Lucha Underground is what we like to call the unconventional side of professional wrestling. It takes two elements (Horror movies & wrestling) throws them together and produces in our minds is the best promotion out there.
They don’t shy away from violence, and they always deliver bell to bell action. In a day and age where women’s wrestling is ever changing Lucha underground takes that to a whole other level.
In the past we’ve seen Evalise battle for the Lucha Underground heavyweight title, we’ve seen Catrina being barried alive, we’ve seen sexy star vs Prntingon (a man triple her size) and let’s not forget the suicide dive from Taya off a steel cage
Lucha Underground has created a trend for breaking gender norms and that carried over to the May 4th episode. It was a match between Sexy Star and Mariposa. It wasn’t just any match though, it was a no más match (I quit match) and an Aztec medallion was up for grabs.
This match was an all out war (that you can view here http://youtu.be/V9MLmHnmIr0)
These two put their bodies on the line in ways we have never seen. At one point in the match Mariposa took a chair shot to the groin (yep you read that right). During the match sexy star was bleeding like a stuck pig. They even battled from the top of the rafters leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.
There was of course run ins from Marty the moth and Mac. While watching the match it seemed that Mariposa was closing in on a victory. Sexy star wouldn’t quit though. She even shouted explcits at Mariposa, creating an epic television moment. Ultimately sexy star got Mariposa to utter the words “No más” earning her not only a victory but an Aztec medallion for her troubles.
If you haven’t watched the match you need to do so. The match has already made headlines not just in the world of professional wrestling but in the world of business as well. Forbes.Com did a piece on this match praising sexy star of her accomplishments inside the ring.
Forbes went on to say
As arguably the strongest female character in the wrestling business today, Sexy Star is a marketing goldmine for Lucha Underground. With a recognizable mask which could become a stable of her character just as it has for Mysterio, a catchy name that stays true to her lucha background and a genuine appeal to men, women and children, Sexy Star has the potential to be a top merchandise seller and one of the few wrestlers outside WWE who can transcend wrestling into mainstream media.
Sexy Star had this to say about the groundbreaking match.
“My match against Mariposa has been one of the best things that have ever happened to me because it allowed me to make it clear to everyone what true women wrestling is. It’s not scratching each other followed by glamorous poses,We are not two beautiful women pulling each other’s hair. A real female match is a match between to gladiators, two warriors who are ready for anything and who are willing to leave their blood splattered in the ring if it’s necessary. In a true female match, participants defend their dignity with their moves, high flying action, hits, chairs and whatever else might be need, because when two women truly want to win, they are willing to risk it all, including their lives.”
“For decades, due to poor representation, female wrestlers have been expected to step into the ring to show off their bodies and model. It feels great to know that the public is clear that my fight with Mariposa was not that, That fight demonstrated that the public has been living in a fog. Thanks to Lucha Underground and their belief in women and their power, we have been allowed the platform we deserve and we the women have made sure to defend our space and value within the company at all costs, even blood. That match was only a little sample of the type of fight women who truly love lucha and defend their dignity with much more than a nice body and pretty face are capable of.
Forbes continued to praise Sexy Star by saying
While it would be easy for Sexy Star to rest on her laurels now that she has become one of the elite talents in Lucha Underground, her match against Mariposa proved she is one of the most gifted performers in the company. Sexy Star is a proficient wrestler, but it is her ability to tell a convincing story in the ring and get the fans emotionally invested that separates her from other performers.
With every great star, there will be doubters, though. Wrestling pundits have been critical at times of intergender matches in Lucha Underground, but Sexy Star has truly embodied what it means to be a powerful and strong woman by throwing gender norms out the window. There is a fundamental change in the world with women finally getting the respect and recognition they deserve, and Sexy Star is the perfect representation of that movement in wrestling.
Sexy Star’s character and storylines are also prime examples of Lucha Underground not trying to be WWE or anything else we’ve ever seen in wrestling. Interngender matches and violent battles between two female athletes—and the stories that justify them—are just some of the reasons the brand has built such a hardcore and devoted following.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Don’t sleep on Lucha underground. They have proven time and time again that they are one of if not the best promotion out there. If you call yourself a professional wrestling fan then you need to be watching Lucha, and they way they respect women’s wrestling is only the beginning.
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