Long Live the Lucha Libre and the Wild World of Mexican Wrestling

When we arrived in Mexico City we immediately noticed how popular Lucha Libre had become in the years since our last visit. The flamboyant form of wrestling is constantly on TV and in magazines and newspapers. Street stalls and markets sell mascaras (masks), capes, Lucha Libre action figures, trinkets, and t-shirts. The t-shirts in themselves are fantastic pieces of graphic design. Images of the luchadores were everywhere we looked. We had to go see the Lucha Libre this trip.

The luchadore or Mexican wrestler has always been iconic but luchadores had become massively popular since our last trip to Mexico when it was a sport that was mainly popular with working class men. We were eager to find out for ourselves what the fuss was all about. When we asked our Mexican friends if we should go to the Lucha Libre (free wrestling), they unanimously said “Si!!!”

While anyone can buy tickets for the most popular Friday and Sunday night matches at Mexico City‘s Arena Mexico and the Tuesday night Arena Coliseo fights, our friend Fernando helped us get media access, relishing the opportunity to hang out in the press room as much as we did — if not more! A night at the Lucha Libre became one of the most memorable nights of that Mexico trip — along with a night with the mariachis on Plaza Garibaldi.

These days you can buy Lucha Libre tickets easily online or, even better, book Lubra Libre tours with an English-speaking Mexican guide that offer VIP experiences and the chance to meet wrestlers. Ringside seats are a must, but do book Lubra Libre tours well in advance, as seats to see the star wrestlers sell out fast. Read on to find out what to expect and what made the experience special.

Long Live the Lucha Libre, Mexico’s Wild World of Wrestling

A Lucha Libre wrestling match is a battle between heroes and villains, between good and evil, a melodramatic spectacle played out beneath a spotlight in a massive stadium that the audience gets to actively participate in.

The atmosphere was electric and the appeal was immediately obvious. Wrestlers are super-heros. The good guys (the técnicos) are like Batman with their mask and cape, and the bad guys (the rudos) are versions of The Riddler, out to expose the hero’s weakness and unmask him.

The athleticism and aerial antics of the Mexican wrestlers make it much more easy to like than the American-style wrestling, and the ambiguity of the ‘man behind the mask’ adds an air of mystery to the proceedings.

Backstage, we met Olímpico, ‘the Olympian’ (the guy in the blue, gold and black mask), the son of the famous Mexican wrestler Roy Aguirre. Olímpico trained under such greats as El Hijo del Gladiator (‘the son of the gladiator’) and has been fighting for almost 20 years.

We asked Olímpico why he thought Mexican wrestling was special, what it was about it that set it apart from American-style wrestling.

“We have a long history of wrestling in Mexico. It’s 77 years old!” Olímpico told us passionately, as he flexed his muscles. “It’s a beautiful sport in Mexico and we’re the world’s best wrestlers, the elite. Nobody can destroy a Mexican wrestler or the Mexican style of wrestling. It’s popular because it’s spectacular!”

Héctor Garza, the wrestler with the glistening brown skin and yellow pants and boots is one of Mexico’s most revered wrestlers, holding a swathe of titles. We asked him why visitors to Mexico should come to the Mexican wrestling.

“I come from a family of wrestlers,” Héctor told us. “My father was a wrestler (the great Humberto Garza) and my uncle and brothers are wrestlers. I love, I love wrestling! Wrestling is an important part of Mexican culture. Mexicans are really fond of wrestling. People must see it when they come to Mexico!”

So, as a visitor to Mexico City, should you spend a night at the Lucha Libre? Si! Héctor is right and I’m not just saying this because he’s a lot bigger than I am. Lucha Libre is a vital part of the culture of Mexico.

We saw everyone at the wrestling, from little kids proudly wearing the masks of their favourite wrestlers to an eighty-something old man in a suit jacket and tie waiting patiently outside the press area to catch a glimpse of one of the luchadores.

Some of the biggest ‘kids’ were middle aged men wearing the masks and capes of their preferred wrestlers. A fight between good versus evil has never been so much fun!

Tips for Seeing Lucha Libre in Mexico City

• If you don’t have a wrestling-loving Mexican friend, book a Lubra Libre tour with an English-speaking Mexican guide, some of which include VIP experiences with ringside seats, the chance to meet wrestlers, and food and drink.
• You’ll get so much more out of the experience with a tour guide-cum-translator who can tell you about each of the wrestlers and explain the history, culture and importance of the Lucha Libre to Mexico.
• Seats to see the star wrestlers sell out fast, so if a show is a must, book a Lucha Libre tour after you book your flight.
• To get close to the action, it’s worth buying the best and most expensive Lucha Libre ringside seats.
• But be aware that in the ringside seats you will become part of the action!
• The best place to see the Lucha Libre in Mexico City is at Arena Mexico on Dr Lavista 189, between metros Cuauhtemoc and Balderas, on Friday or Sunday night; it’s the biggest stadium and is more exciting.
• If that doesn’t fit in your itinerary, next best place to see a match is at the smaller and older Arena Coliseo on República de Perú and República de Chile, between metros Allende and Lagunilla.
• Luche Libre starts at 8.30pm sharp but get there around 7.30pm to take in the atmosphere outside and buy some Luche Libre t-shirts.
• Do buy Luche Libre t-shirts from the stalls at the Arena, as you’ll see designs at the stalls outside the arenas that you won’t see at Mexico City’s markets.
• Take plenty of change for beer and snacks inside the arenas.

Where to Stay Near the Lucha Libre Arenas in Mexico City

If you’re only in the Mexican capital for one night before heading off on your travels, on a short stopover, or have one night at the end of your trip and what to stay close to the action, here are our picks of where to stay near the Lucha Libre arenas in Mexico City:

Caliza Roma Residences by Tasman

The stunning Caliza Roma Residences by Tasman offers stylish light-filled apartments with big picture windows and balconies with views. There are spacious open-plan living-dining areas with kitchens and cool contemporary decor featuring raw concrete, brick walls, and blonde-wood Scandi-style furnishings.

The kitchens, with their induction stove-top, microwave, loads of dinnerware, glassware etc, make the apartments perfect for travellers planning to settle in a while and a do a little cooking, and the washing machine-dryer ideal for those planning on scrambling archaeological sites and doing day trips around the capital. Caliza Roma Residences by Tasman, Jalapa 17, Colonia Norte, Mexico City, Mexico. Book Caliza Roma Residences Mexico City with our booking partner

Casa Oliva

Not far from Uniko Living Roma below and still close to Arena Mexico is Casa Oliva. The chic lodgings are located within a gorgeous low-rise Art Deco tenement building dating to 1939, with light-filled apartments set across three levels around a narrow plant-filled patio with pots of plants in the rooms and hanging over balconies.

Behind their peppermint-painted doors, the lovely apartments are decorated in dusky-pink and teal-blue with contemporary furniture and good kitchens with proper stoves, full-size fridges, and dining tables large enough to have guests over for dinner. Note: the top floor apartments are brightest. Casa Oliva, Puebla 74, Colonia Roma, Mexico City, Mexico. Book Casa Oliva Mexico City with our booking partner

Uniko Living Roma

A few blocks from Arena Mexico, set around leafy Plaza de Romita, Uniko Living Roma is located on the edge of La Romita, a sub-sub-barrio of Roma Norte, which is a sub-barrio of Roma. This is a very local neighbourhood with hole-in-the-wall tortillerias, cars parked on the footpaths of the narrow alleys, and street art giving life to building walls.

The clean functional mid-range hotel won’t win any design awards but it has clean minimalist rooms with a touch of style in their comfy retro armchairs. The large windows and long desks are ideal if you’re like us and are often working when you’re travelling. Uniko Living Roma, Puebla 36, Colonia Roma, Mexico City, Mexico. Book Uniko Living Roma Mexico City with our booking partner

HOM Centro Histórico

A favourite of budget travellers and backpackers, HOM Centro Histórico is just a short two-block amble from the Arena Mexico. The compact single and double rooms and snug dorm rooms with bunk beds are enlivened by colourful textiles and art on the walls. Travellers love the homey feel, shared kitchen and sun-kissed rooftop terrace.

The location is excellent, for the local neighbourhood vibes as well as plenty of sights within walking distance, including the wonderful Museo de Arte Popular. HOM Centro Histórico, Enrico Martínez 36, Colonia Centro, Mexico City, Mexico. Book HOM Centro Histórico Mexico City with our booking partner.