Preface: This piece is not only my tribute to one of the greatest wars in the history of professional wrestling, but is also my newest "Spotlighting the Indies" article. Hey, might as well kill two birds with one stone, right? Either way, sit back, relax, and enjoy this journey, because it is one bumpy ride!
The wrestling world has been the stage for some of the greatest wars in sports entertainment history.
The Monday Night Wars, Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. the McMahons, The Montreal Screwjob, and, to a lesser extent, the budding competition between WWE and TNA.
However, in one wrestling world, the war for honor and prestige has led to blood being shed, convictions being laid down, and even murders being committed.
That, is the wrestling war in Mexico, namely between AAA (Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion) and CMLL (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.)
A true rivalry that has been flourishing for the best part of almost two decades, since the birth of AAA in 1992, from what many considered the inevitable death of Mexican wrestling.
How wrong they were.
If anything, wrestling in Mexico is more alive than in any other country on Earth, due to the soap opera drama that both of these companies exude in their feud for the top.
In the beginning...
Established in 1933, CMLL is the world's oldest wrestling promotion still in active operation. This was where the birth of traditional Mexican wrestling, or lucha libre as it is more commonly known, took place.
Set up by "The Father of Lucha Libre" Salvador Lutteroth Gonzales, under the banner of EMLL (Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre), it quickly became the most sought-after sport in all parts of Mexico.
It was within the first few years of existence that the standard rules and traditions for Mexican wrestling were created and enforced, many still to this day.
Staples such as the exclusive "Luchas de Apuestas" bouts (wager matches, traditionally in the format of either a wrestler's mask or hair being at stake for the loser of the match) were originally fought in a Mexican ring.
Now, they are fought worldwide, a recent example of this being a "mask vs. title" match between Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho.
Thus, is the influence of lucha libre today.
Mexican wrestling's first-ever mainstream star came in 1942, with the emergence of a performer simply known as El Santo (The Saint).
Since his inception, fans became intrigued by the mystique and secrecy surrounding Santo's mask, personality and life, ultimately propelling him to the level of being Mexico's most famous ever luchador, becoming a cultural symbol and hero to many.
With many people becoming aware of what impact lucha libre had in their lives, the demand to see the action sky-rocketed, leading to EMLL becoming the largest sports company in Mexico, regularly featuring in mainstream publications and exposure for its performers.
This trend continued for many decades, spawning many of wrestling's most prestigious families and competitors, including the likes of the Guerrero dynasty, most notably Gory Guerrero, who is credited with creating many of the moves we see today, such as the Camel Clutch and Powerbomb.
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