Explore every episode of the podcast Lucha Libre: Behind The Mask

A lo largo de la historia, muchos luchadores mexicanos han viajado a Estados Unidos en busca de éxito, pero hubo uno que elevó la lucha libre mexicana a nuevas alturas: Rey Mysterio. Con su estilo espectacular, Rey Mysterio popularizó aún más el estilo mexicano del otro lado de la frontera. Su carrera inspiró a muchos, incluyendo a Santos Escobar, una estrella de la WWE. Rey y Santos representan a México y en cada función le muestran al mundo por qué la lucha libre mexicana es la mejor.

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Throughout history, many Mexican wrestlers have ventured to the United States to try their luck, but one wrestler elevated Mexican wrestling to new heights: Rey Mysterio. Inspired by him, others followed, including Santos Escobar, who is now one of WWE's stars. Rey and Santos represent Mexico and showcase why Mexican Lucha Libre is the best!

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La lucha libre es un deporte apasionante, pero no todo son llaves, maromas y diversión. Los luchadores arriesgan sus vidas cada vez que suben al ring. Historias como la de Charly Manson nos muestran que, tras una lesión grave, se puede regresar aún más fuerte. Pero no todas estas historias tienen un final feliz o alentador. Hay otras en donde una lesión ha terminado con la carrera de un luchador o, incluso, con su vida.

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Professional wrestling is a spectacle due to the ability showcased by the athletes, but the moves they perform can pose significant risks. In Lucha Libre, there are cases where a wrestler returns to the ring after an injury, others where their career is never the same, and some where a movement can be fatal.

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As times evolve, so does wrestling, along with the stories told in the ring. In the United States, an in-ring wedding was a spectacle, and mixed tag team matches had been around for years. This caught the attention of Antonio Peña, who brought the same format to Lucha Libre, naturally giving it a distinctive Mexican twist: the love story between Lady Apache and Electroshock was as good as the best telenovela.

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La lucha libre es más que solo peleas sobre el ring. La historia de una joven luchadora que encontró el amor dentro del ring es prueba de que este es un deporte y un espectáculo. lady Apache y Electroshock encabezaron luchas espectaculares y su historia podría haber sido una telenovela: una familia separada por el amor, villanos que los querían separar... todo sucedía dentro del ring.

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La lucha libre mexicana experimentó una serie de innovaciones lideradas por Antonio Peña y el crecimiento de la AAA. Peña hizo historia al realizar el primer pago por evento mexicano en Estados Unidos, "When Worlds Collide". Paralelamente, Eddie Guerrero, un luchador méxico-americano, contribuyó a esta revolución con la facción "Los Gringos Locos", fusionando el estilo de lucha mexicano con el pro-wrestling. Este periodo redefinió el espectáculo de la lucha libre en México y en Estados Unidos.

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“¡Viva la raza!” Eddie Guerrero, is one of the most beloved wrestlers. But did you know that before joining one of the top wrestling companies in the USA, he wrestled in Mexico? Eddie Guerrero was a significant figure in Mexico, as he helped create one of the most iconic factions in Lucha Libre: Los Gringos Locos.

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En los años 90, surgió una nueva empresa de lucha libre en México: La AAA, fundada por Antonio Peña. Este hombre revolucionó el espectáculo con decenas de innovaciones. Antonio Peña sabía que la lucha libre era un espectáculo más allá de las arenas. Eso empató perfecto con el regreso de las luchas a la televisión mexicana. Por si fuera poco, en esos años también surgió una nueva generación de luchadores liderada por El Hijo del Santo. La modernización que impulsó Antonio Peña, la televisión y las familias luchísticas le dieron una nueva era dorada a la lucha libre mexicana.

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In the 90s, a new wrestling company emerged in Mexico: AAA, founded by former wrestler Antonio Peña. Seeking to innovate within Lucha Libre, Peña believed that, as pro-wrestling, Mexican luchas could go beyond the ring. As televised wrestling made its comeback, a new generation of wrestlers like El Hijo del Santo arose, committed to upholding tradition and preserving their legacy.

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En la lucha libre mexicana hay dos bandos: técnicos y rudos, los buenos y los malos. Fue hasta la década de los setenta, cuando un "tercer bando" cobró popularidad con el debut de May Flowers en el ring. Con su estilo único y llamativo, adornado con plumas, brillos y el gesto inesperado de besar a sus rivales, May Flowers inauguró la era de los "luchadores exóticos". Este innovador grupo, compuesto mayoritariamente por miembros de la comunidad LGBT+, redefinió la lucha libre en México, aportando diversidad y autenticidad al espectáculo.

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In the 1940s, American wrestler Gorgeous George revolutionized the spectacle of Pro-Wrestling. When his show was brought to Mexico, it inspired the creation of a third category of luchadores: the exóticos. In the 1970s, wrestlers like May Flowers transformed Lucha Libre, bringing makeup, feathers, and glitter to the ring.

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La máscara es uno de los elementos más importantes para un luchador, pero... ¿Qué pasa cuando un luchador la pierde? ¿Su carrera se va al olvido? En los años 70, una lucha emblemática capturó al público: Fishman, Sangre Chicana y El Cobarde pelearon por retener sus máscaras, pero solo uno logró conservarla. Esta contienda histórica demostró que, a veces, lo que parece ser la peor derrota puede ser lo mejor que le puede pasar a tu carrera.

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In Lucha Libre, the mask is one of the most important elements for a wrestler. What's at stake when a wrestler loses their mask? Does their career come to an end? In the 1970s, an iconic match captured everyone's attention. Three wrestlers fought to retain their masks, but only one emerged victorious. This historic contest between Fishman, Sangre Chicana and El Cobarde proved that sometimes what seems like the worst defeat can be the best thing to happen to your career.

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En los años 50, Surgió una luchadora que se convirtió en una leyenda de la lucha libre femenil: ¡Irmaaa Goonzález! A pesar de enfrentar la falta de aceptación del público y la prohibición que impedía a las mujeres luchar en el Distrito Federal, Irma logró abrirse paso en el deporte. Su perseverancia y talento la convirtieron en un ícono del pancracio, desafiando barreras y abriendo camino para futuras generaciones de luchadoras.

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After Batman and Superman had their comics, Wonder Woman emerged. Well, similar things were happening in Mexico, in the 50s, when a female wrestler emerged to become a legend in women's wrestling: Irma González! Despite facing adversities, Irma's perseverance and talent turned her into an icon of the Lucha Libre universe, breaking barriers and paving the way for future generations of female wrestlers.

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En la época dorada de la Lucha Libre mexicana surgieron dos icónicos que se convirtieron en héroes, ¡El Santo y Blue Demon! Estas leyendas cimentaron la popularidad del deporte y llevaron sus hazañas más allá del ring: pasando por el cómic, la televisión y el cine. Su legado vive hasta el día de hoy en la cultura popular mexicana.

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Stronger than a werewolf and more mesmerizing than Dracula! El Santo and Blue Demon, two wrestlers who became heroes both in the ring and on the big screen, leaving a legacy in Mexican popular culture and crossing borders.

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Antes de convertirse en la figura más emblemática de la lucha libre mexicana, El Santo enfrentó una de las mayores dificultades que muchos luchadores encuentran: elegir un nombre y crear un personaje. Un momento decisivo que definió su carrera y legado, transformándolo en un ícono cultural que personifica el heroísmo y la tradición de la lucha libre mexicana.

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Before Hulk Hogan or The Rock, there was a legendary wrestler in Mexico who made history: ¡El Santo! Before becoming a legend, he faced one of the greatest challenges many wrestlers encounter: choosing a name and creating a character. Something that defined his career and legacy, transforming him into a mexican icon.

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La máscara es lo más sagrado para los luchadores mexicanos, pero antes de que se convirtiera en un icono de la cultura mexicana, luchadores extranjeros probaron suerte subiendo al ring enmascarados. Eso marcó un antes y un después en la lucha libre Mexicana, haciendo que más luchadores, como El Murciélago Enmascarado, introdujeran el elemento de la teatralidad al ring, elevando el espectáculo a niveles nunca antes vistos.

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The mask is the most important accessory in Lucha Libre, a symbol recognized worldwide. However, this tradition was born in the USA, and when Salvador Lutteroth saw it, he had an idea: to mask the first Mexican wrestler, creating a new character whose identity was unknown to the audience, thus making history.

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¡En esta esquina: la historia de la Lucha libre! Este deporte-espectáculo ha capturado el corazón de millones de Mexicanos y fanáticos alrededor del mundo. Pero contrario a lo que muchos piensan, la lucha libre no comenzó en México. Salvador Lutteroth, el padre de la lucha libre Mexicana, convencido de que este deporte podría conquistar a las masas, fundó la Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre y trajo a México a los primeros luchadores internacionales. Desde las primeras peleas, la lucha libre mexicana comenzó a crear sus propias leyendas y mitos.

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Ladies and Gentleman, the following podcast is scheduled for one fall, and it's all about Lucha Libre!
From its beginnings to becoming a cultural phenomenon, Lucha Libre has captured the hearts of millions of Mexicans. It all started when Salvador Lutteroth, the father of Lucha Libre, saw the sport in Texas and decided to take it to Mexico. Convinced that this sport could win over the masses, he took the first international wrestlers to Mexico, sparking the fire that ignited the wrestling fever in the country.

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Descubre el mundo detrás de la Lucha Libre a través de las figuras más grandes que convirtieron la Lucha en un fenómeno global. A lo largo de 12 episodios, Santos Escobar cuenta la historia de ete deporte a través de las máscaras más icónicas de la Lucha Libre, llevando a los oyentes a dar un vistazo a las personas que han dedicado sus vidas al ring.

Cada episodio destaca a un luchador famoso como El Santo, Blue Demon, Sangre Chicana, La Parka, Los Gringos Locos y Rey Misterio Jr., y muchos más. A través de sus increíbles historias, los oyentes descubrirán a los luchadores pioneros que cambiaron el rostro de la Lucha Libre, tanto dentro como fuera del ring. Desde los luchadores que defendieron los grupos históricamente vulnerables como mujeres y la comunidad LGBT+, hasta los enmascarados que han llevado su fama fuera de la arena para ayudar a los más necesitados.

La Historia de la Lucha Libre es una serie que fascinará a todos, desde los más fanáticos de la Lucha, hasta los recién llegados.

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Discover the world behind Mexico's Lucha Libre through the larger than life warriors that made la Lucha a global phenomenon. Over the course of 12 episodes, WWE's Santos Escobar peels off Lucha Libre's most iconic masks to give listeners a behind the scenes look at the people who have dedicated their lives to the ring. 

Each episode spotlights one famous luchador, the likes of which include El Santo, Blue Demon, Sangre Chicana, La Parka, Los Gringos Locos and Rey Misterio Jr., and many more. Through their incredible stories, listeners will discover the trailblazing luchadores who changed the face of Lucha Libre – both inside and outside the ring. From the fighters who championed the struggle of historically vulnerable groups such as women and the LGBT+ community to the enmascarados (masked men) who have taken their fame outside the arena to help those most in need. 

The Story of Lucha Libre is an engrossing series that will delight and surprise both diehard Lucha fans and newcomers alike.

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