in WCW's lower mid-card, competing mostly against fellow luchadors while also serving as an enhancement talent to upper mid-card wrestlers. Garza's final televised match in WCW took place on the February 18 episode of Thunder, where he teamed with Silver King against Konnan and Rey Misterio, Jr. in a losing effort. Garza's last match for WCW took place at a live event on October 1, where he teamed with King to defeat Los Villanos (Villano IV and Villano V). Garza was released from his WCW contract in November 1999 as part of mass releases including twenty-one other wrestlers due to budget cuts. AAA (1999–2004) In late 1999, Garza returned to AAA where he became involved in a long-running storyline feud with Heavy Metal, Latin Lover and Perro Aguayo Jr. that would span several years. On December 26, 1999 Héctor Garza defeated Pirata Morgan to win the IWC World Heavyweight Championship, his first championship reign in AAA. 98 days later, Garza lost the championship back to Pirata Morgan. Two months later Garza defeated Sangre Chicana to win the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship on a show in his home town of Monterrey. As part of their ongoing storyline, Garza and Aguayo Jr. teamed up to defeat Los Vipers (Abismo Negro and Electroshock) to win the Mexican National Tag Team Championship, starting a 61-day reign. Their reign was ended by El Texano and Pirata Morgan on September 8, 2000. The four-way feud led to a Lucha de Apuetas match between Garza and Heavy Metal as part of AAA's 2001 Guerra de Titanes PPV. The match saw Garza pin Heavy Metal in the third and deciding fall, forcing Heavy Metal to have all of his hair shaved off. After the 2001 Guerra de Titanes the feud shifted to focusing on Garza and Latin Lover instead. On May 5, 2002, Garza defeated Latin Lover to win the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship as part of the escalating tension between the two. On November 15, 2002, at that year's Guerra de Titanes show, Garza, Latin Lover, Perro Aguayo Jr. and Mr. Águila faced off in a steel cage match. Latin Lover defeated Garza, causing him to have his hair shaved off for the first time in his career. On May 5, 2003, he lost the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship to E; Zorro, exactly one year after winning it. On October 26, 2003 Garza lost another Lucha