Editing Lucha libre (section)

==Other characteristics==
[[File:MascaraSagrada.jpg|thumb|right|225px|[[Mascara Sagrada]] has been involved in a long running copyright dispute over the use of the Máscara Sagrada name, outfit and mask with [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|AAA]], who claimed that they owned the copyright to the character and has even promoted other wrestlers as "Máscara Sagrada". Máscara Sagrada's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.<ref name=Mondo/>]]

''Luchadores'' are traditionally divided into two categories, ''rudos'' (lit. "tough guys", who are "bad guys", or "[[heel (professional wrestling)|heels]]"), who bend or break the rules, and ''técnicos'' (the "good guys", or "[[face (professional wrestling)|faces]]", literally "technicians"), who play by the rules and their moves are much more complex and spectacular.  ''Técnicos'' tend to have very formal combat styles, close to [[Greco-Roman wrestling]] and [[martial arts]] techniques, whereas ''rudos'' tend to be brawlers.  ''Técnicos'' playing the "good guy" role, and ''rudos'' playing the "bad guy" role is very characteristic of Mexican lucha libre, which differs from U.S. professional wrestling, where many technical wrestlers play the role of heels (e.g., [[Kurt Angle]]), and many brawlers play as "faces" (e.g., [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] & [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingencyclopedia.com/cmll3.12.05.html |title=Wrestling Encyclopedia |publisher=Wrestling Encyclopedia |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412015632/http://wrestlingencyclopedia.com/cmll3.12.05.html |archive-date=April 12, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Although ''rudos'' often resort to using underhanded tactics, they are still expected to live up to a ''luchador'' code of honor. For instance, a ''luchador'' who has lost a wager match would prefer to endure the humiliation of being unmasked or having his head shaved rather than live with the shame that would come from not honoring his bet. ''Rudos'' have also been known to make the transition into ''técnicos'' after a career-defining moment, as was the case with [[Blue Demon]], who decided to become a ''técnico'' after his wrestling partner, [[Black Shadow (wrestler)|Black Shadow]], was unmasked by the legendary [[El Santo|Santo]]. Tag teams are sometimes composed of both ''rudos'' and ''técnicos'' in what are called ''parejas increibles'' (incredible pairings). ''Parejas increibles'' highlight the conflict between a ''luchador''{{'}}s desire to win and his contempt for his partner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surf-mexico.com/culture/lucha_libre/lucha_moves.htm |title=Lucha Libre Moves |publisher=Surf-mexico.com |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720044037/http://www.surf-mexico.com/culture/lucha_libre/lucha_moves.htm |archive-date=July 20, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

A staple gimmick present in lucha libre since the 1950s is ''[[exótico]]'', a character in drag. It is argued that the gimmick has recently attained a more flamboyant outlook.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bajko |first=Matthew S. |url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc3=&id=84298 |title=Meet Lucha Libre's New Superstar: The Openly Gay 'Queen of the Ring' |publisher=Edgeboston.com |date=December 5, 2008 |access-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422184001/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc3=&id=84298 |archive-date=April 22, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

''Luchadores'', like their foreign counterparts, seek to obtain a ''campeonato'' (championship) through winning key wrestling matches. Since many feuds and shows are built around ''luchas de apuestas'' (matches with wagers), title matches play a less prominent role in Mexico than in the U.S. Titles can be defended as few as one time per year.<ref name="Madigan, Dan 2007 128–132">{{cite book|author=Madigan, Dan|title=Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|year=2007|chapter=A family affair|pages=128–132|isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}}</ref>

The two biggest lucha libre promotions in Mexico are {{lang|es|[[Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre]]|italic=no}} (CMLL), which was founded in 1933, and [[Lucha Libre AAA World Wide]] (AAA).<ref name="Madigan, Dan 2007 128–132"/>