By BRIAN ARGABRIGHT
The 830 Times
It’s been nearly 20 years since a lucha libre show was held in Del Rio, but that streak comes to an end this weekend.
Texas Wrestling Entertainment is bringing a card full of masked superstars to Del Rio Saturday for the appropriately named Lucha Libre Del Rio, which begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are still available through eventbrite.com, but expect limited seating at the door come the day of the event.
The main event features Huracan Ramirez Jr., a masked superstar following in the footsteps of the legendary Huracan Ramirez, who was been portrayed by a variety of wrestlers in Mexico over the years.
Lucha libre, or “free-style fighting”, itself is a product of the showmanship and athleticism of Mexico. Luchadores in Mexico are reveled as heroes (technicos) and booed mercilessly as villains (rudos), but their job is to entertain and to get a reaction from the fans by whatever means necessary.
In Mexico, the legends of lucha libre are as well known as any historical figure. There’s the silver-masked Santo whose film career and refusal to appear in public without his classic mask endured him to millions of fans until his death.
Blue Demon was another star of the silver screen who saw his popularity grow to monumental proportions due to the mystery surrounding his appearance and his in-ring prowess.
Rounding out the Mount Rushmore of lucha libre stardom is Mil Mascaras, or “the Man of A Thousand Masks.” Mascaras made more of an in-road in the United States, competing for more well-known US promotions including appearing in the 1997 WWF Royal Rumble in San Antonio, but his wide variety of masks, always bearing the classic “M” in the forehead, made him one of the more recognizable stars not just in Mexico, but across the world.
Lucha libre received a boost in the arm in recent years with the arrival of Spike TV’s Lucha Underground, which introduced audiences to a new breed of lucha stars both male and female. Many of those masked superstars continue to compete today for US-based promotions such as the WWE, AEW and MLW, bringing their high-flying style and death-defying abilities to fans on a weekly basis.
Fans who are used to the more plodding and brawling style of pro wrestling will be excited to view the work of these luchadores as they demonstrate the skills that have been a part of Latino culture since around the 1930’s.
Whether you side yourself with the technicos or deep down inside want to be a part of the rudos, lucha libre is something that you won’t see just anywhere. Even if you’ve been a lifelong wrestling fan, lucha libre offers something new and fascinating and there’s a chance you’ll see something Saturday night you may never see again.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
