Ignacio was the son of a Scandinavian Lutheran missionary and a Mexican deacon, who both died while Ignacio was young. Now a cook for the Oaxaca, Mexico monastery orphanage where he was raised, Ignacio dreams of becoming a luchador, but wrestling is strictly forbidden by the monastery. Ignacio cares deeply for the orphans, but his food is of poor quality because he cannot afford proper ingredients. He also struggles over his feelings for Sister EncarnaciÃ³n, a nun who teaches at the orphanage. One night, while collecting donated tortilla chips for the orphans, Ignacio is robbed of the chips by a street thief named Steven. After a fight between the two, Ignacio decides to disregard the monastery's rules and become a luchador in order to make money. He convinces Steven to join him with the promise of renumeration if they win, and the two join a local competition as tag partners.
Ignacio changes his name to "Nacho" to keep his identity secret, while Steven adopts the name "Esqueleto" (Skeleton). They are defeated in their first match, but are nevertheless paid, as every wrestler is entitled to a portion of the total revenue. They continue to wrestle every week, with Ignacio using his pay to buy and prepare better food for the orphans, but Ignacio gradually grows annoyed with the consistent losses. Steven brings him to a gypsy-like man known as "Emperor" who tells Ignacio to climb to an eagle's nest, crack open the egg and swallow the yolk, claiming that he will gain the powers of an eagle. Ignacio completes the task, but still loses the next several bouts, frustrating him. He seeks advice from champion luchador Ramses, but Ramses is vain and in no mood to help aspiring wrestlers.
Ignacio's secret is finally exposed to the entire monastery when his robe catches fire during church, exposing his wrestling costume. He admits that he is Nacho and tells them that he intends to fight at a battle royale between eight luchadores for the right to take on Ramses, and for a cash prize, which he will use to improve life for the orphans. But the wrestler Silencio wins the match; Nacho comes in second place. Feeling shunned at the monastery, Ignacio leaves to wander in the nearby wilderness.
The next morning, Steven comes to tell him that Silencio has been injured (Steven ran over his foot) and cannot fight, meaning that Nachoâas the second-place finisherâreceives the right to fight Ramses. Ignacio and Steven agree to team up again. That night, Ignacio sends a message via Steven to EncarnaciÃ³n, explaining his plan and confessing his love to her (as a sister).
Despite initial difficulty, Nacho does well in the match. When the crowd begins to support Ignacio, Ramses resorts to cheating. Nacho is nearly defeatedâindeed, unmaskedâby Ramses, when EncarnaciÃ³n enters the stadium with the orphans. Elated and inspired, Nacho rallies himself and defeats Ramses.
Ignacio becomes a professional wrestler and uses his prize money to buy a bus for field trips for the children. The film closes with Ignacio, Steven and Sister EncarnaciÃ³n taking the children to see the city of Monte AlbÃ¡n.
What does Ignacio become?
wrestler