Stories and Essays: Lucha Libre

With all the flash of a circus and the drama of a soap opera, the Lucha Libre wrestling held in Arena Mexico captivates thousands.

Mexico City, Mexico

With the flash of a circus and the drama of a soap opera, the Lucha Libre wrestling held in Arena Mexico captivates thousands. A man holds out money to purchase a mask for his son before a show.
   
The walls outside Arena Mexico are plastered with old and new Lucha Libre posters.
   
A boy tries on a luchador mask outside Arena Mexico before a show. Vendors display hundreds of masks for sale.
     
  
Inside Arena Mexico, a man helps his son put on a child's size Lucha Libre mask.
   
A luchadore makes his grand entrance at Arena Mexico.
   
The luchadores are known for their highly choreographed wrestling that utilizes the ropes for jumps.
     
  
A masked fan waits to find out if he gets a front row seat at Arena Mexico, a highly coveted spot.
   
A luchador dramatically writhes in pain after getting thrown out of the ring.
   
A young star-struck fan reaches up to a luchador who is about to jump back into the ring.
     
  
Many of the luchadores are accompanied by a few bikini-clad lady friends during their entrance into the arena.
   
After flying into the crowd from the ring, two luchadores prepare for their revenge.
   
Outside the Arena Mexico, young wrestling fans fool around by trying out the lucha libre moves they saw inside the ring.