The CMLL Universal Championship (2017) () was a

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- ...

tournament produced and scripted by ''

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; "World Wrestling Council"). The tournament started on June 30, 2017 and ran for three '' Super Viernes'' shows with the finals taking place on July 14, 2017 at

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 ...

in Mexico City, Mexico. The

CMLL Universal Championship The CMLL Universal Championship (''Campeonato Universal'' in Spanish) is an annual lucha libre tournament held by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) since 2009. The tournament format is a "tournamen ...

is an annual tournament exclusively for wrestlers who hold a CMLL-recognized championship at the time of the tournament. The tournament was first held in 2009, making the 2017 version the ninth overall tournament. Being a professional wrestling tournament, it is not won legitimately; it is instead won via predetermined outcomes to the matches that is kept secret from the general public. The finals saw NWA World Historic Welterweight Champion

Volador Jr. Ramón Ibarra Rivera (born January 26, 1981), better known by his ring name Volador Jr., is a Mexican ''luchador'' (or professional wrestler), who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He portrays a '' técnico'' ("good guy") wrestli ...

defeat

NWA World Historic Middleweight Champion The NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship (''Campeonato Mundial Historico de Peso Medio de la NWA'' in Spanish) is a professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The official definition of the mi ...

Último Guerrero José Gutiérrez Hernández (born March 1, 1972), better known by his ring name Último Guerrero (Spanish for ''Last Warrior''), is a Mexican (or Professional wrestling, professional wrestler), who works for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CML ...

to win the tournament for the first time. On the Universal Championship finals show

Pierroth Norberto Salgado Salcedo (born March 10, 1958) is a retired Mexican ''luchador'' (professional wrestler), primarily known under the ring name Pierroth Jr. Salgado made his professional wrestling debut on July 1, 1984, working as a '' luchador en ...

defeated

Vangellys Vangelis (sometimes spelled Vangellys; born September 7, 1981) is the ring name of a Mexican ''luchador'' (or professional wrestler) known for his work for the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He por ...

in a ''

Lucha de Apuestas ''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 ...

'' match, forcing Vangellys to have his hair shaved off.

Atlantis Atlantis () is a fictional island mentioned in Plato's works '' Timaeus'' and ''Critias'' as part of an allegory on the hubris of nations. In the story, Atlantis is described as a naval empire that ruled all Western parts of the known world ...

was originally scheduled to participate in the match but was injured in the weeks leading up to the tournament. Atlantis was replaced by

Diamante Azul DMT Azul (born December 20, 1982) is the best known ring name of a Mexican '' Luchador Enmascarado'', or masked professional wrestler. He is signed to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. Azul is best known for his time in Mexican professional wrestling ...

, who held the Occidente Heavyweight Championship at the time, although he had not defended it since 2014.

Background

The tournament featured 15

professional wrestling matches Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick, gimmick matches" in the Glossary of professional wrestling terms, jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick m ...

under

single-elimination tournament A single-elimination knockout, or sudden-death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of a match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final match-up, ...

rules, which means that wrestlers would be eliminated from the tournament when they lose a match. All male "non-regional" CMLL champions at the time of the tournament were eligible to participate in the tournament. The

CMLL World Mini-Estrella Championship The CMLL World Mini-Estrellas Championship (''Campeonato Mundial Mini-Estrellas de CMLL'' in Spanish), also known as the CMLL World Pequeño Estrellas Championship (''Campeonato Mundial Pequeno Estrellas de CMLL'' in Spanish) is a professional w ...

and

Mexican National Lightweight Championship The Mexican National Lightweight Championship (''Campeonato Nacional de Peso Ligero'' in Spanish) is a Mexican professional wrestling singles championship created and sanctioned by ''Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F.'' ("the Mexico City ...

are both exclusively for CMLL's ''

Mini-Estrella The term ''Mini-Estrella'' (Spanish language, Spanish for "Mini-Star") is used in lucha libre to describe a division of short professional wrestling, professional wrestlers or ''luchadors'', some of whom have dwarfism. The Mexican ''Mini-Estrell ...

'' division and thus not eligible for the tournament. Regionally promoted championships such as the

CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship The CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Campeonato de Parejas de la Arena Coliseo del CMLL'') is a professional wrestling Tag team Championship (professional wrestling), championship promoted by the Mexican Luch ...

and the Occidente championships promoted in

Guadalajara Guadalajara ( ; ) is the capital and the most populous city in the western Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco, as well as the most densely populated municipality in Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population ...

Jalisco Jalisco, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in western Mexico and is bordered by s ...

have not been included in the tournament in the past; only titles that have been defended in CMLL's main venue

Arena Mexico An arena is a large enclosed venue, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances or sporting events. It comprises a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators, and may ...

, although exceptions have been made to allow

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW) champions to compete if they were in Mexico at the time. Reigning Mexican National Light Heavyweight Champion was originally scheduled to participate in the Universal Championship tournament, but suffered a serious knee injury prior to the tournament and had to undergo surgery. CMLL replaced Atlantis with

, who held the Occidente Heavyweight Championship, although he had not defended it since 2015. This marked the first time an Occidente champion participated in the Universal Championship tournament. For the 2017 version of the tournament 14 out of the 16 participants had competed in at least one Universal Championship tournament before. Soberano Jr. had won the

Mexican National Welterweight Championship The Mexican National Welterweight Championship (''Campeonato Nacional Peso Welter'' in Spanish) is a Mexican professional wrestling championship created and sanctioned by Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. (the Mexico City Boxing and Wres ...

from

Rey Cometa Mario Alberto González (born March 11, 1983), better known by his ring name Rey Cometa (Spanish language, Spanish for "King Comet"), is a Mexican ''Lucha libre, luchador'' (or professional wrestler), working for the Mexican professional wrestling ...

on May 13, 2017 to qualify for his first Universal Championship tournament.

Hechicero Hechicero ( Spanish for "Wizard") is a Mexican '' luchador enmascarado'' (masked professional wrestler). He is signed to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). He also makes appearances on the Mexican independent circuit, as well as in Japan fo ...

was the other first-time competitor, having won the

NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship The NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). For the majority of its existence the title was promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Lib ...

from

Rey Bucanero Arturo García Ortiz (born July 19, 1974) is a Mexican ''luchador'' or professional wrestler best known under the ring name Rey Bucanero. Ortiz, as Rey Bucanero, has worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) since 1996. His ring name is S ...

, winning his first CMLL championship.

Eligible champions

Tournament

Tournament shows

References

{{Portal bar, Mexico 2017 in professional wrestling CMLL Universal Championship