Elisa Tudon interviews Cuatrero y Sanson (January 2017)
Elisa Tudon interviews Cuatrero y Sanson January 2017
Elisa: You may have noticed these guys. They have been causing a raucous among the female audience. They are the sons of the great Cien Caras. Sanson and Cuatrero. How are you guys?
Cuatrero: We are doing fine. Thank you for inviting us. We are happy visit you here on your show.
Elisa: Tell me, it has to have not been so easy to dedicate yourself to a career where your father is world renown as an important figurehead in the same.
Cuatrero: Well..no. It’s not easy. The name of Carmelo Reyes bares a lot of weight. The Dinamita dynasty holds a lot of weight.
Elisa: How was it for you to come to Mexico City, where the fans thought you were rookies but, in reality you have been training for years in Lagos.
Sanson: It is exactly how you were explaining. People thought we were rookies and turned up overnight. But no. We have a proper preparation and we are not in Arena Mexico only because we are sons of Carmelo Reyes. We have about 5 years as professional wrestlers. I think the fans have realized the quality of wrestlers that we are. They have taken to us. They are satisfied and are following us, so I think we are doing a good job.
Elisa: Social media can be a double edged sword. At times it’s great that fans can support you. But other times, there are wrestling fans that are super passionate and are very demanding of the wrestlers. You two have had something happen to you right? an experience with the social media..
Cuatrero: Yes. Social media can be a double edged sword. It’s where everyone can voice their opinion and express themselves. You can say that there are more talkers than needed in the world. There have been fans that have put it out there that we are only getting so far in our careers because we are sons of Carmelo Reyes.
The fans know the work we have put in at Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. We had over a year there. From there we jumped over to Arena Mexico to accomplish new goals. We are getting there little by little.
Elisa: It’s tough. You have to leave your home life behind and dedicate yourself to your career. The transition to the life in Mexico City can be difficult. How did it go for you?
Sanson: It’s not easy. I think you have to chase your dream like my bro over here says, “the capital dream”. You leave that home life behind. Your mom and dad are around. You come home from school and there is a meal made. You have clean clothes. All those comforts are left behind.
You come here and you start from the bottom. No car. You have to get around on the metro. We live alone now, so we cook and wash our clothes. You do it all. It’s part of those changes. We adapt to the different Arena. You don’t know anyone. We worked our way from the bottom. Sometimes when you are a son of someone they will treat you with a heavier hand. To see if you really have what it takes.
We found our way to handle it and have adapted to life here in DF.
Elisa: Since you were very little, it must not have been a surprise of who your dad was in this world. What did you think about that when you were younger?
Cuatrero: It was no secret that he was a wrestler. We knew about that. We didn’t talk about it with him. He would want to keep that life separate. When people would ask him if we were going to be wrestlers, he would quickly reply no. That we wouldn’t be. But we both had the idea that we were going to become wrestlers.
Elisa: At what age did you decide that you were going to become wrestlers?
Sanson: Like my brother was saying. Since we were little, we knew we wanted to become wrestlers. But it’s like, you never think about how big it’s going to get for you…the magnitude. For example my experiance. I was in middle school.
That’s when I saw my cousin Mascara Ano 2000 Jr. come to Mexico DF and do well in his career. I would see him in magazines. That’s when I thought that I wanted to be in the ring. After that, I went to a show in Lagos, Moreno where he was wrestling. I saw him in his mask, his outfit, in the ring. I felt the magic and that moment made me want to be in the ring one day.
Elisa: Going back to your father not wanting you to become wrestlers. The person that helped you was Andres (Universo 2000).
Cuatrero: Uh-huh. He was the one that helped us become who we are. I will mention it in every interview. Sanson, Forastero, and I all owe it to him. He was our mentor and teacher.
Elisa: How did you approach him about it? Were you asking like a little kid for candy?
Sanson: Well, he had set up his own gym. With a ring and everything. I asked my dad about it. Dad said, “OK, but only as a hobby”. That’s when we went ahead and had our first class with him. We are super grateful of him. He was the one that taught us from our first roll to what we know now.
Elisa: So Universo 2000 was training you guys. Your mother actually was very supportive of you. She saw that you would make great wrestlers.
Sanson: That’s right. My dad didn’t want us to become wrestlers. He said he would support us but he didn’t want us to be wrestlers. Even though he was guiding us. He still implied the importance of our education and wanted us to finish that. It wasn’t until a year and a half ago when he gave us permission to come here (Mexico DF) and we are here giving it all.
That’s how it was. Mom always supported us. Of course she was afraid. But now she is really into it. You’ll find her at the arenas watching the matches. She is really into it. She scopes out social media to see what people are saying about us. She is on top of it. She tells us who we are wrestling.
Elisa: I think your dad is like most when they know the sacrifices that you have to make. He lived through another era. Do you think that’s why he didn’t want you to have that life?
Cuatrero: I think that it was more of him leaving the family and going away from home. He would always tell us how much he would suffer by being away from us.
Sanson: I think it was the separation from his family and coming to live his life over here in the city, when he came from a ranch. That had to be a tough change. So many things probably happened. Like dealing with the airport for instance. So many things nobody at the ranch would even know about.
The loneliness, the travel, the injuries. So I get why he would tell us to study. He really was strict about us studying and getting our education. To have our life not be like his. Live life in another profession or at the ranch.
Elisa: How was it for you to live with him being gone all the time?
Cuatrero: Well..you get used to it. You live it. You get used to it. When dad got home, you would get excited to see him. Hug and kiss him. He had a intimidating look to him. When you are a kid and see him around the house, you kind of are intimidated.
Elisa: Apart from your dad being a big star, he will always give you an interview if you ask for it. He is very humble. As are your uncles.
Cuatrero: I think he was the example for them. We owe ourselves to the public and the media are the ones that provide that bridge to them. To let them know who you are.
Sanson: Like my brother was saying. You owe yourself to the public and the media play their part in it. You have to remain respectful and humble. My father instilled that quality in us. He is like my idol.
Elisa: Tell us about you finishing your school before coming here. What would you do outside from school? Hobbies? Girls?
Sanson: You don’t need to ask.
Cuatrero: Well, it was routine life. School, training, home. If there was time, we would go out to the mall or market. You have to keep a balance. You must be disciplined. You can’t be working hard all the time. You have to keep that balance.
Elisa: Cuatrero, you started out with a different name. It was Mascara Universal. It was a half Universo 2000 and Mascara Ano 2000 character.
Cuatrero: Yes, that’s it. It lasted very short. Only about 5-6 months. The name did not convince my father. He would tell me that it was too long and had a complicated look to the mask. So he thought up a name.
One day, after training. He told me that he had the name. So I’m using.
Elisa: You Sanson, have always had that name. The name your father had used when he started out.
Sanson: That is correct. I had always used this name. Because I am very similar to my father. The way I stand and walk. Without the mask, I look just like him. To hold my father’s name is a great honor. Now that I couldn’t be named Cien Caras Jr. for whatever reason. I was thrilled to have the name.
I took it upon myself to give the name shine and make it my own.
Elisa: Now that everyone knows Los Dinamitas. The style of your wrestling is very similar.
Sanson: That’s right. we are the new generation of Dinamitas. It’s the style of the Dinamitas. It’s a very barbaric and harsh style. (tricksters!)that too. We all gang up on you. That aggressive style that we inherit. How we are trained, we took to that style. We have that essence in our style. We aren’t copies. We are more dynamic and athletic.
The way wrestling has evolved, you have to adjust to the present. That means adding high-flying and top rope maneuvers, because that’s what the fans want. From that evolution we have put together that new Dinamita style. A little more aerial and different techniques.
Elisa: You guys were wrestling at Arena Coliseo Guadalajara for a time. You were already in the main events. What is it going from there to starting from the bottom in Arena Mexico?
Cuatrero: It was a challenge. Ultimo Guerrero welcomed us. Along with Columbo. It was a challenge. Even the air is different. (the smog! everyone lol) But it was something different and exciting because you were earning what you received from your training. You get your opportunity to wrestle and give your not 100% but double. You have to leave it all in the ring to leave great first impression.
Elisa: Something you mentioned off air was that some of the trainers you train with rotate and you trained with Shocker. How are his classes?
Sanson: You really enjoy those tough challenging training sessions. They are military style sessions. Because he was a Marine for some time. His sessions are very tough and Ultimo Guerrero’s sessions are really tough too. But Shocker makes you do a lot of exercises and in the sun. Shocker is really good at teaching. As is Ultimo Guerrero and Professor Virus. They are all great.
Elisa: That type of training is very good for you because sometimes you travel and end up working outdoors. It prepares you for all conditions.
Cuatrero: Yes. They are different conditions that you always have to prepare for through training. You end up wrestling all kinds of wrestlers and in different styles.
Elisa: How did the wrestlers welcome you at Arena Mexico?
Sanson: Well, it wasn’t jealousy. It was professional ego. We all want to triumph in Arena Mexico. We all want to suceed. Many people thought that we would arrive and be directly inserted into main events. Because as you were saying, we were main eventing in Guadalajara.
When we got there we started at the bottom. So you get there and have to start from zero. You have to earn your spot. Through your performance and trainings. It’s always going to be part of the way things are there. It’s a tough transition.
Elisa: So you debuted on a Homenaje a Dos Leyendas. How did things go for you on that day?
Sanson: That’s right. It was magical. The first time I walked down that aisle masked. I had already been there as a fan before. This was emotional, nervous. I knew this would be the start of something big. My father had already sensed that we were on to something. When he allowed us to be publicly recognized as his sons, it was like the green light. We were on our way to becoming full-on professional wrestlers.
Elisa: How did the fans take to you at the arena?
Cuatrero: When we show up. I don’t think anyone knew who we came from. Our family had come to watch us. When we walked out on that 29th of December, the people recognized that we were ready to be there. At first the fans didn’t think that we were his sons.
They noticed differences in us and him. (Elisa: Your bodies!) Yeah. They were comparing me with our uncles and the fans just kept on critiquing and that was the more negative critiquing at first.
Elisa: You guys are much more athletic and you have very nicely worked bodies.
Cuatrero: That is part of our job. We were preparing for a bodybuilding contest and we cut carbohydrates completely out. We were training hard in preparation for that and that makes us have a better look. It’s an important part and you have to work at it daily.
Sanson: The big muscles take a lot of work to develop. The small muscles are easy to develop. The competition was held at Arena Mexico.
Sanson: First place in the novice category.
Sanson: The beginners. My cousin, Forsastero took first in the second place. Cuatrero took second in the advanced category where Valiente and Blue Panther Jr. were competing. He has a more worked physique and more weight.
Elisa: It’s not the same to train to wrestle and train for bodybuilding. With the diet and your energy levels.
Sanson: We could have never accomplished it without the guidance from our coach. A true professional. Alex from (????) It was very complicated. Once you begin to deplete your body from carbs,fat and water. Any bruise or bump can have a deeper impression on your body.
For instance I took a hit to my shoulder and the pain stayed there for weeks. It became a sprain. It was tough to get through it with your body changing. To control your food intake on the road. It’s complicated. We aren’t full-time professional bodybuilders. You think about eating and training. Controling your carb intake. After a match, after training. It’s complicated.
Elisa: Speaking of training. You Cuatrero were undecided when studying to be either a Nutritionist or a Photographer.
Cuatrero: The nutritionist thing had my attention because it was something I could utilize as an athlete. To know how to configure your diet and not need the help of a professional and the photography is in a way, related to the wrestling.
Elisa: Apart from there being so many great wrestling photographers out there. Sanson tell us about your mask design.
Sanson: I designed my gear with a designer. I was giving him ideas. Like to use the same eye hole as my father because I like the way it looks. I was giving him ideas of how I wanted it to look. I have a lion right here on my forehead because of the mythology behind “Sanson”.
Sanson: That’s not on here. I don’t know where it is. Around there. And the silhouette of Sanson is here on this side. Now we have it in different colors to give variation.
Elisa: Cuatrero! You have a different mouth piece.
Cuatrero: Yes. I worked on it with my gear maker. To create a mask with the eyeholes and garnish on the mouth. I saw that in cartoons that they had this garnish on the features of the mask. So I wanted to stand out and nobody had these outlining features on their mask. I have spurs on the side of my eyeholes. This part around my mouth is something the designer came up with.
It resembles the mask of my uncle Chuy. He had something like this on his mask. So I like this part.
Elisa: Speaking of your uncle Chuy. He is wrestling in the company and you have had the opportunity to wrestle with him.
Sanson: That’s right. He is now with us. We are super excited to be able to team up. It’s a dream. It was a dream to share the ring with him, my father, my uncle Universo 2000. We wanted that but, the opportunity arose to team with Mascara Ano 2000. That has benefited us 200%. It’s some gratifying to be able to share the ring with your uncle and your family.
Now that we are teaming with him, people have commented that we look good together. It was a something great for all of us. He says we make him feel younger and we say, he gives us his experience. We are really happy about it.
Elisa: So far in your appearances you have been presented as a group or team. Is that how you want to continue? Or will you pursue more individual goals?
Cuatrero: OK, goals are always going to be personal. You can’t wear all 3 masks. The goals are always individual. We have been the trios champions of Arena Coliseo (GDL). If there are any teams looking to challenge, we would be open to defend them.
If there comes an opportunity for a singles against X wrestler or a feud then, it would be individual. But we will always be supporting each other as a team.
Sanson: Like he was saying. We all will gang up on you and stomp you out. That’s what we know what to do. If there comes opportunities for championships, so be it. I think this trio is working very well together. We all bring something different. It forms this violent machine and that’s what the people have liked.
We feel comfortable doing that. I have some more cousins on the way.
Elisa: Who are you feuding with and want to put a halt on?
Cuatrero: The ones whose turn it is are The Panthers. The Panther and Blue Panther Jr.
Sanson: I think we will take to anyone and everyone. Whoever gets in our way. Big finish, medium fish, we have enough for everybody. We do have a rivalry with The Panthers. Those are very rough confrontations. We give our everything. We also have faced the Munoz family during the dynasty tournament. That was Dragon Lee, Mistico, Pierroth. We faced The Panthers during that as well. So pretty much anyone in our way, we have enough for them.
Elisa: Something that the career can leave a wrestler is the chance to face great legends. Emblematic figures that you can learn from when you wrestle.
Sanson: Negro Casas is someone that I never got to wrestle. But now that I did, WOW. Like you were saying. It was Negro Casas, or the chance to wrestle Atlantis. There are many legends.
Elisa: Something else CMLL has going on is the relationship with New Japan. Every wrestler wants to wrestle in Arena Mexico and at least one time touch Japanese soil. Do you guys want to wrestle in Japan.
Sanson: One of the incentives since we have been here has been that. Touch Japanese soil and wrestle for New Japan, a very prestigious company. My dad went to wrestle over there.
Elisa: I think he was one of the first.
Sanson: I think he was. He toured over there for 3 months.
Cuatrero: I think it was one month or he wrestled 27 dates or something like that.
Sanson: He was one of the first ones over there. He has a souvenir at home. It’s a suitcase with the New Japan logo on it. It’s a dream of ours and this year we want it even more. To go to Japan. Or even with Ring of Honor. To do something with them. It’s another dream or incentive to be in this company.
ELisa: In other countries the wrestling styles are different and that will help you grow professionally and personally.
Cuatrero: Yes, they are new experiences. To wrestle an American, Japanese, or Canadian. You learn a lot. You pick up more knowledge.
Elisa: After all that work, it’s like a prize!
Sanson: Yup. Go over there and learn. Experience new horizons. I think that’s why he liked photography. To observe a new way of life and different cultures. We always want more. Us, Mascara 2000 Jr. and Forastero. We are always looking for more. We want to discover more out there.
Elisa: Well, you guys are still very young. You have a lot to offer the Mexican wrestling. But how have things gone for you two, injury wise?
Sanson: I think all things considered, it has gone well for me. I only have a ankle sprain. Minor knee injuries and strained triceps but nothing serious.
Cuatrero: The same. Your knees take a toll. My left knee especially. Because in wrestling you learn from all the bumps. You can’t debut untouched. From the moment you begin to train, you are opening the path for injuries. That has to be the only bad part about it. You are going to get injured. That first time hitting the ropes is going to hurt you to your soul.
Cuatrero: I’m on Facebook, Instagram as El Cuatrero on Twitter as ElCuatreroD
Sanson: Sanson Dinamita on Facebook I will answer all the fans and offer all the official merchandise as soon as possible.
Elisa: We have a lot of viewers in America and American promoters. Everyone knows that it’s our talent that gives that wrestling flavor.
Sanson: Now that you touch on it. It’s the luchadores that add that extra bit of magic. The mask and cape. All that adds to the magic. With the typical American wrestler, they put on their trunks and without a mask. So part of the magic is in not knowing.
(They close out by stating the importance of practicing sport)
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