CMLL International Gran Prix (1997)

The CMLL International Gran Prix (1997) was a lucha libre, or professional wrestling, tournament produced and scripted by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; "World Wrestling Council" in Spanish) which took place on April 4, 1997 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico, CMLL's main venue. The 1997 International Gran Prix was the fourth time CMLL has held an International Gran Prix tournament since 1994. All International Gran Prix tournaments have been a one-night tournament, always as part of CMLL's Friday night CMLL Super Viernes shows.

CMLL International Gran Prix (1997)
Dr. Wagner Jr., representing Mexico
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
DateApril 4, 1997
CityMexico City, Mexico
VenueArena México
Event chronology
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International Gran Prix chronology
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1996
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The fourth International Gran Prix was a one night, 16-man single elimination tournament consisting of Mexican natives and a number of foreign wrestlers, some of which worked for CMLL on a regular basis (such as Steele and Último Dragón) and others who were invited specially for the tournament (such as Leatherface). The final match saw Steel defeat Rayo de Jalisco Jr. to win the International Gran Prix.

Production

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Background

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In 1994 the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) organized their first ever International Gran Prix tournament. The first tournament followed the standard "single elimination" format and featured sixteen wrestlers in total, eight representing Mexico and eight "international" wrestlers.[1] In the end Mexican Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated King Haku in the finals to win the tournament.[1] In 1995 CMLL brought the tournament back, creating an annual tournament held every year from 1995 through 1998 and then again in 2002, 2003 and finally from 2005 through 2008.[1]

Storylines

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The CMLL Gran Prix show featured four professional wrestling matches where wrestlers were matched up specifically for the tournament instead of as a result of pre-existing scripted feuds. The wrestlers themselves portray either faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) or heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that portray the "bad guys") as they perform for the fans before, during and after the matches.

Tournament

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Tournament overview

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Name Country promotion
Atlantis Mexico CMLL
Brazo de Plata Mexico CMLL
Emilio Charles Jr. Mexico CMLL
Apolo Dantés Mexico CMLL
Dr. Wagner Jr. Mexico CMLL
La Fiera Mexico CMLL
Foreign Exchange Puerto Rico Freelancer
Leatherface United States Freelancer
Miguel Pérez Jr. Puerto Rico CMLL
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. Mexico CMLL
Shinobi Japan CMLL
Silver King Mexico CMLL
Steele Canada CMLL
Tigre Canadiense Canada CMLL
Tsubasa Japan CMLL
Último Dragón Japan CMLL

Tournament brackets

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Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Steele W
Atlantis   Steele W
Último Dragón W Último Dragón  
Tsubasa   Steel W
Leatherface W Apolo Dantés  
Tigre Canadiense   Leatherface  
Apolo Dantés W Apolo Dantés W
Brazo de Plata   Steele
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W Rayo de Jalisco Jr.  
Shinobi   Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W
Dr. Wagner Jr. W Dr. Wagner Jr.  
Miguel Pérez Jr.   Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W
Emilio Charles Jr. W Emilio Charles Jr.  
Silver King   Emilio Charles Jr. W
La Fiera W La Fiera  
Foreign Exchange  

Tournament show

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No.Results[2]Stipulations
1Máscara Mágica, Mr. Niebla, and Shocker defeated Arkangel de la Muerte, Guerrero de la Muerte, and ViolenciaBest two-out-of-three falls six-man tag team match
2Steele defeated Atlantis1997 International Gran Prix first round match
3Último Dragón defeated Tsubasa1997 International Gran Prix first round match
4Leatherface defeated Tigre Canadiense1997 International Gran Prix first round match
5Apolo Dantés defeated Brazo de Plata1997 International Gran Prix first round match
6Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Shinobi1997 International Gran Prix first round match
7Dr. Wagner Jr. defeated Miguel Pérez Jr.1997 International Gran Prix first round match
8Emilio Charles Jr. defeated Silver King1997 International Gran Prix first round match
9La Fiera defeated Foreign Exchange1997 International Gran Prix first round match
10Steele defeated Último Dragón1997 International Gran Prix quarter final match
11Apolo Dantés defeated Leatherface1997 International Gran Prix quarter final match
12Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Dr. Wagner Jr.1997 International Gran Prix quarter final match
13Emilio Charles Jr. defeated La Fiera1997 International Gran Prix quarter final match
14Steele defeated Apolo Dantés1997 International Gran Prix semi-final match
15Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Emilio Charles Jr.1997 International Gran Prix semi-final match
16Steele defeated Rayo de Jalisco Jr.1997 International Gran Prix final match

References

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  1. ^ a b c "CMLL Gran Prix Tournament". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. ^ "Gran Prix Tournament 1997". ProWrestlingHistory.com. April 4, 1997. Retrieved August 30, 2009.