"PORKY! PORKY! PORKY!"

lucha libre: the best night i've spent in mexico city so far. you know how when kids (or adults) are learning new languages and the first thing they want to know how to say are all the curse words? well, i think i learned every single one of them at lucha libre. called groserias, people not only shouted them at the top of their lungs, the groserias often developed into long, rhythmic chants where i couldn't do anything except bop my head to. i might have even raised my arm, hand in a fist, pumping it in solidarity.

the moment i walked into arena mexico i was cheesing the entire time. there was so much to take in. teams are divided into two: the rudos (the bad guys) and the tecnicos (the good guys). there are four matches throughout the night, each team battling 2-3 times. the energy in the arena is sky high, with people routing for each side. some of the fighters seemed to be the most athletic men i've seen. don't look away from the match because you'll probably miss some high-flying acrobatic moves where the fighters, coming off the momentum of their opponents or the ropes of the ring, gracefully complete olympic-like aerials.

tonight's event was special. the second match was a one-on-one revenge fight. whoever lost 2 out of 3 matches would have to get his head shaved. i didn't think they were actually going to do it. but that's the point of traveling i suppose, having all your preconceptions wiped away. the tecnico lost and was pretty badly "injured" in the last round so the "doctor" came out and using his stethoscope, made sure the luchador was fit to have his hair cut. first, the rudo got to cut a large chunk of the tecnico's long locks to keep as a trophy. then, the official hair stylist cut and shaved off the rest. the luchador was looking a hot mess with his spotty-haired head. the true loyal fans still cheered him on.

my favorite luchador was, of course, porky. he walked out and the female fans went bananas. he promenaded down the walkway, stopping to grace each of the scantily clad women with his sexy dance moves. during the match, porky's size was no hindrance to success. his aerials, with the help of his fighting partners, were some of the best of the night. and everyone knew the match was over when he climbed to the top rope and belly-flopped on a pile of his opponents, crushing them to a mound of jelly. "PORKY! PORKY! PORKY!!" what a dreamboat.


we weren't able to take any pictures (they actually confiscated my camera before entering) so all i can offer are pics of souvenirs being sold outside the arena. i will definitely be coming back. let me know if you want a mask.