1. Overview
Marcos Tinajero, known professionally as Ozz and later Dark Ozz, is a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador, recognized for his extensive career primarily with Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) and All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Debuting in 1996, Tinajero initially adopted various masked `Face` (good guy, or `Tecnico` in `Lucha Libre`) `gimmicks` such as `Angel Del MisterioAngel of MysterySpanish` and `Rey DragónKing DragonSpanish`, before gaining significant attention as "Path Finder". His career underwent a pivotal transformation in 2001 when he shed his mask and adopted the "Ozz" persona, a dark, `Goth`-inspired character, becoming a `Rudo` (villain). As Ozz, he co-founded `The Black Family`, a prominent `stable` that would become a cornerstone of his career. He later evolved into "Dark Ozz", achieving significant `championship` success, including multiple `reigns` with the `Mexican National Atómicos Championship` and a `reign` as `AAA World Tag Team Champion` with `Dark Cuervo`. Beyond `Mexico`, he also captured the `World Tag Team Championship` in `Japan`. Throughout his career, Ozz has been involved in numerous alliances and `rivalries`, consistently adapting his persona while maintaining his dark, enigmatic presence in the `Lucha Libre` world.
2. Early Life and Career Beginnings
Marcos Tinajero's journey into professional wrestling began in the mid-1990s, following a period of rigorous training.
2.1. Birth and Background
Marcos Tinajero was born on January 30, 1975, in Uruapan, a city located within the state of Michoacán, Mexico. His full given name is Marcos Tinajero.
2.2. Training and Debut
Tinajero received his professional wrestling `training` from one of `Mexico`'s most respected and prolific `trainers`, `Jorge "Skayde" Rivera`. Under `Rivera`'s `tutelage`, he honed his `skills` and made his professional wrestling `debut` in 1996. In the early `stages` of his career, Tinajero performed under several masked identities, embodying `"Face"` or `Tecnico` (good guy) characters. These early `ring names` included `Angel Del MisterioAngel of MysterySpanish`, which translates to "Angel of Mystery" in `Spanish`, and `Rey DragónKing DragonSpanish`, meaning "King Dragon."
3. Professional Wrestling Career
Marcos Tinajero's professional wrestling career is marked by his long tenure with `Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide` and significant `stints` in `Japan`, where he developed and refined his distinct dark persona.
3.1. Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA)
`Tinajero`'s career within `Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide` saw a significant evolution from a masked `Tecnico` to his iconic "Dark Ozz" character, marked by `stable` affiliations and `championship` victories.
3.1.1. Early Gimmicks and Persona Transformation
After his `debut` in 1996, `Tinajero` initially wrestled as a masked `"Face"` under `names` such as `Angel Del MisterioAngel of MysterySpanish` and `Rey DragónKing DragonSpanish`. In 1999, he adopted the `ring name` "Path Finder," a `gimmick` that began to attract the attention of `promoters` and led to him being `recognized` within the `promotion`. As Path Finder, he participated in notable `matches`, including `teaming` with `El Alebrije`, `El Felino`, and `Oscar Sevilla` in a `loss` against `Abismo Negro`, `Electroshock`, `Pentagón II`, and `Gran Apache` at the 1999 `Verano de Escandalo` `event`. He also unsuccessfully competed in the 2000 `Rey de Reyes` `tournament`, where he was eliminated by `Charly Manson` in the `qualifying round`. Later that year, he was selected as one of the `AAA` `luchadors` to tour `Japan`, where he `teamed` with `Perro Aguayo, Jr.` and `El Alebrije` in a `featured bout` at `Triplemanía VIII`, defeating `Los Vatos Locos` (`Picudo`, `Charly Manson`, and `Espiritu`), `Team Japan` (consisting of `Naomichi Marufuji`, `Minoru Tanaka`, and `Genki Horiguchi`), and `Los Vipers` (`Histeria`, `Psicosis II`, and `Maniaco`). His final major appearance as Path Finder was on September 29, 2000, at `Verano de Escandalo (2000)`, where he, `Oscar Sevilla`, `Ludxor`, and `Pegasso` defeated `Gran Apache` and `Los Diablicos` in an `eight-person "Atómicos" tag team match`.
In early 2001, `Tinajero` underwent a profound `transformation` in his appearance, `gimmick`, and `wrestling alignment`. He abandoned his masked, `high-flying` `Tecnico` persona to become a `face-painted`, dark, `Goth`-inspired `villain`, taking on the `name` Ozz. This new `character` was notably modeled after the `American` professional wrestler `Sting`.
3.1.2. The Black Family Formation and Initial Period
Following his transformation into Ozz, `Marcos Tinajero` united with four other `wrestlers` who shared or adopted similar dark, `Goth`-like appearances and `attitudes` to form the `stable` known as `The Black Family`. The original `members` included Ozz, `Charly Manson`, `Escoria`, and `Cuervo`. Early in the `stable`'s existence, `Charly Manson` suffered a severe `injury` during a `ladder match`, leading to a prolonged `absence` from `wrestling`. To fill his `spot`, `The Black Family` recruited `Chessman`.
Around the `time` `Chessman` joined, `The Black Family` became `part` of `Lucha Libre Latina` (LLL), a `Mexican` equivalent of the `New World Order`, led by `Chessman`'s long-time `friend`, `Cibernético`. Despite being `part` of a larger `faction`, the four `members` of `The Black Family` continued to `operate` as a `cohesive unit` within LLL. Their first major `show appearance` as a `stable` was at `Verano de Escandalo (2001)`, where they were `defeated` in an `elimination match` by `Los Vatos Locos`. A year later, at `Verano de Escandalo (2002)`, they unsuccessfully `challenged` `Los Vatos Locos` for the `Mexican National Atómicos Championship`. This marked the beginning of `The Black Family`'s `pursuit` of the `Atómicos title` and their `rivalry` with `Los Vatos Locos`. When `Los Vatos Locos` `lost the titles` to another `team` in late 2002, `The Black Family` shifted their `focus` to the new `champions`, `Oscar Sevilla` and `Los Barrio Boys`. Upon `Charly Manson`'s return, he aligned with `Los Vipers` rather than `The Black Family`, leading to a `match` at `Guerra de Titanes (2002)` where `The Black Family` defeated `Manson` and his new `allies`. On July 18, 2003, `The Black Family` secured their first `championship` as a `unit`, defeating `Oscar Sevilla` and `Los Barrio Boys` for the `Atómicos title`, though their `reign` lasted only 31 days before the previous `champions` `regained the belts`. It took over a year for `The Black Family` to `reclaim the titles`, which they successfully did on August 20, 2004.
3.1.3. "Dark Ozz" and Championship Acclaim
In 2006, all four `members` of `The Black Family` slightly modified their `ring names` by adding "Dark" as a `prefix`, thus Ozz became Dark Ozz. Both `names`, Ozz and Dark Ozz, are often used `interchangeably`.
In early 2007, Dark Ozz `teamed` with `Dark Cuervo` to participate in a 16-`team` `tournament` established to `crown the inaugural` `AAA World Tag Team Champions`. At the `finals` held during the `Rey de Reyes (2007)` `event`, Dark Ozz and `Dark Cuervo` emerged `victorious` in an `elimination match` against `The Mexican Powers` (`Crazy Boy` and `Joe Lider`), `Los Guapos` (`Alan Stone` and `Zumbido`), and `Real Fuerza Aérea AAA` (`Pegasso` and `Super Fly`), thereby becoming the first `AAA World Tag Team Champions`. Dark Ozz further solidified his `championship` `status` when `The Black Family`, including `Dark Escoria`, `Dark Cuervo`, and `Dark Espíritu`, `regained the Mexican National Atómicos Championship` from `The Mexican Powers` on May 20, 2007. This `period` saw Dark Ozz as a `double champion`, holding both the `AAA World Tag Team` and `Mexican National Atómicos titles`. However, the `dual championship reign` was `short-lived`, as `Crazy Boy` and `Joe Lider` of `The Mexican Powers` `reclaimed the AAA World Tag Team Championship` at `Triplemanía XV`.
3.1.4. La Secta Dynamics and Shifting Alliances
In 2005, `Cibernético` formed a new `faction` called `La Secta Cibernetica`, which included his `associates` `Charly Manson` and `Chessman`. Through `Chessman`'s `involvement`, `The Black Family` was also invited to join this powerful new `group`. `La Secta Cibernetica` primarily supported `Cibernético` in his ongoing `rivalry` with `La Parka`, though they were `unable to prevent` `La Parka` from `unmasking` `Cibernético` at `Triplemanía XII`. Later in the year, `Muerta Cibernetica` was introduced to seek `revenge` against `La Parka`. Following a severe `knee injury` sustained by `Cibernético`, `Muerta Cibernetica` assumed `leadership` of the `group` and `expelled` `Cibernético` from the `stable`. Two `years` after `Cibernético`'s `unmasking`, `Muerta Cibernetica` himself was `unmasked` by `La Parka` at `Triplemanía XIV`.
After holding the `Atómicos titles` for an impressive `789 days`, `The Black Family` `lost them` to `The Mexican Powers` on October 18, 2006. Shortly after this `title loss`, `Chessman` turned `Tecnico` and `allied` with `Cibernético` and `Charly Manson` to form "`Los Hell Brothers`," engaging in a `feud` against `La Secta`, which had by then become known as "`La Secta del Mesias`" following `Muerta Cibernetica`'s `name change` to "`El Mesías`." With `Chessman` no longer a `member` of `The Black Family`, the `stable` extended an `invitation` to `Espíritu` to leave `Los Vatos Locos` and join their `ranks`, which `Espíritu` accepted without `incident`. Throughout 2006, `La Secta del Mesias` `integrated` into the larger `Rudo` `supergroup` known as `La Legión Extranjera`, positioning `The Black Family` as a `sub-group` within a `sub-group`.
By early 2008, `El Mesías` and the remainder of `La Secta` were `expelled` from `La Legión Extranjera`, with `La Legión` temporarily `sidelining` `El Mesías` due to `injury`. Upon `El Mesías`'s return to `active competition`, `tensions` escalated between `The Black Family` and `El Mesías`. This `animosity` climaxed after `El Mesías` `lost` a `Steel Cage` "`Street Fight`" `Match` to `Vampiro` at `Verano de Escandalo (2008)`, leading to `The Black Family` `attacking` `El Mesías` and officially `severing` their `relationship`. Following the `dissolution` of `La Secta del Mesias`, Dark Ozz assumed `leadership` of the `group` as they began a new `feud` with `El Mesías`. During late 2008, both `Charly Manson` and `Chessman` hinted at a `potential return` to `The Black Family`; however, `Manson` suffered another `injury`, while `Chessman` `betrayed` the `group` after `feigning friendship`. On January 9, 2009, `Chessman` `teamed` with `The Psycho Circus` (`Killer Clown`, `Psycho Clown`, and `Zombie Clown`) to `end` `The Black Family`'s `reign` as `Atómicos Champions`.
In May 2011, Dark Ozz, along with `Dark Cuervo` and `Dark Espíritu`, joined `La Parka` and `Drago` to establish a new `Tecnico` (good guy) `faction` called `El InframundoThe UnderworldSpanish`. This `group` engaged in a `rivalry` with `Cibernético`'s `Los Bizarros`, which notably included their `former stablemate`, `Escoria`. On October 9, 2011, at `Héroes Inmortales (2011)`, `La Parka` unexpectedly turned `Rudo` (villain) and joined `Los Perros del Mal`. On December 16, at `Guerra de Titanes (2011)`, Ozz and `Cuervo` returned to `AAA`, with `Vampiro` replacing `La Parka` as the new `leader` of `El InframundoThe UnderworldSpanish`.
On August 18, 2012, the `former members` of `La Secta` `merged` with their `former leader` `Cibernético`'s `stable` `Los Bizarros` to form `La Secta Bizarra Cibernetica`. However, on August 2, 2013, the `entirety` of `La Secta` `betrayed` `Cibernético`, reforming as a new `Rudo` version of the `stable`.
3.2. All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW)
`Marcos Tinajero`, particularly as Dark Ozz, made several significant `appearances` in `All Japan Pro Wrestling` (AJPW), including participation in `major tournaments` and a `championship reign`.
In November and December 2010, Ozz and `Cuervo` participated in AJPW's `World's Strongest Tag Determination League`. The `duo` secured four `wins` out of their eight `matches` in the `tournament`, ultimately finishing in fifth `place` among nine competing `teams` in the `final standings`.
Ozz and `Cuervo` returned to `All Japan Pro Wrestling` in September 2011. After Ozz `pinned` then-`World Tag Team Champion` `KENSO` in a `six-man tag team match`, Ozz and `Cuervo` were designated as the `number one contenders` for `KENSO`'s and `The Great Muta`'s `World Tag Team Championship`. On October 23, 2011, Ozz and `Cuervo` successfully `defeated` `Muta` and `KENSO` to capture the `World Tag Team Championship`, marking a significant `achievement` in their `international careers`. They `defended the title` until March 20, 2012, when they `lost the World Tag Team Championship` to `Manabu Soya` and `Takao Omori` in their fourth `title defense`.
Ozz, alongside `Cuervo`, made another `return` to `All Japan` in November 2013 to compete in the `2013 World's Strongest Tag Determination League`. In this `tournament`, they concluded with a `record` of two `wins` and five `losses`, `failing` to `advance` from their `block`.
Beyond these `tag team` `endeavors`, Ozz also had earlier `involvement` in `Japan`. In 2000, as Path Finder, he participated in `AAA`'s `Japan` `tour` "`Triplemanía VIII`." In 2001, Ozz competed in `Pro Wrestling Noah`'s `GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship` `tournament`. He `advanced` past the `first round` by `defeating` `KENTA` (who would later become `Hideo Itami`), but was subsequently `eliminated` in the `second round` by `Yoshinobu Kanemaru`.
3.3. Lucha Libre Elite
On November 4, 2016, Ozz, accompanied by `Espíritu`, made his `debut` for `Lucha Libre Elite`. Both `wrestlers` aligned themselves with their `former stable leader`, `Cibernético`, marking a `reunion` of `past associates` within the new `promotion`.
4. Signature Moves
`Marcos Tinajero`, particularly in his Ozz and Dark Ozz personas, utilized a distinct set of professional wrestling `techniques`, including several impactful `finishing maneuvers`.
- Darketa: A `move` executed as a `sunset flip piledriver`.
- go 2 ozz: A `variation` of the `Go 2 Sleep`, a `move` popularized by `KENTA`.
- `Corkscrew Plancha`: An `acrobatic aerial maneuver` where the `wrestler` `leaps over the ropes` or `from a height`, performing a `corkscrew rotation` before `landing` on an `opponent` `outside the ring`.
5. Championships and Accomplishments
`Marcos Tinajero` has achieved notable `success` throughout his professional wrestling `career`, securing `championships` in both `Mexico` and `Japan`.
- `All Japan Pro Wrestling`
- `World Tag Team Championship` (1 time) - with `Dark Cuervo`
- `Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide`
- `AAA World Tag Team Championship` (1 time) - with `Dark Cuervo`
- `Mexican National Atómicos Championship` (3 times) - with `Escoria`, `Cuervo`, and `Chessman` (2 times); and with `Dark Escoria`, `Dark Cuervo`, and `Dark Espiritu` (1 time)
- `Mexican State Welterweight Championship`
- `Pro Wrestling Illustrated`
- `PWI` ranked him #254 of the top 500 `singles wrestlers` in the `PWI 500` in 2007
6. Luchas de Apuestas Record
In `Luchas de Apuestas` (`bet matches`), `wrestlers` `wager` their `mask` or `hair`. `Marcos Tinajero` has participated in such `matches`, with the following `outcomes`:
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `Rey Dragón` (hair) | `Mosco de la Merced` (hair) | `Tulancingo`, `Hidalgo` | `Live event` | January 31, 1999 | `Lucha del RevesReverse MatchSpanish` hair versus hair match between masked wrestlers. |
| `Mr. Águila` (hair) | Dark Ozz (hair) | `Zamora`, `Michoacán` | `Promotora Zamorana show` | October 19, 2019 |