Who Owns The "Sin Cara" Name: Luis Urive or the WWE?

by Brian Phelps

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

In the wake of WWE releasing the original Sin Cara (Luis Urive), a new legal battle is brewing. WWE allegedly claims that they own the rights to the "Sin Cara" name. Luis Urive (the man who played the original "Sin Cara" character) allegedly also claims to own the rights to the "Sin Cara" name. So... who is right?

This is a very interesting and potentially messy situation. I believe that if I had to say whose side I was on it would have to be Luis Urive.

When Luis Urive was signed to the WWE, he had been previously wrestling under the name Mistico. The WWE allegedly trademarked the name "Sin Cara" in the United States, but did not trademark the name in Mexico. Another organization trademarked the "Sin Cara" name in Mexico. 

When the Sin Cara character debuted in the WWE, it visually retained much of the Mistico persona. The mask and outfit closely resembled the Mistico character. The WWE also carried over events and background information from Luis Urive's Mistico character to the new Sin Cara character. For instance, the WWE commentators would comment that Sin Cara was a legend in Mexico and that he even had his own comic book. These two details are not true about the Sin Cara character. They took those details from Luis Urive's real life and applied them to Sin Cara. 

When the WWE released Luis Urive (the man who plays Sin Cara), they decided to continue the Sin Cara character using a different man under the mask (Hunico). The problem with this is that the WWE continued to use details from Luis Urive's life (his comic book and legendary status in Mexico) to describe Hunico even though Luis Urive was no longer under the mask. This means that they were allegedly stealing details from Luis Urive's life and applying them to Hunico. That would be like bringing in another man to play Shawn Michaels and giving him details from Shawn Michaels real life. The other problem is that the WWE continues to use Sin Cara for Make-A-Wish requests even though it's not the "real" Sin Cara. I'm sure some of those children feel duped because they wanted to see the real Sin Cara Luis Urive and not Hunico. 

There are a lot of interesting aspects about this situation that make this very dicey. WWE is giving Hunico credit for Mistico's accomplishments. Hunico has inherited 4.4 million Facebook likes which still have Mistico's image on the page. 

I've been told by the Mexican fan base that they feel like WWE is disrespecting Luis Urive and the Mistico character by implying to fans that Hunico as Sin Cara is the same guy that played Mistico. They feel that the WWE is taking Luis Urive's identity and claiming it as Hunico's. 

Many wrestlers have won the right or retained the right to use their performing names outside of the WWE. The Ultimate Warrior fought the WWE in court for the right to use the Warrior name, face paint, and mannerisms and won. I have a feeling that this legal battle is just getting started. 

FAQ: Who is the new Sin Cara?

Answer: The new Sin Cara is being played by Hunico, who used to play the imposter Sin Cara.

Official Mistico (Sin Cara) CMLL Theme Song "Ameno"

Did You Know... Sin Cara (aka Mistico) Had His Own Comic Book?

Yes, it's true. In Mexico, Sin Cara (wrestling under the name Mistico) had become so popular while wrestling for CMLL that he received his own comic book which produced at least 50 issues. 

FAQ: Who is the New Mistico?

Answer: Dragon Lee is the new Mistico (aka Mistico II) in CMLL. The original Mistico is currently wrestling in WWE as Sin Cara.

Pictures of Sin Cara's New Red Mask / Outfit

Wrestlers Way Podcast - Why the WWE Should Bring Back the Cruiserweight Division

Check out the new Wrestler's Way Podcast discussing why the WWE should bring back the cruiserweight division with new talent like Primo, Trent Baretta, Sin Cara, Yoshi Tatsu, etc.

Anderson Joins Immortal (Another Predictable Russo Swerve)

by Brian Phelps

Impact last night was surprisingly good. There were great matches along the way with moves I've never even seen as Impact showcased the X-Division. If you haven't heard of Jack Evans, find him on youtube. That guy was doing moves I haven't seen anyone do, including Sin Cara. The Fatal 4-Way between RVD, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Jerry Lynn was awesome. I really felt like RVD and Jerry Lynn were telling a story as they wrestled. Sting was great again as The Joker, but there was just one problem with an otherwise great Impact.

The main event ending was soooo predictable. It was an infamous "Russo Swerve", or at least he thinks he swerved the crowd. Before the main event, Sting and Angle tell Anderson that he better make the right decision (referring to Immortal inviting Anderson to join them as Sting and Angle had to fight Immortal later that night). Shortly afterward, Hogan attacks Sting just before the match backstage... forcing Angle to take on Immortal by himself. So, from that moment it was obvious that Mr. Anderson was going to join Immortal and screw over Angle. Lo and Behold, Anderson comes out during the handicap match and appeared to be fighting off Immortal... when all of a sudden he turns on Angle and gives him his patented 'mic check' finisher and Immortal gets the win. This is a typical Vince Russo written "Swerve" designed to trick the crowd for shock value, but he's done this so many times that you can smell it a mile away as I did. There were so many things about this that didn't make any sense. For instance, why did the referee allow Anderson to just run in and just join the tag match? The moment Anderson attacked Immortal at first, Kurt Angle would've been Disqualified lol. Oh well. Anderson screws Angle after claiming he wouldn't join Immortal, and then next thing you know he's hugging Immortal. This isn't the first Russo "Swerve". He's been doing it for years. I can name a few times recently that he's done it.

1) At Bound For Glory 2010, Jeff Hardy acts like he's going to hit Bischoff with Hogan's crutch... but then turns around and at the last second turns on Angle and Anderson and beats them down with Hogan's crutches... (Immortal is formed on this night)

2) Fortune began feuding with Immortal. Ric Flair comes out with AJ Styles for his match with Immortal's Matt Hardy, and during AJ's match out of nowhere Ric Flair throws AJ off the top turn buckle and hugs Matt Hardy. (Flair joins Immortal)

3) Let's not forget the most famous "Finger Poke of Doom" from WCW, where Nash came out as Champion to face Hollywood Hogan.. and instead of the bitter battle of nWo leaders... Hogan poked Nash, Nash fell on the mat on purpose, and Hogan pinned him. Nash hugs Hogan, and the two nWo's merge.

Russo enough of the stupid "swerves". You've done it so many times, you can smell it a mile away before you do it. It's ridiculous, and beyond predictable. Here's an idea. How about a clean finish?

WWE Delivers Evan Bourne vs Sin Cara

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




This past Monday night on RAW, fans were treated to Evan Bourne vs Sin Cara. This was one of, if not the best match on RAW this year. After WWE rigged the Power to the People votes and chose Mason Ryan over Evan Bourne to face Sin Cara, WWE has received major backlash far and wide by the wrestling media. At first, they tried to hide their wrong doing and pretend it was some major glitch in the voting system. I've never heard of any glitches on American Idol, Survivor (player of the season voting), or anything else so in a place where everything is scripted and planned... it was an "accident" that the unpopular Mason Ryan was chosen over Sin Cara. YEAH RIGHT. Also, if it was a glitch in the voting system... how did they figure out that Sin Cara should've gotten those votes and not Jack Swagger (I know Sin Cara is more popular but I mean in terms of fixing the glitch)? Then, if it was a glitch and an accident then why did they say they were "making it up" to the fans with Evan Bourne vs Sin Cara the following week when it wasn't their fault? That's how you know they are blowing so much smoke up peoples butts. It's just like RAW Roulette is obviously staged too.

RAW Roulette was fixed too. They spin the wheel, and then zoom far enough in to where you can only see the top of the wheel... so that someone hiding below the wheel can slow the wheel down on the match that they wrote in the script for the two wrestlers to have. Seriously, at least try to make it hard for us to figure out lol.

TNA's Masked Wrestlers Look So Low Budget

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




Well... it's official... Sangriento sucks. TNA's (I'm sorry... Impact Wrestling) attempt to answer WWE's Sin Cara has been an epic fail. Sangriento's costume looks so low budget. So does Suicide for that matter. Sangriento's costume looks like something some elementary school kids put together. On top of that, you can clearly see the seam on the top of the mask (which makes it look so cheap). Look at Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara's outfits... heck... just their masks. Look at any luchadores from Mexico. There are no visible seams on the top of the head. It just looks really cheaply made. It looks like someone who doesn't know the first thing about lucha libre outfits was asked to go outside their comfort zone. Then on top of that, you have Amazing Red playing the role of Sangriento. You guys look pretty silly trying to pass off an American high flyer as a Mexican style high flyer. His moves don't even look lucha libre lol. Amazing Red is one of the best in the world... but don't make a complete joke out of him. Message to Impact Wrestling... if you're going to have an answer to WWE on something... at least make it worthy. You want to be the Kickboxer to their Bloodsport, or the Mortal Kombat to their Street Fighter. Instead you've become the Krull to their Star Wars. A weak wannabe imitation.