The legendary Mexican luchador El Santo will be permanently honored with a unique display at the Martial Arts History Museum in Glendale, California. El Santo was more than a professional wrestler; he was a cultural phenomenon—an iconic figure, movie star, comic book hero, and philanthropist whose impact transcended wrestling to influence Mexico and the world.
Preparations are underway to celebrate this legendary figure, ensuring that future generations can appreciate the profound mark he made. The museum is currently assembling a unique exhibit dedicated to the "Silver Masked Man" thanks to the collaboration and generosity of El Santo's grandson, Santo Jr. An actual fighting mask signed by Santo Jr. will soon be featured in the museum's display.
"This is a huge donation to the museum. We do our best to look at different cultures and how the martial arts played a unique role in their development," says museum president Michael Matsuda. "Our thanks go to Art Camacho and the El Santo family for thinking of the museum and what this recognition means to the world."
The museum recognizes that fighting arts such as wrestling, boxing, and European fighting systems all play a significant role in martial arts history. The display will also acknowledge the monumental impact many Hispanic martial artists have made on the arts, including Robert Trias, the first non-Asian to open a martial arts school in America; Benny Urquidez, considered the greatest kickboxing champion in the world; Lilly Rodriguez, known as the mother of women's kickboxing; Graciela Casillas, the first women's kickboxing champion and boxing champion; and Olympic Gold Medal winners Arlene Limas and Steven Lopez.
El Santo, who retired in 1982 and passed away in 1984, remains the most iconic figure in all of Mexico. He achieved worldwide fame not only through Lucha Libre but also through his extensive film career, starring in over 50 action and horror movies. The Martial Arts History Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of Asian, Western, and all cultural martial arts around the world. For more information, visit https://MAmuseum.com.
