Joseph and Colette Discuss Villano V vs. Blue Panther

There is nothing like a good apuestas.

It’s been awhile since Blue Panther lost his mask, but the weight of its shock still reverberates, as evidenced by our essays this week. Joseph and I both loved the old woman who threw her Blue Panther mask away in disgust, and, in this week’s discussion, we talk about what happens when the hero of the story is prepared for the entirely wrong wrestling match, the Villanos, Arena Mexico, and more.

Joseph: Blue Panther vs. Villano V: Hatred Over Reason
Colette: Blue Panther and Villano V take the Apuestas to Its Emotional Peak

Coming Up Next: We wrap up subscriber requests by dipping once again into the violent, bloody pool that is lucha libre, as L.A. Park takes on Rush during an incredible feud that culminated, for Colette, in watching Park dance to George Thorogood & the Destroyers for ten minutes at a show in Norcross, Georgia. They’re still scrapping in 2023, too! Also, if you’re curious about lucha in general, check out Joseph’s video about Aéreo vs. Villano III Jr., and the excellent luchablog!

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Joseph Anthony Montecillo
My fandom of lucha libre, especially classic lucha, is something I consider fairly my new. I've dipped my toes into that water for a long time now, but it's really only now that I feel at least comfortable with the overall style and talking about it. Back when I was first trying to learn more about lucha libre, this was one of those matches that was recommended to me as far as some of the best that the genre has to offer. I'd only seen it the once before I went back to cover it for BIG EGG, and really what an astonishing thing it is. Instructive about the genre despite being a bit of a departure of what one might actually expect from the names involved (specifically Blue Panther). Was this your first time seeing it?

Colette Arrand
It is! And I am a fair bit behind you when it comes to my ability to talk about lucha libre on its own terms. I've seen maybe a handful of Blue Panther matches in general, and fewer of Villano V outside of his WCW run, where he was an eternal favorite of mine on the weekend shows because I thought it was funny that the referee couldn't tell the difference between "IV" and "V" when he and his brother would switch.

Joseph Anthony Montecillo
You're actually probably ahead of me as far as Villano V is concerned honestly. If I really think about it, this might be the only match of his I've ever seen? I'd have to check the 90s spreadsheets a little closer but I haven't seen much of the Villanos tag and trios stuff together and as far as singles goes, Villano III was always the highlight.