Torneo Gran Alternativa 2008 | |||
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Promotion | Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre | ||
Date | July 18, 2008 | ||
City | Mexico City, Mexico | ||
Venue | Arena México | ||
Event chronology | |||
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CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa chronology | |||
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The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2008) (Spanish for the "Great Alternative Tournament") 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 (CMLL; "World Wrestling Council"). 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 14th version of the Gran ALternativa was held in Arena México, CMLL's primary venue, as part of their Friday night CMLL Super Viernes ("Super Friday") show. The show took place on the same night as the semi-finals of that year's Leyenda de Plata ("Silver Legend") tournament. In the finals of the tournament Novato Dragón Rojo Jr. and veteran Último Guerrero defeated novato Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. to win the tournament. The victory was the start of Dragón Rojo Jr.'s promotional push as he began working higher on the card after the victory, including forming his own group with Black Warrior and Sangre Azteca known as Poder Mexica ("Mexican Power").
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. [1] [2] The tournament was called El Torneo Gran Alternativa , or "The Great Alternative Tournament" and became a recurring event on the CMLL calendar. While established "veteran" wrestlers participated in the tournament the ultimate goal of the tournament is to feature the novato wrestlers, giving them a chance to perform at a higher level than they normally worked at and as an opportunity to elevate the status of one or more of the competitors. [3]
The Gran Alternativa was held twice in both 1996 and 1999, and not at all in 1997 and 2000, but has otherwise been held once a year since its inception in 1994. [2] The 2008 Gran Alternativa tournament was the 14th overall Gran Alternativa tournament. All tournaments have been held in Arena México, CMLL's main venue and had taken place on Friday nights. [4] CMLL holds other similar tournaments focusing on younger wrestlers, such as La Copa Junior , [5] En Busca de un Ídolo ("In Search of an Idol"), [6] Torneo Sangre Nueva ("New Blood Tournament"), [7] and Forjando un Ídolo ("Forging an Idol"), [8] although all of those tournaments focuses on singles competition.
The tournament featured 7 professional wrestling matches with wrestlers competing as tag teams competing in matches with pre-determined outcomes. [9] Some competitors in the tournament were involved in pre-existing scripted feuds or storylines while others were paired up or matched up against each other for the sake of the tournament. Wrestlers portray either villains (referred to as Rudos in Mexico) or fan favorites (Técnicos in Mexico) as they compete in wrestling matches. [10]
Originally the fourteenth Torneo Gran Alternativa was supposed to feature a novato known as "El Brujo", but when El Brujo suffered an injury he was replaced by Puma King, who was billed as the nephew of wrestler El Felino, teaming up with Villano V for the tournament. [11] When the tournament was first announced Último Guerrero's novato partner was listed as "Diamante Negro", but in the days prior to the actual tournament Diamante Negro was given a new ring persona and mask, taking the name Dragón Rojo Jr. ("Red Dragon Jr."). [11] [12] None of the novatos, Ángel Azteca Jr., Astro Boy, Axxel, Dragón Rojo Jr., Metalik, Puma King, Skándalo and Bronco had previously competed in a Torneo Gran Alternativa. [13] A different masked wrestler using the name "El Bronco" competed in the June 1996 Torneo Gran Alternativa , [14] and Silver King used the same name when he competed in the 2005 Torneo Gran Alternativa. [15]
Three of the veterans Héctor Garza, Shocker and Último Guerrero, had previously won the tournament as a Novato, Garza won The first tournament, Shocker won the second tournament and Último Guerrero in April 1999. [2] Atlantis, who teamed up with Skándalo for the 2008 tournament was the only wrestler to have previously won the tournament as a veteran, winning the 2005 tournament with novato La Máscara. [2] Atlantis was the veteran with the most Torneo Gran Alternativa appearances with the 2008 version being his seventh tournament. [13]
Traditionally CMLL uses a battle royal match featuring all the novato wrestlers to determined the order of the first round matches, but in 2008 CMLL skipped the seeding battle royal and went straight to the first tag team match. All the first round and semi-final matches were one-fall matches while the finals was a best two-out-of-three falls, the traditional match form in Mexico. In the first tournament match of the night Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated the team of Angel Azteca Jr. and Shocker in six minutes and forty-six seconds. [16] In the second opening round match the tecnico team of Axxl and Blue Panther defeated Puma King and Villano V, followed by Bronco and Mr. Niebla defeating Astro Boy and Héctor Garza. [16] In the final first round match Metalik and second-generation luchador Dos Caras Jr. defeated the rudo team of Skándalo and Atlantis to close out the round. [16] Both second round matches were short, clocking in at 3:36 and 3:08 respectively as Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Axxl and Blue Panther while Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. defeated Bronco and Mr. Niebla. [16] In the third and final round of the tournament Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. in five minutes and forty-eight seconds to win 2008 Torneo Gran Alternativa. [16]
Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||
Último Guerrero and Dragón Rojo Jr. | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Shocker and Angel Azteca Jr. | 06:46 | |||||||||||||
Último Guerrero and Dragón Rojo Jr. | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Blue Panther and Axel | 03:36 | |||||||||||||
Blue Panther and Axxel | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Villaño V and Puma King | 07:11 | |||||||||||||
Último Guerrero and Dragón Rojo Jr. | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Dos Caras Jr. and Metalik | 05:48 | |||||||||||||
Mr. Niebla and El Bronco | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Héctor Garza and Astro Boy | 08:26 | |||||||||||||
Mr. Niebla and Bronco | 03:08 | |||||||||||||
Dos Caras Jr. and Metalik | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Dos Caras Jr. and Metalik | W [16] | |||||||||||||
Atlantis and Skándalo | 06:14 |
No. | Results | Stipulations | Times |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Molotov and Starman defeated Los Romanos (Caligula and Messala) by disqualification | Best two-out-of-three falls tag team match | 09:06 |
2 | Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Black Warrior and Pierrothito defeated Mascarita Dorada, Shockercito and Último Dragoncito | Six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match | 13:24 |
3 | Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Ángel Azteca Jr. and Shocker | Gran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match | 06:45 [16] |
4 | Axxel and Blue Panther defeated Puma King and Villano V | Gran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match | 07:11 [16] |
5 | El Bronco and Mr. Niebla defeated Astro Boy and Héctor Garza | Gran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match | 08:26 [16] |
6 | Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. defeated Atlantis and Skándalo | Gran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match | 06:14 [16] |
7 | Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Axxel and Blue Panther | Gran Alternativa 2008 semi-final tag team match | 03:36 [16] |
8 | Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. defeated El Bronco and Mr. Niebla | Gran Alternativa 2008 semi-final tag team match | 03:08 [16] |
9 | Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. | Gran Alternativa 2008 final tag team match | 05:48 [16] |
10 | Perro Aguayo Jr. defeated Dr. Wagner Jr. | Best two-out-of-three falls, 2008 Leyenda de Plata semi-final match | 07:45 [17] |
Dragón Rojo Jr. followed up the Gran Alternatia victory by starting a storyline feud with Mictlán. The feud led to a Lucha de Apuestas ("Bet match") at CMLL's 2008 Sin Piedad show. Dragón Rojo Jr. won the match and forced Mictlán to unmask per the stipulation of the match. [18] [19] Over the years Dragón Rojo Jr. would rise up the ranks of CMLL, first forming the group Poder Mexica with Black Warrior and Sangre Azteca. [20] Later on he would join Último Guerrero's group Los Guerreros del Infierno , the main rudo group in CMLL. [21] He later broke away from Los Guerrero del Infierno to form his own group, known as Los Revolucionarios del Terror. [22]
The 2008 Gran Alternativa tournament was also a chapter in a feud between Villano V and Blue Panther, with Blue Panther defeating his rival in the opening round. The two would later wrestle in the main event of the CMLL 75th Anniversary Show where Blue Panther lost and was forced to unmask. [23]
On November 7, 2008 Metalik was repackaged as he was given a new name, mask and suit, making his debut as Máscara Dorada ("Golden Mask"), helping his team defeat the trio of Averno, Mephisto and Ephesto. [24] He would later go on to win various championships in subsequent years as he rose up through the ranks of CMLL. [25] [26]
José Gutiérrez Hernández, better known by his ring name Último Guerrero, is a Mexican luchador, who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He is not related to the lucha libre legend Gory Guerrero or any of his children; "Guerrero" in this case is the Spanish word for warrior and not the surname of the character. On September 19, 2014, Último Guerrero lost a Lucha de Apuestas match to Atlantis, after which he was forced to unmask and reveal his birth name.
Atlantis is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) where he performs as a Técnico and is one of the longest-tenured luchador in CMLL history. Atlantis was trained by Diablo Velasco, made his in-ring debut in 1983 and has always wrestled under the ring name Atlantis, named after the sunken city of Atlantis. Atlantis has held a large number of professional wrestling championships over the years, both in Mexico and in Japan, both individually and as a tag team. He has also won the mask of several prominent wrestlers through his career including Kung Fu, Villano III, Último Guerrero and La Sombra.
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.
Dragón Rojo Jr. is the ring name of a Mexican luchador enmascarado known for his work in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Dragón Rojo Jr. has previously worked under the ring names Zaracatán Jr. and Diamante Negro but has achieved the majority of his success as Dragón Rojo Jr. He is a former CMLL World Middleweight Champion, having held the championship for a total of 1,954 days. Dragón Rojo Jr. along with Último Guerrero are the longest reigning CMLL World Tag Team Champions in the history of the championship.
Misterioso Jr. is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, who is also referred to as Misterioso II. Misterioso Jr. is the nephew of Misterioso who wore a similar mask until losing it in 1997. Misterioso Jr. has mainly worked for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) throughout his career, where he won the 2006 Gran Alternativa tournament with Perro Aguayo Jr. Over the summer of 2009, Misterioso Jr. joined the wrestling group Poder Mexica.
Pólvora is the ring name of a Mexican LuchadorEnmascarado, or masked professional wrestler best known for his work in the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Pólvora'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. His name is the Spanish term for Gunpowder. Pólvora's brother is also a professional wrestler, under the ring name Inquisidor.
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".
Leono is a Mexican luchador, or professional wrestler currently working for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) portraying a tecnico wrestling character. His ring name is the Spanish translation of Lion-O from the ThunderCats cartoon.
Gran Guerrero is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). 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. He 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 (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 (2005) was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on July 1, 2005, 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 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 (2001) was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on August 14, 2001, 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 (2004) was a professional wrestling tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The tournament was held on August 20, 2004, 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 (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 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 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 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.
Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities - but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters