Wrestling matches provide an action-packed story time at US libraries, in photos

BENICIA, Calif. (AP) — The handwritten sign at a Northern California public library warned patrons to expect more noise than usual. That warning quickly proved to be an understatement as professional wrestlers, accompanied by booming music, thundered into the reading space and jumped into a ring flanked by row upon row of bookshelves.

Dozens of children and adults greeted the theatrics with hoots and hollers at the Benicia Public Library in Benicia, California.

Welcome to “Lucha Libro,” a high-energy, action-packed story time that is bringing live wrestling matches to libraries across the U.S. to promote literacy. Founded in 2024, “Lucha Libro” plays off the name of the popular Mexican-inspired sport of Lucha Libre. Libro means book in Spanish.

Libraries are typically sedate places, but the wrestlers did not hold back. They body slammed their opponents and aerial kicked each other in the chest.

Among the brawny wrestlers was “Llama Jack,” sporting a black mask with furry ears, who read “Llama Llama Time to Share,” before being interrupted by his rivals barging into the ring. He took them down in minutes and then finished the story.

Over 40 events are planned this year at libraries from California to New Jersey. One of the most popular wrestlers on the circuit is the fighting librarian, “Richard Shhnary.”

The idea started in 2024 when Lucha Libro's CEO, Jerry Rocha, and co-founder, Victor Dwight, were approached to put on a show at a local library, Rocha said in an email. Dwight wrestles as “Victor Von Richter.”

A year later, Lucha Libro debuted at the Benicia library.

Two worlds that were never meant to cross paths have since collided in the most spectacular way, Rocha said.

This gallery was curated by photojournalist Jeff Chiu based in San Francisco.

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Wrestler TJ Black reacts as he walks past books during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Hitman Wayne lies on the ground after losing a match against Rufio Banderas during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Victor Von Richter, left, reacts after being hit by Astro Knox, right, in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestlers Loverboy Leo, middle left, and Joey Gonzo are seen through shelves of books during their match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Llama Jack gestures to fans before competing in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestlers Jiah "the Crazy Cajun" Jewell, middle left, and El Chupacabra compete near book shelves at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans react during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Elliot Rey, middle top, applies a hold on TJ Black during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans react during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Jaguar Montoya, top, stomps on OC Hayes outside of the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans react as wrestler Julz Rafael, cneter, walks toward the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch as wrestler Hitman Wayne, middle top, applies a hold to Rufio Banderas during their match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Jaguar Montoya, top, applies a hold against OC Hayes during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Jaguar Montoya prepares for a match during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Astro Knox, right, hits a member of Young Steel during a tag team match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Llama Jack greets fans during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

A fan has his mask adjusted during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans watch a tag team match between Llama Jack and Astro Knox against Young Steel during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Loverboy Leo laces his boots before his match at a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Rufio Banderas warms up before a match during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestlers Llama Jack, center left, and Sampiro compete in a Lucha Libro pro wrestling match at the San Jose Public Library Educational Park Branch Saturday, May 9, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Wrestler Llama Jack reads a Llama Llama book in the ring during a Lucha Libro pro wrestling event at Benicia Public Library Saturday, May 2, 2026, in Benicia, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Four-time Olympian Alina Muller of Switzerland is leaving behind her college and pro hockey career in Boston by signing a three-year contract Saturday with the PWHL’s expansion team in Hamilton, Ontario.

Muller will be joined in Hamilton by Montreal defender and rookie of the year finalist Nicole Gosling, who also signed a three-year standard agreement.

San Jose made a splash by signing New York forward Kristin O’Neill to a two-year Foundational Offer, guaranteeing the 28-year-old Canadian Olympian at least $100,000 per season. O’Neill made $86,872 last year, and is reunited with former Team Canada coach Troy Ryan, who doubles as San Jose’s coach and GM.

Each of the four expansion franchises are allowed one foundational signing, with Daryl Watts landing a four-year deal in Detroit on Friday.

Earlier in the day, San Jose also signed New York forward Anne Cherkowski to a two-year contract.

The moves come on Day 2 of the second phase of the PWHL’s three-day expansion process, in which the new teams will add five players.

Hamilton, San Jose, and Detroit have now signed four players, with Las Vegas the only new team to not yet complete a signing. Under the rules, New York and Seattle have now lost a maximum of three players during this phase.

The 28-year-old Muller has spent her adult life in Boston following a five-year college career at Northeastern and the past three seasons with the Fleet. Selected third overall by Boston in the league’s inaugural 2023 draft, Muller was the PWHL's first non-North American player selected.

Her 56 PWHL career points (16 goals, 40 assists) lead all Fleet and non-North American players.

Fleet general manager Danielle Marmer grew emotional on Thursday when discussing the possibility of losing Muller. With the eight existing teams allowed to protect only three players each, Marmer said she was left with little choice in filling those spots with captain Megan Keller, rookie of the year finalist Haley Winn and goalie of the year finalist Aerin Frankel ahead of Muller.

Muller has also shined on the international stage in having scored Switzerland’s two Olympic bonze medal-clinching goals, including the overtime-winner over Sweden at the Milan Cortina Games in February.

Gosling is coming off a Walter Cup championship season in Montreal. She was selected fourth overall in the draft last year, and finished tied for first among rookie defenders with 19 points (three goals, 16 assists).

The 24-year-old Gosling also gets an opportunity to move closer to her hometown of London, Ontario.

O'Neill is now on her third PWHL team after spending her first two seasons in Montreal. She ranked fourth in the league last season with 272 faceoff wins while scoring four goals and an assist in 30 games. Overall, O'Neill has nine goals and 10 assists in 83 career games.

O’Neill is from Oakville, Ontario, and played collegiately at Cornell.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

FILE - Toronto Sceptres goaltender Raygan Kirk saves a shot from Montreal Victoire's Kristen O'Neill during the first period of a PWHL hockey game in Toronto, Dec. 21, 2024. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP, File)