Lucha Libre, a Mexican style of professional wrestling, has had a significant impact on the cultural identity of Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. This unique form of wrestling originated in Mexico and has since gained popularity across the world. In the city of Angels, Lucha Libre has been adopted as a part of the Mexican American identity with its dedicated followers always seeking new ways to express their love and admiration for this sport.
The Olympic Auditorium – A Significant Venue for Lucha Libre in LA
The Olympic Auditorium played a significant role in promoting lucha libre in Los Angeles. This venue hosted championship boxing and wrestling events that contributed to the growing popularity of this sport in the early 20th century. From 1930 to 1974, countless wrestling legends graced the stage and entertained Lucha Libre fans, making it one of the most iconic venues for professional wrestling in America.
Radical Shifts in Depictions of Luchadores on Television
Mexican luchadores were beloved by crowds at LeBell’s NWA Hollywood Wrestling during the ’70s and ’80s, making it a radical shift from the typical portrayal of luchadores as slow-witted villains in other American wrestling promotions. This change resulted in an increased demand for lucha libre merchandise, including masks of popular characters like Nacho Libre and L.A. Park.
Decline and Resurgence
After NWA Hollywood Wrestling’s closure and the declining interest in Lucha Libre, many fans thought that this unique form of wrestling would disappear from LA forever. However, things started to change with the creation of “Lucha Underground” in 2014. This show brought renewed interest in Lucha Libre and helped reshape the world of professional wrestling by blending it with American-style wrestling. Today, Republic of Lucha store in South Pasadena serves as a hub for all things Lucha Libre.
Lucha Libre in WrestleMania 39
This weekend’s WrestleMania event in LA features Lucha Libre elements, including Rey Mysterio’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame and a father-son match paying homage to the “When Worlds Collide” storyline. During the event, Becky G was made an honorary member of the recently revived Latino World Order (lWo), a faction that was also featured during the WrestleMania 39 edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX. The lWo was originally formed in late 1998 when Eddie Guerrero was with WCW and featured other Mexican stars like La Parka, Psychosis, and Hector Garza.
Legado del Fantasma – The New lWo
Rey Mysterio declared the Legado del Fantasma faction as the new lWo during WWE SmackDown. No information has been revealed on how far this new storyline will go. Still, it is exciting to see Lucha Libre continuing to impact wrestling fans worldwide through its unique style and cultural significance. It is clear that Lucha Libre remains an integral part of Mexican American identity in Los Angeles and beyond, and its fans will continue to support it for generations to come.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
