‘Wrestling Priest’ reflects on his redemption story

Nineteen years ago Jack Black starred in Nacho Libre Soft sweet and endearing the film was a popular hit But for Sergio Guti rrez Ben tez there was one flaw The movie failed to tell the real story of Ben tez He is better known as Fray Tormenta the orphanage-sponsoring priest who wrestled after dark and whose life became the backstory for the movie s titular character There was wrestling and an orphanage but that was not my story stated Tormenta who wrestled under a mask to help his orphanage In the movie Jack Black s character fell in love with a nun It was a good comedy but it is not mine Speaking through a translator Tormenta revealed to the Boston Herald that he is writing an autobiography which is expected to be disclosed early next year At age with failing eyesight and frail physical condition he believes now is the time to share his story I can t tell my story when I am dead reported Tormenta who has partnered with the innovative and aptly named Masked Republic media organization to publish his book I need to tell the true story of my redemption It was never about chasing fame but inevitably about the glory of supporting my orphanage Born into poverty in Mexico Tormenta was the th of children Now the lone survivor among his siblings Tormenta nearly became a statistic of the saddest sort as a teenager when he wrestled with the demons of addiction It s not like I had any money so I had to steal noted Tormenta Heroin cocaine I had to keep the cycle going I was on the cusp of death My life reached the point where it was a living hell Tormenta eventually discovered salvation through the church Yet that was not the circumstance at first A priest recounted me that the church was not a place for an addict like me declared Tormenta When I cursed out that priest he threw me out That is the moment I realized that the world would be better with caring priests ones that craved to help all people In May at age Tormenta officially became an ordained priest Even if Nacho Libre did not fully capture Tormenta s story it was in fact a movie El Senor Tormenta detailing the journey of a poor priest wrestling at night to aid his orphanage that forever changed the direction of his life Yes a film about a wrestling priest inspired a priest to wrestle which then served as the inspiration for a film about a wrestling priest I thought wrestling would be a perfect way to make money for the orphans who needed more food and warmer clothing declared Tormenta So I trained for a year and a half in the morning before mass covering my bruises before I went to church But when I had my first match it wasn t what I was expecting Instead of a million dollars I was making five dollars a match Tormenta s religious affiliation did not prevent him from getting physical with gang members attempting to stop him from spreading the gospel or from offering another perspective with the prostitutes who repeatedly introduced themselves to patrons as they left church Yet becoming a priest was sacred motivating Tormenta to hide his wrestling identity I didn t want anyone in wrestling to know I was a priest commented Tormenta I wrestled for more than three years before it was discovered When it was revealed it didn t upset people or even the church When word got out that I was a priest supporting my orphanage we started to have sellouts People were curious to see the wrestling priest They waited for me outside the arena and gave me bags of rice and beans even clothes for the children God has a purpose and a plan for us I didn t constantly understand it but I now know this was the way it was inevitably supposed to be One slight regret for Tormenta is that he has yet to visit Boston which was home to the famed Boston Garden I made it all the way to Arena Mexico but wrestling in Boston Garden remains beyond my wildest dreams disclosed Tormenta My friend from Mexico was a priest that spent time living in Boston and he would dress like a clown for children suffering from cancer Sometimes we get caught up in what we re doing and lose sight of what is essential in life What he did was very vital for those children Tormenta s orphanage has supported more than children over the past years illustrating that a fictional in-ring superhero can double as one in real life And he continues to serve through car wash fundraisers wrestling T-shirt sales and even comic-con appearances that all raise funds for his orphanage the Children s Home for Fray Tormenta s Cubs That s why I got into wrestling to help those in need reported Tormenta It is what God called me to do Until I go to heaven this is my mission As long as I can I will continue