Masked Republic Launches New Lucha Central Website, Announces ‘Lucha Central Network’ Coming In May
Masked Republic issued a new press release, detailing the launch of the all-new Lucha Central website as well as plans for their own multimedia network next month.
The Lucha Central Network will include several cross-platform extensions including a new YouTube channel, podcast and gaming network, and a new weekly Lucha Central Report TV series. The full release is below:
For the past two years, LuchaCentral.com has been the ultimate fan destination for lucha libre news and videos in both English and Spanish. From covering the results and analysis of lucha libre’s major leagues to helping fans discover independent promotions around the world dedicated to the lucha style, the site has been described as “The ESPN of Lucha Libre.”
Now, Masked Republic is expanding their Lucha Central® brand into new territories, starting with an all-new LuchaCentral.com site in partnership with Mexico’s Gamacon, a non-profit that supports the many creative media industries of Mexico by developing business opportunities for Mexican studios, supporting and complementing the academic programs of educational institutes, and promoting the artistic talent and culture of Mexico.
“We are extremely excited to debut the all-new LuchaCentral.com today,” said Masked Republic founder and CEO Ruben Zamora. “As part of our company’s mission to ‘expand lucha libre beyond the borders of Mexico,’ Lucha Central has helped us reach fans of the great sport across the entire globe. Now, teaming with Gamacon, we have the ability to bring our world class content and editorial features to a whole new level by working directly with Baja California based programmers committed to merge this integral part of Mexican culture with technology.”
“What better way to promote our Mexican culture and create business opportunities than through our lucha libre, definitely one of the most iconic characteristics of our country. In fact, the luchadores are our superheroes, they wear masks, capes, spandex, and have their own unique personalities and origins,” said Gamacon’s founder and President Hugo Castro. “We are very excited to be part of this project, as the site will showcase existing creatives as well as attract a lot of additional videogame, animation and comic book development business to Mexico.”
Masked Republic’s expansion of the Lucha Central brand will not stop at the new alliance with Gamacon for the updated web destination. This May, the company will debut a slew of cross-platform extensions dubbed the “Lucha Central Network” including a new Lucha Central YouTube channel, the Lucha Central Podcast Network, Lucha Central Gaming Network and a 30-minute weekly Lucha Central Report TV series. Company President and COO Kevin Kleinrock has been spearheading the brand extension. “Lucha libre fandom and lifestyle go well beyond what happens inside of the ring or at a live event,” Kleinrock stated. “We have been listening to what fans want and identifying key places where our Lucha Central brand can bring them exciting and engaging content across a plethora of platforms. Led by our teams in Mexico and the U.S., with assists from around the world, the new Lucha Central Network will give fans from the most novice to seasoned vets the most opportunities embrace lucha libre where, when and how they want.”
Today’s launch of the all-new LuchaCentral.com brings with it the kick-off of the second annual Lucha Madness Fantasy Tournament, an interactive poll where, this year, fans will have their opinions counted as a field of 64 luchadores battle it out to determine “Who was the best luchador of the 2010-2019 decade?” Plus, site visitors will get to see, for the first time in its entirety, the Expo Lucha: Las Vegas – Future Legend SuperShow – a 2 hour-plus spectacular featuring many of the biggest names in lucha libre including legends Rey Mysterio, Psychosis, Juventud Guerrera and Super Crazy along with today’s hottest stars including The Lucha Brothers, Penta Zero M and Rey Fenix, Taya Valkyrie, Laredo Kid and Black Taurus. Plus, the incomparable “Team Future Legend” of LAX (Proud & Powerful) Santana and Ortiz, Eddie Edwards, “Filthy” Tom Lawler, Austin Theory and Chris Masters. The site also heads all the way across the pacific for an exclusive interview with Japanese women’s wrestling sensation and fitness model Mina Shirakawa about her career and her lucha related goals!
There has never been a better time to discover LuchaCentral.com where it’s always Everything Lucha Libre™.
Related: For The Republic: Kevin Kleinrock On Creating Opportunity And Legacy For Lucha Libre
Masked Republic is one of the premier brands in the world of Lucha libre merchandising and they aim to make the Mexican wrestling culture more accessible to fans in the United States.
Co-founder Kevin Kleinrock has been part of the wrestling world for more than 20 years and alongside Ruben Zamora and their team, Masked Republic has brought the Lucha libre culture to the United States and made it more accessible than ever before. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA but they also have offices in San Francisco, Mexico City, and London and with a hand in creating live events, merchandise and content distribution deals.
Kleinrock has said Masked Republic wants to bridge the gap with their brands, not only entering a market that’s lacking in products, but to help the wrestlers navigate the business world themselves. The company represents a number of Lucha libre’s top names like the Lucha Bros, Rey Mysterio and Tinieblas Jr, helping them create officially licensed products and navigate the business side of professional wrestling branding. In addition, MR has created their own intellectual property brands like The Luchaverse (comic books), Lucha Loot (merchandise crates), Lucha Central (Lucha Libre news) and Saints & Rudos Streetwear.
Not missing a beat, Masked Republic launched a number of new products in 2019 and previewed some more things to come like their new Legends of Lucha Libre action figure line from Boss Fight Studio. Three waves of the highly-detailed figures and accessories are already confirmed, and in what will be their third year this August, Expo Lucha is set to visit Philadelphia for their fan festival highlighting Lucha’s past and present. After two successful events in Las Vegas in 2018 and San Diego in 2019, Expo Lucha makes the journey to the famed 2300 (ECW) Arena, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the luchadores in ECW back in 1995.
Check out our full interview with Kevin Kleinrock at this link.