An unexpected night of fun at Las Luchas

by Paulina Jaramillo (Colombia)

I didn't expect to find Mexico

When you think of Mexico you think of pyramids, Aztecs, tacos, margaritas, and for some maybe Frida Khalo. And yes, Mexico is all of that and so much more. But I found the most unexpected fun when I decided to go to Las Luchas (Mexican wrestling) thanks to the advise of a friend of mine. Mexican wrestling is a huge entertainment in the country and there is a whole fandom about it. Viewed from afar or on TV, it has always felt staged, fake and boring. I am sure you have seen somewhere, the image of the guy with the mask and the tight pants, no shirt and sometimes a cape. Or you have seen more and you have seen two of these characters jumping on top of each other and making a scene, a very dramatic, little realistic fighting scene. The Americans have something similar minus the costume, and it is huge in their country too. But for someone who is not a fan of this type of wrestling, enjoying it came as a surprise. Now let’s drop the cliché and the expectations and let’s talk about Las Luchas, the real deal. The first thing you need to know is that it is a family plan. The best day to go is on a Sunday and it starts around 5pm. You will find families coming together to see their heroes, kids very excited to come and everybody in an attitude of enjoyment that is difficult to find in general around the world, much less for a fight. Once you get to the Arena do yourself a favor and buy a michelada It comes with tamarind and lemon and some spice and a straw that they cover with some sticky tamarind hot and sweet paste. It is the perfect combination for the bitterness of the beer and for the type of setting you find yourself in. If you go don’t miss the micheladas with the straw, they are a must. Another thing you need to know is that there is not just one show per night. It’s a series of shows that go progressively more professional and less people on the ring. They usually start with 4 vs 4 luchadores (wrestlers) and they go less and less until they arrive to the one on one that is the biggest attraction of the night: The most famous luchadores. And yes, there is fight and there is a lot of coordinated fight, like in the movies. But what makes the experience unique is the emotion that the crowd has. The screaming, the chanting, the fans; it all comes together in a happy experience of a lifetime. Some wrestlers play the good ones and some play the bad ones and they play their roles and the people cheer to them accordingly and very fast you find yourself cheering and chanting with everybody. It’s like going to the theater and being able to boo on the bad guy and to cheer on the good one. Kids love it, even though there is fighting there is no serious aggression and there is no violence. It’s pure fun. You can feel the Mexican people getting together for one night of good fun. They bring you the beers and snacks, if you want, to your sit. The arena is well kept and the facilities are good. You can enjoy your night without worries. At the exit you can find all kinds vendors, selling masks of the favorite characters, capes, little figurines, t-shirts, posters and little further from the exit some tacos to make your night perfect. It’s the best way to spend your Sunday night in Mexico City or in most Mexican cities. In Mexico City I recommend Arena Mexico because you can reach it easily from the Subway. It has great tacos and it is not expensive at all, for 20 dollars you can get a good seat, have a couple of beers and have some money left for the tacos. And now that we are at it, the best tacos are by the subway station. You will not regret this night of fun and you will come back pleasantly surprised, it’s a promise.