MOTW 141: Grande Americano vs Grande Americano
"M.O.T.W. #141: Grande Americano vs. Grande Americano" - ink & digital illustration
Today brings us to the 141st edition of our Chris Things Art 'Match of the Week' illustration series! And this week we travel to Monterrey for a wonderful match & story that just felt oh so perfect!
This totally wonderful 'Mascara contra Mascara' apuestas match took place on May 30th at AAA's 'Noche de Los Grandes' event at Arena Monterrey.
Alright, so I finally got around to the battle of Los Grandes (in addition to the fantastic build-up throughout the year) & I feel like I'm not going to be able to add anything new to the chatter on this one, but man this was SO GREAT! I really loved the overall story here. It was fascinatingly nuanced, while feeling original & authentic. The telenovela style storytelling & eventual payoff to all of those elements was just so great & so classically AAA. The Pimpinela Escarlata stuff was beyond perfect!!
This felt so strangely pure - both in terms of being what Professional Wrestling is all about & also being a love letter to Lucha Libre Mexicana. From two gringos in a gentrified, American-owned Mexican Lucha Libre company no less! But as they say, "A Mexican is born wherever the hell they please".
I was honestly shocked to see a story like this told by the current administration of AAA but hats off to everyone involved here totally hitting it out of the park. A battle of Big Americans (one of which is actually German) over a love for Mexico, culture, identity & acceptance. It really was such a beautiful thing! The physicality of the match, complete immersion & commitment to the story & of course, the crimson really brought it to that next level. And man, that Monterrey crowd was just something else!
The post match unmasking was so lovely & properly emotional too. Man, Gable dripping in crimson before his family! My gosh, Chef's kiss!
This was so absolutely perfect! Thank you to both Grandes & all involved in making this so wonderful! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
ENJOY!!
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