90 Years of CMLL: 2000's
Mistico is a phenom, Perros Del Mal hit, and Blue Panther loses his mask. Plus, a 20 match playlist of 2000's CMLL!
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 started linking to matches mentioned where available usually on the date!
(Note: I’d recommend opening this in a web browser so you can see all the images.)
Check out this YouTube Playlist of 20 selected CMLL matches from the 2000’s’s.
2000’s
2000: The first edition of Leyenda de Azul (Blue Legend Tournament) honoring Blue Demon is won by Blue Panther (Oct. 27). The first major event of the century is Atlantis unmasking Villano III at Homenaje A Dos Leyendas (Mar. 17). Notably this was CMLL’s first pay-per-view broadcast. CMLL hosts Entre Torre Infernal featuring a Hair vs. Hair steel cage match with Perro Aguayo, Pierroth Jr., Villano III, and Máscara Año 2000 (Aug. 4). Ultimately, Máscara Año 2000 loses his hair. The event also featured a Mask Vs. Mask Torneo Cibernetico where Hijo del Gladiador loses his mask to Rencor Latino. Sadly, Blue Demon passes away (Dec. 15). At Sin Piedad, Perro Aguayo defeats Cien Caras in a brutal hair vs. hair match (Dec. 16).
2001: At Arena Coliseo Mr. Mexico loses his hair to Mano Negra (Mar. 4). Perro Aguayo says farewell to CMLL losing a mask vs. hair match with Universo 2000 (Mar. 30). Universo 2000 uses the devastating black hammer sending Aguayo to the hospital. At the 68th Anniversary, it is a steel cage battle for Los Infernales. The historic leader El Satanico defends the faction’s name against Ultimo Guerrero who sought to take control. Satanico’s allies are Averno and Mephisto while Guerrero has Tarzan Boy, Rey Bucanero, and Máscara Mágica. Satanico retains control of Los Infernales while Máscara Mágica loses his mask.
2002: Pierroth Jr. dominates CMLL with his military-style faction, Los Boricuas (El Gran Markus Jr., Veneno & Violencia). Pierroth berates Markus after losing to Los Villanos (Jan. 11). Markus defeats Veneno in a mask vs. hair match (Mar. 17). Pierroth Jr. reasserts dominance by shaving Máscara Año 2000’s hair (Jul. 14).
2003: Jose “Shadito” Cruz, the father of Los Brazos passes away (Feb. 3). Ray Mendoza, a legendary wrestler and the patriarch of the Villano dynasty passes away (Apr. 16). Pierroth Jr. continues to dominate CMLL and shaves Gran Markus Jr.’s hair (Mar. 21). He also takes the hair of Apolo Dantés, Cien Caras, and Super Porky and unmasks Violencia (Aug. 1). Finally his reign ends when Universo 2000 defeats him in a hair vs. mask match (Dec. 5). In August, Perro Aguayo Jr. makes his Arena Mexico debut. Bestia Salvaje loses his hair to El Terrible. At the Anniversary show, a MOTY candidate with Ricky Marvin, Virus & Volador Jr. against Pinoy Boy & The Havana Pitbulls. At Arena Puebla’s 50th Anniversary, Máscara Año 2000 loses his hair to Shocker. Then in November in Arena Coliseo’s first-ever cage match, Satanico loses his hair to Máscara Año 2000.
2004: Hijo del Perro Aguayo and Damian El Terrible form an alliance and defeat Los Hermanos Dinamita in a hair vs. hair match at Homenaje A Dos Leyendas. El Terrible takes the hair of Máscara Mágica (Apr. 3). A six-man hair vs. hair cage match takes place with Perro Aguayo Jr., Pierroth, Shocker, Tarzan Boy, Vampiro Canadiense, and Negro Casas (Jun. 18). In the end, Aguayo Jr. takes the hair of Negro Casas.
2005: A new boom for CMLL with Mistico and Perro Aguayo Jr. Mistico’s meteoric rise continues defeating Averno to become the World Middleweight Champion. Perro Aguayo Jr. won Leyenda de Plata in 2004 but broke the trophy, declaring his father the only true legend. At Homenaje A Dos Leyendas, Perro Aguayo & Perro Aguayo Jr. defeat Los Hermanos Dinamita (Cien Caras & Mascara Ano 2000) in a Hair vs. Hair Match. Aguayo Jr. formed an iconic new faction - Los Perros del Mal - with Héctor Garza, Mr. Águila, Damian 666, and Halloween. Later, El Terrible and Lizmark Jr. join. Los Perros del Mal won a cage match with Damian 666 taking Máscara Mágica’s hair (Jun. 18). Garza triumphs over Pierroth in a hair vs. hair match (Aug. 19). Then at the 72nd Anniversary show, Perro Aguayo Jr., Universo 2000, and Hector Garza face off in a triangular hair match. Universo 2000 emerges victorious and Garza is shaved bald. It was a controversial ending as Cien Caras helped Universo 2000 win.
2006: Mistico’s popularity ascended defeating Atlantis to win La Leyenda de Plata tournament (Sept. 15) Atlantis shocked everyone turning rudo earlier that year. At the 73rd Anniversary Show, Mistico has a career-defining victory unmasking Black Warrior in the main event. Mistico’s fame transcends wrestling with Cruz Azul footballer Gabriel Pereyra celebrating goals wearing a Místico mask and his image appearing in mainstream media. At Arena Coliseo’s 63rd Anniversary, Stuka Jr. wins the mask of Flecha (Apr. 2). At Arena México’s 50th Anniversary, Tarzan Boy and Rey Bucanero defeat Damian 666 and Mr. Águila, leaving both rudos bald (Apr. 28). Misterioso Jr. wins La Gran Alternativa Tournament then scores a major victory unmasking La Pantera (Jul. 14).
2007: Tournament winners establish themselves as top stars. Volador Jr. wins the Reyes Del Aire (King of the Air) tournament becoming a top star (Feb. 16). At Homenaje a Dos Leyendas (“Tribute to Two Legends”), Marco Corleone scores a big upset taking Universo 2000’s hair. Leono takes Mogur’s hair. At Arena Coliseo, Stuka Jr. unmasked Jeque (Apr. 15). Ultimo Guerrero wins his second consecutive Torneo Grand Prix (May 11). Mistico becomes the first wrestler to win back-to-back Leyenda de Plata trophies. At the CMLL Anniversary Show, Blue Panther unmasks Lizmark Jr. as part of a star-studded cage match that also included Atlantis, Ultimo Guerrero, Dr. Wagner Jr., Mistico, Villano V, and Perro Aguayo Jr. (Sept. 28). Sadly, Ángel Azteca passes away after a match (Mar. 18).
2008: Blue Panther stunningly loses his iconic mask to Villano V at CMLL’s 75th Anniversary. Mexico City bans smoking indoor including arenas like Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo. The shocking breakup of Hector Garza and Perro Aguayo Jr. leads to a match at Homenaje a Dos Leyendas in which Aguayo wins the hair of Garza (Mar. 21). Heavy Metal wins a triangular hair vs. hair match with Toscano getting his head shaved while Aguayo escapes (May 23). At Infierno En El Ring, Heavy Metal loses his hair to El Texano as part of a ten man hair vs. hair cage match (Jun. 13). The Mexico City Museum launches a “75 Years of CMLL” exhibit featuring rare photographs from the Televisa and La Aficion archives as well as historic memorabilia from collector Cristian Cymet.
2009: Ultimo Guerrero takes his career to another level. The first-ever cage match at Arena Puebla sees Máscarita Dorada unmasked Sombrita in match that featured 14 minis (Mar. 6). At Homenaje a Dos Leyendas, Ultimo Guerrero unmasks Villano V as Ray Mendoza Jr. (Mar. 20). Then in June, Guerrero becomes the first-ever Universal Champion tournament winner featuring all CMLL weight-class champions. At the Anniversary Show, Mistico defeats Negro Casas in a hair vs. hair match (Sept. 18). Tigre Blanco unmasks Polvora
I put together a YouTube Playlist of 20 CMLL Matches from the 2000’s to watch!
Up next, FantasticaMania, Mistico departs, and Los Ingobernables rise in the 2010’s.
Bonus Notes
Dr. Wagner Jr. was a major force in 2000’s CMLL until his departure for AAA in 2009. Wagner had feuds with the likes of Negro Casas, Atlantis, and LA Park. The popular rudo turned tecnico.
Shocker was a big part of the early decade before moving to AAA in 2005, consistently ranked as one of the top wrestlers in the country. Vampiro returned to the promotion after WCW closed, teamed with Shocker, and then lost to him before leaving the promotion. Vampiro would return again in 2007.
The decade would see consistent involvement from New Japan Pro Wrestling as well as TNA.
Místico, Volador Jr., and La Sombra formed the high-flying trio “Sky Team” to close out the decade.