Posted on 12/05/2008 2:52:07 AM PST by Stoat
World's No1 Exotico ... Cassandro
Yet grappling fans everywhere, from his home country of Mexico to right here in the UK, can’t get enough of Cassandro.
The self-proclaimed ‘Queen of the ring’ is back in Britain as one of 16 stars who will be performing on Lucha Libre London at the Roundhouse from December 6-9.
And he says that while some in the venue may boo him to begin with they will all be begging for kisses by the end.
In an exclusive interview, Cassandro told The Sun: “I am what’s known in Mexico as an Exotico – a gay man who wrestles in drag.
“Exoticos have been in Mexican wrestling for a long time, since the 1950s, but I gave them a new touch.
“I brought the pantyhose, the bathing suits, the feathers, the rhinestones and the glitter - all the glamour.
“I made it more fun for the people and they responded by taking me into their arms and under their wings.
“The fans love it!”
The 20-year veteran added: “I get both cheers and boos from crowds.
“When I first walk down the aisle, to go to the ring, people start whistling at me, calling me names and saying: ‘What is that?’
“But once they see me doing my Lucha Libre, they forget about the gay thing.
“In fact after the match they bow at me and even ask for kisses and hugs!
“It proves that you should never judge before you actually meet somebody.”
Cassandro was trained by Rey Mysterio Sr – the uncle of the current WWE star – and has fought for both Mexico’s big wrestling federations, AAA and CMLL.
He’s been UWA world lightweight champion and was the first ever person to win the Exotico title.
Taking a break ... Cassandro in 'action'
Eduardo Gomez
But, as a gay man in wrestling, he’s had to overcome a lot of prejudice to do it.
He confessed: “It was very hard to be gay in the wrestling business.
“I had to go through a lot of discrimination and rejection. Mexico is a very macho country.
“There were many times backstage where I felt uncomfortable and other wrestlers felt uncomfortable around me.
“When I first started in 1988 I wore a mask, like most Mexican wrestlers, as I wanted to hide behind it.
“But I soon decided to take it off and just be me.
“And I demonstrated why I was there and I respected everybody.
“So in the end, it didn’t matter if I was an Exotico or not, all that mattered was what I did in the ring.”
In the red corner, Cassandro the transvestite ... - This Britain, UK - The Independent
In a wrestling ring under a set of train tracks in London’s Bethnal Green, a transvestite has a midget wearing a wolverine mask in a painful looking headlock.
(edit)
“Lucha libre is like a religion in Mexico,” said Cassandra, one of the few luchadores who chooses not to wear a mask and instead opts for a brown and gold leotard and makeup instead.
(edit)
But in recent years lucha has begun rapidly winning over new fans outside of Mexico, none more so than in Britain which is undergoing something of a wrestling renaissance.
(edit)
This week’s sign that the apocalypse is indeed upon us...
Indeed....this is so revolting that I debated whether to post it or not, but I did because it illustrates how the cancer of homosexual 'acceptance' is metastasizing everywhere, even in a 'macho' sport in a 'macho' country. Disgusting and repellent.
A gay tranny luchador? I wouldn’t think that would fly in Mexico.
If one can believe the article, it apparently is flying quite well....that's what really struck me, that even such a traditional 'macho' culture as Mexico's would be beaten down to the point where they would put up with this.
 Gorgeous George Real Name: George Wagner Stats: 5' 9" 210 lbs. Born: 1915 |
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Gorgeous George is truly the original showman of professional wrestling, and his flamboyant theatrics have unquestionably forever changed the "sport" of professional wrestling. During his heyday (which began in the late 1940's and lasted through to the early 1960's, a more famous or controversial entertainment figure could not be found. It has been said that during his prime, George was even more well known than the President. He influenced generations of future wrestlers -- from Buddy Rogers to Adrian Street, "Superstar" Billy Graham to Ric Flair, "Adorable" Adrian Adonis to Goldust...even Mohammed Ali, Little Richard, Liberace, and numerous other figures in both sports and entertainment. One is hard pressed to think of a more influential public figure, let alone a professional wrestler...
George, although a showman first and foremost, eventually became quite an accomplished wrestler as well. On May 26,1950 he won the A.W.A. (Boston) World Heavyweight title by defeating Don Eagle. He later lost the World Title to another wrestling legend, Lou Thesz. Nearly 10 years later after losing the AWA strap, he ended his remarkable career and retired from wrestling.
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Nacho Liberal
Interesting, but I don’t get the idication from the article that ‘Gorgeous George’ was a transvestite or was queer.
If he was, it seems that at least he had the decency to not step over the line and push it in peoples’ faces.
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GG was pretty light in the loafers ... at least as part of his act
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Or "nacho homo"
Given the success of that recent movie, hopefully we won't be subjected to a homosexual spinoff of it.....
LOL!!!!
LOL!!!!
(((snicker)))
If the thought of millions of illegals streaming over our border doesn't motivate people to finish the fence, perhaps this will :-)
I lived in Mexico for 3 of my pre & early teen years ~ “Performing Alt Artists” just seemed to disappear, and no one from the tortillarias, the boiled corn vendors that had the perfect blend of oil, cayanne & salt, the wonderful bollilos, fresh and hot in the coldest moment of the morning, or even the poor lads, sound asleep as the 1st light found them a few centavos short of their quota, and not allowed home until it was filled...they never disapeared, but entertainment......you lose your audience, you just plain lose.
They always blamed it on the wild pigs....and seemingly everyone had pigs.
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He grew his hair out so it was long, could be curled and pinned back with gold-plated bobby pins, and dyed it platinum blond. He wore elegant robes, dubbed himself "The Human Orchid" and was always escorted by one of his male ring valets (Geoffrey or Thomas Ross) who would spray his his corner of the ring, as well as George's opponents, with disinfectant and perfume. He was the originator of using entrance music, and was always accompanied by his theme "Pomp And Circumstance"...which would again be used some 40 years later by Randy "Macho Man" Savage. Gorgeous George's ring entrances were legendary, and often took nearly as long as his matches. The effeminate grappler worked people into fits of laughter, curiosity, and outright rage with his pageantry and theatrics. The consummate villain, George would cheat at every possible opportunity, infuriating fans to the point of rioting on several occasions. So riveted were they by George's theatrics, fans would flock in droves to see him wrestle, and even more importantly, they tuned-in in record numbers to watch Gorgeous George on the brand-new medium of television. 
In a very real sense, Gorgeous George single-handedly established the unproven new technology of television as a viable, entertaining new medium that could reach literally millions homes all across the country. Pro wrestling was TV's first real "hit" with the public -- the first programs that ever drew any real numbers for the new technology, and Gorgeous George was was directly responsible for all of the commotion. It was a turning point for Wagner, wrestling, and the country itself. Gorgeous George was probably responsible for selling more television sets in the early days of TV than any other factor. There was once a well known saying that Frank Gotch may have put wrestling on the map, but Gorgeous George brought it to the world...
"Gorgeous" George Wagner died in 1963. Although his legacy can be found everywhere you look in the world of professional wrestling, we at The Ring Chronicle believe this startlingly original performer and champion should once again be honored as the innovative legend he truly was and is. Surely, without Gorgeous George, the entire landscape of the wrestling business would be radically different from what we know. Simply put, he changed the "sport" forever. With that in mind, we are proud to induct Gorgeous George into T.R.C.'s Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame...