Editing Lucha libre (section)

==In popular culture==
[[Image:LaParka.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[La Parka]] in action (The Original).  He was forced to change his [[ring name]] from "La Parka" to "'''L.A. Park'''" (short for ''La Auténtica Park''; "The Original Park") in early 2003 when [[Asistencia Asesoría y Administración]] (AAA) owner [[Antonio Peña]] asserted his copyright claims to the La Parka character, barring Tapia from using the name as he promoted his own [[La Parka II|La Parka]].]]
[[File:AAA July 2018 La Parka.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[La Parka II]] during an outdoor event in 2018]]
Lucha Libre has crossed over into popular culture, especially in Mexico, where it is the second most popular sport after [[Association football|soccer]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://superluchas.com/encuesta-de-mitofsky-revela-que-la-lucha-no-es-el-segundo-deporte-mas-popular-en-mexico/ | title= ENCUESTA DE MITOFSKY REVELA QUE LA LUCHA NO ES EL SEGUNDO DEPORTE MÁS POPULAR EN MÉXICO | author= Yoav | date= October 22, 2007 | access-date= September 5, 2009 | work=[[Súper Luchas]]| language= es | df= mdy-all }}</ref> Outside of Mexico, lucha libre has also crossed over into popular culture, especially in movies and television. Depictions of luchadors are often used as symbols of Mexico and Mexican culture in non-Spanish-speaking cultures.

===Movies and television===
{{See also|Lucha film}}
The motion picture ''[[Nacho Libre]]'', starring [[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] as a priest-turned-luchador was inspired by the story of Father Sergio Gutiérrez Benítez, a real-life [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Catholic priest]] who wrestled as [[Fray Tormenta]] to make money for his church.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/aug/04/2 | title='I didn't want glory. I wanted money' | first=Jo | last=Tuckman | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | access-date=June 2, 2018}}</ref> The documentary feature ''Lucha Mexico'' (2016) captured the lives of some of Mexico's well known wrestlers. The stars were [[Shocker (wrestler)|Shocker]], [[Blue Demon Jr.]], [[El Hijo del Perro Aguayo]] and  [[Último Guerrero]]. Directed by Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/videos/watch-masked-men-battle-in-lucha-mexico-trailer-20160706 | title=Watch Masked Men Battle in 'Lucha Mexico' Trailer | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=July 6, 2016 | access-date=June 2, 2018}}</ref> [[Rob Zombie]]'s animated film ''[[The Haunted World of El Superbeasto]]'' stars a Mexican luchador named El Superbeasto.<ref name="Shocktillyoudrop">{{cite web| publisher= Shocktillyoudrop| url= http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=825| title= News: EXCL: Rob Zombie Interview| access-date= July 20, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070816200210/http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=825| archive-date= August 16, 2007| url-status= dead| df= mdy-all}}</ref> The Main Antagonist of the animated film [[Despicable Me 2]], El Macho, sports a costume resembling that of a luchador, consistent with his theme of Mexican culture.

Television shows have also been inspired by lucha libre, especially animated series such as ''[[¡Mucha Lucha!]]'' [[Cartoon Network]] also produced an animated miniseries based on the luchador El Santo.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.movieweb.com/tv/news/39/17739.php |title=Cartoon Network Announces Five New Series for 2007 |publisher=Movieweb.com |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726190020/http://www.movieweb.com/tv/news/39/17739.php |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The WB television series ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' episode entitled "[[The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco]]" told the story of a family of ''luchadores'' called "Los Hermanos Números" who also fought evil. Angel must help the remaining brother, Numero Cinco, defeat the Aztec warrior-demon that killed his four brothers.<ref name=Cult>{{Citation |url=http://www.whedon.info/Jeff-Bell-Cult-Times-Magazine.html |title=Jeff Bell – Cult Times Magazine Interview |first=Deborah |last=M. |date=2003-12-17 |publisher=Cult Times Magazine Special Edition |issue=28 }}</ref> In the British TV show ''[[Justin Lee Collins]]: The Wrestler'', Colins competes as the ''rudo'' ''El Glorioso'', or The Glorious One, against the ''exótico'' [[Cassandro]] in [[The Roundhouse]], London, ultimately losing and being unmasked.<ref name=Times14Aug09>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/dolce-vito-justin-lee-collins-wrestler-how-clean-is-your-house-qmkk00mj9km |title=Dolce Vito; Justin Lee Collins: Wrestler; How Clean Is Your House? – Last Night's TV |publisher=The Times |work=Home Arts & Entertainment TV & Radio |date=August 14, 2009 |access-date=August 14, 2009 | location=London | first=Tim | last=Teeman}}</ref> The book and television series ''[[The Strain (TV series)|The Strain]]'' by [[Guillermo del Toro]] and [[Chuck Hogan]], features a retired luchador character called Angel de la Plata (The Silver Angel), played by [[Joaquin Cosio]]. In the storyline, Angel de la Plata (probably based on [[El Santo]]) was a major masked wrestling star in Mexico, appearing both in the ring and in a series of movies in which his character battled all manner of foes including vampires. A knee injury ended his career but he is called upon to use his fighting skills against a real-life vampire invasion of New York.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/exclusive-fxs-the-strain-finds-its-vampire-fighting-silver-angel#bHAG18UjoWIEczb1.99 |work=[[HitFix]] |date=January 13, 2015 |title=Exclusive: FX's 'The Strain' Finds Its Vampire-Fighting Silver Angel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121012812/http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/exclusive-fxs-the-strain-finds-its-vampire-fighting-silver-angel#bHAG18UjoWIEczb1.99 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The [[Fox Kids]] live-action series ''[[Los Luchadores]]'' (2001) starred a trio of masked wrestlers consisting of Lobo Fuerte, Maria Valentine, and Turbine who not only participate in wrestling tournaments but also fight to protect their home of Union City from numerous threats (both natural and supernatural).

===Video games===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}
Lucha libre is a recurring motif in nearly every game directed by [[Suda51]], starting from his directorial debut [[Super Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Final Bout]]. Most prominently, the character Mask de Smith from [[killer7]] is a playable lucha libre wrestler, featuring a mask and cape.

The popular video game franchise ''[[Pokémon]]'' introduced the Fighting/Flying-type Pokémon Hawlucha, which is a hawk-like humanoid creature with elements of a lucha libre wrestler.

The masked Luchador fighter and chef [[El Fuerte (Capcom, Street Fighter)|El Fuerte]] was introduced to the [[Street Fighter]] franchise in [[Street Fighter IV]].

The fighting game [[Garou: Mark of the Wolves]] and its follow-up, the [[King of Fighters]] series, featured the character Tizoc who was a Luchador that wore a mask resembling the head of a griffon; during the events of [[The King of Fighters XIV]], he adopted the heel persona of The King of Dinosaurs, wearing now a dinosaur inspired mask.

The ''[[Dead or Alive (franchise)|Dead or Alive]]'' franchise features a masked luchadora called [[La Mariposa (Dead or Alive)|La Mariposa]].

The [[Tekken]] fighting game franchise features the characters known as [[King (Tekken)|King]] and [[Characters of the Tekken series#Armor King|Armor King]], both of whom are Luchadors and have similar jaguar-style masks.

[[Guacamelee!]] and its sequel [[Guacamelee! 2]] heavily feature Luchador masks, with the main protagonist, Juan Aguacate, being bestowed a mystical mask to help him get revenge on Carlos Calaca, an evil [[charro]] skeleton (in Guacamelee) and to help him fight Salvador, an evil Luchador, in Guacamelee! 2.

The 2005 platformer game ''[[Psychonauts]]'' features four Luchadores (Tiger, Dragon, Eagle, and Cobra) who act as miniboss-type enemies in the level "Black Velvetopia." The player must defeat the Luchadores in order to access the arena that will let them fight the level's main [[Boss (video games)|boss]], El Odio.

[[Brawl Stars]] has a rare brawler called “El Primo”. He punches enemies four times and can perform an elbow drop on them with his super.

Tezca, a playable legend in [[Brawlhalla]], is a masked luchador with jaguar-themed design and fighting style.

[[Kirby Fighters 2]] has a wrestler copy ability introduced. It can do moves from fighter and suplex.

=== Internet culture ===

Strong Bad of the [[Homestar Runner]] universe began as a parody of lucha libre. His head is designed after a mask and his hands after boxing gloves.

===Lucha libre inspirations===
[[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] has designed a line of lucha libre-inspired athletic shoes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Halfhill |first=Matt |url=http://www.nicekicks.com/lucha-libre-air-force-ones/ |title=Lucha Libre Air Force Ones |publisher=NiceKicks.com |date=April 29, 2008 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20081120084422/http://www.nicekicks.com/lucha-libre-air-force-ones/ |archive-date=November 20, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Coca-Cola]] developed a Blue Demon [[Full Throttle (drink)|Full Throttle]] energy drink named after the luchador [[Blue Demon, Jr.]] who is also the spokesperson for the drink in Mexico.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2006/11-09-2006-Full_Throttle_Demon.asp |title=Coca-Cola Introduces New Full Throttle Blue Demon Energy Drink |publisher=BevNET.com |date=November 9, 2006 |access-date=August 22, 2013}}</ref> Coca-Cola also introduced "Gladiator" in Mexico, an energy drink that sponsored CMLL events and that featured CMLL wrestlers such as [[Místico]] and [[Último Guerrero]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://superluchas.com/coca-cola-mexico-lanza-gladiator/ | title= Coca Cola México lanza Gladiator | date= January 30, 2008 | access-date= September 5, 2009 | author= Ocampo, Jorge | work= [[Súper Luchas]] | language= es | url-status= live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090824233003/http://superluchas.com/coca-cola-mexico-lanza-gladiator/ | archive-date= August 24, 2009 | df= mdy-all }}</ref>