Guide to Lucha Libre in Mexico City

Experience the high flying action

If there's one thing you absolutely must do when you come to Mexico City, it's attending a lucha libre match. How could you skip such a cultural experience? Picture this: a stadium packed with people, all sipping on beers and hurling insults at wrestlers who risk their lives performing acrobatics in the ring.

Before the main event, a group of scantily clad women comes out to dance, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown. Then, a group of wrestlers in colorful costumes storm into the ring for a battle royale. This is a pinnacle event of Mexican culture.

Here's how you can take part:

Location:

- Lucha libre matches are typically held at arenas such as Arena México or Arena Coliseo. These venues are centrally located and easily accessible by public transportation. I personally recommend you go to Arena Mexico. It's easier to get to, located only about 15 minutes from the Roma/Condesa area. Some say the neighborhood can be a little sketchy, but I've never heard of anything happening to anyone. Sketchy in the eyes of the uncultured simply means it's busy as hell and lots of people are moving about. On the night of a match, the Arena Mexico Street can be “nut to butt” busy.

Getting Tickets:

- Tickets can be purchased online through various ticketing platforms or directly at the arena's box office.

I'd advise you to buy tickets in advance, especially for popular matches, to secure good seats. You can buy your tickets here on Ticketmaster. You will specifically be looking for “México, DF Arena México”.

These matches happen on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.

There are two types of tickets you can get - Regular CMLL and Lucha Libre Freedom. Regular tickets will put you in the area and possibly ringside.

Freedom Tickets will put you in a box seat area where the chairs are comfortable, you have a bench-style table, AND you have an all-you-can-eat buffet. PLUS. The Wrestlers come into the box and take pictures with the fans, occasionally they get into fights if two enemy wrestlers show up at the same time.

I would say, Get regular tickets and enjoy the matches from ground level first.
Box Tickets are more for once you’ve gone a couple times and want to try something different.

I highly recommend booking tickets like a week out. That way you can shoot for one of the ring sections Verde, Azul, Naranja and get somewhere between row 1-7. These are the best places to get all the action. I don't recommend Rojo sections as much simply because you'll be viewing the ring from an odd corner. The only benefit is that you'll be closest to the ramp which the wrestlers come down and where the ring girls dance. Freedom tickets can be anywhere from 1300-1600 pesos depending on the day.

*When you buy your ticket, you will need to download the Ticketmaster app. The new tickets now have a video barcode. You can just take a picture or screenshot. The security will scan the video barcode on the app before you get into the arena. I have bought groups of tickets for friends and tried to send them a screenshot so they could go in and wait. They'll get turned away. You either arrive as a group, or everyone needs to have the app with their ticket unless you want to wait out on the street.

Arrival:

- Plan to arrive at the arena at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. Why? Traffic. Traffic gets unpredictable and you never know how long you'll get stuck. Very few people will tell you this, but my secondary recommendation is that, if you choose to Uber there, make your drop-off point La Perla de Roma or anywhere on that street. And simply walk down the street to the arena. Many drivers know that it's near impossible to get into that area on foot. By getting dropped off a block away, you can simply follow the massive crowd of people walking in the right direction. There will be street vendors on the outside selling snacks, masks, etc., and inside you can buy beer, hot dogs, nachos, etc.

Enjoy the Show:

- Once inside, soak in the vibrant atmosphere as fans cheer for their favorite wrestlers and jeer at their rivals. Don't be afraid to join in on the fun by chanting along with the crowd. Ask a Mexican dude next to you for some slurs to yell! *When you enter the arena, there is a useless person that will walk you to your seat. It doesn't matter if you know exactly where your seat is. They will walk you and expect a tip of 20 pesos or so. Be aware of this. You're only going to piss them off no matter how useless their job may be.

Leaving the Arena:

- Once you leave the arena, you'll again be stuck in a crowd of people. I would suggest walking back to where you got dropped off to get an Uber. Not only will it be cheaper, but it'll actually arrive. * When you leave the arena, you'll understand what I mean when I say… you will not be able to get an Uber from that area.