Brazo de Plata


José Alvarado Nieves is a Mexican luchador best known under the ring name Brazo de Plata, a name he has used since his debut in 1977. He is also well known for his appearances in WWE as Super Porky. Alvarado is a part of the Alvarado wrestling family which includes his father Shadito Cruz, five brothers who used the "Brazo" name at some point and several third-generation wrestlers who have appeared over the last couple of years.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit

Early career (1977–1988)

Alvarado made his debut as "Brazo De Plata", an Enmascarado who worked mainly in tag team matches with his brother who worked as Brazo de Oro and in trios action with another brother known simply as El Brazo. Los Brazos, as they were billed, wrestled all over Mexico and made appearances for the Los Angeles based NWA Hollywood Wrestling. While working for NWA Hollywood Wrestling, Plata and Oro won the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship from Chino Chou and the Kiss on November 7, 1981. The brothers were also last holders of the Los Angeles version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship in 1982.

Losing the masks (1988–1990)

Over the years Brazo de Plata and his brothers competed in a large number of Luchas de Apuestas where they put their masks or hair on the line against their opponents. Los Brazos' most famous Luchas de Apuestas occurred on October 21, 1988 when Brazo de Plata, Brazo de Oro, and El Brazo all placed their masks on the line in a match against another well known Lucha libre family, Los Villanos, in this case Villano I, Villano IV and Villano V. The match was the culmination of a long feud between the two families and saw all six wrestlers bleed profusely during the bout. In the end Los Villanos won the match, forcing all three Brazos to unmask and reveal their real names as is tradition in these types of matches. Despite losing their masks Los Brazos remained successful in the ring, winning various tag team and trios titles, such as the UWA World Tag Team Championship, UWA World Trios Championship, WWA World Tag Team Championship and the WWA World Trios Championship.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1985–2005)

Alvarado debuted for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in 1985. By the 1990s Los Brazos worked primarily for CMLL, where Plato, Oro and El Brazo won the CMLL World Trios Championship from Los Infernales on April 6, 1993. Los Brazos lost the titles to Dr. Wagner Jr., Gran Markus Jr. and El Hijo del Gladiador. 1993 also saw Brazo de Plata get the biggest singles win of his career as he defeated Black Magic for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship, a title he would hold over a year.
As the years wore on and Brazo de Plata's waistline expanded he found himself working a more comedic style, often seen as a specialty act. During this time period he was nicknamed "Super Porky" in reference to his weight gain, a nickname Brazo de Plata seems to embrace.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Juniors division (2005–2006)

Plata was hired by World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005 as part of the SmackDown! brand's short-lived Juniors Division. Plata was billed as "Super Porky" and paired up with the minis of the Juniors division. Brazo de Plata's appearances played for comedy and no real in-ring appearances came of it before the entire Juniors division concept was ended in March 2006 and all the workers in the division were released.

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (2006–2009)

After having worked for many years for CMLL Brazo de Plata jumped to its rival promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide making one of his first appearances at AAA's annual Verano de Escandalo show. Almost from the start Brazo de Plata began working a storyline with "Los Guapos VIP" a stable of wrestlers obsessed with their good looks, the polar opposite of the fun loving, overweight Brazo de Plata. At Verano de Escándalo, Brazo de Plata, Intocable, El Oriental and El Zorro lost to the team of Alan Stone, Hator, Scorpio Jr., and Zumbido. At the following featured show, Guerrera de Titanes 2006, Brazo de Plata had his hair shaved off as he lost a Dog collar chain match to Alan Stone and Scorpio Jr. The storyline with Los Guapos VIP continued throughout 2007 and into 2008 where it saw a surprising turn. Brazo de Plata's brother El Brazo jumped to AAA and attacked his own brother, taking the control of the Los Guapos VIP group. The storyline fight of the two brothers came to a crescendo at Guerrera de Titanes 2008, where they faced off in a steel cage match where the loser would have his hair shaved off. El Brazo lost and had his hair shaved to put at least a temporary end to the storyline.
He left AAA in March 2009, with his last appearance being March 15 at the Plaza Nuevo Progreso in Guadalajara, Jalisco, losing to La Parka in a semi-final of the Reyes de Reyes Tournament, also featuring Escoria and Kenzo Suzuki.

Return to the independent circuit (2009–present)

After leaving AAA, Plata began working independent dates throughout the country as well as wrestling regularly for the International Wrestling Revolution Group, Perros del Mal Producciones, and his former home promotion CMLL.

The Alvarado family

The Alvarado wrestling family spans three generations starting with Shadito Cruz followed by his 6 sons and a third-generation who have begun wrestling in recent years. José Alvarado has 5 children who have all followed in his footsteps, his sons José, Psycho Clown and Magia Jr. and his two daughters Danah and Gloria Alvarado Nava, who wrestles as Goya Kong.
† = deceased

Championships and accomplishments

Winner Loser LocationEventDateNotes
Brazo de Plata Tony Grimaldo N/ALive eventN/A
Brazo de Plata Anfibius N/ALive eventN/A
Brazo de Plata Astral N/ALive eventN/A
Los Brazos
Los Migra
N/ALive event1978
Brazo de Plata Lobo del Ring N/ALive event
Los Brazoz
Danny Grimaldo and Tauro Naucalpan, Mexico StateLive event
Los Brazos
Los Wrestling
Mexico CityLive event
Los Brazoz
Enfermero II and Flama Azul Mexico CityLive event
Los Brazoz
Los Corsarios
Mexico CityUWA live event
Los Villanos
Los Brazos
Monterrey, Nuevo LeónLive event
Emilio Charles Jr. Brazo de Plata Guadalajara, JaliscoLive eventN/A
Los Brazoz
El Verdugo and Hombre Bala Mexico CityLive event
Ringo Mendoza Brazo de Plata N/ALive eventN/A
Salomon Grundy Brazo de Plata N/ALive eventN/A
Brazo de Plata Asesino Negro Guadalajara, JaliscoLive event1990
Brazo de Plata Aaron Grundy Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Rambo Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Mano Negra Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Bestia Negra I Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Gran Markus Jr. Mexico CityLive event
Máscara Año 2000 Brazo de Plata Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Bestia Negra III Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Sensei Akira Nuevo Laredo, TamaulipasLive event
Brazo de Plata Apolo Dantés Mexico CityLive event
Pierroth Jr. Brazo de Plata Mexico CityLive event
Brazo de Plata Bestia Negra III Cuernavaca, MorelosLive event
El Felino Brazo de Plata Tijuana, Baja CaliforniaLive event
Tarzan Boy Brazo de Plata Mexico CityCMLL Sin Piedad 2001
Villano III Brazo de Plata Nezahualcoyotl, Mexico StateLive event
Pierroth Jr. Brazo de Plata Cuernavaca, MorelosLive event
Brazo de Plata Asesino Negro Guadalajara, JaliscoLive event
Halloween Brazo de Plata Tijuana, Baja CaliforniaLive event
Brazo de Plata Asesino Negro Guadalajara, JaliscoLive event
Scorpio Jr. Brazo de Plata Ciudad MaderoGuerra de Tianes
Brazo de Plata Asesino Negro Guadalajara, JaliscoLive event
La Fuerza TRT
La Dinastia Alvarado
Mexico CityHomenaje a Dos Leyendas
Rey Escorpión Brazo de Plata Mexico CitySuper Viernes

Mixed martial arts record