{"id":221927,"date":"2026-09-05T14:25:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T19:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=221927"},"modified":"2026-09-05T14:25:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T19:25:10","slug":"then-now-forever-lucha-libre-in-the-usa-rey-mysterio-vs-juventud-guerrera-los-gringos-locos-vs-octagon-el-hijo-del-santo-from-when-worlds-collide-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/09\/05\/then-now-forever-lucha-libre-in-the-usa-rey-mysterio-vs-juventud-guerrera-los-gringos-locos-vs-octagon-el-hijo-del-santo-from-when-worlds-collide-more\/","title":{"rendered":"THEN, NOW, FOREVER &#8211; LUCHA LIBRE IN THE USA: Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera, Los Gringos Locos vs. Octagon &#038; El Hijo del Santo from When Worlds Collide, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-4181830654\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>Theme: Lucha Libre in the USA<\/h3>\n<p>Professional wrestling is an international art form that transcends geographical boundaries. I believe this is possible because wrestling is primarily a visual medium that does not require words\u2014or even significant context\u2014to be understood at a basic level. Through the actions and reactions of its characters, audiences can easily identify the hero and the villain. Once those roles are established, the fundamental elements of storytelling can be communicated visually, creating drama, emotion, and engagement.<\/p>\n<p>With that said, each region of professional wrestling has its own unique flavor that distinguishes it from the others. Lucha Libre is characterized by flamboyant colors, iconic masks, and a more straightforward presentation that emphasizes t\u00e9cnicos\u2014heroes fans want to see win\u2014and rudos\u2014villains fans pay to see lose. The in-ring style is also distinctly different. While most fans immediately point to Lucha Libre&#8217;s high-flying offense, the flow and pacing of its matches are equally important.<\/p>\n<p>A wrestling trainer once simplified the difference by saying that American wrestling is based on the bump, while Lucha Libre is based on the roll. That distinction helps explain the constant motion and unique cadence of Lucha Libre, where one movement often flows seamlessly into the next. This style is particularly well suited for multi-person and tag team matches, where loose tag rules and continuous action can create an energy unlike anything found in American wrestling.<\/p>\n<p>In recent weeks, Lucha Libre has received increased attention across the WWE landscape. In addition to the weekly WWE-produced AAA television show, luchadors have received significant screen time on RAW and NXT. This growing focus will culminate over Labor Day weekend with two nights of TripleMania and a special edition of RAW from Mexico City.<\/p>\n<p>In this week&#8217;s article, I will highlight three Lucha Libre matches that were broadcast on American professional wrestling television and explore what makes each one an effective example of this unique style.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Then: Los Gringos Locos (Eddie Guerrero &amp; Art Barr) vs. Octagon &amp; El Hijo del Santo (AAA When World Collide: Nov. 6, 1994)<\/h3>\n<p>For many American wrestling fans older than me, the first real opportunity to experience Lucha Libre came in 1994 when AAA presented When Worlds Collide, a historic pay-per-view that introduced a wider American audience to both the stars and the unique rhythm of Lucha Libre. The most fondly remembered match from the event featured the obnoxious rudo team of Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr, known as Los Gringos Locos, against the t\u00e9cnico team of Octag\u00f3n and El Hijo del Santo in a two-out-of-three falls hair-versus-mask match.<\/p>\n<p>Being too young to experience the event in real time, my first exposure to When Worlds Collide and its main event came years later on a WWE-produced Eddie Guerrero DVD. The most prominent aspect of the contest is the live crowd. The energy inside the arena is electric. More importantly, the audience is not simply invested in watching a great match; they are invested in watching the heroes defeat the villains. This dynamic is not accidental. Even without knowing the context going into the match, Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr play the foreign-villain role to perfection. They mock the crowd, use heel tactics, and sell like cowards rather than tough guys.<\/p>\n<p>As expected in Lucha Libre, the high-flying spots are impressive, but they are not reserved for the babyface team. In the first fall, Los Gringos Locos land a Doomsday Device hurricanrana, followed by a superplex\/frog splash combination, to score the first fall and put the heroes at a disadvantage just five minutes into the match. In the second fall, the heroes turn the tide and the crowd&#8217;s excitement rises with them. Another series of high spots ends with Art Barr submitting to an Octag\u00f3n submission hold.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-719816531\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The third fall introduces several classic professional wrestling storytelling devices that transcend every form of the art. The heel team executes the banned Tombstone on Octag\u00f3n, forcing him to be taken out on a stretcher and leaving the heroes at a significant disadvantage. Presenting a move as so dangerous that it is prohibited is an effective tool for generating significant heel heat and increasing the drama of a story or match. It cannot be used all the time, but when used sparingly, it can be incredibly effective. The crowd&#8217;s reaction demonstrates that the tactic achieved its intended purpose, adding to both the jeopardy facing the hero team and the overall drama of the moment.<\/p>\n<p>As is often the case, heroes bending the rules can be justified when the heels cross the line first. In this case, using the Tombstone crossed that line, allowing Blue Panther&#8217;s interference to be justified and embraced by the crowd. With Octag\u00f3n out on a stretcher and Art Barr incapacitated by Blue Panther&#8217;s piledriver, the match comes down to Eddie Guerrero and El Hijo del Santo. Eddie delivers a string of high-impact offense but cannot seem to put Santo away. This builds sympathy for the babyface while allowing Santo to demonstrate toughness and grit. Finally, Santo counters a tiger suplex with a roll-up for the pin. The sudden finish surprises the audience and rewards fans for not losing hope in the babyface.<\/p>\n<p>What makes this match so effective is how seamlessly it combines classic professional wrestling storytelling with the distinct flavor of Lucha Libre. The high-flying action is spectacular, but it never becomes the entire story. Los Gringos Locos generate tremendous heel heat, the banned Tombstone raises the stakes, and El Hijo del Santo&#8217;s toughness gives the audience a hero worth believing in. The match also delivers the twists and turns that make great wrestling stories memorable, culminating in a surprise finish that rewards the crowd&#8217;s emotional investment. It is a match filled with unmistakable Lucha Libre flavor, yet its storytelling fundamentals are universal\u2014and that combination is precisely why it remains such an effective introduction to the style.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pe_R6uDTcQE&amp;list=WL&amp;index=4\">CLICK TO WATCH<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"LUCHA COMPLETA: Octag\u00f3n &amp; El Hijo del Santo vs. Art Barr &amp; Eddie Guerrero: When Worlds Collide 1994\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pe_R6uDTcQE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Check out the latest episode of &#8220;Worse or Better&#8221; with Stephanie Chase and Josh White, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/worse-or-better-back-back-forth-and-forth-stephanie-returns-to-discuss-wrestlers-making-big-jumps-between-companies-over-the-years--74772730\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cpwtorch\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Worse or Better (Back Back Forth and Forth) - Stephanie returns to discuss wrestlers making big jumps between companies over the years\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=74772730&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Now: Rey Fenix vs. Mini Vikingo (AAA Verano De Escandolo Aug 1, 2026)<\/h3>\n<p>At the beginning of this year, WWE began producing AAA&#8217;s weekly television show. The one-hour program airs on YouTube on Saturday nights in the United States and other markets outside of Mexico. I sampled the first episode and it has since become a weekly fixture in my wrestling diet. The format generally consists of three matches, at least one of which is a multi-man or multi-team match, along with angles and storylines designed to build toward future programs.<\/p>\n<p>The show resembles the early version of NXT that aired on the WWE Network in 2014: straightforward and effective. It gives viewers enough quality action to feel satisfied, but not enough to make them completely full. In other words, it leaves enough room to bring the audience back for more each week.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-869511774\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Along with its format, the presentation is unique as well. The show succeeds in being both familiar and distinct at the same time. Even with English commentary from Rey Mysterio, Corey Graves, and JBL, along with English subtitles, the program maintains an aesthetic and in-ring style that is unmistakably Lucha Libre. This blend makes the show accessible to newer wrestling fans in the United States while remaining appealing to longtime fans of Lucha Libre.<\/p>\n<p>A recent match on the program that I found particularly noteworthy featured Rey F\u00e9nix defending his Cruiserweight Championship against Mini Vikingo. The high-flying Lucha Libre style is on full display, but the match also incorporates WWE-style storytelling trademarks to near perfection. In between the spectacular high spots, the competitors allow the action to breathe, giving the audience time to digest the amazing athleticism they have just witnessed. More importantly, classic storytelling is at the center of the match.<\/p>\n<p>Technically, it is a babyface-versus-babyface contest, but Mini Vikingo fills the role of the underdog. He is physically overmatched, yet determined not only to display his incredible high-flying ability but also his grit and toughness. Throughout the match, he proves to F\u00e9nix, the veteran, and the audience that he is a rising star worthy of their attention. In the end, as expected, F\u00e9nix gets the victory. However, this is a classic case of F\u00e9nix going over while Mini Vikingo gets over.<\/p>\n<p>On multiple occasions over the last year, I have been impressed with Mini Vikingo. Even though he is very young and very small, he is more than just a run-of-the-mill high flyer. In this match, he demonstrated an ability to sell that not only showcased his toughness but also allowed the crowd to understand and buy into him as a worthy underdog. His athleticism gives the audience a reason to be impressed, but his selling and resilience give them a reason to care.<\/p>\n<p>This match is a great example of how Lucha Libre action and more traditional American-style wrestling storytelling can complement one another. The spectacular movement and constant energy of Lucha Libre remain intact, while the pacing, selling, and underdog story give the action greater emotional weight. If this blending of styles continues, it could be exactly what helps take AAA\u2014and Lucha Libre as a whole\u2014to the next level with a broader American audience.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YdWGHpcoXCU&amp;list=WL&amp;index=6\">CLICK TO WATCH<\/a> (match starts at 37:00 minutes)<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AAA Verano De Esc\u00e1ndalo Week 2: Aug. 1 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YdWGHpcoXCU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Forever: Rey Mysterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera (ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash: March 9, 1996)<\/h3>\n<p>I would estimate that the greatest exposure to Lucha Libre for many American wrestling fans came with the introduction of WCW&#8217;s cruiserweight division during the Monday Night War era. This was the period when smaller wrestlers, colorful masks, and exciting moves such as the tope, pescado, and hurricanrana entered the mainstream American wrestling orbit. For me\u2014and, I suspect, for many WCW fans at the time\u2014you could summarize the experience by saying that we tuned in to Nitro for the stars, but we stayed for the cruiserweights.<\/p>\n<p>Before wrestlers like Rey Mysterio Jr., Eddie Guerrero, Juventud Guerrera, and Psicosis were regularly showcased on Monday night cable television, several of them made an important stop in ECW. As was often the case, Paul Heyman was ahead of the curve when it came to recognizing a wrestler or an aspect of professional wrestling that had the potential to excite fans. In the young luchadors, Heyman saw both tremendous individual talent and an opportunity to introduce American audiences to the appeal of Lucha Libre. ECW gave them a platform at a time when American fans were hungry for something different.<\/p>\n<p>In March 1996, Rey Mysterio Jr. and Juventud Guerrera squared off in a two-out-of-three falls match at the ECW Arena. Billed as \u201cExtreme Lucha Libre,\u201d the contest is a fantastic example of several contrasts that, in this case, prove surprisingly complementary. The match features colorful, superhero-like luchadors competing inside a dingy, overcrowded arena. It follows the traditional Lucha Libre two-out-of-three falls format, but in keeping with ECW&#8217;s style, few other rules appear to be enforced. The competitors showcase breathtaking aerial wrestling while also utilizing weapons and extreme measures to take one another out.<\/p>\n<p>On paper, it is a lot of ingredients thrown together in a recipe that should not work. Yet in this case, the result is extremely satisfying. As for the action itself, high-flying spots are the order of the day. Admittedly, not every spot\u2014or every piece of the match\u2014fits together perfectly. But in that time and place, those imperfections were easy to forgive.<\/p>\n<p>This was also not the present-day Rey Mysterio Jr., who has become one of professional wrestling&#8217;s most sympathetic and beloved babyfaces. This was the first major incarnation of Rey Mysterio: a high-flying prodigy whose primary goal was to amaze audiences with things they had never seen before. The first two falls feature many of the spectacular spots and high-impact moves you would expect. By the end of the second fall, the crowd is impressed enough to collapse into applause, showing its appreciation for both competitors. But the third fall is when the match truly turns up the intensity.<\/p>\n<p>The polite applause becomes an uproar, and after another series of incredible dives, the action spills into the parking lot. There, the audience witnesses a powerbomb onto a car and, even more remarkably, a hurricanrana off the car. The match eventually returns to the ring, where Rey Mysterio counters a Splash Mountain attempt into a top-rope hurricanrana for the pinfall. But even that is not where the action ends. To appease ECW&#8217;s bloodthirsty hardcore audience, Mysterio powerbombs Juventud through a table for the cherry on top.<\/p>\n<p>This match is a great example of how Lucha Libre can thrive even in an environment where the style is unfamiliar. Rather than feeling out of place, the luchadors add variety in pace, tone, and presentation to an American wrestling product. The match combines the spectacular movement and athleticism of Lucha Libre with the chaotic, anything-can-happen energy of ECW, creating something that feels distinct without abandoning the qualities that made either style appealing. It demonstrates that Lucha Libre does not have to replace American wrestling to make an impact; sometimes, it simply adds that special something a product did not realize it was missing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aZYx2ZK0hx0&amp;list=WL&amp;index=6\">CLICK TO WATCH<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FULL MATCH: Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera \u2013 2-out-of-3 Falls: ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash 1996\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aZYx2ZK0hx0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1029741986\"><div id=\"pwtor-763208209\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Theme: Lucha Libre in the USA Professional wrestling is an international art form that transcends geographical boundaries. I believe this is possible because wrestling is primarily a visual medium that does not require words\u2014or even <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/09\/05\/then-now-forever-lucha-libre-in-the-usa-rey-mysterio-vs-juventud-guerrera-los-gringos-locos-vs-octagon-el-hijo-del-santo-from-when-worlds-collide-more\/\" title=\"THEN, NOW, FOREVER &#8211; LUCHA LIBRE IN THE USA: Rey Mysterio vs. Juventud Guerrera, Los Gringos Locos vs. Octagon &#038; El Hijo del Santo from When Worlds Collide, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":221929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,27,6992],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-221927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists","category-then-now-forever"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-09-05-at-2.22.08-PM.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=221927"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":221928,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/221927\/revisions\/221928"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/221929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=221927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=221927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=221927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}