Oro

Jesús Javier Hernández Silva (December 24, 1971 – October 26, 1993) was a Mexican professional wrestler known under the ring name Oro (Gold), a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler. Hernández died in 1993 as a direct result of a wrestling match. He was a second-generation wrestler, and several of his brothers and cousins were also wrestlers. His nephew works for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as Oro, Jr. as an homage to his uncle. Personal life Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, he and his brother Esteban Hernández Silva wanted to become professional luchadores like their father, Esteban Hernandez, who wrestled as Calavera II (The Skull II), forming a tag team known as Los Hermanos Calavera ("The Skull Brothers") with his brother Calavera I. His father was initially reluctant to the idea of his sons becoming professional wrestlers, but finally agreed to teach them some basic moves before sending them to the Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL)-run gym at Arena Mexico. There they received further training from Diablo Velasco before they were allowed to make their in-ring debut. Professional wrestling career The two brothers made their professional wrestling debut on November 23, 1990. Jesús Javier, at the age of 18, worked under the ring name Oro and his brother used the name Plata (Silver). The duo wore near-identical masks, the only difference being one had a gold pattern and the other had a silver pattern. The two were soon joined by a wrestler known as Platino (Platinum) to form a trio tag team known as Los Metalicos (The Metals). The team was quickly matched up against another trios team, a rudo ("Bad guy") trio known as Los Destructores ("The Destroyers"), with whom they had a series of matches. The fans quickly responded to the young team, supporting them and showing appreciation for the fact that Oro had an aerial wrestling style that was unusual for the time and Plata and Platino were skilled high flying wrestlers. Oro's frequent and skilled execution of moves off the top rope helped usher in a style change in Lucha Libre as wrestlers started to incorporate more moves like planchas and topes, inspired by Oro's performances. Los Metalicos (Oro and Plata) was given their first professional wrestling championship just over a year after their debut, defeating Los Destructores to win the Mexican National Tag Team Championship on December 4, 1991.