Lucha Libre is intertwined with Mexico’s legendary history. Its following has made it the most popular sport (for lack of a better word) after soccer in a country of almost 150 million people, and an integral part of pop culture, mass media and entertainment in general.
In the early 1900’s, Mexico was in the middle of a Revolution against the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz. During war time two Italian businessmen, Giovanni Reselevich y Antonio Fournier began promoting fights, in which opponents fought each other hand to hand, without weapons or protection. These fights were known as Lucha Libre, or ‘free fight’, and were notorious for their lack of regulations and violence inflicted upon the luchadores, or fighters.
While common belief is that this fighting style was originally introduced by the French during the invasion of 1863, it wasn’t until this time when Reselevich and Fournier where developing a cross-town rivalry between their respective promotions, that Lucha Libre began to develop large followings throughout many parts of the country. Lucha Libre was a lot different from what we see today and from what I’ve read there was nothing predetermined about it.
In 1929, Salvador Lutteroth González was working in the United States where he began attending professional wrestling matches in El Paso, Texas. It was there that he became fascinated with the sport, especially the colorful personalities of the wrestlers, and decided to bring the sport to his home country of Mexico.
In 1933, together with partner Francisco Ahumada, González founded the Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) in Mexico City. After struggling and being turned down by larger arenas, the EMLL presented its first card in Arena Modelo, which had previously been scheduled for demolition, and had already been partially dismanteled. Instead, the 5,000 seat arena became the first home of modern Lucha Libre, and within a year, the EMLL was selling out events and looking for larger venues
The EMLL, now called the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) is the longest running active professional promotion company in the world. Its current home is the 16,000 seat Arena Mexico in Mexico City, considered the Mecca of professional wrestling in Mexico.
Enter Los Enmascarados. The use of mascaras, or Lucha Libre masks, had been a part of Lucha Libre since its inception, however, it wasn’t popularized until the introduction of Santo, El Enmascarado de Plata, or “Saint, the Silver Masked Man”. Santo made his debut in summer 1942, and quickly captured the public’s fascination with his fighting ability and mysterious secret identity. Santo is probably, and some would say absolutely, the greatest luchador of all time. He became so big he actually ascended to the top of film industry in Mexico, similar to what the Rock was able to accomplish here in the United States. Other contemporaries of great popularity include Blue Demon, Dr. Wagner, Solitario, Mil Máscaras, Rolando Vera, Anibal, Ray Mendoza, Rayo de Jalisco, and many more throughout the decades. A popular and important part of a Mexican wrestler’s persona has always been his or her mascara, or lucha libre mask. The masks play an important part of the storyline, as well as the legacy of the wrestler, and can also provide some anonymity in a country enthralled by the sport.
A lot of critics have been hard on Lucha Underground for having “too many” masked fighters and some even believe this is hurting the product as it will prevent the show from crossing over to American mainstream prominence. While I think this is true and in the past I’ve suggested they spend quality time creating more characters like Cage, Angélico and Johnny Mundo, by the same token I think it’s imperative we understand and respect the difference in culture and the importance of masks in Mexico’s storied wrestling history.
We must keep in mind Lucha Libre is and will always be different from what we’re used to here in the United States. It is unique from professional wrestling promotions in the United States and Europe in that the wrestlers usually have smaller physiques and the moves preformed are more aerial in nature, as opposed to the power moves popular in the US. The light weight division, or peso semicompleto, for example, is the most popular in Mexico and features technical and acrobatic skills unparalleled to anything seen in other countries around the world. This is wrestling at its finest. Welcome to Lucha Underground.
We get a video package hyping tonight’s show and new waterfront shots bring us into the arena where Amandititita is performing live. Pentagon comes out while the fans chant his “Zero Fear” slogan in Spanish. This character is super over so let’s hope he can do something of more significance in the future that doesn’t simply involve squashing jobbers.
Penragon Jr. vs. Argenis
The not so very eloquent Vampiro loves Pentagon’s “aggressivity”. Last week he said “luchaness”, I can only wonder what he’ll say next week. Pentagon catches him off a moonsault, but eats a DDT out of trying to do a tilt-a-whirl gutbuster. He gets sent out and hit with an Asai moonsault. Argenis moves to avoid attack and they wind up on top with a double-standing hurricanrana off the top by Argenis. Gorilla press leads to a slam right into the buckle for a sick head landing. I’ve never seen anything like that, it looked as if his neck snapped. Pentagon racks him and does it again but this time inverted. Argenis is one tough fighter. Josh Barnett is shown in the crowd while Striker plugs NJPW World Pro Wrestling and Pentagon hits a sloppy clothesline to Argenis on the apron, sending him down which leads to a somersault flip dive. Running package piledriver hits, leading to the double armbar and of course, he gets his arm snapped back. That piledriver is one heck of a move. I know they’re dangerous and that’s why we don’t see them in WWE, but isn’t the art of wrestling executing a dangerous move safely? That’s why we call it selling. Good match, a little different from the squash matches we’ve been treated to, which is good. This guy will eventually need a feud so it’ll be interesting to see who his nemesis will be. Should be an outstanding rivalry.
There’s a Miami Vice marathon all day Sunday. Catrina tells Fenix he may be a man with a thousand lives but that Mil Muertes isn’t going to stop until he takes every single one of them. Catrina says that the only way to survive is to bury Mil.
We see more shots of Konnan in the rain – he is welding a bada** new cane and beating the heck out of things with it. He promises revenge as he draws a line through the rain and we cut away. I loved the production. He is seen welding a cane the way one would weld a sword. Very creative and a stunning visual to behold. My favorite part of Lucha Underground continues to be the cinematography.
Angelico vs Ivelisse with Son of Havoc as special referee.
I always enjoy these two when they go to work. They have great chemistry together and their matches are comical yet physical. I thought the part where Ivelisse locked a knee bar was great. Ivelisse has an extensive MMA background and it shows in the ring. Angelico is an experienced worker who has been all over the world and one of my favorites currently on the Lucha roster. This was a solid back and forth match until the jealous Son of Havoc started getting involved. His jealousy is highly entertaining. Then again if I had a girl like ivelisse my jealousy would be highly entertaining too. I enjoyed the ending sequence as she slaps Havoc and Angelico wants to join in on the action so he attempts to kick Havoc but he ducks and hits Ivie with a hook kick instead. Angelico then pins Ivelisse with an Edge style humping like pin that leads to Havoc to fast count in order to get Angelico off her. Fun match, I enjoyed it a lot.
Backstage Mil Muertes is seen putting on his mask and Catrina arrives basically to play mind games with him. Next week he faces Fenix in a grave match. Should be interesting. I’m liking the gimmick matches and I’m really looking forward to the grave match. Considering the arena isn’t so big their creative forces will definitely be on display next week.