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Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; Spanish pronunciation: [konˈsexo munˈdjal de ˈlutʃa ˈliβɾe], "World Wrestling Council") is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) (Mexican Wrestling Enterprise). Founded in 1933, it is the oldest professional wrestling promotion still in existence.[1]

Quick Facts Acronym, Founded ...
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd.
AcronymCMLL
Founded1933; 91 years ago (1933)
StyleLucha libre
HeadquartersMexico City, Mexico
Founder(s)Salvador Lutteroth
Owner(s)Salvador Lutteroth (1933–1960s)
Salvador Lutteroth Jr. (1960s–1987)
Paco Alonso (1987–2019)
Sofía Alonso (2019)
Salvador Lutteroth III (2019–present)
FormerlyEmpresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(1933–1991)
Websitewww.cmll.com
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CMLL currently recognizes and promotes 12 World Championships in various weight divisions and classifications, six national level and six regional level championships. The CMLL Anniversary Show series is the longest-running annual major show, starting in 1934, with the CMLL 91st Anniversary Show being the most recent. CMLL also regularly promotes major events under the names Homenaje a Dos Leyendas ("Homage to two legends"), Sin Piedad ("No Mercy"), Sin Salida ("No Escape"), Infierno en el Ring ("Inferno in the Ring") during the year. CMLL has promoted their regular weekly Super Viernes ("Super Friday") on a regular basis since the 1930s. Founder Salvador Lutteroth funded the building of Arena Coliseo in 1943, making it the first building in Mexico built specifically for professional wrestling.

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History

Prior to 1933, lucha libre shows in Mexico were primarily promoted by foreign promoters doing the occasional match through Mexico or a few scattered local promoters, especially along the U.S. border, who brought in American professional wrestlers as their main attractions.[2]

Creation

In 1929, Salvador Lutteroth González, who at the time was a property inspector for the Mexican tax department, moved to Ciudad Juárez, near the Mexico–United States border. During a trip to El Paso, Texas, Lutteroth witnessed a professional wrestling show and was intrigued by it, especially the main event, Greek wrestler Gus Pappas.[2][3] Four years later, Lutteroth, along with his financial backer Francisco Ahumada, chartered Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL; literally "Mexican Wrestling Enterprise"), the first Mexican-owned wrestling promotion in the country. EMLL held their first show on September 21, 1933, considered the "birth of Lucha libre", and which led to Lutteroth being known as "the father of Lucha Libre".[4]

EMLL initially tried to book Arena Nacional, the premier boxing venue in Mexico City, but the promoters would not let him rent it, forcing Lutteroth and EMLL to take up residence in Arena Modelo, an abandoned and run-down facility that Lutteroth was able to use as his home base. The concept of Lucha Libre quickly became very popular, so much so that the EMLL 1st Anniversary Show drew a sold-out crowd of 5,000 paying fans. In 1934, an American wrestler debuted in Mexico under a black leather mask, and Lutteroth dubbed him La Maravilla Enmascarada or "The Masked Marvel". In the United States the concept of the masked wrestler was more of a mid-level attraction, but the reaction to La Maravilla Enmascarada led to Lutteroth and EMLL officials to introduce more masks, starting with a wrestler known simply as El Enmascarado ("The Masked Wrestler"), and later El Murciélago Enmascarado ("The Masked Bat"). Through the use of the masks and ring characters EMLL helped create the sacred position of the mask in Lucha libre, making it the ultimate status symbol for luchadors.[2][3] In the early days of EMLL, most of the top names were Americans, but with time EMLL introduced several Mexican natives that became so popular that they began to main-event most of the EMLL shows. To expand their business, EMLL began working with a number of local wrestling promoters across Mexico, allowing them to use the EMLL name and some of their contracted wrestlers while also gaining access to local wrestlers in return. Each booking office was independent of each other, but the main office in Mexico City had the final say if there were disputes over who would be able to book certain wrestlers.[2][3]

In 1942, a masked wrestler clad in silver, simply known as El Santo ("the Saint"), a man who go on to become a cultural icon in Mexico and is often cited as the greatest Mexican wrestler of all time.[5] With the popularity of El Santo as well as other Mexican stars such as Bobby Bonales, Tarzán López, Cavernario Galindo and Gory Guerrero Arena Modelo eventually became too small to accommodate the demand for tickets. To solve the problem Lutteroth financed the construction of Arena Coliseo in Mexico City, the first arena in Mexico built specifically for professional wrestling and the first sports building in Mexico to have built in air conditioning. The arena, nicknamed the "Lagunilla Funnel" due to its interior shape would hold over 8,800 spectators when configured for Lucha libre or boxing. Arena Coliseo began hosting EMLL's annual Anniversary shows starting with the 10th Anniversary show.[2][6][7]

In 1953, Salvador Lutteroth joined the US based National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), becoming the official NWA territory for all of Mexico, known as "NWA-EMLL" outside Mexico. By joining the NWA, Lutteroth and EMLL gained control of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship. They were also able to re-brand their "World Middleweight Championship" to become the NWA World Middleweight Championship and their "World Welterweight Championship" became the NWA World Welterweight Championship.[8][9][10] In the early 1950s television became as a viable entertainment medium in Mexico which was set to bolster the popularity of EMLL, but Arena Coliseo was not equipped properly for television transmissions. As it turns out luck was on Lutteroth and EMLL's side as Lutteroth and the personnel at Arena Coliseo bought a lottery ticket worth 5 million Pesos. Lutteroth used his portion of the winnings to finance the construction of Arena México, on the location where Arena Modelo used to sit. Arena México enabled EMLL to broadcast their weekly wrestling shows across Mexico, yielding a popularity explosion for the sport.[2][3] Starting in 1956, with the EMLL 23rd Anniversary Show all anniversary shows were held in Arena México, except the EMLL 46th Anniversary Show. Over time the arena became known as "The Cathedral of Lucha Libre".[citation needed]

Over time, Lutteroth retired from the day-to-day operations of EMLL leaving the company in the hands of his son Salvador "Chavo" Lutteroth Jr.[2][3]

In 1975, local promoter Francisco Flores, along with EMLL trainer Ray Mendoza broke away from EMLL, citing their displeasure with EMLL's conservative, restrictive promotional style. The two took a number of EMLL's younger wrestlers with them to form Lucha Libre Internacional, S. C, later known as the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA).[3] With the creation of the UWA EMLL faced a rival national promotion for the first time.[11]

Becoming CMLL

The original logo of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.

In the mid-1980s, Chavo Lutteroth II retired, allowing his nephew Paco Alonso, grandson of Chavo Lutteroth I, to take control of EMLL. In the late 1980s, EMLL decided to leave the NWA, seeking to distance themselves from the political wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance. At that time, EMLL, with the consent of Paco Alonso, the booker Antonio Peña and the Monterrey promoter Carlos Humberto Elizondo, devised the creation of the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; "World Wrestling Council") to establish a new identity after the NWA split, in order to have their own titles and organize promoters who wanted to join, in addition to sounding more international.[6] From 1991 through 1993 CMLL created eight "CMLL World" titles in addition to the three NWA branded titles they retained and a slew of other championships.[12] At the start of the 1990s the company began appearing on the national Televisa network, which led to a second big boom in business due to the renewed national television exposure, in the mid-1970s through the 1980s, magazines and newspapers were the sole medium of Lucha Libre for most Mexicans.[citation needed]

AAA split and rivalry

In the mid-1980s, retired wrestler Antonio Peña became one of the main bookers for EMLL, helping determine who would win matches, what storylines to use and so on, he was also a driving force behind the name change to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.[13] Peña would often clash with Juan Herrera, the other main booker for CMLL at the time. Herrera wanted to maintain the old style of booking with heavyweights such as Atlantis, El Dandy and El Satánico, while Peña wanted to feature younger, faster moving wrestlers such as Konnan, Octagón or Máscara Sagrada. In the end CMLL owner Paco Alonso decided to go with Juan Herrera's booking style.[14]

After Paco Alonso chose to ignore Peña's booking ideas, Peña began negotiations with Televisa television channel to fund a new wrestling promotion that would provide Televisa with weekly wrestling shows. In 1992 Peña started a booking agency, providing wrestlers and matches for the Televisa owned Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) promotion. While Peña technically owned the promotion Televisa owns the rights to the AAA name.[13] In a move that mirrored Flores' departure in the 1970s Peña left the promotion alongside a number of young wrestlers who were unhappy with their position in the promotion. With the creation of AAA the promotion replaced the UWA as Mexico's other main wrestling promotion, creating a long running rivalry between CMLL and AAA.[13] Starting in 1996 CMLL began promoting an annual show in March, first paying homage to Salvador Lutteroth, then later Lutteroth and El Santo and then finally becoming the Homenaje a Dos Leyendas ("Homage to Two Legends") annual show series.[15][16][17]

CMLL in the 21st century

Through their relationship with NJPW, wrestlers such as Hiroshi Tanahashi have toured Mexico.

From 2007 to 2009, CMLL had a working relationship with American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which saw CMLL's Averno, Rey Bucanero, Último Guerrero and Volador Jr. winning the 2008 TNA World X Cup and TNA worker Alex Shelley winning the 2008 CMLL International Grand Prix. In 2008, CMLL established a working relationship with New Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of "G-1 World", several wrestlers have since toured between the two companies winning titles, including Místico winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and Jushin Thunder Liger winning the CMLL Universal Championship tournament. Since 2011, the two promotions have annually co-promoted events in Japan, under the name Fantastica Mania.

In 2011, CMLL established a working relationship with Japanese women's promotion Universal Woman's Pro Wrestling Reina and announced that the two promotions would create a new championship for women who have been in the professional wrestling industry for less than ten years, called the CMLL-Reina International Junior Championship. This was followed by the establishment of the CMLL-Reina International Championship one year later.[citation needed]

On March 16, 2010, a video was posted on YouTube featuring an interview David Marquez had with NWA Executive Director and Legal Counsel Robert Trobich. Trobich announced that CMLL did not have permission to use the NWA trademark. The rights to usage of the NWA trademark in Mexico is now held by NWA Mexico, represented by Blue Demon, Jr. CMLL replaced the three championships with the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship and the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship.[18]

On September 19, 2014, CMLL became only the second promotion in the Americas, after WWE, to draw a $1 million gate with their 81st Anniversary Show, headlined by a Mask vs. Mask match between Atlantis and Último Guerrero.[19]

On November 6, 2014, the promotion made an alliance with the Mexican independent group Lucha Libre Elite to help bring independent wrestlers into CMLL which ended in early 2018.[20]

On July 6, 2016, NJPW announced that they would broadcast CMLL Friday shows in their video-streaming service, NJPW World.[21] On August 10, CMLL announced a working relationship with American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH). The two promotions were linked through their separate relationships with NJPW.[22] The alliance with ROH ended on April 27, 2021.[23]

On July 7, 2019, CMLL announced the death of the president of the company Paco Alonso (who died a day before, on July 6). On July 10, CMLL appointed Sofía Alonso, Paco's daughter, as the president of the company. On August 26, it was revealed that Sofía had been relieved of her position, with Salvador "Chavo" Lutteroth III becoming the chairman and CEO of PROMECOR-CMLL.[24]

In September 2021, president of Ice Ribbon Hajime Sato appeared alongside Kounosuke Izui, promoter of Lady's Ring, on an episode of CMLL Informa to announce the establishment of a working relationship between the two promotions and the Mexican-based Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).[25]

On July 5, 2023, CMLL announced an alliance with the Arena Coliseo Tony Arellano de Torreón, who at a press conference announced this merger in which they will work on several very ambitious projects. Edgar "güero" Noriega, referee and promoter of this company, attended the press conference directly from the CMLL, for several good news, the first being the merger in which this Tony Arellano Arena will be part of the company's programming as it does with the Coliseo de Guadalajara, Puebla, Arena México and Arena Coliseo and now La Laguna is already the headquarters and has been certified.[26]

On August 3, 2023, the CMLL and Revolution Pro Wrestling announced their alliance beginning with their first joint event, Fantastica Mania UK.[27][28]

On October 13, 2023, All Elite Wrestling announced a working relationship with CMLL.[29]

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Style and television

Thumb
L.A. Park

CMLL regularly runs six shows on five days in a week. The biggest weekly show is the Friday night Super Viernes ("Super Friday") show, held in the famous Arena Mexico in Mexico City. CMLL runs also shows on Saturdays in Arena Coliseo, on Sundays in Arena Mexico, on Mondays in Arena Puebla, and on Tuesdays in Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo Guadalajara. The Friday and Tuesday shows are also televised.[30][31]

Of all the major professional wrestling promotions in the world, CMLL is one of the most conservative, having earned the nickname "The serious and the stable" (La Seria y Estable) over time.[32] Matches with blood are not broadcast unless it accidentally happens during a live event. CMLL rarely uses specialty or "gimmick matches" outside a limited number of steel cage matches and the occasional Super Libre, no-disqualification matches. While other promotions have adopted matches such as the ladder match, CMLL remains much more traditional. They also have strict rules for what they will allow to happen during their shows; on one occasion a match between Dr. Wagner Jr. and L. A. Park during the CMLL 75th Anniversary Show degenerated into a brawl on the floor that was so out of control that both wrestlers were fired by CMLL a short time later.[33] CMLL also has strict rules on what wrestlers can and cannot say during their shows, a rule illustrated in 2015 where L.A. Park was fired from the promotion only three weeks after returning due to a profanity-laden rant during a CMLL show.[34]

CMLL's main programming, hosted by Alfonso Morales, Leobardo Magadan and Miguel Linares, is broadcast regularly on Televisa in Mexico, on LATV in the United States, and formerly on Telelatino in Canada and The Wrestling Channel in the United Kingdom. CMLL also had a syndicated show called "Sin Limite de Tiempo" ("with no time limit") which shows matches from Arena Coliseo shows and matches they could not fit onto the regular broadcast. It aired in Los Angeles on KWHY and Also Air in San Francisco on KEMO-TV. This show was followed up by "Guerreros del Ring" on Canal 52MX. Also, Spanish-language American sports channel Fox Sports en Español recently[when?] started broadcasting CMLL programming. Recently[when?] CMLL also added the Mexican network Cadena Tres to its list of networks airing CMLL Wrestling. Galavision began airing CMLL wrestling in the spring of 2011. Galavision shows only a one-hour version while LATV has shown a two-hour version. In 2015, several of CMLL's shows became available live on their YouTube channel and they have held a number of internet-Pay Per Views (PPVs).[citation needed]

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Recurring shows

Each year CMLL promotes a number of signature events, some shown as pay-per-view events and others shown on regular television. Over the last couple of years CMLL have held three regular events each year and a number of one off, special events. The Major show, shown in order of when they happen during the year, include:

More information Event, Created ...
Event Created Next/Most recent event Notes Ref(s).
CMLL Anniversary193491stThe biggest show of CMLL's year, commemorates CMLL's debut in 1933. The longest-running annual show in professional wrestling.[35]
Arena Coliseo Anniversary194476thCommemorating the opening of Arena Coliseo in 1943[2]
Juicio Final19552019Originally CMLL's "end of year" show, later held outside of December as well.[36]
Aniversario de Arena México195767thCommemorating the opening of Arena México in 1956[37]
Homenaje a Dos Leyendas19962024Show held in March, honors two "legends"; one is always Salvador Lutteroth, CMLL's founder.[38]
Sin Piedad20002019Either the last show or the first show of the year, depending on the timing .[39]
Infierno en el Ring20002016show headlined by a "multi-person" Steel Cage elimination match, sometimes it gets its own show, in other years it's the main event of another major event.[40]
Sin Salida20092022 [41]
Fantastica Mania20112024 showShows co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, held in Japan in January each year.[42]
Día de Muertos20142023Series of shows held to celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday.[43]
Leyendas Mexicanas20172019Celebrates the history of lucha libre and includes CMLL inviting various "legends" to return to CMLL for a one-night show.[44]
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Major Events

1930s

1933

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 21 Debut Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico Yaqui Joe vs. Bobby Sampson
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1934

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 21 1st Anniversary Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico La Maravilla Enmascarada vs. Frank Gou
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1935

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 26 2nd Anniversary Show Arena Nacional Mexico City, Mexico Eric Bouloff vs. Bobby Segura
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1936

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 27 3rd Anniversary Show Arena Nacional Mexico City, Mexico Zimba Parka vs. Tuffy Klein
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1937

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 23 4th Anniversary Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico Jack O'Brien vs. Joe Maynes
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1938

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 16 5th Anniversary Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico Jack O'Brien vs. Pete Pancoff in a Super Libre match
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1939

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 21 6th Anniversary Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico Bob Arreola vs. Cíclon Veloz for the Mexican National Welterweight Championship
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1940s

1940

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 12 7th Anniversary Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico Tarzán López (c) vs. John Nemenic for the NWA World Middleweight Championship
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1941

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 25 8th Anniversary Show Arena Modelo Mexico City, Mexico Mike London (c) vs. Gorilla Ramos for the World Junior Light Heavyweight Championship
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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1990s

1997

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
February 2 Lucha Fiesta Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Bestia Salvaje and El Hijo del Santo vs. Negro Casas and Súper Astro
February 3 Nakamura Sports Center Nagoya, Aichi, Japan El Hijo del Santo, Lizmark, and Súper Astro vs. Negro Casas, Pirata Morgan, and Rey Bucanero
February 4 KBS Hall Kyoto, Japan 19 Man Battle Royal
February 6 Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium Tokyo, Japan Negro Casas vs. El Hijo del Santo
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2000s

2000

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
March 17 Juicio Final Arena México Mexico City, Mexico
[45]
September 29 67th Anniversary Show Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Negro Casas in a Leyenda de Plata tournament semi-final match
December 15 Sin Piedad Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Máscara Mágica vs. El Satánico vs. Último Guerrero vs. Rey Bucanero vs. Tarzan Boy vs. Mephisto vs. Averno in a Lucha de Apuestas steel cage match
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2010s

2010

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
September 3 77. Aniversario Arena Mexico Mexico City, Mexico La Sombra vs. Olímpico vs. Místico vs. Volador Jr. vs. Averno vs. Mephisto vs. Ephesto vs. Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Último Guerrero vs. Atlantis vs. Mr. Niebla vs. El Alebrije vs. Histeria vs. Psicosis in a Lucha de Apuestas steel cage match
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2011

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 22 Fantastica Mania Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Shinsuke Nakamura, Tetsuya Naito and Averno vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Prince Devitt and Místico Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling [46]
January 23 Golden☆Lovers (Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega) vs. Apollo 55 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi) for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship [46][47][48]
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2012

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 21 Fantastica Mania Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Kazuchika Okada and Volador Jr. vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi and La Sombra Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling [49]
January 22 La Sombra (c) vs. Volador Jr. for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship [50]
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2013

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 18 Fantastica Mania Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Hiroshi Tanahashi and La Sombra vs. Misterioso Jr. and Shinsuke Nakamura Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling [51]
January 19 Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. La Sombra for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship
January 20 Atlantis, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Prince Devitt vs. Euforia, Kazuchika Okada, and Mephisto
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2014

More information Date, Event ...
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2015

More information Date, Event ...
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2016

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 17 Fantastica Mania Kochi Sunpia Chres Kōchi, Japan Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Místico vs. Gedo, Kazuchika Okada, and Último Guerrero Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling
January 19 KBS Hall Kyoto, Japan Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson and Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto and Shinsuke Nakamura
January 20 Edion Arena Osaka Osaka, Japan Dragon Lee and Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Kazuchika Okada and Virus
January 22 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Mephisto and Último Guerrero vs. Místico and Volador Jr.
January 23 Hiroshi Tanahashi, Místico, and Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Mephisto, and Último Guerrero
January 24 Volador Jr. (c) vs. Mephisto for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2017

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 13 Fantastica Mania 2017 Edion Arena Osaka Osaka, Japan Hechicero, Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Máximo Sexy and Ryusuke Taguchi Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling [54]
January 14 Item Ehime Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan Euforia, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kushida, and Místico
January 15 KBS Hall Kyoto, Japan David Finlay, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Volador Jr. vs. Kazuchika Okada, Último Guerrero, and Will Ospreay
January 16 Nagoya Congress Center Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Bárbaro Cavernario, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay vs. Dragon Lee, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kushida
January 20 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Dragon Lee (c) vs. Bárbaro Cavernario for the CMLL World Lightweight Championship
January 21 Máximo Sexy (c) vs. Hechicero for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
January 22 Último Guerrero vs. Volador Jr.
August 18 War of the Worlds UK York Hall London, England, UK Bullet Club (Cody, Hangman Page, Marty Scurll, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi, Evil, Hiromu Takahashi, Sanada, and Tetsuya Naito) Co-produced with Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling
August 19 Liverpool Olympia Liverpool, England, UK Cody (c) vs. Sanada for the ROH World Championship
August 20 Edinburgh Corn Exchange Edinburgh, Scotland, UK Jay Lethal vs. Silas Young in an Edinburgh Street Fight
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2018

More information Date, Event ...
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2019

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 11 Fantastica Mania 2019 Edion Arena Osaka Osaka, Japan Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs. Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling [55]
January 12 Texport Imabari Imabari, Ehime, Japan Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs. Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare
January 13 KBS Hall Kyoto, Japan Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs. Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare
January 14 Gifu Industrial Hall Gifu, Japan Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito) vs Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare
January 16 Makuhari Messe Chiba, Japan Dragon Lee and Místico vs. La Familia Real (Flyer and Volador Jr.) [56]
January 18 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Fujin, Raijin, Satoshi Kojima, and Toa Henare vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Shingo Takagi, El Terrible, and Tetsuya Naito)
January 20 Místico and Dragon Lee vs. Los Guerreros Laguneros (Gran Guerrero and Último Guerrero)
January 21 Volador Jr. vs. Carístico
August 8 Summer Supercard Mattamy Athletic Centre Toronto, Ontario, Canada The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) (c) vs. Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) in a Ladder War VIII match for the ROH World Tag Team Championship Co-produced with Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Alliance
September 6 Global Wars Espectacular Ford Community & Performing Arts Center Dearborn, Michigan, USA Bandido vs. Jay Briscoe Co-produced with Ring of Honor
September 7 Odeum Expo Center Villa Park, Illinois, USA Villain Enterprises (Brody King, Flip Gordon, and PCO vs. Lifeblood (Bandido, Mark Haskins, and Tracy Williams)
September 8 Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA Jeff Cobb and Rush vs. The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Vinny Marseglia)
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2020s

2023

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
June 26 Fantastica Mania Mexico Arena Puebla Puebla, Mexico Los Infernales (Averno, El Satánico, and Mephisto) vs. Atlantis, El Desperado, and Tiger Mask in a best two out of three falls six man tag team match Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling
June 27 Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Tetsuya Naito, and Titán) vs. Averno, Rey Bucanero, and Ultimo Guerrero in a best two out of three falls six man tag team match
June 30 Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Rocky Romero vs. Volador Jr. for the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
September 16 90. Aniversario Arena Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Templario defeats Dragon Rojo Jr. in a Mask vs. Mask match
September 23 Fantastica Mania UK Love Factory Manchester, England, UK Hechicero, Trent Seven, and Ultimo Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr., Guerrero Maya Jr., and Michael Oku Co-produced with Revolution Pro Wrestling
Love Factory Manchester, England, UK Michael Oku (c) vs. Hechicero for the RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship
October 22 Mile High Lucha Libre Empower Field at Mile High Stadium Denver, Colorado, USA Atlantis Jr. and Mistico vs. Templario and Volador Jr.
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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2024

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
February 12 Fantastica Mania Edion Arena Osaka Osaka, Japan Hiroshi Tanahashi, Máscara Dorada, and Místico vs. Francesco Akira, Stuka Jr., and Último Guerrero Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling
February 13 Hiroshi Tanahashi, Templario and Volador Jr. vs. Douki, Rocky Romero and Soberano Jr.
February 14 Takamatsu City General Gymnasium Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan El Desperado, Hechicero and Último Guerrero vs. Atlantis Jr., Hiroshi Tanahashi and Místico
February 16 Nagoya Congress Center Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Los Guerreros Laguneros (Ultimo Guerrero and Stuka Jr.) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Bushi and Titán) in an Interfaction Tag Team Tournament semifinal
February 17 Makuhari Messe Chiba, Japan Los Guerreros Laguneros (Último Guerrero and Stuka Jr.) vs. Los Depredadores (Magnus and Volador Jr.) in an Interfaction Tag Team Tournament final
February 18 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan Volador Jr. vs. Rocky Romero
February 19 Máscara Dorada vs. Stuka Jr.
June 21 Fantastica Mania Mexico Arena Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Mistico vs. Hiromu Takahashi Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling
July 13 Fantastica Mania Lucha Libre USA Mt. Pleasant High School San Jose, California, USA Douki and Místico vs. Rocky Romero and Volador Jr. Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling
September 13 91. Aniversario Arena Mexico Mexico City, Mexico Mistico vs. Chris Jericho in a 2 out of 3 falls match
October 25 CMLL International Women's Grand Prix 2024 Arena México Mexico City, Mexico Team Mexico (Amapola, Dark Silueta, Hera, Kira, Lluvia, Princesa Sugehit, Reyna Isis, Sanely, Skadi, and Zeuxis) vs. Team World (Alex Windsor, La Catalina, Persephone, Red Velvet, Samantha Black, Sumika Yanagawa, Tessa Blanchard, Unagi Sayaka, Viva Van, and Willow Nightingale)
November 11 Lucha Apocalypto Cicero Stadium Cicero, Illinois, USA Mistico (c) vs. Averno vs. Titán in a three-way match for the MLW World Middleweight Championship Co-produced with Major League Wrestling
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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Upcoming Events

2025

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event Venue City Main Event Notes Ref(s).
January 5 Wrestle Dynasty Tokyo Dome Tokyo, Japan TBA Co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and World Wonder Ring Stardom
May 10 Azteca Lucha Cicero Stadium Cicero, Illinois, USA Co-produced with Major League Wrestling
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
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Roster

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Current championships

More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Location Notes Ref.
CMLL World Heavyweight Championship Thumb Gran Guerrero 1 November 7, 2022 777 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Hechicero at Lunes Clásico. [57]
CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship Thumb Averno 1 March 29, 2024 269 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Bárbaro Cavernario at Homenaje a Dos Leyendas [58]
CMLL World Middleweight Championship Thumb Templario 2 May 12, 2023 591 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Dragon Rojo Jr.. [59]
CMLL World Welterweight Championship Thumb Titán 1 December 8, 2019 1842 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated El Soberano at CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico. [60]
CMLL World Lightweight Championship Thumb Stigma 1 March 15, 2022 1014 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Suicida in a tournament final to win the title. [61]
CMLL World Mini-Estrellas Championship Thumb Último Dragoncito 3 November 17, 2023 402 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Mercurio at Super Viernes [62]
CMLL World Micro-Estrellas Championship Thumb Micro Gemelo Diablo I 1 October 30, 2022 785 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Chamuel at CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico to become the 2nd champion. [63]
CMLL World Tag Team Championship Thumb
Thumb
Los Hermanos Chavez
(Ángel de Oro and Niebla Roja)
1 January 23, 2022 1,065 Mexico City, D.F. defeating Titán and Volador Jr. at CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico. [64]
CMLL World Trios Championship Thumb
Thumb
Thumb
Los Infernales
(Euforia, Averno and Mephisto)
1
(5, 2, 3)
September 27, 2024 87 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Máscara Dorada, Star Jr. and Neón at Noche de Campeones. [65]
CMLL World Women's Championship Thumb Zeuxis 1 September 13, 2024 101 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Willow Nightingale at CMLL 91st Anniversary Show. [66]
CMLL World Women's Tag Team Championship Thumb Vacant December 13, 2024 Previous champions Tessa Blanchard and Lluvia vacated the titles after Blanchard left the company. [67]
NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship Thumb Atlantis Jr. 1 February 4, 2023 688 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Stuka Jr. at CMLL Martes Arena Mexico. [68]
NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship Thumb Flip Gordon 1 November 15, 2024 38 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Villano III Jr. to win the vacated title at Super Viernes.
NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship Thumb Máscara Dorada 1 December 16, 2023 373 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Rocky Romero at Super Viernes Espectacular [69]
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More information Championship, Current Champion(s) ...
Championship Current Champion(s) Held since Reigns Days
held
Ref.
CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship El Triangulo
(El Hijo del Villano III and Villano III Jr.)
April 6, 2024 1 261+ [70]
CMLL Rey Del Inframundo Championship Difunto November 1, 2024 1 52+
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship Star Black June 6, 2023 1 566+
Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship Esfinge May 25, 2023 1 578+
Mexican National Middleweight Championship Guerrero Maya, Jr. June 2, 2023 1 570+
Mexican National Welterweight Championship Magia Blanca June 24, 2022 1 913+
Mexican National Lightweight Championship Rayo Metálico September 27, 2024 1 87+ [71]
Mexican National Tag Team Championship Los Depredadores (Rugido and Magnus) July 9, 2023 1 533+
Mexican National Trios Championship Los Viajeros Del Espacio
(Futuro, Hombre Bala Jr. and Max Star)
July 9, 2024 1 167+
Mexican National Women's Championship Sanely September 27, 2024 1 87+ [72]
Mexican National Women's Tag Team Championship Andrómeda and Skadi March 8, 2024 1 290+ [73]
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More information Championship, Current Champion(s) ...
Championship Current Champion(s) Held since Reigns Days
held
Ref.
Occidente Heavyweight Championship Bestia Negra March 1, 2022 1 1,028+
Occidente Light Heavyweight Championship Esfinge December 5, 2017 1 2,575+
Occidente Middleweight Championship Zandokan Jr. February 22, 2022 1 1,035+
Occidente Welterweight Championship Explosivo August 26, 2018 1 2,311+
Occidente Tag Team Championship Dulce Garnedia and La Fashion January 2, 2024 1 356+ [74]
Occidente Trios Championship Crixus, Difunto and Raider April 1, 2024 1 266+ [75]
Occidente Women's Championship Lluvia April 23, 2024 1 244+ [76]
Occidente Women's Tag Team Championship Adira and Nautica April 23, 2024 1 244+ [77]
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Tournaments

CMLL conducts several annual tournaments which usually signify a big push. Tournaments have been left out of the schedule for unexplained reasons. Some tournaments are conducted as torneo ciberneticos, a large multi-man tag team elimination match, others are normal single elimination tournament.

Active tournaments

More information Tournament, Last winner ...
Tournament Last winner Last held Notes
El Terrible February 15, 2019[78] An elimination tournament consisting of all champions to determine the "Universal champion". Winner receives a title belt but it is defended in the annual tournament.
Dalys la Caribeña August 19, 2019[79] An elimination tournament consisting of all champions to determine the "Universal Women's champion". Winner receives a title belt but it is defended in the annual tournament.
International Gran Prix Volador Jr. August 30, 2019[80] Previously an elimination tournament, now a torneo cibernetico. Features a "Mexico vs. International" wrestlers theme with one side being native Mexicans and the other side of the Cibernetico being foreigners.
Soberano Jr. November 26, 2021[81] A tournament in honor of Blue Demon. It is secondary to the Leyenda de Plata tournament but features most of the top wrestlers in the promotion. It has been conducted as a normal torneo cibernético and as a one night tournament.[82]
Bárbaro Cavernario November 23, 2018[83] A tournament in honor of El Santo. This has been the most prestigious of the CMLL tournaments and the tournament is usually made up of the best in-ring workers.
Titán January 6, 2019[84] This tournament is for high flyers. The tournament usually works as a cibernetico with mostly young and undercard tecnicos, with the idea of focusing more attention on the winner. Most recent tournament was the 2017 CMLL Reyes del Aire tournament.
Shockercito January 6, 2015[85] Like the Reyes del Aire but for Mini-Estrellas
Star Jr. and Valiente October 19, 2019[86] An elimination tag team tournament where an established star teams with a young midcarder with the intent to give the younger wrestler more credibility.
Titán and Bárbaro Cavernario April 26, 2019[87] An elimination tag team tournament where a rudo (bad guy) and a tecnico (good guy) team up.
Angel de Oro March 26, 2021 This tournament features wrestlers who are at least second-generation wrestlers, though worked family relations have been accepted as well.
Magia Blanca April 18, 2018[88] A 16-man tournament for CMLL rookie
  • Rey del Inframundo
  • ("King of the Underworld")
Sansón November 1, 2019 An eight-man tournament with the purpose of win El Rey del Inframundo. Winner received a title belt but it is defended in the annual tournament.[89]
  • Copa Dinastías
  • ("Dynasty's Cup")
Los Divinos Laguneros (Blue Panther Jr. and Black Panther) defeated Volador Jr. and Flyer May 28, 2021
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Past annual tournaments

These are all the tournament that have been held in the past by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre but have not been promoted in the last two years.

More information Tournament, Last winner ...
Tournament Last winner Last held Notes
Copa de Arena Mexico Team Tall
(Black Warrior, Lizmark, Jr., and Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.)
July 5, 2002[90] A one night tournament for trios teams. The winners earns a trophy; each team comes up with a name for their trio. The tournament was only held in 1999, 2001, and 2002. In 1999, the winners were El Satánico, Rey Bucanero and Último Guerrero as "Team Guerreros del Infierno". The 2001 winners were Black Warrior, Shocker, and Apolo Dantes as "Team Shocker".
Forjando un Ídolo Ángel de Oro May 27, 2011[91] A 16-man tournament with the purpose of identifying which of the "Rookies" in the tournament would move up the ranks of the promotion.[91]
Torneo Sangre Nueva
("New Blood Tournament")
Soberano Jr. March 11, 2013[92] Tournament for the younger and lower ranked wrestlers in CMLL.[92]
Torneo Increibles de Parejas, Arena Puebla Atlantis and Volador Jr. April 1, 2013[93] An elimination tag team tournament where arudo (bad guy) and a tecnico (good guy) team up.
Boby Zavala August 21, 2015[94] An eight-man tournament with the purpose of identifying which of the "Rookies" in the tournament would move up the ranks of the promotion.
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Broadcasters

Domestic:

International (current):

Worldwide:

International (former):

See also

References

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