The crises that has triggered the Pandemia of the COVID-19 have also sneaked into the ring. The way of life of the fighters of the seventies and eighty used to be related to fame and economic bonanza. The only thing that could stop the neighborhood heroes was a fulminating injury. The paralysis of activities obliged by the expansion of the virus in the country has left a whole guild in employment that recognizes that in the de -escalated it will be the last to return because this sport does not know the healthy distance. In each key or blow the exchange of fluids such as sweat, saliva and even blood is inevitably present.
Canek, one of the wrestling legends, has remained held at home. His last function was in March during a tour he made for the Mexican state of Chiapas. “I have no other business or occupation: wrestling is very jealous. I like to save money for difficult times, I'm not in opulence, but I know I'm going to play a bottom,” he tells El País. Karma I, a young 21 -year -old fighter, has become clear that he cannot live only from this sport. “I want to keep fighting, but what do you think? This situation opens your eyes,” he says. In recent weeks he found a job in a warehouse where they offer him medical insurance, something that is not achieved as an independent fighter.
Octagonone of the most recognized fighters of the circuit, has raised funds to support all the personnel who participate within the wrestling and the box with their campaign a help coup. With the mask auction he seeks to shelter his colleagues. “Day by day the lacks of fighters are evident. You no longer live on wrestling as before,” he explains. The ghost, who runs the Wrestling Commission, has distributed pantries to his teammates to try to alleviate the inactivity.
In Mexico at least 12 million people stopped working in the formal or informal field during last April, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). Since March 16, the Mexico City authorities canceled all mass acts. The World Wrestling Council, one of the main sports companies, has maintained payments to its professionals despite not receiving income, according to a spokesperson for this newspaper. “When do we return? It does not depend on us. Nor can we do events behind closed doors as they have done in the United States. We are not going to expose people,” he adds. The Mexican authorities have established a traffic light divided into four colors to determine the reopening of activities: red, orange, yellow and green. Professional sporting events can return in orange, but without audience. And that is unthinkable for wrestling that depends on the entry of the lockers in each function.
However, economic despair has led some promoters to perform wrestling functions without public to transmit them online and receive donations from people. On June 14, the Naucalpan Arena, in the State of Mexico, organized one of these functions and ended everything with the cancellation of the place license and sanctions to the fighters who participated. The triple A, another of the large fighting companies, made a tournament behind closed doors with 28 fighters. There was no penalty for the company.
One of the concerns within this sports show is the age of its idols. Within the broad spectrum of Mexican fighters, the most popular touch the 60 years, age that identifies the population at risk against COVID-19. Among them are the charismatic Blue Panther (59), Atlantis (57), The Son of the Saint (56) or Octagon (59). Canek, for example, exceeds 68 and does not see on his nearest horizon. “I have no chronic diseases, I have taken care of and I like sport. I have only operated on my knees four times. I have no cartilage on my knees, I can't run or load as before, but I feel good,” he explains. “There are colleagues who go through their mind to retire, not only the elderly, but also colleagues who will not return to the rhythm of wrestling,” says Karma I. The regrowths of the COVID-19 also involve a challenge for older professionals.
Within the wrestling quadrilateral they are still discussed if the pandemic will cause a new normality. “This is a contact sport. The fighters could use a complete, closed mask, to compete with each other and not get infected, but what of those who do not wear a mask?” The spokesman for the Wrestling World Council is questioned. “Wrestling will not change. We will have to live with this situation,” he considers octagon. The Mexico Arena, the main headquarters of the show and essential in tourism in Mexico City, outlit its plan to open with 30% of its capacity.
In the last two months they have died up to 30 fighters, although not all as a result of the COVID-19. One of the cases confirmed by the virus was that of mathematician II who died due to respiratory failure at 54 years of age. The physical sequels of the ring accompany the fighters and try to see the pandemic as the great injury of their lives. “I had shoulder detachment, clavicle fracture, rib fissure. I was out of circulation for a year and it was quite desperate,” says Octagon. “When I rebuild my knees the doctor said he was not going to walk again and look at me!” Canek adds. The optimism of the fighters, however, staggers without earning money above the rough ring.
