Mask vs Mask. Mascara contra Mascara!!
The Mascara vs Mascara match in Mexican Lucha Libre has a long and magical history. After an extended and constant feud two wrestlers decide to put up what is most precious to them. To settle the issue.
Their mask. Their identity. Their legacy.
This match is from the CMLL 75th anniversary show. Its venue is known as "The Cathedral of Wrestling", Arena Mexico. CMLL is the longest running & oldest promotion in Lucha Libre. Started in 1933 when its founder Salvador Lutteroth Gonzales promoted his first card it is known in Mexico as La Empresa.
In an incredible 2 out of 3 falls bout Blue Panther, the tecnico, and Villano 5, the rudo, gave every fan in attendance their moneys worth. It was a classic main event match with outside interference, dramatic pin falls, enormous bumps by both and back and forth action.
Finally at the 3:45 mark in this video Villano 5 with blood seeping through his mask gets the third and deciding fall over Panther. The crowd erupts and the fireworks go off.
The great Blue Panther has lost. The man who sold out arena after arena against the late Art Barr during the boom times of Lucha Libre in the early 90's has been beaten. At the 6:00 minute mark you see one of the traditions in a mask vs mask match. Panther gives the ring announcer his real name. He also shares where he is from & how long he has been wrestling.
The announcer informs the audience of Panthers real name, Genaro Vazquez Nevarez. His hometown of Gomez Palacio Durango. Age 48. Years wrestling, 30.
What's stunning to me about this video is the emotion. From the fans who packed the arena to see two great gladiators in a bout that could effectively end ones career. And the emotion of both Blue Panther & Villano 5.
At the 7:30 mark of the video Blue Panther removes his mask. With tears in his eyes he shows the world his face. The face of the veteran wrestler doesn't match the combatant who we just saw perform in such a high flying hard hitting bout.
When a luchador loses his mask it usually ends his main event career. There are some exceptions such as Konan and Eddie Guerrero. but most luchadores don't recover from the loss of their mask.
It's often a cold calculated financial decision. The match is used as almost a pension, a lump sum payoff for a wrestlers career. If the luchador wrestles under a mask for years and has a great career they hold on to that chip, that trump card as long as they can.
And when a match can be made that allows for that wrestler to get that large payoff they finally use that trump card. Luchadores can get paid tens of thousands of dollars to lose their mask. Promoters know that for the right match, a mask vs mask match can draw a great house.
For the opponent who keeps his match he gets a good payday as well but more importantly, a mask he won. A mask he can add to his collection of wins.
To build his legacy, his legend.
Until the day comes the right opponent at the right time arrives. So that he can lose his mask. And get his large payday. And pay back Lucha Libre, La Cathedral Arena Mexico, and the fans for his run as a top star.
Latin Thunder