Credit: Josh Boutwell
Yesterday, Lucha Libre website SuperLuchas.net confirmed that Lucha star Hector Garza (real name Hector Solano Segura) has passed away at the age of 43 due to cancer. Garza had been battling lung cancer since he was diagnosed last fall. Garza is most known for his long career with both AAA and CMLL, but American fans will more than likely remember him for his time in WCW’s Cruiserweight division and his stint with TNA Wrestling from 2003 to 2005 along with a couple of appearances for WWE in the late 90’s.
Garza was the son of legendary luchador Humberto Garza and after starting to make a name for himself as a young luchador in AAA, he was signed by WCW along with a slew of other great young luchadors (which included Rey Misterio Jr., Psicosis, La Parka, Juventud Guerrera, Lizmark Jr., Super Calo, etc.). Like most of the luchadors WCW brought in, he was underused and other than a fluke win against Scott Hall was never involved in any memorable storylines. It was after he left WCW where he became a star returning to AAA and starting a feud with top star Latin Lover. After leaving AAA for CMLL, Garza also became a regular for TNA and even feuded with Scott Hall again until he was arrested coming over the border with steroids (which were purchased legally in Mexico but are illegal in America), which resulted in him being deported from America and banned from re-entering for 5 years. Garza remained a top star for CMLL and then with AAA again when he returned there as well.
In October of last year, Garza revealed that he was diagnosed with lung cancer and immediately began chemotherapy to fight the disease, one fight he was unable to win like so many others. Several promotions have held benefit shows for him over the past several months including his friend Perro Aguayo’s Perros del Mal.
Information about Garza’s funeral and burial will be announced soon by his son Humberto Garza Jr.
R.I.P. Hector Garza.