CMLL World Heavyweight Championship

CMLL World Heavyweight Championship

A color photo of Máximo Sexy standing in a wrestling ring

Current CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Máximo Sexy
Details
Current champion(s) Máximo Sexy
Date won January 1, 2015[1]
Date established June 9, 1991[2]
Promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre[2]

The CMLL World Heavyweight Championship (Spanish: Campeonato Mundial de Peso Completo del CMLL) is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship established in 1991 and promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. CMLL introduced the championship as they moved away from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) to signal their independence. As part of the move away from the NWA they established a number of championships designated as "CMLL World Championships" for a variety of divisions. The heavyweight championship was the first CMLL title to be created, and the inaugural champion was Konnan el Bárbaro, who won the title by defeating his storyline rival Cien Caras in the finals of a tournament on June 9, 1991. The current champion is Máximo Sexy, the 15th overall person to hold the championship and the 18th overall champion.

In most professional wrestling promotions around the world the "heavyweight" designation is normally one used to indicate the highest ranking championship instead of an actual weight division.[3] Traditionally, however, Mexican wrestling has used multiple weight divisions, often with the lower weight classes receiving more attention from the promoters. CMLL carries on this tradition. As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won legitimately; it is instead won via a scripted ending to a match.

History

The Mexican professional wrestling promotion Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) was founded in 1933 and initially recognized a series of "Mexican National" wrestling championships, endorsed by the Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission). The Mexican National Heavyweight Championship was created in 1926 and over time EMLL began promoting matches for that championship with the approval and oversight of the wrestling commission.[4][5] In the 1950s EMLL became a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and thus recognized the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and would on occasion promote title matches for the NWA in Mexico.[6]

In the late 1980s EMLL left the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) to avoid the politics of the NWA and would later rebrand themselves as "Consejo Mundal de Lucha Libre" (CMLL). By the start of the 1990s CMLL began to downplay the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship, which featured less frequently on CMLL shows until they stopped promoting it altogether. In 1991 CMLL decided to create a series of CMLL branded world championships, the first of which was for the Heavyweight division.[7] The first champion was crowned in the finals of a 16 man tournament that saw Konnan el Bárbaro defeat Cien Caras.[2] Konnan lost the title to Cien Caras in his first title defense on August 18, 1991, making him one of only two champions to not have a single successful title defense.[2] Cien Caras left CMLL in the summer of 1992 as he decided to join former CMLL promoter Antonio Peña in Peña's newly formed Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) wrestling promotion, leaving CMLL without a heavyweight champion.[2] CMLL held a 16-man single-elimination tournament from October 30, 1992 to November 20, 1992, which ended with Black Magic winning the title. With the victory he became the first the first non-Hispanic,[2] and so far only British wrestler to win the Championship. On June 27, 1993 CMLL decided to move the title onto Mexican native Brazo de Plata as he defeated Black Magic on a show in Arena México, CMLL's main venue.[2]

Wrestler Val Venis posing on the second rope before a match.
Steel, the 8th CMLL World Heavyweight Champion.

On April 18, 1997 Steel became the first Canadian to win the championship as he defeated then champion Rayo de Jalisco Jr. to become the 8th overall champion.[2] In September 1997 Steel signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE), which forced CMLL to vacate the championship for the second time.[2] Instead of holding a traditional tournament to crown another champion CMLL took the top three heavyweight contenders, Universo 2000, Rayo de Jalisco Jr. and Cien Caras and had the new champion decided in a match between the three. On October 19, 1997 Universo 2000 won the title, starting the first of his three reigns, which remains a record.[2] Universo 2000 lost the title to and regained the title from Rayo de Jalisco Jr. Universo 2000's second reign as champion lasted a total of 1,225 days, the longest of any championship reign.[2] The record breaking run ended on April 18, 2003 when Mr. Niebla won the title.[8] Mr. Niebla was champion for 543 days before Universo 2000 regained the championship.[9] On July 8, 2007 Dos Caras Jr. became the 14th overall champion.[10] His reign lasted 533 days but only saw him defend the title three times overall, defeating Lizmark Jr., Universo 2000 and Último Guerrero. On December 22, 2008, Último Guerrero won the championship from Dos Caras Jr. and shortly afterwards Dos Caras Jr. left CMLL to work for WWE.[11] On April 2, 2009 Último Guerrero successfully defended the World title against Rey Mendoza Jr. on an independent wrestling promotion show in Gomez Palacio, marking the first time the CMLL World title was defended on a non-CMLL promoted show.[12] After a 963 day reign and 17 successful defenses, Guerrero lost the title to Héctor Garza on August 12, 2011.[13] The championship was vacated on November 11, 2011, after Garza left CMLL for Perros del Mal Producciones, a group of former CMLL wrestlers who broke away from the promotion in late 2011.[13] On January 1, 2012, El Terrible became the new champion, when he defeated CMLL World Light Heavyweight Champion Rush in a decision match.[14] The two had won a torneo cibernetico match a week earlier to earn spots in the match.[15]

Reigns

Máximo Sexy is the current CMLL World Heavyweight champion. He won the title on January 30, 2015 by defeating El Terrible.[1] He is the 18th overall champion and the 15th person to hold the title. Universo 2000 has held the title the most times, three reigns in total. Universo 2000 also holds the record for the longest combined reign with 2,555 days and longest single reign, 1,225 days. The first champion, Konnan, was also the person who held the title the shortest amount of time, 70 days.[2] Último Guerrero is officially credited with 20 successful title defenses by CMLL, the highest number of defenses of any CMLL World Heavyweight Champion.[16]

On three separate occasions CMLL was forced to declare the championship vacant, which meant that there was no champion for a period of time.[2][13] In all three instances this was necessitated by the then reigning champion leaving CMLL without working a match where he would lose the title to whichever successor CMLL picked. Under normal circumstances CMLL would know that a wrestler was leaving the promotion, either due to their contract not being renewed or the wrestler giving notice, which allows them time to transition the championship to a different wrestler. In the case of Cien Caras, Steel and Héctor Garza their departures from the company were so sudden and unannounced that no plans were in place and CMLL had to organize a tournament to determine the next champion.[13][17][18]

Rules

The championship is designated as a heavyweight title, which means that the championship can officially only be competed for by wrestlers weighing at least 105 kg (231 lb). In the 20th century Mexican wrestling enforced the weight divisions more strictly, but in the 21st century the rules were occasionally ignored for the various weight divisions. The heavyweight championship was no exception as several champions were under the weight limit, for example Héctor Garza.[19] While the Heavyweight title is traditionally considered the most prestigious weight division in professional wrestling, CMLL places more emphasis on the lower weight divisions. As such, the CMLL World Heavyweight Title is not considered the top CMLL championship.[20]

With a total of twelve CMLL promoted championships being labelled as "World" titles the promotional focus shifts from championship to championship over time with no single championship being promoted as the "main" championship of the promotion. Championship matches usually take place under best two-out-of-three falls rules.[20] On occasion single fall title matches have taken place, especially when promoting CMLL title matches in Japan, conforming to the traditions of the local promotion.[Note 1][21]

Tournaments

1991

Konnan el Bárbaro (depicted in 2011) was the first ever CMLL World Heavyweight Champion in 1991.

The tournament to crown the inaugural CMLL World Heavyweight champion ran from May 24 to June 9, 1991 and featured 16 competitors. The first round of the tournament saw two eight-man battle royals used to cut the field in half with the last four remaining wrestlers from each match advancing to the next round. Konnan, Rayo de Jalisco Jr., Black Magic and Mascara Ano 2000 eliminated Brazo de Plata, Vampiro Canadiense, Universo 2000 and El Egipcio in the first battle royal. In the second battle royal Nitron, Pierroth Jr., Pirata Morgan and Cien Caras eliminated Fabulous Blondie, Gran Markus Jr., Máscara Sagrada and El Egipcio.[Note 2] The second round saw another pair of battle royals, this time four men in each to find the final four wrestlers who faced off in traditional semi-finals and finals.[2]

Tournament results
Semifinals Final
      
1 Konnan W
4 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. [2][17]
Konnan W
Cien Caras [2][17]
3 Nitron [2][17]
2 Cien Caras W

1992

Black Magic, the third overall champion after winning a tournament in 1992.

After Cien Caras left CMLL for AAA in 1992 CMLL decided to hold a traditional 16-man single-elimination tournament to crown a new World Heavyweight Champion. The tournament ran from October 30 to November 20, 1992.[2]

Tournament results[2][18]
First round   Second round   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W  
 Sultan Gargola        Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W  
 MS-1      Rick Patterson    
 Rick Patterson W        Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W  
 King Haku W        King Haku    
 Popetikus        King Haku W
 Brazo de Plata W    Brazo de Plata    
 Aaron Grundy          Rayo de Jalisco Jr.  
 Black Magic W        Black Magic W
 Gran Markus Jr.        Black Magic W  
 Troglodita      Kahoz I    
 Kahos I W        Black Magic W
 Vampiro W        Vampiro    
 El Egipcio        Pirata Morgan  
 Pirata Morgan W    Vampiro W  
 Masakre    

2011–2012

Marco Corleone, one of 10 competitors in the 2011 torneo cibernetico tournament match.

On December 18, 2011 CMLL announced that then CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Héctor Garza had decided to leave CMLL to work for Perros del Mal Producciones and they thus had vacated the championship.[13] They also announced that the following week, on December 25, there would be a tournament to determine a new champion.[15] The main event of the December 25, Domigos Arena México show was a 10-man torneo cibernetico elimination match designed to reduce the field of championship contenders from 10 to 2. The match ended when El Terrible pinned Marco Corleone to eliminate him, leaving El Terrible and Rush to face off the following week. On January 1, 2012 El Terrible defeated Rush in a best two-out-of-three falls match, two falls to one to become the 17th overall champion.[14]

Torneo cibernetico - December 25, 2011[15]
# Eliminated Eliminated by
1 Olímpico Metro
2 El Hijo del Fantasma Rey Bucanero
3 Mr. Águila Brazo de Plata
4 Metro Mr. Niebla
5 Brazo de Plata El Terrible
6 Rey Bucanero Rush
7 Mr. Niebla Marco Corleone
8 Marco Corleone El Terrible
9 Co-Winners El Terrible and Rush

Footnotes

  1. ↑ An example of this was Bushi winning the CMLL World Welterweight Championship in a one-fall match on a New Japan Pro Wrestling show.
  2. ↑ Herodes was originally scheduled to compete but did not show up. El Egipcio wrestled in his place despite having already lost a tournament match.

References

  1. 1 2 Barradas, Bibiana (January 31, 2015). "Resultados Arena México® Viernes 30 de Enero '15". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "MEXICO: EMLL CMLL Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. p. 395. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  3. ↑ Ed Grabianowski. "How Pro Wrestling Works". How Stuff Works. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  4. ↑ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "Mexico: National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 390–391. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  5. ↑ "Los Reyes de Mexico: La Historia de Los Campeonatos Nacionales". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). December 20, 2004. Especial 21.
  6. ↑ Gary Will and Royal Duncan (2006). "(United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  7. ↑ Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "MEXICO: EMLL CMLL". Wrestling Title Histories. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 395–410. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ↑ "Número Especial – Lo mejor de la lucha ilbre mexicana durante el 2003". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 5, 2003. 40.
  9. ↑ "Número Especial – Lo mejor de la lucha ilbre mexicana durante el 2004". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 24, 2005. 91.
  10. ↑ "CMLL en Arena Coliseo". Ovaciones (in Spanish) (Mexico, D.F.: Editorial Ovaciones, S. A. de C.V.). 2007-07-08. p. 19. Número 20916 Año LX.
  11. ↑ "Último Guerrero nuevo Campeón Mundial Peso Completo CMLL, se espera polémica con el cambio de titulo". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2008. Retrieved March 15, 2009.
  12. ↑ Joel Flores Maltos (April 4, 2009). "Último Guerrero retiene cetro" (in Spanish). Retrieved April 7, 2009.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Ruiz Glez, Alex (November 12, 2011). "Héctor Garza deja el CMLL, se une con los Perros del Mal". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  14. 1 2 Mexicool, Rey (January 1, 2012). "Imagen: El Terrible, nuevo Campeón Mundial Completo del CMLL" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas Magazine. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 "Terrible y Rush por el Campeonato Mundial de Peso Completo del CMLL". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. December 26, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha ilbre mexicana durante el 2011". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 13, 2012. 450.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "1991 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 9, 1992. pp. 2–28. issue 2020.
  18. 1 2 "1992 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 10, 1993. pp. 2–28. issue 2072.
  19. ↑ Arturo Montiel Rojas (August 30, 2001). "Reglamento de Boy Y Lucha Libre Professional del Estado de Mexico" (PDF) (in Spanish). Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2006. Retrieved April 3, 2009. Completo 105 kilos sin limite
  20. 1 2 Madigan, Dan (2007). ""Okay... what is Lucha Libre?" and "El Médico Asasino"". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. New York, New York: HarperColins Publisher. pp. 29–40 and 114–118. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  21. ↑ "Road to Tokyo Dome". New Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved December 19, 2015.

External links

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