The Main Characters, Those on the Poster

The protagonists of bullfighting events should be those announced on the posters. In that order, bulls and bullfighters. Never, as happened this afternoon in Alicante, someone sitting in the box. Despite his reluctance, Roca Rey left on shoulders after cutting an ear from his first bull and thrilling the stands with a trademark performance in the fifth substitute bull. The person in the box either didn't see it or didn't understand it. Manzanares and Samuel Navalón, who was caught without consequences, each walked away with an ear.

When Jose Mari Manzanares took the stage this afternoon to open the event for the second time in his bullfighting career in Alicante - the first was on June 23, 2005, with Miguel Ángel Perera and Francisco José Palazón on the bill - memories must have flooded in. All of them, besides being personal, in the form of thousands and thousands of photographs.

From those of the bullfighter's father's childhood or Manzanares Jr. himself, belonging to the 'grandfather's' archive - as he is affectionately and familiarly called - to the most recent ones with his signature. All with their own stamp. Trademark. Part of the great 'family' of the Alicante bullring. Not just now. Yes, for decades and decades. There is no bullfighting show, whether promotional or 'of carnation', in which he does not appear in the ring when the Squad Gate opens.

Overflowing with passion. Distributing smiles. Not a bad gesture. All attentions. Fighter. Difficulties do not deter her. She has carved out a niche for herself on her own merits in this world of bullfighting. Through her perseverance and determination. She is Verónica Soriano, a bullfighting photographer.

Twenty years later, Jose Mari Manzanares returned to open the event in Alicante in a trio of bullfighters. He did so to receive the soft opening bull with good veronica passes. Measured jab. The lack of strength of Comunero-10 marked a muleta performance in which the Alicante native could only shine due to the constant defensive headshaking of the Victoriano bull, which prevented greater brilliance. Details, only details, of Manzanares' concept. Especially in the round bullfighting. Half sword. Ovation and greetings.

Barely able to stretch out the veronica, Roca Rey was hindered by the lacklustre charges. However, Devoto-15 did respond to the cape presented by Samuel Navalón in a tight chicuelina that reached the stands. Backward pass by RR at the start of the muleta performance, allowing the spectators, who made the 'No tickets' sign possible at the box office, to begin to surrender to the Peruvian. The bull did shine. Yes, it did in a chicuelina. Samuel Navalón showed his card of presentation in the afternoon with a chicuelina that resonated in the stands. After some initial backward passes, the performance connected with the stands. RR's natural bullfighting stood out, taking advantage of the manageable charges. He missed before delivering a detached sword. Ear after warning.

Four long changes, combined with chicuelinas, tafalleras, and a revolera. In summary, a capote uproar by Samuel Navalón to receive the bull of his debut in Alicante as a bullfighter. Cóndor-84 galloped in banderillas, which presaged a performance of delivery from both bull and bullfighter, contributed to by the Victoriano's charges. In one of these, the Ayora bullfighter was tossed and shaken violently on the sand. Navalón rose, with a novice's stamp, and returned to face the bull. With more determination, still. The beating he had taken was evident when it came to killing. Four pricks and a descabello, with the mark of a warning. Ovation and greetings before heading to the infirmary.

Manzanares had no chance to shine with the fourth of the afternoon, which charged without excessive transmission. What Cantaor-17 lacked, Manzanares provided, in a round bullfighting 'trademark' that gained intensity as the performance progressed. Uneven natural tandas that somewhat marred his first appearance of the two he has contracted in this San Juan and San Pedro cycle. Return to the right hand in the last two series that elevated the tone of the performance, with the audience on their feet, after Manzanares was caught without consequences. Detached sword. Ear.

Ugly in shape, the substitute bull with little strength, which made it kiss the sand. Roca Rey began by relieving it with high muletazos with both hands. He dodged various collapses of the Victoriano del Río until he could string together a round. That lack of strength was resolved by the Peruvian naturally when he achieved the most meritorious part of his performance up to that point. When he took the muleta to the right, he reduced the distance, letting the bull's horns brush his suit. Just as a warning sounded, he achieved a precise sword. The crowd exclaimed "bullfighter, bullfighter, bullfighter". The president granted him an ear that was largely requested. The one with authority, the president, did not grant it. The uproar was tremendous. RR refused to parade the appendage around the ring, while the protest grew to rarely heard limits in this centenary arena.

Samuel Navalón appeared in jeans to fight the sixth of the afternoon, a consequence of the toss from his first. He received the closing bull on his knees with a long change, a more mature bull. Poorly jabbed by Toros de Cortés. Navalón began his performance on his knees, reaching the stands. Connection in the round bullfighting in the first two series to subdue a spirited bull.

Navalón's enthusiasm was thwarted by two disarms that lowered the tone of the performance. He did not falter and continued with back passes in that committed bullfighting. He succeeded with the sword. He cut an ear after hearing a warning. He impressed in his debut in Alicante, a ring where he should return.