Originally I was very sceptical about going - I thought it was going to be very touristy or disrespectful to the cholitas - but I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a serious wrestling competition but a wonderfully choreographed and scripted show. It was entertaining and extremely funny!
[Below] There was a number of different characters all with their elaborate costumes. There were 'good guys' and the 'bad guys' and a meddling referee.
It was always very clear who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. The bad guy would always fight dirty, eliciting boo's from the audience.
In the bus on the way to the show we were told, "Your ticket includes a bag of popcorn and a drink. You can throw the popcorn at the wrestlers if you don't like what you see, but don't throw anything too hard or you might get it thrown back at you." I was happy to hear this and I wasted no time to throw anything I could find at the fowl-playing wrestlers: popcorn; empty cups; empty plastic-bottles; and an orange (twice).
Once I threw an empty 2-litre bottle of Coca Cola (plastic) at the evil referee - who was helping the bad guy beat-up the good guy. He was in the ring at the time and the bottle just missed his head, eliciting an "Oooohhhh" from the audience.
In the bus on the way to the show we were told, "Your ticket includes a bag of popcorn and a drink. You can throw the popcorn at the wrestlers if you don't like what you see, but don't throw anything too hard or you might get it thrown back at you." I was happy to hear this and I wasted no time to throw anything I could find at the fowl-playing wrestlers: popcorn; empty cups; empty plastic-bottles; and an orange (twice).
Once I threw an empty 2-litre bottle of Coca Cola (plastic) at the evil referee - who was helping the bad guy beat-up the good guy. He was in the ring at the time and the bottle just missed his head, eliciting an "Oooohhhh" from the audience.
[A ticket to Cholita Wrestling can be organised from most agencies near Plaza San Francisco in La Paz. It costs 80 Bolivianos (around US$11.50) for transportation, entrance and snacks - which can be eaten or thrown at the wrestlers.]
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