Lucha de Apuestas: perhaps one of the most interesting elements of lucha libre, the lucha the apuestas (gambling match) is a match in which wrestlers bet on the outcome of the match by wagering either his/her mascaras or cabelleras. Losers of these matches either have to unmask or shave their heads (depending on what they wagered). Upon unmasking for the first time it is not uncommon for a luchador's real name and hometown to be revealed (often these are published in local papers and lucha libre magazines). Additionally, as a form of humiliation, the loser may be force to give up his/her mascara to the winner of the match.
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| Luchadora Silueta before losing her mask to rival Zeuxis |
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Silueta after being unmasked (real name revealed to be Joanna Guadalupe Jimenez Hernandez) |
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| Zeuxis winner of Silueta's mascara with her new trophy |
Putting one's mascara or cabellera on the line against a hated opponent is a means in lucha libre to settle a heated pique between two (or more) luchadores. Though worked, because of the importance of mascaras in lucha libre, losing one's mask to an opponent is seen a source of great shame, and can at times seriously hurt the career of an newly unmasked wrestler. Luchadores who are booked to be unmasked will often be greatly compensated for their willingness to risk their careers. Many times, the newly unmasked wrestler will then in turn challenge his/her rival a second time to get his/her revenge,* but it is not unheard of for a luchador to adopt a new persona altogether; because of this, some luchadores will end up losing their masks more than once (although never as the same character).
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| The many identities of now-wrestler Toxico |
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| An unmasked Murcielago |
Editors Note: During a luchas de apuestas I saw at the 3rd Festival Mundial de Lucha Libre in Guadalajara, both luchadores lost their masks in the same match. The match was worked in such a way that the loser got an instant rematch and his opponent as also unmasked within minutes. I would say this is pretty rare, although I am sure it has happened before.
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