Torneo Gran Alternativa | |||||||
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Details | |||||||
Promotion | Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre | ||||||
Date established | July 13, 1994 | ||||||
Current champion(s) | Star Jr. and Valiente [1] | ||||||
Date won | October 19, 2019 [1] | ||||||
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The Torneo Gran Alternativa (Spanish for "the Great Alternative Tournament") is an annual lucha libre (professional wrestling) tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The tournament was not held in 1997, 2000, or 2002, but was held twice in 1996 and 1998. The most recent Torneo Gran Alternativa tournament was held in December 2021. The tournament has always been held in Arena Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico, the main arena of CMLL.
Up until 2010 the tournament format was that of eight tag teams facing off in a one night, single elimination tournament, sometimes with a match to determine the seeds for the tournament. In 2010 the field of competitors was doubled to 16 and the tournament would take place over three shows, with eight teams facing off in Block A, the other eight in Block B and the two block winners would wrestle the following week. All tournament matches except the finals are single fall matches, while the finals are a best two-out-of-three falls per lucha libre traditions.
The concept of the tournament is to team a young up-and-comer with a veteran and use the tournament to help showcase the younger talent, the young winner is often someone CMLL has plans for, although at times it has not always had the desired result.
Último Guerrero and Carístico are the only wrestlers to have won the tournament three times. Último Guerrero won in 1999 as the rookie and in 2008 and 2011 as the veteran of the team. Carístico, then known as "Místico" won in his rookie year in 2004 and then as a veteran in 2007 and again in 2017. Héctor Garza and Rey Escorpión have both won the tournament twice, once as a rookie and once as the "veteran" and Emilio Charles Jr. has won it twice as a veteran. Complete results have not been found documented for the 1998 event, but based on known information at least 187 individual wrestlers have participated in 22 tournaments as of 2017. Atlantis is both the wrestler and the veteran with most tournament appearances, 15, and has always been on the veteran side of the teams. Último Guerrero is second with 13 tournament appearances. Astro Rey Jr. and Sangre Azteca has worked the most tournaments on the novato side, five in total and none as a veteran.
Starting in 1994 the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) created a special tournament concept where they would team up a novato, or rookie, with a veteran for a single-elimination tag team tournament. [2] [3] The tournament was called El Torneo Gran Alternativa, or "The Great Alternative Tournament" and became a recurring event on the CMLL calendar. In 1996 and 1999 CMLL held two tournaments, but since then has held one a year at most. CMLL did not hold a Gran Alternativa tournament in 1997 and 2000 held on each year from 2001 through 2014, opting not to hold a tournament in 2015. The 2017 Torneo Gran Alternativa was the 22nd version of the tournament.
CMLL holds other similar tournaments focusing on younger wrestlers, such as La Copa Junior , [27] En Busca de un Ídolo ("In Search of an Idol"), [28] Torneo Sangre Nueva ("New Blood Tournament"), [29] and Forjando un Ídolo ("Forging an Idol"), [30] although all of those tournaments focuses on singles competition. The "Novato/Veteran" team competition has been adopted by other Mexican wrestling companies, including International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) who held the Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas tournament in 2010 [31] and 2011, [32] and from 2012, [33] [34] on has held a novato/veteran tag team tournament in January each year under the name El Protector . [35]
As of the 2017 tournament, 187 wrestlers competed in one or more of the tournaments held, with Atlantis holding tor record for most tournaments, a total of 15. He is also the wrestler to have worked most tournament as a veteran as all his appearances were on the veteran side. Sangre Azteca and Astro Rey Jr. (now known as Mephisto) are tied for most tournaments as a novato, with five each. Raziel is the novato that has gone the longest between his first and most recent appearance as a novato, seven years between the 2010 tournament and the 2017 tournament. Último Guerrero and Místico/Carístic are the only wrestlers to win the tournament three times, once as a novato and twice as a veteran each. Héctor Garza and Rey Escorpión are the only other wrestlers to have won the tournament as both a novato and a veteran. Silver King has appeared under three different ring names, Silver King, Bronco and Black Tiger. Several others have worked different tournaments under different names/masks, usually without CMLL officially acknowledging the connection; El Sagrado as both Genetico and Sagrado, Fuego as Flash and Fuego, Máscara Dorada as Metalik and Máscara Dorada, Tritón as Metal Blanco and Tritón, Ramstein as Fugaz and Ramstein, Titán as Palacio Negro and Titán.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2010) was a professional wrestling annual tournament produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and took place over three shows between April 16 and April 30, 2010 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico. The Torneo Gran Alternativa is an annual tournament where an established CMLL veteran teams up with a Novato or rookie in a tag team tournament, although at times the Novato is not so much a rookie, but either a wrestler who has been given a new ring character or has never participated in the Gran Alternativa before. The format of the tournament was changed for the 2010 tournament, traditionally it featured 8 tag teams and a one night tournament, but in 2010 it featured 16 teams, split over three CMLL Super Viernes shows. Héctor Garza and Pólvora won the tournament, defeating Volador Jr. and Delta in the finals.
Fabián Núñez Napoles is a Mexican luchador, better known by the ring name Rey Escorpión. He is currently working for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where he portrays a rudo or bad guy character. He is former the AAA World Tag Team Champions with El Texano Jr. and he is currently in his first reign as one third of the AAA World Trios Champions with La Hiedra and Texano Jr. He worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) from 2009 to 2016 and prior to that worked for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) in 2008, where he was known as Escorpión Negro. Núñez ring name is Spanish for "Scorpion King".
El Soberano or Soberano Jr. is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) portraying a tecnico wrestling character. Soberano Jr.'s real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans. He is a third-generation wrestler, son of Euforia and grandson of Pablo Moreno Román, known under the ring name El Soberano. Soberano is Spanish for "Sovereign".
Gran Guerrero is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where he is the current CMLL World Heavyweight Champion, in his first reign. He portrays a rudo wrestling character. He was originally introduced to the wrestling world under the ring name Último Guerrero Jr. in 2009 as the storyline son of Último Guerrero, and later made his wrestling debut under the name Taurus. In 2013 he was given a new image, re-introduced under the ring name "Gran Guerrero", officially acknowledging that he was the much younger brother of Último Guerrero. Gran Guerrero's real name is not a matter of public record, as is often the case with masked wrestlers in Mexico where their private lives are kept a secret from the wrestling fans.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2013) was a professional wrestling tournament event produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) that took place from April 12 until April 26, 2013 over the course of two CMLL Super Viernes shows, with the finals on the Arena Mexico 57th Anniversary Show. The Torneo Gran Alternativa concept sees a Novato or rookie team up with an experienced wrestler for a tag team tournament. The rookie winner is often elevated up the ranks of CMLL as a result of winning the tournament, but there is no specific "prize" for winning the tournament. The tournament was won by rookie Boby Zavala and veteran Rey Escorpión, Escorpión's second tournament win overall.
Boby Zavala is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler. He is best known for working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) between 2011 and 2017, where he portrayed a rudo wrestling character. He originally worked as a masked wrestler, or enmascarado called Licantropo, but adopted his current ring name in 2010 and unmasked.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2012) was the 2012 version of Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's (CMLL) Torneo Gran Alternativa, a tournament they had held almost every year since 1994. The 2012 version was the eighteenth Torneo Gran Alternativa and was held in March and April 2012. The tournament consisted of 16 tag teams, composed of a Novato (rookie) and a veteran wrestler, who may not normally team up.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2011) was a professional wrestling tournament event held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) that took place from March 25 until April 8, 2011 over the course of three CMLL Super Viernes shows. The Torneo Gran Alternativa concept sees a Novato or rookie team up with an experienced wrestler for a tag team tournament. The rookie winner is often elevated up the ranks of CMLL as a result of winning the tournament, but there is no specific "prize" awarded for winning the tournament beyond a symbolic trophy.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2016) was a professional wrestling tournament event produced by the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that began on March 22, 2016 and ran over the course of three of CMLL's Tuesday night shows in Arena México through April 5. The Torneo Gran Alternativa concept sees a Novato or rookie team up with an experienced wrestler for a tag team tournament. The rookie winner is often elevated up the ranks of CMLL as a result of winning the tournament, but there is no specific "prize" for winning the tournament beyond a symbolic trophy.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa was the very first CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on June 7, 1996, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. The tournament would be the first of two Gran Alternativa tournaments that CMLL would hold in 1996, with a subsequent tournament held November. It was one of only two years where CMLL chose to how the tournament twice within a calendar year. Since It is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (1995) was the second annual CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on April 7, 1995, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. CMLL made the Torneo Gran Alternativa an annual event in 1995, only skipping it four times between 1994 and 2017. Since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport. The 1995 version of the tournament was held as part of CMLL's 39. Aniversario de Arena México show.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on April 2, 1999, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. CMLL made the Torneo Gran Alternativa an annual event in 1995, only skipping it four times between 1994 and 2017. since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2008) was a one-night, eight-team professional wrestling tournament held on July 18, 2017 by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The 2008 Gran Alternativa was the 14th time CMLL held the Torneo Gran Alternativa since the first tournament was held in 1994. The Gran Alternativa tournament concept is to team a young, or low ranking novato up with a veteran wrestler for tag team tournament as a way to highlight the novato wrestlers, potentially elevating one or more of them up the ranks of CMLL. The winning team was awarded a trophy, but no other tangible rewards for winning the tournament.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2006) was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on June 2, 2006, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. Since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2007) was the first CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on June 29, 2007, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. CMLL made the Torneo Gran Alternativa an annual event in 1995, only skipping it four times between 1994 and 2017. since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Gran Alternativa 2017 is an ongoing professional wrestling tournament event produced by the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that began on June 2, 2017 and will take place over three editions of CMLL's Friday night Super Viernes shows. The Torneo Gran Alternativa was first held in 1994 and is CMLL's oldest recurring tournament. The 2017 Gran Alternativa tournament will be the 22nd tournament held. In the Gran Alternativa a Novato, or rookie wrestler, team up with an experienced or "veteran" wrestler for a tag team tournament. The rookie winner is often elevated up the ranks of CMLL as a result of winning the tournament, but there is no specific "prize" for winning the tournament beyond a symbolic trophy.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa was the a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in 1996. As it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (1994) was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on December 17, 1999, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or Novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the Novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. CMLL made the Torneo Gran Alternativa an annual event in 1995, only skipping it four times between 1994 and 2017. since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized before the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa (1998) was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on June 14, 1998, in Mexico City, Mexico at CMLL's main venue, Arena México. The Gran Alternativa tournament features tag teams composed of a rookie, or novato, and a veteran wrestler for an elimination tournament. The idea is to feature the novato wrestlers higher on the card that they usually work and help elevate one or more up the ranks. CMLL made the Torneo Gran Alternativa an annual event in 1995, only skipping it four times between 1994 and 2017. since it is a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decisions of the bookers of a wrestling promotion that is not publicized prior to the shows to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The Torneo Gran Alternativa 2019 was professional wrestling tournament produced by the Mexican wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre that ran from October 4, 2019, over the course of three of CMLL's Friday night shows in Arena México, and end of October 18. The Torneo Gran Alternativa concept sees a Novato or rookie team up with an experienced wrestler for a tag team tournament. The rookie winner is often elevated up the ranks of CMLL as a result of winning the tournament, but there is no specific "prize" for winning the tournament beyond a symbolic trophy.