Arena México

Lucha libre wrestling, three nights a week, since 1956

Address Doctor Lavista 197, Doctores

Arena México is the cathedral of lucha libre, Mexican professional wrestling. The 16,000-seat hall in Colonia Doctores has hosted bouts since 1956 — masked técnicos (good guys) and rudos (villains) in pulsing colours, throwing each other from the top rope, swapping insults with ringside fans, the crowd roaring through three hours of carefully choreographed mayhem.

Fights run Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday nights. The Friday card is the main event of the week and the most theatrical. Tickets are cheap (USD 5 in the cheap seats, USD 30 ringside); buy them at the box office or through CMLL's website. The neighbourhood is not great after dark — take a taxi to the door.

things to do sight
A story
The masked wrestler El Santo — Mexico's most famous luchador — fought his last bout here in 1982 and died a week later. He was buried in his silver mask, on his own instructions, after fifty years of never showing his face in public.