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Bull Ortega

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Bull Ortega
Birth nameJesús Melendez Ortega
BornMay 12, 1922[1]
Douglas, Arizona, U.S.[1]
DiedJuly 28, 1977(1977-07-28) (aged 55)[1]
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bull Ortega
Chuy Cárdenas
Don Ortega
Jesse Cardenas
Jess Ortega
Jesús Cárdenas
Jesús Ortega
Mighty Ortega
Mighty Ursus
Ortega-San
La Roca Ortega
La Rocca Ortega
El Toro Ortega
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Billed weight352 lb (160 kg)[2]
Debut1952
Retired1975

Jesús Melendez "Jess" Ortega (May 12, 1922–July 28, 1977)[3] was an American professional wrestler known as Bull Ortega and Mighty Uranus. He worked for Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Big Time Wrestling in Detroit, Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto and the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1966 to 1969.

Early life

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Jesús Melendez Ortega was born in Douglas, Arizona on May 12, 1922, the son of Juana (née Melendez) and Thomas Ortega.[1][4] Ortega later served with the 160th Infantry Regiment during World War II rising to the rank to staff sergeant. In January 1945, Ortega was wounded by artillery fire which required operations on his arm and thorax.[5]

Professional wrestling career

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Ortega would make his professional wrestling debut in 1952. He would work in various territories in the States as Jesse Ortega. In 1954 he began wrestling in Toronto, Canada for Maple Leaf Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling in Calgary in 1955.[6]

In 1959 he won the NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) with Shag Thomas and the NWA International Tag Team Championship (Calgary version) with Thomas and Tarzan Tyler in 1960. He had a lot of success in Stampede and was the longest promotion Ortega worked for.

Also in 1959, Ortega worked for Japan's Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance where he appeared in the Grand Finals where he lost to Rikidozan in the 1st Annual World League.[7]

Ortega and Ed Miller were the very last NWA World Tag Team champions in San Francisco when the promotion folded in 1961.

Ortega continued working in Canada in Toronto, Vancouver, and in Calgary until leaving in 1966.

He would make his debut in the World Wide Wrestling Federation in 1966 as Bull Ortega and sometimes using the name Mighty Uranus. He would have a feud with WWWF Champion Bruno Sammartino in late 1966 and early 1967. On November 9, 1966, Morgan fought Bruno Sammartino in 17:00 minutes in Baltimore in which Sammartino retained the title.[8] He also feuded with Louis Cerdan, Ox Baker, Bobo Brazil, Tony Parisi, and Gorilla Monsoon.[9][10] Ortega left the WWWF by the end of 1967 and went to Japan.

In 1968, Ortega made his debut in for Big Time Wrestling in Detroit.

Ortega returned to the WWWF in 1969 for a few matches and left.[11]

In 1970, he returned to Calgary for Stampede.

Ortega's last known matches were in Calgary in 1975.

Death

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On July 28, 1977, Ortega died from a heart attack.[12]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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General

  • *McCoy, Heath (2005). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. Toronto: CanWest Books. ISBN 0-9736719-8-X.
  • Nevada, Vance (2022). (Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy. FriesenPress. ISBN 9781039154797.

Specific

  1. ^ a b c d "Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007" (Document). Washington, D.C.: Social Security Administration.
  2. ^ a b "Bull Ortega: Profile". CageMatch.
  3. ^ "Bull Ortega". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "Deaths". Calgary Herald. July 30, 1977. p. 69. ORTEGO - July 28, 1977. Jesus (Jesse) Melendez, aged 55 years, beloved husband of Mrs. Edna Ortego, 3412-6 St. S.W. Born at Douglas, Arizona, he had been a resident of Calgary since 1963. He was a professional wrestler for the past 31 years. Besides his loving wife, he is survived by: a stepson, Barry Snell, of Calgary; two brothers, Raul, of Los Angeles, and Manuel, of San Fernando Valley, California; a sister, Mrs. Lucia Fronda, of Los Angeles, his mother, Mrs. Juana Ortego, Los Angeles. Funeral services will be conducted in PARK MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1507 4 St. S.W. Tuesday morning 08 11:00 o'clock. Cremation. McINNIS AND HOLLOWAY LTD. Funeral Directors. Telephone 262-3030. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Canadian Heart Fund, Alberta Division, 2011-10 Ave. S.W., Calgary. Y9044
  5. ^ National Archives and Records Administration; Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970; NAI: 570973; Record Group Number: Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775-1994; Record Group Title: 112
  6. ^ "Mighty Uranus - Facts @ Wrestlingdata.com". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  7. ^ "JWA World League Tournaments".
  8. ^ Cawthon, Graham (January 13, 2024). "Yearly Results: 1966". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  9. ^ Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2012). WWE Encyclopedia: Updated & Expanded. DK. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-7566-9159-2.
  10. ^ Cawthon, Graham (January 13, 2024). "Yearly Results: 1967". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  11. ^ Cawthon, Graham (January 13, 2024). "Yearly Results: 1969". TheHistoryOfWWE.com.
  12. ^ "Bull Ortega". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title [Alberta & Saskatchewan]". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  14. ^ "Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
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