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Since I was a child, I've always enjoyed wrestling, but the most enjoyable events I've attended were not here in the United States, courtesy of WWE or TNA, but instead in Mexico City, watching the masked wrestlers, or 'luchadores'.

Attending a wrestling event at the Arena Mexico is a transformative experience. Buying tickets during the day at the Arena itself left me with few clues of what I was getting into. The parking lot and seemingly the entire neighborhood were empty and oddly quiet.

Sometime in the hours between my ticket purchases and my return to the Arena Mexico for the pay-per-view event, an entire market had sprung up, all dedicated to masked wrestling. Masks, magazines, dolls - everything for sale in the sprawling sub-culture market was related to the wrestling scene. It was one of the most interesting sub-culture phenomenons I have witnessed in my life. Entire families of wrestling maniacs from the gigantic, elegant city filled the Arena. The fans are generally nice if you talk to them, but are loud, enthusiastic, knowledgeable wrestling fans who are having a great time.

Inside was a different experience as well. Mexican fans yell at the wrestlers constantly, whether they like them or not. Eight-man tag team matches stop unexpectedly as the masked contestants regroup in the corners to pose for photos for the magazines and papers! The food and drinks are obviously different, and the overall experience is unique and fascinating whether one speaks Spanish or not.

The highlight of this night, in retrospect, was the appearance of Rey Mysterio, Jr. I had no idea who he was at the time, and he was not the most impressive wrestler I saw that night, but a few months later I noticed that he was in the WWE, and he has gone on to achieve great fame among wrestlers in the United States.

Rey Mysterio, Jr. is not the only big-time wrestling name to come from the Mexican circuit. The Hardy Boys and Lita wrestled down there for a time, as have many others.

Another great thing about a match at the Arena Mexico is that when it's time to come home, the subway is filled with happy masked wrestling fans of all ages, which definitely made me feel safe riding it home in the wee night hours.

There are several places to attend wrestling matches in Mexico City, and the matches are bloody, wild, inexpensive, and often much more intimate than a big WWE event. Events are held several nights a week, and are an experience from the time you leave your hotel until you return and go to sleep. You will most definitely be entertained, and you never know - you may see the next big star and not even realize it.

Learn more about this author, James Goodwin.
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