Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre

Mexican professional wrestling promotion From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; "World Wrestling Council") is a Mexican professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. Founded in 1933 as Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL; "Mexican Wrestling Enterprise") by Salvador Lutteroth, it is the oldest professional wrestling promotion still in existence.[1]

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
FormerlyEmpresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(1933–1991)
Company typePrivate
Quick facts Trade name, Formerly ...
Promociones México, Coliseo y Revolución, S.C.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
FormerlyEmpresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
(1933–1991)
Company typePrivate
IndustryProfessional wrestling
GenreLucha libre
Founded1933; 93 years ago (1933)
FounderSalvador Lutteroth
HeadquartersDr. Lavista 189, Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, 06720, Mexico City, Mexico
Key people
Salvador Lutteroth III (General Manager)
José Luis Feliciano (Lead of the Programming Department)
OwnerSalvador Lutteroth (1933–1960s)
Salvador Lutteroth Jr. (1960s–1987)
Paco Alonso (1987–2019)
Sofía Alonso (2019)
Salvador Lutteroth III (2019–present)
Websitecmll.com
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Prior to 1933, professional wrestling shows in Mexico were primarily promoted by foreign promoters, who typically brought in European or American professional wrestlers as their main attractions.[2] During this period, Salvador Lutteroth, a property inspector for the Mexican tax department in Ciudad Juárez, crossed the U.S. border to attend a wrestling event in El Paso, Texas.[2][3] Impressed with the event, Lutteroth aimed to create a long-lasting Mexican wrestling promotion built around Mexican wrestlers. In 1933, Lutteroth, along with his financial backer Francisco Ahumada, launched EMLL, the first Mexican-owned wrestling promotion in the country; EMLL held their first show on September 21, 1933.[4] Under Lutteroth's direction, professional wrestling in Mexico developed a distinct style and presentation known as "lucha libre".

The promotion is known as "the serious and stable" for its conservative booking style and is noted for its resistance to the American-originated sports entertainment elements of its chief rival Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. CMLL, like all other wrestling promotions, does not promote legitimate sporting contests but rather athletic theater performances, featuring storyline-driven, scripted, and partially choreographed matches; however, matches often include moves that put performers at risk of serious injury or death if not performed correctly.

CMLL currently recognizes and promotes 14 world championships in various weight divisions and classifications, nine national level and eight regional/international level championships. The CMLL Anniversary Show series is CMLL's longest-running annual major show, starting in 1934, with the CMLL 92nd 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"), and 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. CMLL's marquee venue, Arena México, was opened in 1956 and has since been dubbed La Catedral de la Lucha Libre.

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".[5]

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, known simply as El Santo ("The Saint"), made his debut. He would go on to become a cultural icon in Mexico and is often cited as the greatest Mexican wrestler of all time.[6] 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][7][8]

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.[9][10][11] 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.[12]

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.[7] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[14] 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.[14] 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.[16][17][18]

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.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21]

On July 6, 2016, NJPW announced that they would broadcast CMLL Friday shows in their video-streaming service, NJPW World.[22] 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.[23] The alliance with ROH ended on April 27, 2021.[24]

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.[25]

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).[26]

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.[27]

On August 3, 2023, the CMLL and Revolution Pro Wrestling announced their alliance beginning with their first joint event, Fantastica Mania UK.[28][29]

On October 13, 2023, All Elite Wrestling announced a working relationship with CMLL.[30]

On September 23, 2025, World Wonder Ring Stardom president Taro Okada appeared alongside Lady's Ring promoter Kounosuke Izui and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) president Salvador Lutteroth Lomelí on an episode of CMLL Informa to announce the establishment of a working relationship between World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion and the Mexico-based Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).[31][32][33][34][35]

Style and television

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 also runs 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.[36][37]

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.[38] 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.[39] 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.[40]

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 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]

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 Anniversary193492ndThe biggest show of CMLL's year, commemorates CMLL's debut in 1933. The longest-running annual show in professional wrestling.[41]
Arena Coliseo Anniversary194482ndCommemorating the opening of Arena Coliseo in 1943[2]
Juicio Final19552019Originally CMLL's "end of year" show, later held outside of December as well.[42]
Aniversario de Arena México195769thCommemorating the opening of Arena México in 1956[43]
Homenaje a Dos Leyendas19962026Show held in March, honors two "legends"; one is always Salvador Lutteroth, CMLL's founder.[44]
Sin Piedad20002020Either the last show or the first show of the year, depending on the timing.[45]
Infierno en el Ring20002025show 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.[46]
Sin Salida20092025 [47]
Fantastica Mania20112026Shows co-produced with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, held in Japan in January each year.[48]
Día de Muertos20142025Series of shows held to celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday.[49]
Leyendas Mexicanas20162019Celebrates the history of lucha libre and includes CMLL inviting various "legends" to return to CMLL for a one-night show.[50]
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Roster

Current championships

World champions

As of March 12, 2026

Men's division

Singles
More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Location Notes Ref.
CMLL World Heavyweight Championship Claudio Castagnoli 1 November 28, 2025 104+ Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Gran Guerrero. [51]
CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship Místico 1 September 19, 2025 174 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Maxwell Jacob Friedman at CMLL's 92nd Anniversary Show. [52]
CMLL World Middleweight Championship Templario 2 May 12, 2023 1,035 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Dragon Rojo Jr. at Viernes Espectacular. [53]
CMLL World Welterweight Championship Titán 1 December 8, 2019 2286 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated El Soberano at CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico. [54]
CMLL World Lightweight Championship Stigma 1 March 15, 2022 1458 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Suicida at Martes Populares in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
Previous champion Kawato-San was stripped of the title due to suffering a knee injury.
[55][56]
CMLL World Mini-Estrellas Championship Angelito 1 September 26, 2025 167 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Último Dragoncito at Super Viernes to win the title. [57]
CMLL World Micro-Estrellas Championship KeMalito 1 September 26, 2025 167 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Tengu at Super Viernes to win the title. [58]
NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship Averno 1 February 26, 2026 14 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Atlantis Jr. at Fantastica Mania: Night 6 to win the title. [59]
NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship Flip Gordon 1 November 15, 2024 482 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Villano III Jr. to win the vacant title at Super Viernes.
NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship Máscara Dorada 1 December 16, 2023 817 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Rocky Romero at Super Viernes Espectacular [60]
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Tag team

More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days
held
Location Notes Ref.
CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Los Hermanos Chavez
(Ángel de Oro and Niebla Roja)
1 January 23, 2022 1,509 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Titán and Volador Jr. at Domingos Arena Mexico. [61]
CMLL World Trios Championship

El Sky Team
(Máscara Dorada, Místico and Neón)
1
(2, 1, 2)
May 16, 2025 300 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Los Infernales (Euforia, Averno and Mephisto) at Viernes Espectacular. [62]
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Women's division

Singles
More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days Location Notes Ref.
CMLL World Women's Championship
Persephone 1 March 6, 2026 6 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Mercedes Moné at La Noche de la Amazonas.
CMLL Japan Women's Championship Hazuki 1 October 11, 2025 152 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Koguma at Stardom in Korakuen. Hazuki’s Spark Joshi World Championship was initially also on the line, however this was later retracted without explanation. [63]
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Tag team

More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days Location Notes Ref.
CMLL World Women's Tag Team Championship
Lluvia and La Jarochita 1 March 21, 2025 356 Mexico City, D.F. Defeated Taya Valkyrie and Lady Frost in a tournament final at Homenaje a Dos Leyendas to win the vacant titles.
Previous champions Tessa Blanchard and Lluvia vacated the titles after Blanchard left the company.
[64]
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National championships

More information Championship, Current Champion(s) ...
Championship Current Champion(s) Held since Reigns Days
held
Ref.
Mexican National Heavyweight Championship Akuma March 28, 2025 1 349+
Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship Esfinge May 25, 2023 1 1,022+
Mexican National Middleweight Championship Guerrero Maya, Jr. June 2, 2023 1 1014+
Mexican National Welterweight Championship Magia Blanca June 24, 2022 1 1,357+
Mexican National Lightweight Championship Rayo Metálico September 27, 2024 1 531+ [65]
Mexican National Tag Team Championship Los Depredadores
(Rugido and Magnus)
July 9, 2023 1 977+
Mexican National Trios Championship Los Herederos
(Felino Jr., Hijo de Stuka Jr., and El Cobarde)
June 16, 2025 1 269+ [66]
Mexican National Women's Championship India Sioux March 7, 2025 1 370+ [67]
Mexican National Women's Tag Team Championship Kira and Skadi March 8, 2024 1 734+ [68]
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Regional championships

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 1 705+ [69]
Occidente Heavyweight Championship Bestia Negra March 1, 2022 1 1,472+
Occidente Middleweight Championship Zandokan Jr. February 22, 2022 1 1,479+
Occidente Tag Team Championship Dulce Garnedia and La Fashion January 2, 2024 1 800+ [70]
Occidente Trios Championship Furia Roja, Guerrero de la Muerte and Rafaga May 20, 2025 1 296+ [71]
Occidente Women's Championship Lluvia April 23, 2024 1 688+ [72]
Occidente Women's Tag Team Championship Las Infernales (Dark Silueta and Zeuxis) January 7, 2025 1 429+ [73]
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Co-promoted champions

More information Championship, Current champion(s) ...
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days
held
Location Notes Ref.
CMLL Japanese Women's Championship Hazuki 1 October 11, 2025 152 Tokyo,Japan [74]
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Defunct championships

Masked wrestler Atlantis in the ring during an outdoor wrestling event.
Atlantis, the former Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion.
More information Championship, Last champion(s) ...
Championship Last champion(s) Reign Date retired Notes
CMLL-Reina International Junior Championship Kaho Kobayashi September 15, 2017 November 6, 2019 [75]
CMLL-Reina International Championship Zeuxis August 13, 2017 November 6, 2019 [76]
CMLL Costa Rica National Championship Kaiser October 15, 2016 December 18, 2016
CMLL Japan Super Lightweight Championship Ricky Marvin February 27, 1999 August 6, 2000 [77]
CMLL Japan Tag Team Championship Masato Yakushiji and Naohiro Hoshikawa February 24, 1999 July 7, 1999 [77]
LLA Azteca Championship Místico December 19, 2009 May 12, 2013 [78]
Mexican National Mini-Estrella Championship Mascarita Dorada February 8, 1993 November 5, 2004 [79]
NWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship El Faraón October 1990 November 1990 [80]
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship El Texano Jr. November 6, 1952 August 12, 2012 [81]
NWA World Middleweight Championship Averno 1939 August 12, 2012 [81]
NWA World Welterweight Championship Mephisto March 15, 1946 August 12, 2012 [81]
Occidente Lightweight Championship Pluma Negra 1985 2006 [citation needed]
Occidente Welterweight Championship Explosivo 1946 2020 [citation needed]
Occidente Light Heavyweight Championship Esfinge 1954 2020 [citation needed]
IWC World Heavyweight Championship Máscara Año 2000[82] September 1995 July 1996 [83]
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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
Titán April 25, 2025[84][85] 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.
India Sioux October 17, 2025[86][87] A tournament consisting of torneo cibernetico qualifiers and a singles final, consisting of the top luchadoras in the company to determine the "Universal Women's champion". Winner receives a title belt until the next tournament, and a "international match" of their choice the following year.
International Gran Prix Místico August 29, 2025[88][89] 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.
International Gran Prix De Amazonas Persephone September 24, 2025[90][91] A torneo cibernetico featuring a "Mexico vs. International" wrestlers theme with one side being native Mexicans and the other side of the Cibernetico being foreigners.
Neón July 25, 2025[92][93] 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.
Bárbaro Cavernario November 28, 2025[94] 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, skewing more towards heavyweights. It has been conducted as a normal torneo cibernético and as a one night tournament.[95]
Flip Gordon February 3, 2026[96] 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.
Atlantis Jr. and Xelhua December 19, 2025[97] An elimination tag team tournament where an established star teams with a young midcarder with the intent to give the younger wrestler more credibility.
Máscara Dorada and Rocky Romero March 29, 2024[98][99] An elimination tag team tournament where a rudo (bad guy) and a tecnico (good guy) team up.
Zandokan Jr. May 23, 2025[100][101] This tournament features wrestlers who are at least second-generation wrestlers, though worked family relations have been accepted as well.
  • Rey del Inframundo
  • ("King of the Underworld")
Guerrero Maya Jr. October 31, 2025[102][103] A tournament taking place during Día de Muertos week, to crown El Rey del Inframundo. Winner received a title belt that is exclusively defended in the annual tournament final.[104]
  • Copa Dinastías
  • ("Dynasty's Cup")
Atlantis and Atlantis Jr. June 15, 2025[105] A tag or trios tournament that emphasises the familial aspect of lucha libre. Members of a team are related to one another.
  • Copa Independencia
  • ("Independence Cup")
Titán and Templario September 19, 2025[106] A tournament to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day, culminating at the annual Anniversary show.
Fantastica Mania Tag Team Tournament Mistico and Máscara Dorada February 24, 2026 A tag tournament held during CMLL's annual Japan tour at the start of the year, co-promoted by NJPW. Has gone through several themes, including familial connections & faction supremacy.
La Magnífica March 6, 2026 A cibernetico in honor of pioneering luchadora Irma González, held on or near International Women's Day.
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Minor tournaments

These tournaments are all relatively new (none established earlier than 2023), and skew towards favouring younger, lower-card talent.

More information Tournament, Last winner ...
Tournament Last winner Last held Notes
  • Torneo de Escuelas
  • ("Schools' Tournament")
Magia Blanca's Team CDMX (Tornado & Rey Pegasus) February 27, 2026 A tournament spread over multiple nights that pits the students of CMLL's four regional wrestling schools (Mexico City, Jalisco, Puebla & La Laguna) against each other.[107] Format might vary year-to-year, with 2025 expanding from four teams to six, and 2026 focusing instead on pairings who shared an individual trainer.
  • Campeonato Embajador de los Ninos
  • ("Children's Ambassador Championship")
[108]
Futuro April 27, 2025[109] A one night cibernetico tournament held at the annual Children's Day show in April. Participants are decided by young fans via digital voting.
  • Campeonato Barroco de la Arena Puebla
  • ("Arena Puebla Barroco Championship")
[110]
Blue Shark July 21, 2025[111] A multi-week tournament that culminates at the annual Arena Puebla Anniversary show, predominantly featuring wrestlers from the Puebla region.
Stuka Jr. November 2, 2025[112] An elimination match held on the Sunday "Tzompantli de Mascaras" event during CMLL's Día de Muertos week, exclusively featuring wrestlers who had previously lost or relinquished their masks. Alternates between male & female competitors.
  • Copa Mujeres Revolucionarias
  • ("Revolutionary Women Cup")
Olympia November 17, 2025[113] Women's cibernetico to celebrate Mexican Revolution Day, held in Arena Puebla.[114]
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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[115] 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".
La Copa Diablo Velazco Ángel de Oro November 23, 2008[116] A torneo cibernetico to honor legendary trainer Diablo Velazco.
Forjando un Ídolo
("Forging an Idol")
Ángel de Oro May 27, 2011[117] A 16-man tournament with the purpose of identifying which of the "Rookies" in the tournament would move up the ranks of the promotion.[117]
Copa Herdez Lady Apache July 30, 2011[118] A match to commemorate CMLL's sponsorship by food company Herdez, held in July. Ran for 3 years, with mini-estrellas[119], luchador tag teams, and luchadoras respectively.
Torneo Sangre Nueva
("New Blood Tournament")
Soberano Jr. March 11, 2013[120] Tournament for the younger and lower ranked wrestlers in CMLL.[120]
Torneo Increibles de Parejas, Arena Puebla Atlantis and Volador Jr. April 1, 2013[121] An elimination tag team tournament where arudo (bad guy) and a tecnico (good guy) team up.
Shockercito January 6, 2015[122] Like the Reyes del Aire but for Mini-Estrellas
Boby Zavala August 21, 2015[123] An eight-man tournament with the purpose of identifying which of the "Rookies" in the tournament would move up the ranks of the promotion.
Magia Blanca April 18, 2018[124] A 16-man tournament for CMLL rookies.
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Broadcasters

See also

References

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