Javier Esparza Coronado (August 11, 1953 – September 20, 2026) was a Mexican professional wrestler, who also worked as a match maker and trainer for promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Esparza is best known under the ring name Franco Columbo, a name he used even after retiring from wrestling.
Professional wrestling career Esparza was trained for his professional wrestling career by legendary Mexican wrestling trainer Diablo Velazco before making his debut in 1975 as "Franco Columbo". Due to Velazco's connections to Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), Mexico's largest and the world's oldest professional wrestling promotion, Columbo landed job with EMLL only a few years after making his debut. On November 1, 1980 Columbo defeated Américo Rocca to win the Mexican National Welterweight Championship, holding it for 92 days before El Supremo won it on February 1, 1981. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s Columbo began working as a trainer for EMLL (later renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre; CMLL) helping improve young wrestlers under EMLL/CMLL contract. After retiring from active competition in the late 1990s, Columbo began being more involved in the booking aspects of CMLL, moving up the ranks to being second in charge along with Juan Manuel Mar. The two were responsible for planning CMLL's weekly shows in Arena México and Arena Coliseo, CMLL's two most popular venues, until Columbo's retirement in 2021.
Death Columbo died on September 20, 2026, at the age of 73.
Championships and accomplishments Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre Mexican National Welterweight Championship (2 times) Regional championships Occidente Welterweight Championship (1 time)
Luchas de Apuestas record Winner (wager)Loser (wager)LocationEventDateNotesDr. O'Borman (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) N/A Live event N/A Gran Cochisse (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) Mexico City Live event N/A Franco Colombo (hair) Guerrero Negro (hair) Puebla, Puebla Live event Águila Solitaria (mask) and Franco Colombo (hair) Cid Campeador (mask) and Ari Romero (hair) Mexico City Live event Franco Colombo (hair) Divino Roy (hair) Mexico City Live event Faisán (mask) and Franco Colombo (hair) Pánico (mask) and Manuel Robles (hair) Mexico City Live event Jerry Estrada (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) Mexico City Live event Hombre Verde (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) Mexico City Live event Ari Romero and Franco Colombo (hair) Los Destructores (hair)(Vulcano and Tony Arce) Mexico City Live event Javier Cruz (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) Mexico City Live event Javier Cruz (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) Cuernavaca, Morelos Live event Javier Cruz (hair) Franco Colombo (hair) Mexico City Live event
References