Lucha Libre - World Power Wrestling

Here is footage of Martin Marin's World Power Wrestling that I shot and edited. It was recorded at the Anaheim Swap Meet, sometime in the mid-to-late '90s.

Ever since I was a kid, I loved movies, comics, serials, and superheroes. When I "grew up," I wanted to work on movies that incorporated all of the above. Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a long history of films with wrestlers-as-superheroes in Mexico (where my mother's side of the family came from)!

By the mid-'90s, I had learned about producing and distributing low budget films through my association with AAA America-International Entertainment. I brokered a deal which granted us the rights to dub, edit, and distribute a Mexican film titled Los Campeones Justicieros (The Champions of Justice). It was originally made in Mexico during the '70s, and starred legendary masked wrestlers Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras, Tinieblas, Medico Asesino, and Sombra Vengadora. It was popular with Spanish-speaking audiences, and spawned two sequels.

Philip Cable, my partner in film production and distribution, insisted that the film's 80-something running time needed to be increased to at least 90 minutes, or he would not be to sell it at the American Film Market.

I decided to create new segments that would bookend the film. The finale would showcase young wrestlers who were then-currently active as the "sons" of two of the heroes in the movie: Medico Asesino Jr. and Sombra Vengadora Jr.

Martin Marin of World Power Wrestling made all of the arrangements, I borrowed a Mini DV camera, and everything was set.

I was not allowed to see or record the wrestlers without their masks, nor was I made privy to anything "special" they might have planned for that show (those guys were SERIOUS about kayfabe: keeping wrestling real). It was like trying to film a chaotic three-ring circus, with absolutely no clue as to what was going to happen or when. Fortunately, I was only concerned with capturing random action and reaction shots, instead of following the narrative of the matches (wrestling fans know what I mean).

The only glitch on the day of taping was that Sombra Vengadora Jr. had lost his mask in a "mask. vs. mask" match to an opponent the night before, and he didn't have a replacement. I happened to have my Mr. Maskrado mask with me, as I had planned to wear it in a crowd shot. Sombra agreed to wear it, which is why it looks like Mr. Maskrado--who usually acts as a non-participating host, like the Crypt Keeper, or Rod Serling--is in the middle of the action.

Sonambulo, the masked wrestler-detective from Rafael Navarro's comic books, is can be seeing sitting in the audience, cheering on the wrestlers. I suppose I can reveal this, since he isn't a "real" wrestler: Sonambulo was played by comic book writer/artist extraordinaire Javier Hernandez, creator of El Muerto/The Dead One and Demolition Dove. (In a few brief shots, Rafael can be seen sitting next to his own creation.)

Unfortunately, the Champions of Justice eventually succumbed; not to evil, atomic-powered midgets, but to far more insidious foes: Lack of money, lack of time, and lack of resources. An "official" English-subtitled version of Los Campeones Justiceros was released on DVD to capitalize on Jack Black's Nacho Libre movie, so it's unlikely that my dubbed version will ever see the light of day.

I edited Lucha Libre! with iMovie, using a VHS transfer that I had made of the original DV footage. If the current version of iMovie had been around in the '90s, I might be telling a whole 'nother story.

This short movie is a taste of "what might have been," and serves as a record of the action, energy, humor, and fun that went on during those swap meet shows, just across the freeway from Disneyland.

Thanks to all of the luchadores and referees who didn't get screen credit because I didn't have enough footage and/ or running time: Hardcore Kid, Sultan, Suavecito, Chuco, Indio, Jr. Marin, and Robert Gonzales.

Special thanks to Black Widow, for acting as my liaison with Martin Marin and WPW.

Besos to my parents and my grandparents; without their support, NONE of this would have been possible.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• lucha
• libre
• Mexican
• wrestling
• luchadores
• mascaras
• WWE
• superheroes
• action
• wrestler
• Anaheim

[Barrera2391]

i remember going there when i was a lil kid. do u have any videos in which "Indio Cherokee" comes out in???

[cort381]

El Medico Asesino original aunque fue corta su estadia ya que fallecio a temprana edad su mascara, su llave a las carotidas y su rudeza aparte de formar una gran tercia con EL SANTO y EL ENFERMERO dejo una historia y leyenda.

[vandykzero1]

Excelente video !!!!!