Finally got to see my first El Alto female indigenous wrestling match this afternoon. This photo was found via Google cuz I didn't take my own cuz was with photojournalist Noah who will send me a few good shots... This was potentially the most badass thing I've witnessed in my time in South America. After several WWF-style matches between characters like Chicken/Dragon White Spandex Man and Michaelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and S&M Black Latex Bodysuit Guy, each more violent and high-energy and participatory than the last -- with the crowd throwing oranges, jello, yogurt, and soda at the wrestlers and referee and each other -- the women, clearly the main attraction, finally entered the ring.
Dressed in full skirts and long braids and sweaters and their bowler hats -- the basic chola outfit one sees on the streets here all day long -- these ladies beat the shit out of each other (mostly fake moves, but with some hair pulling and bodyslams that looked pretty painful). They also endured some serious abuse from the crowd, and left the ring amidst rowdy cheering and dowsed with coke and jello and beer. It was amazing!!!
For those of you extra-interested in this incredible cultural phenomenon, Noah had a photo run on the front page of the NYTimes alongside a story by Juan Forero some time last year... I'm sure you can find it online and read a lot more about CHOLITAS LUCHADORAS.
1 comment:
WWF with women in bowler hats and pig tails sounds badass indeed! haha, i can't wait to see some of those pictures.
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