Lucha Libre: Behind The MaskThroughout history, many Mexican wrestlers have ventured to the United States to try their luck, but one wrestler elevated Mexican wrestling to new heights: Rey Mysterio. Inspired by him, others followed, including Santos Escobar, who is now one of WWE's stars. Rey and Santos represent Mexico and showcase why Mexican Lucha Libre is the best!
One of w w's biggest shows is called SmackDown, and back in two thousand and two, the crowd got to witness one of the great debuts of professional wrestling history. It was a new star, a champion of Mexican Lucha Libre. The announcer teased the crowd's attention and then on cue, the floor opened and from the whole shut up Ray Mysterio. Wearing red pants and a matching red mask, Ray instantly won the crowd over. Everyone was cheering and screaming. Ray's opponent was another famous lute libera wrestler, Chabo Guerrero, nephew of the legendary Eddie Guerero. Naturally, Ray was nervous. It was his first w W appearance, and for years he had worked to break in a lot was at stake. At first, looked like the stronger luchador. He flipped Ray over his head.
And slammed him to the man.
A few minutes later, Ray took the upper hand and used Chabo's own trick against him, throwing him.
Flat on the man.
It almost ended there, but then Chabo wasn't going to give up so easily. He stood up and launched at Ray, pinning him against the ropes. He was pushing so hard you would think Chabo was using the ropes to try and slice Ray in half to put the nail in the coffin. Chabo through Ray, days from the rope, burns out of the ring. Somehow Ray managed to get to his feet and lurched his way back into the ring, but Chabo was there waiting for him, ready with more body slams and kicks to the gut. Then at some point crowd started Chandy Ray, Ray, Ray, Pray. Their voices reached him and adrenaline took over. He ran circles around travel and attack Travel with his signature move at six one nine. Now, in case you don't know the six' one nine, this is how it goes. First, Ray knocks his opponent down, then drags him to the ropes and tees him up. Next, he runs across the ring to build up speed, bounces up the ropes, and then returns to deliver the blow, swinging through the top and middle ropes to hit his opponent with a spinning kick, usually in the head. Ray named the move after the area code of San Diego, California, where he's from. Those three numbers six one and nine are a nud to his roots.
Back to the match.
After the brill sixty one nine, Ray climbed up to the top rope, jumped onto tavel and pin.
Him and one. The crowd absolutely lost it.
And for Ray, this wasn't any old victory. It marked a new beginning. Not only did he make a commanding debut that impressed the crowd, he got his mask back. Losing it had been the hardest moment of his career. That's the story we'll hear about shortly. But from that match on, Ray began his journey to become the greatest mask luchador alive today, a true legend. In this episode, the final one of the series, I'm going to tell you the story of tu luchadores who made it big in the w W.
One is Ray.
Mysterious, and the other, of course, is yours truly.
Sanchos Escob.
I am Sanchos Escoba, 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 schedule for twelve episodes and it's all about Lucha liber This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mass Episode twelve.
Ray Mysterio from Mexico to the World.
Raymysteria can't remember a time in his life when there was in lucha libre. The tradition started with his uncle, Miguel. You probably know Miguel as Ray Mysterio Senior. For many years he was the one and only Ray Mysterio, the creator of the name, and a famous luchador in Tijuana. But in this episode, to keep things clear, we will refer to Ray Senior as Uncle Miguel. He was raised uncle on his mom's side. The families were very close and growing up, she would take Greade to see Uncle Miguel wrestle all around southern California. In fact, for a time they all lived together in San Diego. Ray's family came from Mexico, but he was born in Chula Vista, California, and spent his childhood in the US.
By the time he was eight years.
Old, Ray already knew he wanted to be aluchado. His parents supported him on the condition that he didn't drop out of school, so he started training with his uncle Miguel. Here's Ray himself describing those early days.
Says that he was the smallest kid in his wrestling class and that only his dedication and passion carried him through the toughest workouts.
Making matters more intense. His uncle Miguel pushed Ray harder than the others during training. He would hit Ray so hard that it made him.
Cry pedal jamas Ham.
But I never gave up, Ray says, he always did what he had to do to keep up with the others. Ray's family moved to Tijuana and he started working in a pizza joint.
In the afternoons.
The TV always had American Pro wrestling matches on. This was around the Hal Hogan era. Ray also watched CMLL matches, where he surely saw my father atvantasma On Thursday nights, Ray went to his uncle's Jim to train. It was there that he met Conan, who would go on to become a key figure in Ray's career. By the time Ray turned fourteen, he decided he was ready to get in the ring. After all, he'd already been training for six years. It was all he wanted in life. So young Ray gathered his courage and went to talk to his uncle. Surprise, surprise, Miguel didn't want his fourteen year old nephew battling it out against grown men in the ring.
Yet.
He told Young Ray that his technique was good, but physically he just wasn't big enough to be fair. At that time, Ray weighed only one hundred pounds and was barely five feet tall. But that didn't stop Ray. No, no, Miguel reluctantly told Ray, fine, but first, first you have to pass the wrestling test and get your license. Sure enough, Ray exceeded expectations. He passed the test with flying collars and got his license. All he needed now was a mask, a sued and of course, a name. He thought the name was obvious considering the role his uncle had had in his development as a luccador. I wanted to call myself Ray Mysterio Junior, Ray says, but his uncle Miguel told him no, that he wasn't ready yet. I promise we will talk again when the moment is right, he said, And for the time being, his uncle gave him a different name, e Leagrato Verde, or the Green Lizard. For his first few weeks as Luceador, Ray wrestled as Legato Verde in a makeshift ring in a Tijuana cemetery. But Ray didn't like the name and went back to his uncle asking for a change. Miguel's second name for Ray was a better fit. He called him Colibri, which means hummingbird. The name was a reference to Ray's style, which was already coming into focus, a style full of aerial moves that made it seem like he was flying. After wrestling under Klibri for a while, a promoter hired Ray thanks to a recommendation from his uncle, who agreed to take full responsibility if anything happened to him. Ray's first performance with that promoter was in April of nineteen eighty nine at the Tijuana Auditorium. The young luchador won the match. Ray was finally leaving the dream he'd worked for since he was eight years old, a chieving glory in the wrestling ring. Little by little, Ray still wrestling as Klibri, kept moving up the ranks. He was still small and skinny, but his original moves won over the fance. Then one night in nineteen ninety one, Ray's career and life changed forever. Someone had a promise to keep Colibri and his Tactam partner were entering the ring when suddenly the announcer said that it is.
A very all you witness.
Ray didn't know what was happening. His partner didn't either. The fans were looking around when suddenly he saw Ray Mysterio, his uncle climbing into the ring, taking the microphone and saying.
You know, RAI.
Started to no, you will be Ray.
For this episode.
We were lucky enough to interview Ray in both English and Espanol. You will hear a bit of both. Here's Ray again.
Was no longer going to be known as CODIV and was now going to be known as Ray in the Stadio Junior. So very very very special and important memory in my heart in my career, because from that moment on, I always carried the name of the Misstadio legacy with deep heritage and honor, making the best out out of our dynasty and taking it, you know, as far as it's come.
Here today, Ray had earned the name his uncle had promised him, and from that night on his career took off. By the time he was a senior in high school, Conan, the famous Lucheldo he met at his uncle's training sessions, called him from Mexico City. He told Ray about a new company, Triple A, and that they needed new wrestlers. The first thing that crossed my mind was school. Says. There was no way his parents would let him drop out, but after Conan traveled to Tijuana to have a long talk with Ray's family, they eventually gave in. It was hard to let him go, but they knew how important wrestling was to their son and gave him their blessing. Ray Mysterious Junior debut in Triple A in nineteen ninety two at a show in Veracruz. As soon as the match started, Ray Junior began to fly around the ring. The acrobatic disc play stunned the crowd, and within minutes he had earned the respect of every Luca fan in the arena.
His style was both fresh and impressive.
Ray also earned the respect of Antonio Beena, who that night became convinced that Ray Junior had the makings of a star. It was around that time that I first met Ray. I was a kid, just nine or ten years old maybe, and often went with my dad to his training sessions and shows, and what happened. I remember one time at the Triple A office when my dad pointed at Ray Junior and said, that kid is gonna make it.
Boy, oh boy. He was completely right.
Ray's other mentor besides his uncle, was Conan. What the time was resting in the US with ECB Extreme Championship Wrestling. Conan told one of the promoters he could mix things up by bringing in Mexican talent, and naturally, Mysterio Junior was on that list. Ray Junior's first match in e c W took place in October of nineteen ninety five. His opponent that night was Psychosis, another wrestler from Triple A. The two had faced off many times before, but Ray knew that if he blew it, his tenure in easy w might be very short lived. At first, the crowd supported Psychosis the rudom, but as soon as they saw Race junior incredible acrobatic moves.
They switched to his side.
In fact, crowd liked Ray so much they wanted him back the very next week.
He had passed the test.
During that stretch of his career, Ray was so in demand that he wrestled almost every night of the wor week in Mexico with Triple A and in the United States. Would easy w imagine how grueling that schedule must have been, But Asrae himself once said, when you're living your dream, you don't have time to be tired. And nineteen ninety six was a particularly successful year.
For Ray Mysterior. June, at just twenty.
Two years old, he was already starting in Triple A, headlining shows and performing in main events. He was wrestling every weekend in easyw and if all that wasn't enough, he started wrestling in Japan next Once again, thanks to Conan, Ray graduated to World Championship Wrestling. His WCWW came in June nineteen ninety six in Baltimore, where at the Great American Bash, he faced off against Dean Malenko. At the time, Dean was the World Cruiserweight Champion and well on his way to becoming a legend in pro wrestling. That night, in the locker room, Ray cross paths with legends like Hulk Hogan, the same group of wrestlers who had inspired him years before. While working in the piece of shop in Tijuana. This night was massive for him. At once in the ring, din Malenko seemed more intimidating than Ray had imagined.
His rival was pure muscle and was.
So skilled that he was known as the men of a thousand holts.
I was very nervous than Di Malenko is such a master technician.
Nervous but ready. At first, the match started quietly. Finally, Ray Junior cut Malenko off guard, grabbed his neck, and threw.
Him out of the ring.
By now the crowd was on their feet. This was the match they'd all come to see. Malenko fought back fiercely, putting Ray Junior in a submission hole, but Ray Junior kicked hard and somehow broke free. Ray, staring escape, started getting the crowd on his side, and they started cheering wildly for him. Eventually, Ray Junior got the upper hand and tossed Malenko out of the ring, leaving him completely disorientated. Taking the banch of the moment, Ray climbed the top rope Somer souldered out of the ring, smashing Malenko against the cement floor. Ray Junior dragged him back onto the ring to finish him. He put Malenko in a wrench hole put in a verse of strength. Malenko reversed the hold and threw Ray to the mat, pinning him just like that. In an amazing comeback, Malenko won the match. The crowd went wild for the show they had just witnessed. The fight between Malenko and Ray Junior had been epic. Even though Ray lost, something special had happened.
We clipped instantly. We had a connection. He understood my style and when I needed to slow down, he slowed me down. When I needed to kick the pace up, he would help me kick the pace up. And he made me look back a million dollars, so I will forever be thanking within Milenko.
A few weeks later, w CW offered Raate a full time contract, and the young wrestler felt like he was on top of the world. On July eighth, he faced in Malenko again, and this time he won not only the match but also the title. He became the WCW Cruiserweight Champion.
And it was here that race.
Path crossed with Eddie Guerrero, another restaurant in WCW. Remember that Eddie had roots in both the US and Mexico. He used both to his advantage. In Mexico, he played up his americanness by wrestling with Los Gerringos Locus, and in the United States he formed a group of wrestlers called the Latino World Order, inspired by the New World Order, a group that included Hulk, Hogan and Conan. The Latino World Order consisted of most of the Mexican wrestlers then in WCW, including Psychosis La Parca and Juento Guerrera. Naturally, Eddie invited Ray Mysterious Junior too. At first, Raid refused, but after several matches eventually joined. After all, it was a way to introduce himself to tens of thousands of new American fans. Unfortunately, the group didn't last long. None of this stub Race Junior assent, though he kept winning upsets against big name opponents, so much so that fans gave him the nickname the Giant Killer. In February nineteen ninety nine, Ray faced Kevin Nash at WCWS superbroad Not only were there hundreds of thousands of people watching, the match would profoundly.
Affect Ray's career.
It was a lucha de al bosta, and his mask was on the line. It was a tack team match, and Ray had a powerful teammate entering the ring with him that night was Conan, and together they faced off against Nash and another member of the New World Order. The battle was intense. Conan was the first to be defeated, and even though Ray Junior took down one of the New World Order wrestlers, he eventually was defeated too. And with his defeat, Ray lost his mask. As you can imagine, the moment was devastating. Conan untied the backstrap of Ray's mask, and Ray Junior, with his own hand, removed the mask his uncle Miguel had designed for him. The face that emerged from under the mask cut the crowd off guard. It was the face of a very young luchador, barely a man who had sat eyes and a clenched jaw, undeniably handsome. In w c W, they thought Ray's face would sell better than his mask. That's why they had him exposed. Today however, we know they were wrong, but in that moment, no one was thinking about all that. They were just thinking about the mask because something terrible was happening. His opponents were playing with it, throwing it around like a toylque esper I don't think they understood what the mask means to a luchador.
Ray says.
In Mexico, as you know, when a lucha nowther wins a mask, this is treated as a sacred trophy.
That evening.
You would never know it from the way the Americans were acting. When he was finally alone in the locker room, Ray broke down and cried the mask was part of his identity and part of his family's legacy. Nevertheless, from that moment on, Ray wrestled without his mask. He accumulated an impressive number of victories, but WCW didn't renew his contract and he returned to Mexico. The homecoming didn't last, though, because in two thousand and one, WWE reached out with an offer he couldn't refuse. They asked him if he wanted to come back to the US. Oh, and you can wear your mask again, they said. Ray's first match in WWE was in July of two thousand and two, SmackDown, the massive competition I mentioned at the beginning of this episode, where Ray defeated Schabo Guerrero and earned the full respect of the American audience. And it was there that his uncle Miguel came into the arena and officially changed his name to Ray Mysterio Senior, making Ray Junior the one and only Ray Mysterio. It was the kind of historic moment in the luche Ever universe that only happens a few times in a generation. So in two thousand and three, the luchador formerly known as Ray Mysteria Junior attended Drestlemania as the Ray Mysterio we know today. Two thousand and three was a very special year, not just for Ray Mysterio. It was for me too, because it was in two thousand and three that I started wrestling under the name Elijo del Phantasma. As you know, luchalib has been the air I breathed for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I watched ww on TV with my dad, and at the time, Shawn Michaels and Triple H were my favorite drestlers. Besides their wrestling style, I loved the production of the matches in the US. They looked different from the Mexican ones. And although my father always supported me in everything I set out to do just like Ray and his uncle, my dad didn't give.
Me his name easily. In fact.
Initially he gave it to someone else, my cousin. It was then that I took the name top Secret. That carried me during the first years of my career, even though they were early years, they were great ones. I wrestled anywhere and everywhere, small arenas, outdoor markets, churches, local fair.
You name it. They had a ring, I'd wrestle on it.
It wasn't until two thousand and three, after several years in the minor leagues, so to speak, that my dad realized I had the talent to carry on his legacy. I became a Lejo del Fantasma and started to wrestle alongside him. We wrestled as a team, my dad, my cousin and I lost Fantasmas. It was a magical time. But in two thousand and five, something happened that broke the spell. The wrestling world lost one of its greats. Eddie Gorero suffered a heart attack and passed away. He was only thirty eight years old. For Ray, the loss hit particularly hard.
Ed He just had a beautiful soul, a beautiful heart, and was a brah a beautiful person and such a professional inside the ring, and the only thing that helps me cope with him not being here today is living based on the memories that I have as much memories that I had outside of the ring as much as being inside the ring as his partner.
Meanwhile, my journey was continuing. In two thousand and eight, I finished school and my dad introduced me to one of the CMLL program directors and that's when I joined the Arena Mexico Troops. Like everyone else, I had to earn my place.
At the top. I worked hard, always.
Learning and training, and sure enough had my CMLO debut later that year. Right away, I was fortunate enough to find success. In two thousand and nine, I was part of the team that won the World three Years Championship, and later that year I won the CMLL World Middleweight Championship. I got to see the world. I went to France, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Monaco.
At Arena Mexico.
They even went as far as calling me.
The ambassador of Lucca.
In twenty eleven, the ww contacted me for the first time. I did my tryout, but it wasn't my time because in the end it didn't happen. What did happen though, Two years later, was a change of company. I, thanks to the ever helpful Conan, joined Triple A. My debut was on October eighteenth, twenty thirteen, at a premier event called Rows Immortalis Immortal Heroes, which was part of the Antonio Penya Cup. I made it to the finals but lost a closed match against La Parca. The transition to Triple A was a giant leap in my career, but it didn't come easily. Speaking into the microphone in front of giant crowds, the six sided ring, it was all so new. Even the physical demands were unprecedented, and I was struggling to keep up. Finally, Conan took me aside one day and said that if I didn't get into better shape, I wouldn't last long. Coming from the great wrestler Conan, a personal idol, the warning hit me like a ton of bricks. That very day, I started dieting and training harder than I ever had in my entire life. I was so angry that for three or four months, give or take, I even wrestled wearing a shirt, embarrassed of my body. There's nothing wrong with a bigger body, of course, but the professional expectation was to look traditionally fit, and I had to adjust my preparation. Finally came Triplemania twenty two in twenty thirteen, my first Triple Mania and my chance to prove to Conan my commitment to Luta Libre. A week prior to the show, when I stepped into the ring at Juan de la Barera Olympic Gymnasium, I took off my shirt for the first time in months. I could tell from the crowd reaction that my extra workouts had paid of. Everyone looked at me as if to say, what's he been up to? I was in great shape. I was stoned and strong shredded. Even more importantly, my mind was sharp and I was ready for action. At triple Mania, I competed for the crucied Weight World Championship. In the course of the evening, I faced a steady stream of elite wrestlers, but I gave it my all and ultimately emerged the champion El Campeon. It was a big win for me, and TV came next. I had the honor of being part of dorianro Dan's Lucha Underground, a one hour show co produced by professional wrestling producers from both the US and Mexican. I was one of the first Mexican Lucheladers on the show, presented as a character named King Querna. The show was a perfect balance of comedy and action, showcasing Luca Liberta's ongoing narrative of good versus Evil. Lucha Underground changed the way American audiences see professional wrestling, and it had an impact on my own career because American fans got to see me in a new light. By twenty fifteen, I was working at the highest level of professional wrestling, headlining triple events, winning championships, and appearing on primetime American television. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. I injured my back and was out for six months. But I worked hard and Locke was on my side, and in less than a year I was able to come back. My first main event was another ATWES Immortalist match where I fought for the Antonio Penya Cup. I won that match and went on to win the Triple A Latin American Championship.
In twenty eighteen.
It was time for me to move on from Triple A, but before I left, I decided to give the crowd something to remember. I faced off against La Park in a mask versus masque Lucha de Apuesta at Triple.
Mania twenty six.
When you're up against a great champion and Gopher Broke, you either win big or lose big, and that night it was the latter. After fifteen years of wrestling as a Lego del Fantasma, I lost my mask and revealed my identity to the Lucha Libre universe. I wish I could tell you in person how much feeling was packed into this moment, decades of professional wrestling, the legacy of my father who was there supporting me, and my son too. It's the kind of moment you always dread, and then when it happens, you'll never forget.
Soon enough, I.
Realized what a big deal it was to leave Triple A. I had no idea what would happen next, but as fate would have it, I was contacted by w W and invited to be part of their family, competing full time in the US. The visa process took six long moments, and it took that time to say goodbye to all of my favorite Mexican venues. I wrestled again independently in Arenanokalpan Arena Alopez Mateos and in various venues across the country Tijuana, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Buebla, Queretro. Many times I was wrestling alongside my dad, still by my side after all those years.
I will treasure those matches forever.
In twenty nineteen, I signed my contract with w WE, but just as I was getting started, I injured myself during a training session. I had surgery on my left knee and I was terrified about what would happen. I felt like I had let everyone down, and worst I thought they would fire me. I was even thinking about going back to Mexico. Having a conversation with WW executives. They said, are you serious?
How can you leave?
You're part of the family, And sure enough they took care of both the surgery and the rehab. In April twenty twenty was my WWW in NXT in a dark match. Now this was a test I passed with flying collars. How do I know it because a few weeks later I was competing for the WW Cruiserweight Championship against Drake Maverick as Elejo del Fantasma. The arena was empty because the COVID nineteen pandemic was in full swing, but this match was televised. I decided to wear my mask to show to the world that I come from the great Mexican tradition of Lucha Libne. For that always important opening match, I made sure everyone knew who I was, where I came from, and what I represent, and as customary in my abuse and comebacks, I won the interim NXT Curusorweight Championship. Days later, Maverick challenged me for a rematch. In response, I made a move that no one saw coming. I switched sides, took off my mask, and revealed myself as Santos Escobars. I came on the scene as Santos Escobara on July first, introducing myself alongside Rowl Mendoza and Joaquin Wild and together we formed a team, a familia called e Legado del phantasm in honor of my father and heritage. This is how I built this identity. My tradition, heritage, and culture is always at the forefront. I defended my title many times against many opponents, and in March twenty twenty one, I I defeated Jordan Devlin to become the undisputed NXT Cruiserweight Championship at Stand and Deliver. My reign lasted three hundred and thirteen days, but on April thirteen, Kashida, the famous Japanese wrestler, challenged me, and he took the title from me. I didn't hang out my gloves though. In October twenty twenty two, I appeared on SmackDown, where.
Later I got to fulfill a.
Dream I never thought possible. I got to wrestle alongside Ray, mysterio, greatest luchador of all time and one of my idols growing up. When we got in the ring together, I thanked him for inspiring me as a Luchello. After the match, I gave him a mask, and to my surprise, he gave me one in return. I thought back to when my that point at Ray way back when and said that kid is going to make it. Not only had my dad been right, Ray had become a living legend. In fact, a year later, in March twenty twenty three, Ray was inducted into the ww Hall of Fame, becoming one of the few superstars to join that exclusive club while still active.
So, when I was told that I was going to be inducted into the Hall of fame. I thought, wow, but I'm not ready to retire. And I remember Hunter told me that LA would be the right place for me to be inducted, and the first words that came out of my mouth was like, I'm not ready to leave, Like I still want to keep going. He goes, No, you don't have to retire, you know, we just think it's the best place because of your backyard where you were raised.
In his acceptance speech, Ray thanked his family, his wife, his friends, but Babo defense.
I personally want to thank the ww universe atolos status. Hear me out when I say this, I truly believe that none of this would be possible without all of you. You guys have made the name Raymi Stadio in.
Mortal Lucha Libre.
Our Lucha Libre is filled with immortal names, gladiators and amazons who gave their all as performers and athletes. People like the legendary Hierma Gonzalez, one of the first female wrestlers, who with the CMLL officially recognized in twenty twenty three and named a cup in her honor. Legends like Edie Gerrero who left us too soon, whose Latino World Order was revived in twenty twenty three thanks to Remister and of which I was also part of, and of course legends who continue to achieve success today, like Ray Mysterio, who in twenty twenty three became yet again the WWE United States Champion. Our Lucha Libre is a vast community of men, women, minis and exoticos, all striving to become legends, all essential parts of the fabric of the Lucha Libre universe. As for myself, I am so honored to count myself a member of this amazing family, of this legacy. Just this year, in twenty twenty four, I found myself face to face with Ray Mysterio, trying to write my name once again in the history books. It was WrestleMania forty, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I wrestled in a tag team match against Ray Mysterious. In the heat of the battle, I made the punches, body slams, and even one of Ray's trademarks six one.
To nine moves.
There was a moment I will never forget. Ray and I were each standing on the top rope at the top of the world, face to face, looking into each other's eyes. I grab him by the ears and whispered, I love you, thank you so much, and bam, I snuck in a good shot. My advantage didn't last long though. Soon after Ray ended up winning the match with a six one nine. But win or loose, it doesn't matter in that little moment. That's the essence of lucha libre. Lucha libre is two wrestlers to Luca Dores, fighting to prove who is more skilled, who is a stronger, who is more talented. It's an incredible competition combined with tremendous respect.
That's what luce liibre is.
Friendships, rivalries, challenges, winners and losers, masks and hair. It's arenas filled with fans are plotting, cheering, whistling, and of course cursing. I like to think that Donavut, the man who brought lucha libre to Mexico a century ago, would be proud of all we've accomplished. And I like to think that we not only brought Antonio Penya's vision of world class luchalibre to life, but we have expanded it.
Today.
Lucha Libre is something that continues to bring Mexico and the United States together. CMLL and Triple A shows are presented in cities like New York and Los Angeles. Ww My Home has organized several events in Mexico. Who knows, maybe in the future there will even be a WrestleMania in Mexico too. Together we continue the legacy of the greats, carrying out Mexican tradition, heritage, and culture to all.
Corners of the globe.
We follow in the footsteps of El Santo Blue, demon Irma Gonzalez, May Flowers, La Barca, Perro Awayo, and the countless others who have come before us. We train every day, we grind every day. We create new characters, we tell new stories, so that every week, whether in the arena or on the screen, all of us us, both the wrestlers and the fans, can go crazy with excitement.
Bendita Lucha Libre Nouncate Garez.
Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, hosted by Santos Escobar, produced by Fernande 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 Maldonado, Research and interviews by Marianna Coronel with help from Fernandez Strada, Daniel Padilla and Saul Cortes. Mixed and sound design Daniel Padilla and Fernando Gallaviz. Studio recordings in Orlando, Florida by High Hello Studios. Studio recordings in Mexico City by Daniel Padilla, Fernando Galaviz and Andres Baena in Sonoro Studios. Development by Rodrigo Crespo. Executive producers Camilla Victoriano and Joshu Weinstein for Sonorro and Gisel Banziz for Iheartsmichael Tura Podcast Network. Marketing Strategy and execution by Claudia Fernandez, Mariana Herrera, Paula Perez, Marianna Baron, Wendy Barba, and Bernice Soto.
Head of Marketing Susanna Marina. Covered art Carlos Miranda.
Lucha Libre Behind the Mask is a Sonoro original series for Iheartsmichael Tura Podcast Network. Listen to more podcasts in the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Additional and background voices Alex de Winter, Evelyn Uribe, Fernando Galaviz, Manuel Parra, Samantha Rolez, Santiago, Sierra.
Saul Cortes, Dania Lopez.
Lucally reconsulting by Oswaldo Pedraza, Ugo Monroy, cat Allegria, Raul creojo Ector Alvores and Sergio Strada. Special acknowledgements too the Irmas Mayflowers, Lady Apace, Elfantasma and Ray Mysterio for their interviews for this podcast. Special acknowledgements too, Ugo Monroy, Eric Hernandez, Sandra Granados from CML for their support. Thank you to the cml L for the permissions granted to record ambient audio in their facilities.
