Puerto Rican wrestler, Mecha Wolf 450, announced last week that he was retiring from the square circle at the end of 2020. Mecha Wolf was formerly known as Mr.450, a hard-hitting highflyer that had the versatility to compete with anyone. This brought him recognition in the independent wrestling scene, later making some appearances on Impact Wrestling and in WWE. But, his main venue was Mexico and Puerto Rico, where he competed regularly.
Mecha Wolf 450, real name, John Yurnet, started his career in the southern area of the island of Puerto Rico. He was trained by Invader III (famous for the gruesome video of him spitting blood all over the ring in a match against Manny Fernandez in Puerto Rico). He started competing in some of the wrestling promotions in the area, until International Wrestling Association (IWA PR), Savio Vega’s promotion, took notice of him. He wrestled for IWA PR, and later in World Wrestling Council (WWC). He never got passed the Junior Heavyweight division.
Later on, in 2008, he decided to move to Chicago with barely $20 in his pocket. He wanted to find chances in the Mid-West of the United States. He found himself surrounded by some of today’s top stars, like Mustafa Ali, Kalisto, Ivelisse, and TJ Perkins. In there, alongside wrestling promoter and booker from Puerto Rico, Danny Nieves, 450 developed a better style of what was popular at the time.
Still, wrestling wasn’t paying the bills, and Mecha Wolf 450 quickly lost interest in continuing the fight. He was already working in a store when out of a sudden, in 2013, D’Low Brown contacted him for a spot on a tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) after Low Ki got injured. Mecha Wolf took the opportunity, which paid well over three months of his salary in one month ($2,000 for a week).
Mecha Wolf describes this experience as his evolution. The Japanese discipline made him throw away his old vices, like drinking backstage and eating too much junk food. He developed a better physique and started to master the Japanese Strong Style. From 2013 to 2014, his excursions in Japan, with AJPW and later Zero-1 Wrestling, further his stock in the wrestling world. He started to appear in the main Florida promotions at the time, EVOLVE and Full Impact Pro, while also appearing in WWE NXT. In Florida, he created alongside WWE Superstar Lince Dorado, now AEW star Serpentico and Oraculo the Lucha World Orden; a collective of highflying luchadors from Puerto Rican descent or natives. Moreover, Puerto Rico came calling, specifically the World Wrestling League (WWL), a big promotion that became the main rival of Carlos Colon’s WWC after the death of IWA PR. In WWL, 450 had what is referred to as the best match of the decade of Puerto Rico, opening the door to a fanbase that wanted more wrestling quality and fewer novels.
In Puerto Rico, after a series of matches that are now the gold standard, against now WWL Heavyweight Champion, Star Roger, Mecha Wolf 450 became the most sought out star of the island. He and Ricky Banderas (Mil Muertes/Mesias/Gilbert El Boricua) were the perennial pillars of wrestling in Puerto Rico. WWC quickly called back and had Mecha Wolf 450 win the historic Universal Championship, which he defended all over Latin America and the US. The Universal title under 450 became once again the most valuable prize and WWC was once again the only game in town on the island- even Rey Mysterio and Jeff Hardy challenged 450 in different instances.
450’s career came crashing down in successive order in the following years, especially in 2016 and 2017. First, it was in the Cruiserweight tournament. Mecha Wolf 450 became a reserve option if any other wrestler became injured in the tournament. In December of that year, Mecha Wolf went against his longtime “friend” Mustafa Ali in a 205 Live match. In such a match he injured his knee and was forced to have surgery. His opportunity for a further WWE run was crushed. Later, in 2017, former girlfriend Lindsay Snow accused him of physical abuse on WrestleMania weekend. Although 450 was cleared of all the charges, his image was damaged – the UK never came calling for him after these allegations. It became clear that 450 needed to expand in Mexico, so he moved to the country, where he wrestles regularly for The Crash and from time-to-time in CMLL. He also wrestles for Hugo Savinovich’s Wrestling Superstars and in Puerto Rico for WWC.
His retirement comes in a moment that anything other than Mexico or Puerto Rico is not happening. While he traveled all over the world, the wrestling opportunities are less and age has caught on with him, developing now a musical band. In December, 450 plans to have his final match, on his list, there are still name that he wants to wrestle like Star Roger (his longtime rival and who along him revolutionize wrestling), Cody, Angel Fashion, Dragon Lee, Pentagon Jr., Rey Horus, Kenny Omega, among others.
