Torneo Gran Alternativa 2008
Último Guerrero, teamed with novato Dragón Rojo Jr. to win the tournament.
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
DateJuly 18, 2008
CityMexico City, Mexico
VenueArena México
Event chronology
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CMLL Torneo Gran Alternativa chronology
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The Torneo Gran Alternativa (2008) (Spanish for the "Great Alternative Tournament") was a one-night, eight-team professional wrestling tournament held on July 18, 2017 by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; "World Wrestling Council"). The 2008 Gran Alternativa was the 14th time CMLL held the Torneo Gran Alternativa since the first tournament was held in 1994. The Gran Alternativa tournament concept is to team a young, or low ranking novato up with a veteran wrestler for tag team tournament as a way to highlight the novato wrestlers, potentially elevating one or more of them up the ranks of CMLL. The winning team was awarded a trophy, but no other tangible rewards for winning the tournament.

The 14th version of the Gran ALternativa was held in Arena México, CMLL's primary venue, as part of their Friday night CMLL Super Viernes ("Super Friday") show. The show took place on the same night as the semi-finals of that year's Leyenda de Plata ("Silver Legend") tournament. In the finals of the tournament Novato Dragón Rojo Jr. and veteran Último Guerrero defeated novato Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. to win the tournament. The victory was the start of Dragón Rojo Jr.'s promotional push as he began working higher on the card after the victory, including forming his own group with Black Warrior and Sangre Azteca known as Poder Mexica ("Mexican Power").

History

Starting in 1994 the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) created a special tournament concept where they would team up a novato, or rookie, with a veteran for a single-elimination tag team tournament.[1][2] The tournament was called El Torneo Gran Alternativa, or "The Great Alternative Tournament" and became a recurring event on the CMLL calendar. While established "veteran" wrestlers participated in the tournament the ultimate goal of the tournament is to feature the novato wrestlers, giving them a chance to perform at a higher level than they normally worked at and as an opportunity to elevate the status of one or more of the competitors.[3]

The Gran Alternativa was held twice in both 1996 and 1999, and not at all in 1997 and 2000, but has otherwise been held once a year since its inception in 1994.[2] The 2008 Gran Alternativa tournament was the 14th overall Gran Alternativa tournament. All tournaments have been held in Arena México, CMLL's main venue and had taken place on Friday nights.[4] CMLL holds other similar tournaments focusing on younger wrestlers, such as La Copa Junior,[5] En Busca de un Ídolo ("In Search of an Idol"),[6] Torneo Sangre Nueva ("New Blood Tournament"),[7] and Forjando un Ídolo ("Forging an Idol"),[8] although all of those tournaments focuses on singles competition.

Tournament background

A masked wrestler wearing a cape during an outdoor wrestling event.
Atlantis, competed in his seventh Torneo Gran Alternativa in 2008.

The tournament featured 7 professional wrestling matches with wrestlers competing as tag teams competing in matches with pre-determined outcomes.[9] Some competitors in the tournament were involved in pre-existing scripted feuds or storylines while others were paired up or matched up against each other for the sake of the tournament. Wrestlers portray either villains (referred to as Rudos in Mexico) or fan favorites (Técnicos in Mexico) as they compete in wrestling matches.[10]

Originally the fourteenth Torneo Gran Alternativa was supposed to feature a novato known as "El Brujo", but when El Brujo suffered an injury he was replaced by Puma King, who was billed as the nephew of wrestler El Felino, teaming up with Villano V for the tournament.[11] When the tournament was first announced Último Guerrero's novato partner was listed as "Diamante Negro", but in the days prior to the actual tournament Diamante Negro was given a new ring persona and mask, taking the name Dragón Rojo Jr. ("Red Dragon Jr.").[11][12] None of the novatos, Ángel Azteca Jr., Astro Boy, Axxel, Dragón Rojo Jr., Metalik, Puma King, Skándalo and Bronco had previously competed in a Torneo Gran Alternativa.[13] A different masked wrestler using the name "El Bronco" competed in the June 1996 Torneo Gran Alternativa,[14] and Silver King used the same name when he competed in the 2005 Torneo Gran Alternativa.[15]

Three of the veterans Héctor Garza, Shocker and Último Guerrero, had previously won the tournament as a Novato, Garza won The first tournament, Shocker won the second tournament and Último Guerrero in April 1999.[2] Atlantis, who teamed up with Skándalo for the 2008 tournament was the only wrestler to have previously won the tournament as a veteran, winning the 2005 tournament with novato La Máscara.[2] Atlantis was the veteran with the most Torneo Gran Alternativa appearances with the 2008 version being his seventh tournament.[13]

Torneo Gran Alternativa participants
Rookie Veteran Ref(s)
Ángel Azteca Jr. Shocker [16]
Astro Boy Héctor Garza [16]
Axxel Blue Panther [16]
Bronco Mr. Niebla [16]
Dragón Rojo Jr. Último Guerrero [3][16]
Metalik Dos Caras Jr. [16]
Puma King Villano V [16]
Skándalo Atlantis [16]

Tournament results

Traditionally CMLL uses a battle royal match featuring all the novato wrestlers to determined the order of the first round matches, but in 2008 CMLL skipped the seeding battle royal and went straight to the first tag team match. All the first round and semi-final matches were one-fall matches while the finals was a best two-out-of-three falls, the traditional match form in Mexico. In the first tournament match of the night Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated the team of Angel Azteca Jr. and Shocker in six minutes and forty-six seconds.[16] In the second opening round match the tecnico team of Axxl and Blue Panther defeated Puma King and Villano V, followed by Bronco and Mr. Niebla defeating Astro Boy and Héctor Garza.[16] In the final first round match Metalik and second-generation luchador Dos Caras Jr. defeated the rudo team of Skándalo and Atlantis to close out the round.[16] Both second round matches were short, clocking in at 3:36 and 3:08 respectively as Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Axxl and Blue Panther while Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. defeated Bronco and Mr. Niebla.[16] In the third and final round of the tournament Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. in five minutes and forty-eight seconds to win 2008 Torneo Gran Alternativa.[16]

Tournament brackets

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
Último Guerrero and Dragón Rojo Jr. W[16]
Shocker and Angel Azteca Jr. 06:46
Último Guerrero and Dragón Rojo Jr. W[16]
Blue Panther and Axel 03:36
Blue Panther and Axxel W[16]
Villaño V and Puma King 07:11
Último Guerrero and Dragón Rojo Jr. W[16]
Dos Caras Jr. and Metalik 05:48
Mr. Niebla and El Bronco W[16]
Héctor Garza and Astro Boy 08:26
Mr. Niebla and Bronco 03:08
Dos Caras Jr. and Metalik W[16]
Dos Caras Jr. and Metalik W[16]
Atlantis and Skándalo 06:14

July 18, 2008 Super Viernes

No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1Molotov and Starman defeated Los Romanos (Caligula and Messala) by disqualificationBest two-out-of-three falls tag team match09:06
2Pequeño Violencia, Pequeño Black Warrior and Pierrothito defeated Mascarita Dorada, Shockercito and Último DragoncitoSix-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match13:24
3Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Ángel Azteca Jr. and ShockerGran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match06:45[16]
4Axxel and Blue Panther defeated Puma King and Villano VGran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match07:11[16]
5El Bronco and Mr. Niebla defeated Astro Boy and Héctor GarzaGran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match08:26[16]
6Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. defeated Atlantis and SkándaloGran Alternativa 2008 first round tag team match06:14[16]
7Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Axxel and Blue PantherGran Alternativa 2008 semi-final tag team match03:36[16]
8Metalik and Dos Caras Jr. defeated El Bronco and Mr. NieblaGran Alternativa 2008 semi-final tag team match03:08[16]
9Dragón Rojo Jr. and Último Guerrero defeated Metalik and Dos Caras Jr.Gran Alternativa 2008 final tag team match05:48[16]
10Perro Aguayo Jr. defeated Dr. Wagner Jr.Best two-out-of-three falls, 2008 Leyenda de Plata semi-final match07:45[17]

Aftermath

A masked wrestler posing on the ring ropes while wearing a sparky cape and a professional wrestling championship belt.
Metalik after he was given a new ring identity as Máscara Dorada

Dragón Rojo Jr. followed up the Gran Alternatia victory by starting a storyline feud with Mictlán. The feud led to a Lucha de Apuestas ("Bet match") at CMLL's 2008 Sin Piedad show. Dragón Rojo Jr. won the match and forced Mictlán to unmask per the stipulation of the match.[18][19] Over the years Dragón Rojo Jr. would rise up the ranks of CMLL, first forming the group Poder Mexica with Black Warrior and Sangre Azteca.[20] Later on he would join Último Guerrero's group Los Guerreros del Infierno, the main rudo group in CMLL.[21] He later broke away from Los Guerrero del Infierno to form his own group, known as Los Revolucionarios del Terror.[22]

The 2008 Gran Alternativa tournament was also a chapter in a feud between Villano V and Blue Panther, with Blue Panther defeating his rival in the opening round. The two would later wrestle in the main event of the CMLL 75th Anniversary Show where Blue Panther lost and was forced to unmask.[23]

On November 7, 2008 Metalik was repackaged as he was given a new name, mask and suit, making his debut as Máscara Dorada ("Golden Mask"), helping his team defeat the trio of Averno, Mephisto and Ephesto.[24] He would later go on to win various championships in subsequent years as he rose up through the ranks of CMLL.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ "CMLL Gran Alternativa #1". Pro Wrestling History. December 30, 1994. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Flores, Manuel (July 18, 2008). "Histórico de ganadores del torneo: La Gran Alternativa". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Torneo de la Gran Alternativa. Iniguable oportunidada para nuevos valores" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  4. ^ "CMLL Gran Alternativa History". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  5. ^ Peralta, Gonzalo López (January 20, 2016). "Lucha Libre función martes 19 de Enero". Yahoo! Deportes (in Spanish). Yahoo!. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  6. ^ "Arena Mexico Martes 26 de Mayo '15" (in Spanish). CMLL. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
  7. ^ "Soberano Jr gana el Torneo Sangre Nueva 2013". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). March 12, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  8. ^ Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. "fase de eliminacion". Forjando un Idolo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  9. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling - 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. p. 550. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2. Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities - but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters
  10. ^ Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  11. ^ a b "Próxima semana, La Gran Alternativa en la Arena México". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). July 12, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  12. ^ "El nuevo luchador presentado por el CMLL". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). July 17, 2009. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
  13. ^ a b "CMLL Gran Alternativa". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  14. ^ "CMLL Gran Alternativa #3". Pro Wrestling History. June 7, 1996. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  15. ^ "CMLL Gran Alternativa #11". Pro Wrestling History. July 1, 2005. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "CMLL Gran Alternativa #14". Pro Wrestling History. July 18, 2008. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  17. ^ "Leyenda de Plata 2008". ProWrestlingHistory.com. July 4–25, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
  18. ^ Ocampo, Jorge (August 29, 2008). "Resultados; CMLL Sin Piedad 2008 – Mictlán pierde la Máscara, Amapola pierde la Cabellera" (in Spanish). Super Luchas. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  19. ^ "March 2008 PPV". ProWrestlingHistory.com. August 29, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  20. ^ "Se ilusionan con el cetro" (in Spanish). Esto - OEM Enlina. December 23, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  21. ^ "La Oportunidad se presentó y fue para mí..." (in Spanish). El Pancracio. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  22. ^ "Noticias". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  23. ^ "75th Anniversary Show". ProWrestlingHistory.com. September 19, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
  24. ^ "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana 2008". Super Luchas (in Spanish). January 6, 2009. 296. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  25. ^ Rivera, Manuel (May 21, 2010). "Resultados Arena México (21 mayo 2010): ¡Sombra, La Máscara y Máscara Dorada, nuevos campeones!". Super Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  26. ^ "Máscara Dorada tretacampeón, un luchador de oro puro". Super Luchas (in Spanish). September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
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