During this weeks IMPACT Wrestling Press Pass podcast, WrestleZone’s Angel Garcia spoke with Taya Valkyrie, Pentagon Jr, and Fenix about the importance of a luchador’s wrestling gear.
*Note: Anything in Italics is translated by Angel Garcia
WZ: In my opinion, Luchadors from Mexico, are the best dressed people at the show. In Lucha Libre tradition, it is common to constantly change your gear. Could you elaborate on the importance of your gear, the mask, and where you get inspiration?
Taya: To translate, he is asking, Where do we get the inspiration for our costume and mask, and all that kind of stuff, it is a very well known fact that in Lucha Libre culture, that we take the way we look very seriously.
Pentagon Jr.: Basically, Lucha Libre has always been involved with a sort of magic, and mysticism that we wrestlers have to give it, especially as Mexican wrestlers. When we came to the United States, we were the most different from other wrestlers, be it, Japanese,American, British, because our culture allows us to use this type of attire that is loud, and calls attention to itself. They are bright combinations with different colors and materials, also in having the mask, designates and shows us as Mexican Luchadors.
Taya: What he is saying is, that in Lucha Libre culture, there is a lot of magic and mysticism that comes along with the mask and tradition, and costuming is such a huge part of that, so when they come from Mexico, to the rest of the world, it is very obvious that they continue that tradition, and carry it forward, and make sure that they are very passionate of the way they look and their mask because that is such a huge part of the culture of Lucha Libre
Fenix: I think that is a type of heritage. For example, the wrestler, our trainers, our wrestling ancestors, it is something they leave you, a lesson that they tell you in needing to look good, larger than life, using different materials, and overall looking good.
Taya: Fenix is saying, that that is something that they teach them, make sure your shiny, make sure you look good, that they take pride in their appearance because it is absolutely a part of it
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Fenix: It is one of the big things our teachers, old school luchadors, teach you in the business, you need to look like real big star, you need to look bright, you need to look like luchador, luchador is like superhero bro, just, you need to shine, you need a elegant costume, that- Is it, help me, it’s like heritage? What the word for heritage?
WZ: Would it be more like legacy?
Pentagon: Like legacy.
Fenix: Yeah, it’s like a living legacy.
Pentagon: Basically, what identifies a true Mexican luchador, it’s how you use the gear, mask, those costumes, for example, Taya outfits that are showy-
Fenix: That queen’s crown! You [Taya] look like a queen
Taya: Oh thank you! Thank You!
Pentagon: I think it what helps make us special, not just in the US, but all over the world. In dressing and looking elegant, imposing to our opponents and fans, in the middle of the ring. I don’t think we aren’t the fanciest wrestlers, or anything, every person takes care of themselves-
Fenix: Everybody’s character is different, everybody takes care of the gimmick, but I think Mexicans, we go a little bit over the top
Taya: For me, even though I’m not Mexican—
Pentagon: You are Mexican.
Taya: Lucha Libre is where I grew up in the wrestling world, and the wrestling community, so obviously my influences are from there 120 billion percent, if you could not tell. I have always taken a lot of pride in my costuming, I have never worn a mask, but I believe that evolutionizing your costume, evolutionizing your ring gear and your entrance gear. Creating something that is exactly that, mystery and mysticism, and creativity, and that allows all the “shinier that fabric the better” you know? you want people to look at you and go ‘oh my gosh” she looks, crazy, or he looks crazy—
Fenix: She looks like a queen!
Taya: Or she looks whatever, whatever gimmick you have, I think it’s a huge part of it, Even when I switched from robes to capes, I need the shiniest material, I need the nicest stuff, it is very, very important to all of us, for sure.
Check out the full IMPACT Wrestling conference call in the player below:
