Indy Wrestling news for June 8, 2016.
June 6, 2016
San Diego, CA
For more than 20 years now, Rey Mysterio has been traveling the world,
spreading his groundbreaking in-ring style and lucha libre fandom
everywhere he has been. From Mexico to the U.S. to every corner of the
Earth, the San Diego native has become synonymous with lucha libre. But,
before he was the most famous luchador on the planet, he was a high school
student at San Diego’s Montgomery High School.
Now, for the first time ever, Rey returns to his old high school to
showcase his talents before a hometown crowd at a very special one night
only event titled “Viva La Lucha: Live in the 619.” This is an extremely
rare opportunity to see the global icon and Mexican hero up close and
personal in an intimate venue. And, the former WWE World Champion and
current Lucha Underground star is not coming alone. With him will be over
a dozen lucha libre and pro wrestling stars including his arch-rival
Psychosis, current Lucha Underground rival John Morrison/Johnny Mundo, TJP,
Teddy Hart and Famous B. Plus, Rey wants to be sure to put a spotlight on
the local Southern California wrestling companies keeping lucha libre alive
and well, so undercard matches will feature luchadores who regularly appear
on events of SoCal wrestling promotions OWA, FCW and SBWA. The entire
night’s festivities will be hosted by legendary luchador Konnan. While
originally from Miami, Konnan’s time in the U.S. Navy saw him stationed in
San Diego, a city he grew to love and which he has since made his home for
the past three decades. And while Mysterio is arguably the number one box
office luchador outside of Mexico, Konnan still holds the all-time
attendance records for many of Mexico’s top wrestling venues. Having even
more impact was the duo’s arrival in World Championship Wrestling in 1996
that would lead to the global rise in popularity of lucha libre as millions
in the U.S. and tens of millions across the globe tuned in weekly to watch
Rey, Konnan, Psychosis and more battle each other and icons of the era like
Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and Bret Hart.
“The fact that a global icon like Rey would return to do an event for his
former high school and give the local community an opportunity to come meet
him up close and personal says a lot about not only what kind of a person
he is, but about how much he loves his hometown as well,” Ruben Torres
local community activist, founder of the Love Thy Neighbor movement and
host of the iTunes deemed “New & Notable” podcast “CONNECTED with Ruben
Torres,” said. “Rey has always showed a deep love for the San Diego
community, even naming one of his best known wrestling moves ‘The 619.’ As
a graduate of Montgomery High School myself, I take a lot of pride in
knowing a classmate went on to achieve such greatness and that he wants to
now come back home to give back and to inspire.”
The key to why the lucha superstar is trading in globally renown venues,
like the 22,000 seat Arena Cuidad Mexico he headlined this past Sunday, for
a high school gym for one night, is that special student tickets are being
made available for Montgomery High School ASB members with a portion of the
proceeds of each ticket remaining on campus to help fund school related
needs and activities. Discounted ASB tickets must be purchased by ASB
members at Montgomery High School.
Mysterio personally selected San Diego based lucha libre entrepreneurs
Masked Republic to promote and coordinate the event. The company’s
multi-decade experience in producing and promoting live events includes
launching the Viva La Lucha brand from the Montgomery High School gym in
2006 before growing it into pay-per-view events and an international
television series. Also assisting in the promotional and live event
efforts will be Jose Alaniz of the OWA and Gus Parsons of FCW.
Event details:
Viva La Lucha: Live in the 619
Saturday, August 13, 2016
7:30 p.m.
Montgomery High School
3250 Palm Ave
San Diego, CA 92154