MOTW 158: Blue Panther vs El Mariachi (aka El Solar)

"M.O.T.W. #158: Blue Panther vs El Mariachi (aka El Solar)" - ink & digital illustration

Today brings us to the 158th of our Chris Things Art 'Match of the Week' illustration series. And this week we travel to a glory period of Lucha Libre Mexicana ('94 AAA) for a llaveo classic that made me very happy to watch!

This positively delightful 2/3 falls Lucha clinic took place on October 30th, 1994 at AAA's Televisa Deportes tv tapings in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico & wouldn't air until the following year.

Man this one was just such a delight! And with the two all-time llaveo maestros involved, I'd expect nothing less.

So, many of us might not be too familiar with 'El Mariachi' but may know him better as the legendary El Solar. The backstory is fascinating as both Solar & Blue Panther by this point have already had incredible careers & matches between one another in the famed El Toreo/UWA. But upon the closing of the hugely influential promotion, Solar migrated to the up & coming AAA to join his former opponent. Antonio Peña in his infinite wisdom thought it best to recast the legendary Solar as a new character. Becoming 'El Mariachi'; one third of the Los Folkloricos trio along with El Charro & El Mexicano. I actually quite like these characters but still seems like quite the strange decision. ...This wouldn't last long & Solar would soon return to his more famed persona. But it gave us this fascinating match. And one that would become quite popular with us gringo tape traders & the online wrestling hardcores.

This felt like two llaveo masters showing everyone in AAA just what El Toreo WRESTLING was all about! Just an absolutely beautiful display of perhaps my favourite variety of Lucha. The back & forth struggle, the jockeying for position, the flow, the beautiful takedowns & submissions. This was so wonderful! Panther is everything we know & love here. And as a flower by any other name that smells just as sweet, El Mariachi is totally incredible. Watching these two in their primes is such a gift!

Esto Es Lucha!

ENJOY!!

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