Life in the pankration, between risks, shortcomings and pain

There is a phrase in wrestling that reveals an unfortunate reality of gladiators: We know how we are going to go up, but not how we are going to go down. The halo of danger accompanies them inside the ring, almost all of them have suffered high-grade injuries and have not even woken up after falling on the canvas; Despite the risks, the majority work without health insurance, only with the confidence of leaving unharmed, or better yet, alive.

“We do not have social security or social benefits, such as Infonavit or a retirement fund, like the rest of the people. Even though we know we have nothing, we are here for the love of fighting. It’s only when something happens that you say ‘Chin, what do I do now?’ And that’s when you really worry,” said Fuerza Guerrera, one of the most emblematic heels in Mexican wrestling.

An injury to his intestines after receiving a blow in the ring caused Fuerza Guerrera to begin to feel discomfort and I even thought he had cancer. After several tests he was diagnosed with an internal injury, for which he had to undergo surgery. All expenses were at his expense.

Like everyone, I have suffered and I have also learned to heal myself. But when it’s something serious it’s very difficult, because you think your career is over. More than the economic issue, there is moral and emotional pain; You think about your family, otherwise you will not be able to fight again.

I broke the pig

–How did you pay for the operation?

–I broke my piglet. Saving is the only way to prevent in this profession, recognizes Fuerza Gue-rrera, who at 70 years old remains current.

He is just one of the many examples of independent fighters who, despite having an extensive career, must face medical expenses alone in one of the highest-risk sports professions.

In the image above, a spectacular postcard of the Arena Coliseo. Photo Germán Canseco and the book Spectacular wrestling. spellings by Lourdes Grobet

The stories of misfortune make one think of other references such as Psicosis, who has worked for Triple A and the American WWE. Also called Nicho El Millonario, 53, suffered a hip fracture during a fight in February, for which one of his friends created crowdfunding on the Internet to support him.

For now, he maintains that the World Wrestling Council (CMLL) is the only one that supports its members to a certain extent in the event of serious injuries in the ring, since not even Triple A, one of the most consolidated companies in This industry has looked for an option to provide security for gladiators.

However, the CMLL only supports certain medical expenses when fighters are injured in one of its venues, such as the Arena México or the Arena Coliseo. If you get hurt in another scenario, they don’t respond to you, but I do recognize that it is the only company with physiotherapy or care for contractures, it is a good thing, because before we had to go with the bone workersFuerza Guerrera stressed.

Even though the confrontations of the masked men have become one of the most popular spectacles, there is no law that protects them. On several occasions the gladiators have approached the authorities to request help, they even appeared before the Senate in 2022, but there was no forceful response.

However, a possibility of support has arisen. In March, the Senate approved an initiative to establish a minimum wage and provide social security to all professional athletes. The project, promoted by the women’s soccer community, is currently waiting to be reviewed in the Chamber of Deputies to become law.

–What do you think about the initiative? Fuerza Guerrera was asked

–It is something that has been proposed, but that is what it remains, a proposal. Asking does not impoverish you, although it will be difficult for them to approve medical insurance, since we need an employer to pay salaries and there is none, he responded unmotivated when he was aware of the complications to solve a vital problem in Mexican wrestling.