30 Apr Pro Wrestling Event at Pittsburg Library Starts With ‘Page One’

By Denis Perez-Bravo

City Fight Pro is fusing professional wrestling and literacy around Northern California with Lucha Libro, or literally “Book Fight,” which comes to the Pittsburg Library on May 10 at 11 a.m. with an event fittingly titled “Page One: Pittsburg.”

Lucha Libro makes its Pittsburg debut after touring around different cities like Benicia and Vallejo. The free, library-themed event consists of characters like the main librarian Richard “Dic” Shhhnary and storylines about literacy as well as a full fight card.

It combines the high-flying action of professional wrestling with educational elements, creating what organizer Gerardo Rocha describes as “Super Smash Bros meets WWE with novel characters.”

“Our mission is to bring awareness back to libraries,” said Rocha, the founder of City Fights Pro.

For fans unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on City Fights Pro’s YouTube page.

City Fight Pro’s Lucha Libro events launched in January and have quickly grown in popularity.

Its March event at the Benicia library drew nearly 600 attendees, exceeding the first show there that gathered 400 people.

“Every show we’ve done has sold out,” said Richmond native Evan Francis, who performs under the name King Francis. “Besides checking out the show, they are looking at the library.”

>>>From the Archives:

Climbing Half Dome Mountain, ‘It Was Just Me and the Sky’<<<

Francis sees these types of events as just being the beginning of what pro wrestling in the Bay Area could look like to a new wave of fans.

With World Wrestling Entertainment’s new partnership with Netflix and All Elite Wrestling streaming on Max, Francis is glad these platforms have been putting the sport “in front of people’s eyeballs,” he said.

The Pittsburg event features a lineup of local and international talent including Lover Boy Leo, El Mago, Brandon Nash, TJ Black and AJ Hernandez.

The event will include games like loteria (a Mexican game of chance), creating what organizers want to be a family-friendly atmosphere.

Those interested in attending the free Pittsburg show are encouraged to bring their outside voices, a lot of energy and autograph books for the meet-and-greet session following the performances.

“Come in with an open mind,” Rocha said. “And be ready to have a good time.”

The Pittsburg Library, which is part of the Contra Costa County Library system, is located at 80 Power Ave. and open Monday through Saturday. You can contact the library at (925) 427-8390 and find Lucha Libro on Instagram.