It was a great event and something I could never see an American university hosting (after watching other more reckless students, I observed beer was only served in 32 ounce glasses and you could not buy only 1 liter bottle of liquor but instead had to get two at a time), but something UNC should definitely consider.
Fortunately though, that was not the most fun or exciting event I attended this week. That title belongs to Monday night. I think we all know about the World Wrestling Federation in the US, but much less well known yet much wilder is the Mexican version called LUCHA LIBRE.
On Monday evening, 6 of us crowded into a compact car and drove to Puebla. I really had no idea what to expect, but we arrived and parked in a large garage. Upon walking down to the street we found a full blown market complete with tons of incredibly unhealthy but tasty looking food and street vendors selling insane amounts of t-shirts with all the wrestlers and tons of masks (more to come on that). We bought our tickets (50 pesos a piece = 4$) and headed inside with the crowds.
We were sitting in the top section and what I saw below me was insane. The actual building looked exactly like the Flint Michigan Tropics Arena in Semi-Pro except that instead of a court you had a wrestling ring with hundreds of seats surrounding it. Beyond those seats was a huge cage which extended from the ground to the ceiling (audience protection from the dangerous blood sport which was about to take place) and hundreds more seats and bleachers behind it.
As we sat down the first fight was just starting. I sat next to a Mexican friend who absolutely loved it and had attended many a time. He explained that there would be 4 rounds of fights with each consecutive one featuring more and more famous fighters.
As the action began the place went absolutely crazy. Cow bells, drums, whistles, and thousands of jumping screaming people with huge banners, large inflatable pool toys, and many wearing masks. The fights were equally as nuts since apparently Lucha Libre is not subjected to any regulations and featured some ridiculous moves including my personal favorite, the 3 man sprinting and diving through the ropes to spear the 3 wrestlers on the other team standing on the ground and then go somersaulting into the audience maneuver as people scrambled for cover.
After the second fight, I decided I couldn't take it anymore and had to pick up a mask so I headed out to the streets and after an incredible amount of deliberation selected this bad boy.
After returning, we got to see the last 2 battles which really got the crowd going especially when 1 rather rounded wrestler did a full blown strip tease. He then proceeded to get destroyed by the other team and the show was over. We headed back blown away by what we had seen and anxious to return.
Lucha Libre was certainly a glance into 1 aspect of Mexican culture, but tomorrow will be a different one when 2 bus fulls of UDLA students head to Huamantlada for their annual fair complete with the main spectacle, Mexico's very own Running of the Bulls which is supposed to rival that of Pamplona. It is supposed to draw huge crowds and though I don't anticipate running, it should be quite a spectacle to watch.
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