From the outside in: Lucha Libre

By: Helena Prentis

Foto: Helena Prentis

For any person visiting Mexico, the famous Lucha Libre is without a doubt a must-do. I will openly admit that I know virtually nothing about any form of professional fighting, but this downright insane sport is easy to enjoy thanks to the frenzied crowds and incredible choreography.

Even with my little knowledge of the sport, I can definitely say that it is not wrestling as such, but more commercialised acrobatics. The instant you arrive at the arena you are swamped by vendors trying to sell you the famous masks as well as many other souvenirs such as t-shirts.

The atmosphere is the arena is crazy, and the appearance of scantily clad women only serves to hype up the audience even more. Then the lights dim and the wrestlers come down the aisles to sound of blaring music and pyrotechnics. The audience definitely has its favourites and you hear the screams get louder whenever a wrestler stops to flex his muscles or turn to the crowd for support. Whilst it is well-known that the stunts are all choreographed, the general spectacle is irresistible, and you quickly find yourself getting into it.

There is no doubt that a trip to the Lucha Libre is one of the highlights of modern day Mexican culture, and an all round unforgettable experience which really cannot be recreated anywhere else.