Professional wrestling in Mexico has existed since the late 19th century, but became popular in the 1930s following the formation of Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre, the first widespread Mexican professional wrestling promotion. Throughout the 20th century, professional wrestling established itself as one of the most popular sports in Mexico, so much so that it played an important role in national popular culture. Mexican professional wrestling has developed a distinct style and presentation known as "lucha libre", which is characterized by its colorful wrestling masks, rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers, spectacular high-flying techniques, and telenovela-inspired sports entertainment elements.
Professional wrestling often competed with boxing in television ratings, with both disciplines reaching their peaks in Mexico in the mid-to-late 20th century, though both continue to be popular in the country. The popularity of professional wrestling in Mexico has fluctuated over the years, and has experienced a major resurgence during the 2000s through 2020s with the "Místico Boom Period" and the airing of events on streaming services. With the rise of the popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) in Mexico, some Mexican wrestlers have competed in that discipline, notably Alberto Del Rio (know as Dos Caras Jr.) and Brazo de Plata.
Unlike with other countries, professional wrestling is taken seriously by the Mexican sports press despite its predetermined nature and it is not considered a simple "spectacle" as it is in most parts of the world. Mexican news services and sports journalists do not report nor speculate on wrestlers' real names even if they know the names out of respect for lucha libre tradition, in which the true identity of masked wrestlers is kept secret from the general public. Certain Mexican wrestlers have transcended professional wrestling, notably El Santo, Blue Demon, and Mil Máscaras – collectively dubbed the Tres Grandes ("Big Three") of the Mexican wrestling tradition – became folk heroes and symbols of justice for the common man in Mexico through their appearances in luchador films.
With the globalization of professional wrestling, Mexican cities like Monterrey, Tijuana, and Mexico City have become important venues for foreign-based promotions on annual international tours.
History
The origins of professional wrestling in Mexico date back to the 19th century with the introduction of Greco-Roman wrestling by French soldiers during the Second Franco-Mexican War. The first widely recognized Mexican wrestler was Enrique Ugartechea in 1863, who was known as the strongest man in the country, which caught the attention of brands like Spalding who sponsored him.
In 1910, Italian wrestler Giovanni Raicevich arrived in Mexico with his wrestling troupe. At the same time, Italian businessman Antonio Fournier brought his Teatro Colón wrestlers to Mexico, including famous catch wrestler Conde Koma, whose fighting style is considered the precursor of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.Mexican Herald, November 16, 1909 The rivalry between the two wrestling troupes caused a stir among the Mexican population, generating lucrative business for both. In 1921, Belgian wrestler Constant le Marin also arrived in Mexico with his company, introducing León Molero, who had been a middleweight European champion. Two years later, he returned to Mexico, bringing the Japanese wrestler Kawamura, who, along with Hércules Sampson, performed at the Frontón Nacional venue.
In September 1933, Salvador Lutteroth founded Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), the first widespread Mexican-owned professional wrestling promotion in Mexico. For founding EMLL, Lutteroth is considered the "father of Mexican professional wrestling". El Santo, Blue Demon, and Mil Máscaras – collectively dubbed the Tres Grandes ("Big Three") of the Mexican wrestling tradition – emerged as three of the biggest EMLL stars. The three would also wrestle for the Universal Wrestling Association (UWA), a major rival to EMLL in the 1970s and '80s. EMLL was later renamed as Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). As an alternative to CMLL, AAA was founded in 1992 by Antonio Peña, who had previously worked for CMLL as a booker. Throughout the rest of the decade, AAA's popularity grew, collaborating with both World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1994 and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) in 1997; with the former, it co-hosted the When Worlds Collide event, and with the latter, it co-hosted the Royal Rumble event.
In the 2000s and early 2010s, Mexican professional wrestling experienced a major resurgence of popularity and mainstream awareness during CMLL's "Místico Boom Period", built around performers like Místico and Averno. In 2011, Místico departed CMLL to join the American-based WWE promotion, where he performed under the ring name "Sin Cara".
In the 2010s and 2020s, AAA and CMLL began airing their events on streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. In April 2025, AAA was acquired by WWE.
Timeline of major events 1860s–1920s – The first professional wrestling matches take place in Mexico1933 – Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) is founded by Salvador Lutteroth1934 or 1935 – El Santo, who becomes part of the "Big Three" of the Mexican lucha libre tradition with Blue Demon and Mil Máscaras, debuts as a professional wrestler1950 – Professional wrestling events begin airing on Mexican television, culminating in the formation of Televicentro Mexico which holds record-breaking events built around Medico Asesino1953 – EMLL joins the US-based National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) governing body, after which it is often referred to as "NWA-EMLL" Mid-to-late 1950s – Professional wrestling events are banned from airing on Mexican television, following the death of a child who was performing wrestling maneuvers – Women's wrestling is banned from Mexico City by the Regent of Mexico City Ernesto P. Uruchurtu1975 – The Universal Wrestling Association, a major rival to EMLL, is founded1986 – The ban on women's wrestling in Mexico City is liftedEarly 1990s – The ban on airing professional wrestling on television in Mexico is lifted 1991 – EMLL departs the NWA and is renamed to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)1992 – AAA is founded by Antonio Peña1993 – Triplemanía I, one of the first major events in AAA history, achieved the Mexican record attendance for wrestling (48,000+ people)1993–1994 – The AAA-World Championship Wrestling partnership era, culminating in the 1994 When Worlds Collide event2000 – Lucha Libre Femenil, one of the first all-female wrestling promotions in Mexico, is founded2004 – World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) holds its first house show in Mexico2004–2011 – Místico Boom Period era2011 – CMLL partners with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the largest Japanese wrestling promotion 2025 – WWE acquires AAA – All Elite Wrestling holds its first event in Mexico, Grand Slam, in collaboration with CMLL
Professional wrestling style
Lucha libre (translated as "freestyle wrestling") is the term used to describe the wrestling style created in Mexico, distinguished by its rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers, "high-flying" aerial techniques, and colorful masks. While in the rest of the world, the Mexican wrestling style is always known by its Spanish name, lucha libre (regardless of the language); in Mexico, it is also known as lucha libre mexicana (to differentiate it from other forms of professional wrestling and amateur wrestling), pancracio (the term used in ancient Greece to describe wrestling), and el arte de Gotch. Another distinguishing characteristic of lucha libre is its detailed system of weight classes, possibly inspired by boxing. Each weight class has an official upper weight limit that competitors must abide by and are monitored by the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission, but examples can be found from the history of lucha libre of wrestlers who are technically too heavy to compete in their weight class, including some who have held a weight class' title.
In 2018, the lucha libre wrestling style was declared an intangible cultural heritage of Mexico City by the head of the Government of Mexico City.
Professional wrestling promotions
In Mexico, there are numerous professional wrestling promotions, but the two that dominate the modern industry are Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA). CMLL is the oldest promotion in the world, having been founded in 1933; AAA was founded in the early 1990s. To a lesser extent, the International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), founded in 1996, and The Crash Lucha Libre, founded in 2011, have emerged as other major national wrestling promotions in the country.
Notable active professional wrestling promotions in Mexico include:
Name Promoter(s) Years active NotesConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)Salvador Lutteroth III 1933–presentThe oldest active professional wrestling promotion in the world.Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA)Marisela PeñaDorian Roldán1992–presentFounded as a break-away promotion from CMLL by Antonio Peña with the backing of Televisa.International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG)Cesar MorenoMarco Moreno 1996–presentBased out of Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, State of Mexico.The Crash Lucha LibreNacho de la O 2011–presentBased out of Auditorio Fausto Gutierrez Moreno in Tijuana, Baja California.Toryumon CasaÚltimo Dragón1997–presentServes as the home promotion for Japanese wrestlers from Dragongate and Pro Wrestling Noah who have been sent on learning excursions in Mexico.Lucha Libre Femenil (LLF)Luciano Alberto Garcia de Luna2000–presentOne of the first women's wrestling promotions in Mexico.Desastre Total Ultraviolento (DTU)Crazy Boy2007–presentA prominent Mexican lucha extrema (hardcore wrestling) promotion.Alianza Universal De Lucha Libre (AULL)Hector Guzman 1990–presentThe sister promotion of Universal Wrestling Entertainment, a revival of the Universal Wrestling Association.
National wrestling championships
The Mexican National Championships are a group of Mexico-specific professional wrestling championships that are sanctioned by the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission, the de facto national commission of lucha libre in Mexico. While the commission sanctions the championships, it does not promote the events in which the championships are defended, but rather allows the championships to be defended on the events of promotions like CMLL and AAA. The championships are intended to be held solely by Mexican nationals, though exceptions have been made, notably the Mexican National Lightweight Championship was held by Japanese wrestler Mishima Ota and the National Welterweight and Trios Championships were held by American wrestler Rey Mysterio. The earliest Mexican National Championship, the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship, was created in 1926 and bestowed to Mexican wrestler Francisco Aguayo by Mexican-Americans in the United States. Aguayo later brought the championship belt with him to Mexico and on June 21, 1934, firmly established it as a Mexican-based title with his victory over Manuel "El Toro" Hernández in the first championship match ever sanctioned by the Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission. The Mexican National Heavyweight Championship is still promoted by CMLL, making it the oldest active championship in professional wrestling.