Rest in peace, Black Terry.
Esteban Mares Castañeda, famously known as Guerrero Maya, La Gacela, and Black Terry, passed away at the age of 72.
The news was announced by IWRG on their social media.
Mares competed in a multitude of promotions across Mexico City in his career, becoming a well-respected talent everywhere he went. Mares was part of Los Temerarios (alongside Shu El Guerrero & Jose Luis Feliciano) from the 1980s through the mid-90s, becoming an important unit in UWA. Mares & Feliciano would continue to team in CMLL, donning masks as Guerrero del Futuro and Guerrero Maya as part of the faction "Guerreros del Futuro" alongside Damian El Guerrero, all throughout the 1990s. Even in the late stages of his career, Mares would be continuously teaming alongside Los Terribles Cerebros (or Los Intelectuos Oscuros), comprising of Cerebro Negro, Cerebro Negro Jr. & Dr. Cerebro, in IWRG.
Mares was the lead trainer in the Mexican Wrestling promotion IWRG, recently appearing on IWRG's programming as one of the judges in the 2025 IWRG Tryouts alongside Hip Hop Man, Abismo Negro Jr. & Heddi Karaoui.
Terry was also involved in 41 apuestas matches throughout his career, his most recent one being a loss to Puma de Oro in a Hair vs. Hair Match in the 2022 edition of IWRG's Guerra del Golfo event. Terry also had an acclaimed feud against long-time rival and protege, Multifacético III (now known as the current CMLL National Middleweight Champion, Guerrero Maya Jr.)
He competed his last recorded match on February 28, 2025, teaming alongside Kundra against the team of Tormento Jr. & Terry 2000 for Mexican Promotion CVW.
He was one of the most influential wrestlers of his generation and one of the most important minds in the world of Lucha Libre. He will be sorely missed, not just in Mexico, but in the world of Professional Wrestling as a whole.
— IWRG Lucha Libre (@LUCHALIBREIWRG) April 20, 2025
Fightful sends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Black Terry.
