Going to Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling in Mexico City
What do you get when you combine men and women in colorful masks, tight spandex costumes, beer, and diehard screaming fans? A night out going to Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling in Mexico City! Before checking this activity off your bucket list, let’s first go over the who, what, where, when, why, and how of this famous Mexican sport plus some important safety tips.
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Getting up close and personal ringside with famous luchador Guerrero Maya at Arena Mexico, Mexico City
What is Lucha Libre?
Lucha libre is a famous sport in Mexico known for its wrestlers (luchadores), intricate face masks, showmanship, and flying wrestling maneuvers. Screaming loyal fans gather to watch their favorite wrestlers go head-to-head in the ring. It’s not uncommon to hear abuelitas (grandmothers) and children alike screaming obscenities at the top of their lungs.
Maybe you already know luchador wrestlers are divided into categories of good versus evil (‘tecnicos’ vs ‘rudos’). But did you know there are female wrestlers too, and luchadores fall into different categories based on their height? I am certainly not a Lucha Libre expert, so for more information on how to book a tour with a real Lucha Libre lover check out this article.
Female luchadores take to the ring in a battle of good versus evil at Arena Mexico, Mexico City (including my favorite female wrestler Reyna Isis pictured in pink and black)
Where to see Mexican Wrestling in Mexico City
There are two well-known arenas in Mexico City to see Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling): Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo. Both arenas are run by CMLL (the Lucha Libre company) founded by the ‘father of lucha' libre’ in Mexico, Salvador Lutteroth. These arenas only differ in location; they follow the same rules and the same wrestlers fight in both (approximately a roster of 120 wrestlers).
Arena Mexico, located in the neighborhood of Doctores, was built in 1954 and has a whopping capacity of over 16,000 people. Often referred to as “The Cathedral of Lucha Libre”, it holds fights on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Arena Coliseo, found in the neighborhood of La Lagunilla near Tepito, is the older and smaller of the two venues and is home to fights on Saturdays. I have yet to visit Arena Coliseo, but I am told it is the more charming and authentic experience of the two. However, I personally loved the theatrics and touristic flare found in Arena Mexico.
One way a luchador loses a match in Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling is by being held down until the referee counts to three (some referees count slower than others)
Is it better to go to Lucha Libre alone or in a group?
A common question people ask me is, “Can I go to Lucha Libre alone, or is it better to go in a group”. You could go to Lucha Libre alone and buy tickets online or outside of the venue, but here are 4 reasons I recommend going in a group.
1. Safety
As mentioned above, the arenas are located in the neighborhoods of Doctores and La Lagunilla. If you are new to Mexico City and ask locals which neighborhoods to avoid, these two will surely be mentioned. This is not to say you should avoid them altogether. However it’s best to exercise caution because locals are very good at spotting who looks new, uncomfortable, and/or lost. Going for the first time with a tour guide is advised, especially if you’re new to the city and don’t speak Spanish. After the fight it can be difficult to meet an Uber or DiDi, and you do not want to be wandering around these neighborhoods at night. Our tour guide Danny made sure we were all safely in our Ubers at the end of the night.
Posing for a quick ringside photo as the 16,000+ Arena Mexico clears out and flocks to the streets of Doctores. Audience members do NOT stand up during the fight! So I waited until the matches were over to snap a picture. This is a refreshing change from the kinds of audiences I’m used to in Toronto as a 5’2 girl.
2. Seats
If you are hoping to score amazing seats online or at the door, don’t hold your breath. I’ve heard countless stories of people buying overpriced tickets from vendors who promised “ringside” seats only to end up in the nosebleeds (in an arena that holds 16,000+ people, the nosebleeds can be pretty far away). It’s challenging to know who to trust and their definition of “ringside”. The first time I went, my seats ended up being far away from the ring. Luckily, I later found an amazing guide (Danny) who said “ringside” and delivered with seats in the very first row which put us up-close to the action! You can read more about this incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience here.
Perks of booking a tour guide like Danny to take you to Lucha Libre include sitting ringside and seeing all of the action right in front of you
3. Strength in Numbers
Going to see Lucha Libre in a group is SO much fun. I honestly would have felt uncomfortable just shouting into the crowd on my own. Deciding when to shout and who to shout for would have been very challenging, since this experience was very new to me. Danny made everyone extremely comfortable and his enthusiasm was contagious! Luckily he explained the history, rules, different wrestlers, and when to scream in a local taqueria as part of the experience before we headed to Arena Mexico to watch the matches.
Posing with Danny (host) and his tour group from our ringside seats after the Lucha Libre matches finished
4. The Tour Guide Experience
You will reap a lot more from the Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling experience in Mexico City with a local tour guide. They can take you to a great place to eat beforehand, explain the rules and history, ensure you find souvenirs at a fair price, make sure you don’t get lost, help ensure your safety, and (in my case) get you a picture or two with a famous wrestler. Read more here about the incredible experience I had with my tour guide and how I got my very own picture with famous Luchador Guerrero Maya!
Since I was a little girl I dreamed of a photo like this and, thankfully, Danny made my dream come true! Posing ringside with famous Luchador Guerrero Maya at Arena Mexico, Mexico City
Insider Info and Details
If you are anything like me and want all of the extra details to feel prepared for this experience, you are in the right place!
There are 5 matches in total and the whole Lucha Libre event lasts about 2 hours. There are between 2-6 fighters in every match, and a team wins a match by winning 2 out of 3 rounds. The two main ways to win a round are: (1) by holding your opponent down for a count of 3 or (2) holding your opponent in a position until they surrender (this type of move is called a “llave” in Spanish which means key, although the move resembles a locked position).
The following details pertain to Arena Mexico, since I have not yet been to Arena Coliseo. You cannot enter with liquids or foods, but drinks and snacks (even small sandwiches) are available for purchase inside. There are many employees walking around the arena. Wave one over and they will bring whatever you order to your seat. Don’t be shocked by the price of beer - it really is 100 pesos, I promise you are not being scammed. There are also ample bathrooms with toilet paper. Outside of the arena there are lots of vendors selling every souvenir imaginable, including several selling luchador masks for only 50 pesos.
Luchadores Gemelo Diablo I and Gemelo Diablo II kicking some serious butt in the Lucha Libre ring at Arena Mexico
If going to see Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling is on your to-do list, now you have all the details you need.
Be sure to pin this to your Mexico City board to ensure you can easily find this information again when you’re ready to book your tour. Plus, you now have the contact information of a reputable tour guide who will ensure you make the most of this incredible experience!
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
