Ladies and tell man your attention please here in Uranbo You're about to witness history being made.

Ladies and tell man your attention please here in Uranbo You're about to witness history being made.

That's how the ring announcer kicked that night off. It was November twenty seventh, nineteen ninety two, and Antonio Penny's wrestling company Triple A was presenting the Three Versus rematch. All six wrestlers were surrounded by ringos. In one corner, he had the technicos, led by Mascaamachica Alucado, who had been on the scene for five years and was already starting to build quite the following He was wearing his trademark pink and white mask. Alongside him were his two partners, Mascare Sagada and Octagon. The commentator said something that at first no one understood this too. Lucaotes will unmas Mascaramachica. We're going to find out who the man behind the mask. Case a round of applause please, yep, you heard it right. Octagon and Mascara Sagrada were removing their own teammate's masks and they took it off and the crowd saw the face of Mascaramachica for the first time. He raised his arms triumphantly, almost Immediately, the crowd erupted. There were shouts, whistles, booze. No one was expecting this, and it wasn't clear if the audience was happy or furious about the revelation. And then before any of their questions could be answered, the match began. Their opponents, a trio of rudos, took advantage of the destruction and went straight for the luteller, who on until that night, had been known as Mascaramagica. As if the match was progressing, the commentator managed to corral Masca Amachica by the ring and ask him what the heck was going on with his mask. Here's what Mascara said. I have a father, May he rest in peace, Gordige Redro, one of the great Luccaodos of all time. I'm his youngest son, Eddie and Reddro the son of a legend. Wow. No one was expecting that the man behind the mask was going to be the son of Gorrigerero, a major star of Mexican wrestling during the forties and fifties. I don't need to hide behind the mask. See this unmasking was unprecedented until this moment. Aluchallod would only remove their mask if they lost a Lucha the Apostas or a wager match. No one had ever voluntarily taken up their mask in the ring up until this moment. Why did Eddie do it? Who knows, but I think we should take him at face value and trust what he said that night. I think he took off his mask because he felt the need to acknowledge his wrestling lineage, his tradition, his culture. Want to know more? Good because this episode is all about Eddie and the changes he made that still exists today. I am Sanchos Escobara, the Emperor of Lucha Libre and a WW superstar. For over twenty years, I have been a professional wrestler in Mexico, the United States and around the world. I've been a champion, a hero, a villain. I've won and lost, but I always represent Lucha Libre with pride. Lucha Libre, it's tradition, its heritage, its culture, Ladies and gentlemen. The following podcast is scheduled for twelve episodes, and it's all about Lucha liber.

That's how the ring announcer kicked that night off. It was November twenty seventh, nineteen ninety two, and Antonio Penny's wrestling company Triple A was presenting the Three Versus rematch. All six wrestlers were surrounded by ringos. In one corner, he had the technicos, led by Mascaamachica Alucado, who had been on the scene for five years and was already starting to build quite the following He was wearing his trademark pink and white mask. Alongside him were his two partners, Mascare Sagada and Octagon. The commentator said something that at first no one understood this too. Lucaotes will unmas Mascaramachica. We're going to find out who the man behind the mask. Case a round of applause please, yep, you heard it right. Octagon and Mascara Sagrada were removing their own teammate's masks and they took it off and the crowd saw the face of Mascaramachica for the first time. He raised his arms triumphantly, almost Immediately, the crowd erupted. There were shouts, whistles, booze. No one was expecting this, and it wasn't clear if the audience was happy or furious about the revelation. And then before any of their questions could be answered, the match began. Their opponents, a trio of rudos, took advantage of the destruction and went straight for the luteller, who on until that night, had been known as Mascaramagica. As if the match was progressing, the commentator managed to corral Masca Amachica by the ring and ask him what the heck was going on with his mask. Here's what Mascara said. I have a father, May he rest in peace, Gordige Redro, one of the great Luccaodos of all time. I'm his youngest son, Eddie and Reddro the son of a legend. Wow. No one was expecting that the man behind the mask was going to be the son of Gorrigerero, a major star of Mexican wrestling during the forties and fifties. I don't need to hide behind the mask. See this unmasking was unprecedented until this moment. Aluchallod would only remove their mask if they lost a Lucha the Apostas or a wager match. No one had ever voluntarily taken up their mask in the ring up until this moment. Why did Eddie do it? Who knows, but I think we should take him at face value and trust what he said that night. I think he took off his mask because he felt the need to acknowledge his wrestling lineage, his tradition, his culture. Want to know more? Good because this episode is all about Eddie and the changes he made that still exists today. I am Sanchos Escobara, the Emperor of Lucha Libre and a WW superstar. For over twenty years, I have been a professional wrestler in Mexico, the United States and around the world. I've been a champion, a hero, a villain. I've won and lost, but I always represent Lucha Libre with pride. Lucha Libre, it's tradition, its heritage, its culture, Ladies and gentlemen. The following podcast is scheduled for twelve episodes, and it's all about Lucha liber.

This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mass Episode nine, Eddie Garero and the Crazy Gringos.

This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mass Episode nine, Eddie Garero and the Crazy Gringos.

Eddie Guerero was born on October ninth, nineteen sixty seven, in El Paso, Texas, into a family of Lucca ores. His father was the legendary Gordy Guerrero, and his brothers were professional wrestlers too. The Guerreros were so committed to the sport that they had a ring in the backyard. Eddie and his nephew travel spent hours on it, pretending they were tacked him wrestling their way to the world titles. Finally wrestling stopped being just fun and games. Gordy Eddie's dad worked as a coach for kids, and as soon as he was old enough, it took Eddie under his wing. Very quickly, rapidito Eddie realized that this was his coin. He was so young, just eight or nine years old, but even then he knew his brothers could see it too, and one day after their training, they invited him into the ring with them. I like to imagine what it would have been like for young Eddie, eager, over confident, stretching his small muscles, imagining himself in Arida, Mexico, with the crowd cheering and the lights flashing. The spirring match began, and well, his brothers bit the heck out of him. This was Eddie's warm welcome to the world of professional wrestling. Soon though, his brother's lighting up and began teaching him all the right moves and holds. Gorrierero. Edie is that Ron regular shows at the County Coliseum in El Paso, but you could also see him at regional exhibitions and fairst It was at one of these small events that Eddie had his first match. He was nine years old and he teamed up with his six year old nephew, Shovel. The two kids weren't in their backyard anymore. This was the real thing in front of a crowd. Imagine a county fair and then imagine an announcer at a small range. It's Cody Grero.

Eddie Guerero was born on October ninth, nineteen sixty seven, in El Paso, Texas, into a family of Lucca ores. His father was the legendary Gordy Guerrero, and his brothers were professional wrestlers too. The Guerreros were so committed to the sport that they had a ring in the backyard. Eddie and his nephew travel spent hours on it, pretending they were tacked him wrestling their way to the world titles. Finally wrestling stopped being just fun and games. Gordy Eddie's dad worked as a coach for kids, and as soon as he was old enough, it took Eddie under his wing. Very quickly, rapidito Eddie realized that this was his coin. He was so young, just eight or nine years old, but even then he knew his brothers could see it too, and one day after their training, they invited him into the ring with them. I like to imagine what it would have been like for young Eddie, eager, over confident, stretching his small muscles, imagining himself in Arida, Mexico, with the crowd cheering and the lights flashing. The spirring match began, and well, his brothers bit the heck out of him. This was Eddie's warm welcome to the world of professional wrestling. Soon though, his brother's lighting up and began teaching him all the right moves and holds. Gorrierero. Edie is that Ron regular shows at the County Coliseum in El Paso, but you could also see him at regional exhibitions and fairst It was at one of these small events that Eddie had his first match. He was nine years old and he teamed up with his six year old nephew, Shovel. The two kids weren't in their backyard anymore. This was the real thing in front of a crowd. Imagine a county fair and then imagine an announcer at a small range. It's Cody Grero.

I've guess Eddie and Shovel Gerrero.

I've guess Eddie and Shovel Gerrero.

He shouts. The crowd immediately started cheering. This was something Beshi the Great Bluca Gorrigerero and two kids getting their start. The starting bell rang and Eddie kissed out to the ground. Then Chavel climbed to the top rope and jumped on top of him. Finally, Eddie sprung on top of Gory's chest, pinning him, and the referee began the count. One two three, the rev raised the kid's hands in the air. They had one. Both of them were overjoyed, and the experience confirmed that all they wanted to do in life was become Lucca dories. Gody was thrilled that his son was so happy, and as they grew older, Godi started inviting Eddie and Chavel to wrestle during the intermissions of his shows. The practice paid off, and Eddie eventually got an athletic scholarship to wrestle at the University of New Mexico. After a few years in school, Eddie came back to Mexico to train again with his dad and his brothers. His dream of becoming a professional luchador, which started when he was nine, was still alive and well. His talent was undeniable, and before long he signed a contract with the EMLLL empres A Mexicana de Lucha Libre, and on June twenty seventh, nineteen eighty seven, he made his professional debut at the Auditorio Municipal in Sudatwise, to capitalize on his father's name, the promoters that night introduced Eddie as Eddie Gorrigerero. Eddie was just twenty years old, and the pressure he felt was enormous. Nevertheless, the crowd was worn. Everyone applauded and cheered and were ready to give Eddie a chance to prove he was worthy of his life last name. Now, we don't have many records of that first match, but Eddie wrote in his memoir that he went well. He said the match marked the beginning of his professional career in Mexico. He had become a true luchadon. Eddie's first accolade was the UWA World Lightweight Championship. By then, the Luteoq family's company had changed his name to the Conseco Mundial de Lucha Libre, better known as the CMLL. Despite the championship win, Eddie had some issues with the CML, and he left to wrestle for El Toreo, an India league that had its heyday in the eighties and nineties. During this time, Eddie's fame continued to grow. In nineteen eighty nine, he wrestled in Japan, going to the match with some of the best wrestlers in the East, defeating several of them. In fact, in Japan he had a whole separate reputation and name Black Tiger too. Eddie also took his talents to the US, where he even wrestled in WWE events. Then, one day, while back in Mexico, Eddie got a call from one of his cousins who worked as a promoter for the CMLL. He told him that it was time for Eddie to come back to the company that gave him his start. His cousin told him that in return, the league would make him nothing less than a superstar. It's one of those calls where as a wrestler, as a luchador, you gotta walk the walk. So obviously Eddie accepted. The deal did come with one stipulation. Eddie would need to wrestle masked. He didn't love that, but it wasn't going to miss this opportunity, so he agreed. And so on July twenty sixth two at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City, and new mask Lucello was introduced to the public for the first time. His mask was white and pink with black patches over the eyes, and his name was Mascaramachica. Maskatamaica won that night, and before long he was a sensation. Mascaramaica kept winning and winning, and each week he found himself with hundreds of new fans. This new Luccello had original moves, he performed jaw dropping acrobatics, and perhaps most significantly evolved. He really knew how to fire up a crowd ka isma. He was one of those Lucellotis that people either loved or hated, and this controversial persona is exactly the thing that catapulted him to fame. Remember that we're in the nineties. Now it's the empty vi era and fame was different than it was in the sixties and seventies. By the Lucha libre was once again being broadcast on television and the sport was almost as popular as sucker. It was truly the second most watched sport in Mexico. This meant that luca ores weren't just star athletes, they were television stars. The world's showbiz, sports and entertainment began to intertwine actors, singers, pop stars. Everyone in the entertainment industry wanted to be part of the Lucha libre universe. Being attached to these wrestlers was a way to help build their brands. In the case of Masca Amachica, one of his big publicity moments was when he appeared on a magazine cover alongside Orlanda Andrere, who was at the time an up and coming Televisa star. But regardless of the fame, Eddie wasn't happy wearing the mask. It's a deeply personal decision. I know from experience there are some Lucelodas who quite simply don't feel comfortable wearing a mask. I said before that sometimes the mask helps you discover your true identity as a wrestler. Well, it can also get in the way. And that was the deal for Eddie. It just wasn't him. Maska Aamachica was trying to reconcile with this dissonance when his friend Conan called him about joining a new wrestling company. M Triple A over here, you don't need a mask, man, Conan told him those were exactly the words Eddie needed to hear, so without looking back, he decided to make the move and signed with Triple A. His debut with Triple A was on November twenty seventh, nineteen ninety two, in Durngo. It was that night that the legend of Eddie Gerero was born. Eddie already had had a story career by then, but as will soon find out, it wasn't even close to being finished. When Antonio Penya started Triple A, it was very clear that he wanted Mexican wrestling to be more spectacular. It wasn't just going to be about the holes and pins and impressive wrestling moves. It was going to be a total entertainment experience, and Penya knew well that the key to making wrestling more than just wrestling was narrative, good storytelling, you might call it. To get new fans and keep them, the league needed characters with incredible personal stories and emotionally driven storylines that could go on for years. To make the transition, Penya took notes from the way pro wrestling was happening in the US. As early as the eighties. Pro wrestling in America was called sports entertainment. There, elaborate storylines and complex characters were already the norm. Luchadodas having personality was, of course, nothing new, but Triple A made the relationships between these characters more dramatic, especially when it came to rivalries. If two luach others didn't like each other, it was no longer enough for them to have it out in the ring. Now they had to tuck up the rivalry both before and after the matches, challenging and insulting their opponents. Naturally, all these narrative details made it into the TV broadcast, making for a more entertaining program. Luchallodis quickly learned that what they did outside the ring was important to their success. Matches were no longer just two out of three false competitions. A match was a whole story to tell, and those who could best tell it got the crowd on their site. And remember, if the crowd loves you, you'll never have to retire. You can have the best holds, the hardest hits, but if you're just the brute no one cares about, well, no one will pay a dime to see you, and you'll be out of a career sooner rather than later. Antonio Peya realized the importance and value of narrative, and as he grew Triple A, he worked to build an entire Lucha Libre universe that he could bring to every TV screen in the country. The night Maskaamaxica unmasked himself with the help of Octagon and Mascara Sagrada is a perfect example, without even throwing a single punch, Eddie and the organizers created an experience for viewers where they got to witness a powerful personal story unfold right before their eyes. The next piece of drama was that Eddie Gerreroro teamed up with another great air of Mexican wrestling, none other than Elijo deel samp. Since both each others were part of Triple A, no one could stop them. Antonio Pena immediately saw how powerful their story was and he named them La Nueva Pareja Atomic the New Atomic Pair. In case you don't remember, both these guy's fathers wrestled together as a team, so by pairing up together and honoring their dads, Eddie and Eliko del Santo were tapping into a decade long storyline, just the kind of thing that makes Luca Libre sing. Eliko El Santo and errig Garero debuted as the New Atomic Pair on January twenty second, nineteen ninety three, at the Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gym Nation. It wasn't an easy debut, however, They faced two tough rudos who put up a strong fight at one point. In fact, part of Aljoel Santo's mask got turned but in the end, Eli Jodel, Santo and Eddie, the new tag team of Technicos, prevailed. TV commentators described the match as a battle of the finest quality, and the audience loved it too, which really shouldn't be much of a surprise. Both Rouchalades not only came with large followings, they were both extremely skilled. A few months later, Triple A celebrated its first anniversary, and as I mentioned in the last episode, Antonio Peniel launched an amazing wrestling event called triple Mania. What I didn't mention is that triple Mania was also inspired by for wrestling in the US. I'm guessing you've heard of WrestleMania right, Well. WrestleMania had been around since nineteen eighty five. The event was put on, of course, by World Wrestling Entertainment, the company better known as w DOT. It was always the company's biggest event of the year and also the most successful. The idea behind WrestleMania was to create an event that combined wrestling and sports with entertainment and pop culture. In its early years, the ww hearts celebrities like Mister T and Cindi Lauper to participate in the event and promoted in the media. Antonio Penya was watching all this, and he knew that he could borrow from the WrestleMania playbook to bring Mexico an unprecedented entertainment experience, and he called it Triplemania. Peena used Triplemania to showcase the league's fierce rivalries. The event often included numerous dramatic lucha de apuestas matches. The storylines that had been brewing for months or even years finally reached their climax. The main event at the very first Triple Mania was a lucha de apuestas between Kona and she Caught On. The matchup was brilliant. He made this climax even more dramatic by changing the terms of the lucai apuestas. It wasn't just the mask or hair that each luchato was betting on. The stipulation was whoever lost had to retire. It was a career lutai apuesta's match. After this show them, only one of these incredible lucello odas would ever wrestle again professionally. The other would go home and hang up their boots. You can probably imagine ads for the event in the weeks leading up to it. With those kind of stakes, every luchai refund in the world was going to tune in. The match had started, and while Conan and Sinkaas were battling it out in the ring, the cameras occasionally turned to former w W superstarch the Snake Roberts, sitting ringst At first, no one thought anything of it. You see athletes and movie starts at basketball games all the time. For example, the TV commentators speculated that he had bought a ticket to enjoy the show as an audience member. But as the match progressed, the snake started transforming from audience member to participant. It was magic. The audience's expectations were completely subverted. The snake especially got involved with Conan after he lost the first fall. The Snake came after Conan, distracting him so much that he ended up losing that fole too. Now, remember two falls in a row means you lose, and as you know, a lot was on the line in this match. Losing meant that Conan could no longer wrestle, and just like that, all his louch liver dreams came to an end. While Conan hid his face in his hands kneeling on the mat. The camera span through the audience, showing the teary eyes of the fans. They could not believe it. I could not believe it. Was this the end of Conan. As it turned out, there was more to the story. The reality was that Conan was going to work as an actor for a few months. Antonio Panya knew it, and he built the story so that one of his best Lucca ordes had a way to step out in dramatic fashion, and a few months later, after the gig ended, Conan returned. Conan, by the way, was in Mexican He was Cuban Puerto Rican and because of Puerto Rico's connection to the US, Conan, like Eddiearero's characters were explicitly Americans, an interesting ripple in the Luchalira universe. Let's get back to Eddie by the way. The superstar continued wrestling with Elko del Santo as one half of the new Atomic Pair, and as I mentioned, they were a huge success. But for Eddie, something was still missing. Even though he had unmasked himself, there was still some itch that hadn't been scratched. Part of his trouble was the continued pressure to live up to the Gueretto family legacy, to live up to the original La Pareja Atomic. On top of this, he was always trying to distinguish himself from his partner, the even more storied Ellijo del Santo. Eddie knew he would never reach the same level of fame as the heir to El Santo, arguably the most famouslueche lot of all time, and this weighed heavily on him. But then he got an offer he wasn't expecting and that he couldn't refuse. And just like Sinatra's song, it happened over dinner in Monterey, an important cultural and financial hub in the north of Mexico. He was out to eat with love Machine, an American wrestler and popular rudo who at that time had been wrestling in triple A for two years. Love Machine had found success in Mexico because of his famously thrilling, acrobatic moves. Eddie knew rob Machine was a wrestling genius, but didn't particularly get along with the guy. The over the top American part of his character rubbed him the wrong way. Nevertheless, that night, love Machine said to him, look, you should be a rudo. In fact, you should be my partner. Whether it was the Steak or love Machine's directness, something clicked in Eddie in that moment, he knew that deep in his heart there was a ruder persona that had been waiting to be awoken, and not just any rudo, a formidable one ready to jump into the ring. Even though the words sounded strange in his mouth, Eddie said yes. The pair discussed their idea with Antonio Penya, and together they came up with the story to justify the alliance swap. You'd never see a surprise change like this in old school Lucha Libre. So for the second time in our story, today, Eddie and Pegna were going to do something unprecedented in the Mexican Lucha Libre universe. Like the first time, it all went down. During a three versus three match, one team included love Machine and the new atomic pair Edie Grrero and Eliko San. At one point in the match, Eddie ended up outside of the ring holding one of their opponents. He held them up for a flying headwood from Elijo El Santo that would in all likelihood have finished him, butto missed, and then it up on the ground. Eddie helped him up, but then suddenly, out of nowhere, someone threw sand in Eddie's eyes. Love Machine acted quickly, using the confusion caused by the sand, discover kidd in the front row who was wearing an iconic Ihodel Santos silver mask. He took the kid's mask and put it on. Then, still moving at high speed, he went over to Eddie, who was blowing at his eyes, and started hitting him. None of it made sand. Not only was love Machine attacking his own teammate, he was doing it while wearing a Santo's mask.

He shouts. The crowd immediately started cheering. This was something Beshi the Great Bluca Gorrigerero and two kids getting their start. The starting bell rang and Eddie kissed out to the ground. Then Chavel climbed to the top rope and jumped on top of him. Finally, Eddie sprung on top of Gory's chest, pinning him, and the referee began the count. One two three, the rev raised the kid's hands in the air. They had one. Both of them were overjoyed, and the experience confirmed that all they wanted to do in life was become Lucca dories. Gody was thrilled that his son was so happy, and as they grew older, Godi started inviting Eddie and Chavel to wrestle during the intermissions of his shows. The practice paid off, and Eddie eventually got an athletic scholarship to wrestle at the University of New Mexico. After a few years in school, Eddie came back to Mexico to train again with his dad and his brothers. His dream of becoming a professional luchador, which started when he was nine, was still alive and well. His talent was undeniable, and before long he signed a contract with the EMLLL empres A Mexicana de Lucha Libre, and on June twenty seventh, nineteen eighty seven, he made his professional debut at the Auditorio Municipal in Sudatwise, to capitalize on his father's name, the promoters that night introduced Eddie as Eddie Gorrigerero. Eddie was just twenty years old, and the pressure he felt was enormous. Nevertheless, the crowd was worn. Everyone applauded and cheered and were ready to give Eddie a chance to prove he was worthy of his life last name. Now, we don't have many records of that first match, but Eddie wrote in his memoir that he went well. He said the match marked the beginning of his professional career in Mexico. He had become a true luchadon. Eddie's first accolade was the UWA World Lightweight Championship. By then, the Luteoq family's company had changed his name to the Conseco Mundial de Lucha Libre, better known as the CMLL. Despite the championship win, Eddie had some issues with the CML, and he left to wrestle for El Toreo, an India league that had its heyday in the eighties and nineties. During this time, Eddie's fame continued to grow. In nineteen eighty nine, he wrestled in Japan, going to the match with some of the best wrestlers in the East, defeating several of them. In fact, in Japan he had a whole separate reputation and name Black Tiger too. Eddie also took his talents to the US, where he even wrestled in WWE events. Then, one day, while back in Mexico, Eddie got a call from one of his cousins who worked as a promoter for the CMLL. He told him that it was time for Eddie to come back to the company that gave him his start. His cousin told him that in return, the league would make him nothing less than a superstar. It's one of those calls where as a wrestler, as a luchador, you gotta walk the walk. So obviously Eddie accepted. The deal did come with one stipulation. Eddie would need to wrestle masked. He didn't love that, but it wasn't going to miss this opportunity, so he agreed. And so on July twenty sixth two at Arena Coliseo in Mexico City, and new mask Lucello was introduced to the public for the first time. His mask was white and pink with black patches over the eyes, and his name was Mascaramachica. Maskatamaica won that night, and before long he was a sensation. Mascaramaica kept winning and winning, and each week he found himself with hundreds of new fans. This new Luccello had original moves, he performed jaw dropping acrobatics, and perhaps most significantly evolved. He really knew how to fire up a crowd ka isma. He was one of those Lucellotis that people either loved or hated, and this controversial persona is exactly the thing that catapulted him to fame. Remember that we're in the nineties. Now it's the empty vi era and fame was different than it was in the sixties and seventies. By the Lucha libre was once again being broadcast on television and the sport was almost as popular as sucker. It was truly the second most watched sport in Mexico. This meant that luca ores weren't just star athletes, they were television stars. The world's showbiz, sports and entertainment began to intertwine actors, singers, pop stars. Everyone in the entertainment industry wanted to be part of the Lucha libre universe. Being attached to these wrestlers was a way to help build their brands. In the case of Masca Amachica, one of his big publicity moments was when he appeared on a magazine cover alongside Orlanda Andrere, who was at the time an up and coming Televisa star. But regardless of the fame, Eddie wasn't happy wearing the mask. It's a deeply personal decision. I know from experience there are some Lucelodas who quite simply don't feel comfortable wearing a mask. I said before that sometimes the mask helps you discover your true identity as a wrestler. Well, it can also get in the way. And that was the deal for Eddie. It just wasn't him. Maska Aamachica was trying to reconcile with this dissonance when his friend Conan called him about joining a new wrestling company. M Triple A over here, you don't need a mask, man, Conan told him those were exactly the words Eddie needed to hear, so without looking back, he decided to make the move and signed with Triple A. His debut with Triple A was on November twenty seventh, nineteen ninety two, in Durngo. It was that night that the legend of Eddie Gerero was born. Eddie already had had a story career by then, but as will soon find out, it wasn't even close to being finished. When Antonio Penya started Triple A, it was very clear that he wanted Mexican wrestling to be more spectacular. It wasn't just going to be about the holes and pins and impressive wrestling moves. It was going to be a total entertainment experience, and Penya knew well that the key to making wrestling more than just wrestling was narrative, good storytelling, you might call it. To get new fans and keep them, the league needed characters with incredible personal stories and emotionally driven storylines that could go on for years. To make the transition, Penya took notes from the way pro wrestling was happening in the US. As early as the eighties. Pro wrestling in America was called sports entertainment. There, elaborate storylines and complex characters were already the norm. Luchadodas having personality was, of course, nothing new, but Triple A made the relationships between these characters more dramatic, especially when it came to rivalries. If two luach others didn't like each other, it was no longer enough for them to have it out in the ring. Now they had to tuck up the rivalry both before and after the matches, challenging and insulting their opponents. Naturally, all these narrative details made it into the TV broadcast, making for a more entertaining program. Luchallodis quickly learned that what they did outside the ring was important to their success. Matches were no longer just two out of three false competitions. A match was a whole story to tell, and those who could best tell it got the crowd on their site. And remember, if the crowd loves you, you'll never have to retire. You can have the best holds, the hardest hits, but if you're just the brute no one cares about, well, no one will pay a dime to see you, and you'll be out of a career sooner rather than later. Antonio Peya realized the importance and value of narrative, and as he grew Triple A, he worked to build an entire Lucha Libre universe that he could bring to every TV screen in the country. The night Maskaamaxica unmasked himself with the help of Octagon and Mascara Sagrada is a perfect example, without even throwing a single punch, Eddie and the organizers created an experience for viewers where they got to witness a powerful personal story unfold right before their eyes. The next piece of drama was that Eddie Gerreroro teamed up with another great air of Mexican wrestling, none other than Elijo deel samp. Since both each others were part of Triple A, no one could stop them. Antonio Pena immediately saw how powerful their story was and he named them La Nueva Pareja Atomic the New Atomic Pair. In case you don't remember, both these guy's fathers wrestled together as a team, so by pairing up together and honoring their dads, Eddie and Eliko del Santo were tapping into a decade long storyline, just the kind of thing that makes Luca Libre sing. Eliko El Santo and errig Garero debuted as the New Atomic Pair on January twenty second, nineteen ninety three, at the Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gym Nation. It wasn't an easy debut, however, They faced two tough rudos who put up a strong fight at one point. In fact, part of Aljoel Santo's mask got turned but in the end, Eli Jodel, Santo and Eddie, the new tag team of Technicos, prevailed. TV commentators described the match as a battle of the finest quality, and the audience loved it too, which really shouldn't be much of a surprise. Both Rouchalades not only came with large followings, they were both extremely skilled. A few months later, Triple A celebrated its first anniversary, and as I mentioned in the last episode, Antonio Peniel launched an amazing wrestling event called triple Mania. What I didn't mention is that triple Mania was also inspired by for wrestling in the US. I'm guessing you've heard of WrestleMania right, Well. WrestleMania had been around since nineteen eighty five. The event was put on, of course, by World Wrestling Entertainment, the company better known as w DOT. It was always the company's biggest event of the year and also the most successful. The idea behind WrestleMania was to create an event that combined wrestling and sports with entertainment and pop culture. In its early years, the ww hearts celebrities like Mister T and Cindi Lauper to participate in the event and promoted in the media. Antonio Penya was watching all this, and he knew that he could borrow from the WrestleMania playbook to bring Mexico an unprecedented entertainment experience, and he called it Triplemania. Peena used Triplemania to showcase the league's fierce rivalries. The event often included numerous dramatic lucha de apuestas matches. The storylines that had been brewing for months or even years finally reached their climax. The main event at the very first Triple Mania was a lucha de apuestas between Kona and she Caught On. The matchup was brilliant. He made this climax even more dramatic by changing the terms of the lucai apuestas. It wasn't just the mask or hair that each luchato was betting on. The stipulation was whoever lost had to retire. It was a career lutai apuesta's match. After this show them, only one of these incredible lucello odas would ever wrestle again professionally. The other would go home and hang up their boots. You can probably imagine ads for the event in the weeks leading up to it. With those kind of stakes, every luchai refund in the world was going to tune in. The match had started, and while Conan and Sinkaas were battling it out in the ring, the cameras occasionally turned to former w W superstarch the Snake Roberts, sitting ringst At first, no one thought anything of it. You see athletes and movie starts at basketball games all the time. For example, the TV commentators speculated that he had bought a ticket to enjoy the show as an audience member. But as the match progressed, the snake started transforming from audience member to participant. It was magic. The audience's expectations were completely subverted. The snake especially got involved with Conan after he lost the first fall. The Snake came after Conan, distracting him so much that he ended up losing that fole too. Now, remember two falls in a row means you lose, and as you know, a lot was on the line in this match. Losing meant that Conan could no longer wrestle, and just like that, all his louch liver dreams came to an end. While Conan hid his face in his hands kneeling on the mat. The camera span through the audience, showing the teary eyes of the fans. They could not believe it. I could not believe it. Was this the end of Conan. As it turned out, there was more to the story. The reality was that Conan was going to work as an actor for a few months. Antonio Panya knew it, and he built the story so that one of his best Lucca ordes had a way to step out in dramatic fashion, and a few months later, after the gig ended, Conan returned. Conan, by the way, was in Mexican He was Cuban Puerto Rican and because of Puerto Rico's connection to the US, Conan, like Eddiearero's characters were explicitly Americans, an interesting ripple in the Luchalira universe. Let's get back to Eddie by the way. The superstar continued wrestling with Elko del Santo as one half of the new Atomic Pair, and as I mentioned, they were a huge success. But for Eddie, something was still missing. Even though he had unmasked himself, there was still some itch that hadn't been scratched. Part of his trouble was the continued pressure to live up to the Gueretto family legacy, to live up to the original La Pareja Atomic. On top of this, he was always trying to distinguish himself from his partner, the even more storied Ellijo del Santo. Eddie knew he would never reach the same level of fame as the heir to El Santo, arguably the most famouslueche lot of all time, and this weighed heavily on him. But then he got an offer he wasn't expecting and that he couldn't refuse. And just like Sinatra's song, it happened over dinner in Monterey, an important cultural and financial hub in the north of Mexico. He was out to eat with love Machine, an American wrestler and popular rudo who at that time had been wrestling in triple A for two years. Love Machine had found success in Mexico because of his famously thrilling, acrobatic moves. Eddie knew rob Machine was a wrestling genius, but didn't particularly get along with the guy. The over the top American part of his character rubbed him the wrong way. Nevertheless, that night, love Machine said to him, look, you should be a rudo. In fact, you should be my partner. Whether it was the Steak or love Machine's directness, something clicked in Eddie in that moment, he knew that deep in his heart there was a ruder persona that had been waiting to be awoken, and not just any rudo, a formidable one ready to jump into the ring. Even though the words sounded strange in his mouth, Eddie said yes. The pair discussed their idea with Antonio Penya, and together they came up with the story to justify the alliance swap. You'd never see a surprise change like this in old school Lucha Libre. So for the second time in our story, today, Eddie and Pegna were going to do something unprecedented in the Mexican Lucha Libre universe. Like the first time, it all went down. During a three versus three match, one team included love Machine and the new atomic pair Edie Grrero and Eliko San. At one point in the match, Eddie ended up outside of the ring holding one of their opponents. He held them up for a flying headwood from Elijo El Santo that would in all likelihood have finished him, butto missed, and then it up on the ground. Eddie helped him up, but then suddenly, out of nowhere, someone threw sand in Eddie's eyes. Love Machine acted quickly, using the confusion caused by the sand, discover kidd in the front row who was wearing an iconic Ihodel Santos silver mask. He took the kid's mask and put it on. Then, still moving at high speed, he went over to Eddie, who was blowing at his eyes, and started hitting him. None of it made sand. Not only was love Machine attacking his own teammate, he was doing it while wearing a Santo's mask.

What was going on?

What was going on?

After several punches and even a few jabs in the eyes, Love Machine took off the mask and threw it aside. He approached Eddie, helped him up, and pointed towards the ring where elikodl Santo stood, seemingly unaware of what was going on. Eddie recovered and, thinking it was Alkho del Santo who had assailed him, charged him, attacking the silver mask Luceello and his longtime partner. The crowd went wild. This is history, the TV commentator said. Edieko del Santo was so pilowed by the fans that anyone who hit him was immediately seen as a villain, and so the audience began booing Eddie. And just like that, from an act of betrayal, a new rudeo perr was born. Love Machine and Eddie Garettro had made history. It didn't take long before Edie Gretro and love Machine became the most popular rudos in the Mexican Lucha libre universe. Every time they walk into the arena jumped a Van Halen hit introduced them. They had kischik costumes with pants and jackets covering the American flag, and as they entered the ring they always chanted you say yous say? The American branding was because love Machine was the American and Eddie was Mexican an American. The superchart nationalism worked. Every time the pair entered the arena, Mexican crowds got fired up. The two restlers responded to the jeers by tunting the crowd, shouting out challenges and insults. Soon they started being known as La Pareja del or in English, the Terror Pair. Here, anthropologist Patricia Selis talks about why the two created such as stir hicot. She says that they built a new narrative in Luca known as brutality, that is, being extremely violent inside the ring, and this new kind of violence ignited the audience's emotions. By casting themselves as foreign invaders, Eddierero and love Machine were able to tap into the audience's national pride and national resentment towards the States. Because everything was so personal, they were extremely successful rubus and in the arena. The terror pair developed a reputation for being Buruto their moves, their talk, and their punches. It was their brand to be the baddest. One night, one of the commentators offhandedly said, those gringos are crazy esos gringos stand locos well. The comment was spot on, and from then on Eddie and love Machine became known as Los gringos locos. They became even more popular as a result. As Eddie later put it, we were the bad guys that everyone could not get enough of. Another edge the two had was their experience. Love Machine knew the universe of American prog wrestling and Eddie knew the Mexican Lucha Libri universe. Together they could handle anything. The duel became even more influential when a rivalry developed between them and another famous tactim, none other than Eliko Del Santo and his new partner Octagon. Naturally, the Silver Mass Legend could not just let Eddie's betrayals light right. The two pairs faced off many times in just the course of a few months, but the match that definer fierce rivalry was a Lucha de up wests, a mask versus hair match, which was held on November sixth, nineteen ninety four, at the Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles. This match was the main event of the first ever pay per view in Mexican wrestling history. It was called When Worlds Collide, and I say Mexican wrestling history because it marks the first time Mexican wrestlers Luca lodes Mexicanos from a Mexican company, the Una Compania Mexicana, headlined an event in the USA. The event was available on pay per view both in the US and in Mexico, a truly international event. Here's Patricia Delara. She says that the LA event was a breach between American wrestling and the Mexican Lucha Libre. Not only was it a Mexican company being represented, the event was a mask versus hair match, one of the hallmarks of Mexican style in Lucha libre, the victory for one of the sites would be definitive. So let's go to this incredible event. When the full wrestlers climbed into the ring, the chant that echoed throughout the arena was Mexi Co, Mexi Co. As we know, Los Angeles is filled with Mexicans, and just like they do for today's soccer games, thousands of fans had come out to witness this cross cultural display. The match was a two out of three foals bout and it did not disappoint. One commentator said, even among Luca the Apostas matches, which are always epic, this one stands out. The first fall was not even close. A few minutes in, Eddie lifted at Ijoel Santo onto his shoulders and love Machine launched himself from the top rope in a super urakarana to take him down. Santo and the referee started the count Uno dos tres so right off the bat The silver matched man was out. He was out, but hold on. When Lucha leave attacking matches, both competitors must be pinned or submitted in order to win a fall. So Then, immediately after, Eddie Grero executed a superplex on Octagon and love Machine finished him off with his famous frog splash. Los Gringo's Locos had won the first fallt in mere minutes, even though they were on American soil. The crowd bouled. In the second fall, the Rudos dominated once again. At one point they submitted Elko del Santo, but Octagon dug deep and managed to take down Eddie with anurakarana. He ultimately came down to Octagon and love Machine. Octagon deployed a series of masterful moves, eventually applying a jarocha pole, forcing the Ringo Loco to submit. The second fold went to the Technicos and everything would be decided in the third and final faull. By now, the crowd was going wild. All the shouts, whistles, cheers, and insults made it impossible to hear the person next to you. The wrestlers were punishing each other relentlessly and putting on a show for the ages. They kept getting each other on the ground, but the ref never got his counter three before they escaped. How long would this last? Who was going to show weakness first? Finally, Elikolanto went after Eddie and both of them fell outside of the ring. Meanwhile, in the center of the ring, love Machine delivered as pinning piled driver to Octagon. It was a brutal move where love Machine dropped out the gun's head between his legs and slammed him into the man. The move not only knocked Octagon out of the match, as stretcher had to be brought in and he went straight to the hospital. Was now alone against the two Gringos, two fierce gringos, the most fear pair of rudos of all time. Amidst holds, punches and dives, Elikho del Santo ended up outside the ring again with Eddie Grero love Machine in the ring about to climb out and help his partner, when suddenly, seemingly from thin air, another luchao entered the frame. It was Blue Panther, the Blue and White mask wrestler was thirsty for rebenge because love Machine had also delivered a pile driver than him, which led to an injury that kept him from wrestling for six months. It was going to be an eye for an eye, or more specifically, a pile driver for a pile driver. Blue Panther applied the move, which left love Machine useless and laid out on the mat, and lihodel Santo climbed into the ring, staggering, positioned himself over love Machine and wow, one Gringo was out. Now only Aliho's former ally Ediguerrero remained at one on one battle Manua Mano for the history books, a final and encounter to settle old scores. At first, Eddie dominated Santo. He performed suplex after suplex, and it seemed like Elijo del Santo was going to submit at any moment, but the legend's son, a living legend himself, didn't give up. In fact, the silver masked men managed to look Eddie up in a hold and pin him. In a miraculous comeback, Eliko del Santo had managed to defeat his former partner. The Technicos had won in front of an American crowd. The heroic Mexicans had triumphed over the ruthless Gringosolokos. It didn't seem possible, but the crowd rowed even louder, chanting mah ca mehhi Ca. Eliko del Santo reflected their joy back and waved the Mexican flag Guyo. The cameras, of course, were catching all of this, and they even cut the tears of the losers. Love Machine, with his own trembling hands, cut off logs of Eddie's hair. Eddie then did the same to him. All of this happened in front of millions of viewers who were watching on TV. Even though Octagon ended up in the hospital, the brutality and power of the Gringos Locos had not been enough to unmask Lijoel Santo and Octagon. Dave Meltzer, a wrestling journalist, gave it a five star review, an honor Meltzer had never given to a Mexican match before. In fact, the reviews were so positive that to this day it is considered by experts one of the best matches in the history of wrestling. The events of that night were further enshrined in Lucha Liberta history when, only weeks after the match, love Machine died while at home with his family at Thanksgiving. The circumstances of his death remain unclear. What we do know is that that Luca de Apuestas match was the last of his career. The Gringos Locos name stuck around and a bunch of other restlers formed a new team, but Eddie was not a part of it ever again. Meanwhile, the world outside of the Lucha Libre universe was changing. A month after the match, Mexico was hit by the economic crisis now known as the December Mistake. The stock market collapsed, the peso plummeted, and many families lost everything. The restling industry didn't escape the crash, of course, and Triple A took a hit. By nineteen ninety five, with business so bad, Eddie Grero left the country. He rebuilt his career in the United States and became a superstar, eventually winning championships there Viva la Rasa. Then, in the year two thousand, Eddie Garetro was paired with China, the then most important female wrestler in the WWE. She was the first and only woman to be crowned WWE Intercontinental champions. Mixed team matches were not new in the US, but it was around then that they cut the attention of the ever sabby Antonio Penya. He brought the same concept to the Mexican Lucha Libre universe, naturally, giving it a distinctive Mexican twist. The beginning of that story starts with a wedding in the ring. I'll tell you all about that in the next episode of Lucha Libre Behind the Mask. Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, hosted by Santos Escobar, produced by Fernande Strada, Arbumelo and Marianna coronell Written in Spanish by Tania Lopez and adapted in English by Asa merrit Story editor Rodrigo Crespo, Fact checking by monserrad mal Donado, Research and interviews by Marianna Coronel with help from Fernandez Strada, Daniel Padilla and Saul Cortes. Mixed and sound design Daniel Padilla and Fernando Galaviz. Studio recordings in Orlando, Florida by High Hello Studios. Studio recordings in Mexico City by Daniel Padilla, Fernando Glaviz and Andres Baena in Sonorro Studios. Development by Rodrigo Crespo. Executive producers Camilla Victoriano and Joshu Weinstein for Sonro and Gisel Beancez for Iheartsmichael Tura podcast network. Marketing strategy and execution by Claudia Fernandez Mariana Herera Perez Marianna Baron, Wendy Barba and Berenice Soto. Head of Marketing, Susanna Marina. Lucha Libre Behind the Mask is a Sonaro original series for iHeart Smikle to the podcast network, Listen to more podcasts in the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Agredeci Minos specialist Para Patricia Celis Vanegas, covered art Carlos Miranda. Thank you to the CMLL for the permissions granted to record ambient audio in their facilities.

After several punches and even a few jabs in the eyes, Love Machine took off the mask and threw it aside. He approached Eddie, helped him up, and pointed towards the ring where elikodl Santo stood, seemingly unaware of what was going on. Eddie recovered and, thinking it was Alkho del Santo who had assailed him, charged him, attacking the silver mask Luceello and his longtime partner. The crowd went wild. This is history, the TV commentator said. Edieko del Santo was so pilowed by the fans that anyone who hit him was immediately seen as a villain, and so the audience began booing Eddie. And just like that, from an act of betrayal, a new rudeo perr was born. Love Machine and Eddie Garettro had made history. It didn't take long before Edie Gretro and love Machine became the most popular rudos in the Mexican Lucha libre universe. Every time they walk into the arena jumped a Van Halen hit introduced them. They had kischik costumes with pants and jackets covering the American flag, and as they entered the ring they always chanted you say yous say? The American branding was because love Machine was the American and Eddie was Mexican an American. The superchart nationalism worked. Every time the pair entered the arena, Mexican crowds got fired up. The two restlers responded to the jeers by tunting the crowd, shouting out challenges and insults. Soon they started being known as La Pareja del or in English, the Terror Pair. Here, anthropologist Patricia Selis talks about why the two created such as stir hicot. She says that they built a new narrative in Luca known as brutality, that is, being extremely violent inside the ring, and this new kind of violence ignited the audience's emotions. By casting themselves as foreign invaders, Eddierero and love Machine were able to tap into the audience's national pride and national resentment towards the States. Because everything was so personal, they were extremely successful rubus and in the arena. The terror pair developed a reputation for being Buruto their moves, their talk, and their punches. It was their brand to be the baddest. One night, one of the commentators offhandedly said, those gringos are crazy esos gringos stand locos well. The comment was spot on, and from then on Eddie and love Machine became known as Los gringos locos. They became even more popular as a result. As Eddie later put it, we were the bad guys that everyone could not get enough of. Another edge the two had was their experience. Love Machine knew the universe of American prog wrestling and Eddie knew the Mexican Lucha Libri universe. Together they could handle anything. The duel became even more influential when a rivalry developed between them and another famous tactim, none other than Eliko Del Santo and his new partner Octagon. Naturally, the Silver Mass Legend could not just let Eddie's betrayals light right. The two pairs faced off many times in just the course of a few months, but the match that definer fierce rivalry was a Lucha de up wests, a mask versus hair match, which was held on November sixth, nineteen ninety four, at the Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles. This match was the main event of the first ever pay per view in Mexican wrestling history. It was called When Worlds Collide, and I say Mexican wrestling history because it marks the first time Mexican wrestlers Luca lodes Mexicanos from a Mexican company, the Una Compania Mexicana, headlined an event in the USA. The event was available on pay per view both in the US and in Mexico, a truly international event. Here's Patricia Delara. She says that the LA event was a breach between American wrestling and the Mexican Lucha Libre. Not only was it a Mexican company being represented, the event was a mask versus hair match, one of the hallmarks of Mexican style in Lucha libre, the victory for one of the sites would be definitive. So let's go to this incredible event. When the full wrestlers climbed into the ring, the chant that echoed throughout the arena was Mexi Co, Mexi Co. As we know, Los Angeles is filled with Mexicans, and just like they do for today's soccer games, thousands of fans had come out to witness this cross cultural display. The match was a two out of three foals bout and it did not disappoint. One commentator said, even among Luca the Apostas matches, which are always epic, this one stands out. The first fall was not even close. A few minutes in, Eddie lifted at Ijoel Santo onto his shoulders and love Machine launched himself from the top rope in a super urakarana to take him down. Santo and the referee started the count Uno dos tres so right off the bat The silver matched man was out. He was out, but hold on. When Lucha leave attacking matches, both competitors must be pinned or submitted in order to win a fall. So Then, immediately after, Eddie Grero executed a superplex on Octagon and love Machine finished him off with his famous frog splash. Los Gringo's Locos had won the first fallt in mere minutes, even though they were on American soil. The crowd bouled. In the second fall, the Rudos dominated once again. At one point they submitted Elko del Santo, but Octagon dug deep and managed to take down Eddie with anurakarana. He ultimately came down to Octagon and love Machine. Octagon deployed a series of masterful moves, eventually applying a jarocha pole, forcing the Ringo Loco to submit. The second fold went to the Technicos and everything would be decided in the third and final faull. By now, the crowd was going wild. All the shouts, whistles, cheers, and insults made it impossible to hear the person next to you. The wrestlers were punishing each other relentlessly and putting on a show for the ages. They kept getting each other on the ground, but the ref never got his counter three before they escaped. How long would this last? Who was going to show weakness first? Finally, Elikolanto went after Eddie and both of them fell outside of the ring. Meanwhile, in the center of the ring, love Machine delivered as pinning piled driver to Octagon. It was a brutal move where love Machine dropped out the gun's head between his legs and slammed him into the man. The move not only knocked Octagon out of the match, as stretcher had to be brought in and he went straight to the hospital. Was now alone against the two Gringos, two fierce gringos, the most fear pair of rudos of all time. Amidst holds, punches and dives, Elikho del Santo ended up outside the ring again with Eddie Grero love Machine in the ring about to climb out and help his partner, when suddenly, seemingly from thin air, another luchao entered the frame. It was Blue Panther, the Blue and White mask wrestler was thirsty for rebenge because love Machine had also delivered a pile driver than him, which led to an injury that kept him from wrestling for six months. It was going to be an eye for an eye, or more specifically, a pile driver for a pile driver. Blue Panther applied the move, which left love Machine useless and laid out on the mat, and lihodel Santo climbed into the ring, staggering, positioned himself over love Machine and wow, one Gringo was out. Now only Aliho's former ally Ediguerrero remained at one on one battle Manua Mano for the history books, a final and encounter to settle old scores. At first, Eddie dominated Santo. He performed suplex after suplex, and it seemed like Elijo del Santo was going to submit at any moment, but the legend's son, a living legend himself, didn't give up. In fact, the silver masked men managed to look Eddie up in a hold and pin him. In a miraculous comeback, Eliko del Santo had managed to defeat his former partner. The Technicos had won in front of an American crowd. The heroic Mexicans had triumphed over the ruthless Gringosolokos. It didn't seem possible, but the crowd rowed even louder, chanting mah ca mehhi Ca. Eliko del Santo reflected their joy back and waved the Mexican flag Guyo. The cameras, of course, were catching all of this, and they even cut the tears of the losers. Love Machine, with his own trembling hands, cut off logs of Eddie's hair. Eddie then did the same to him. All of this happened in front of millions of viewers who were watching on TV. Even though Octagon ended up in the hospital, the brutality and power of the Gringos Locos had not been enough to unmask Lijoel Santo and Octagon. Dave Meltzer, a wrestling journalist, gave it a five star review, an honor Meltzer had never given to a Mexican match before. In fact, the reviews were so positive that to this day it is considered by experts one of the best matches in the history of wrestling. The events of that night were further enshrined in Lucha Liberta history when, only weeks after the match, love Machine died while at home with his family at Thanksgiving. The circumstances of his death remain unclear. What we do know is that that Luca de Apuestas match was the last of his career. The Gringos Locos name stuck around and a bunch of other restlers formed a new team, but Eddie was not a part of it ever again. Meanwhile, the world outside of the Lucha Libre universe was changing. A month after the match, Mexico was hit by the economic crisis now known as the December Mistake. The stock market collapsed, the peso plummeted, and many families lost everything. The restling industry didn't escape the crash, of course, and Triple A took a hit. By nineteen ninety five, with business so bad, Eddie Grero left the country. He rebuilt his career in the United States and became a superstar, eventually winning championships there Viva la Rasa. Then, in the year two thousand, Eddie Garetro was paired with China, the then most important female wrestler in the WWE. She was the first and only woman to be crowned WWE Intercontinental champions. Mixed team matches were not new in the US, but it was around then that they cut the attention of the ever sabby Antonio Penya. He brought the same concept to the Mexican Lucha Libre universe, naturally, giving it a distinctive Mexican twist. The beginning of that story starts with a wedding in the ring. I'll tell you all about that in the next episode of Lucha Libre Behind the Mask. Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, hosted by Santos Escobar, produced by Fernande Strada, Arbumelo and Marianna coronell Written in Spanish by Tania Lopez and adapted in English by Asa merrit Story editor Rodrigo Crespo, Fact checking by monserrad mal Donado, Research and interviews by Marianna Coronel with help from Fernandez Strada, Daniel Padilla and Saul Cortes. Mixed and sound design Daniel Padilla and Fernando Galaviz. Studio recordings in Orlando, Florida by High Hello Studios. Studio recordings in Mexico City by Daniel Padilla, Fernando Glaviz and Andres Baena in Sonorro Studios. Development by Rodrigo Crespo. Executive producers Camilla Victoriano and Joshu Weinstein for Sonro and Gisel Beancez for Iheartsmichael Tura podcast network. Marketing strategy and execution by Claudia Fernandez Mariana Herera Perez Marianna Baron, Wendy Barba and Berenice Soto. Head of Marketing, Susanna Marina. Lucha Libre Behind the Mask is a Sonaro original series for iHeart Smikle to the podcast network, Listen to more podcasts in the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Agredeci Minos specialist Para Patricia Celis Vanegas, covered art Carlos Miranda. Thank you to the CMLL for the permissions granted to record ambient audio in their facilities.