Experience the high-flying fun of lucha libre during a masked match between good and evil in Las Vegas.
In August, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and its Mexican counterpart, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), united for Worlds Collide: Las Vegas, a professional wrestling event at the city’s Cox Pavilion. It was the second time the two professional wrestling bigwigs united this year since WWE acquired AAA in April.
While WWE can be traced back to the 1950s in the United States, AAA was founded in 1992, breaking off from the sport’s original organization, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), which dates back to Mexico in 1933.
Lucha libre, the Spanish term for freestyle wrestling, stands out among other forms of professional wrestling thanks to its dramatic hero-versus-villain storytelling and dynamic masked wrestlers, who are known to perform eye-popping and jaw-dropping aerial, acrobatic, and athletic stunts. The entertaining sport is nearly as popular as soccer for many people of Hispanic heritage.
You may have encountered lucha libre in Las Vegas at events like the annual Tacos & Tamales Festival at Desert Breeze Park or during Hispanic Heritage Night at the Las Vegas Ballpark. But how much do you really know about the animated style of athletic hand-to-hand combat and its significance to Mexican culture?
Here’s a look at the history and culture of lucha libre, plus where to find it in Las Vegas.
History of lucha libre
The term lucha libre literally translates to “free fight.” The sport has roots dating back to French-influenced wrestling exhibitions in Mexico. The country’s National Lucha Libre Day, however, is celebrated on Sept. 21 to mark the 1933 CMLL professional wrestling event that’s widely considered the birth of lucha libre.
Lucha libre wrestlers, known as luchadores, compete in various weight classes. These larger-than-life characters fall into one of two categories: técnicos (the good guys) and rudos (the bad guys). The luchadores play it up, and crowds go wild for the good versus evil rivalry.
The sport is a significant part of Mexican culture, and its wrestlers, like El Santo, Mil Máscaras, and Ray Mendoza, are nationally celebrated icons. The government of Mexico City declared the sport part of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in 2018.
Masked men of Mexico
Masks have been historically significant in Mexico since the days of the Aztecs, and their usage dates back to the origins of lucha libre. As integral aspects of the luchadores’ identities, masks worn by the wrestlers often convey images of animals, gods, and ancient heroes.
Wrestlers start their careers wearing masks, but may be unmasked over time. In some cases, a match’s loser must permanently remove his mask. Other times, wrestlers remove their masks in order to put an identity behind them and move on to a new one.
Where to see Lucha Libre in Las Vegas
The matches of Lucha Libre Las Vegas include acrobatic maneuvers, daring moves, colorful masked costumes, and soap opera-style plotlines. You can catch all the action and drama at festivals and events in Las Vegas, including:
Viva Taco Fest
October 31- November 2
A lively festival of tacos, music, and Hispanic traditions, the Viva Taco Fest will take place at the soccer fields at Craig Ranch Park, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Along with a soccer invitational, car show, chihuahua beauty competition, dia de los muertos altars, Catrina costume competition, tequila tasting, and carnival rides, the event will feature the 10th anniversary of the Lucha Libre Taco Fest Rumble. Only one luchador will be crowned the new Rumble champion.
Tacos & Tamales Festival
March 2026
As the name suggests, the Tacos & Tamales Festival features three days of local taco and tamale trucks, tequila, cerveza, music, cooking demonstrations, art, carnival rides, and more at Desert Breeze Park in Summerlin. The centerpiece is a ring for awe-inspiring lucha libre performances. You may be able to get photos with your favorite luchadores.
Las Vegas Ballpark
September 2026
Hosted by the Las Vegas Aviators, Hispanic Heritage Night takes place at the Las Vegas Ballpark in September. It features lucha libre before the first pitch as well as authentic food, tequila tastings, and additional festivities to honor the contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community to Nevada.
Other opportunities
In addition to these events, AAA often teams up with wrestling organizations throughout the valley. Check out organizations like the Future Stars of Wrestling and Big Valley Wrestling (BVW) for more information.
Taco Escobar, a lucha libre-themed cantina in Las Vegas
Famed and fictional luchador Taco Escobar appears in countless Mexican comic books and stories fighting for justice and the common man. A Mexican folk hero, he also has restaurants, like the lucha libre-themed Taco Escobar, which opened in July in downtown Las Vegas.
Taco Escobar, 509 Fremont Street, brings tacos and tequila to the 2,000-square-foot space, formerly occupied by Smashed Pig. It was opened by the team behind the Evel Knievel-themed pizza joint, Evel Pie, 508 S. Fremont Street, across the street.
Tacos come with six choices of meat—carne asada, pastor, chicken tinga, shrimp, mushroom, and birria—on handmade tortillas ($4-$5). The menu has other options too, including sides, drinks, alcoholic beverages (from margaritas and palomas to beer, signature cocktails, and frozen agua frescas), and dessert. The masked hero’s spirit fills the room thanks to colorful murals, posters, and memorabilia.
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