Pandemic pushes Mexican wrestling to the limit | Society

The crises that have unleashed the covid-19 pandemic have also crept into the ring. The way of life of the fighters of the seventies and eighties used to be related to fame and economic prosperity. The only thing that could stop the ward heroes was a sudden injury. The paralysis of activities forced by the spread of the virus in the country has left without employment a whole union that recognizes that in the de-escalation it will be the last to return because this sport does not know the healthy distance. The exchange of fluids such as sweat, saliva, and even blood is inevitably present in every tap or blow.

Canek, one of the wrestling legends, has been held at home. His last performance was in March during a tour he made through the Mexican State of Chiapas. “I have no other business or occupation: wrestling is very jealous. I like to save money for difficult times, I am not in opulence, but I know I am going to hit rock bottom, ”he tells EL PAÍS. It has become clear to Karma I, a 21-year-old wrestling Nobel, that he cannot live on this sport alone. “I want to keep fighting, but what do you think? This situation opens your eyes, ”he says. In the last few weeks he found a job in a warehouse where they offer him health insurance, something that cannot be achieved as an independent fighter.

Octagón, one of the most recognized wrestlers on the circuit, has raised funds to support all the personnel involved in wrestling and boxing with his Aid Aid campaign. With the mask auction, he seeks to shelter his colleagues. “Day by day the shortcomings of the fighters become evident. You no longer live from wrestling as before, ”he explains. El Fantasma, who heads the Lucha Libre Commission, has distributed pantries to his teammates to try to alleviate inactivity.

In Mexico at least 12 million people stopped working in the formal or informal sphere last April, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi). Since March 16, the authorities in Mexico City have canceled all the massive acts. The World Wrestling Council, one of the main sports companies, has maintained payments to its professionals despite not receiving income, according to a spokesperson for this newspaper. “When we get back? It does not depend on us. We also cannot do closed-door events like they have in the United States. We are not going to expose people, ”he adds. The Mexican authorities have established a traffic light divided into four colors to determine the reopening of activities: red, orange, yellow and green. Professional sports events may return in orange, but without an audience. And that is unthinkable for wrestling that depends on the entrance of the ticket offices in each function.

However, economic desperation has led some promoters to perform wrestling functions without an audience to broadcast them on the Internet and receive donations from people. On June 14, the Naucalpan Arena, in the State of Mexico, organized one of these functions and ended everything with the cancellation of the site license and sanctions on the fighters who participated. Triple A, another major wrestling company, held a closed-door tournament with 28 wrestlers in April. There was no type of penalty for the company.

One of the concerns within this sports show is the age of its idols. Within the broad spectrum of Mexican fighters, the most popular are around 60 years of age, an age that identifies the population at risk from covid-19. Among them are the charismatic Blue Panther (59), Atlantis (57), El Hijo del Santo (56) or Octagón (59). Canek, for example, is over 68 years old and does not see himself retiring on his nearest horizon. “I don’t have chronic illnesses, I have taken care of myself and I like sports. I’ve only had knee surgery four times. I don’t have cartilage in my knees, I can’t run or carry as before, but I feel good, ”he explains. “There are comrades who do think of retiring, not only older people, but also colleagues who, due to the economic situation, will not return to the rhythm of wrestling,” says Karma I. The outbreaks of covid-19 also represent a challenge for older professionals.

Within the wrestling ring, the debate is still about whether the pandemic will provoke a new normality. “This is a contact sport. The fighters could use a complete mask, closed, to compete with each other and not get infected, but what about those who do not wear a mask? ”Asks the spokesman of the World Council of Wrestling. “Wrestling is not going to change. We will have to live with this situation ”, considers Octagón. The Arena Mexico, the main venue for the show and essential for tourism in Mexico City, outlines its plan to open with 30% of its capacity.

Up to 30 fighters have died in the last two months, although not all as a result of covid-19. One of the cases confirmed by the virus was Mathematician II who died of respiratory failure at 54 years of age. The physical aftermath of the ring accompanies the fighters and they try to see the pandemic as the great injury of their lives. “I had a detached shoulder, a broken clavicle, a fractured rib. I was out of circulation for a year and it was quite desperate, ”says Octagón. “When I rebuilt my knees, the doctor assured me that I would not walk again and look at me!” Adds Canek. The fighters’ optimism, however, falters without making money above the rough ring.

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