In front of thousands of fans gathered at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico, the legendary wrestler Hijo del Santo kicked off his long awaited Farewell Tour. This event was nothing short of historic and featured some of the biggest names in lucha libre, including L.A. Park, Dr. Wagner Jr., Fuerza Guerrera and Canek Jr. all gathered to pay tribute to Hijo del Santo’s incredible career. However, respect for his legacy quickly turned into intense competition when the battles began inside the ring.
The highlight of the night was the infamous Tournament of Death, where masks and hair were at stake. The stakes were high and for the 16 wrestlers involved, the tension was palpable. The tournament featured some of the biggest names in the sport, including Texano Jr, Súper Nova, Canek Jr, Misterioso Jr, Ciclón Ramírez Jr, Rayman, El Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Solar, El Hijo de Fishman, Bobby Lee. Jr Dr. Wagner Jr., L.A. Park, Fuerza Guerrera and, of course, the man of the hour, Hijo del Santo.
After random pairings were made, eight luchadores were left to fight for their survival. In a dramatic showdown, Super Nova and El Hijo de Máscara Sagrada were the last men standing, securing their masks and hair. In earlier rounds, Texano Jr. and Solar, Cinta de Oro and Bobby Lee Jr. and L.A. Park and Dr. Wagner Jr. made it out. Ciclón Ramírez Jr., Misterioso Jr., El Hijo de Máscara Sagrada and El Hijo de Fishman fought valiantly in the losers’ bracket to survive.
In the final showdown, Hijo del Santo and Fuerza Guerrera faced Rayman and El Hijo de Máscara Año 2000. Fortunately for the legendary Hijo del Santo, he was able to defeat his opponents, saving both his and Fuerza Guerrera’s identities. This left Rayman and El Hijo de Mascara Año 2000 struggling to survive, with the latter losing his hair in a dramatic moment of defeat.
A Challenge by Angel Blanco Jr.
Amidst the excitement, Angel Blanco Jr. made a surprise appearance challenging Hijo del Santo. Angel Blanco Jr, son of the iconic Jose Angel Vargas Sanchez, expressed frustration at not being invited to the event, insinuating that Hijo del Santo had been afraid to face him. Hijo del Santo, however, denied the accusation, stating that CMLL had not granted permission for his participation.
In addition, Hijo del Santo criticized Angel Blanco Jr. for wearing a mask, which he had lost in a mask vs. mask match in 2012, according to lucha libre tradition. The confrontation added another layer of drama to the already memorable evening.
Other games of the night
Prior to the main event, there was an exciting women’s match between Lady Apache, Shamila and Therius against Daughter of Fuerza Guerrera, Ludark Shaitan and Vanilla Vargas. The match was intense and Lady Apache’s team finally emerged victorious after overcoming an early setback.
The night began with an international showdown between French wrestler Heddi Karaoui and Cerebro Negro. Karaoui secured the victory by submission, although Cerebro Negro appeared to have injured his shoulder during the match, raising concerns among fans about the severity of his condition.
The legacy of the Son of the Saint
As the farewell tour continues, it is clear that Hijo del Santo’s impact on lucha libre is immeasurable. He is heir to perhaps the greatest legend in Mexican wrestling, his father, El Santo. With 42 years of active competition, Hijo del Santo has proudly continued his father’s legacy, bringing the iconic silver mask to new generations of fans.
This Farewell Tour is an emotional journey for both Hijo del Santo and his fans. For the man behind the mask, it is a bittersweet moment. “At first it was sadness, uncertainty… but then I was happy to have made the decision to say goodbye. It’s been 42 years of activity and the man behind the mask wants to do other things,” Hijo del Santo shared.
El Hijo del Santo (in front, in silver costume) in a match against Blue Demon Jr
He recalled his early realization that his father was the legendary El Santo: “I was very little, about 7 years old, and I thought my father was a travel agent. One Sunday he took me to his job at the Plaza de Toros El Cortijo, and when people started shouting ‘Santo! I realized that my father was behind the mask”.
Final thoughts
As Hijo del Santo prepares to say goodbye to the ring, he reflects on his long career. “There were difficult moments, especially at the beginning, when people didn’t believe in me. But I persevered and, over time, I earned the respect of both my fans and my peers.”
The Farewell Tour will visit several cities, including Guanajuato, Monterrey, Puebla, Veracruz, Guadalajara and Yucatan, before heading to international destinations such as London, the United States and Japan.
While Hijo del Santo says goodbye to active wrestling, he has many projects on the agenda, including a biographical series about his father and a public museum dedicated to his family’s wrestling legacy. “I’m doing this to protect my health, but I will continue to interact with the public through these projects,” he assured his fans.
With this tour ends an era in lucha libre, but the legend of El Hijo del Santo will continue to inspire generations to come.
