Rudos: literally, "rude", the term rudos refers to the "bad guys" in a lucha libre match. The term is also comparable to a heel in North American wrestling. In lucha libre matches, rudos will normally break the rules. Rudos will cheat when given the opportunity and will behave hostile towards fans, sometimes going as far as spitting them (and in rare occasions hitting them).
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| Rudo Atlantis fauleando Dr. Wagner Jr. (a clear violation of the rules of lucha libre) |
Most often a luchador's name and equipo will provide a hint as to whether he is a rudo or a tecnico (a rudo's opposite). Rudos will often have names evoking evil, hell, or death (El Satanico, Infierno, Arkangel de la Muerte, Malefico, etc.), and will wear menacing equipos including mascaras with horns and fangs (Averno, Mephisto, Ephesto), dark make-up (Angel Mortal, Rey Bucanero, Dark Ozz), and dark clothing (Dark Cuervo, Dark Scoria, Damian 666) this however is not always the case, for example, luchadores La Parka, Gronda, and Charly Manson all have names and equipos that would conjure the image of a rudo, but are in fact tecnicos (La Parka wears an equipo with a skeleton motif, Gronda's equipo makes him look like the devil or a demon, and Charly Manson, named after Charles Manson, wears his make-up in a manner very similar to recording artist Marilyn Manson).
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| Trio los Infernales in their menacing equipos. |
A luchador's stature and physique may also indicate if he or she is a rudo. Since rudos are portrayed as powerful and menacing, these will most often be taller and more muscular than their tecnico counterparts (Fuerza Guerrera, Silver King, Pierrothito). In the context of female wrestling, luchadoras perceived to have more masculine attributes (higher stature, wider body frames, and occasionally short hair) will be typecast as rudas (although exceptions do exist).
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| Rudo Ultimo Guerrero taking advantage of Kemonito's size |
Additionally, a luchador's nationality (or implied foreignness) will also play a role in determining if he or she is a rudo. Luchadores with foreign names will often be rudos (Alex Koslov, Jennifer Blake, Kenzo Suzuki), as these provide a contrast to the national identity that tecnicos create. In these cases, rudos will adopt of attitudes of ungrateful guests and will belittle their host nation, claiming that their native country is better. Rudos acting as foreign do not always have to be from other countries, for example a luchador from Mexico City, may act as a foreign rudo if he is touring through Oaxaca (a rural state with large indigenous populations in sourthern Mexico). In cases such as these, the tension created will not be between cultural identity and its attack from foreigners, but rather between the metropolitan and the agrarian (or between social classes).
Alex Koslov living up to his status as a foreign rudo
A luchador's sexual preference (or implied sexual preference) may also distinguish him as a rudo. In the past, most exoticos (if not all according to Heather Levy) were rudos (May Flowers, Cassandro, Nygma). The reason for this may have to do something with the rudos inherit role-- to draw disgust and aggression from the crowds. In having a homosexual (or implied homosexual) in the ring, the crowd is again encountered with the foreign, the unexpected, and the "undesirable," and is given a reason to boo the rudo. Tolerance towards homosexuals in Mexico, is slowly morphing the role of homosexual men (whether real or acting) as strictly rudos (beloved exoticos Pimpinela Escarlata and Maximo are both tecnicos).
Video of exoticos, note the use of rudo tactics
During lucha libre matches, crowds will most often react negatively towards rudos, these will often be insulted by porras (although normally rudos will insult back). Some rudos however, have large fan followings will be greeted with cheers regardless of their "bad guy" persona. Some luchadores claim that being a rudo is easier than being a tecnico, because rudos require less wrestling skills, however rudos will counter this argument by stating that it is harder to be a rudo, because it is harder to gain the respect of a crowd when one is perceived as "evil." Most luchadores agree that the mark of a true luchador is to be able to fight both as a tecnico and a rudo.
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| Click on the image to check out the Rudos Luchador Profiles on My Lucha Libre Life |
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