In Mexico, a lucha libre 'dog' is also a viral meme

Wisin, Mexico’s latest viral meme and the ‘puppy luchador,’ is drawing fans of all ages to his fights, creating a space for children to enjoy "lucha libre."

In a youth center’s parking lot in Mexico City’s Tacuba neighborhood, Baha Men’s iconic song “Who Let the Dogs Out” blares through a pair of large speakers. As the infectious melody reaches a crowd of over 100 people they all begin to chant, “Wisin, Wisin, Wisin!”

Quickly, a giant, fluffy creature descends three flights of stairs, firing up fans as he prances around the perimeter of a wrestling ring. Kids run to give him a tight embrace, while parents offer him high fives. A woman holds up a sign that says, “Wisin I love you!” adorned with paw prints.

With floppy ears and a tail on his costume coming unstitched after all the wrestling, Wisin the “puppy luchador” has captured the imagination of fans across Mexico.

Since the early summer, videos of a wrestler dressed as a puppy brawling in “lucha libre” matches has been making the rounds on Mexican social media. Though the popular Mexican form of wrestling has been around for decades, Wisin came onto the fighting scene only a few months ago.

Wisin taunts an opponent during a lucha libre event at the Institute of Youth. Fernando Llano / AP fileLucha libre has suffered in recent years, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, when almost all matches were cancelled, and an unusually high number of wrestlers died of COVID-19. Wrestling, the second most-followed sport in the country, also fell victim to drug cartel violence in 2022.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mexico-lucha-libre-dog-also-viral-meme-rcna165143

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