Casas wrestling family

The Casas wrestling family, sometimes referred to in Spanish as La Dinastia Casas, is a Mexican family associated with professional wrestling and lucha libre. The family’s documented wrestling lineage begins in 1964, when José Casas Granados began performing under the ring name Pepe Casas. He later became a referee after retiring from active competition. His sons established the family’s best-known second generation: José Casas Ruiz became Negro Casas, Jorge Luis Casas Ruiz became El Felino, and Erick Francisco Casas Ruiz became Heavy Metal. Together, they helped make the Casas name one of the more recognizable family identities in Mexican wrestling. The family’s activity has centered primarily on Mexico, although individual members have appeared in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. As with many lucha libre families, the Casas identity is expressed through ring names, masks, intergenerational training, and connections to wrestling promotions rather than through a conventional corporation or consumer brand. The family has therefore operated as a lineage and professional network, not as a legally incorporated enterprise with a single owner, headquarters, or public listing. The third generation includes wrestlers associated with the sons of Jorge Luis Casas and with other branches of the extended family. Jorge Luis’s sons have performed under the names Tiger and Puma, while other relatives have used names including Felino Jr., Puma King, Rocky Casas, Canelo Casas, Danny Casas, Destroyer, and Nanyzh Rock. Tiger and Puma were for a time presented as nephews of El Felino, later revealing that they were his sons; the earlier presentation allowed them to establish identities independently rather than beginning as versions of their father’s character. Some family relationships are publicly incomplete or disputed, particularly where masked performers’ legal names and parentage have not been disclosed. Marriage has also connected the Casas family with other wrestling lineages. Negro Casas is married to Panamanian wrestler Dalys la Caribeña, and the family is related by marriage to wrestler Veneno. One of Negro Casas’s daughters married Psycho Clown, linking the Casas family with the Alvarado wrestling family. Another daughter was married to Black Warrior Jr. until his death in 2022, creating a connection with the Los Divinos Laguneros wrestling family. Blanca Rodríguez, formerly known as Princesa Blanca, was married to El Felino before their separation in 2014; she is not the mother of Tiger and Puma. The family’s significance comes from continuity rather than from a single product or promotion. Members have worked as wrestlers, referees, trainers, and wrestling personalities, carrying the Casas name across different eras and professional settings. Several younger relatives have trained for wrestling, while some did not publicly pursue full-time careers in the ring. The family remains an active part of the broader Mexican lucha libre ecosystem, although the exact current status of every listed member is not consistently documented.

The Casas wrestling lineage began in 1964 with José Casas Granados, who wrestled as Pepe Casas. After his in-ring career, Pepe Casas worked as a referee, preserving his involvement in Mexican professional wrestling beyond active competition. His family’s later prominence came through three sons who entered the profession: José Casas Ruiz, Jorge Luis Casas Ruiz, and Erick Francisco Casas Ruiz. They became widely known by the ring names Negro Casas, El Felino, and Heavy Metal respectively. Negro Casas became the most internationally recognizable member of the second generation, while El Felino and Heavy Metal developed their own careers in Mexican wrestling. The three brothers represented a continuation of their father’s profession and helped establish the Casas name as a durable wrestling identity. A number of Pepe Casas’s other children did not become wrestlers, although descendants from the wider family later entered the business. The third generation expanded the lineage through several branches. El Felino’s sons became associated with the names Tiger and Puma. They initially allowed audiences to believe that they were their father’s nephews, a presentation that separated them from the expectations attached to a “Felino Jr.” identity. They subsequently revealed that they were actually El Felino’s sons. Other third-generation performers have included Felino Jr., Puma King, Rocky Casas, Canelo Casas, Danny Casas, Destroyer, and Nanyzh Rock. Because masked wrestling characters often protect performers’ legal identities, public information about some members remains incomplete. The family has also developed through marriage. Negro Casas married Dalys la Caribeña, a Panamanian wrestler, and she became part of the family’s active wrestling network. Veneno is identified as a brother-in-law of the Casas family. El Felino was married to Blanca Rodríguez, who wrestled as Princesa Blanca until retiring from active wrestling; the couple separated in 2014. The family’s connections later broadened through marriages involving Negro Casas’s daughters. Zaraida Casas Medina married Psycho Clown, linking the Casas family to the Alvarado wrestling family. Omaraida Casas Medina married Ramses de Jesús Toral, known as Black Warrior Jr., connecting the family with Los Divinos Laguneros until his death in 2022. The family has largely worked within Mexico but has also appeared abroad in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Its history reflects common features of lucha libre: performers may inherit training, ring knowledge, names, masks, and professional contacts, while family members may intentionally adopt distinct personas. The Casas case is notable because the publicly documented relationships span multiple generations without depending solely on one inherited character. The family continues to be understood primarily as a wrestling dynasty and professional lineage rather than as a commercial company.

• 2022

  Black Warrior Jr. dies

  [1]Casas wrestling familyen.wikipedia.org

  Ramses de Jesús Toral, who wrestled as Black Warrior Jr. and was married to Omaraida Casas Medina, dies on March 17, 2022.

• 2014

  El Felino and Princesa Blanca separate

  [1]Casas wrestling familyen.wikipedia.org

  Jorge Luis Casas and wrestler Blanca Rodríguez, known as Princesa Blanca, separate in the summer of 2014.

• 1980

  The second generation enters the profession

  [1]Casas wrestling familyen.wikipedia.org

  Pepe Casas’s sons José, Jorge Luis, and Erick develop wrestling careers as Negro Casas, El Felino, and Heavy Metal.

• 1964

  Pepe Casas begins wrestling

  [1]Casas wrestling familyen.wikipedia.org

  José Casas Granados enters professional wrestling under the ring name Pepe Casas, marking the beginning of the documented Casas wrestling lineage.

A multigenerational lucha libre lineage whose value rests on wrestling heritage, recognizable ring identities, family training, and connections across Mexican and international professional wrestling.

1. 1Casas wrestling familyen.wikipedia.org