On December fifteen, nineteen ninety one, a much anticipated battle took place at the Plaza de Torres Monumental in Monterey. The arena was absolutely packed. Four of the era's most famous wrestlers were all about to wrestle in the same place, and what's more, there were rivalries in play. The first match was between Octagon and Fortzagerreda. The second was one of the great rivalries in Lucha libre history, the rivalry between Elikho Del Santo and Black Shadow Journey. Those names should sound familiar. We know El Santo and we know Black Shadow well Ihodel Santo and Black Shadow Junior were those guys sons, and just as their dads hated each other in the ring, they hated each other too. The event that night was called the Quadrangle of Death quadrangulard de la More. Each of the four wrestlers had to defend their mask in a best two out of three folds match without time limits. The loser's bracket faced off for a mask versus mask match, meaning that by the end of the night, at least one luch other would be going home unmasked. The first two folds, surprisingly were clean. The third fold, however, was a beautiful mess for Santo's mask, then shadowed Otagon's mask. Octagon retaliated by turning Shadows Junior's mask. Then I Sto did the same, turning for Sagaredra's mask, the one who had torn his ad demonic fury to cover the four of them and exquisite anything goes take no prisoner's vengeance match. Remember Amarudo Rasa, So this is my kind of thing. Masks were just the beginning. The four Titans were attacking each other with everything had punches, kicks, slaps, body slamps, pins, dives, you name it. All of it was there. Somebody had to win, though, and after the third fall, Octagona and fort Sa Gerera emerged victorious. That meant that the extra fall where someone would lose their mask was between none other than Elijo del Santo and Black Shadow Junior. History was repeating itself. Thirty nine years earlier, El Santo had unmasked Black Shadow. Now his son had the chance to avenge his father. Winning would mean unmasking the son of the greatest Mexican lucha a lot of old time, the stakes and the opportunity for Black Shadow Junior were enormous. The bill hadn't even rang when Shadow charged the Lico del Santo, and not just charged charge carrying a chair, he literally started smashing his over the head with it. Shadow grabbed a Liko del Santo and slammed him into the ring posts. Alikho del Santo's face began to bleed and his silver mask turned red. There was so much blood he could barely see. At some point, while Aliko del Santo was recovering in his corner, Perro Awayo leaned into the ring and whispered, let him get over confident, then drop him. When Aliko del Santo returned to the match, Shadow Junior lifted him up, applying a suplex. This time, Santo didn't resist. He went along with it, limped and cooperated him. When they both came crashing down to the match, Shadow Junior thought he had defeated the man in the silver mask once and for all, but this was all part of Alikho del Santo's plan. As he was getting up, Elikho del Santo wrapped Shadow up in a pin and held down to him with everything he had. Santo's entire legacy was at stake. After all. The referee round fords them, dropped the A and began to count. One didn't let go. Two. The silver mask wrestler tightened his grip even more. Free your Winner, Legal sometho, just like his father, elk had triumphed the feeding Black Shallow Junior and retaining both his mask and his secret identity. The fans there in Monterey were on their feet. The roar was incredible. They shouted, whistled, and clapped as hard as they could. But they weren't the only ones who saw the match, because after thirty three years, professional wrestling had returned to television screens. The thousands of people who watched the match from their homes heard the ring announcers say El Santo himself, the father must be smiling. What people at home didn't hear, however, was the final speeches that both Elko El Santo and Black Shadow Junior gave to the crowd. They could see them at the microphone, but not hear what they were saying. That was about to change, though. One man was about to completely transform televised Lucha Libre Forever. Don't go anywhere, Rasa, because in this episode, I'm gonna tell you how professional wrestling conquered Mexican television and how Eliko El Santo, El Santo's son who triumphed over Black Shadow Junior, was alone for the whole ride. I am Santos Escobara, the Emperor of Lucha Libre and the 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.

On December fifteen, nineteen ninety one, a much anticipated battle took place at the Plaza de Torres Monumental in Monterey. The arena was absolutely packed. Four of the era's most famous wrestlers were all about to wrestle in the same place, and what's more, there were rivalries in play. The first match was between Octagon and Fortzagerreda. The second was one of the great rivalries in Lucha libre history, the rivalry between Elikho Del Santo and Black Shadow Journey. Those names should sound familiar. We know El Santo and we know Black Shadow well Ihodel Santo and Black Shadow Junior were those guys sons, and just as their dads hated each other in the ring, they hated each other too. The event that night was called the Quadrangle of Death quadrangulard de la More. Each of the four wrestlers had to defend their mask in a best two out of three folds match without time limits. The loser's bracket faced off for a mask versus mask match, meaning that by the end of the night, at least one luch other would be going home unmasked. The first two folds, surprisingly were clean. The third fold, however, was a beautiful mess for Santo's mask, then shadowed Otagon's mask. Octagon retaliated by turning Shadows Junior's mask. Then I Sto did the same, turning for Sagaredra's mask, the one who had torn his ad demonic fury to cover the four of them and exquisite anything goes take no prisoner's vengeance match. Remember Amarudo Rasa, So this is my kind of thing. Masks were just the beginning. The four Titans were attacking each other with everything had punches, kicks, slaps, body slamps, pins, dives, you name it. All of it was there. Somebody had to win, though, and after the third fall, Octagona and fort Sa Gerera emerged victorious. That meant that the extra fall where someone would lose their mask was between none other than Elijo del Santo and Black Shadow Junior. History was repeating itself. Thirty nine years earlier, El Santo had unmasked Black Shadow. Now his son had the chance to avenge his father. Winning would mean unmasking the son of the greatest Mexican lucha a lot of old time, the stakes and the opportunity for Black Shadow Junior were enormous. The bill hadn't even rang when Shadow charged the Lico del Santo, and not just charged charge carrying a chair, he literally started smashing his over the head with it. Shadow grabbed a Liko del Santo and slammed him into the ring posts. Alikho del Santo's face began to bleed and his silver mask turned red. There was so much blood he could barely see. At some point, while Aliko del Santo was recovering in his corner, Perro Awayo leaned into the ring and whispered, let him get over confident, then drop him. When Aliko del Santo returned to the match, Shadow Junior lifted him up, applying a suplex. This time, Santo didn't resist. He went along with it, limped and cooperated him. When they both came crashing down to the match, Shadow Junior thought he had defeated the man in the silver mask once and for all, but this was all part of Alikho del Santo's plan. As he was getting up, Elikho del Santo wrapped Shadow up in a pin and held down to him with everything he had. Santo's entire legacy was at stake. After all. The referee round fords them, dropped the A and began to count. One didn't let go. Two. The silver mask wrestler tightened his grip even more. Free your Winner, Legal sometho, just like his father, elk had triumphed the feeding Black Shallow Junior and retaining both his mask and his secret identity. The fans there in Monterey were on their feet. The roar was incredible. They shouted, whistled, and clapped as hard as they could. But they weren't the only ones who saw the match, because after thirty three years, professional wrestling had returned to television screens. The thousands of people who watched the match from their homes heard the ring announcers say El Santo himself, the father must be smiling. What people at home didn't hear, however, was the final speeches that both Elko El Santo and Black Shadow Junior gave to the crowd. They could see them at the microphone, but not hear what they were saying. That was about to change, though. One man was about to completely transform televised Lucha Libre Forever. Don't go anywhere, Rasa, because in this episode, I'm gonna tell you how professional wrestling conquered Mexican television and how Eliko El Santo, El Santo's son who triumphed over Black Shadow Junior, was alone for the whole ride. I am Santos Escobara, the Emperor of Lucha Libre and the 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 Cago for twelve episodes, and it's all about Lucha liber.

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 Cago for twelve episodes, and it's all about Lucha liber.

This is Lucha Libre behind the mass. Episode eight, Ijo del Santo and New Generation of Idols. As I mentioned last episode, professional wrestling came back to TV in nineteen ninety. It came back because Televisa, the broadcasting company owned by the Escaraga family, and the EMLLL, owned by the ludrerog family, finally came to an agreement. The return to TV was a huge success, but like anything in life, it came with a price. Started staying home instead of going to the arena. What happened, specifically was that the Friday night matches were broadcast on Sunday afternoons the same time blog when irl matches were happening around the country, leading to lower attendance. This heard the live event business model, and the lucha community was not happy about it. The result was that Televisa moved the Sunday broadcast earlier to noon, but that was not ideal because now they were competing with soccer matches, so Televisa was on the lookout for a better solution. It's right around this time that Antonio Penya showed up on the Lucha libre scene. Antonio Penya was born on June thirteenth, nineteen fifty five, and he grew up living and breathing lucha libre. His father was a lucha loo named Moonsonia. His uncles were also wrestlers, and the family wasted no time teaching and Tonio the tricks of the trade. In nineteen seventy five, Antonio made his debut in the city of perote Vera Cruz. Like many, he got his break when a scheduled wrestler didn't show up and he was asked to step in. His uncle Eleespectro allowed him to use the name Eleespectro Junior, and he quickly rose through the ranks of the E M l L, eventually becoming the world worldterweight Champion. Antonio had a knack for developing characters, so he ended up using other names in addition to all Spectro Junior. In fact, he developed so many characters he was able to pass them on to his Luca colleagues and other wrestlers in his family. Here's Luca expert Raoul Creoya e liz Omo Delos Grandes constructor person. Raoul explains that Antonio Tonio Penya was one of the greatest storytellers the sport has ever seen, one of the greatest and one of the most controversial. Why well, sometimes he went off script. His last character was called Dalia Negra. But in nineteen eighty six, Antonio suffered a knee injury that forced him into retirement. That was not his exit from the Luche Liver universe, though. Two years after leaving the ring, Antonio became the head of public relations for the EMLL and that's where all this loops. Back to the TV conversation, Antonio new wrestling programming needed to change, so he checked out how the US was doing it, because up there they had millions of viewers. He saw some things that could help and went straight to the head of EMLLL with these proposals. The first thing he wanted to change was to make the matches more visually appearing. He started with relatively small things like including color lights to the set design and lighting fireworks around the ring. He also suggested the now i Icon intra music for when wrestlers entered the arena. People doubted the big changes but decided to give them a try. Proof that they were working came that very same year at a Mass versus Mass match at Arena Mexico that got closer to full capacity than any other match in recent memory. More success followed, and it seemed like Antonio had found the perfect formula to reinvigorate ticket sales at the live events. Not all organizers supported Antonio, though Grandista Road says that a great divide opened up between so called new Deelibery purists and people like Antonio pushing for innovation. Among the purists, there was one man, in particular, the head of programming, who preferred the old way the company presented the matches. He saw Antonio's changes as an attack on tradition. There were rucchaal artist who agreed with this man. Despite the box office success, this bound of wrestlers thought that people would eventually stop coming to the arena because of the changes. They even went on strike. The end result was that the head of CMLL the new name for the EMLL. At this point, the nephew of Donchavalalutrode sided with the old school thinking and put an end to Antonio Penya's changes. But Antonio Penya was not ready to stop trying. He knew his adjustments had improved things. He just needed to further prove it. At some level, Lucali itself was at stake. If you don't keep up with the times, you get left in the dust. And in that day and age, getting the sport in line with modern TV entertainment standards was critical, So Antonio started working on more changes in secret. Whenever he had a new idea, he better tested it with friends and employees he could trust. Next, he consulted with wrestlers, and finally, after months, Antonio put together everything he needed for a whole new company. Chatter about Antonio's project reached such a high pitch that Televisa could win a bit and called him into the office. The result of the meeting was a contract. That's how. In April nineteen ninety two, Antonio Pena left the CMLL and founded the company Assistancia as Asia. He administration the Spectaculus, better known as Triple A La Tripleer. It was not a glamorous start. Triple A's first office was Antonio's car. He had one secretary, a cell phone, and a typewriter. That was it. But Antonio had a vision and things moved quickly, and on May seventh of that same year, nineteen ninety two, Antonio officially went public with the company at a banquet hall of a five star hotel in Mexico City. Reporters in attendance were impressed by who showed up. Antonio had collected significant talent for his new wrestling company De Lucallotes included Kona and Mascara, Sagrada, and probably most significantly evolved he had signed and Ego, There's Someto. Tripa hosted its first bout on Friday May fifteenth, nineteen ninety two, in Vera, Cruz. The lineup included several well known mass lucallores Elfantasma Mifadre. My father was there, for example, and that night none other than the famous La Parre made his debut. Another highlight of the night was the inclusion of the so called minis lucadores, who were little people who until then had not often performed in the big arenas. There were four thousand tickets for the event, but they sold out within three days. Everyone wanted to see what Antonio could pull off with his new lead. Fans, television executive, and the nation's professional wrestlers all wanted to know if this new brand of lucal Liire was going to be a bust or if its drug organizer was indeed a visionary. Antonio did not disappoint. He combined all the new ideas he had been experimenting with to create an unprecedented experience. There were colored lights and a fireworks display more spectacular than any that had ever been seen in a lucha liber arena. He brought back the pump music too. It's hard to even imagine Lucha libre without it, isn't it. Antonio also introduced flashy elements like the so called ring girls et ecanis bikini klad young women who walk down the aisles alongside the luccallo. Antonio didn't just change the presentation of Lucha Libre, he changed the very nature of the sport itself. Traditional Mexican wrestling relied heavily on holds and counter holds. Now it was more about the characters. They not only fought, they put on a show. Alliances were formed, friendships were broken, and the audience was brought more into the action than ever before. It was interactive, it was ReSpectacle. If Donchava Lutherod is the father of Lucha Libre, Antonio Pena is definitely one of its god bothers. The look, feel, and experience of the sport today is all a result of his pioneering innovation, and you didn't have to be one of the four thousand people in attendance to know the event was an overwhelming success. The event was nationally broadcast the next day and its ratings were through the roof The triple A TV broadcast was popular for a reason. Antonio implemented lots of details that, when put together, made for a much more exciting program. For example, as each wrestler was introduced a picture of them and their name would pop up on the screen. Now, the CMLO League had its own arenas, Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo, for example. Triple A, on the other hand, was limited to renting spaces, but Antonio found a way to use this to his advantage. Instead of building a business model around big shows in the capitol, Triple A leaned into the popularity of lucha libre all over the country and became a traveling show. They performed avery reware, rodeo grounds, high school gyms, theaters. It didn't matter. If they had the space to perform and people would come, they put on their show. The emphasis on traveling shows helped distinguish Triple A from their competitors, and of course, whenever possible, they would televise these events. The broadcast became so popular that only big soccer matches were getting more viewers. By the time TRIPLEA got to its first anniversary, the organization had grown considerably and Antonio Penya knew he had the momentum to throw the wrestling event of the year. He looked again to the United States for inspiration and then, adding his own twist, came up with a news show. It was called Triple Mania triple Mania, which, as you know, endused to this day. The very first Triple Mania took place on April thirtieth, nineteen ninety t read at the Plaza de Totos in Mexico City. Over fifty thousand spectators filled the monumental plaza to see their idols battle it out. There were so many fans that to this day, the first edition of Triple Mania holds the record for highest attendance at a wrestling event in Mexico. Given the lineup on display, the staggering numbers make sense. Wah at the top of the match card was none other than Kna and Yeah COONa, both incredibly popular wrestlers at the time. That was just one of the marquee matches, however, also entering the ring that night with stars like Elperro, Wayo, lis Mark moscat and Mascaritada Blue Panther La Parca, and of course, lit the silver mask wrestler as the crown jewel of the Triple A, Eliko del Santo was a living, breathing wrestling reminder to everyone of just how big a deal Triple A was. The son of one of the most important Luceaodas in history had left CMLL to join this fledging new league. To be clear, Eliko del Santo didn't live CMLL on bad terms. In nineteen ninety two, he said that he simply wanted to try out the new company Antonio Pinion was starting. Obviously, CMLL was not thrill about his departure, but there was nothing they could do, and they even told him, you always have a home here if you want to come back, we'll get back to Triple A. But first, let's walk through the journey of Elikho del Santo. Not only was he the heir to the greatest figure in Mexican Lucha lib he has come to be considered one of the best wrestlers in history. But don't think that Ellijo del Santo achieved his success just because of his name, or that his road was easier and he didn't have to work as hard. In fact, it was the total opposite. Eliko del Santo didn't know his dad was El Santo, the Silver Mask wrestler until he was seven or eight years old. Elikho del Santo recalls that their house was quite normal. In fact, there was nothing to suggest it was a lutal livery house at all, no posters of Santo, the photos know anything. There was only one thing he had at home that was different from his friend's houses. His dad had a private, locked room that no one was allowed to go into. Ever, like many kids of that era, he worshiped El Santo along with other larger than life heroes like Batman and Spider Man. He had all the action figures and fled with them, just like kids do. But then one Sunday his dad asked him to come along with him to work. The kid was thrilled. He didn't know what his dad did and this was sure to be an adventure. They got into a car driven by El Santo's private driver, Ikho. Del Santo hopped in the front seat, his dad got into the back. As they drove along, he looked out the window, taking in Mexico City's vibrant, voystery streets. Finally, he turned around to point something out to his dad, but that was gone. Not only was that Gune, he found himself face to face with El Santo and mascarole Plata. Can you imagine there are surprises and then there's total shock, the kind of shock where your jaw drops and your eyes get as big as quarters. Well, for this little kid in particular, this was a true shock. His own father was one of his heroes. Neither man nor boys said a word. It was all too big to mind blowing. At last, they arrived at a plaza pack with people and little shop selling Lucha Libre Fandi. The driver stopped the car and Al Santo his dad got out and walked through the crowd, everyone cheering. Once they were inside the arena, he saw his dad, El Santo in the public eye once again, this time in the eyes of spectators. As his father entered the arena, they cheered Santo Santo Santo, and when he got close, the fans lifted him onto their shoulders to carry him the final stretch to the ring. Little Iho El Santo didn't understand any of it. His dad got in the ring and El Santo started to wrestle. Naturally, he started taking hits. It was more than his son could handle, and the poor kids started to cry. But from that day on, Lucha Libre became something even more special to El Santo's son than it already was. He was not another fan like all of his classmates. He learned that day that the sport was in his blood and he could not be any prouder to be his father's son. His admiration for Elsanto only continued to grow, and as he got older, he decided he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a luchador himself. Elo began training at a gym in downtown Mexico City where a friend of his dad's trained. At first, he just worked out with lifting and so on, but eventually the friend said, come on, it's time, let's get in the ring, and from there he started learning the basic wrestling moves of lucha lib Eventually, El Santo's son went to his dad, El Santo himself, and told him he thought he was ready to enter the ring. What El Santo told him absolutely not. It's kind of funny because that's exactly what my dad said to me too. He tried to reassure El Santo, telling him that he had been training rigorously. Santo told him it was fine to train, but he was not going to ever wrestle professionally. Instead, Santo told his son, you need to focus on your studies. El Santo, like my father Fantasma, wanted their children to go to college. Higher education has always been an aspiration for families that don't have it, and both these men were successful enough to give it to their children. I want my own kids to go to college too. Toririjo del Santo's credit, he listened to his father and applied to college. Unfortunately, he wasn't admitted and he would have to wait a year for the chance to apply again. And he wanted to spend the year in Guadalajara training under El Diablo Belasco, the Devil Velasco his coach at the time. El Santo didn't love the idea, but sudden he had to meet his son halfway. Just try not to get hurt, he said, And as any parent knows, sometimes we just have to let our kids go their own way. After this short chapter in Walajara, elihudel Santo came back to the Capitol. He kept training and also started studying again. One day, his father sent him to the workshop of Victor Martinez. Yeah, the Victor Martinez, famous for making Lucha libre masks. Don't get too excited yet, though. El Santo was just sending his kid on an errand to grab his gear, not sending him to get fitted, but in a curve ball of faith, the visit to Victor Martinez changed his life. Aren't you going to wrestle? The mask maker said, I can get you a match if you want a debut. It was the invitation he had been waiting for for years. Without hesitation, he said yes. He knew that this was not what his father wanted for him, but being a luccado is a calling, and sometimes that cold can overpower even our parents. It's something deep inside of you and ultimately you can't ignore it. It's a fire, a spirit, a destiny, whatever you want to call it, and so like that. On February sixth, nineteen eighty two, the son of one of the biggest legends in Lucha Libre made his debut in the city of Plexkala, restling under the name of Korak Yep. He didn't have his famous name yet, but there was no going back. He would wrestle with any name he could. The following week, kak Elijel Santo was already in San Luis Potosi in attacked him match. He got a black eye in that match, and when he came back to Mexico City, his father asked him what had happened, Well, I got kicked during training, he lied. But we're talking about El Santo here Rasa. This guy basically wrote the book, and you could not get won by him. In fact, someone had already told him what happened training, Santo asking, look, I know you've been wrestling. Santo told his son once again that he needed to go back to school and get his degree. At that point, he only had a semester left, but he was loving wrestling and told his dad he wanted to keep going. He took El Santo a couple of days to digest his son's wish, but finally he called him again and said, fine, you want to be a wrestler, I'm going to give you a test. El Santo summoned his son to are Ina Mexico the very next day. He wore his mask and everything. Can you imagine going to our Ina Mexico all by yourself to be tested by the most decorated luch of all time, El Santo, your own father, who imagine the giant arena, the empty seats. Imagine Lebron James and his son at the Staples Center testing him to see if he had what it takes to play in the NBA back to Alsanto. No one was watching but the janitors at the arena, who were about to witness something incredible. For the test, El Santo's son brought a sparring partner with him. The two got in the ring and rastled, and he demonstrated all the techniques he had been learning. At this point, he had been working for many years and knew what he was doing. El Santo stopped them and said, all right, that's enough, and then inexplicably, he walked out of the arena. Years later, Elijo del Santo learned that his dad left because he was on the brink of tears away. In the locker room, he cried. He was so very proud of his son, who was already an incredibly skilled wrestler. When Alcanto came back, he asked his son what l each other name he was using, and he told him he was called Korak. Who is the name of Tarzan's son in the Tarzan comic. So Tarzan's son is that, said, wouldn't it be better to be the son of El Santo who the empty arena the Tidan passing the torch to his rookie son. The Birth of a new name. The whole scene gives me goose bumps. No more Kork. From that moment on, he was officially Alejo del Santo. Initially, he had wanted to create his own wrestling persona independent from his dad. It's hard being the child of a great so people changed their names to distinguish themselves. One of Stephen King's son goes by Joe Hill. For example, former President Barack Obama's daughter Malia uses the name Malia Ann. But when El Santo made that proposal, he decided to commit to the legacy of his father and said yes, he would continue the name as a sign of honor and respect. A decision like this, well, it's a massive one. It shapes your life. I know because I did the same thing, and for a while I used my father's name and went by Elijho el Fantasma. Here's what anthropologist Patricia Selis has to say about the phenomena E moi moi dessalon Elimolko. She says, the symbolic way is hard to even describe. To carry the name of your father, what if it doesn't come naturally, or worse, what if it doesn't come at all. Must have about all of that in that moment, but he also felt his that's enthusiasm for his career. El Santo committed himself to getting his son ready for the ring, teaching him all his trademark moves and holds like the famous lad A Cabayo. Santo told his son that he didn't need to copy the moves, just that he was giving him tools which he could then make his own and adapt to his own personal style. He was not going to be a replica of El Santo. He was going to be an evolution, because that's how Luca Libre legacies work. Tnenqeverercon COMPARTII. It's a process of sharing traditions, habits, values and practices, Patricia says. So, the newly Christian Eliko del Santo made his debut on October eighteenth, nineteen eighty two, in Nuevolare Doo, Tamaulipas. The arena was filled and he was thrilled to know that everyone there was there to see him wrestle. It was attacked him match against two fierce rudos, one of them being Sangri Chicana, a legend who we know all too well. Sangria Chicana moved up and down the ring like a wild animal. Elikho del Santo was intimidated, even scared, but there was nothing to do but try his best and wrestle with everything he had. So that's exactly what he did. In fact, in the first fall, Elikho del Santo and his partner emerged victorious, but the second fall went to the Rudos. In the third and final fall, Sangri Chicana fouled Elijo del Santo and the Rudos got disqualified. That meant Elikho del Santo and his partner were the winners. For many in the arena that night, the result was a disappointment. Sangre Chicana had legions of loyal fans and the match had been in his hometown. Who did this new guy wearing the silver mask think he was? Sports pondits had doubts, too. Many thought this dew luchalod would never be able to live up to the legacy of El Santo. This is what I mean. In some ways, el Santo paved the way for his son, but the path came with unique challenges. You're fighting not just your opponents, You're fighting the pressure of massive expectations being the son of a legend, especially one the caliber of Elsanto, means that the audience gives you nothing for free. In some ways, they want to see you fail. You want to see you be just the poor imitation of your father. So you have to work extra hard. You have to fight your own battle, both to live up to the legacy and to make your own name. This is why neither el Santo nor my own father Elfantasma, wanted their children to follow in their footsteps, because they knew how difficult that would be, basically mentally and emotion Victor Ti, is also a junior, knows this feeling too, did you a as criticus, he says, the criticisms come even when you're doing your best, Even when you're doing well, it's a constant struggle to shake off everyone saying you don't have it in you, or that you can't embody the character. The thing is, it's not even about embodying the character. El Santo understood this very clearly, and he wanted to free his son from any pressure to wrestle the same way he did. He told him to have confidence in himself, to believe in himself, giving himself permission to be his own men gave Elkoto the tools to succeed. He started winning matches and that year he earned the Rookie of the Year award. But right when Alikoo was really starting to climb the ranks, his life took a turn. On February fifth, nineteen eighty four, Rodolfo Gusmann, the legendary El Santo elen Mascarado de Plata, passed away. Elikjo el Santo bowed to continue wearing the silver mask in his honor. In fact, that very same year, Elligo El Santo won his first title, the u w A Lightweight Championship. The following year, in nineteen eighty six, he became the world lightweight Champion. Things kept moving up for Lego El Santo. In nineteen ninety he made his debut in Japan with a group of other Mexican wrestlers, and that same year he won the u w A welterweight title. By December nineteen ninety one, the year he faced Black Shadow Junior, he had already won many masks versus mask matches. In fact, when Eleikho Del Santo took Black Shadows Junior's mask, it was his twenty second victory. It was then that he brought to an end the rivalry he had inherited from his father. But just like Luca families can inherit rivalries, they can also inherit alliances. Elko del Santo was in an alliance with Gorri Guerrero's son Eddie Guerrero because the Tu Luchador his fathers had wrestled together back in the day. El Santo and Gori were called the atomic pair as for the sons. They also fought for a whiless teammates, but the alliance didn't end well. It didn't end well at all. That story on our next episode of Lucha Libre Behind the Mask. No Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, hosted by Santos Escobar, produced by Fernanda Strada, Argumelo and Marianna Coronell, Written in Spanish by Tania Lopez and adapted in English by ASA Merit. Story editor Rodrigo Crespo, fact checking by monserrad mal Donado, Research and interviews by Marianna Coronell, with help from Fernandez Strada, Daniel Padilla and Saul Cortes. Mix 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, Marianairera, Paula Perez, Marianna Baron, Wendy Barba, and Bernice Soto Head of Marketing, Susanna Marina. Lucha Libre Behind the Mask is a Sonaro original series for iheartsmikl to the podcast network, Listen to more podcasts in the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Agredecimentos Specialist Para Raoul Criojo, Patricia Celis Vanegas E Victor Ortiz. Thank you to the CMLL for the permissions granted to record ambient audio in their facilities.

This is Lucha Libre behind the mass. Episode eight, Ijo del Santo and New Generation of Idols. As I mentioned last episode, professional wrestling came back to TV in nineteen ninety. It came back because Televisa, the broadcasting company owned by the Escaraga family, and the EMLLL, owned by the ludrerog family, finally came to an agreement. The return to TV was a huge success, but like anything in life, it came with a price. Started staying home instead of going to the arena. What happened, specifically was that the Friday night matches were broadcast on Sunday afternoons the same time blog when irl matches were happening around the country, leading to lower attendance. This heard the live event business model, and the lucha community was not happy about it. The result was that Televisa moved the Sunday broadcast earlier to noon, but that was not ideal because now they were competing with soccer matches, so Televisa was on the lookout for a better solution. It's right around this time that Antonio Penya showed up on the Lucha libre scene. Antonio Penya was born on June thirteenth, nineteen fifty five, and he grew up living and breathing lucha libre. His father was a lucha loo named Moonsonia. His uncles were also wrestlers, and the family wasted no time teaching and Tonio the tricks of the trade. In nineteen seventy five, Antonio made his debut in the city of perote Vera Cruz. Like many, he got his break when a scheduled wrestler didn't show up and he was asked to step in. His uncle Eleespectro allowed him to use the name Eleespectro Junior, and he quickly rose through the ranks of the E M l L, eventually becoming the world worldterweight Champion. Antonio had a knack for developing characters, so he ended up using other names in addition to all Spectro Junior. In fact, he developed so many characters he was able to pass them on to his Luca colleagues and other wrestlers in his family. Here's Luca expert Raoul Creoya e liz Omo Delos Grandes constructor person. Raoul explains that Antonio Tonio Penya was one of the greatest storytellers the sport has ever seen, one of the greatest and one of the most controversial. Why well, sometimes he went off script. His last character was called Dalia Negra. But in nineteen eighty six, Antonio suffered a knee injury that forced him into retirement. That was not his exit from the Luche Liver universe, though. Two years after leaving the ring, Antonio became the head of public relations for the EMLL and that's where all this loops. Back to the TV conversation, Antonio new wrestling programming needed to change, so he checked out how the US was doing it, because up there they had millions of viewers. He saw some things that could help and went straight to the head of EMLLL with these proposals. The first thing he wanted to change was to make the matches more visually appearing. He started with relatively small things like including color lights to the set design and lighting fireworks around the ring. He also suggested the now i Icon intra music for when wrestlers entered the arena. People doubted the big changes but decided to give them a try. Proof that they were working came that very same year at a Mass versus Mass match at Arena Mexico that got closer to full capacity than any other match in recent memory. More success followed, and it seemed like Antonio had found the perfect formula to reinvigorate ticket sales at the live events. Not all organizers supported Antonio, though Grandista Road says that a great divide opened up between so called new Deelibery purists and people like Antonio pushing for innovation. Among the purists, there was one man, in particular, the head of programming, who preferred the old way the company presented the matches. He saw Antonio's changes as an attack on tradition. There were rucchaal artist who agreed with this man. Despite the box office success, this bound of wrestlers thought that people would eventually stop coming to the arena because of the changes. They even went on strike. The end result was that the head of CMLL the new name for the EMLL. At this point, the nephew of Donchavalalutrode sided with the old school thinking and put an end to Antonio Penya's changes. But Antonio Penya was not ready to stop trying. He knew his adjustments had improved things. He just needed to further prove it. At some level, Lucali itself was at stake. If you don't keep up with the times, you get left in the dust. And in that day and age, getting the sport in line with modern TV entertainment standards was critical, So Antonio started working on more changes in secret. Whenever he had a new idea, he better tested it with friends and employees he could trust. Next, he consulted with wrestlers, and finally, after months, Antonio put together everything he needed for a whole new company. Chatter about Antonio's project reached such a high pitch that Televisa could win a bit and called him into the office. The result of the meeting was a contract. That's how. In April nineteen ninety two, Antonio Pena left the CMLL and founded the company Assistancia as Asia. He administration the Spectaculus, better known as Triple A La Tripleer. It was not a glamorous start. Triple A's first office was Antonio's car. He had one secretary, a cell phone, and a typewriter. That was it. But Antonio had a vision and things moved quickly, and on May seventh of that same year, nineteen ninety two, Antonio officially went public with the company at a banquet hall of a five star hotel in Mexico City. Reporters in attendance were impressed by who showed up. Antonio had collected significant talent for his new wrestling company De Lucallotes included Kona and Mascara, Sagrada, and probably most significantly evolved he had signed and Ego, There's Someto. Tripa hosted its first bout on Friday May fifteenth, nineteen ninety two, in Vera, Cruz. The lineup included several well known mass lucallores Elfantasma Mifadre. My father was there, for example, and that night none other than the famous La Parre made his debut. Another highlight of the night was the inclusion of the so called minis lucadores, who were little people who until then had not often performed in the big arenas. There were four thousand tickets for the event, but they sold out within three days. Everyone wanted to see what Antonio could pull off with his new lead. Fans, television executive, and the nation's professional wrestlers all wanted to know if this new brand of lucal Liire was going to be a bust or if its drug organizer was indeed a visionary. Antonio did not disappoint. He combined all the new ideas he had been experimenting with to create an unprecedented experience. There were colored lights and a fireworks display more spectacular than any that had ever been seen in a lucha liber arena. He brought back the pump music too. It's hard to even imagine Lucha libre without it, isn't it. Antonio also introduced flashy elements like the so called ring girls et ecanis bikini klad young women who walk down the aisles alongside the luccallo. Antonio didn't just change the presentation of Lucha Libre, he changed the very nature of the sport itself. Traditional Mexican wrestling relied heavily on holds and counter holds. Now it was more about the characters. They not only fought, they put on a show. Alliances were formed, friendships were broken, and the audience was brought more into the action than ever before. It was interactive, it was ReSpectacle. If Donchava Lutherod is the father of Lucha Libre, Antonio Pena is definitely one of its god bothers. The look, feel, and experience of the sport today is all a result of his pioneering innovation, and you didn't have to be one of the four thousand people in attendance to know the event was an overwhelming success. The event was nationally broadcast the next day and its ratings were through the roof The triple A TV broadcast was popular for a reason. Antonio implemented lots of details that, when put together, made for a much more exciting program. For example, as each wrestler was introduced a picture of them and their name would pop up on the screen. Now, the CMLO League had its own arenas, Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo, for example. Triple A, on the other hand, was limited to renting spaces, but Antonio found a way to use this to his advantage. Instead of building a business model around big shows in the capitol, Triple A leaned into the popularity of lucha libre all over the country and became a traveling show. They performed avery reware, rodeo grounds, high school gyms, theaters. It didn't matter. If they had the space to perform and people would come, they put on their show. The emphasis on traveling shows helped distinguish Triple A from their competitors, and of course, whenever possible, they would televise these events. The broadcast became so popular that only big soccer matches were getting more viewers. By the time TRIPLEA got to its first anniversary, the organization had grown considerably and Antonio Penya knew he had the momentum to throw the wrestling event of the year. He looked again to the United States for inspiration and then, adding his own twist, came up with a news show. It was called Triple Mania triple Mania, which, as you know, endused to this day. The very first Triple Mania took place on April thirtieth, nineteen ninety t read at the Plaza de Totos in Mexico City. Over fifty thousand spectators filled the monumental plaza to see their idols battle it out. There were so many fans that to this day, the first edition of Triple Mania holds the record for highest attendance at a wrestling event in Mexico. Given the lineup on display, the staggering numbers make sense. Wah at the top of the match card was none other than Kna and Yeah COONa, both incredibly popular wrestlers at the time. That was just one of the marquee matches, however, also entering the ring that night with stars like Elperro, Wayo, lis Mark moscat and Mascaritada Blue Panther La Parca, and of course, lit the silver mask wrestler as the crown jewel of the Triple A, Eliko del Santo was a living, breathing wrestling reminder to everyone of just how big a deal Triple A was. The son of one of the most important Luceaodas in history had left CMLL to join this fledging new league. To be clear, Eliko del Santo didn't live CMLL on bad terms. In nineteen ninety two, he said that he simply wanted to try out the new company Antonio Pinion was starting. Obviously, CMLL was not thrill about his departure, but there was nothing they could do, and they even told him, you always have a home here if you want to come back, we'll get back to Triple A. But first, let's walk through the journey of Elikho del Santo. Not only was he the heir to the greatest figure in Mexican Lucha lib he has come to be considered one of the best wrestlers in history. But don't think that Ellijo del Santo achieved his success just because of his name, or that his road was easier and he didn't have to work as hard. In fact, it was the total opposite. Eliko del Santo didn't know his dad was El Santo, the Silver Mask wrestler until he was seven or eight years old. Elikho del Santo recalls that their house was quite normal. In fact, there was nothing to suggest it was a lutal livery house at all, no posters of Santo, the photos know anything. There was only one thing he had at home that was different from his friend's houses. His dad had a private, locked room that no one was allowed to go into. Ever, like many kids of that era, he worshiped El Santo along with other larger than life heroes like Batman and Spider Man. He had all the action figures and fled with them, just like kids do. But then one Sunday his dad asked him to come along with him to work. The kid was thrilled. He didn't know what his dad did and this was sure to be an adventure. They got into a car driven by El Santo's private driver, Ikho. Del Santo hopped in the front seat, his dad got into the back. As they drove along, he looked out the window, taking in Mexico City's vibrant, voystery streets. Finally, he turned around to point something out to his dad, but that was gone. Not only was that Gune, he found himself face to face with El Santo and mascarole Plata. Can you imagine there are surprises and then there's total shock, the kind of shock where your jaw drops and your eyes get as big as quarters. Well, for this little kid in particular, this was a true shock. His own father was one of his heroes. Neither man nor boys said a word. It was all too big to mind blowing. At last, they arrived at a plaza pack with people and little shop selling Lucha Libre Fandi. The driver stopped the car and Al Santo his dad got out and walked through the crowd, everyone cheering. Once they were inside the arena, he saw his dad, El Santo in the public eye once again, this time in the eyes of spectators. As his father entered the arena, they cheered Santo Santo Santo, and when he got close, the fans lifted him onto their shoulders to carry him the final stretch to the ring. Little Iho El Santo didn't understand any of it. His dad got in the ring and El Santo started to wrestle. Naturally, he started taking hits. It was more than his son could handle, and the poor kids started to cry. But from that day on, Lucha Libre became something even more special to El Santo's son than it already was. He was not another fan like all of his classmates. He learned that day that the sport was in his blood and he could not be any prouder to be his father's son. His admiration for Elsanto only continued to grow, and as he got older, he decided he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a luchador himself. Elo began training at a gym in downtown Mexico City where a friend of his dad's trained. At first, he just worked out with lifting and so on, but eventually the friend said, come on, it's time, let's get in the ring, and from there he started learning the basic wrestling moves of lucha lib Eventually, El Santo's son went to his dad, El Santo himself, and told him he thought he was ready to enter the ring. What El Santo told him absolutely not. It's kind of funny because that's exactly what my dad said to me too. He tried to reassure El Santo, telling him that he had been training rigorously. Santo told him it was fine to train, but he was not going to ever wrestle professionally. Instead, Santo told his son, you need to focus on your studies. El Santo, like my father Fantasma, wanted their children to go to college. Higher education has always been an aspiration for families that don't have it, and both these men were successful enough to give it to their children. I want my own kids to go to college too. Toririjo del Santo's credit, he listened to his father and applied to college. Unfortunately, he wasn't admitted and he would have to wait a year for the chance to apply again. And he wanted to spend the year in Guadalajara training under El Diablo Belasco, the Devil Velasco his coach at the time. El Santo didn't love the idea, but sudden he had to meet his son halfway. Just try not to get hurt, he said, And as any parent knows, sometimes we just have to let our kids go their own way. After this short chapter in Walajara, elihudel Santo came back to the Capitol. He kept training and also started studying again. One day, his father sent him to the workshop of Victor Martinez. Yeah, the Victor Martinez, famous for making Lucha libre masks. Don't get too excited yet, though. El Santo was just sending his kid on an errand to grab his gear, not sending him to get fitted, but in a curve ball of faith, the visit to Victor Martinez changed his life. Aren't you going to wrestle? The mask maker said, I can get you a match if you want a debut. It was the invitation he had been waiting for for years. Without hesitation, he said yes. He knew that this was not what his father wanted for him, but being a luccado is a calling, and sometimes that cold can overpower even our parents. It's something deep inside of you and ultimately you can't ignore it. It's a fire, a spirit, a destiny, whatever you want to call it, and so like that. On February sixth, nineteen eighty two, the son of one of the biggest legends in Lucha Libre made his debut in the city of Plexkala, restling under the name of Korak Yep. He didn't have his famous name yet, but there was no going back. He would wrestle with any name he could. The following week, kak Elijel Santo was already in San Luis Potosi in attacked him match. He got a black eye in that match, and when he came back to Mexico City, his father asked him what had happened, Well, I got kicked during training, he lied. But we're talking about El Santo here Rasa. This guy basically wrote the book, and you could not get won by him. In fact, someone had already told him what happened training, Santo asking, look, I know you've been wrestling. Santo told his son once again that he needed to go back to school and get his degree. At that point, he only had a semester left, but he was loving wrestling and told his dad he wanted to keep going. He took El Santo a couple of days to digest his son's wish, but finally he called him again and said, fine, you want to be a wrestler, I'm going to give you a test. El Santo summoned his son to are Ina Mexico the very next day. He wore his mask and everything. Can you imagine going to our Ina Mexico all by yourself to be tested by the most decorated luch of all time, El Santo, your own father, who imagine the giant arena, the empty seats. Imagine Lebron James and his son at the Staples Center testing him to see if he had what it takes to play in the NBA back to Alsanto. No one was watching but the janitors at the arena, who were about to witness something incredible. For the test, El Santo's son brought a sparring partner with him. The two got in the ring and rastled, and he demonstrated all the techniques he had been learning. At this point, he had been working for many years and knew what he was doing. El Santo stopped them and said, all right, that's enough, and then inexplicably, he walked out of the arena. Years later, Elijo del Santo learned that his dad left because he was on the brink of tears away. In the locker room, he cried. He was so very proud of his son, who was already an incredibly skilled wrestler. When Alcanto came back, he asked his son what l each other name he was using, and he told him he was called Korak. Who is the name of Tarzan's son in the Tarzan comic. So Tarzan's son is that, said, wouldn't it be better to be the son of El Santo who the empty arena the Tidan passing the torch to his rookie son. The Birth of a new name. The whole scene gives me goose bumps. No more Kork. From that moment on, he was officially Alejo del Santo. Initially, he had wanted to create his own wrestling persona independent from his dad. It's hard being the child of a great so people changed their names to distinguish themselves. One of Stephen King's son goes by Joe Hill. For example, former President Barack Obama's daughter Malia uses the name Malia Ann. But when El Santo made that proposal, he decided to commit to the legacy of his father and said yes, he would continue the name as a sign of honor and respect. A decision like this, well, it's a massive one. It shapes your life. I know because I did the same thing, and for a while I used my father's name and went by Elijho el Fantasma. Here's what anthropologist Patricia Selis has to say about the phenomena E moi moi dessalon Elimolko. She says, the symbolic way is hard to even describe. To carry the name of your father, what if it doesn't come naturally, or worse, what if it doesn't come at all. Must have about all of that in that moment, but he also felt his that's enthusiasm for his career. El Santo committed himself to getting his son ready for the ring, teaching him all his trademark moves and holds like the famous lad A Cabayo. Santo told his son that he didn't need to copy the moves, just that he was giving him tools which he could then make his own and adapt to his own personal style. He was not going to be a replica of El Santo. He was going to be an evolution, because that's how Luca Libre legacies work. Tnenqeverercon COMPARTII. It's a process of sharing traditions, habits, values and practices, Patricia says. So, the newly Christian Eliko del Santo made his debut on October eighteenth, nineteen eighty two, in Nuevolare Doo, Tamaulipas. The arena was filled and he was thrilled to know that everyone there was there to see him wrestle. It was attacked him match against two fierce rudos, one of them being Sangri Chicana, a legend who we know all too well. Sangria Chicana moved up and down the ring like a wild animal. Elikho del Santo was intimidated, even scared, but there was nothing to do but try his best and wrestle with everything he had. So that's exactly what he did. In fact, in the first fall, Elikho del Santo and his partner emerged victorious, but the second fall went to the Rudos. In the third and final fall, Sangri Chicana fouled Elijo del Santo and the Rudos got disqualified. That meant Elikho del Santo and his partner were the winners. For many in the arena that night, the result was a disappointment. Sangre Chicana had legions of loyal fans and the match had been in his hometown. Who did this new guy wearing the silver mask think he was? Sports pondits had doubts, too. Many thought this dew luchalod would never be able to live up to the legacy of El Santo. This is what I mean. In some ways, el Santo paved the way for his son, but the path came with unique challenges. You're fighting not just your opponents, You're fighting the pressure of massive expectations being the son of a legend, especially one the caliber of Elsanto, means that the audience gives you nothing for free. In some ways, they want to see you fail. You want to see you be just the poor imitation of your father. So you have to work extra hard. You have to fight your own battle, both to live up to the legacy and to make your own name. This is why neither el Santo nor my own father Elfantasma, wanted their children to follow in their footsteps, because they knew how difficult that would be, basically mentally and emotion Victor Ti, is also a junior, knows this feeling too, did you a as criticus, he says, the criticisms come even when you're doing your best, Even when you're doing well, it's a constant struggle to shake off everyone saying you don't have it in you, or that you can't embody the character. The thing is, it's not even about embodying the character. El Santo understood this very clearly, and he wanted to free his son from any pressure to wrestle the same way he did. He told him to have confidence in himself, to believe in himself, giving himself permission to be his own men gave Elkoto the tools to succeed. He started winning matches and that year he earned the Rookie of the Year award. But right when Alikoo was really starting to climb the ranks, his life took a turn. On February fifth, nineteen eighty four, Rodolfo Gusmann, the legendary El Santo elen Mascarado de Plata, passed away. Elikjo el Santo bowed to continue wearing the silver mask in his honor. In fact, that very same year, Elligo El Santo won his first title, the u w A Lightweight Championship. The following year, in nineteen eighty six, he became the world lightweight Champion. Things kept moving up for Lego El Santo. In nineteen ninety he made his debut in Japan with a group of other Mexican wrestlers, and that same year he won the u w A welterweight title. By December nineteen ninety one, the year he faced Black Shadow Junior, he had already won many masks versus mask matches. In fact, when Eleikho Del Santo took Black Shadows Junior's mask, it was his twenty second victory. It was then that he brought to an end the rivalry he had inherited from his father. But just like Luca families can inherit rivalries, they can also inherit alliances. Elko del Santo was in an alliance with Gorri Guerrero's son Eddie Guerrero because the Tu Luchador his fathers had wrestled together back in the day. El Santo and Gori were called the atomic pair as for the sons. They also fought for a whiless teammates, but the alliance didn't end well. It didn't end well at all. That story on our next episode of Lucha Libre Behind the Mask. No Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, hosted by Santos Escobar, produced by Fernanda Strada, Argumelo and Marianna Coronell, Written in Spanish by Tania Lopez and adapted in English by ASA Merit. Story editor Rodrigo Crespo, fact checking by monserrad mal Donado, Research and interviews by Marianna Coronell, with help from Fernandez Strada, Daniel Padilla and Saul Cortes. Mix 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, Marianairera, Paula Perez, Marianna Baron, Wendy Barba, and Bernice Soto Head of Marketing, Susanna Marina. Lucha Libre Behind the Mask is a Sonaro original series for iheartsmikl to the podcast network, Listen to more podcasts in the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Agredecimentos Specialist Para Raoul Criojo, Patricia Celis Vanegas E Victor Ortiz. Thank you to the CMLL for the permissions granted to record ambient audio in their facilities.