El Protector is an annual lucha libre tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) in January of each year. The El Protector tournament started in 2012 but was preceded in 2010 and 2011 by the Torneo Relampago de Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas de la Lucha Libre ("Projecting a new promise lightning tournament"), a tournament with the same format and concept. 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 IWRG has plans for, although at times it has not always had the desired result. The tournament has always been held in Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, the main arena of IWRG. A total of 66 different wrestlers have competed in the seven tournaments held so far with Veneno being the only wrestler to compete in all seven. Alan Extreme, Eterno and Trauma I are the only three wrestlers to compete both as a rookie and as a veteran in the tournament. X-Fly is the only wrestler to win the tournament twice, winning the 2012 tournament and the 2013 tournament as a veteran.
Year | Winners | Date | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rookie | Veteran | |||
2010 | El Hijo del Signo | Dr. Cerebro | January 1, 2010 | [1] |
2011 | Comando Negro | Scorpio, Jr. | January 13, 2011 | [2] |
2012 | Imposible | X-Fly | January 12, 2012 | [3] |
2013 | Carta Brava, Jr. | X-Fly (2) | January 17, 2013 | [4] |
2014 | Electro Boy | Super Nova | February 2, 2014 | [5] |
2015 | Metaleon | Negro Navarro | February 15, 2015 | [6] |
2016 | Atomic Star | Herodes Jr. | January 31, 2016 | [7] |
2017 | Diablo Jr. | Negro Navarro | February 19, 2017 | [8] |
2018 | Villano V Jr. | Rokambole Jr. | February 25, 2018 | [9] |
Event | Date | Venue | City | Main event | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | January 1, 2010 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | El Hijo del Signo and Dr. Cerebro vs. Comando Negro and Oficial 911 – 2010 Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas tournament final | [1] |
2011 | January 13, 2011 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Comando Negro and Scorpio, Jr. vs. Multifacetico IV and Trauma I – 2011 Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas tournament final | [2] |
2012 | January 12, 2012 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Imposible and X-Fly vs. Centvrión and Negro Navarro – 2012 El Protector tournament final | [3] |
2013 | January 17, 2013 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Carta Brava, Jr. and X-Fly vs. Eita and Negro Navarro – 2013 El Protector tournament final | [4] |
2014 | February 2, 2014 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Electro Boy and Súper Nova vs. Atomic Star and Eterno – 2014 El Protector tournament final | [5] |
2015 | February 15, 2015 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Chicano and Danny Casas defended the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship against Los Primos Dinamita (Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000 Jr.) | [6] |
2016 | January 31, 2016 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Atomic Star and Herodes Jr. vs. Dragón Fly and El Hijo de Dos Caras - 2016 El Protector tournament final | [7] |
2017 | February 19, 2017 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Imposible and Black Terry vs. Demonio Infernal and Negro Navarro - 2017 El Protector tournament final | [8] |
2018 | February 25, 2018 | Arena Naucalpan | Naucalpan, State of Mexico | Villano V Jr. and Rokambole Jr. vs. Ram El Carnero and Trauma I - 2018 El Protector tournament final | [9] |
The Torneo Gran Alternativa is an annual lucha libre 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.
El Protector (2012) was the first annual El Protector professional wrestling event produced by the International Wrestling Revolution Group. It took place on January 12, 2012, at Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, State of Mexico. The 2012 El Protector was the first event produced under that name, but was a continuation of the Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas tournament of 2010 and 2011. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where eight teams competed for the trophy.
El Protector (2013) was an annual professional wrestling major event produced by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on January 17, 2013, in Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2013 El Protector was the second annual event produced under that name and held in January each year. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where seven teams competed for the trophy.
Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas (2010), short for Torneo Relampago de Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas de la Lucha Libre was the first annual Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas professional wrestling event produced by the International Wrestling Revolution Group. It took place on January 1, 2010, at Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, State of Mexico. The focal point of the show was the Torneo Relampago de Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas de la Lucha Libre tag team tournament where eight teams competed for the trophy. In 2012 the tournament was renamed El Protector but the tournament concept remained the same. This event was also the 14th IWRG Anniversary Show.
Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas (2011), short for Torneo Relampago de Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas de la Lucha Libre was the first annual Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas professional wrestling event produced by the International Wrestling Revolution Group. It took place on January 13, 2011, at Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, State of Mexico. The focal point of the show was the Torneo Relampago de Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas de la Lucha Libre tag team tournament where eight teams competed for the trophy. In 2012 the tournament was renamed El Protector but the tournament concept remained the same
Dinamic Black is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) portraying a tecnico wrestling character. Dinamic Black'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.
Esteban Mares Castañeda is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Black Terry. Wrestling since 1973, he was once part of a group called Los Temerarios alongside Jose Luis Feliciano and Shu El Guerrero. He has previously worked as the masked character Guerrero Maya where he formed the group called Los Guerreros Del Futuro with Guerrero del Futuro and Damian El Guerrero. He is the father of wrestler Guerrero Maya Jr. although the relationship is not officially recognized due to Guerrero Maya, Jr. being a masked wrestler.
Alejandro Jiménez Cruz is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Dr. Cerebro. He has been associated with the Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) since his debut in 1996 and has portrayed both a tecnico and a Rudo wrestling character. He is also a licensed Chiropractor.
Rafael Ernesto Medina Baeza, better known under the ring name Veneno ("Venom"), is a Panamanian luchador, or professional wrestler, living in Mexico and currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) portraying a tecnico wrestling character. He is related through marriage to the extended Casas wrestling family as his sister, also a wrestler under the ring name Dalys La Caribeña, is married to Negro Casas.
Miguel Ángel Lugo, better known under the ring name Eterno, is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler. He is currently signed to the Mexican professional wrestling promotions Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), where he competes under the ring name Abismo Negro Jr. and is one-third of the AAA World Trios Champions and a former AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion. He also makes appearances for International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU) and on the Mexican independent circuit portraying a rudo wrestling character.
Imposible is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, who currently works for International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG). He has also worked under the ring name Fuerza Guerrera Nueva Generación. He is not related to Fuerza Guerrera, but was officially allowed to use the name by his trainer. His 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.
El Protector (2014) was an annual professional wrestling major event produced by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on February 2, 2014 in Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2014 El Protector was the third annual event produced under that name and the first to be held in February. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where seven teams competed for the trophy.
El Protector (2015) was an annual professional wrestling major event produced by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on February 15, 2015 in Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2015 El Protector was the fourth annual event produced under that name and the second to be held in February. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where seven teams competed for the trophy.
El Protector (2016) was an annual professional wrestling major event produced by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on January 31, 2016 in Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2016 El Protector was the fifth annual event produced under that name and the third to be held in January. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where eight teams composed of a "rookie" and a "vet" team up to compete for a trophy. The 2016 El Protector was won by Herodes Jr. and Atomic Star.
The International Wrestling Revolution Group Anniversary Shows is an annual major lucha libre event produced and scripted by the Mexican International Wrestling Revolution Group. The show is always held on or just after January 1 each year, marking the creation of IWRG on January 1, 1996. The anniversary shows are often, but not always main evented by a Lucha de Apuestas, or "bet match", where a wrestler will put his wrestling mask or hair on the line.
El Protector (2018) was a major lucha libre event produced and scripted by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on January 31, 2016 in Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2017 El Protector was the seventh annual event produced under that name. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where eight teams composed of a "rookie" and a "vet" team up to compete for as a way to showcase the "rookie" of the team.
El Protector (2017) was an annual professional wrestling major event produced by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on February 19, 2017 in Arena Naucalpan, Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2017 El Protector was the eight annual event produced under that name and the fourth to be held in January. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where eight teams composed of a "rookie" and a "vet" team up to compete for a trophy.
El Protector (2019) is a major lucha libre event produced and scripted by Mexican professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on January 31, 2016 at Arena Naucalpan, in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico; IWRG's main venue. The 2019 El Protector was thetenth annual event produced under that name. The focal point of the show was the El Protector tag team tournament where eight teams composed of a "rookie" and a "vet" team up to compete for as a way to showcase the "rookie" of the team.
Héctor Juan López Vieyra is a Mexican luchador who is best known for his time with International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) under the ring name Canis Lupus. He has previously worked under the ring name Comando Negro from 2009 to 2012. Near the end of 2012, López took over the Canis Lupus character when the first wrestler to use the name was replaced by IWRG. "Canis Lupus" is Latin for wolf, something that was reflected in the mask, that he wore prior to September 2016, which is adorned with stylized wolf features such as ears.