Romero was trained as a professional wrestler by
Diablo Velasco, a man also responsible for the training of
Mil Máscaras and
Gory Guerrero. His early career was spent in Mexico, making his debut in Guadalajara at aged just 15, having been in training for the previous 3 years. He would also co-hold the
NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) twice (the belts being recognised as World Championships by WCCW and
Dory Funk's Amarillo territory). As a singles competitor he had the distinction of being the inaugural NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Champion of the
Los Angeles territory in 1953 as well as being a two-time NWA Texas Jr. Heavyweight Title back in the region in which he remained a perennial star. He became
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion twice, on the second occasion winning the title from
Verne Gagne on 27 October 1950. In between his first title reign in 1949 and his retirement there was only one year (1960) during which Rito Romero did not enjoy at least some time with a championship. During his career he became friends with the legendary
Lou Thesz (against whom he had his biggest match for the
NWA World Heavyweight Championship at a time when he was
NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion) and travelled Europe with him. Thesz esteemed Romero so highly as to rate him as a better performer than his contemporaries
El Canek and
Gory Guerrero. ==Personal life==