Under the masks are the faces of lawyers, merchants and torteros

José Orlando Regalado Alonso was known in the arenas as King Destroyer. In a fight against Black Spider Jr, on March 2 in Monterrey, the man from Monterrey died at the age of 22 after a fall that caused severe brain damage. During the 10 days he was hospitalized, wrestlers like LA Park, Silver Star and Latin Lover raised funds to help his family, because there were problems paying for medical care. That was the most recent death that this sport had to mourn. If it wasn’t fatigue or pain, the only thing that could stop the masked gladiator was a devastating injury. Their way of life was related to risk.

The case of Rey Destroyer reveals the way of life that usually exists in gyms. Some train with worn knees, they run with the physical hangover left by years dedicated to wrestling. There are few who can live off his blows. Many times we say that we would like to die in a ring, but in reality we are all afraid of not returning home.says Lino Fernando Aguilera, Fresero Jr, an independent character who studied at the World Wrestling Council (CMLL) and arrived at the main squares in the country after long bus trips and without a stable schedule.

Like the old heroes of the neighborhood, the fighters cover their personal and sporting expenses during their training. Beneath their masks appear the faces of merchants, torteros, physical education teachers, lawyers, bravado and foul-mouthed people who break away from their usual lives to jump higher and fly more times, because with that fame can knock on their door. Rey Destroyer owned a barbershop. He gained popularity in Monterrey for doing what the promoters ask to liven up the show. Take the risk, take your acrobatics to the extreme.

Príncipe Aéreo, Silver King, the transgender Mexican gladiator Julio Flores, who personified La Chica Yeye, followed the same route before his death. Sometimes doctors tell us that we can’t fight anymore, but if not, what do we do? Where do we get money from? A pill can take away the pain and you’ll probably be back in the ring tomorrow. The problem is that sooner or later your body knocks you down.says Adolfo Tapia Ibarra, LA Park, a Queretaro gladiator who began his career in Triple A, after sleeping several times in Garibaldi waiting for an opportunity. A soft drink and a cake

The man with the skeleton-shaped mask, an iconic character in Mexican wrestling, faces his 58th birthday with enormous physical consequences, but he is not yet willing to retire. If someone asks him how much a wrestler earns, his first expression is an ironic smile, an image that reflects his sharp personality. In wrestling, not even the big stars earn millionsresponds. I worked on Sundays in an arena in the state of Mexico and there were no people. The promoter gave us a coke and a cake. If you were in the main fight, I put double ham on it. This sport is not well paid, much less for the neighborhood gladiators..

The Chilean Stephanie Baker, women’s world champion in the CMLL and now a WWE figure, was paid 50 pesos in her first performance 11 years ago. His testimony is no surprise. Instructor Tony Salazar, a retired gladiator, warns that the best-paid salaries are in the big arenas like Mexico City and the Coliseum, where a star fighter can win. between 70 and 80 thousand pesosalthough very few arrive. An athlete must pass an exam to receive a professional license. This includes a demonstration of his knowledge in Greco-Roman and Olympic wrestling, work at canvas level – key and counter-lock, tumblingropes, jumps, the ability to interact with the public.

Professional license

A license is a legal requirement to participate in fighting roles. The call is held twice a year and about 50 wrestlers graduate. Working without it does not guarantee that participants are in adequate condition to compete, and it also maximizes the risk of serious injury. In the amateur circuit there are fighters who decide to take the risk on their own. The maximum payment for those who are starting their career is promotion, appearing on a poster in exchange for 5 or 10 thousand pesos, as agreed. For many of them, the real punishment is disdain, that people do not whistle or boo them when they enter the ring.

When people shout angrily and insult us, they even make their skin crawl. That means that you are connecting with them, that we are doing well.says Black Angelo 3G, a masked tough who has participated in wrestling tournaments around the neighborhood. Like other fighters, he knows that there are mortal risks in his profession, deaths in small arenas due to the irresponsibility of a promoter or his own partner, when climbing under the influence of alcohol or some toxic substance.

In addition to resisting the pain, most manage their expenses with other businesses. A bakery in the center of the city, a place selling official items, rice and food stalls outside some arena. If the fighter puts everything on the line in the ring, when he finishes he values ​​life more.