Lucha Libre’s culture mixes tradition, family and pure adrenaline

Published May 10, 2023

One of the first things I did when I arrived in Mexico was get tickets to a Lucha Libre event. I’d never seen anything like it. It was in a huge arena with bright lights and thousands of seats. The atmosphere was electric.

Lucha Libre, or Mexican freestyle wrestling, was introduced to Mexico in the first half of the 20th century. It grew into a unique form of the sport, characterized by high-flying maneuvers performed by wrestlers wearing iconic masks that have over time developed special significance. Wrestlers in the public eye often conceal their identity behind their mask full-time. In some matches, the loser must permanently remove his mask.

Wrestlers are known as luchadores and usually come from wrestling “families” who form their own stable of fighters.

Mexico City and Guadalajara have the biggest lucha scenes, but the sport is hugely popular throughout Mexico. I live in Oaxaca, where there is also a dynamic lucha scene. Unlike in Mexico City, there are only a few rows of seats around the ring here, so you’re part of the action no matter where you sit.

Geraldine, a friend from Guadalajara, took me to my first Oaxacan lucha event at the Pepe Cisnero Arena. I knew it was going to be wild based on her description of what she grew up with:

“To say awesome is an understatement,” she said. “There’s always heckling going from one section to the other that creates a great atmosphere. All kinds of people go to these events. You see people in their work cloth

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