The Lucha Libre tradition in professional wrestling has a rich legacy and heritage. The mask-clad superstars have also provided the WWE fans with some breathtaking moments throughout history.
The company has witnessed several high-flying and athletic Luchadores in the past. Prominent amongst them include the WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio and talented modern-day performers like Penta. In light of the rich legacy and the secret behind their masked persona, here’s the real identity of every prominent Luchador in the WWE.
Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio is widely regarded as one of the greatest Luchadores of all time in the WWE and professional wrestling in general. However, his real name is Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio. Known for his iconic masked appearance, Mysterio remembers the time when he had to face people with his mask. During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Mysterio shared:
I say this all the time, I felt like I was naked. There’s some sort of protection that I get every time I put the mask on. Whether it’s covering up my mistakes when I make them or just not having the fans see who is behind the mask and it just felt kind of awkward. But after doing it for quite some time I started feeling comfortable and I was getting the hang of it, you know.
Mysterio was forced to unmask at the WCW pay-per-view event SuperBrawl IX on February 21, 1999, after he and his tag team partner Konnan lost a Hair vs. Mask match against Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. The former WWE Champion competed inside the ring without his iconic mask until he left WCW in 2002.
Penta
Also known as Penta El Zero Miedo, or Pentagon Jr., Penta has emerged as a fierce competitor inside the ring. The secrecy behind his character and the mystical nature of his identity have added value to his wrestling career in the WWE.
Penta has already been involved in several prominent feuds and major story lines in the company; however, not much is known about the man behind the mask and his Luchador identity.
Despite speculations on what Penta looks like, the mystery behind what he looks like in real life remains. The professional wrestling community came close to having a glimpse of what the luchador looks like when Penta faced Sami Callihan during the June 28, 2018, episode of TNA Impact (via TNA Wrestling YouTube)
But the Luchador managed to hide his face when his mask was ripped off. Penta later on stated that never revealing his real identity is very important to him. During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Penta remarked that he becomes a different person altogether when he puts on his mask and gear to compete inside the ring.
El Grande Americano
WWE’s character work and storyline around El Grande Americano has emerged as one of the most talked-about modern-day gimmicks in the company.
Beyond his ability to disrupt important matches and engage with several prominent names inside the ring, the real identity of El Grande Americano remains unclear to this date.
Earlier, the responsibility to carry out the now legendary character was speculated to be on Chad Gable’s shoulders. Gable was successful as a masked Luchador and performed several intense matches as El Grande Americano.
However, everything changed when Penta snapped the arm of Chad Gable during the June 23, 2025, episode of Monday Night RAW (via WWE). Gable was forced out of WWE programming and had to undergo a procedure.
After Chad Gable, there were some evident changes in the physical attributes of El Grande Americano. It is widely speculated that Ludwig Kaiser, Gunther’s former accomplice in the company, is now playing the masked character. Whatever may be the case, the debate around his reality has become an emerging talking point.
Sin Cara
After an underwhelming performance against Drew McIntyre during the November 11, 2019, edition of Monday Night RAW (via WWE), Sin Cara was shortly released from the WWE after an official announcement from the company.
Ever since he left the company, fans have wondered about the real identity of Sin Cara and what happened to him after his release.
Turns out that the Sin Cara character was played by two different wrestlers inside the ring. The wrestler who was released by the company in 2019 was Jose Jorge Arriaga Rodriguez, also known as Hunico. He now competes in the Mexican Independent circuit under the name Cinta De Oro.
The original Sin Cara, aka Luis Urive, was released by the company on March 26, 2014, (via WWE) three years after the famous Sin Cara vs Sin Cara clash at Money in the Bank 2011, where Hunico had his mask ripped off by Urive.
Kalisto
Kalisto has built a reputation as a high-flying luchador, heavily influenced by traditional Lucha Libre wrestling. Before joining WWE, he wrestled on the independent circuit and in Mexico under the name Samuray del Sol. However, his real name is Emanuel Alejandro Rodriguez.
As per Ringside news, Kalisto’s mask was removed during the fight against Cedric Alexander at a non-televised event in Anaheim. The referee had to slide over, take the mask off the canvas, and give it to Kalisto so he could get out of the ring and put it back on after he found himself hiding in the corner with his hands over his head. The moment made several fans furious as they saw it as a direct disrespect to the Lucha Libre tradition.
Rey Fenix
Much like his brother Penta, the original identity of Rey Fenix remains a mystery. Despite several moments that established his prominence in the WWE, Rey Fenix remains unknown to fans and critics alike.
The professional wrestling community is still speculating over the face of the man behind the mask and his real name. Considering the true allegiance of the Luchador to its traditions, it seems that the mystery over his reality will remain a talking point amongst fans.
Dragon Lee
Dragon Lee is a prominent member of the LWO and has turned out to be a dominant force amongst existing Luchadors in the WWE. The real name of the prolific performer inside the ring is Emmanuel Muñoz Gonzalez. He hails from a reputed wrestling family. He is the son of the legendary Luchador Arturo Muñoz and brother to Rush and Dralistico, both major names in the professional wrestling scene.
While there was evident buzz around how he looks, Dragon Lee’s mask was removed during the March 24, 2025 edition of Monday Night RAW in Glasgow (via WWE) by El Grande Americano, who was making his in-ring debut.
The moment became a standout point of the night and became the center of much discussion among fans and critics alike. With Dragon Lee’s identity now known, it remains to be seen how long he carries the persona.
Santos Escobar
The story of Santos Escobar’s career in professional wrestling is one of pride, legacy, and change. He was destined to be in the ring; his real name was Jorge Luis Alcantar Bolly. He had a strong wrestling heritage because his father was the renowned luchador El Fantasma.
Using a mask that paid homage to his family’s rich lucha libre heritage, he started his career as El Hijo del Fantasma, which translates to “Son of Fantasma.” He fought for years under that mask, earning a reputation and bearing the burden of a legacy.
But everything changed in NXT. In a bold, unforgettable moment, he tore the mask off as a declaration during the June 10, 2020, episode of the NXT (via WWE YouTube). Santos Escobar was ready to step out of the shadows and forge his own identity. With charisma, presence, and ruthless ambition, he formed Legado Del Fantasma alongside Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro.
No longer just the son of a legend, Escobar became one himself, blending tradition with modern flair and leading a new era of lucha libre with pride, purpose, and power.
Not just these names, several other superstars in the WWE have used the mask as a part of a major storyline. The most prominent name in this regard is Eddie Guerrero’s iconic Latino Heat persona. The Lucha Libre tradition is bound to consolidate and grow further with these superstars at the helm of affairs in the locker room.
What are your thoughts on these Luchadores? Share with us in the comments below.
