CMLL Universal Tournament

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Tournament Details

The CMLL Universal Tournament took the Leyenda de Plata event as the annual most prestigious CMLL tournament. It includes most (though not all) of CMLL's top wrestlers in a three week sixteen man single elimination tournament. Champions are drawn into two blocks and seeded by battle royal. The winner of each block face on the third week in a full three falls no time limit match. The winner of the tournament is awarded a red and gold belt, though the championship is not defended thru the year.

Any CMLL men's division world or national champion is eligible for the tournament. The champions included are the CMLL set of championships (Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Tag Team, Trios), the NWA Historic Championships (Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight) and the Mexican National Championships held by CMLL men's luchadors (Welterweight, Light Heavyweight, Trios). There are currently a possible of eighteen champions for the sixteen spots. Luchadors only get one spot no matter how many championships they hold, meaning a couple of double champions (or one triple champion) will cut the field down to the correct number. Champions have been left out in some years.

In addition to the listed champions, CMLL has offered a spot to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on occasion. An Arena Coliseo Tag Team Champion was added to the tournament one year when a scheduled champion was unable to compete.

The couple months prior to the tournament frequently see title changes to shape the field for the tournament, both in getting the right people in and ending up at the right number. Winning the tournament is considered a major achievement in CMLL. The Universal tournament was moved to the August/September time frame after it's first year, and has frequently been used as a springboard for CMLL Anniversario matches.

Champions By Year

Year Wrestler Championship Held
2009 Ultimo Guerrero CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
2010 Jushin Lyger CMLL World Middleweight Championship
2011 La Sombra NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
2012 Terrible CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
2013 Tanahashi CMLL World Tag Team Championship
2014 Ultimo Guerrero (2) CMLL World Trios Championship
2015 Atlantis Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship

2009

CMLL originally announced a 14 man field. By the time of the first block of the bracket (all of which was held in Arena Mexico), the field had expanded to 16, with some changes to the list of participants.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
Black Warrior Mexican National Trios Championship
Mascara Dorada CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Texano Jr. NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
Hijo del Fantasma CMLL World Trios Championship
Averno CMLL World Middleweight Championship
NWA World Middleweight Championship
Dragon Rojo Jr. Mexican National Trios Championship
La Sombra CMLL World Tag Team Championship (1)
Sangre Azteca Mexican National Trios Championship
Mexican National Welterweight Championship
Hector Garza CMLL World Trios Championship
Mephisto NWA World Welterweight Championship (1)
Mistico Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship (2)
Ephesto CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship (3)
Ultimo Guerrero CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Volador Jr. CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Negro Casas CMLL World Welterweight Championship
La Mascara CMLL World Trios Championship

When the tournament was announced...

  1. Sombra held the NWA World Welterweight Championship. Mephisto defeated him on May 27, 2009, in Acapulco to earn a birth in the tournament. Sombra stayed in, with the tag team championship
  2. Mistico was not included despite holding the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship. There was no explanation why, nor one when he was added to the tournament later on.
  3. Rey Bucanero held the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship, but lost it to Ephesto. Ephesto took his spot in the tournament.

Tournament

Cmlluniversal ultimoguerrero.png
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Black Warrior W  
 Mascara Dorada        Black Warrior    
 Texano Jr. W    Texano Jr. W     June 5
 Hijo del Fantasma          Texano Jr.    
 Averno W        La Sombra    
 Dragon Rojo Jr.        Averno  
 La Sombra W    La Sombra W     June 19
 Sangre Azteca          Texano Jr.  
 Mephisto          Ultimo Guerrero W
 Hector Garza W      Hector Garza    
 Mistico W    Mistico W   June 12
 Ephesto          Mistico  
 Volador Jr.          Ultimo Guerrero W  
 Ultimo Guerrero W      Ultimo Guerrero W
 La Mascara      Negro Casas    
 Negro Casas W  


2010

This year's tournament started on July 30th, with the second block on August 6th, and the final on August 13th. The tournament was won by NJPW's Jushin Lyger, defeating La Sombra in a three falls match.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
Ultimo Guerrero 2009 CMLL Universal Championship
CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Ephesto CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Jushin Lyger CMLL World Middleweight Championship
Negro Casas CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Mascara Dorada CMLL World Trios Championship
CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Mexican National Trios Championship
La Sombra CMLL World Trios Championship
La Mascara CMLL World Trios Championship
Stuka Jr. Mexican National Trios Championship
Metro Mexican National Trios Championship
Texano Jr. NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
Mephisto NWA World Welterweight Championship
Averno NWA World Middleweight Championship
Volador Jr. Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Valiente Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Tournament

Cmlluniversal jushinlyger.jpg
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Mascara Dorada W  
 Stuka Jr.        Mascara Dorada    
 Ultimo Guerrero W    Ultimo Guerrero W     July 30
 Averno          Ultimo Guerrero    
 La Sombra W        La Sombra W  
 Mephisto        La Sombra W
 Texano Jr. W    Texano Jr.       August 13
 Ephesto          La Sombra  
 Metro          Jushin Lyger W
 Hector Garza W      Hector Garza    
 Jushin Lyger W    Jushin Lyger W   August 6
 Negro Casas          Jushin Lyger W
 Volador Jr. W        La Mascara    
 Valiente        Volador Jr.  
 La Mascara W    La Mascara W  
 Mr. Aguila    


2011

This year's tournament started on September 2nd, with the second block on September 9th, and the final on September 16th.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
Hector Garza CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Rush CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Mexican National Trios Championship
Jushin Lyger CMLL World Middleweight Championship
2010 CMLL Universal Championship
Mascara Dorada CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Virus CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Dragon Rojo Jr. CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Ultimo Guerrero CMLL World Tag Team Championship
2009 CMLL Universal Championship
Averno CMLL World Trios Championship
NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
Mephisto CMLL World Trios Championship
Ephesto CMLL World Trios Championship
Angel de Oro Mexican National Trios Championship
Diamante Mexican National Trios Championship
Rey Bucanero NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship
La Sombra NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
La Mascara Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Polvora Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Lyger did not participate in the opening rounds of the tournament, not arriving in Mexico until the time of the finals. Fellow NJPW wrestler Hiroshi Tanahashi, who held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, took his place.

After the tournament was announced, and before their participation, Ultimo Guerrero and Dragon Rojo Jr. kept their spot in the tournament and the CMLL World Tag Team Championship over Atlantis & Guerrero Maya Jr. on September 2th. Virus also kept the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship over Stuka Jr.

Tournament

Sombra Campeon Universal.jpg
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Diamante W  
 Polvora        Diamante    
 La Sombra W    La Sombra W    
 Angel de Oro          La Sombra W  
 Rey Bucanero W        Rey Bucanero    
 Hector Garza        Rey Bucanero W
 Mephisto W    Mephisto        
 Ephesto          La Sombra W
 Rush          Averno  
 Ultimo Guerrero W      Ultimo Guerrero W  
 Mascara Dorada      Tanahashi    
 Tanahashi W        Ultimo Guerrero W
 Virus          Averno    
 Averno W      Averno W
 Dragon Rojo Jr.      La Mascara    
 La Mascara W  


Finals

The finals of the tournament took place on September 16, 2011, and saw La Sombra defeat Averno two falls to one to become the 2011 Universal Champion.

2012

This year's tournament started on August 17th, with the second block on August 24th, and the final on August 31st.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
El Terrible CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Rush CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
CMLL World Trios Championship
Dragón Rojo Jr. CMLL World Middleweight Championship
Mascara Dorada CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Virus CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Diamante Azul CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Atlantis CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Maximo CMLL World Trios Championship
Marco Corleone CMLL World Trios Championship
Mr. Aguila Mexican National Trios Championship
Volador Jr. Mexican National Trios Championship
Black Warrior Mexican National Trios Championship
Rey Bucanero NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship
Prince Devitt NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
Negro Casas NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
La Mascara Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Polvora Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Prince Devitt, a member of NJPW, was not in Mexico for the tournament and did not participate. Virus, world lightweight champion, also did not participate for reasons not explained. He became the first regular CMLL champion to skip the tournament.

Tanahashi, once again the IWGP Heavyweight Champion, again entered the tournament (taking Virus' spot.)

None of the prior three Universal Tournament winners held a championship at the time of the tournament. La Mascara & Mascara Dorada are left as the only two luchadors to have participated in all Universal tournaments, after many familiar names did not qualify.

Tournament

Cmlluniversal terrible.jpg
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Mascara Dorada W  
 Black Warrior      Mascara Dorada  
 Terrible W    Terrible W     August 17
 Mr. Aguila        Terrible W  
 Rush W        Rush  
 Rey Bucanero      Rush W
 Atlantis W    Atlantis      
 Negro Casas          Terrible W
 Marco Corleone        Tanahashi
 Tanahashi W      Tanahashi W  
 Polvora    Diamante Azul   August 24
 Diamante Azul W        Tanahashi W
 Dragon Rojo        Volador Jr.  
 La Mascara W      La Mascara
 Volador Jr. W    Volador Jr. W  
 Maximo  


Finals

The finals of the tournament took place on August 31st, with Terrible defeating Tanahashi.

2013

This year's tournament started on August 23rd, with the second block on August 30th, and the final on September 7th.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
El Terrible CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Rey Escorpión CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Dragón Rojo Jr. CMLL World Middleweight Championship
Polvora CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Virus CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Hiroshi Tanahashi CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Jushin Liger CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Mascara Dorada CMLL World Trios Championship
NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
Mistico CMLL World Trios Championship
Valiente CMLL World Trios Championship
La Mascara Mexican National Trios Championship
Titan Mexican National Trios Championship
Rush Mexican National Trios Championship
Diamante Azul NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship
La Sombra NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
Mephisto Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Averno Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Jushin Liger, a member of NJPW, was not in Mexico for the tournament and did not participate.

Diamante Azul was scheduled to participate in Block B, but was apparently hurt during the week. Okumura, presenting the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship appeared in his place and became the first luchador only holding that championship to be in the tournament.

La Mascara & Mascara Dorada continued their streak of being in every year's tournament.

Tournament

Tanahashi CmlluniVersaltoreno.jpg
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Rush W  
 Terrible      Rush W  
 La Mascara W    La Mascara     August 23
 Mascara Dorada        Rush W  
 Rey Escorpion W        Rey Escorpion  
 Averno      Rey Escorpion W
 Mistico W    Mistico      
 Polvora        Rush
 Titan        Tanahashi W
 Dragon Rojo Jr. W      Dragon Rojo Jr.  
 Tanahashi W    Tanahashi W   August 30
 Okumura        Tanahashi W
 Mephisto        La Sombra  
 La Sombra W      La Sombra W
 Virus W    Virus  
 Valiente  


Finals

The finals of the tournament took place on September 6, with Tanahashi defeating Rush.

2014

This year's tournament started on August 15th, with the second block on August 22nd, and the final on August 29th.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
El Terrible CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Rey Escorpión CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Dragón Rojo Jr. CMLL World Middleweight Championship
Mistico CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Virus CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Shocker CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Negro Casas CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Mexican National Trios Championship
Ultimo Guerrero CMLL World Trios Championship
Niebla Roja CMLL World Trios Championship
Euforia CMLL World Trios Championship
Felino Mexican National Trios Championship
Mr. Niebla Mexican National Trios Championship
Diamante Azul NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship
La Sombra NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
Volador Jr. NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
Mephisto Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Titan Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Mistico II missed the tournament due to an injury suffered in May.

La Mascara & Mascara Dorada both ended their record of appearing in every tournament. Dorada, Valiente and Stuka Jr. challenged Mr. Niebla, Felino and Negro Casas for the national trios championship on August 17th, after Casas & Felino had been eliminated but before Mr. Niebla had competed. Peste Negra retained, and it remained unclear if one of the challengers would taken Niebla's spot in the tournament had he lost.

Tournament

BwQ1VbxIYAAvY6d.jpg
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Euforia W  
 Terrible      Euforia    
 Felino    Shocker W     August 15
 Shocker W        Shocker    
 Rey Escorpión          La Sombra W  
 La Sombra W      La Sombra W
 Negro Casas W    Negro Casas       August 29
 Mephisto          La Sombra  
 Ultimo Guerrero W        Ultimo Guerrero W
 Mr. Niebla        Ultimo Guerrero W  
 Dragon Rojo Jr. W    Dragon Rojo Jr.     August 22
 Virus        Ultimo Guerrero W
 Niebla Roja          Volador Jr.    
 Diamante Azul W      Diamante Azul  
 Titan      Volador Jr. W  
 Volador Jr. W  


Finals

Ultimo Guerrero defeated La Sombra on August 29th to win the championship for the second time.

2015

This year's tournament started on October 2nd, with the second block on October 9th, and the final on October 16th.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
Maximo CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
Angel de Oro CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Dragón Rojo Jr. CMLL World Middleweight Championship
Mascara Dorada CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Dragon Lee CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Shocker CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Negro Casas CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Volador Jr. CMLL World Trios Championship
NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
Valiente CMLL World Trios Championship
Mistico CMLL World Trios Championship
Mephisto Mexican National Trios Championship
Ephesto Mexican National Trios Championship
Luciferno Mexican National Trios Championship
Rey Bucanero NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship
Ultimo Guerrero NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
Atlantis Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Barbaro Cavernario Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Mascara Dorada missed the tournament as part of his year long loan to NJPW.

Tournament

Cmll atlantis 15.jpg
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Último Guerrero W  
 Rey Bucanero      Bárbaro Cavernario    
 Dragón Rojo Jr.    Último Guerrero W     October 2
 Bárbaro Cavernario W        Shocker    
 Dragon Lee W        Último Guerrero W  
 Luciferno W      Shocker W
 Ángel de Oro    Dragon Lee       October 16
 Shocker W        Último Guerrero  
 Mephisto W        Atlantis W
 Ephesto        Místico II  
 Místico II W    Mephisto     October 9
 Valiente        Atlantis W
 Volador Jr. W        Mephisto    
 Máximo      Volador Jr.  
 Atlantis W    Atlantis W  
 Negro Casas  


Finals

Atlantis defeated Último Guerrero on October 16th to win the championship.

2016

This year's tournament started on October 14th, with the second block on October 21st, and the final on October 28th.

Champions At Time Of Tournament

Wrestler Championship Held
Maximo CMLL World Heavyweight Championship
La Mascara CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship
Dragón Rojo Jr. CMLL World Middleweight Championship
Mephisto CMLL World Welterweight Championship
Mexican National Trios Championship
Dragon Lee CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship
Shocker CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Negro Casas CMLL World Tag Team Championship
Volador Jr. CMLL World Trios Championship
NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship
Valiente CMLL World Trios Championship
Mistico CMLL World Trios Championship
Ephesto Mexican National Trios Championship
Luciferno Mexican National Trios Championship
Rey Bucanero NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship
Ultimo Guerrero NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
Atlantis Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship
Rey Cometa Mexican National Welterweight Championship

Barbaro Cavernario (former Mexican National Welterweight Championship) was listed in Block A, but replaced a few days later by Rey Cometa.

Blocks

Block A Block B
Mistico La Mascara
Último Guerrero Dragón Rojo Jr.
Negro Casas Dragon Lee
Máximo Sexy Volador Jr.
Valiente Ephesto
Rey Cometa Luciferno
Mephisto Rey Bucanero
Shocker Atlantis

Tournament

Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
     
           
            October 14
               
               
         
            October 28
             
             
             
            October 21
           
               
         
           
   


Finals

October 28th

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Championships
CMLL: Micro: Micro Gemelo Diablo IMini: Ultimo Dragoncito
Super Light: StigmaWelter: TitánMiddle: Templario
Light Heavy: Barbaro CavernarioHeavy: Gran Guerrero
Tag: Ángel de Oro & Niebla RojaTrios: (Atlantis Jr., Star Jr., Volador Jr.)
Women: Stephanie VaquerWomen's Tag: Stephanie Vaquer & Zeuxis
Historic: Welter: Mascara DoradaMiddle: MisticoLight Heavy: Atlantis Jr.
National: Light: FuturoWelter: Magia BlancaMiddle: Guerrero Maya Jr.
Light Heavy: EsfingeHeavy: Star Black
Tag: Los Depredadores (Magnus & Rugido)Trios: Los Indestructibles (Apocalipsis, Disturbio, Cholo)
Women: Reyna IsisWomen's Tag: Jarochita & Lluvia
Occidente: Welter: ExplosivoMiddle: Zandokan Jr.
Light Heavy: EsfingeHeavy: Bestia Negra
Tag: Dulce Gardenia & La FashionTrios: Batallon de la Muerte (El Malayo, Rey Apocalipsis. Siki Osama Jr.)
Women: Dark SiluetaWomen's Tag: Vacant
Misc: Arena Coliseo Tag: La Ola Negra (Akuma & Dark Magic)Japan Women's: Dark Silueta
Tournaments: Leyenda de Azul HechiceroLeyenda de Plata: Mascara DoradaUniversal: Dragon Rojo Jr.Universal de Amazonas: La Catalina
Reyes del Aire: Dragon Rojo Jr.Gran Alternativa: Panterita del Ring Jr. & Mistico
La Copa Jr.: Soberano Jr.Parejas Increíbles: Mistico & Averno
Inactive

Copa de Arena Mexico Tournament
Pequeño Reyes del AireEn Busca de un Ídolo
Japan Tag
DF: LightWelterMiddle
CMLL-REINA: Intl JuniorIntlTag Team