Stepping into the Lucha Libre Arena in Mexico City, you are immediately overwhelmed by all five of your sense. But in the best way possible. The sound of coordinated chants by the audience crashes across the stadium. Your eyes dart across the room, watching lights glow bright red, green and yellow overhead. And in a flash, a series of fireworks and flames erupt from around the stage. The warmth of the fire felt against your chest. The pungent smell coming from the smoke, which billows out from the ramp leading luchadors (wrestlers) into the ring, fills the air.
Sitting down in your seats, you sip a traditional michelada, a crisp local beer smothered in chamoy sauce and dusted with spicy tajin. Paired with fresh chicharrones and popcorn, all also covered in Valentina sauce. As the match explodes before your eyes, you can almost feel the hard smack of the wrestler’s back as he gets flipped upside down. Pounded onto the all too hard-looking mat underfoot. Words you might once not have understood take on new meaning, and you begin to copy the cheers and roars of the crowd around you. Yelling in favour of your favourite characters and booing the villains that grace the stage. This is the world of Lucha Libre!
Lucha libre, which translates to “freestyle wrestling,” is a form of professional wrestling unique to Mexico. Its history dates back to the early 1930s when a former colonel of the revolution invited an American wrestler to come to Mexico. They set out to stage a series of exhibitions. The wrestling matches caught on like wildfire with the locals. And it wasn’t long before they would create their unique identity within the sport.
In 1934, La Maravilla Enmascarada, was intorduced to Mexico. This was American wrestler Mackey, who had previously wrestled but to little fanfare. On his return to Mexico, he wanted to introduce himself as a new persona. So Mackey donned a mask and took on a new name. The mystery of who the man under the mask was intrigued the audience, and he was an instant hit! And it wasn’t long before more wrestlers were also choosing to wear a mask. With a mask, you could be anyone or anything. It soon became a part of the sport that you had to be unmasked if you lost a match.
Lucha Libre made a name for itself, unique from American wrestling with its colourful characters, high-flying acrobatics, and dramatic storylines. Lucha libre continued to evolve over the years, with new wrestlers and new styles emerging. Today, you’ll see that not every wrestler needs to wear a mask, but some prefer to do so for the flare it gives to their costume and appearance.
You can’t really talk about Lucha Libre without mentioning El Santo. El Santo is one of the most iconic and legendary figures in the world of Lucha Libre. Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, the man inside the mask, first came to the ring as “El Enmascarado de Plata” (The Man in The Silver Mask.) El Santo’s iconic outfit consisted of his striking silver mask and distinctive white and silver costume. El Santo became known throughout his career for his heroic persona, often portraying a character who fought for justice and defended the oppressed. Earning his new nickname, “El Santo,” or “the Saint.” Throughout his over four-decade-long career, El Santo was never unmasked. As he never lost a match. When he died he was even buried with the mask he wore his entire career.
The Arena Mexico is the most famous venue for Lucha Libre in Mexico City. It’s located in Colonia Doctores, just east of the popular neighbourhood of Roma Norte. While there are also matches held inside the Arena Coliseo, this is a much smaller venue further outside of town. And since there are always multiple shows at Arena Mexico every week there’s no need to have to travel anywhere else.
You can make a trip to see a Lucha Libre match simply on your own, by purchasing your tickets independently or via a tour group. These tour groups are much more expensive than just buying the tickets on your own. But with the tour, you often get a much more layered experience. These tours often start hours before the show and feature everything from meet and greet with real wrestlers, mask-making workshops and general history presentations. Great to help newbies get acquainted with the sport.
But the best advantage of going with a group is you having someone with you to take care of all the logistics. This is the best choice if you’re a more cautious or new traveller. These organized tours cost anywhere from $55-100 USD. This is one of the tours we recommend.
But going on your own is really easier than you think. Plus it’s much less expensive and you can spend the money saved on treats and souvenirs from the match! Hopefully, if you want to go on your own, this guide will help you navigate your first-time experience.
Since Arena Mexico is located in the heart of the city, getting there it is very convenient. If you are staying in Roma Norte, you can even just walk. But from the rest of the city, I recommend taking an Uber to and from. Ubers are cheap and safe, and there are lots of spots where cars can drop and pick you up. Even though there are lots of taxis around the Arena after the show, Ubers are always the most reliable and safe option.
If you’d prefer to take public transportation you can arrive and depart via the Cuauhtémoc station only 5-minutes from the Arena Mexico.
Tickets for Lucha Libre matches are usually available on the day of the event at the arena box office. However, purchasing tickets in advance is recommended to avoid long queues and ensuring a good seat. You can buy tickets online from Ticketmaster. Tickets range in price from $420 pesos to $180 pesos ($22 USD to $10.
The best place to sit is close to the ring. If you want the best pictures, the seats directly opposite the ramp makes for the most dramatic compositions. But if you want to see the wrestlers close up, sitting beside the ramp is your best option! Honestly, the Arena isn’t huge, so no matter where you sit you’re bound to have a great time. But you might as well shell out a few extra dollars to get up close to the action. If you find yourself in the very front row, don’t be surprised if you become a part of the show itself!
A new addition to Arena Mexico is tickets to the Freedom Bar. These tickets are located in small boxes around the stadium. These tickets claim to have the best view of the ring, but I prefer to be down on the ground. But they are more private, and you get more perspective on the entire ring. The tickets include unlimited buffet food, beer, soft drinks and non-alcoholic drinks during the show. You also get a free wrestler mask, and you might even have a guest wrestler greet you at your table. Some private bathrooms and waiters come to your table. The cost of these tickets is $999 pesos ($54 USD), but it’s a unique splurge for a very special experience. Remember: this does not include tips.
When you arrive at Arena Mexico, you’ll have your ticket scanned and usually, there is a security officer who gives you a quick pat down. Once inside you’ll be greeted by one of the ushers, or “acomodaor,” wearing blue aprons. They will also take scan or look at your ticket and guide you to your seat. It’s wonderful to have this kind of service, especially as a newbie who doesn’t know the arena.
When you get to the row where your seat number is located, don’t be surprised if they usher asks you to sit at the end of the row. Instead of in the exact number on your ticket. This is just how they ensure people don’t have to keep getting up to let late comers in. Don’t worry if this happens. The rows are only about 6-8 seats long so the exact number really doesn’t change your view dramatically. But it confuses us the first time it happened, so good to know what to expect
After the usher brings you to your seats, you should give them a very small tip, or “propina.” Don’t feel like you’re getting ripped off as a tourist. This is very normal and even the locals do this. It’s just a nice way to give them a little something for their efforts. Whatever change you have will suffice, it’s more of a gesture of thanks than anything.
Once you’ve located your seats, it’s time to grab something to eat. Many vendors move throughout the crowd during the matches, so you can purchase food and drinks without even leaving your seat. The selection is rather small but there’s everything you need for a traditional sports snack. The vendors going around the stadium usually have chips and popcorn. And be sure to ask for one of their little packets of Valentina hot sauce if you want to amp up the flavour. They also sell beers, “cervezas,” and sodas “refrescos.“
If you’re looking for something a bit more substantial you can head back to the food stalls inside the lobby. Here the selection is a bit larger with things like sweets and candies, nachos, hot dogs and even fresh “tortas,” (sandwiches.) You can also find a little larger selection of beers and drinks.
If you’re looking for a true Mexican specialty, head to the Micheladas stand. A michelada is a Mexican drink that combines beer, lime juice, hot sauce and tomato juice. It is served in a cup rimmed with chamoy (spicy-sweet sauce made of pickled fruit) and tajin (spice mix made of chilli peppers, lime, and salt.) This combination of spicy, savoury and sweet is a staple of Mexican cuisine and a great thing to try here at the Lucha match. If you aren’t a fan of the tomato juice (as I am not), you can instead try a Chelada instead. Its the same ingredients, just without the tomato juice.
Also for sale in the lobby are souvenirs from the match. Everything from replica masks of the favourite wrestlers to t-shirts and posters. The quality of these products is definitely high, but if you just want to buy a mask to dress up for the match, you can find many cheaper ones at the market. Or even for sale directly outside the Arena by street vendors. These won’t be perfect replicas of the ones the wrestlers wear, but they are just as fun if you aren’t looking for the real thing. I’ve found masks for as little as $5 and it makes getting into the spirit even easier!
Lucha Libre matches are a high-energy spectacle with colourful masks, acrobatic moves, and exciting storylines. The matches are divided into rounds, each lasting for a few minutes. There are usually three rounds in total, with a break in between each round. During these breaks is when you’ll see the drama break out. With wrestlers taunting each other and lots of action from the sidelines. Lucha Libre is a family-friendly event, and you can expect to see people of all ages cheering and shouting for their favourite wrestlers.
In almost every match, there will be the “técnicos,” or the good guys and the “rudos,” who are the evildoers. The rudos will often taunt the técnicos and are bound to be on the receiving end of “boos” from the audience. But in my opinion, the rudos often have the most amazing costumes, props and best entrances featuring fire and flames.
The luchadors must pin their opponents to the ground for about 10 seconds to win a match. Often you’ll hear the audience counting down before the pinned wrestler gets away just at the last second. Creating lots of dramatic cries from the crowd. Other times a luchador could win if the opponent is disqualified. This can happen if they use an illegal move or by enlisting help from another team member that wasn’t supposed to be in the match. There is always something afoot ontop of the exciting moves see in the ring.
Whether professional wrestling is “real” or not is something you often hear people asking when attending their first Lucha Libre event. While the storylines and outcome of the matches are pre-determined, the absolute athleticism you see during the shows is definitely REAL! Especially in Lucha Libre, the high-flying stunts they pull are phenomenal. They left my jaw on the floor multiple times. And even the “fake” hits they take from one other look like they could really hurt. You need to be in amazing shape to participate in these performances, which is a talent that is undoubtedly something to admire.
Attending a Lucha Libre match in Mexico City is an unforgettable experience you don’t want to miss. This show is about drama, even if you’re not a sports fan. It’s about evil vs. good and long-held grudges being fought in front of your eyes. It’s one of my favourite things to do on a night in Mexico City, and I hope you try it yourself!
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