This Wednesday, AEW will head to Mexico City for “Grand Slam: Mexico,” emanating from the vaunted “Cathedral of Lucha Libre,” Arena México. The show will be a joint venture, promoted in collaboration with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) . Originally known as Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), CMLL is the oldest active professional wrestling promotion in the world, opening its door in 1933. For decades, the promotion was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), using the organization’s NWA World Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, and Welterweight Championships. In the late 1980’s, the organization, then known as EMLL, withdrew its membership from the NWA, and rebranded itself as CMLL. To further establish a new identity, the new brand was consecrated with the creation of eight new world championship titles—all of which still exist today. In 2023, CMLL announced a working relationship with AEW. In conjunction with the news, a match was announced for Friday Night “Rampage” between Rocky Romero and CMLL superstar Mistico. AEW and CMLL’s relationship continued to blossom in 2024, with CMLL’s luchadores invading AEW. In return, the Blackpool Combat Club journeyed to Mexico, squaring off against CMLL’s best in a series of multi-man tag matches. Bryan Danielson competed in single’s action against the legendary luchador, Blue Panther, at “Viernes Espectacular” in Apr. 2024. The interpromotional battle continued at “Forbidden Door,” when Mercedes Moné defeated former CMLL World Women’s Champion, Stephanie Vaquer, for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Then, MJF defended his AEW American Championship against Templario at “Viernes Espectacular” in Aug. 2024. Admittedly, I’m not an ardent supporter of CMLL, nor am I an authority on lucha libre. However, I have seen my fair share of matches. So, with “Grand Slam: Mexico” approaching, there’s no better time to dip your toes in CMLL’s catalogue than the present. In the spirit of tape-trading, consider this my own “Best of CMLL, Vol. 1” videotape, designed for the American fans who are blind to the colorful world of lucha libre.
I talked about El Hijo del Santo at length last week, in my AAA column. Suffice to say, I love Hijo del Santo’s work. This might be his greatest achievement, though. Part of that can be attributed to his innate chemistry with his opponent, Negro Casas. Their rivalry began a decade earlier, culminating in a beloved apuestas match in 1987. Hijo del Santo was, of course, the sterling tecnico—while Negro Casas was the irreverent rudo. In 1995, Hijo del Santo defected from AAA and returned to CMLL, resuming his feud with Negro Casas. However, in this instant, the roles were reversed. Hijo del Santo was positioned as the rudo, while Negro Casas was the tecnico. And, while Hijo del Santo flourished in the ring as a heel, the audience didn’t have much interest in booing the son of El Santo. So, by 1997, all that was left was bitter resentment—which culminated in this apuestas match at the “Aniversario” show. Of all the matches on this list, this is the one that I’d implore you to watch.
Another Atlantis match. This time, we find ourselves at the turn of the century, against the irreverent Villano III in a “Mask vs. Mask” match. Here, Atlantis is at the peak of his powers, having spent the last decade as the most revered tecnico in CMLL. His opponent, Villano III, was a 30 year veteran—entering this match with an unblemished 58-0 record in apuestas matches. A luchador’s mask is a ubiquitous symbol in Mexican culture that is ingrained in its national identity. For both men, the stakes couldn’t have been any higher. And, that tension is palpable in this masterpiece that Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter named the best match of 2000.
For the past 25 years, Mistico has been lucha libre’s preeminent star—a phenomenon who ushered CMLL into the new millennium. Mistico is no stranger to AEW, having wrestled the likes Rocky Romero, Angelico, Matt Sydal, and in a variety of tag team matches. This Wednesday, he’ll take center stage in “Grand Slam: Mexico,” facing former AEW World Champion, MJF. 20 years ago, Mistico engaged in arguably his greatest match, against one of his greatest nemeses— Averno —in a “best two-out-of-three falls” match for the NWA World Middleweight Championship. Averno had previously held the middleweight title from Sep. 9, 2004 until Jan. 1, 2005—when he was defeated by Mistico. So, this was Averno’s first chance at redemption. Mistico’s eminence has never been more apparent than it was in this match. The audience is at a fever pitch, desperate to see Mistico retain his coveted championship. If you want a sampler of Mistico’s offerings before “Grand Slam: Mexico,” look no further.
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El Dandy vs. El Satanico
Oftentimes, lucha libre is mistakenly perceived as a style of wrestling; that is both characterized by its aerial artistry and inherent cooperation. Lucha libre is more than a homogenous style of wrestling, though. Lucha libre is a world unto itself, that has continued to evolve over the past 92 years, independently from professional wrestling in America. And, over the course of the past 92 years, a multitude of styles have emerged. El Dandy’s match against El Satánico, at “Juicio Final 1990” in Dec. 1990, is far from a frenetic firefight. This is a war between two bitter rivals, who will meet each other at every pass to gain an advantage. This is also a “Lucha de Apuestas” match, which roughly translates to “wager match” in English. In this instance, this is a “Hair vs. Hair,” where the loser will be forced to shave their head. In lucha libre, apuesta matches are of the utmost importance, even superseding title fights—which only exacerbated the tension between Dandy and Satanico. This was the climactic finish that their epic feud needed, with both men painting the canvas in their blood, sweat, and in the end, Satanico’s hair.Atlantis vs. Blue Panther
Atlantis and Blue Panther are two of the most decorated luchadores of all time. Both men also still actively compete, despite their careers beginning in 1983 and 1978 respectively. This was a best two-out-of-three falls match, with Atlantis defending his NWA World Welterweight Championship against the villainous Blue Panther. This match is 25 minutes of blistering action, with both men exhausting their arsenals to gain a decisive advantage in each of the three falls. Despite being the rudo here, Blue Panther’s effort was honorable—forgoing any nefarious means to gain an upper hand. However, it’s Atlantis who shined in this affair—proving why he was one of the preeminent tecnicos of the 1990s.El Hijo del Santo vs. Negro Casas
I talked about El Hijo del Santo at length last week, in my AAA column. Suffice to say, I love Hijo del Santo’s work. This might be his greatest achievement, though. Part of that can be attributed to his innate chemistry with his opponent, Negro Casas. Their rivalry began a decade earlier, culminating in a beloved apuestas match in 1987. Hijo del Santo was, of course, the sterling tecnico—while Negro Casas was the irreverent rudo. In 1995, Hijo del Santo defected from AAA and returned to CMLL, resuming his feud with Negro Casas. However, in this instant, the roles were reversed. Hijo del Santo was positioned as the rudo, while Negro Casas was the tecnico. And, while Hijo del Santo flourished in the ring as a heel, the audience didn’t have much interest in booing the son of El Santo. So, by 1997, all that was left was bitter resentment—which culminated in this apuestas match at the “Aniversario” show. Of all the matches on this list, this is the one that I’d implore you to watch.
Atlantis vs. Villano III
Another Atlantis match. This time, we find ourselves at the turn of the century, against the irreverent Villano III in a “Mask vs. Mask” match. Here, Atlantis is at the peak of his powers, having spent the last decade as the most revered tecnico in CMLL. His opponent, Villano III, was a 30 year veteran—entering this match with an unblemished 58-0 record in apuestas matches. A luchador’s mask is a ubiquitous symbol in Mexican culture that is ingrained in its national identity. For both men, the stakes couldn’t have been any higher. And, that tension is palpable in this masterpiece that Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter named the best match of 2000.
Mistico vs. Averno
For the past 25 years, Mistico has been lucha libre’s preeminent star—a phenomenon who ushered CMLL into the new millennium. Mistico is no stranger to AEW, having wrestled the likes Rocky Romero, Angelico, Matt Sydal, and in a variety of tag team matches. This Wednesday, he’ll take center stage in “Grand Slam: Mexico,” facing former AEW World Champion, MJF. 20 years ago, Mistico engaged in arguably his greatest match, against one of his greatest nemeses— Averno —in a “best two-out-of-three falls” match for the NWA World Middleweight Championship. Averno had previously held the middleweight title from Sep. 9, 2004 until Jan. 1, 2005—when he was defeated by Mistico. So, this was Averno’s first chance at redemption. Mistico’s eminence has never been more apparent than it was in this match. The audience is at a fever pitch, desperate to see Mistico retain his coveted championship. If you want a sampler of Mistico’s offerings before “Grand Slam: Mexico,” look no further.
