Originating in Mexico, Lucha Libre has quickly risen to be one of the top wrestling styles in the world. Fans who enjoy betting on fights often turn to drapuestas.com for the most competitive odds at the best free sportsbooks in Spanish. Although Lucha Libre’s history goes back to 1933, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that it started making huge waves in the US sports scene. Today, Lucha Libre’s impact on global wrestling is unmistakable. Major wrestling platforms like WWE and AEW showcase Lucha Libre’s talent to massive audiences. But amidst all the excitement, the question remains: who are the standout legends of Lucha Libre?
Rey Mysterio
Embodying the rich tradition of Mexican wrestling, few names in lucha libre resonate as powerfully as Rey Mysterio. T The 48-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history and has been a household name since switching from WCW to WWE in 2002. The star has won huge prizes throughout his career, including the Cruiserweight Championship on three occasions. However, his landmark achievement came at WrestleMania 22, as he defeated Kurt Angle and Randy Orton to win the World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. Mysterio would later win the title once again in 2010, defeating Big Show, CM Punk, and Jack Swagger in a Fatal 4-Way match.
He would also win the WWE Championship in July 2015, but he would lose the gold just hours later against John Cena. Mysterio continues to be a prominent figure on WWE television, having battled against his son Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania this year, and been involved in feuds against Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest throughout 2023.
Eddie Guerrero
There remain few more popular Lucha Libre wrestlers in history than the late great Eddie Guerrero. The first-generation son of Gory Guerrero is still considered to be one of the most influential wrestlers in history, having inspired stars that he worked with, such as Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, and Ric Flair. After beginning his career in Mexico, Guerrero competed for four years at New Japan Pro Wrestling, before moving to the United States to join Extreme Championship Wrestling. That was his gateway into the WWE, and he joined the main roster in 1995.
Guerrero won the United States Heavyweight Championship in 1996, before landing the Intercontinental Championship in 2001. After various feuds against Jericho, X-Pac, and Chris Benoit for the title, he dropped the belt at WrestleMania X-Seven. Guerrero later returned to WWE in 2002 and would win the WWE Championship at No Way Out in 2004, defeating Brock Lesnar. However, Guerrero sadly passed away in November 2005, stunning the world of wrestling into a state of mourning.
Mil Mascaras
One of the first legendary Lucha Libres to grace the wrestling ring came in the form of Mil Mascaras. He remains one of the most famous wrestlers in the history of the business and is still regarded as the first true legendary Lucha Libre that showcased the style of wrestling to an international audience. He helped transcend the style and helped inspire every wrestler that came through using the style. Mascaras remains a huge star in Mexico and has starred in over 20 films throughout his career. His identity remains a secret, and he has never been unmasked throughout his career.
He was honored for his achievements in 2010 after being inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and two years later, he was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. His legacy lives on through his sons, as the Mascaras family remains one of the most prominent in the industry. Among his bloodline include former WWE champion Alberto del Rio, Don Caras, and Sicodelico Jr.
Conclusion
The future of Lucha Libre wrestling has never appeared so bright, as the legacy left behind by the stars of yesteryear continues to ensure that newcomers to the biggest companies in the wrestling industry are given their opportunity to shine. That has been evident in recent years with Rey Mysterio bringing through new and emerging wrestlers from the discipline, including his son Dominik, and giving platforms on the main roster to superstars such as Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega, and Joaquin Wilde. The future of the sport certainly looks to be in safe hands with the emergence of Lucha Libre wrestlers continuing to come through at both WWE and AEW.