Lucha Libre

Lucha libre (Spanish for "free wrestling" or free fighting) is a term used in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking areas referring to a form of professional wrestling involving varied techniques and moves. Outside of these areas, the term is synonymous with the professional wrestling performers in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
Mexican wrestling is characterized by rapid sequences of holds and moves, as well as high-flying moves, some of which have been adopted in the United States, and colorful masks. Lucha libre has also transcended the language barrier to some extent as evidenced by works such as Mucha Lucha and Nacho Libre. Lucha libre performers are known as luchadores (singular luchador).
== Rules ==
The rules of lucha libre are similar to American singles matches. Matches can be won by pinning the opponent to the mat for the count of three, making him submit, knocking him out of the ring for a pre-determined count (generally twenty) or by disqualification. Using the ropes for leverage is illegal and once a luchador is on the ropes, his opponent must release any holds and he will not be able to pin him.
Disqualifications occur when an opponent uses an illegal hold, move (such as the piledriver, which is an illegal move in lucha libre and grounds for immediate disqualification, though some variations are legal in certain promotions), or weapon, hits his opponent in the groin (faul), uses outside interference, attacks the referee, or rips his opponent's mask completely off. Most matches are two out of three falls (dos de tres caídas), which had been abandoned for title bouts in North America and Japan in the 1970s.
== Lucha libre style of wrestling ==
Luchadores are traditionally more agile and perform more aerial maneuvers than professional wrestlers in the U.S. who, more often, rely on power moves and strikes to subdue their opponents. The difference in styles is due to the independent evolution of the sport in Mexico beginning in the 1930s and the fact that luchadores in the cruiserweight division (peso semicompleto) are often the most popular wrestlers in Mexican lucha libre. Luchadores execute high flying moves characteristic of lucha libre by utilizing the wrestling ring's ropes to catapult themselves towards their opponents, using intricate combinations in rapid-fire succession, and applying complex submission holds. Lucha libre has several different weight classes, many catered to smaller agile fighters, who often make their debuts in their mid-teens. This system enables dynamic high-flying luchadores such as Rey Mysterio, Jr., Juventud Guerrera, Super Crazy and Místico, to develop years of experience by their mid-twenties. A number of prominent Japanese wrestlers also started their careers training in Mexican lucha libre before becoming stars in Japan. These include Gran Hamada, Satoru Sayama, Jushin Liger, and Último Dragón. With so many weight classes, Mexico has the largest number of professional wrestlers in the world.
Lucha libre is also known for its tag team wrestling matches. The teams are often made up of three members, instead of two as is common in the U.S. These three man teams participate in what are called trios matches, for tag team championship belts. Of these three members, one member is designated the captain. A successful fall in a trios match can be achieved by either pinning the captain of the opposing team or by pinning both of the other members. A referee can also stop the match because of "excess punishment". He can then award the match to the aggressors. Falls often occur simultaneously, which adds to the extremely stylized nature of the action. In addition, a wrestler can opt to roll out of the ring in lieu of tagging a partner or simply be knocked out of the ring, at which point one of his partners may enter. As a result, the tag team formula that U.S. tag matches tend to follow doesn't apply to lucha libre because the race to tag isn't a priority. There are also two-man tag matches (parejas) as well as "four on four" matches (atomicos).
== Masks ==
Masks (mascaras) have been used dating back to the beginnings of lucha libre and have a historical significance to Mexico dating to the days of the Aztecs. Early masks were very simple with basic colors to distinguish the wrestler. In modern lucha libre, masks are colorfully designed to evoke the images of animals, gods, ancient heroes, and other archetypes, whose identity the luchador takes on during a performance. Virtually all wrestlers in Mexico will start their careers wearing masks, but over the span of their careers a large number of them will be unmasked. Sometimes, a wrestler slated for retirement will be unmasked in his final bout or at the beginning of a final tour, signifying loss of identity as that character. Sometimes, losing the mask signifies the end of a gimmick with the wrestler moving on to a new gimmick and mask. The mask is considered "sacred" to a degree, so much so that fully removing an opponent's mask during a match is grounds for disqualification.
During their careers, masked luchadores will often be seen in public wearing their masks and keeping up the kayfabe of Lucha Libre while other masked wrestlers will interact with the public and press normally. However, they will still go to great lengths to conceal their true identities; in effect, the mask is synonymous with the luchador. El Santo continued wearing his mask after retirement, revealed his face briefly only in old age, and was buried wearing his silver mask.
Luchas de apuestas
With the importance placed on masks in lucha libre, losing the mask to an opponent is seen as the ultimate insult and can at times seriously hurt the career of the unmasking wrestler. Putting one's mask on the line against a hated opponent is a tradition in lucha libre as a means to settle a heated feud between two or more wrestlers. In these battles, called luchas de apuestas ("matches with wagers"), the wrestlers "wager" either their mask or their hair.
The first luchas de apuestas match was presented on at Arena México. The defending champion Murciélago was so much lighter than his challenger Octavio that he requested a further condition before he would sign the contract: Octavio would have to put his hair on the line. Octavio won the match and Murciélago unmasked, giving birth to a tradition in lucha libre.
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== Variants ==
*Máscara contra máscara ("mask versus mask"): two masked luchadores bet their masks, the loser is unmasked by the winner, and his real name is often revealed as well.
*Máscara contra cabellera ("mask versus hair"): a masked wrestler and an unmasked one compete, often after the unmasked one has lost his mask to the masked one in a prior bout. If the masked luchador wins, the unmasked one shaves his head as a sign of humiliation. If the unmasked luchador is the winner, he keeps his hair and the loser is unmasked.
*Cabellera contra cabellera ("hair versus hair"): the loser of the match has his head shaved bald. This can occur both between unmasked wrestlers and between masked wrestlers who have to remove their mask enough to be shaved after the match.
== Weight classes ==
Since Lucha Libre has its roots more in Latin American professional wrestling than North American professional wrestling it retains some of the basics of the Latin American version such as more weight classes than professional wrestling in North America. Lucha Libre has a detailed weight class system patterned after Boxing. Each weight class has an official upper limit but various examples of wrestlers who are technically too heavy hold a title being champions are found. The following weight classes exist in Lucha Libre, as defined by the the "Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F." (the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission), the main regulatory body in Mexico:
Name (English) 	Name (Spanish) 	Weight Limit 	Titles in division
Flyweight 	Mosca 	52 kg (110 lb) 	None
Bantamweight 	Gallo 	57 kg (130 lb) 	None
Featherweight 	Pluma 	63 kg (140 lb) 	Mexican National, UWA
Lightweight 	Ligero 	70 kg (150 lb) 	Mexican National, UWA, WWA, IWRG
Super Lightweight 	Super Ligero 	73 kg (160 lb) 	CMLL
Welterweight 	Welter 	77 kg (170 lb) 	Mexican National, NWA, CMLL, UWA, WWA, IWRG
Super Welterweight 	Super welter 	82 kg (180 lb) 	IWRG
Middleweight 	Medio 	87 kg (190 lb) 	Mexican National, NWA, CMLL, UWA, WWA, IWRG
Super Middleweight / Junior Light Heavyweight	Super medio / Semicompleto Junior	92 kg (200 lb) 	UWA, WWA
Light Heavyweight 	Semi completo 	97 kg (210 lb) 	Mexican National, NWA, CMLL, UWA, WWA, WWF
Junior Heavyweight / Cruiserweight 	Completo junior / Crucero 	105 kg (230 lb)	UWA, AAA
Heavyweight 	Completo 	105 kg (230 lb)	Mexican National, CMLL, UWA, WWA, IWRG, AAA
== Match Types ==
=== Cervezas Match ===
This is a one on one match. The object of the match is to hit the opponent on the head with the cervezas bottle(s) and make the opponent bleed. There are no countouts and ropebreaks in this match. This match is also known as a Mexican Bleedo Match.
=== Mask vs. Mask Match ===
This is a one on one match. The object of the match is the same as a regular match except that loser can no longer wear his/her mask anymore.
=== Mexican Strap Match ===
This is a one on one match. The ring is not used in this match. Instead wrestlers compete on a hard patted surface. The wrestlers wrestle each other and the other wrestlers (not competing) in the match go around and swing the straps against the wrestlers bodies. Regular winning rules apply.
=== Bullring Match ===
This is a one on one match; though this match may be a triple threat match or a fatal four way match. This match takes place with a bullring surrounding the ring. The object of the match is to pin, make your opponent submit, or escape the bullring.Category:Generico Impacto Libre