On September 16, 2023, the world of professional wrestling celebrated a historic milestone as CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre) marked its 90th anniversary with an incredible show at the sold-out Arena México with the Lutteroth family.
Lutteroth Legacy | 90 Years of CMLL
For nearly a century, CMLL has stood strong as a beacon of lucha libre excellence, captivating audiences with its breathtaking displays of athleticism and drama inside the squared circle.
That being said, no company, no matter how old or how great, runs itself. Behind the scenes, an equally enduring dynasty has quietly overseen CMLL’s rise to prominence since its beginnings in 1933. In a year where bloodlines are all the rage, we look at the alluring history of Mexico’s answer to the McMahons – the Lutteroths.
Salvador Lutteroth – The Founding Father
Salvador Lutteroth González, known professionally as Salvador Lutteroth, was a visionary promoter who introduced professional wrestling to Mexico in the early 1930s. Once a serving lieutenant and captain of the Mexican Revolution turned property inspector, Lutteroth was inspired by the success of professional wrestling in the United States and saw an opportunity to bring the spectacle to Mexican audiences.
On September 21, 1933, Salvador Lutteroth organized the first-ever CMLL, then EMLL (Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre), event at the Arena Modelo in Mexico City after being rebuffed by bigger arenas not willing to take a risk on the startup promotion.
Little did they know that this event would dawn a wrestling empire and culture that endures to this day.
Merely a year later in 1934, with shows being held in the midst of thousands, a masked American by the name of Corbin James Massey, who wrestled as La Maravilla Enmascarada, or “The Masked Marvel”, debuted for Lutteroth’s promotion and marked the beginning of a tradition that made masked wrestlers a staple in every wrestling ring in Mexico.
Legends of Lucha Libre such as El Santo, Tarzán López and Cavernario Galindo would lay the foundations for the Lutteroth empire and place them in a good position to brave the oncoming storm that was bound to come with success – competition.
Chavo Lutteroth II – EMLL Unrivalled
Salvador’s son, Salvador ‘Chavo’ Lutteroth II, oversaw the second golden age of the then-EMLL’s history, and the last decades of the Lutteroth’s unchallenged hold over the Mexican wrestling scene.
This period saw the Lutteroths gain recognition for the National Wrestling Alliance, who had the US wrestling scene in a chokehold of their own, and the two developed a working relationship that attracted stars from the US and other countries to wrestle at Chavo’s events despite the fact that the EMLL was not televised at the time. EMLL even introduced a number of titles that carried the NWA name.
Chavo retired from the business in 1987, the same year his father passed away, leaving the EMLL under the control of his nephew, Salvador’s grandson, Paco Alonso (Francisco Alonso Lutteroth).
Paco Alonso – Mexican Revolution
EMLL underwent a series of great changes under Francisco Alonso, and became known for his keen eye for talent and his ability to remain relevant in a time of changing trends. He modernized the promotion while preserving its rich traditions, making certain that lucha libre remained a beloved form of entertainment.
EMLL soon parted ways with the NWA and rebranded as CMLL, creating their own unique identity not plagued by the territory wars of their northern neighbors.
New championship belts and a TV deal with Mexican broadcasters Televisa acted as catalysts for the Alonso era, though his more ‘hands-off’ approach was not without its challenges.
Chief booker Juan Herrera clashed with CMLL’s newest booker Antonio Peña over key decisions on who the stars of the new era would be. Peña favored a fast-paced, high-flying style, while Herrera maintained his loyalty to the promotion’s traditional heavyweights.
In the end, Alonso sided with Herrera, leading Peña to leave CMLL in 1992, along with a selection of his favored stars who would not be booked to the heights promised by Peña if they stayed put. This split birthed a new promotion in Mexico and a worthy rival to CMLL – Antonio Peña’s AAA (Asistencia Asesoría y Administración).
As the 21st century loomed, the ratings war between CMLL and AAA shadowed the Monday Night Wars between the WWF and WCW in the US, though it was clear that Alonso did not see his competitors as genuine players like McMahon did.
By the turn of the century, CMLL had little choice to adapt when it came to both business and booking, starting relationships with promotions like New Japan, TNA, and even the all-female promotion – Reina.
By all accounts, Alonso bore no ill-will against his competitor Peña and paid tribute to him upon his death in 2006. Alonso’s respect for Peña led him to fire and subsequently blacklist big stars like Konnan and Octagón, who allegedly refused to pay tribute to Peña.
As the years passed, Alonso’s promotion raked in a historic $1 million at the gate for their 81st-anniversary event, showing that when it came to star power, CMLL was still on top in their home country.
Chavo Lutteroth III – The Present Day
Upon Paco Alonso’s sudden death at age 67 in 2019, CMLL’s operations fell first to his daughter Sofia Alonso (Lutteroth) and then shortly after to his cousin, the son of Chavo Lutteroth II, Chavo Lutteroth III, who has since negotiated a deal to bring CMLL shows and events to the Arena Coliseo in Mexico City.
The Lutteroth dynasty’s indomitable spirit has guided CMLL through ninety years of triumphs and challenges, making it a cornerstone of Mexican culture and a beloved institution for wrestling enthusiasts worldwide.
As CMLL’s 90th-anniversary show fades into memory, one thing remains clear: the Lutteroth family’s commitment to lucha libre is unwavering, and the legacy of Salvador Lutteroth lives on in the hearts of fans and the CMLL ring.
What the Pros Say
In many cases, thanking CMLL for something also means thanking the Lutteroths for the same thing.
Japanese wrestler and CMLL stalwart Shigeo Okamura said in a backstage interview during a CMLL crossover event with New Japan that Chavo Lutteroth II was “A very important person, more important for me than I ever imagined.”
Even though Okamura was only meant to be at CMLL for a short time in what he called a ‘learning trip,’ Okamura stayed in CMLL, where he felt most at home and continues to work for the promotion in 2023, helping other Japanese wrestlers looking to find their feet in Mexico.
Tributes to the Lutteroths were never more present than when Paco Alonso passed away in 2019. Perhaps the most heartfelt of these tributes came from Chris Jericho in a post via his official Instagram page where he thanked Paco Alonso for all that he had done for him and his career: here
Paco Alonso bestowed upon Jericho the nickname ‘Corazón de león’, which translates to Lionheart, a nickname Jericho has used at different stages throughout his career, including more recently in AEW.
The Lutteroths – Looking Forward
As we look back at nine decades of lucha libre, we can only wonder what the future holds for CMLL.
The Lutteroths own many of the arenas across Mexico. Arena México, Arena Coliseo, Arena Coliseo de Occidente and Arena Puebla all fall under the Lutteroth banner, meaning that the Lutteroths do not have to pay for the settings where their CMLL events take place and can also take bookings to host other events at their arenas.
This allows the Lutteroths a luxury that no other wrestling company has and secures them for the future. According to Chavo Lutteroth II, his father acquired these arenas under fascinating circumstances after winning a sizeable amount of money in the national lottery.
One thing is certain: the Lutteroth dynasty will continue to be the guiding force behind the ‘Home of Lucha Libre,’ ensuring that the tradition of Mexican wrestling thrives for generations to come.
Notes:
- Okamura interview:
https://youtu.be/i1cqI-C89jA?feature=shared - Jericho’s tribute comes this video, the YouTube link could also be used if preferable as its from CMLL’s official account: here
- Below is the video in which CMLL announced Paco Alonso’s death to the crowd:
- Below is the video where Chavo Lutteroth II talks about his father acquiring the Mexican Arenas:
