They will be known to fans of wrestling: the fascinating, colorful masks that are used by professional wrestlers to disguise themselves. These kind of masks were used in wrestling fights in mexico for the first time at the beginning of the 20th century. Yet, the origin of the masks can be traced back to the old aztecs. Today many, if not all wrestlers are wearing wrestling masks.
The first wrestling masks, worn by wrestlers such as 'El Enmascarado' or 'La Maravilla Enmascarada', were still relatively simple in appearance, often just colored in a few fundamental colors. Their function was to make the wrestlers distinguishable while fighting each other. Nowadays, there do not seem to be few boundaries conerning the design of the masks. The few color were replaced by a multitude, the formerly rather uniform design is often modified today. The aim of this is to make the wrestler unique, ultilising masks depicting animals, gods or cartoon characters.
Thus, the masks often become the hallmark of the wrestlers wearing them, often accompanying them for their whole life as a wrestler and partially even during normal public appearances. In this role the masks also act as a concealment of the true identity of the wrestlers. The longer the period a wrestler, or lunchador as they are called as well in mexico, stays unrecognized because of the mask and without lifting his disguise, the higher his prestige. For this reason, a demasking is often seen as a commotion leading to a persistent feud between involved wrestlers, because by loosing his mask, a wrestler is also loosing his identity. This is also why a forceful demasking of a wrestler is not allowed in the mexican wrestling arenas and will lead to disqualification of the guilty fighter.
Wrestling masks enjoy great popularity outside of mexico as well by now, particularly with regard to replicas of the masks of famous wrestlers, which are in high demand and can be bought worldwide.
Thus, the masks often become the hallmark of the wrestlers wearing them, often accompanying them for their whole life as a wrestler and partially even during normal public appearances. In this role the masks also act as a concealment of the true identity of the wrestlers. The longer the period a wrestler, or lunchador as they are called as well in mexico, stays unrecognized because of the mask and without lifting his disguise, the higher his prestige. For this reason, a demasking is often seen as a commotion leading to a persistent feud between involved wrestlers, because by loosing his mask, a wrestler is also loosing his identity. This is also why a forceful demasking of a wrestler is not allowed in the mexican wrestling arenas and will lead to disqualification of the guilty fighter.
Wrestling masks enjoy great popularity outside of mexico as well by now, particularly with regard to replicas of the masks of famous wrestlers, which are in high demand and can be bought worldwide.
