Oro (wrestler) - Death and Memorial

Death and Memorial

On October 26, 1993, Oro teamed up La Fiera and Brazo de Plata to face the team of Kahoz, Dr. Wagner, Jr. and Jaque Mate at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City. Before the match, while going over the plans for the match Oro said he wanted to take a "Kobashi bump" during the match, a reference to a head first backdrop driver which Kenta Kobashi took in a match in All Japan Pro Wrestling. That particular bump had a dramatic effect, as it looked like Kobashi had broken his neck and Oro wanted to use the shock effect to help build the drama for their match. During the match, Kahoz clotheslined Oro, who spun and landed on his head as he had planned. His opponent tried to pick him up, but soon thereafter he collapsed and his pulse became weak. Oro was put on a stretcher at the start of the second fall while his brother screamed, "Don't fall asleep!", warning him to remain alert so that he wouldn't lose consciousness. Oro died before being placed in an awaiting ambulance. He was twenty-one years old at the time of his death. Oro's family requested that an autopsy not be performed; however, it was believed that he died of a brain aneurysm. The following day the news of Oro's death headlined every lucha libre publication in Mexico and even the rival promotion AAA paid a tribute to Oro during their show, something they had rarely done for a worker of their rival promotion. In 1994 and 1995 close to the date of Oro's death EMLL held a Copa de Oro tournament, a tag team tournament where the winners would be presented a trophy by Oro II. The 1994 tournament winners were Apolo Dantés and El Dandy and the 1995 tournament was won by Chicago Express and Pierroth, Jr..

Each year, around the anniversary of Jesús Javier Hernández Silva's death the Lucha Libre community organizes a religious mass in memory of Jesús Hernández as well as other major names in Lucha Libre that has died in the previous year. The mass takes place in Arena Coliseo, the arena where Oro died. A number of wrestlers have cited Oro as their inspiration for becoming a wrestler or an inspiration for them adopting a faster, more high flying, high risk style by the work he did in the ring.