The CMLL 85th Anniversary Show () was a major

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

pay-per-view (PPV), scripted and produced by the Mexican ''

lucha libre ''Lucha libre'' (, meaning "freestyle wrestling" or literally translated as "free fight") is the term for the style of professional wrestling originating in Mexico. Since its introduction to Mexico in the early 20th century, it has develope ...

'' wrestling company

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as (EMLL) (''Mexican Wrestling Enterprise''). Founded in 1933, it is the oldest profe ...

(CMLL; Spanish for "World Wrestling Council") that took place on September 14, 2018. The show took place in CMLL's home arena

Arena México Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico, located in the Colonia Doctores neighborhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or ''lucha libre'', shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lu ...

Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

. The show is the biggest show of the year for CMLL, considered their version of the Super Bowl or WrestleMania. The Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Anniversary Shows, CMLL Anniversary Show is the longest-running annual professional wrestling show. The main event of the show was a tag team ''Lucha de Apuestas'', or "bet match", where Matt Taven and Volador Jr. faced Rush (wrestler), Rush and Bárbaro Cavernario, in a match where both wrestlers on the losing team have to shave themselves bald after the match. The show features five additional matches, including a match for the CMLL World Trios Championship.

Production

Background

The Mexican ''Lucha libre'' (professional wrestling) wrestling promotion, company

(CMLL) started out under the name ''Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre'' ("Mexican Wrestling Company"; EMLL), founded by Salvador Lutteroth in 1933. Lutteroth, inspired by professional wrestling shows he had attended in Texas, decided to become a wrestling promoter and held his first show on September 21, 1933, marking what would be the beginning of organized professional wrestling in Mexico. Lutteroth would later become known as "the father of Lucha Libre" . A year later EMLL held the EMLL 1st Anniversary Show, starting the annual tradition of the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Anniversary Shows that have been held each year ever since, most commonly in September. Over the years the anniversary show would become the biggest show of the year for CMLL, akin to the Super Bowl for the National Football League (NFL) or WWE's WrestleMania event. The first anniversary show was held in Arena México, Arena Modelo, which Lutteroth had bought after starting EMLL. In 1942–43 Lutteroth financed the construction of Arena Coliseo, which opened in April 1943. The EMLL 10th Anniversary Show was the first of the anniversary shows to be held in Arena Coliseo. In 1956 Lutteroth had Arena México built in the location of the original Arena Modelo, making Arena México the main venue of EMLL from that point on. Starting with the EMLL 23rd Anniversary Show, all anniversary shows except for the EMLL 46th Anniversary Show have been held in the arena that would become known as "The Cathedral of Lucha Libre". On occasion EMLL held more than one show labelled as their "Anniversary" show, such as two 33rd Anniversary Shows in 1966. Over time the anniversary show series became the oldest, longest-running annual professional wrestling show. In comparison, WWE's WrestleMania is only the fourth oldest still promoted show (CMLL's Arena Coliseo Anniversary Show and Aniversario de Arena México, Arena México anniversary shows being second and third). EMLL was supposed to hold the EMLL 52nd Anniversary Show on September 20, 1985 but Mexico City was hit by a Richter magnitude scale, magnitude 8.0 1985 Mexico City earthquake, earthquake. EMLL canceled the event both because of the general devastation but also over fears that Arena México might not be structurally sound after the earthquake. When Jim Crockett Promotions was bought by Ted Turner in 1988 EMLL became the oldest still active promotion in the world. In 1991 EMLL was rebranded as "Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre" and thus held the CMLL 59th Anniversary Show, the first under the new name, on September 18, 1992. Traditionally CMLL holds their major events on Friday Nights, replacing their regularly scheduled CMLL Super Viernes, Super Viernes show. With the partnership between Ring of Honor and CMLL this event will air live on Honor Club

Storylines

The 85th Anniversary Show featured six Professional wrestling match types, professional wrestling matches scripted by CMLL with some wrestlers involved in scripted feuds. The wrestlers portray either Heel (professional wrestling), heels (referred to as ''rudos'' in Mexico, those that play the part of the "bad guys") or Face (professional wrestling), faces (''técnicos'' in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they perform.

Reception

Chris Aiken, reviewing the show for the Wrestling Observer, noted that "the show itself delivered on action." but also noted that "The tone and vibe was never on par with some previous CMLL anniversary shows" and concluded that it was "an easily enjoyable card with some great matches."

Results

References