Arena México 60th Anniversary Show

The Arena México 60th Anniversary Show was a major professional wrestling show produced by the Mexican lucha libre professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre ("World Wrestling Council"; CMLL) and took place on April 29, 2016, in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico. The annual event commemorates the 1956 opening of Arena México, nicknamed "The Cathedral of Lucha Libre", CMLL's main venue and the largest arena ever built specifically for professional wrestling.

Arena México 60th Anniversary Show
Official poster for the show
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
DateApril 29, 2016[1]
CityMexico City, Mexico
VenueArena México
Event chronology
← Previous
Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increíbles		 Next →
International Gran Prix
Aniversario de Arena México chronology
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59. Aniversario		 Next →
61. Aniversario

The show featured the finals of a three-week-long annual Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles tournament which saw the team of Místico and Mephisto defeat Carístico and Cibernético to win the entire 16-team tournament. On the undercard Rey Cometa defeated Cavernario, the reigning Mexican National Welterweight Champion in a non-title match.

Production

Background

In 1933 professional wrestling promoter Salvador Lutteroth held his first Lucha Libre show as Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre ("Mexican Wrestling Enterprise"; EMLL) at Arena Modelo.[2][3] Lutteroth would later move EMLL to Arena Coliseo, but that venue turned out to be too small in the long run and Lutteroth funded the creation of Arena México on calle Doctor Lavista #203, Colonia Doctores. on the intersection of Dr.Rafael Lucio, Dr. Carmona and Valle. The building was completed in 1956 and is to this day the largest arena built specifically for professional wrestling.[2] The arena opened in April, 1956 and ever since then EMLL has celebrated the Aniversario de Arena México in April of each year. In 1991 EMLL was renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre ("World Wrestling Enterprise"; CMLL), only three years after it became the oldest, still-active professional wrestling promotion in the world.[4] The 2016 version of the Anniversary show will be the 60th show, making it the third longest annual professional wrestling show, after the CMLL Anniversary Shows that began in 1934 and the Arena Coliseo anniversary show that began in 1944.[2]

Over the years the Aniversario de Arena México show has hosted significant headline matches including several Lucha de Apuestas, or bet matches, where the loser of the match was forced to unmask or have their hair shaved off. The first documented example of a Lucha de Apuesta match headlining a show was at the 12. Aniversario where Huracán Ramírez defeated El Enfermero, forcing him to unmask.[Note 1][5][6] In the main event of the 19. Aniversario, on May 25, 1975, Perro Aguayo defeated long time rival Ray Mendoza to force Mendoza to be shaved bald afterwards.[5][7][8] Two years later, at the 20. Aniversario, Fishman gained one of the biggest victories of his career when he defeated El Faraón, forcing El Faraón to unmask and reveal his real name.[9][10] Two years later (22. Aniversario) El Faraón and Ringo Mendoza successfully defended their hair as they defeated Alfonso Dantés and Sangre Chicana in the main event Lucha de Apuestas match.[10][11] The most recent major mask match took place on April 3, 1992 at the 36. Aniversario, in the main event Blue Panther defeated American Love Machine when Love Machine was disqualified for using an illegal move that he did not realize was illegal in Mexico, forcing himself to unmask and reveal that he was actually Art Barr under the mask.[12] The most recent major Lucha de Apuesta hair match was at the 44. Aniversario show where Shocker defeated Vampiro Canadiense, leaving the Canadian bald as a result.[13]

In recent years the Aniversario shows have hosted part of all of one of CMLL's annual Spring tournaments. The 38. Aniversario show, hosted the 1994 International Gran Prix tournament where Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated King Haku in the finals of the 16-man tournament.[14] The 39. Aniversario featured the 1995 Gran Alternativa tournament, which was won by Shocker and Silver King when they defeated Astro Rey Jr. and Dr. Wagner Jr.[15] The focal point of the 43 Aniversario show was the first of that year's Gran Alternativa tournament. The tournament was won by Último Guerrero and Blue Panthera as they defeated Atlantico and Mr. Niebla.[5] It would be 11 years later before the Aniversario shows would host another tournament, as the 2010 Gran Alternativa was part of the 54. Aniversario show. That year the team of Pólvora and Héctor Garza defeated Diamante and La Sombra to qualify for the Gran Alternativa tournament two weeks later.[16] The following year (55. Aniversario) CMLL held two matches in their Forjando un Ídolo tournament series, Hijo del Signo defeated Puma King and Diamante defeated Hombre Bala Jr.[17] In 2012, at the 56. Aniversario show, CMLL held a round of their En Busca de un Ídolo ("In search of an Idol") tournament, where Tritón defeated Puma King and Pólvora defeated Dragon Lee.[18]

Storylines
The interior of Arena México when it is set up for a professional wrestling show.

The event will feature six professional wrestling matches with different wrestlers involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that portray the "bad guys") or faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.

The show is slated to feature the final match of CMLL's annual Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles ("National Incredible Pairs Tournament"), the seventh annual tournament held by CMLL.[19][20][21][22][23] The Parejas Increibles concept is a long-standing tradition in lucha libre and is at times referred to as a "strange bedfellows" match in English speaking countries, referring to the fact that a Pareja Increibles consists of a técnico and a rudo are teamed up for a specific match, or in this case for a tournament.[24] The finalist will be determined on April 15 and April 22, 2016 where CMLL will hold Blocks A and B of the tournament. The qualifying blocks are all one-fall matches while the tournament finals will be a best two-out-of-three falls tag team match.

Results
No. Results[25][26] Stipulations Times
1 Los Cancerberos del Infierno (Cancerbero and Raziel) defeated Flyer and Star Jr. Best two-out-of-three falls tag team match 16:00
2 Marcela, Princesa Sugehit and Skadi defeated La Amapola, Dalys la Caribeña and Zeuxis Best two-out-of-three falls six-woman "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match 14:20
3 Blue Panther, Hombre Bala Jr. and Stuka Jr. defeated Bobby Z, Hechicero and Kraneo Best two-out-of-three falls six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match 13:49
4 Rey Cometa defeated Cavernario Lightning match (One fall, 10 minute time-limit match) 08:37
5 Volador Jr., Máximo Sexy and Máscara Dorada defeated Ephesto, El Felino and Rey Escorpión Best two-out-of-three falls six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match 10:40
6 Místico and Mephisto defeated Carístico and Cibernético 2016 Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles tournament finals[27][28] 15:36

Footnotes
  1. Records of early anniversary shows are sparse leaving the posibiity that previous anniversary shows also had Lucha de Apuestas matches featured.

References
  1. "Lucha Libre en galerias" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. March 30, 2016. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  2. "Los Lutteroth / the Lutteroth". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. 2005. pp. 20–27. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
  3. "EMLL Debut show". Pro Wrestling History. September 21, 1933. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  4. Madigan, Dan (2007). "A family affair". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 128–132. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  5. Lucha 2000 Staff (April 2006). "Arena México: 50 anos de Lucha Libre". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). Especial 28.
  6. Madigan, Dan (2007). "Huracán Ramírez". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  7. L.L. Staff (2008). "Lucha Libre: Conoce la historia de las leyendas de cuadrilátero". Perro Aguayo (1946) (in Spanish). Mexico. p. 44. Grandes Figuras de la Lucha Libre.
  8. Luchas 2000 staff. "Luchas 2000". Perro Aguayo y sus Victimas (in Spanish). Juárez, Mexico: Publicaciones citem, S.A. de C.V. pp. 12–15. Especial 30.
  9. "Luchas 2000". Fisman y sus Victimas (in Spanish). Juárez, Mexico: Publicaciones citem, S.A. de C.V. pp. 28–31. Especial 30.
  10. "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". El Faraón (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. August 2007. p. 23. Tomo II.
  11. Flores, Manuel (May 25, 2009). "Los Hermano Mendoza – Ringo y Cachorro están de regreso". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). pp. 22–23. issue 316.
  12. Molinaro, John. "Art Barr: What could have been; Looking back at Love Machine's career". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  13. "Tecnicos – Shocker". Fuego en el ring (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  14. "Gran Prix Tournament 1994". ProWrestlingHistory.com. April 15, 1994. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  15. "CMLL Gran Alternativa #2". Pro Wrestling History. April 7, 1995. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  16. Ascencio, Alfredo (April 17, 2010). "Combinación explosiva Héctor Garza y Pólvora, los primeros finalistas". ESTO (in Spanish). OEM. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  17. Salsasar, Alexis Salazar & Vera, Litok (April 29, 2011). "El Guerrero Campeón de otro nivel en el 55 aniversario de la Arena México". Estrellas del Ring (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  18. Agencias (April 28, 2012). "Corleone, Rush y Máximo siguen reinando". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  19. "Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles". Pro Wrestling History. January 22 – February 5, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  20. "Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles 2011". Pro Wrestling History. February 2–25, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  21. "Torneo Nacional de Parejas Increibles 2012". Pro Wrestling History. February 17 – March 2, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  22. "Resultados Arena México". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). March 15, 2013. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  23. Salazar López, Alexis (March 22, 2014). "Homenaje a Dos Leyendas". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 22, 2014.
  24. Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  25. Vacah, Jose (April 30, 2016). "Resultados Final del Torneo Increíble de Parejas: Místico y Mephisto conquistan el Paraíso". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  26. Maya, Martin (April 30, 2016). "Místico y Mephisto triunfan en el 60 aniversario de La Mexico Catedral" (in Spanish). Kronos Sports. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  27. López Peralta, Gonzalo. "Lucha Libre Arena México 15 de Abril de 2016". Yahoo! Deportes (in Spanish). Yahoo!.
  28. López Peralta, Gonzalo (April 23, 2016). "Lucha Libre Arena México 22 de Abril de 2016". Yahoo! Deportes (in Spanish). Yahoo!. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
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