Santo was a TOTAL hero with MULTIDIMENSIONAL aspects unseen anywhere else in the world. Santo was a phenom of the wrestling ring - meaning more to his native Mexico than Rikidozan did for Japan or Hulk Hogan ever could for the U.S. He was a dominant presence in lucha for four decades.

Santo was also the star of a comic book so popular, that at it's height, it reportedly sold over 1,000,000 copies PER WEEK! No American comic book has ever come close to that mark on such a regualr basis - not Batman, not Spider-Man, not Spawn - nothing.

Santo's comic book popularity led to a series of action films reflecting all genres - he starred in horror flicks, spy adventures, westerns, sci-fi yarns, crime capers - everything. He made 44 films in all, films which have recently caught on with cult audiences in America, Canada, France and Japan.

Santo was also a popular draw at touring stage shows, and was even an escape artist late in life - so his range as a popular entertainer was extraordinary. His death in 1984 immobilized Mexico, with tens of thousands of mourners crowding the streets. February 5th is still celebrated as "Feast of Santo" day.

El Santo was a phenom because of his multidimensional stardom. He was Santo in the ring, in comics, on screen and on stage - even in restaurants and cabarets! He was always himself, which is unique. Sean connery is not James Bond, Indiana Jones is not a real archeologist and college professor; if Evel Knievel had made 50 movies in the 70's, or Bruce Lee starred in films as himself and continued to compete and teach martial arts for four decades, the might have approached the type of celebrity and real-life hero stature Santo did in Mexico.

What are the most important/historic matches in Lucha?
El Santo vs Black Shadow, Rayo De Jalisco Jr. vs Cien Caras - Mask vs Mask, Cien Caras vs Konnan - Career vs Career, El Hijo Del Santo vs Negro Casas[many times] - Mask vs Hair, Perro Aguayo vs Mascara Ano 2000 - Mask vs Mask which set a Mexico attendance record.