Ari Romero

 ( 1951 Births ) 

It was here that the promoter shortened his name from Arias Romero to Ari Romero. After working in Monterrey Romero gained his first taste of international experience, working his first tour of the United States. He would first work in the southwestern part, working mainly on the Native American Reservations of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. Later he would go to Southeast Championship Wrestling and work their territory in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia. While working in the US Romero picked up a more American style of wrestling and would take what he learned back to Mexico. Romero claimed that it wasn't until he wrestled in the south that he finally understood the psychology of pro wrestling. After his tour of the US Romero would return to EMLL with a lot more experience. This time round he had his first big run with the company, taking part in one of EMLLs first Central American tours to El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama. From here Romero would get sent by the EMLL offices to Los Angeles where he would work for Promoter Mike Labell at the Olympic Auditorium for the National Wrestling Alliance. The NWA, EMLL and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) had formed a working relationship and exchanged talents to help strengthen all three promotions. EMLL sent Mil Mascaras, Black Gordman, the Great Goliath and Ari Romero to work at the Olympic Auditorium. Romero enjoyed a good run in NWA, a run that saw him participate in his first tour of Japan, one of many to come, and also a tour of the Pacific Islands in Hawaii, New Zealand, Guam, Samoa, Fiji, Australia and Tonga for "High Chief" Peter Maivia. During his stint with them Romero won the Pacific Island Tag Team Championship alongside Peter Maivia. After this Romero would find himself back in EMLL working high on the card, scoring victories over top talents of the time such as La Fiera, Alfonso Dantés and others. Later on Romero left EMLL and ventured out to San Antonio, Texas to work for Tully Blanchard's Southwest Championship Wrestling. After working in Texas Romero returned to Juarez where he helped several up and comers like Eddie Guerrero, Konnan, Blue Demon, Jr., Tinieblas Jr., Heavy Metal both through training them and by working with them in matches. Romero continued wrestling full-time locally in Juarez while making annual appearances for EMLL and tours to Japan for many distinct promotions, among them All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).

During the early 1990s Romero returned to CMLL once again, but this time as a new masked character, inspired by the ongoing Gulf War Romero became El Gran Sheik, with the storyline being that he was an actual Sheikh. As El Grand Sheik he brought a slave with him to the ring as part of imagery. Romero's career saw a resurgence as "El Gran Sheik", he even took part in Michinoku Pro's World Masked Tournament representing Saudi Arabia (even though his gimmick was supposed to be Iraqi). Romero ended up losing the Gran Shiek mask to Blue Demon, Jr. on February 9, 1995. His popularity during his tours of the Orient made him decide to relocate to Japan after losing the El Gran Sheik mask. Romero spent the next eight years wrestling all over Asia doing shows in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia and even Russia. In late 2003 Ari returned to Juarez to help his son, billed as "Ari Romero Jr.", break into the wrestling business, working for the same local promotion that Romero, Sr. worked for years earlier.