito"/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|12|1968|4|24}}
| death_place = [City Heights](/source/City_Heights), [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), [California](/source/California), U.S.
| resides = 
| spouse = 
| children = 2
| family = [Piratita Morgan](/source/Piratita_Morgan) (brother)
| alma_mater =
| names =El Espantito<br />Espantito I
| height = {{convert|160|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="EncyEspantito"/><!-- In Mexico they measure height in meters so that should be first -->
| weight ={{convert|65|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="EncyEspantito"/><!--In Mexico they measure weight in kilograms so that should be first -->
| billed = 
| trainer =[Espanto II](/source/Espanto_II)<ref name="EncyEspantito"/><br />Indio Chirikawa<ref name="EncyEspantito"/>
| debut = 1993<ref name="EncyEspantito"/>
| retired =
| website = 
}}

'''Martín Rodríguez''' (April 24, 1968 – October 12, 2020), better known by the [ring name](/source/ring_name) '''Espantito''' (Spanish for "Little Terror" or "Little Scare"), was a Mexican [professional wrestler](/source/Professional_wrestling). He worked in the ''[Mini-Estrella](/source/Mini-Estrella)'' ("Mini-Star") division, which does not automatically mean that Espantito had [dwarfism](/source/dwarfism), as several wrestlers who are just shorter in stature work in the "Mini" division. As a ''luchador enmascarado'', Espantito's real name was not a matter of public record, but it was revealed upon his death in 2020.

Espantito made his professional wrestling debut in 1993 and was allowed to use a version of the ''[Espanto](/source/Los_Espantos)'' [mask](/source/wrestling_mask) and name with permission of the only surviving Espanto, [Espanto III](/source/Espanto_III). He worked primarily on the Mexican [independent circuit](/source/independent_circuit), but also worked for [AAA](/source/Lucha_Libre_AAA_World_Wide), one of Mexico's largest [professional wrestling promotion](/source/professional_wrestling_promotion)s.

==Personal life==
Martín Rodríguez was born on April 25, 1968, in [Torreón, Coahuila](/source/Torre%C3%B3n%2C_Coahuila), Mexico.<ref name="EncyEspantito"/> Growing up in Torreón, he became a wrestling fan at a young age, often watching local wrestlers [Espanto II](/source/Espanto_II) and [Espanto III](/source/Espanto_III) wrestle in his hometown. In a 1999 interview, he remarked that while his friends would cheer the ''técnicos'' (the [faces](/source/Face_(professional_wrestling)), those that portray the "good guys"), he personally always favored the ''rudos'' (those that portray the [bad guys](/source/Heel_(professional_wrestling)), also known as "Heels").<ref name=PequenoHeredor>{{cite news|title=El Espantito, el Pequeño heredor de Los Espantos|pages=14–16|id=issue 2411|date=June 18, 1999|publisher=Box y Lucha Magazine|location=Mexico City, Mexico|language=Spanish}}</ref> While he wanted to become a professional wrestler, it was hard for him to find a trainer willing to train someone of his diminutive stature, standing only {{convert|151|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} in his teens.<ref name=PequenoHeredor/> His younger brother Raymundo also worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name [Piratita Morgan](/source/Piratita_Morgan).

He had two children with his wife and settled in [City Heights](/source/City_Heights), [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), where he owned a landscaping business. In September 2020, Rodríguez was admitted to [Sharp Memorial Hospital](/source/Sharp_Memorial_Hospital) after being treated for pneumonia and then tested positive for [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19). He died on October 12, aged 52.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/professional-wrestler-espantito-and-city-heights-resident-dies-of-covid-19|title=Professional wrestler 'Espantito' and City Heights resident dies of COVID-19|website=[ABC 10 News](/source/KGTV)|first=Michael|last=Chen|date=October 14, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/city-heights-family-loses-luchador-father-to-covid-19/2426053/|title='He Died a Star': City Heights Family Loses Luchador Father to COVID-19|website=[NBC 7 San Diego](/source/KNSD)|first=Melissa|last=Adan|date=October 16, 2020|access-date=February 5, 2021}}</ref>

==Professional wrestling career==
Due to the secretive culture around [masked wrestlers](/source/wrestling_mask) in ''[lucha libre](/source/lucha_libre)'', Espantito's real name was not a matter of common knowledge (prior to his death in 2020), nor was it revealed if he worked under a different [ring name](/source/ring_name) before making his in-ring debut as Espantito.<ref name=Mondo>{{cite book | author= Madigan, Dan | title= Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling | publisher= HarperCollins Publisher | year= 2007 | chapter = Okay... what is Lucha Libre? | pages = 29–40|isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}}</ref> It has been confirmed that Espantito trained in his native Torreón, Coahuila under the tutelage of Edgardo Cisneros Díaz, better known as [Espanto II](/source/Espanto_II), and also received further training from Indio Chirikawa.<ref name="EncyEspantito">{{cite news | author = Encyclopedia staff | title = Enciclopedia de las Mascaras | work = Espantito| location = [Mexico](/source/Mexico) | id = Tomo II | pages = 31 | date = July 2007 | language = Spanish}}</ref> In the early 1990s, the ''[Mini-Estrella](/source/Mini-Estrella)'' ("Mini-Star") concept was introduced in Mexico, featuring not just [midget wrestling](/source/midget_wrestling), but also wrestlers who were short in stature. The majority of new ''Mini-Estrellas'' used the same ring character as regular sized wrestlers, much like [Octagoncito](/source/Octagoncito) being a smaller version of [Octagón](/source/Octag%C3%B3n).<ref name="EncyOctagoncito">{{cite news | author = Enciclopedia staff | title = Enciclopedia de las Mascaras | work = Octagoncito | location = [Mexico City, Mexico](/source/Mexico_City) | id = Tomo III | pages = 31 | date = October 1, 2007 | language = Spanish}}</ref> Espantito working in this division did not necessarily mean that he had [dwarfism](/source/dwarfism). Unlike midget wrestling, where all competitors are under the height of {{convert|147|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}, ''Mini-Estrellas'' like Espantito, at {{convert|160|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}, are often wrestlers of shorter stature, but not true little people in a medical sense.<ref name="MondoMini">{{cite book|author=Madigan, Dan|title=Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling|publisher=HarperCollins Publisher|year=2007|chapter=You ain't seen nothing yet: the minis|pages=209–212|isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}}</ref>

He was given permission by his trainer to start working as El Espantito, a smaller version of ''[Los Espantos](/source/Los_Espantos)'' ("The Terrors"), wearing the signature black mask with a white cross on it (popularized by [Espanto I](/source/Espanto_I), Espanto II and [Espanto III](/source/Espanto_III)), as well as the same black-and-white ring gear of the originals.<ref name="EncyEspantito" /> He was one of the first competitors in the newly created [Asistencia Asesoría y Administración](/source/Lucha_Libre_AAA_World_Wide)'s (AAA) ''Mini-Estrella'' division in 1993.<ref name="YIR1993">{{cite news|title=1993 Especial!|work=Box y Lucha Magazine|pages=2–28|id=issue 2214|date=January 7, 1994|language=Spanish}}</ref> Most of AAA's ''Mini-Estrella'' division consisted of ''luchadors'' that had followed AAA founder [Antonio Peña](/source/Antonio_Pe%C3%B1a) from [Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre](/source/Consejo_Mundial_de_Lucha_Libre) (CMLL), where some of the ''Mini-Estrellas'' changed their name and mask due to the larger version of the character not jumping to AAA at the time. One example was [Super Muñequito](/source/Super_Mu%C3%B1equito), who was working as "Angelito Azteca" in CMLL, but had to change his name as [Ángel Azteca](/source/%C3%81ngel_Azteca) did not leave CMLL.<ref name="LuchaMinis">{{cite book|title=Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling|publisher=Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.|year=2005|chapter=''La Pequeña Escala'' / On a small scale|pages=80–86|isbn=968-6842-48-9}}</ref> It has not been revealed if Espectrito also worked in the CMLL ''Mini-Estrella'' division at the time of the AAA exodus.<ref name="YIR1993">{{cite news|title=1993 Especial!|work=Box y Lucha Magazine|pages=2–28|id=issue 2214|date=January 7, 1994|language=Spanish}}</ref> For a short while, Espantito was teamed up with a wrestler working as "Espantito II", but Espantito II was only used for a few matches in 1993.<ref name="EspantitoMatches"/> Despite working for AAA for several years, he never made an appearance on one of their major shows, despite the ''Mini-Estrella'' division being featured on (in some cases headlining) several of them. In 1999, Espantito once again briefly teamed with a wrestler working as "Espantito II", although it is unclear if it was the same worker under the mask from six years prior.<ref name=YIR1999>{{cite news|title=1999 Especial!|work=Box y Lucha Magazine|pages=2–28|id=issue 2436|date=January 10, 2000|language=Spanish}}</ref> 

By the late 1990s, Espantito left AAA and began working primarily on the Mexican [Independent circuit](/source/Independent_circuit), often touring with a troupe of ''Mini-Estrellas'' such as Octagoncito, [Piratita Morgan](/source/Piratita_Morgan) and [Tzuki](/source/Tzuki). The group toured the United States, working for various [National Wrestling Alliance](/source/National_Wrestling_Alliance) (NWA) promotions and showcasing the ''lucha libre'' and ''Mini-Estrella'' styles throughout the south-west.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/2008/09/17/lucha-libre-masked-wrestlers-big-and-small-pack-a-punch-at-the-fair.html | title=Lucha Libre! Masked wrestlers, big and small, pack a punch at the fair | first=Louis | last=Medina | date=September 17, 2008 | access-date=March 23, 2016 | publisher=The Bakersfield Californian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/495795.gran-jornada-de-lucha-libre-se-vera-esta-tarde.html | title=Gran jornada de lucha libre se verá esta tarde | publisher=El Siglo del Torreon | date=January 24, 2010 | access-date=March 23, 2016 | language=Spanish | first=Joel | last=Flores Maltos}}</ref> On September 20, 2009, Espantito faced Octagoncito for the vacant [NWA World Midget's Championship](/source/NWA_World_Midget's_Championship) at a Pro Wrestling Revolution (PWR) show, which saw Octagoncito win the match and the championship.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://superluchas.com/octagoncito-primer-pro-wrestling-revolution-nwa-worlds-mini-champion/ | title=Octagoncito: primer Pro Wrestling Revolution/ NWA World's Mini Champion | date=September 29, 2009 | access-date=March 23, 2016 | first=Jorge | last=Ocampo | work=[Súper Luchas](/source/S%C3%BAper_Luchas) | language=Spanish}}</ref> The troupe of ''Mini-Estrellas'' would continue to use the NWA World Midget's Championship as part of their shows, promoting matches where Octagoncito would defend the championship against Espantito.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mixedvoces.com/deportes/octagoncito-retiene-en-phoenix-titulo-de-la-wwa-30732 | title=Octagoncito retiene en Phoenix título de la WWA | first=Marco | last=Arreortúa | publisher=Mixed Voces | language=Spanish | access-date=March 23, 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415001340/http://mixedvoces.com/deportes/octagoncito-retiene-en-phoenix-titulo-de-la-wwa-30732 | archive-date=April 15, 2016 }}</ref> Later on, when Pro Wrestling Revolution split from the NWA, the championship was re-branded the PWR World Midget's Championship, with Octagoncito defending it on occasion against Espectrito in various southern states.<ref name="2010YIR">{{cite news|title=Número Especial – Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2010|work=[Súper Luchas](/source/S%C3%BAper_Luchas)|id=399|date=January 12, 2011|language=Spanish}}</ref> His last documented match took place at a Expo Lucha show on August 18, 2019, where he and Felinito lost to Mini Halcón and Payacito.<ref name="EspantitoMatches">{{Cite web |title=Espantito >> Matches |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=7934&page=4 |access-date=April 28, 2026 |website=CageMatch}}</ref>

==Legal rights to the Espanto name==
While several wrestlers have used the "Espanto" name over the years, [El Hijo del Espanto I](/source/El_Hijo_del_Espanto_I) claims to have full rights to the use of the name "Espanto" in ''lucha libre'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://superluchas.com/video-hijo-del-espanto-demandara-a-espanto-jr-de-la-generacion-2012-del-cmll/ | title=Video: Hijo del Espanto demandara a Espanto Jr. de la generación 2012 del CMLL. | first=Alex | last=Ruiz Glez | date=September 30, 2012 | access-date=March 27, 2013 | work=[Súper Luchas](/source/S%C3%BAper_Luchas) | language=Spanish}}</ref> though his claim to the name did not seem all-inclusive as [Espanto Jr.](/source/Espanto_Jr._(CMLL)) was featured on CMLL's roster.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://superluchas.com/video-oro-jr-y-molotov-vs-zayko-y-espanto-jr/ | title=Video: Oro Jr. y Molotov vs. Zayko y Espanto Jr. | date=April 1, 2013 | access-date=March 26, 2016 | work=[Súper Luchas](/source/S%C3%BAper_Luchas) | language=Spanish}}</ref> It is unclear if Espantito legally owned the name, or if that was what prevented the "Espantito II" name from being used more than once or twice.<ref name=YIR1993>{{cite news|title=1993 Especial!|work=Box y Lucha Magazine|pages=2–28|id=issue 2214|date=January 7, 1994|language=Spanish}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Los Espantos}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Mexico}}
{{italic title}}

Category:1968 births
Category:2020 deaths
Category:Masked wrestlers
Category:Mexican male professional wrestlers
Category:Mini-Estrella wrestlers
Category:Professional wrestlers from Torreón

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Espantito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espantito) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espantito?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.