Morante de la Puebla decided to elevate himself to the highest level of bullfighting once again, on a day -what a day of bullfighting!- that he demolished as the sun waned to become the king star of Seville. What a madhouse the arena, what unleashed madness, what a bullfighter José Antonio. It was worthy of the tail, it was worthy of the tail, like on April 26, 2023...
Close to 7:55 p.m., still feeling the excellence of Juan Ortega (unfinished) and the echo of 20 colossal natural passes by Víctor Hernández (finishing), the dormant God of La Puebla thundered, unleashing his fire, his fury, a colossal spectacle, sweeping everything away. An indescribable atrocity, overflowing the madhouse, from the moment he released the cape with one hand, leaning his back against the planks, handling the charge as if sipping coffee at the Donald's bar. But, when he grabbed the cape again with both hands, the sky collapsed to the ground with unreachable verónicas, his whole chest poured into the pass; the depth of that shook not only the arena's foundations but also the history of bullfighting.
José Antonio descended from Mount Sinai with the tablets of commandments, unleashing a blazing biblical fire. At this point, it was clear that nothing and no one would stand behind him. He invented a pass by scissors that could almost be seen in black and white at the speed of early 20th-century films. The bull from Álvaro Núñez -what a memorable debut-, named Colchonero, performed miraculous feats. Rhythm, humility, class. And then, to everyone's surprise, touching each other in disbelief and rubbing their eyes, he picked up the banderillas, without removing his hat. A frontal and precise pair, with the entire team assisting; another remarkable one from inside to outside, without the bull pressing too much. It was when he requested a folding chair from the breeders' box, sat on it, and crossed his legs. The stands fell silent with fear and respect. The pass with the cape electrified them again. Another very crazy explosion; the bull clashed against the chair, and the fans roared, embracing each other like shipwreck survivors in the midst of that storm. The audience drowned in their own cheers.
Morante sat on the chair again, and he embodied Rafael, Rafael el Gallo resurrected. The performance contained the powerful rhythm of Wagner, the elegance of Ordóñez, the embodiment of truth. Until a natural pass like the one in 2025 in Nazaré, but even more rounded, more celestial, collapsed Seville with its cosmic beauty. The Big Bang of the universe's origin. Such a profoundly stirring way of bullfighting. The greatest in history has returned without leaving and has once again proven it. The essence of Núñez was poured into the flights of that frontal and glorious sculpture. When he went for the sword, the highest awards were anticipated, due to the intensity, the unbridled genius, the overall spectacle. But the sword got stuck repeatedly like a log in the midst of glory. The Maestranza did not deflate because something so grandiose is unforgettable. That volcanic passion deserved the Puerta del Príncipe in one go. They requested the ear, but to no avail. The clamor led Morante to take two triumphant laps around the ring. The arena was then immersed in a tremor for a while.
The wonder of bullfighting had never ceased. Neither before nor after. Víctor Hernández portrayed a figure with a very clear idea: never stray from the path of purity or a concept of brutal austerity. Víctor Hache was not impressed by the Maestranza's setting in his debut and imposed his extraordinary left-handed style. His Thomistic positioning -the legacy of José Tomás resides in that way of presenting himself- gives him a depth that captivates the heart. He nailed his argument of stillness and truth from the moment he opened with the cape. With graceful passes, he greeted the deep third bull, beautifully closing its face, another classy bull from Álvaro Núñez. Víctor H. mesmerized with 20 monumental natural passes. The tight final bernadinas did not deviate from the seriousness of his performance, nor did the sword thrust, nor the well-deserved ear. It was a pity that the last bull weakened, noble, steady, without drive or very worn out from the horse, a damaging lance. The Madrid bullfighter once again conveyed an impeccable, honest image, up to the sword thrust. The request for an award was not granted, but Víctor Hernández has made his mark in Seville.
Álvaro Núñez made his debut in Seville, and it was a successful one. Morante de la Puebla rebuilt himself at Álvaro's home, in southern Portugal, during the winter before the legendary 2025 season. In his herd was Nenito, a full brother -through artificial insemination- of that bull from 2007 to whom Alejandro Talavante dedicated an immortal natural pass that is still remembered. Nenito 3.0 arrived at a low point, almost 20 years later. A jewel with limited breath, lacking depth. Morante executed some graceful verónicas, with the gravity of elegance and an uneven ending. The bull hinted at intentions without drive. Nothing at the horse and a suspenseful moment: when Juan Ortega was about to perform his pass, the master made him wait to deliver three probing cape passes. At 6:45 p.m., Ortega's pass acquired a winged beauty through chicuelinas, three and a colossal half pass. Executed on the left side, the hand that the bullfighter from Seville used to craft the only -three exquisite natural passes- in a brief bullfight, with a sword ready from the start.
When Juan Ortega's time was up, he stood right under the clock. The bull charged from the gate, narrowly avoiding a long pass, almost touching the ground. He miraculously escaped. The following encounter had a lasting impact. The bull, slightly raised, with a fixed face, roamed freely. Until Ortega intercepted it and executed two extraordinary verónicas and an anthological half pass. That slightly tamed point of Campiñero would become legendary, his way of opening up, so poised, on the right side. The Sevillian built a bullfight of great rhythm and an unjust ending through this side. Juan Ortega had been passionate since the prologue with trincheras and genuflecting muletazos. The remarkable performance suffered a setback on the left side. The bull intruded inside -as it had done in a tremendous pass by VH with gaoneras- but fortunately, the scare remained just that. The performance continued with graceful and closely linked right-handed passes, but the bull, or the bullfight, lacked a proper conclusion. A poor sword thrust buried the effort. The fifth bull was not cooperative, stumbling a lot, with its hesitancy, the deceits in a performance driven more by desire than resolution. He once again killed through the soft side.
The crowd flooded the arena when everything was over, lifting Morante de la Puebla on their shoulders in a messianic procession that at times seemed to head towards the Puerta del Príncipe. But the Authority acted as a barrier, the master said to step back, and regulations prevailed over passion. The gate for the bullfighters was the regulatory solution, but it was too small for such a great bullfighter.
Álvaro Núñez's successful debut in Seville
Álvaro Núñez made his debut in Seville with limited experience but extensive wisdom. His new cattle ranch has barely three years of history, but his previous work with Núñez del Cuvillo reached the highest levels under his guidance. Álvaro, regardless of the outcome, has an extraordinary concept of bullfighting and, therefore, also of bravery.