#EMLL | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

micromanfever · 1 month

Text

LATIN LOVER | LUCHANDO POR TUS SUEÑOS PODCAST W/ LA Park pt 1 notes

LA Park who comes from a city 40 miles north of Monterrey Mx. with a population of 200k. There are other interviews that detail his origins than this one. So I will only highlight things not brought up before.

PODCAST LINK: https://youtu.be/LIcetBzv80c

LA Park - Mil Mascaras

Mil Mascaras would never think I'm more than an idiot. (Imitates Mil Mascaras) "Get over here motherfucker. Sit down right here."

He would always tease LA Park at every show they were working on.

One time Nicho (Psicosis) would ask LA Park if he thought that professional sports were really rigged?

Park: Of course they are. Anything that has money flowing around it has to be influenced by some sort of manipulating power.

Nicho: I don't believe it. After spotting Mil Mascaras in the locker room he blurted that Adolfo (Park) doesn't believe that sports are rigged.

Mil Mascaras: What the fuck! Don't be an idiot! How can there not be! In football, boxing, everything!"

Park: Fucking Nicho! Your the one that believes it's all real. You asked me!

Mil: Get the fuck over here and take a seat stupid boy. I'm going to teach you one more time. Are you really that stupid or what?

Park pleaded with Mil Mascaras while Nicho ran away.

Park bumped into Nicho later on in the show and asked him why he did that. Nicho said he did it because he knows Mil always schools him when he sees him and think's he is really that dumb.

LA Park started out very young. Training in his hometown gym under local wrestlers. He finally wanted to take his wrestling to the next level. After being exposed to stars from the Mexico City coming into his town to perform.

LA Park worked under another name and lost the mask to Hijo del Santo in 1987

He latched on to Herodes, who would go the bar for drinks with other wrestlers. Park would keep his distance but, also spy on him as a fan and hang around to see what he could learn. Herodes would boast about his successes internationally that really caught Park's attention.

Hearing about Herodes being on a boat and wrestling in Africa is what opened Park's eyes to what was possible in wrestling. So he wanted to accomplish the same things.

One day he convinced Herodes that he could become someone important in wrestling and ask if he would take him under his wing. (not cited in this interview the exact retelling but found in others) Herodes would take Adolfo on and be a mentor to him while allowing him to stay at his Mexico City home.

Park would train but not have success when he first was living in Mexico city. It was a struggle just to get by as a young man all alone in the city.He would not make any notable impression for a while and this would be one of the motives why Herodes would have to kick him out of his appartment.

Lucky for LA Park, Jerry Estrada and La Fiera (legendary workers) would become his new mentors and trainers. Which he noted that Jerry and La Fiera were opposite personalities. Jerry would like to drink and party. La Fiera would be strict and straight laced.

Park brings up a side story about Antonio Pena creating his fame and opening doors for him into the entertainment industry. Being able to network with Televisa (biggest TV network in Mexico) celebrities.

Antonio scolded Park for getting too into that life and that if he didn't stop he would unmask him.

Jerry Estrada got Park into EMLL/CMLL

One meeting he had with CMLL promoter Paco Alonso.

Paco: I want you to start training for your match with El Modolo. It will be for the light heavyweight championship.

Park: I was fucked. I could not even make that weight. I was so poor. So Jerry would tell me to put coins in my boots. To gain enough weight. That's how I did it.

One day in preparing for the match vs El Modolo. Tapia was in the ring practicing dives from the top rope. Moonsaults and other things. An old man standing ringside called him over.

Old man: Come over here young man. (Park comes over) What the fuck is that shit that your doing?

Park: I'm just training.

Old man: You don't do those things. Wrestle on the mat. Stop jumping around like a grasshopper.

Park: Ok sir. As you say.

Old man: That better be the last time I see you do that in the ring. Because the next time I do, I will get i in there myself and kick your ass.

Park: Why hit me? I'm just training because they sent me to.

Old man: Who sent you? Paco?.. go get dressed and get out of here!

Park: But the boss ordered me to…

Old man: So if the boss orders you to shit your pants in the ring, you will do it?

Park: If I get a reaction, and the people like it, I will shit myself.

Old man: WHAT DID YOU SAY?!!(starts climbing into the ring)

Other wrestlers around the ring were egging on the old man.

La Park quickly got out and went to Paco's office.

Paco: Didn't I send you to go train?

Park: Yes but, there's an old man out there who told me to leave.

Paco: Alright. Let's go.

Park and Paco Alonso arrive to the training ring and Park points out the old man to Paco.

Paco: So, why did you tell my wrestler to get out and stop training? What is this about shitting their pants for the fans I heard about too? You have no authority here. I am giving you the chance to train here. This kid has to train to work on Sunday. If you don't like it. Leave.

Paco leaves after telling off the old man.

Old Man: Listen here boy. There is only one door to get out of here. I will be waiting for you when you get out.

Gran Cochisse was there and asked if Park knew who the old man was. Park did not have a clue at the time. He told him the old man was Blue Demon.

Park: Holy shit! The guy that fucked up those mummies. He's going to kill me.

Park was freaking out. He was still new and very young.

The other wrestlers training were telling Park that it was bad news. How Blue Demon was going to hold this grudge against him.

Park had arrived at 11AM but stayed until 7PM because he was so afraid of the confrontation. The cleaner had kicked out LA Park who had not eaten all day to avoid leaving the building.

When he finally stepped out through the exit he was looking around and scouting the parking lot. Park would get on his stomach to see if he could see Blue Demon's feet behind a car.

Park: I know I'm such a pussy. But we all are. We just don't show it.

Park did not have a confrontation that day.

3 months later a promoter booked Park as a sub for a wrestler that could not make it. Blue Demon was on this show. The promoter wanted to introduce him to Park, but he was still afraid. Park said it was fine if they did not meet beforehand.

Blue Demon came around and introduced himself to everyone. When it came to meeting Park, he said he remembers seeing him somewhere. Park was praying that he didn't remember.

Blue Demon asked where he was from. Park replied. He remembered that a young wrestler he knew from before was from there. While trying to remember, Park insisted that he meant Jerry. Demon agreed it must have been Jerry.

LA Park noted that wrestlers were very jealous of Latin Lover's instant success.

It took Latin Lover to finally fight back to gain the respect of some wrestlers

LA Park had to work for 6 years to finall get his wrestler liscense in Mexico City. He brings up a Mexican influencer who was being promoted in Monterrey and AAA for a program with Chessman. The influencer was being told by the promoters that it was easy to get it and they had work lined up for him.

Park had met with him before his testing and smartened him up a little. Which scared him off from wrestling.

Part 2 notes of same interview coming soon

#lucha libre #luchador #wrestling #cmll #aaa #aew

1 note · View note

blowflyfag · 5 months

Text

Pro Wrestling Illustrated: November 1996

Multi-Promotional Supercard! World Wrestling Peace Festival Unites The World!

One small step was taken to world peace and harmony when federations from around the world got together for one night, thanks to Japanese legend Antonio Inoki. But was it a success? For the most part, yes

By Dace RosenBaum

Photos By Mike Lano and Bill Apter

[Antonio Inoki was presented with a special PWI Lifetime Achievement Award after the World Wrestling Peace festival card had ended. We can't think of anyone more deserving of such an honor.]

When Historians one day discuss the great leaders who helped achieve world piece, they’ll debate the merits of Mikhail Gorbachev, Titzhak Rabin, Ronald Regan, Henry Kissinger, and Margret Thatcher. It’s unlikely they’ll discuss one man who has made his small, yet significant contribution to bringing together the world’s citizens. His name is Antonio Inoki, professional wrestler, and he’s one of the few athletes who likes deflecting attention from himself.

But there was no avoiding Inoki’s immense contribution when the first World Wrestling Peace Festival was held at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. This was his child, born of a lifelong dream that by bringing people together in sports, he can bring them together in the endeavor of peace, too.

[The high-flying Chris Jerico, who wrestlers in Japan, ECW, and elsewhere, showed why people call him the high-flying Chris Jericho when he leaped onto WCW U.S./AAA heavyweight champion Konnan during a triangle match.]

“It was a week to remember,” said Inoki, who has never won the Nobel Peace Prize, but received a rather nice honor nonetheless when he was honored with a Pro Wrestling Illustrated Lifetime Achievement Award at the end of the show. “Many people worked very, very hard to put this event together, and it was a success.”

History will record Inoki as one of the greatest wrestlers ever and most likely the most successful Japanese wrestler of all-time, but perhaps Inoki’s wrestling accomplishments have already been overshadowed by his public service. Several days before the Peace Festival, Inoki was made honorary police chief for a day in California’s Little Tokyo community, where residents turned out to meet their hero in a rare visit to the United States.

In fact, this was the first time that Inoki, who has put together cards in Japan and last year organized two incredible shows attended by hundreds of thousands in Korea, organized a card in North America. But what better place than Los Angeles and what better symbolic gesture than to bring together EMLL and AAA, two Mexico-based promotions whose rivalry is similar, and possibly more heated, than the one between the WWF and WCW?

[It was masked man vs. masked man when The Great Sasuke locked up with Jushin Liger at the Peace Festival (Liger won). It was one of the best matches on a card full of outstanding matches.]

Unfortunately, event organizers failed in their attempt to have WWF wrestlers on the card, an indication that relations between the WWF and WCW are too strained for even Inoki to smooth over. But getting EMLL and AAA together was an achievement nobody thought possible.

“It was tough, but it went off better than anticipated,” said Bob Cartega, one of the event organizers. “The thinking is that if you can get the enemy wrestling federations together, it should overflow to the world in the name of peace and harmony. Maybe many other people can start thinking that way.”

It’s not that much of a reach. The Olympic Games, in fact, originated in Greece as a two-week athletic break between warring countries. Today, in supposedly more civilized times, wars aren't interrupted for the Olympics, which have become a political tool. But Inoki is willing to use the World Wrestling Peace Festival as a tool of peace.

[WCW’s representatives provided fans with a lot of excitement: The Giant choke-slammed his way to yet another victory over Sting (left), while LEx Luger overpowered New Japan’s Masa Saito (right).]

The second annual event has already been scheduled for May 1, 1997, in Mexico City, and the two Mexican federations will be there, along with wrestlers from New Japan.

“We’d love to have the WWF and WCW, too,” Cartega said.

Is it a dream? Well, consider the lineup for WWPF I: Chris Benoit, Lex Luger, Rey Mysterio JR., Alex Wright, Negro Cassas, Tatsumi Fujinami, Konnan, Chris Jericho, JIm Neidhart, Bam Bam Bigelow, Jushin Liger, WCW World champion The Giant, Sting, Inoki, Dan Severn, Oleg Taktarov, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. It was a veritable world market of wrestling stars. (For complete results, see “Arena Reports,” page 48.)

The only disappointment was the attendance, which event organizers estimated at a shade under 6,000. Perhaps the location wasn’t perfect, and it surely would have helped had there been more advertising for the event, but Cartega said that next time, the show will be televised either on cable or pay-per-view TV. The good news is that a videotape of the show will soon be available, and Cartega calls it a blockbuster.

“It was one of the best things I’ve ever been involved with,” Said Severn. “I wish there were more cards like this. I had a great time, but more importantly, I felt like I was doing something important for the world.”

[Rey Mysterio Jr. amazed the crowd with his incredible athleticism. During his tag team match he used a “Frankensteiner” on fellow AAA star Psicosis and took him down to the floor 9(left). In a match involving EMLL stars, El Hijo del Santo lost to Negro Casas despite connecting above with this dropkick (above).

There was more to this weekend than wrestling. A banquet was held the night before the card, at which Muhammad Ali, who couldn't attend due to unforeseen problems, sent a special message of peace that was read to the attendees. That same day, representatives from all of the promotions involved sat down for a lengthy meeting.

“The whole thing revolved around Inoki and his message of peace and harmony,” Cartega said. “Some people want to save the rain forests. He wants to save the world by getting people together.”

There was an outpouring of emotion at the end of the card when all the wrestlers on the card came to the ring to watch PWI Senior Editor Bill Apter give Inoki the Lifetime Achievement Award. Later, outside the dressing room, Inoki was given a standing ovation.

[NWA/UFC champion Dan Severn was especially aggressive in his tag team match. Here he takes down Yoshiaki Fujiwara en route to a victory for him and his partner, a Mr. Inoki.]

“There are few men in wrestling who we can truly call legends,” Apter said. “Antonio Inoki is not only a great athlete, but also a great man and a fine ambassador for racial harmony.”

“He deserves all the accolades he gets,” said Steve Nakada, another one of the event’s organizers. “I’m sure he’ll make the event even better next year.” On this weekend, wrestling and the world could have no better spokesman.

#pwi showing their colors with their uh... “piece makers” huh #really? Ronnie Regan? thats uh and interestin one #pwi #pro wrestling illustrated #magazine scan #magazine transcript #i want to try and find the video of this

0 notes

micromanfever · 5 months

Text

Vampiro Podcast w/guest Latin Lover notes PT.1

A recap of the Vampiro Podcast. Only because this was a wrestling episode with guest Latin Lover. A star in the northern Mexico Monterrey territory before blowing up as a national star in AAA. He was highly criticized as being a stripper while wrestling and getting his advantages solely based on his look.

He runs down his career in a brief manner with host Vampiro. As the two bring up stories from the past leading up to the current.

Watch the podcast on youtube https://youtu.be/yIFfsCroocQ

subscribe to Vampiro Podcast - YouTube

Vampiro got burned out on wrestling after working as a producer than talent in AAA. To now semi-retiring due to head injuries. He is now residing in Northern Mexico city, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.

Vampiro started doing radio recently and made connections with a producer in Monterrey before moving there permanently. His daughter lives in Mexico City.

Latin Lover debuts in 1992. His first time in Mexico City, EMLL he was brought in thru Monterrey (MTY) promoter Carlos Elizondo.

Vampiro was Latin Lover's "godfather" or person that initiates a new talent, but also becomes responsible for them in their first moments in a new place.

Latin Lover was gifted some tickets to a show while working in a gym. He was impressed by the connection with the fans and the wrestlers formed. The energy created.

Latin got the idea that he could make money in this. He spoke with the promoter who proposed he start wrestling.

Latin was open to the idea and wanted to give it a shot. The promoter, Elizondo, had it all planned out. He would assign an instructor to teach Latin how to wrestle.

Latin worked as a trainer at a gym and ran a hamburger place on the weekends. He also would dance at the clubs as a stripper for extra money. The stripping was involved into his wrestling gimmick.

One day a movie producer did a casting call at the gym where he was training at. Latin was chosen for the role. He would be the double of the lead for all his stunts.

Latin would choreograph a match for the movie role with a fellow wrestler, Rick Patterson. They would practice this match for two months.

They finally did the match at a real show. It went over real well. Sangre Chicana complimented them for their match. Who would go on to unmask Latin a year later.

Latin was told he had good heat with the fans by him in front of his local promoter. This promoter would then go on to book him in the semi main event with stars that were brought in from Arena Mexico.

Latin was skipping a lot of steps and these other workers were put off by that. So the day of the show comes and Latin is anxious about what to do for the match.

He would go on to ask his opponents what they were doing for the match. They told him to go away and come back later. Latin kept bugging them. Trying to get an answer until they told him they were going to work. "Keep your ears open"

Latin says they took advantage of him being a new guy. They bruised him up. They told him to do a dive, but would not catch him.

People kept beating up and taking advantage of Latin Lover for 3 months until he got fed up with it and was going to quit wrestling. So he told Carlos Elizondo he was going to stop doing this and thanks for everything.

He said his goodbye to Elizondo at his office. Latin left, but was intercepted at the parking lot by one of the trainers that convinced him that they were investing a lot in him and he was leaving a great opportunity.

So Latin changed his mind. Went on to keep wrestling and fight anyone that would try to take advantage of him.

As one of Elizondo's employees, Latin would also drive the talent to the show from the airports or bus stations.

In 1992, a main eventer would earn 8,000 pesos. Vampiro at this time would earn 12,000 pesos. Vampiro would take a peak at the attendance if it was a packed show and shake down the promoter for double his pay on those occasions.

Latin Lover was earning 5000 pesos a week during this time to work any shows during the week and other work that Carlos needed done.

Vampiro convinced him during a show they were booked on to ask Carlos for more money. Double what he was making and if he didn't agree, he would take him to Arena Mexico and get him in there.

But he, "wouldn't be allowed to do his little stripper gimmick."

Latin went on to ask for double his pay. Elizondo was surprised by how much he wanted and immediately shot his offer down. They agreed to stop working together.

Latin was furious on the drive home. Out of a job and blaming Vampiro for all of this.

His wife at home met Latin with the news after getting a call from the office that Carlos finally agreed to pay him what he wanted.

They change the topic Latin Lover would see other wrestlers do drugs, drink, buy women, not take care of themselves. He knew that this would not last forever. So he began to save up his money and start planning to open other businesses.

He knows that wrestlers are on their own and it's a business.

Vampiro says LA Park is the best wrestler ever. But as a businessman it's Latin Lover.

Latin has been involved with the entertainment industry ever since retiring from wrestling. He won a dancing with the stars type TV show. Became a TV host. Occasionally still works in TV as a host.

Latin Lover goes back to talk his career.

Moving on to work Arena Mexico (EMLL) CMLL now. How it was a big difference in quality of wrestling. The matches were more physically demanding and rougher. It was very tough for him. He had to go thru the same bullying and hazing that he endured in Monterrey.

It was during this time when Antonio Pena was working as a booker/creative.

He was now getting ready to move out and do his own thing by founding AAA. (They speak about it as if it was not a secret and people within CMLL already knew this move was coming)

So one day, Latin Lover was going home and was approached by Konnan and Antonio. They took him out to lunch and tried to convince him to join what would be AAA.

Latin spoke with them but was unsure about what to do since he was still loyal to EMLL at the time. He knew that the best workers were in CMLL. He would learn the most there and develop the quickest if he stayed.

2 weeks later when he would get paid. A trip to Paco Alonso's (CMLL owner) office to recieve his pay. Paco asked him if there was anything he wanted to tell him.

Latin said no.

Paco said he heard from someone that they saw him eating with Paco and Konnan somewhere. So how much are they offering you?

"3000 pesos" a match.

Paco told him straight up that he should think about leaving because they are going to be more about creating a spectacle. That in arena Mexico, it's more serious and to the point. The conversation ends with Paco suggesting he make up his mind and let him know in advance. Because he doesn't want to find out his decision from a wrestling magazine or newspaper.

Latin thought it over and spoke with Antonio Pena again before deciding to leave. He had told Paco he was leaving and they split amicably.

Vampiro brought up his dancing tv show wins. Where Latin Lover won his season and a few other dancing spinoffs from that show.

It opened up an avenue for Latin to begin doing TV show hosting for several variety and game shows. The producers of these shows were impressed that wrestling fans would tune in if Latin Lover was apart of a segment or show.

Latin knew wrestling is super popular and only second to Futbol. He knew that he should get into something outside of wrestling. Like acting or entertainment. He thought wrestling and other wrestlers would be proud and motivate other wrestlers to go this route.

Instead wrestlers would say that Latin abandoned wrestling because he couldn't cut it as a wrestler.

Latin Lover recalls his first TV host gig for a weekend variety featuring a very famous actress/model. He didn't know what to say or how to act on TV. He had his doubts until he heard they would pay him 30,000 pesos an episode.

It took him 6 months of struggling on TV for the network to send him some coaches to improve. During this time he would take on a booking. It would be his first since appearing on national tv for non-wrestling.

He met a bunch of ex-AAA stars there at the airport in Mexicali. He was catching up with them and they had to drive to the hotel. The problem was that Latin was staying at a more luxurious hotel than the wrestlers on the show.They got jealous of his star treatment and took it out on Latin in their match.

It became a brawl. But Latin fought back.

There is another instance they talk about where Vampiro was the star in this situation. The promoter was taking Vampiro across the border to eat at his favorite restaurant. But Vampiro demanded they take Latin Lover with them and stay at his hotel. Vampiro always looked out for Latin.

Latin Lover brings up one of the EMLL talents that didn't want him to succeed in the beginning as a favor to the promoter. His own team-mate turned to him and said" I'm not going to stay in your shadow tonight. I'm not going to stand still, just for you to look good."

Latin was puzzled, but understood that was how people behaved. Months later he overheard this same talent complain to Elizondo about paying Vampiro double his rate, when he was the better worker. This EMLL talent was Atlantis.

Elizondo didn't care how they wrestled but, if they could draw people like Vampiro did. He would have no problem paying them double too.

Vampiro thinks he was on good terms with Atlantis. He talks about also being hazed in CMLL when he started. He took such severe beatings, but there came a point where he wanted revenge and he would have some wrestlers back him up. Like Haku, Bestia Salvaje, Emilio Charles, Brazo de Plata Super Porky, and Canek.

Vampiro would be booked with Super Porky often to be protected by him. Porky would sometimes go to blows over Vampiro in the locker room. Brazo de Plata used to be a debt collector for a local mafia.

Vamp also brings up a moment where Fuerza Guerrera (Juvi's father) would question the promoter in front of all the talent about paying Vampiro double what they were making. The promoter would go on to say "the day you bring in all these people, I will gladly pay you double. So until that day. Shut your fucking mouth."

Jaque Mate, Masacre, Pierroth were big time bullies for Latin Lover in Monterrey. They had taken advantage of Latin in their match. Tombstoning him after throwing a birthday cake on him. The next day they were traveling together and Latin was sleeping in the van. These other guys would throw out Latin's gifts from the fans the promoter was keeping in the back from the window as they were driving.

Jaque Mate told him that they only were working with him because the promoter asked them to. They hated him and let him know it.

Jaque Mate would end up out of work and blamed Latin Lover for it. He would find work in AAA in the later stage of his career. As a older hand that could help guide new talent. As a tradition, when a wrestler debuts, they go thru a "baptism". Which can be described as a hazing ritual. Either spanking or getting chopped by the entire locker room or one person. The new person has to choose a god-parent for this.

Jaque Mate chose Latin Lover.

Latin Lover did not hold back and chopped Jaque Mate until he bled. Even Konnan was taken back by it.

That was part 1 of my recap for this 2 hour interview.

Watch the podcast on youtube https://youtu.be/yIFfsCroocQ

subscribe to Vampiro Podcast - YouTube

follow @micromanfever for more

#lucha libre #luchador #cmll #lucha

1 note · View note