The Pedro Gonzalez Arena

Pedro Gonzalez was a businessmen who built both a large bullring and a boxing/wrestling arena in the early 1950s in the Mexican border town of Nogales, across from Arizona. Since the city was devoid of these things at the time, the Gonzalez venture was welcomed with much rejoicing.

The bullring was located on the south side of town, with the wrestling arena set on a hillside a short distance away. The former seated 5,000 and the latter around 2,500.

Gonzalez proved himself intent on bringing the best of both worlds to the border. Top bullfighters such as Carlos Arruza, Luis Procuna , Calesero, Alfredo Leal and Morenito de Talavera came to his bullring. His wrestling arena attracted the likes of Mano Negro, Blue Demon, Santo, Gorilla Ramos and Gory Guerrero.

As age crept up on him, Goznalez sold the bullring and rented out the wrestling rented to a number of promoters, including Bucky Zepeda and Tony Martin.

Over the years for Goznalez and other promoters, wretslers from Arizona often came down to perform, including JT Law, Bonecrusher, The Lumberjacks, Kurt Von Steiger and .The Mercenaries.

Other Mexican wrestlers seen at the local arena included Mel Mascaras, Orcida, Orca, Flama Negra, Centella Negra, Resplandor, Indio Seri, Pedro El Bello, Rayo De Jalisco, Rayo De Sonora, Flama Negra, Flama Azul, Tamba, Twin Devils, Fiera, Pirata Morgan, Samurai, Black Mask, Amadeus, Andar, Black Widow,  Enigma, Makriz, El Vikingo, King Kong, Sergio Saravia, Coyo Castro, Black Gordman, Legionario Mustang, Nova, Apache Salvaje, Rito Romero, Karloff, Circulo Rojo,  Toro Socorro, Enrique Romero, Juan Garcia, Chanoc,  Zombie Palacio, Estrella De Jalisco, Kung Chang, Belcebu and more.

The bullring still stands, but I have no idea if the wrestling arena is still there or not. I had heard the arena passed to the hands of Pedro's daughter after his death and she was looking to sell the property. That was    several years ago.