February 21, 2004
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*The video clips we’ve linked to are very low-res .mov files (the best I could do with my little camera, sorry!) - Each one is 30 secs and 3MB in size. Right-click to save to your computer.
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Lucha Libre in Compton
- LiliFirst up, a bit about Compton. We’ve had everyone warn us about Compton. They say it’s not the place you want to go to especially at night – it’s shady, unsafe… kinda like South Central or Sydney’s equivalent – the infamous Redfern (where the riots broke out recently between police and aboriginal community). They say that Compton is the sort of neighborhood where you have a high chance of getting mugged, having your car stolen, seeing flaming trashcans on the streets and people shooting at each other.
Before we left the studio, Gabe and Tony were joking that we were going to die. Gabe: “If you die, can I have your squishy Rikochet doll?”
Then there was the $30 fee (very expensive for a lucha match in L.A., even more than Lucha Va Voom) and the 405 Freeway on a Friday evening (imagine moving at 5 mph for 45 minutes)….
For the love of Lucha Libre, we decided to take no notice of all the spooky stories and brave it out to Compton at 7.30pm. Hey we’re from the mean streets of Sydney after all, dammit!
An hour later we arrived on South Atlantic Blvd – a quiet dark street where nothing seemed to be happening.
Salon El Rey turned out to be an inconspicuous slightly decrepit (and small!)building with no lights, no banners. Save a small hand painted cardboard sign – LUCHA LIBRE… out on the front wall which you could all too easily miss. The parking lot next to the building was packed with cars. We drove around and around for about 10 minutes wondering if it was safe to park on the street 2 blocks away… What the hell, we thought. Everything seems so still and quiet… what could possible go wrong.
When we stepped inside the Salon El Rey building (via the inconspicuous back entrance) the heat and noise hit us immediately.The place was totally PACKED. There must have been at least 600 people in that small room (about the size of a small gym)- 99% Latino families – old and young cheering, shouting, moving around; all focused on the luchadores in the center of the room. We were late and had walked in mid-match … Unfortunately there were no seats left so they gave us a discount on the ticket and we stood.
Video Clip: Audience inside the Salon El Rey. There were babies too! And kids holding up drawings/signs supporting their favorite wrestlers.
Not having a seat was really a blessing because it meant we were free to move around to get ourselves a good view. In fact, most people were standing and moving around. It was pretty awesome to be amongst such an enthusiastic crowd of people. Even in the restroom, everyone chatted to each other. The girl behind me in the queue was here because her grandfather made the masks and costumes for some of the luchadores…. how cool is that.
Later on we saw Liz (promoter of Lucha Va Voom who was helping FMLL out on this show) who took us upstairs where we got a great view of the entire ring and crowd.
The amazing thing about this Salon El Rey event was the absence of separators/barricades between the audience and the ring. People mauled the luchadores on their way to the ring. At the end of each match, or in the intervals between the caidas, kids jumped into the ring and surrounded the luchadores to get their autographs. When the wrestlers stepped off the ring, big kids and small kids would start hanging out on the ropes and playing around inside the ring as if it were their own living room.Likewise, in this rowdy intimate setting, the wrestlers were constantly interacting with the crowd and taking their feuding all over the room. The crowds loved this of course. Everyone was moving with the action…
A cool moment (well, it was kinda scary too) was when Rey Misterio Sr. (rudo/bad guy) and El Santo had made their way up the stairs to where some of the audience was sitting and then took turns trying to throw each other over the railing. There – was Santo dangling over the edge… and Rey Misterio holding onto his leg, threatening to drop him. Packed in close around them, the crowds are screaming and trying to get in on the action.
It really was an awesome lucha libre experience. The fact that there was so much mayhem and rowdiness and NO security made the whole event felt really “raw” and “underground”. The wrestlers fought with passion. The rudos were really badass. (Like when Nicho/Psicosis dumped an empty trashcan over Santo’s head!!!)From the outside of Salon El Rey, who would’ve guessed what was going on inside.
Upstairs on the narrow corridor, there was a flap of tarpaulin between the luchadores’ “locker room” and where we were standing.At one point, El Santo and Blue Demon burst out from behind the flap and started fighting on the spot.I was literally less than 3 feet away from them.
Obviously Eddie and I had a great time. Of all the lucha matches we’ve been to (Mexico City, Tijuana, Frank n Sons, Mayan Theatre) we’ve never experienced anything as grungy, lively, interactive and raw as this… We’ve never been THIS close to the action and it was definitely an experience we recommend to anyone who’s into lucha libre.
Yes, even if it’s Compton.
When we left the arena at midnight, we felt that our money was more than well spent. Our car was still there – safely parked where we left it. We got home safe and sound. No muggings, no flaming trashcans
Who wants to come with us next time?
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Why, Blue, Why?
- Eddie
Wow!This event really brought it home to me, why I love Lucha Libre so much.What a night! Atlantis! Tinieblas! Nicho! Rey Misterio Sr! Blue Demon! Santo! Blue Demon and Santo tag teaming together!
This was the greatest night of Lucha Libre I’ve ever been part of. And I do mean part of; the audience at Salon El Rey in Compton was as much a part of the matches as the Luchadores. I’ve seen matches in Mexico City and Tijuana, but nothing has ever come close to this for sheer intensity! This was fighters in masks! This was old school! This was what’s happening NOW!
Okay, where to start…
Salon El Rey was standing room only.I estimated about 700 plus people crammed into the small, gym-like venue.The audience was 99.9% Latino families – kids were everywhere! And from the undercard to the main event, the audience was into every hold, every minute of each of the five matches.
The first star of the night was Tinieblas from Mexico. He was so over with the crowd, it was unbelievable. It was amazing to see him being mobbed, as kids rushed the ring between falls for autographs and pictures! The match was great, with Tinieblas teaming with Huracan Ramirez Jr and Piloto Suicida.
I couldn’t believe the reaction Tinieblas was getting. How was he reaching this audience – especially the kids – in Compton, Los Angeles?
Video clip: Tinieblas! Piloto Suicida does a “tope suicida” (head-first dive outside of ring)
Atlantis was up next. Again, the appearance of a big name flown in from Mexico had the audience swarming the ring whenever they could – and I mean IN the ring!
The main event was something else. Nicho and Rey Misterio Sr. Vs El Santo and Blue Demon. Lots of great brawling and the Santo trademark moves. The match spilled out into the crowd, with Santo and Rey Sr. at one stage, making their way onto the top balcony, and perilously dangling each other over the rail! Nicho was awesome – he’s still as quick and acrobatic as ever. One moonsault he did to the outside of the ring was amazing.
Video clip: El Santo vs Rey Misterio Sr. In the background - Blue Demon puts Nicho in a submission hold.
The end came when Santo had Nicho pinned. Blue Demon re-entered the ring and…wait for it…turned on Santo! Blue then joined Nicho and Rey in beating down Santo! Nicho was being a total asshole, badass – going as far as to stuff Santo in a garbage bin (No!!!!!).
Video clip: Santo vs Nicho
Video clip: Santo inside trashcan! Nicho with folding chair.
It was after this match finished, that another match began…Santo and Blue Demon, challenging each other, and the crowd with fists, megaphones, microphones, whatever. Watching Santo charge into a group of hecklers and getting physical was insane!This isn’t like a ‘WWE Superstar’ jumping the guard rail and being surrounded by security.This was a Luchador – an angry, intense fighter – taking on an audience in Compton, with absolutely no back-up! As the audience invaded the ring, Santo and Blue Demon took the fight all around the arena, and in and out of the locker room! By this point I was seeing a lot of kids crying! Even a lot of regular Lucha followers (who you would think would know better!) were thinking Santo and Blue Demon’s hatred was for real!
Video clip: Crowd! - people standing inside the ring. Santo is on the far right with microphone, challenging Blue to a mask vs mask match.
As the drama between Santo and Blue was playing out (they were trying to unmask each other), I noticed Nicho heading back to the locker room.As the audience watched the ring, Nicho went unnoticed as he walked through the crowd, holding an ice bag to the back of his head. As he walked past me, I wanted to shake his hand. But he had the most badass sneer on his face, that I took a step back! Nicho disappeared into the back to no applause, after the confrontation he had set up, played out in front. ¡Arriba Nicho! A true star – a true Rudo!
The thing that struck me most about this event was the audience involvement.This wasn’t the standard ‘You suck’/cheap heat audience baiting that usually happens.There was so much passion for and against Santo and Blue Demon that you felt you’d actually been part of the battle yourself.
Lili’s clip of the action sums it up…when the camera shakes and goes to ground, you can see how much a part of the fight she became!
Video clip: Santo and Blue Demon up close! We had to move out of the way and fast!
Go to the next FMLL in Compton. Ignore the comments about Compton from your pussy work colleagues. Go, pay money, make noise… see and support Lucha Libre at this level. It’s the only way to see Lucha…
(quick doodles are by Eddie & Lili)
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These Compton matches are very word-of-mouth. Check out the SoCalUncensored forums for FMLL (Fuerza Mundial de Lucha Libre) news, or stay tuned to this blog!
P.S. These luchadores will also be wrestling at San Jose on Sunday 22nd Feb.
