Arena Mexico and CMLL

The start of lucha libre as a business

Salvador Lutteroth saw wrestling in Texas and in 1933 started promoting it in Mexico City under the name Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre. The company later became Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, or CMLL. It has run shows almost continuously since then, making it the oldest active professional wrestling company in the world.

Arena Mexico

CMLL's home, Arena Mexico, opened in 1956 in the Doctores neighbourhood and seats around 16,500. Shows run several nights a week, with Friday night as the main card. Fans pack the stands, vendors sell masks outside and the atmosphere is loud and family-friendly. The arena is a popular stop for visitors to Mexico City, and it is easy to buy tickets on the day for most shows.

Rudos, tecnicos and the mask

In lucha libre, the good guys are tecnicos and the villains are rudos. Many wrestlers wear masks, and losing one in a mask versus mask match, called lucha de apuestas, is the biggest stake in the sport. Some stars, like Atlantis and Ultimo Guerrero, have had famous mask matches. Matches are often trios, three wrestlers per side, and are decided by two out of three falls.

Stars such as El Santo, Mil Mascaras, Atlantis, Mistico and Mascara Dorada built their names in CMLL.

CMLL today

CMLL still runs weekly shows and works with companies in Japan and the US, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling, so its luchadores appear on international cards. Its anniversary show each September is the biggest night of the year, often featuring a mask or hair match.

If you visit, expect a different atmosphere from a US show. Fans shout chants and jokes at the rudos, children wear masks of their heroes, and the referees are sometimes part of the drama themselves. Matches move quickly, with wrestlers diving to the floor and running the ropes at high speed. Check CMLL's official website or social pages for the weekly schedule and ticket information before you go.

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