Lucha Libre is back in Richmond after being on hiatus since October 2009. Billed as “Back to the Lucha,” the first local lucha event in four years is being held on Saturday, June 15 at Wonderland in Shockoe Bottom. Presented by Lucha RVA, the evening is headlined by the “Hill Valley High Massacre Under The Sea Death Match,” an 8-man, No-Holds-Barred match, the winner of which will become the Lucha RVA Champion.
Lucha Libre is back in Richmond after being on hiatus since October 2009. Billed as “Back to the Lucha,” the first local lucha event in four years is being held on Saturday, June 15 at Wonderland in Shockoe Bottom. Presented by Lucha RVA, the evening is headlined by the “Hill Valley High Massacre Under The Sea Death Match,” an 8-man, No-Holds-Barred match, the winner of which will become the Lucha RVA Champion.
While Lucha RVA is actually a new organization that’s beginning its operations with this weekend’s show, it takes the place of a previous local wrestling federation, Richmond Lucha Libre (RLL). RLL operated in Richmonnd for nearly a decade, running similar shows to the ones Lucha RVA plans to present, but shut down in 2009. Despite the new management, Lucha RVA will feature quite a few veteran RLL luchadores, such as The Kamikaze Kid, El Sucio, Horror Show, AKA, and tag team duo The Velvet Mafia.
Many of the luchadores that will be seen in the matches this weekend have experience from wrestling elsewhere, coming from mid-level major promotions such as Ohio Valley Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and TNA Impact. There will also be other luchdores who have experience at the local level, fighting in other independent promotions in Richmond and Virginia Beach. “We really got the best group of semi-pro wrestlers in the state to do this,” said Lucha RVA promoter Scott Seal. “It’s not a half-ass roster, it’s a good group of guys.”
Lucha libre, which translates as “free fighting,” is the term associated with professional wrestling in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries. Bearing some similarity to professional wrestling as seen on network television and in backyards and VFW halls across the United States, lucha libre is nonetheless unique in its style, with luchadores commonly wearing very colorful masks, executing grapples and holds in a very quick manner, and leaping off the turnbuckles, ropes, and other heights to create the exciting atmosphere that is the goal of lucha libre events.
Lucha libre has become a global phenomenon, and is among the most revered styles of wrestling, having an influence in many professional wrestling associations in North America and abroad. When looking at top tier pro wrestling promotions such WWE and TNA, it’s easy to find wrestlers who come from the lucha libre background. Names like Rey Mysterio, Essa Rios, Psicosis, Tito Santana, and the late Eddie Guerrero have helped promote the popularity of lucha libre in the United States and internationally.
Photo by Jonathan McLarty
Lucha RVA hopes to carry on the tradition of exciting, high-quality wrestling established by both RLL and the wider world of lucha libre. For “Back To The Lucha,” they have a full evening of wrestling entertainment planned for fans’ enjoyment. In addition to the 8-Man, No-Holds-Barred title match, the evening will feature a tag team match between The Velvet Mafia and Totally Awesome. There will also be a triple threat match between The Masked Jobber, Jake Steel, and newcomer Ryan, along with several single matches to open the show.
There’s a nearly 7-minute low budget promotional spot for Saturday’s event parodying “Back to the Future,” starring Richmond luchador Chatch and the “Mr. Drunk 2000,” an ’85 Chevy S-10 time machine that runs on Jim Beam’s Red Stag whiskey. The video is typical pro wrestling fare with melodramatic flair, ridiculous acting, and someone getting struck with a steel folding chair. Check it out below:
“Back to The Lucha” takes place this Saturday, June 15 at Wonderland, located at 1727 East Main Street in Shockoe Bottom. The show starts at 9pm, and admission is $12. For more info, click here.
