I went to this show on a pretty somber day for me, so in all honesty, I was looking for a pick me up, and this absolutely delivered.
Before this, my experience with live wrestling was high school photography for the year book, our annual collegiate tournament that brought in hundreds of people. An exciting event, but not my style.
This event, however, was.
One thing that caught my attention right off the bat was the sheer variety of people, I got to compliment two older women on their WrestleMania shirts and El Santo earrings. An older woman using a rollater behind me was decked out in merch for one of the people on the card, and I’d later learn that she was his mom.
While I got their early in order to find a comfortable seat close to the rails, I was joined by a father and young son who were excited to hear it was my first show, they looked out for my stuff when I got up to visit the merch table, or when I wanted to get closer to the action.
Where Dia de las Lucha was a different kind of show was between each match, we would get some music provided by Chalako – The Band! They were fantastic! A mix of Mexicana, blues, and rockabilly honestly felt really homey, it’s stuff I’m quite used to.
Before the show, I took a lot of joy seeing the younger members of the crowd, dancing it out, practicing moves on the floor, I’m sure some of those kids are going to wrestle one day.
You could absolutely feel the energy the second it was time to start.
A photo of Calli Hiss the ring announcer, introducing us to the show.
Midas and El Dragon vs Phat and The Furious (Chubby Depp and Ricky Rayez) demonstrated the absolute joy of a hot crowd and managers who know how to work them.
I recognized El Dragon with his work on ROH and AEW, but the man was holding the AWF Arizona State Title for this bout, but both members of Phat and the Furious had history with the belt themselves.
Kick ass, fast as hell, and with a little bit of skillful trickery, El Dragon took it home, absolutely pulling me in.
An image of El Dragon kneeling in the ring in a stretch, with the referee calming his manager outside the ring
Now, I want to talk about the band a bit more, because really they were spectacular, not a hitch on their end all night, and even with my limited mobility I felt like dancing quite a lot. It was groovy and fun, and the absolutely packed crowd as into it.
What I was not into was the commentary team, where the ongoing bit between matches and songs was to either mispronounce or joke about botching their name. Throughout the entire show I stayed for, the commentary duo (both white men) would make these jokes, so that was a big downside for me.
That said, go check out Chalako the Band! and listen to some of their work.
The next two matches were of note were “King” Chris Evans vs El Cobarde, and Johnny Savoi vs Tecolote, two matches where the crowd division became just as much a feature as the wrestling.
Savoi was otherwise quite cool, but a Mexican crowd cheers for their luchador. Evans saw harsher crowd reactions, some cheering on the proud military vet bragging about being the king of Arizona, but I enjoyed the ass kicking Cobarde provided.
While I was enjoying the show, I have to be honest. I personally tapped after four matches, and five songs. The energy was great, but my body couldn’t sustain for the whole show, next time, I will call ahead and inquire about disability seating, since they offered seating for several disabled audience members and their families.
So, I decided to stay for one more match.
And god, it was worth it.
If I had to highlight my favorite male wrestler on the independent scene right now, it would be EJ Sparks. It is no hyperbole to say he fills the room with a bright, buzzing charge that no one can deny.
EJ Sparks standing on the middle rope calling out to the crowd
In the ring, his opponent Rompe Cabezas, large, undeniable, he hits fucking hard.
Rompe Cabezas chops EJ Sparks hard on the chest.
EJ Sparks flies into the corner with a hard hitting punch for Rompe Cabezas
EJ has this look of desperation, when a hit lands, the spreading pain all over his body, you see it in his grimace, and he lays it out for all of us. And god, the crowd screams for him, his family is there sure, but all everyone in that crowd of several hundred wants is for him to come out on top.
You can feel the charge, the tingle in your bones, when he gets the pin.
After this, I’m out of my seat and in the lobby, like every indie show, you got guys selling 8x10s, masks, shirts and other gear.
I chat up the guys out there working and compliment their matches, none of the guys have changed, and their instant transfer services are so busted, that I sadly can’t get much.
EJ though, he joins the table, still sweat covered from his match. It thrills me watching boys and girls run up to him and compliment him, and I too, a little eager, wait my turn.
He’s very nice, I get a trading card and a signed book, and he tells me a secret I appreciate, that women’s matches only happen every other show at this theater.
It’s weird singing a wrestler their praises as if they didn’t just put their body through hell, but I hope he felt my sincerity when I said I hoped he got signed.
All in all, my first live wrestling show was a rush of pure energy and community on a day that I really needed it. I feel myself aching for another show, which is coming soon.
In writing this, I hope you check these guys out! Some of them were hard to find, and I hope you can enjoy their work as much as I did, that somber Saturday in July.