CMLL International Gran Prix (1998)

The CMLL International Gran Prix (1998) was 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 August 14, 1998 in Arena México, Mexico City, Mexico, CMLL's main venue. The 1998 International Gran Prix was the fifth time CMLL has 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.

CMLL International Gran Prix (1998)
Atlantis, defending Mexico's honor
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
DateAugust 14, 1998
CityMexico City, Mexico
VenueArena México
Event chronology
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International Gran Prix chronology
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The fifth International Gran Prix was a one night, 16-man single elimination tournament consisting of Mexican natives and a number of foreign wrestlers, some of which worked for CMLL on a regular basis (such as The Headhunters) and others who were invited specially for the tournament (such as Ricky Santana). The final match saw Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeat Apolo Dantés to win the International Gran Prix, making Rayo de Jalisco Jr. the first person to win the Gran Prix twice; having previously won it in 1994.

Production

Background

In 1994 the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) organized their first ever International Gran Prix tournament. The first tournament followed the standard "single elimination" format and featured sixteen wrestlers in total, eight representing Mexico and eight "international" wrestlers.[1] In the end Mexican Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated King Haku in the finals to win the tournament.[1] In 1995 CMLL brought the tournament back, creating an annual tournament held every year from 1995 through 1998 and then again in 2002, 2003 and finally from 2005 through 2008.[1]

Storylines

The CMLL Gran Prix show featured four professional wrestling matches where wrestlers were matched up specifically for the tournament instead of as a result of pre-existing scripted feuds. The wrestlers themselves portray either faces (técnicos in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) or heels (referred to as rudos in Mexico, those that portray the "bad guys") as they perform for the fans before, during and after the matches.

Tournament

Tournament overview
Name Country promotion
AtlantisMexicoCMLL
El BoriquaPuerto RicoCMLL
Black MagicUnited KingdomCMLL
Emilio Charles Jr.MexicoCMLL
Cien CarasMexicoCMLL
Apolo DantésMexicoCMLL
Headhunter APuerto RicoIWA Puerto Rico
Headhunter BPuerto RicoIWA Puerto Rico
Máscara Año 2000MexicoCMLL
Miguel Pérez Jr.Puerto RicoIWA Puerto Rico
Mr. NieblaMexicoCMLL
Rayo de Jalisco Jr.MexicoCMLL
Ricky SantanaPuerto RicoIWA Puerto Rico
Universo 2000MexicoCMLL
VampiroMexicoCMLL
Kevin QuinnUnited StatesIndependent circuit

Tournament brackets
Round of 16   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
Headhunter B    
Máscara Año 2000 W     Máscara Año 2000 W  
Miguel Pérez Jr. W   Miguel Pérez Jr.    
Atlantis         Máscara Año 2000    
Emilio Charles Jr. W       Apolo Dantés W  
Kevin Quinn       Emilio Charles Jr.  
Apolo Dantés W   Apolo Dantés W  
Black Magic         Apolo Dantés  
Headhunter A W       Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W
Universo 2000       Headhunter A W  
Mr. Niebla     El Boriqua    
El Boriqua W       Headhunter A  
Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W       Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W  
Vampiro       Rayo de Jalisco Jr. W
Ricky Santana W   Ricky Santana    
Cien Caras    

Tournament show
No. Results[2] Stipulations
1 El Oriental and Sendero defeated Virus and Zumbido Best two-out-of-three falls tag team match
2 El Pantera, Mr. Águila, and Tarzan Boy defeated Karloff Lagarde Jr., Rey Bucanero, and Último Guerrero Best two-out-of-three falls six-man tag team match
3 Máscara Año 2000 defeated Headhunter B 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
4 Miguel Pérez Jr. defeated Atlantis 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
5 Apolo Dantés defeated Black Magic 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
6 Emilio Charles Jr. defeated Kevin Quinn 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
7 Ricky Santana defeated Cien Caras by disqualification 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
8 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Vampiro Canadiense by disqualification 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
9 Fidel Sierra 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
10 Headhunter A defeated Universo 2000 1998 International Gran Prix first round match
11 Máscara Año 2000 defeated Miguel Perez Jr. 1998 International Gran Prix quarter final match
12 Apolo Dantés defeated Emilio Charles Jr. 1998 International Gran Prix quarter final match
13 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Ricky Santana 1998 International Gran Prix quarter final match
14 Headhunter A defeated El Boricua 1998 International Gran Prix quarter final match
15 Apolo Dantés defeated Máscara Año 2000 1998 International Gran Prix semi-final match
16 Rayo de Jalisco Jr. defeated Headhunter A 1998 International Gran Prix semi-final match
17 Apolo Dantés defeated Rayo de Jalisco Jr. 1998 International Gran Prix final match
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References
  1. "CMLL Gran Prix Tournament". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  2. "Gran Prix Tournament 1998". ProWrestlingHistory.com. August 14, 1998. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
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