<font:Arial Bold:20><just:center><color:ffff00ff>History of Lucha Libre 1<color:ffffffff><just:left>

Lucha libre, meaning "free wrestling" is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries.

Mexican wrestling is characterized by colorful masks, rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers, as well as "high-flying" maneuvers. The wearing of masks has developed special significance, and matches are sometimes contested in which the loser must permanently remove his mask, which is a wager with a high degree of weight attached. Tag team wrestling is especially prevalent in lucha libre, particularly matches with three-member teams, called trios.

Lucha libre wrestlers are known as luchadores. They usually come from extended wrestling families who form their own stables.