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. ==Championships and accomplishments==