 The public became enamored by the mystique and secrecy of Santo's personality and he quickly became the most popular "luchador" in Mexico.His wrestling career spanned nearly five decades, during which he became a folk hero and a symbol of justice for the common man through his appearances in comic books and movies, while the "lucha libre" received an unparalleled degree of mainstream attention.Other legendary "luchadores" who helped popularize the "lucha libre" include; Gory Guerrero, who is credited with developing moves and holds which are now commonplace in professional wrestling; Blue Demon, a contemporary of Santo and possibly his greatest rival; and Mil Máscaras ("Man of a Thousand Masks") who is credited with introducing the high flying moves of "lucha libre" to audiences around the world.