10 Best Lucha Libre Wrestlers Of All Time

1. El Santo, El Enmascarado De Plata

There is no single Lucha Libre wrestler more respected, beloved, and celebrated in Mexican popular culture than El Santo (the Saint), whose silver mask is one of the most recognizable images in all of professional wrestling history. El Santo wrestled for almost 5 decades, debuting in 1934 or 1935, and retiring in 1982. During that period, he attained a level of popularity that has never been matched in Mexican history. His rivalries with the likes of Blue Demon and Black Shadow, among others, are the stuff of legend in Mexico, and their matches were some of the absolute best in Lucha Libre history. He was a national icon for the Mexican people, and became an icon for justice for the common man, and in some cases he was considered like Superman, Batman, or Spider-Man: a true superhero and idol to millions of people. In many ways, the popularity and success he achieved in Mexico are the same as those of Rikidozan in Japan. Though not as good of a wrestling technician as most of today€™s Lucha Libre wrestlers, El Santo remains the symbol of the sport, and his name is immortalized through his son (El Hijo Del Santo), and the €˜Legend of Silver€™ wrestling tournament, named after his silver mask. El Santo€™s stardom wasn€™t limited to the wrestling ring; he became a major comic book star through four volumes that spanned from 1952 to 1987, and he has been featured in 52 Lucha Libre films, which have since become part of a special film genre. Even now, many years after his death, anytime something comes up on Mexican television featuring El Santo in any way, it is virtually guaranteed to bring in a huge viewing audience. That is now much love the Mexican people have for €˜the Saint€™. Without a doubt, El Santo is the biggest Lucha Libre wrestler of all time.