With the recent re-emergence of Sami Zayn‘s former persona El Generico on Twitter after a five year absence, everyone is suddenly reminded of Generico’s departure from the indie scene, where he “returned home” to Mexico, retiring from wrestling to run an orphanage. But while this seems to mirror the 2006 comedy film, Nacho Libre, starring Jack Black, both are actually an homage to real life luchador priest Fray Tormenta. And the tale is one stranger than fiction.
THE STORY OF FRAY TORMENTA
In a case of art imitating life, the story of Fray Tormenta is one just tale. Sergio Gutiérrez Benítez was a 22-year old drug addict and alcoholic in Mexico. Having lost his way in life, he was inspired after seeing films in the 60s film series about El Señor Tormenta, a fictional priest who wrestled as a luchador to provide for his orphanage. He entered the priesthood, travelling to Rome and Spain for his teachings. He was ordained as a priest in May of 1973. Soon he began taking in orphans in his parish, but soon the demand became overwhelming. He soon opened his own orphanage, in Texcoco, Mexico. But he had to find a way to finance the orphanage and it’s growing size. Inspired by his original film impetus, he turned to the legendary squared circle. Toremento’s journey is beautifully captured in a 2015 article by Vice’s Eric Nusbaum, where he spoke about Fray’s early routine:
For a year, Padre Sergio woke up at 4:30 every morning and traveled an hour each way from Texcoco to a gym in Mexico City where he learned the art of lucha libre. He had to be back by 8:00 to celebrate the mass. His earnings from his first fight were 200 pesos–at the time, about 10 American dollars. And so it went: he was not exactly making Cassius Clay or El Santo money, but he was not ready to give up yet either. He fought on small cards around Texcoco, and gradually built up a following.
For nearly 40 years, Fray Tormenta (which means Father/Friar Storm) travelled the lucha libre circuit of Mexico, appearing mostly for regional or local promotions (although he did appear for both CMLL and UWA). He retired from active ring competition in 2011, although he still makes appearances and continues to run his orphanage. His son has since taken over the mask and continues to battle in the ring as Fray Tormenta Jr. For more info on the full life of Fray Tormenta, check out the Vice article, Addict, Priest, Luchador: The Unbelievable Life of Fray Tormenta.
