WWE has confirmed the passing of Jose Lothario, who at one point was one of the biggest stars in the history of pro wrestling in Texas. Lothario was 83 years old.
Lothario is best known to WWF/WWE fans as the trainer of Shawn Michaels and was featured on programming back around the time of WrestleMania 12 when Michaels was preparing for his Iron Man Match against Bret Hart for the WWE Championship.
F4WOnline reports that Lothario was a regular challenger to former World Champions such as Dory Funk Jr., Harley Race, Jack Brisco and Terry Funk in Texas, along with a long-standing feud with Gino Hernandez in the Houston area.
Lothario worked closely with Michaels when he opened a wrestling school in San Antonio, which is where Daniel Bryan and Brian Kendrick were trained early in their careers.
WWE issued the following statement:
Lothario became an effective mentor only after establishing his well-traveled reputation as a gritty grappler. As an NWA mainstay, he helped usher in popular Mexican wrestling styles to the sports-entertainment scene in the United States. His fans knew him best as “Super Sock,” a nickname recognizing the punches Lothario used to dole out during his past experiences in boxing.
Lothario even briefly displayed his considerable talents before the WWE Universe, most notably by humbling Jim Cornette in a match at In Your House 10: Mind Games.