Horror and Violence in Lucha Libre: 5 Matches to Watch on Halloween

Lucha libre has that special quality of allowing us to identify with any aspect of life, because it's not just a sport but also a window into reality. Just as someone can enjoy the art of Pro Wrestling through its holds and moves, others are drawn to its characters or storylines; and like in cinema, we can find different genres, including horror.

Terror in lucha libre has been there since the beginning: there are always characters that evoke demons, skeletons, black magic. But it also goes deeper inside the ring, and not just because of the characters. Because there are matches so violent, between such dark avatars, that they feel closer to a Texas Chainsaw Massacre film than a Titanes en el Ring bout. To pay tribute to horror and violence, I put together this marathon of matches to watch on October 31st and celebrate the month of fear.

Pagano vs Chessman | Triplemania XXVIII (12/12/2020)

A violent Mexican lucha libre match from promotion AAA, where Pagano, the clown king of extreme wrestling, faces Chessman, the veteran monster who belonged to Mexico's darkest factions (The Black Family, La Secta, and the Hell Brothers). This match took place in December 2020, with no audience, under extreme rules, and with a hair vs. hair stipulation (the loser gets their head shaved). Heavy pacing, but with blood and weapons.

Megumi Kudo vs. Combat Toyoda | FMW Fighting Creation '96 (5/5/1996)

The Japanese wrestling promotion FMW was a pioneer in violence and bloodshed during the '90s. Its male roster featured terrible monsters of the extreme, but it had also pushed violence to its limits with its female wrestlers. This match is the retirement bout of villain Combat Toyoda facing her classic rival Megumi Kudo in a barbed wire and explosions match. Not only was the ring wrapped in danger from those additions, but the techniques they use and the aggressiveness of the match are worthy of a classic.

Vampiro vs Pentagon Jr | Lucha Underground Ultima Lucha (16/4/2015)

Two generations of dark characters step into the ring of Lucha Underground, a Mexican wrestling promotion for the American audience, on Robert Rodriguez's network. On one side, a young Pentagon Jr who came to the USA to prove he could win over the fanbase. On the other, Vampiro, a battle-hardened veteran who traveled the world. This extreme match features a lot of action packed into a short time, blood, and -- for those of us who followed these characters -- a moment of recognition between both. Student vs Master.

Atsushi Onita vs Terry Funk | FMW 4th Anniversary Show (5/5/1993)

What can I say about the first match with a time bomb in a ring wrapped in explosive barbed wire... Onita is the promoter of FMW and one of the most important innovators of violence in Japanese lucha libre. Terry Funk must have been one of the toughest and most Texan men this world ever produced (and one of the most famous foreigners in Japan), and at the end of his career he decided to go all-in on extreme matches. Old school wrestling with explosions.

The Undertaker vs Mankind | WWE Hell in a Cell: King of the Ring 1998 (28/06/98)

A classic with more tension than wrestling, but a classic that changed the industry. Mankind (Mick Foley) gives it all in two incredible falls from the cage. His resilience and strength in this match are at superhuman levels. The Undertaker, for his part, does what he does best: maintaining his composure and giving us some incredible moments. The first time you watch this you say: "He killed him!" A match that belongs in every top list, ranking, or anything else.

Obviously there's much more. In fact, I recommend continuing down this path by looking up matches from promotions like ECW, W*ING, FMW, and GCW for something more recent. Enjoy your violent little matches.