CMLL International Gran Prix (2018)

The CMLL International Gran Prix (2018) is 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 October 5, 2018 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico, CMLL's main venue. The 2018 International Gran Prix was the fourteenth time CMLL 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. The event was available as an internet pay-per-view (iPPV).

CMLL International Gran Prix (2018)
Official poster for the event
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Ring of Honor
DateOctober 5, 2018[1]
CityMexico City[1]
VenueArena Mexico[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
← Previous
CMLL 85th Anniversary Show
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Blue Panther 40th Anniversary Show
International Gran Prix chronology
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2017
Next →
2019

For the 2018 tournament CMLL brought in representatives of Ring of Honor (Matt Taven, The Briscoe Brothers: Jay and Mark, and Flip Gordon), representatives of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (Michael Elgin and David Finlay), both promotions that CMLL has a close working relationship with. Team International also includes CMLL regular Okumura and independent wrestlers Dark Magic and Gilbert el Boricua. The Mexican contingent includes the 2017 tournament winner Diamante Azul, Carístico, El Cuatrero, Euforia, Hechicero, Sansón, El Terrible, Último Guerrero, and Volador Jr. In the end Michael Elgin eliminated Último Guerrero to win the tournament, marking the first time a non-Mexican team won the Gran Prix since it was revived in 2016.

Production

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Background

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The Briscoe Brothers (Mark (left) and Jay (right)), representing Ring of Honor in the 2018 Gran Prix

In 1994, the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre created the International Gran Prix tournament which took place on April 15 that saw Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeat King Haku to win the tournament. the tournament became annual tournament but after the 1998 tournament, the tournament became inactive. in 2002, the tournament returned with new rules. (Mexico and International group vs another Mexican and International group and then Mexicans vs Japanese and finally Mexico vs International)[2] the 2018 tournament will be 14th in the series. The tournament traditionally sees a team of 8 Mexican born CMLL wrestlers face off against 8 foreign-born wrestlers, although for 2018 the teams were expanded to 9 members on each side.[3]

Storylines

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The 2018 Gran Prix show will feature an undisclosed number of professional wrestling matches scripted by CMLL with some wrestlers involved in scripted feuds. The wrestlers portray either heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that play the part of the "bad guys") or faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they perform.[4]

Team Resto del Mundo
Team Mexico

Results

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No.Results[7][8][9]StipulationsTimes
1Akuma, Camorra and Star Jr. defeated El Hijo del Signo, Robin and YagoRelevos increíbles match14:03
2Avispa Dorada, La Jarochita, and Marcela defeated Dalys la Caribeña, La Metálica and Reyna IsisSix-woman "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match09:53
3Gran Guerrero defeated ValienteLightning match (One fall, 10 minute time limit)09:10
4El Hijo de L.A. Park, L.A. Park and Místico defeated Bárbaro Cavernario and the Cl4n (Ciber the Main Man and The Chris)Six-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match17:06
5Michael Elgin won the 2018 Gran Prix
Resto del Mundo (Matt Taven, Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe, Dark Magic, Michael Elgin, David Finlay, Gilbert el Boricua, Flip Gordon and Okumura) defeated Team Mexico (Diamante Azul, Carístico, El Cuatrero, Euforia, Hechicero, Sansón, El Terrible, Último Guerrero, and Volador Jr.)
2018 International Gran Prix, 18-man torneo cibernetico elimination match59:57

International Gran Prix order of elimination

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# Eliminated Eliminated by Time
1 Okumura Sansón 17:00
2 El Cuatrero Jay and Mark Briscoe 19:57
3 Black Magic Hechicero 23:05
4 Diamante Azul Michael Elgin 26:34
5 David Finlay Carístico 29:40
6 Sansón Matt Taven 34:12
7 Flip Gordon El Terrible 35:21
8 El Terrible Jay Briscoe 36:06
9 Jay Briscoe Último Guerrero 36:25
10 Mark Briscoe Carístico 37:23
11 Carístico Mark Briscoe 37:23
12 Hechicero Gilbert el Boricua 40:23
13 Matt Taven Volador Jr. 45:07
14 Volador Jr. Gilberg el Boricua 47:28
15 Gilbert el Boricua Euforia 50:57
16 Euforia Michael Elgin 55:35
17 Último Guerrero Michael Elgin 59:57
18 Winner Michael Elgin 59:57

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Valdés, Apolo (August 22, 2018). "Grand Prix del CMLL ya tiene fecha y primeros competidores". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Gran Prix Cibernetico 2002". ProWrestlingHistory.com. March 22, 2002. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c "Matt Taven's hair will be on the line at CMLL's 85th Anniversary Show". Ring of Honor. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  4. ^ Madigan, Dan (2007). ""Okay... what is Lucha Libre?"". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3. featuring clearly distinguished good guys and bad guys, or técnicos and rudos
  5. ^ a b c d e f Dark Angelita (September 26, 2018). "CMLL: Habrá nueve competidores por equipo en el Grand Prix 2018". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d Dark Angelita (September 19, 2018). "CMLL: Primera parte del equipo mexicano para el Grand Prix 2018". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  7. ^ Rosas Plata, Arturo (October 5, 2018). "Michael se lleva el Gran Prix". Ovaciones (in Spanish). Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Michael Elgin ganador del Grand Prix 2018". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  9. ^ "Michael Elgin se llevó el Grand Prix 2018 del CMLL". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2018.