Fundraiser Wrestles Up Fun 'Lucha Libre' Style

A small torpedo in white did a back flip off a corner of the ropes of a wrestling ring, tumbling high in the air before crushing a gold fireplug onto the ground. A crowd roared to its feet. "You better believe good wins!" a man yelled, and spectators rushed the ring.

A scene from Spartacus? Cirque du soleil gone askew? Nope. It was a one-of-a-kind  fundraiser at New Rochelle High School Saturday night benefiting the girls basketball team, part of a line-up of pro wrestlers by the New York State Wrestling Federation.

The match featured the New York debut of two "lucha libre" style international  pro wrestlers from Mexico, called "minis" because of their height, and who are celebrities in Mexico. In white was Mascarita Dorada, 4'5" tall and weighing 110 pounds. In gold was Pierrothito, 5' ½" and weighing 165 pounds.

"It's old fashioned good vs. evil showmanship," said promotor Paul Sarachelli, " a combination of athleticism and acting. We're presenting family oriented entertainment."

Adding to the fun and excitement was a wager: If Mascarita Dorada lost, his "manager," New Rochelle and White Plains sports hero Mario Scarano, would have to wear a dress in the center of the ring. If Pierrothito lost, his "manager,"  John Miele, a Mamaroneck booking agent, would have to get his head shaved in the ring.

Miele, 30, said he has lived in Mamaroneck his whole life. He was a sports writer for local newspapers before being drawn to wrestling. In his current role as professional wrestling manager, he booked the acts and brought in the "lucha libre" gladiators.

Miele stated his objective clearly: "It's for Pierrothito to win because I'm not interested in shaving my head and ending my wrestling career in Westchester County." Then he added, "And because otherwise my girlfriend is not letting me back in the house."

In the end, Sacarano and Mascarita Dorada fired up an electric razor to give Miele his new bald look in the center of the ring as Miele "sobbed" before a crowd of 500 that was packed with families. Head bowed, he exited to music of, "I Will Remember You."

Backstage, asked if he had a place to sleep, Miele said, "I've got to work on that." His future in wrestling was probably workable, too.

Five other bouts featured traditional pro wrestlers, complete with theatrics, crowd taunts, pummeling, and slamming contenders onto a mat that caved and groaned with each crush.

Before the match autograph opportunities were available with retired pros, the draw being legendary Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, a World Wrestling Federation star in the early and mid-1980s.

The two Mexican stars signed autographs after the match, children and teens their biggest admirers.  Their heights, strength and confidence were a source of admiration and curiosity.

In costume in the locker room after the match, Pierrothito gave advice for getting into professional wrestling: "First, learn wrestling skills and then go to professional wrestling schools, though the biggest things you need are a big heart and big courage."

When he was young, he sang on buses to earn money to pay for wrestling school. "I'm a firm believer that God gives me the will to do everything."

Macarita Dorada, smaller than some of the children whose hands he had shaken earlier, did not view himself as short or a lesser citizen, but as a man who planned to be a wrestler.

"There are always ways to feel discriminated—a person can be too small, too tall-- but it's a big world and it belongs to everybody," he said. "I've been in my career ten years, and nothing has been easy—I've worked hard for it."

In costume and fully masked, he added,  "What's most important is for all of us to learn to share together."

For info on future events, including another Westchester high school fundraiser in October, go to www.nyswfwrestling.com.