Lucha Libre Volcánica: professional wrestling in the Latinx traditi...

In Spanish, “Lucha Libre” translates as “free fight”, and most usually refers to a dramatized style of professional wrestling with vivid characters, acrobatic feats, and colorful outfits developed in Mexico in the early 20th century.

A few weeks ago I went down to check out a new “lean-profit” multidisciplinary arts space in Tacoma, WA that I’ve been wanting to explore: Alma Mater. They host a variety of rad creative events - including the Pacific Northwest’s only lucha libra troupe - Lucha Libre Volcánica - who happened to be performing that night!

I’ve never been to a lucha libre show before, but oh man - it was FUN.

To be fair, I’ve been in the wrestling mood lately, having watched all of GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) on Netflix. While I grew up seeing professional wrestling on tv, it wasn’t until I watched GLOW that I really started to understand the “theatre” that goes into this work - and the incredible physical training it takes to execute all of the acrobatics!! At any rate, I watched this match with a different understanding of what I was seeing - and was so impressed with the show that these men put on!

Real quick, here’s a GLOW trailer for those of you who have been missing out:

Okay, back to LUCHA!

The name of the game here is showmanship - and these wrestlers certainly delivered. Here’s a quick snippet of thought about it from Lucha Libre Volcánica’s site:

Lucha Libre Volcánica is an action-packed, all-out war between rudos and técnios whom fly into battle via daring, acrobatic attacks of epic proportions! Lucha Libre translates literally as "free fight", and is a traditional form of Mexican wrestling that has its roots in the early 1900s. Lucha Libre is noted for its fantastical costumes and acrobatic flair. Lucha Libre's iconic characters and costumes often draw upon historical myths of good and evil, as well as cultural traditions such as Día de los Muertos. In Mexico Lucha Libre is second only to soccer in popularity. As the premier Lucha Libre troupe, Lucha Libre Volcánica is the only place to see classic Lucha Libre action in the Pacific Northwest!

The stage is set.

I was wildly impressed with how Alma Mater turned their theater space into a professional wrestling ring. What an awesome transformation.

A wrestler faces down the competition across the ring.

The lighting was a big part of the show, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting snaps with cool lighting effects and shadows like this one.

And this one.

And this one. :)

I particularly enjoyed how the performers took the time to hype up the crowd.

Here’s a wrestler getting the crowd stirred up while he makes threats towards his opponent waiting for him outside of the ring.

And then, of course, he takes dramatic action by flinging himself off the ring!

Throughout every match performers took opportunities to dive and vault out of the ring in different ways - bringing the fight down close to the audience, and sometimes even spilling over a bit! Note: this is all staged, so the performers know what they’re doing and are signaling each other as they work.

Another leap!

As the matches progress, the more athletic performers enter the ring - amping up the show slowly but surely with more interesting tricks and riskier moves.

I love this upcoming series of 4 photos captures two of the guys doing an awesome move!

Then...

And...

Here the guy who was just lifted flips the other guy up into the air and sends him flying! What?!

And here are a bunch more action shots from throughout the night!!

I do want to take a moment to say - I was SO IMPRESSED with how inclusive Lucha Libre Volcánica made this sport.

This troupe seems to be operating with a very inclusive mindset. There were openly gay wrestlers, a cross-dressing wrestler, and wrestlers of all cultural backgrounds represented (Latinx, Black, White, and Asian). This isn’t what I expected coming to a wrestling event - I’ll admit - and to find this intersectional and welcoming space was a breath of fresh air.

I haven’t been able to stop telling people about this experience, and I’m revved up to go again sometime soon. But first - I need to put my money where my mouth is and go support out local roller derby team (another niche sport I think I’d like a lot).