CMLL International Gran Prix (2005) explained

CMLL International Gran Prix (2005)
Promotion:Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Date:September 23, 2005
Venue:Arena México
City:Mexico City, Mexico
Liveevent:Y
Lastevent:CMLL 72nd Anniversary Show
Nextevent:Leyenda de Plata
Event:International Gran Prix
Lastevent2:2003
Nextevent2:2006

The CMLL International Gran Prix (2005) was a lucha libre, or professional wrestling, tournament produced and scripted by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; "World Wrestling Council" in Spanish) which took place on September 23, 2005 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico, CMLL's main venue. The 2005 International Gran Prix was the eight time CMLL has held an International Gran Prix tournament since 1994. All International Gran Prix tournaments have been a one-night tournament, always as part of CMLL's Friday night CMLL Super Viernes shows.

The eight International Gran Prix tournament featured as 16-man Tornero Cibernetico with two teams of mixed Mexican and International wrestlers. The team division for the 2005 International Gran Prix is undocumented and thus uncertain, all that is certain is that the following wrestlers participated: Bronco, Último Dragón, Hijo del Santo, Rey Bucanero, Universo 2000, Olimpico, Tarzan Boy, Pierroth Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Averno, Dr. Wagner Jr., Atlantis, Negro Casas, Perro Aguayo Jr. and Lizmark Jr. The international aspects were mainly provided by Tanahashi and Nakamura, on a Mexican tour from New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) at the time. The match came down to Atlantis and Perro Aguayo Jr. who were on the same team, in the end Atlantis pinned Perro Aguayo Jr. to win the Gran Prix.

Production

Background

In 1994 the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) organized their first ever International Gran Prix tournament. The first tournament followed the standard "single elimination" format and featured sixteen wrestlers in total, eight representing Mexico and eight "international" wrestlers.[1] In the end Mexican Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated King Haku in the finals to win the tournament.[1] In 1995 CMLL brought the tournament back, creating an annual tournament held every year from 1995 through 1998 and then again in 2002, 2003 and finally from 2005 through 2008.[1]

Storylines

The CMLL Gran Prix show featured three professional wrestling matches scripted by CMLL with some wrestlers involved in scripted feuds. The wrestlers portray either heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that play the part of the "bad guys") or faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they perform.[2]

Tournament

Tournament overview

EliminatedBy
1BroncoHiroshi Tanahashi
2OlímpicoLizmark Jr.
3AvernoDisqualified for removing Hijo del Santo's Mask
4Último DragónShinsuke Nakamura
5PierrothDr. Wagner. Jr.
6Negro CasasPerro Aguayo Jr.
7Tarzan BoyAtlantis
8El Hijo del SantoShinsuke Nakamura
9Shinsuke NakamuraRey Bucanero and Universo 2000
10Hiroshi TanahashiRey Bucanero and Universo 2000
11Dr. Wagner Jr.Rey Bucanero
12Lizmark Jr.Perro Aguayo Jr.
13Universo 2000Perro Aguayo Jr.
14Rey BucaneroAtlantis
15Perro Aguayo Jr.Atlantis
16Atlantis (Winner)

Tournament show

Notes and References

  1. Web site: CMLL Gran Prix Tournament . June 1, 2015 . ProWrestlingHistory.com.
  2. Book: Madigan, Dan . Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling . HarperCollins Publishers . 2007 . "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?" . 31 . featuring clearly distinguished good guys and bad guys, or técnicos and rudos . 978-0-06-085583-3. New York, New York.