Can the world ever get enough Lucha Libre? We don’t think so. Apparently that sentiment is shared with filmmakers Ian Markiewicz and Alex Hammond, who have put together an amazing new documentary about Latin American wrestling. Now screening in indie theaters and on VOD, their Lucha Mexico film goes way beyond the ring with intimate profiles of stars like Jose “Shocker” Soria, Jon “Strongman” Andersen and Blue Demon Jr. We were lucky enough to catch some time with both Shocker and Strongman, who proudly praised this no-holds-barred expose.
Now for the Lucha-impaired, it’s important to square away a few fundamentals. First, these wrestlers are the equivalent of Marvel superheroes in Mexico. For nearly a century, they’ve donned colorful masks and dominated pop culture with posters, action figures and TV shows. Acrobatics play a huge role in the experience, but (as the movie vividly illustrates) so do scandals and injuries. Both Shocker and Strongman are centerpieces of the film; coming from different countries, but uniting in their love of fist-pumping showmanship.
‘LL: Jon, you’re an English speaker from San Francisco. Can you explain how you became a legitimate Lucha wrestler?
Jon: For starters, I never thought my career would lead me here. As a youngster I was influenced by anyone with a strong presence, not just American wrestlers. Eventually I went pro, and began wrestling all over the world. Then in 2009, I got the opportunity to partner with Shocker. After that I was hooked [on Lucha]. In Mexico, you can’t even describe what the phenomenon is like. It’s like football is America. It’s amazing and it’s completely enriched my life as a professional wrestler.
‘LL: What about you, Shocker? Can you share a bit of your backstory?
Shocker: Well my dad was a wrestler in Mexico and I’ve always been a really big fan. Also, growing up, the movies were a big influence on me. People like El Santo were like heroes to me. I honestly feel like Mexico is the only country where we have real superheroes that live around us. They fight monsters, vampires, aliens…It’s amazing.
‘LL: So how did the both of you get involved with the film?
Jon: It actually kind of started with me. As you know, this movement is monstrous in Mexico. We were having a press conference and [the filmmakers] Alex and Ian were there. I could tell immediately that they were planting the seeds of a film idea. Afterwards, they introduced themselves to me and I introduced them to Shocker.
Shocker: Yes, I met Alex and Ian in Mexico. They asked me to help out. I could tell they had a big vision from the beginning. They said they wanted to make Lucha Libre even bigger than it is already.
‘LL: What are you hoping that moviegoers will take away from Lucha Mexico?
Shocker: I just really hope that people enjoy it. I hope they come and see the Mexican Lucha experience for themselves. It also would be nice for it to kick start my Hollywood career! All kidding aside, I just want people to understand what Lucha Libre is all about. I’ve been doing this for 22 years and I want to see it go big in the states.
Jon: I think this could be a real eye opener for Hispanics in America. If they have never been to a Lucha show in Mexico, it’s a totally different experience. You can’t even begin to describe it. Bottom line: For someone who has not put their butt into a seat at a true Lucha Libre show, that needs to be a priority and this movie will make them want to do it.
So does Lucha Mexico live up to its stars’ hype? Indeed it does. Surprisingly though, not for the reasons you’d expect. Sure there are pile-driving stunt scenes and deafening crowd chants, but outweighing them are poignant moments of aging athletes trying to keep up with industry demands. Even more tragic is the profile of El Hijo del Perro, whose passion for wrestling ultimately cost him his life. And though Shocker and Strongman were all smiles during our interview, Lucha illustrates a lifestyle that has clearly taken its toll on them as well.
So, as Jon so appropriately put during our interview, get your “butt into a movie seat” and peep Lucha Mexico today. For a sneak peak check out the trailer below.
Showtimes and download info are all available on the film’s official site.