'Lucha Libre' means free wrestling in Spanish although now the term refers exclusively to professional wrestling. The wrestlers are known as Luchadores (or a luchador).
Mexican wrestling is characterized by the colorful masks, rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers, as well as high flying manouevers. The wearing of masks has developed special significance, and matches are sometimes contested in which the loser must permanently remove his mask, which is a wager with a high degree of weight attached.
As luchadores normally hide their identity behind the mask, it is the ultimate humiliation if a luchador has his masked ripped off to reveal his true identity after or during a fight.
Tag team wrestling is especially prevalent in lucha libre, particularly matches with three-member teams, called trios.
I love the theatre of the wrestling, it's such a performance and so fun to watch. Historically Mexican wrestling dates back to regional matches of the early 1900's and it's common to encounter families of luchadores.
I am currently trawling through my portraits and below are 2 favorites from my shoot with Ultimo Dragoncito. At the moment, I can't decide on my preferred shot so I thought I would blog both of them........
Ultimo Dragoncito (real name unrevealed; born August 8, 1972) is a part of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's (CMLL), or "Mini", division and is the only wrestler to hold the CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship two times. Ultimo Dragoncito is Spanish for "Little Ultimo Dragon", alluding to the fact that he wrestles as a mini version of Ultimo Dragon.
Ultimo Dragoncito's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.
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