90 Years of CMLL: 1980's
El Satanico dominates the decade, Atlantis establishes himself, and Lucha Libre loses El Santo & Salvador Lutteroth.
It’s 1933 in Mexico City and the promotion that would come to be known as CMLL begins as EMLL (Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre). Fast forward to 2023 and the company produces a series of videos commemorating their 90th anniversary. These are their highlighted moments and images celebrated throughout the series along with a few extra notes that I found interesting.
Watch the full CMLL produced series with this YouTube Playlist. I’ve linked to Luchawiki profiles as well as LuchaDB throughout to help people learn more about these important figures in lucha libre history.
(Note: I’d recommend opening this in a web browser so you can see all the images. There are a lot of really interesting ones.)
Don’t miss the bonus notes section at the end to learn more about the names mentioned below.
1980’s
1980: El Satánico scores a huge victory over Satoru Sayama for the World Middleweight Title positioning himself as a top rudo (Mar. 28). El Talismán unmasks El Mágo at Arena Coliseo (Oct. 7). El Fantasma shaves El Satánico’s head at Arena Mexico (Oct. 24).
1981: Arena Revolución hosts the retirement match of Black Shadow after a 40 year career (May 11). El Vengador loses his mask to Espéctro Jr. and El Talismán claims the mask of El Tiburón during the 48th anniversary celebrations. On September 29, 1981, EMLL stars face off against independent wrestlers including Babe Face, Enrique Vera, and Los Misioneros de la Muerte (El Signo, El Texano, and Negro Navarro). This event showcases more openness and the modernization of EMLL.
1982: Sangre Chicana and El Satánico defeat Los Hermanos Mendoza (Ringo & Cachorro) in a hair vs. hair match (May 28). This win sparks a feud between Sangre and Satánico resulting in Satánico taking Sangre Chicana’s hair. Pánico and Manuel Robles face off in a mask and hair vs. mask and hair match against El Faisán and Franco Colombo (Aug. 17). The match has two disputed finishes and the wrestling commission later orders all four wrestlers to lose their hair and masks. El Santo bids farewell teaming with Gran Hamada to defeat Villano I and El Scorpio, saving their masks and hair during EMLL’s 49th anniversary celebration (Sept. 5). As part of the independent invasion, Tony Salazar loses his hair to Perro Aguayo.
1983: An unprecedented incident occurs when El Crucero no shows his mask vs. mask match with Solar II (Jun. 24). Paco Alonso choses rookie El Enfermero Jr. as the replacement. The crowd is offered refunds but those who stay see a great battle with Solar II winning.
1984: The legendary El Santo passes away (Feb. 5). Atlantis rises up the ranks defeating veteran El Talismán and taking his mask at the 51st Anniversary Show in a defining match for the new star.
1985: El Dandy, Fuerza Guerrera & Talisman defeat Los Destructores (Vulcano & Tony Arce) & Lemús II in a masks & hair match with Arce & Vulcano losing their hair and Lemus II losing his mask (Jul. 5). The 52nd Anniversary Show on was cancelled due to a devastating earthquake (Sept. 20). The planned main event had been a mask vs. mask match with El Supremo vs. El Dorado.
1986: El Faraón defeats La Fiera in a hair match (Feb. 23). Sangre Chicana wins a brutal hair mach with Perro Aguayo in front of a capacity crowd (Feb. 28). Atlantis unmasks Hombre Bala in a sold-out Arena México (Dec. 5). A 36-year ban on women’s wrestling is lifted in Mexico City and Arena Coliseo hosted its first women’s match since 1950 (Dec. 21).
1987: The father of EMLL, Mr. Salvador Lutteroth González passes away on (Sept. 5). The first women’s mask vs. mask match in Mexico City as La Diabólica unmasks La Yaqui at Arena Revolución (May 3). Women’s wrestling debuts at Arena México with Chela Salazar, Tania, and Martha Villalobos vs. Pantera Sureña, Irma González, and Irma Aguilar (Jul. 10). This led to a Chela Salazar vs. Pantera Sureña rivalry that culminates in Sureña winning a hair vs. hair match. Box y Lucha names Lizmark as the best wrestler of the year.
1988: Vulcano & Tony Arce defeat El Convoy & El Perverso at Arena Coliseo (Jan. 29). On January 31, Volcanico is unmasked by Climax II (Jan. 31). Hijo Del Gladiator unmasks Sangre Guerrera (Mar. 13). Kung Fu defeats Kato Kung Lee in a mask vs. hair match (Apr. 29). The legendary Blue Demon has his final match at Arena Mexico (Nov. 25).
1989: Fray Tormenta and Kendo defeat El Perverso and Barba Negra (Jan. 14). EMLL pays tribute to Mrs. Virginia Aguilera, one of the most iconic fans in lucha libre history (Feb. 12).
Up next, EMLL becomes CMLL in the 1990’s as the landscape of lucha libre changes!
As the 1980’s are the first decade where we have footage of matches, I’ve put together two playlists. The first is 10 Matches To Know 80’s EMLL which features twelve of the best or featuring the important stars. The second is a full 1980’s Lucha Libre playlist in chronological order (as best I can). This is everything I could find on YouTube from all promotions, (mostly) sorted. I’m still working on it and if it’s missing something that’s available, please let me know!
Bonus Notes
Los Infernales are a huge part of 1980’s EMLL. First on his own, El Satanico has an epic rivalry with Sangre Chicana. MS-1 also has a bloody hair vs. hair match with Chicana in 1983 around the time Los Infernales form. Pirata Morgan replaces Espectro Jr. and the rudos are a tough force for all the tecnicos of the time. Pirata leaves to form his own group and is replaced by Masakre. Satanico cheats to take Pirata’s hair in 1986. As the decade closed out, Satanico leaves the group to focus on his singles career while MS-1 and Masakre feud.
Two famous trios, Los Misioneros de la Muerte and Los Brazos work EMLL in the 80’s. The Misioneros are credited with popularizing trios matches while Los Brazos become a red hot act.
Cien Caras becomes a huge force in the late 80’s. He and his brothers Universo 2000 and Mascara Ano 2000 are known as Los Hermanos Dinamitas. He leaves in 1992 as part of the big exodus to AAA then returns.
Angel Azteca is a breakout star to close out the decade, often teaming with Atlantis. He passes away in 2007.
Lizmark is reliably a big star and consistent presence on top as a tecnico.
El Hijo Del Santo debuts in the 1980’s but only works sparingly in EMLL. That will change in the 90’s.
El Dandy really gets going the mid-to-late part of the decade into the 1990’s. 1988 is a huge year for him as he takes the hair of both Pirata Morgan and El Satanico when he comes a tecnico. He and Javier Cruz are rivals earlier on.