Meet Bad-Ass 75-Year-Old Lucha Libre Legend Irma Gonzalez

75-year-old lucha libre veteran Doña Irma Gonzalez has been in the biz for over 55 years. In her teenage years, before she became a wrestler, Irma used to be an acrobatic performer in her father's circus:

"I used to be an acrobat and a contortionist, one that traveled all over the place. But then my father's circus burned down which forced my family to move in with my grandmother in the northern part of Federal District [Mexico]. When I was 13, a neighbor asked me to participate in wrestling event because they were missing one performer. I told her 'I don't know how to wrestle!' Although I was very athletic because of my experience with the circus. So my friend said 'Don't worry, nothing is going to happen. Just get up there and hold on to the ropes.' So she convinced me."

Then Irma gor her ass kicked:

"I wasn't afraid because I trusted my neighbor's words. Plus I agreed to participate because she loaned me a really pretty outfit, one with a cape. But I never could have imaged I was going to get my ass kicked, because once my neighbor was put down the other wrestlers started beating me until they got tired."   

But Irma was hooked. She began wrestling un the name "La Novia Del Santo" -- with Santo's permission, of course -- and went on to become a wold champion after she defeated Vicky Williams in Japan.

Here's a video of Irma wrestling Mika Komatsu in the mid '80s:

This bad-ass viejita now spends her time training aspiring wrestlers in the famed Nezahaulcoyotl neighborhood of Mexico State.

I don't merely tip my hat to you, Doña Irma; I bow my head out of deep respect and admiration. 

Source: TvNotas