Crescent Ballroom is abuzz as rock and hip-hop tracks play over the speakers last Friday night. People squeeze their way to their seats at the sold-out venue with beers in hand. Then, the music cuts off, leaving a faint hum reverberating throughout the room. The lights dim.
The lights brighten and remain focused on the wrestling ring in the middle of the room. Welcome to Lucha Libre at the Crescent Ballroom, drink a lot of beer and have fun, the announcer advises all in attendance. Then the first wrestlers make their way to the ring.
“Please welcome Awesome Andy,” the announcer says through the microphone. Awesome Andy, who takes on the role of bad guy, is welcomed to the ring with a chorus of boos. Fans yell “You suck!” as he points and calls back.
The energy stayed constant throughout the event. Wrestlers came and went, accompanied by the chants of the energetic audience. The wrestlers fought while fans rejoiced.
Christopher Hack, the founder of Rockstar Wrestling Alliance and promoter of the night’s event, finds that the excitement of the fans and their ability to interact with the show is the fuel that drives wrestling.
“All of our shows sell out, that makes the wrestler more excited,” Hack said. “They know it’s going to be an awesome event because of the crowd.”
He realizes that it’s equal parts entertainment and athleticism.
“I’m more in it for the sport, going out there and performing, and doing stuff that I never thought I could do then I see that the fans appreciate it,” Hack said. “Getting the fans sucked into what you’re doing makes you feel like a superstar.”
The balance of the two elements in wrestling is unique to the sport, some fans say.
“It’s not something you get to do when you go watch other sports,” said Angel Parada, a Surprise resident who was at the event.
Hack enjoys hosting the nights at Crescent Ballroom because the venue allows for both music and wrestling. That blend of music and sport was on display Friday night. Pork Torta, a local Tucson band, played at intermission.
Wrestling isn’t just about the theatrics. The wrestlers follow strict training plans and they expend real energy, incurring cuts, scrapes and bruises. Jay Garland, a valley wrestler who goes by the ring name “The Feature Presentation,” knows that it comes with a price.
“People don’t realize that it takes a lot of athleticism,” Garland said. “But the passion keeps you going.”
Contact the reporter at steven.hernandez.2@asu.edu
