La Parka (wrestler)

1. Early life and background

Jesús Alfonso Huerta Escoboza was born on January 4, 1966, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. While his family life was largely private, he later revealed that his brother, known by the ring name Taboo, was also a professional wrestler. Huerta Escoboza began his professional wrestling journey in 1987 under the identity of Bello Sexy, marking the beginning of his extensive career in the Mexican wrestling scene.

2. Professional wrestling career

Jesús Alfonso Huerta Escoboza's professional wrestling career spanned over three decades, marked by a series of character changes, championship reigns, and prominent storylines within AAA, where he became an enduring and iconic figure.

2.2. Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (1995-2019)

Escoboza joined AAA, then known as Asistencia Asesoría y Administración, in early 1995. His career within AAA was characterized by several key transformations, ultimately leading him to become the iconic La Parka.

2.2.1. Karis la Momia (1995-1996)

Upon joining AAA in early 1995, Escoboza was repackaged as Karis la Momia, or "Karis the mummy". This mummy-themed gimmick was inspired by the 1940s Mummy-film series, Kharis. He was the fourth wrestler to utilize the Karis la Momia character.

On June 30, 1995, Karis la Momia made his first significant AAA show appearance, teaming with Espectro I, El Duende, Maniaco, and Halloween in a losing effort against Los Power Raiders at Triplemanía III-C. His first championship victory came on May 15, 1996, when he defeated Blue Demon Jr. to capture the Mexican National Cruiserweight Championship. Later that year, at Triplemanía IV-A, Karis, Arunyo, and Killer secured a victory over Blue Demon Jr., El Torero, and Máscara Sagrada Jr..

Throughout the summer of 1996, Karis engaged in a prominent storyline feud, partnering with Los Payasos against Los Junior Atómicos (Máscara Sagrada Jr., Tinieblas Jr., Blue Demon Jr., and Halcón Dorado Jr.). This rivalry culminated in a four-on-four Steel cage match at Triplemanía IV-C, the main event of the show. In this match, Karis la Momia defeated Halcón Dorado Jr., forcing him to unmask. In November 1996, Karis la Momia was given a new gimmick, which led to him vacating the Mexican National Cruiserweight Championship. He may have briefly performed as La Calaca, a variation of the La Parka character with an inverted costume and a more diabolical mask, at the end of 1996, though this gimmick was later given to another wrestler, El Sanguinario.

2.2.2. La Parka Jr. (1996-2003)

By late 1996, the original La Parka had begun working full-time for World Championship Wrestling, leaving a void in AAA's roster and prompting AAA owner Antonio Peña to create "La Parka Jr." to leverage the character's popularity. The promising Escoboza was chosen for this role. La Parka Jr. joined Los Junior Atómicos, effectively replacing Halcón Dorado Jr., whom he had previously unmasked.

One of La Parka Jr.'s early appearances was at Guerra de Titanes 1997, where his team suffered a loss to Los Vipers. La Parka Jr. quickly became integral to the storyline between Los Vipers and the "AAA Loyalists," which led to a significant match at Triplemanía VI. Here, he teamed with Latin Lover, Blue Demon Jr., and Máscara Sagráda to defeat Los Vipers (Cibernético, Histeria, Maniaco, and Psicosis).

On April 4, 1999, Los Junior Atómicos (La Parka Jr., Perro Aguayo Jr., Blue Demon Jr., and Máscara Sagrada Jr.) defeated Los Vatos Locos to win the Mexican National Atómicos Championship. The group held the title for five months, eventually losing it to their rivals Los Vipers at Verano de Escándalo (1999). On August 12, 1999, La Parka Jr. reclaimed the Mexican National Cruiserweight Championship, which he had been forced to vacate earlier in his career, by defeating Kendo for the title.

La Parka Jr.'s ascent within AAA continued on March 30, 2001, when he defeated Latin Lover, Abismo Negro, and Heavy Metal to win the 2001 Rey de Reyes tournament. This victory marked a clear indication of his positioning as one of AAA's top tecnicos (heroic characters). He followed this success by forcing Abismo Negro to submit at Triplemanía IX on May 26, 2001. On November 11, 2001, La Parka Jr. and Máscara Sagrada teamed up to defeat El Texano and Pirata Morgan for the Mexican National Tag Team Championship. Their reign lasted until April 19, 2002, when Electroshock and Chessman captured the titles. La Parka Jr.'s progress up the card was further cemented when he teamed with El Alebrije, Máscara Sagrada, and Octagón to defeat Abismo Negro, Cibernético, the Monsther, and Leatherface in the main event of Guerra de Titanes 2002. On March 16, 2003, La Parka Jr. secured his second Rey de Reyes tournament victory, once again defeating Abismo Negro.

2.2.3. The new La Parka (2003-2009)

In early 2003, the original La Parka joined Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), AAA's main rival. This move prompted Antonio Peña to take legal action against Adolfo Tapia, preventing him from using the name "La Parka" or wearing the signature skeleton suit in Mexico. Consequently, La Parka Jr. officially became known simply as "La Parka."

On June 15, 2003, La Parka headlined his first Triplemanía event, Triplemanía XI, where he teamed with Lizmark, Octagón, and Super Caló to defeat Abismo Negro, Cibernético, and The Headhunters in the main event. Five days later, La Parka and Octagón won the Mexican National Tag Team Championship from Electroshock and Chessman, a title they would hold for an impressive 3,110 days.

The rivalry between the AAA loyalists, led by La Parka, and Los Vipers, led by Cibernético, reached its peak on June 20, 2004, in the main event of Triplemanía XII. La Parka defeated Cibernético in a Luchas de Apuesta, forcing Cibernético to unmask after the match in one of the most significant Triplemanía events ever. Their feud continued beyond the mask loss, with La Parka defeating Cibernético in a Lights Out match at Verano de Escándalo (2004).

In late 2005, Konnan returned to AAA, bringing a contingent of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) wrestlers with him to form La Legión Extranjera, AAA's new top rudo (villainous) faction. The emergence of La Legión led to a temporary alliance between La Parka and Cibernético, who fought La Legión in the main event of Guerra de Titanes 2004, defeating Konnan and Rikishi. However, this alliance was short-lived, as Cibernético formed La Secta Cibernetica in early 2005, aligning with Konnan's La Legión.

On March 11, 2005, La Parka won his third Rey de Reyes tournament, winning a seven-way elimination match against Latin Lover, Abismo Negro, Chessman, Jeff Jarrett, Konnan, and Cibernético. With this victory, La Parka became the only wrestler to win three Rey de Reyes tournaments at that time. His status as AAA's top tecnico continued, as he main evented Triplemanía XIII alongside Latin Lover and Octagón, defeating Cibernético, Chessman, and Fuerza Guerrera.

In early 2006, La Secta de Cibernetica introduced Muerta Cibernetica to bolster the group, often replacing Cibernético due to his minor injuries. At the 2006 Rey de Reyes, La Parka, Vampiro, and Octagón represented AAA in a four-way trios match for the Rey de Reyes trophy, where La Parka helped his teammate Vampiro secure the win. At Triplemanía XIV, La Parka faced Muerta Cibernetica in a Luchas de Apuesta match, echoing Triplemanía XII by winning and unmasking Muerta Cibernetica. The Legión Extranjera storyline saw La Parka frequently facing TNA wrestlers such as Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Elix Skipper, and Hotstuff Hernandez at events like Verano de Escándalo (2006) and Guerra de Titanes 2006.

In late 2006, AAA owner Antonio Peña passed away, leading to changes in the promotion, with Joaquin Roldan taking over booking duties. This shift resulted in La Parka no longer being booked as the sole top tecnico, with the main storyline focusing more on Cibernético. Nevertheless, on March 18, 2007, La Parka won his fourth and final Rey de Reyes tournament, defeating Octagón, Abismo Negro, Rhino, Fuerza Guerrera, and Latin Lover in the elimination final.

At Triplemanía XV, the La Legión team of Ron Killings, Sabu, Head Hunter A and Rikishi Phatu defeated La Parka's team. Over the summer of 2007, La Parka sustained a shoulder injury in a car accident, which necessitated a lighter schedule and a less risky wrestling style. At the 2007 Antonio Peña Memorial Show, Kenzo Suzuki accidentally aggravated La Parka's injury, forcing him to take time off.

La Parka's shoulder injury kept him sidelined for extended periods in both 2007 and 2008. However, he participated in Triplemanía XVI, where his team lost to La Legión. The ongoing storyline between La Legión and the AAA Loyalists culminated in a Steel cage match at the 2008 Antonio Peña Memorial Show. The stakes were high, with the winning team gaining control of AAA and Antonio Peña's symbolic urn. Konnan's team emerged victorious, seizing control of the promotion.

In 2009, La Parka's angle with La Legión primarily focused on Silver King, who had betrayed La Parka earlier in the year to join La Legión. Their rivalry involved intense matches, often with inconclusive results, and frequent mask-ripping, hinting at a future Luchas de Apuestas match. At Triplemanía XVII, La Parka and his team defeated La Legión, regaining storyline control of AAA. At Verano de Escándalo (2009), La Parka's team lost to Los Wagnermaniacos, with Silver King pinning La Parka.

2.2.4. Feud with L.A. Park (2010)

During the 2010 Rey de Reyes tournament, the original La Parka, L.A. Park, returned to AAA after a 13-year absence to engage in a storyline feud against the "impostor" La Parka. L.A. Park aligned himself with Dorian Roldan in a dispute against his father, Joaquin Roldan (the president of AAA), while La Parka sided with Joaquin.

The feud escalated with L.A. Park repeatedly attacking La Parka, including throwing him through a table during an AAA show on March 19, 2010. Following another brawl, La Parka challenged L.A. Park to a match at Triplemanía XVIII, allowing the original Parka to choose any stipulation. On April 30, 2010, L.A. Park accepted the challenge. At an AAA press conference on May 12, 2010, it was announced that the match would be for the rights to the name "La Parka."

The two wrestlers signed the official contract during a television taping on May 19, 2010. After the signing, Dorian Roldan orchestrated La Parka's arrest for piracy, alleging impersonation of La Parka. However, La Parka was released in time to intervene during the semi-main event and attack L.A. Park.

At Triplemanía XVIII, L.A. Park faced La Parka in the main event. Near the end of the match, Park used a tombstone piledriver, a move illegal in Lucha Libre. Joaquin Roldan entered the ring when L.A. Park attempted to use a steel chair on La Parka. When L.A. Park feigned using the chair on Joaquin, Dorian intervened but was pushed down by Park, who then struck Joaquin with the chair. This prompted Dorian to turn on L.A. Park, hitting him three times with the chair. Halloween and Damián 666 from the Perros del Mal promotion rushed to the ring to chase Dorian Roldan away. They then dragged L.A. Park on top of La Parka, and the rudo referee Hijo del Tirantes counted to three, awarding L.A. Park the victory. After the match, the rest of Los Perros del Mal (including Park's son Hijo de L.A. Park) celebrated with L.A. Park, who seemingly won the rights to the name "La Parka." La Parka was stretchered out of the ring, not having moved since the piledriver.

Initially, it was announced that the match results were thrown out due to interference by Los Perros del Mal. The following morning, it was confirmed that Tapia had indeed won and would revert to being known as "La Parka," requiring AAA's La Parka to change his name. However, on June 10, AAA announced that it would respect the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission's decision to annul the match, resulting in both La Parka and L.A. Park retaining their respective names. On July 4, La Parka defeated L.A. Park in a rematch, continuing the complex dynamic between the two iconic figures.

2.2.5. Alliances and betrayals (2010-2014)

In October 2010, La Parka's long-time friend Cibernético turned on him and AAA, feeling betrayed by the promotion when they did not trust his claim about not joining La Sociedad. Cibernético then reformed his old group Los Bizarros with Amadeus, Billy el Malo, Charly Manson, Escoria, Nygma, and Taboo. This marked the beginning of a heated rivalry between Parka and Cibernético, during which it was implied that Cibernético had hospitalized Parka's three-year-old son, intensifying the emotional stakes of their conflict.

In May 2011, Parka formed El Inframundo ("The Underworld") with Dark Cuervo, Dark Espíritu, Dark Ozz, and Drago to counter Los Bizarros. At Triplemanía XIX on June 18, Parka's team was defeated by Cibernético's team, with Cibernético pinning Parka after a distraction from Taboo, who appeared on the ramp with Parka's son. After the match, it was sensationally revealed that Taboo was, in fact, Parka's brother. Parka finally confronted Taboo on July 31 at Verano de Escándalo in an eight-man tag team match, which El Inframundo lost when Parka was disqualified for excessive violence against his brother.

On October 9, 2011, at Héroes Inmortales, Octagón shocked AAA by turning on the promotion and attacking Dr. Wagner Jr.. La Parka, appearing to confront his long-time partner, then also attacked Wagner, joining La Sociedad alongside Octagón, Aguayo, Konan Big, and Silver King. At the first television tapings after Héroes Inmortales on October 21, Parka explained his defection by blaming AAA for bringing back L.A. Park after his 15 years of loyal service, and the fans for supporting both Park and Cibernético over him during their past rivalries. On December 1, Parka and L.A. Park surprisingly put their past differences aside and teamed together for the first time, defeating Dr. Wagner Jr. and Electroshock in a tag team main event.

On March 18, 2012, at Rey de Reyes, La Parka's team was defeated by Cibernético's team in what was billed as the final chapter of the rivalry between Parka and Cibernético. After the match, Octagón turned on Parka, attacking him with Dark Dragon and Tito Santana, which prompted Los Bizarros to return and chase them away. After initially attempting to salvage his alliance with La Sociedad, La Parka officially turned tecnico once again and rejoined AAA on April 30.

On August 5 at Triplemanía XX, La Parka teamed with Los Psycho Circus in an eight-man tag team match, where they defeated Octagón and El Consejo. Parka pinned Octagón for the win, and when El Consejo subsequently attacked Octagón, Parka returned to save his former partner. On October 7, 2012, at Héroes Inmortales, La Parka and Octagón officially reconciled, bringing their brief rivalry to an end.

On December 2 at Guerra de Titanes, La Sociedad introduced La Parka's new storyline nemesis, La Parka Negra. In the following match, La Parka, Octagón, and Octagón Jr. defeated La Parka Negra, the debuting Pentagón Jr., and Silver King. On October 18, 2013, at Héroes Inmortales VII, La Parka won the 2013 Copa Antonio Peña tournament. On March 16, 2014, at Rey de Reyes, La Parka defeated Black Warrior, El Hijo del Perro Aguayo, and El Zorro to win his fifth Rey de Reyes tournament, further cementing his legendary status in AAA.

2.2.6. Later career (2014-2019)

La Parka continued to make regular appearances for AAA until his career-ending injury in October 2019. In 2018, La Parka also made his debut for AAA's partner promotion, Impact Wrestling. He appeared on the October 4 edition of Impact!, which was taped in Mexico City on September 14. There, he answered Eli Drake's open challenge and secured a count-out victory.

3. Wrestling style and signature moves

La Parka was recognized for his unique wrestling style that combined high-flying moves with his distinctive showmanship. Among his frequently used techniques were:

• Pakete Total (Paquete Total_{Total Package}^Spanish): This was a snap small package pin, executed quickly to surprise his opponents.
• Springboard Headlock Elbow Drop: A dynamic maneuver where he would spring off the ropes into a headlock position, then drop an elbow onto his opponent.

His performances were often characterized by his energetic dance moves, playful taunts, and crowd interaction, which complemented his athletic and effective in-ring style.

4. Personal life

Jesús Alfonso Huerta Escoboza maintained a relatively private personal life, though some details emerged regarding his family's involvement in professional wrestling. In August 2019, La Parka introduced Karis La Momia Jr., presenting him as his son who had chosen to follow in his father's footsteps as a professional wrestler. Shortly after La Parka's death, this son continued his legacy by becoming the third wrestler to adopt the La Parka gimmick.

La Parka also had a brother, who wrestled under the name Taboo. Taboo was notably involved in a storyline feud with La Parka in 2011, during which his identity as La Parka's brother was revealed. Taboo passed away on September 11, 2020, less than a year after La Parka's death.

5. Injury and death

On October 21, 2019, during a Kaoz show in Monterrey, Mexico, La Parka suffered a catastrophic injury. While attempting a diving Topé suicida out of the ring onto his opponent Rush, he missed his target and tragically hit the steel barrier and concrete floor head-first. The impact was severe, causing paralysis. La Parka was immediately transported to Monterrey's OCA hospital. Although he began to regain some feeling in his extremities, the injury was critical.

Early the following morning, he underwent emergency surgery for his neck and cervical fractures, as well as to relieve pressure in his upper body. Initial reports indicated that the injury was not only career-threatening but potentially fatal. A false press release circulated, stating La Parka had died, but AAA quickly debunked this, confirming he was stable but in recovery.

Despite initial signs of recovery and the successful surgery, Jesús Alfonso Huerta Escoboza tragically died on January 11, 2020, just a week after his 54th birthday. His death was officially attributed to complications arising from the severe injuries he sustained during the October 2019 match.

6. Legacy and tributes

La Parka is widely regarded as one of Lucha Libre's most significant and beloved stars. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter described him as "a key part of the AAA presentation," highlighting his immense contribution to the promotion's success and popularity. His iconic skeleton motif, coupled with his high-energy performances and connection with the audience, made him a unique and enduring figure in Mexican professional wrestling.

On January 29, 2020, shortly after his passing, La Parka (Jesús Alfonso Huerta Escoboza) was posthumously inducted into the AAA Hall of Fame as part of its 2020 class, cementing his place among the legends of the sport.

Following his death, numerous wrestlers, wrestling promotions, and sports organizations extended their condolences and tributes. Notably, his long-time storyline rival and the original La Parka, L.A. Park, along with AAA's rival promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, expressed their sorrow. On January 19, 2020, Deportivo Toluca F.C., a prominent Mexican football club, paid tribute to La Parka during their first home game of the 2020 Clausura season, underscoring his widespread cultural impact beyond wrestling. In July 2010, Kenzo Suzuki, as part of the Voodoo Murders stable, briefly wore La Parka's mask during an invasion of All Japan Pro Wrestling, an instance that underscored the widespread recognition of his iconic imagery.

His legacy continued to be honored years after his passing. At Triplemanía XXXII: Mexico City on August 17, 2024, a person dressed as La Parka made a special cameo appearance during the casket match between Vampiro and El Mesias. This tribute, which saw La Parka emerging from a casket opened by Mesias and Jeff Jarrett, evoked a strongly positive reaction from the fans in attendance, demonstrating the lasting affection and respect for the late luchador.

7. Championships and accomplishments

• DDT Pro-Wrestling
  • Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
• Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
  • GPCW SUPER-X Monster Championship (1 time)
  • Mexican National Atómicos Championship (1 time) - with Perro Aguayo Jr., Blue Demon Jr. and Máscara Sagrada Jr.
  • Mexican National Cruiserweight Championship (2 times, final)
  • Mexican National Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Máscara Sagrada (1) and Octagón (1)
  • AAA Hall of Fame (class of 2020)
  • Copa Antonio Peña (2013)
  • Rey de Reyes (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014)
  • Copa Triplemanía XXV (2017) - with Argenis and Bengala
• International Wrestling Revolution Group
  • Guerra de Empresas (2012) - with Cibernético
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #43 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2007

8. Luchas de Apuestas record

A Luchas de Apuesta (Spanish for "bet match") is a professional wrestling match where both competitors "bet" something on the outcome. The most common wager is the wrestler's mask or hair. In Mexico, losing a mask or having one's hair shaved off after a loss is considered a major humiliation.

9. In other media

La Parka's popularity extended beyond the wrestling ring into other forms of media. He was notably featured as a playable character in the video game Lucha Libre AAA: Héroes del Ring, allowing fans to embody his iconic persona in the digital realm.