Arena Coliseo
The Lagunilla Funnel
Arena Coliseo
LocationRepública del Perú 77, Cuauhtémoc, D.F., Mexico City, Mexico
Coordinates19°26′22″N 99°8′5″W / 19.43944°N 99.13472°W / 19.43944; -99.13472
OwnerConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)
Capacity8,863 (Originally)
5,550 (Currently for Professional wrestling, Boxing)
OpenedApril 2, 1943
Tenants
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Lubre (1943–1989)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1990–Present)

Arena Coliseo is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico located at República del Perú 77 in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or lucha libre, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). The building was completed in 1943, built by Salvador Lutteroth, founder and owner of CMLL and served as the main venue for CMLL from 1943 until 1953 when Arena México was completed and became the main venue for Lutteroth's promotion. It has a seating capacity of 5,250 when configured for professional wrestling or boxing events.

History

Arena Coliseo's ring after a Lucha libre event.

Professional wrestling promoter Salvador Lutteroth began promoting wrestling, or Lucha libre events in Arena Modelo in 1933 as he founded Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL).[1][2] The building served as the main venue for Lutteroth's promotion from 1933 until the early 1940s when the success of Lucha Libre meant that Arena Model was becoming too small to accommodate the weekly shows. Lutteroth financed the building of a new arena with $40,000 that he had won in the national lottery. The building would sit on the location of República del Perú 77 in the Cuauhtémoc and was designed by Architect Francisco Bullman.[1][3] Upon its completion in 1943 it was the first sports building in Mexico to have built in Air Conditioning. The building would hold 8,863 spectators for wrestling or boxing events and quickly gained the nickname the "Lagunilla Funnel" due to the design of the spectators stands in regards to the ring in the middle. The event began hosting Boxing events only a few months after opening and for years would run both wrestling and boxing events throughout the year. The venue served as the main building for EMLL, hosting their Anniversary shows starting with their 10th Anniversary show in 1943 through their 22nd Anniversary show in 1955.[1][3][4] From 1956 and forward Arena Coliseo became a secondary venue for EMLL, with the newly constructed Arena México taking over as the venue for all of EMLL's major shows. In 1979, for undisclosed reasons EMLL held their 46th Anniversary Show in Arena Coliseo instead of Arena México, marking the last major EMLL event held there.[4] By the beginning of the 2000s EMLL, now renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) only held one weekly event, a Sunday Night show. The reduction in use is both as a result of the building's state, lack of parking and the general area being less secure with time due to rise in crime.

As a boxing venue

Arena Coliseo hosted its first boxing event only a month after opening, taking place on May 1, 1943. The event started a tradition of Monday night boxing event at Arena Coliseo that would remain long after Arena Mexico had taken over as CMLL's main venue. The first show was headlined by a fight between Mexican National Bantamweight champion Ernesto Aguilar and Leonardo Lopez.[5] Over the years a number of Mexican and international boxing greats fought at Arena Coliseo, including but not limited to: Jose Medel, Butter Napoles, Vicente Saldivar, Toluco Lopez, Pajarito Moreno, Cuyo Hernandez, El Chango Casanova, Carlos Zarate, Lupe Pintor, Alexis Arguello Alfonso Zamora, Ricardo Lopez, Pipino Cuevas, Kid Azteca and Chiquita Gonzalez. Julio César Chávez fought at Arena Coliseo during his amateur days, but the main attraction of the Arena Coliseo boxing was Raul Macias, with his matches often being shown on the Televisa television channel.[5]

Deaths on location

Over the years Arena Coliseo has witnessed the deaths of several wrestlers and boxers. The first death happened on March 21, 1946, during a boxing match. In the second round of a fight between veteran Guillermo Ramos and young wrestler Fernando Mendoza where Mendoza fell to the floor in the second round and never woke up after the knockout.[5] On December 25, 1979, wrestler José Vincent Ramos Estrada, known to the wrestling world under the ring name Sangre India faced off against César Curiel. Curiel teamed up with El Vengador while Sangre India was teaming with Leo Lopez. During the match Curiel executed a drop kick, a move that was supposed to knock Sangre India out of the ring to the floor. During the fall to the floor, Estrada's head and neck struck the apron before he tumbled uncontrollably to the ground. Estrada died shortly after the fall.[5][6] The third death to occur in Arena Coliseo was not as a result of a match, but a gunshot. On May 14, 1983 "Uncle" Jimenez, the manager of boxer James Casas was shot dead during Casas' victory celebration. A 100,000 pesos reward was offered at the time but no murderer was ever found.[5] On October 26, 1993, professional wrestler Jesús Javier Hernández Silva, better known under the ring name Oro, teamed up La Fiera and Brazo de Plata to face the team of Kahoz, Dr. Wagner Jr. and Jaque Mate at an Arena Coliseo show. Before the match, while going over the plans for the match Oro said he wanted to take a "Kobashi bump" during the match, a reference to a head first backdrop driver which Kenta Kobashi took in a match in All Japan Pro Wrestling only a few months earlier. That particular bump had a dramatic effect, as it looked like Kobashi had broken his neck from the move and Oro wanted to use the shock effect to help build the drama for their match. During the match, Kahoz clotheslined Oro, who spun and landed on his head as he had planned. His opponent tried to pick him up, but soon thereafter he collapsed and his pulse became weak. Oro was put on a stretcher at the start of the second fall while his brother screamed, "Don't fall asleep!", warning him to remain alert so that he wouldn't lose consciousness. Oro died before being placed in an awaiting ambulance.[7][5][8]

Significant events

Over the years Arena Coliseo has hosted a number of significant events, especially a large number of EMLL/CMLL events have taken place in Arena Colise, including a number of CMLL Anniversary shows, shows celebrating the anniversary of Arena Coliseo and shows headlined by major, important matches.

EMLL Anniversary Shows

First Show

Poster for the first ever Arena Coliseo Show

The first show in Arena Coliseo took place on April 2, 1943, before the show the Archbishop of Mexico, Luis M. Martinez, gave the arena a Catholic blessing. The Mexico City council leader Javier Rojo Gomez was also in attendance for this major event. The show was originally slated to have Bill Longsan from Texas defend a version of the World Heavyweight Championship against Juan Humberto, but Humberto was not able to travel from the United States to Mexico City in time. Instead Lutteroth booked Mexican National Middleweight Champion Tarzán Lopez to defend his championship against Santo, who at the time was already a prominent figure in Lucha Libre, although not the icon he would later become through his lucha films and in-ring exploits.[9]

No.Results[9]Stipulations
1Raúl Romero defeated Sam CarbinSingles match
2Chamaco Castro vs. Dientes Hernández ended in an unknown mannerSingles match
3Bobby Bonales vs. Lobo Negro ended in an unknown mannerSingles match
4Firpo Segura vs. Gorilla Ramos ended in an unknown mannerSingles match
5Cowboy Murphy vs. Jack O'Brien ended in an unknown mannerSingles match
6Bobby Areola vs. Black Guzmán ended in an unknown mannerSingles match
7Tarzán Lopez (c) defeated El Santo 2–0Two out of three falls match for the Mexican National Middleweight Championship
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

50th Anniversary Show

The then-recently renamed CMLL celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Arena Coliseo with a wrestling show on April 4, 1993, centered around a Ruleta de la Muerte ("Roulette of death") tournament where the loser of each match would advance to the next round and the person who lost the final match would be forced to remove his wrestling mask and reveal his real name per lucha libre traditions.[10]

No.Results[10]Stipulations
1Cynthia Moreno and Xochitl Hamada defeated La Diabólica and La PracticanteTag team two out of three falls match
2El Felino defeated MetálicoRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
3Scorpio Jr. defeated El PanteraRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
4Titán defeated Máscara MágicaRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
5Lazer Tron defeated PonzonaRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
6Pierroth Jr. defeated Jaque MateRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
7Kahoz defeated Águila SolitariaRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
8Ulises defeated Rey BarbaroRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
9Mano Negra defeated El Hijo del SolitarioRuleta de la Muerte First Round match
10Metálico defeated El PanteraRuleta de la Muerte quarter-final match
11Ponzona defeated Máscara MágicaRuleta de la Muerte quarter-final match
12Jaque Mate defeated Águila SolitariaRuleta de la Muerte quarter-final match
13El Hijo del Solitario defeated Rey BarbaroRuleta de la Muerte quarter-final match
14El Pantera defeated Máscara MágicaRuleta de la Muerte semi-final match
15Águila Solitaria defeated Rey BarbaroRuleta de la Muerte semi-final match
16Máscara Mágica defeated Rey BarbaroRuleta de la Muerte final, Lucha de Apuesta, mask vs. mask match

70th Anniversary Show

On April 7, 2013, CMLL celebrated the 70th anniversary of Arena Coliseo with a show that featured a number of veteran wrestlers that did not usually work for CMLL such as Negro Navarro, Black Terry, Villano IV, Ray Mendoza Jr., Universo 2000, Máscara Año 2000 and Rayo de Jalisco Jr. Before his match Ray Mendoza Jr. stated that his match in Arena Coliseo would be his last match, after having held a Retirement show a few weeks before.[11] During the show CMLL gave an award to a fan who had also attended the first show 70 years prior.

75. Aniversario de Arena Coliseo

75. Aniversario de Arena Coliseo
Official poster for the event
PromotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
DateApril 7, 2018
CityMexico City, Mexico[12]
VenueArena Coliseo
Event chronology
 Previous
Copa Nuevos Valores
Next 
62. Aniversario de Arena México
Aniversario de Arena Coliseo chronology
 Previous
74. Aniversario de Arena Coliseo
Next 
76. Aniversario de Arena Coliseo

The 75. Aniversario de Arena Coliseo (Spanish for "Arena Coliseo's 75th Anniversary") show was a major professional wrestling show produced by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) to commemorate the opening of Arena Coliseo, in 1943. The event took place on April 7, 2018, and featured six matches in total, including a guest appearances from several leyendas who had previously worked for CMLL. The main event saw Atlantis and Blue Panther defeat leyendas Fuerza Guerrera and El Satánico

Results
No.Results[12][13][14]Stipulations
1Magnus and Robin defeated Akuma and Príncipe Odín Jr.Best two-out-of-three falls tag team match
2La Amapola, La Seductora and Zeuxis defeated Dalys la Caribeña, Estrellita and MarcelaSix-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match
3Audaz, Guerrero Maya Jr. and Rey Cometa defeated Puma, Tiger and VirusBest two-out-of-three falls Lucha de Apuestas, hair vs. hair, match
4Ángel de Oro, Diamante Azul and Niebla Roja defeated Los TGR (Rey Bucanero, Shocker and El Terrible) by disqualificationSix-man "Lucha Libre rules" tag team match
5Máscara Año 2000 and Negro Casas defeated Los Cadetes del Espacio (El Solar and Súper Astro)Best two-out-of-three falls tag team match
6Atlantis and Blue Panther defeated Fuerza Guerrera and El SatánicoBest two-out-of-three falls tag team match

Luchas de Apuestas

Unlike most sports or sports entertainment around the world Lucha Libre holds championships in less regards compared to the prestige of winning a Lucha de Apuesta, literally a "bet match". In a Lucha de Apuesta match each competitor "Bets" either their wrestling mask or hair on the outcome of the match and if they lose must unmask or have their hair shaved off in the ultimate form of humiliation. Since the mask holds a sacred place in Lucha Libre the most prestigious Apuesta is the mask, once it is lost a wrestler is not allowed to put the mask back on when wrestling. As part of the tradition an unmasked wrestler must also reveal their "true identity", which means give their birth name, age and wrestling experience as they lose the "anonymity" of the enmascarado character.[15][16] Over the years Arena Coliseo has been host to a number of Luchas de Apuestas, including one that many consider the biggest Luchas de Apuestas match where Lucha Libre icon El Santo defeated and unmasked Black Shadow in 1952.[17] Below is a list of all documented Luchas de Apuestas that have taken place in Arena Coliseo since its completion in 1943.[17]

Date[17] Winner(s)[17] Loser(s)[17] Bet(s)[17]
April 8, 1944El SantoJack O'BrienHair
May 2, 1952Torbellino BlancoSugi SitoHair
July 26, 1952Médico AsesinoTonina JacksonHair
November 7, 1952El SantoBlack ShadowMask
December 3, 1955El SantoHalcón NegroMask
March 12, 1954Blue DemonCavernario GalindoHair
June 14, 1955Huracán RamírezMolochMask
April 21, 1959Mishima OhtaHuroki SitoHair
February 9, 1962Espanto ICavernario GalindoHair
March 20, 1964Espanto IDory DixonHair
March 12, 1965Karloff LagardeCavernario GalindoHair
December 10, 1965Huracán RamírezEl ScorpioMask
March 23, 1967Rodolfo RuizSergio BarrayoHair
June 11, 1968Black ShadowDory DixonHair
February 20, 1972El AudazManuel RoblesHair
February 27, 1976El VengadorEl SatánicoHair
July 16, 1976Demonio BlancoEl NaziHair
May 15, 1977As CharroChino ChowHair
April 2, 1978TalismánTauroHair
August 28, 1979Cachorro MendozaEl SatánicoHair
September 21, 1979Gran CochisseAmérico RoccaHair
December 4, 1979Sangre IndiaChamaco OrtizHair
October 7, 1980TalismánEl MagoMask
March 21, 1981Águila SolitariaEl BastardoMask
April 3, 1981Américo Rocca and Divino RoyGran Cochisse and Aguila IndiaHair
September 29, 1981TalismánTiburónMask
December 6, 1981El BrazoAntaresMask
July 23, 1982Franco ColomboDivino RoyHair
August 17, 1982Faisán and Franco ColomboPánico and Manuel RoblesMask/Hair
November 16, 1982PánicoFaisánHair
January 30, 1983Gran CochisseLeo LópezHair
February 1, 1983Zorro MendozaRey DavidHair
April 17, 1983Gusano Yánez and Olímpico FloresPánico and Bruno VictoriaHair
July 5, 1983Gusano YánezDivino RoyHair
August 12, 1983Jerry EstradaGusano YánezHair
September 25, 1983Cachorro MendozaJerry EstradaHair
October 3, 1983Tony SalazarChacho HerodesHair
October 28, 1983Cachorro MendozaCarlos PlataHair
December 11, 1983El JaliscoPirata MorganHair
July 1, 1984PánicoDobermanHair
July 17, 1984Américo Rocca and Grand CochisseComando Ruso I and IIHair
October 26, 1984El DandyJavier CruzHair
February 17, 1985Rey DavidMóduloHair
March 23, 1986Javier CruzFranco ColomboHair
April 27, 1986Enfermero Jr.Lemus IIHair
May 4, 1986TalismánLemus IIHair
August 31, 1986El DandyJavier CruzHair
August 16, 1987SeleneLa GuerrilleraMask
July 17, 1988Rocco Valente and Roberto PazRojo and Reyes VelozHair
February 14, 1988RokamboleEl MachoMask
June 2, 1989MogurEl EgipcioHair
June 17, 1989Gusano YánezEl Macho IHair
February 16, 1990Remo BandaComando RusoHair
March 18, 1990MogurEl MachoHair
May 4, 1990Bestia SalvajeCachorro MendozaHair
June 1, 1990Martha VillalobosRossy MorenoHair
August 10, 1990El ScorpioCachorro MendozaHair
August 17, 1990Ringo MendozaEl ScorpioHair
September 2, 1990Gusano YánezAmérico RoccaHair
October 28, 1990MogurHombre BalaHair
March 3, 1991ZuleymaPantera SureñaHair
July 14, 1991Baby RichardSímboloHair
August 2, 1991Mascarita SagradaPiratita MorganHair
September 1, 1991Lola GonzálezKarla YvonneHair
March 8, 1992Chamaco AyalaPánicoHair
August 16, 1992Bestia SalvajeRingo MendozaHair
November 15, 1992Gran ApacheRey DavidHair
December 1, 1992Shogun BelloIncógnitoMask
December 15, 1992Brazo de PlataAarón GrundyHair
March 2, 1993Javier CruzRingo MendozaHair
April 4, 1993Máscara MágicaRey BarbaroMask
May 30, 1993Corazón de LeónCromagnonHair
June 20, 1993Tornado NegroÁguila IndiaHair
July 4, 1993MestizoBaby RichardHair
September 7, 1993Grand Apache and MestizoRojo and Reyes VelozHair
September 21, 1993Cachorro MendozaChamaco ValaguezHair
November 14, 1993La Sombra[Note 1]Supremo IIMask
May 8, 1994Américo RoccaKung FuHair
October 4, 1994Escudero RojoMestizoHair
December 18, 1994Apolo DantésMogurHair
April 4, 1995UltratumbitaMáscarita MágicaMask
June 13, 1995Chicago ExpressCiclón RamírezHair
July 25, 1995Américo RoccaReyes VelozHair
August 9, 1995Arkangel de la MuerteLa Sombra[Note 1]Mask
August 29, 1995Chicago ExpressCiclón RamírezHair
November 12, 1995Chicago ExpressJavier CruzHair
November 19, 1995Astro Rey Jr.MetálicoMask
February 16, 1996Américo RoccaRingo MendozaHair
June 2, 1996Reyes VelozEl VencedorHair
July 28, 1996LynxÁngel de Plata[Note 2]Mask
September 1, 1996AtlánticoKung FuHair
April 15, 1997Brazo de PlataMano NegraHair
November 30, 1997Tony RiveraReyes VelozHair
February 1, 1998Tony RiveraValentín MayoHair
June 9, 1998Rencor LatinoApolo ChinoMask
June 14, 1998Ringo Mendoza and TajiriChicago Express and MogurHair
August 4, 1998Tony RiveraGuerrero de la MuerteHair
August 11, 1998Tony RiveraGuerrero del FuturoHair
November 15, 1998Lady ApacheTania la GuerrilleraHair
August 30, 1998AtlánticoBúfalo SalvajeMask
September 6, 1998Ringo MendozaEl SignoHair
November 15, 1998Lady ApacheTania la GuerrilleraHair
December 15, 1998Tony RiveraHalcón NegroHair
December 19, 1999Tony RiveraHalcón NegroHair
April 27, 1999Américo RoccaKid GuzmánHair
May 16, 1999El ToreoGuerrero del FuturoHair
October 19, 1999Tigre BlancoSúper CacaoMask
December 19, 1999Tony RiveraHalcón NegroHair
March 21, 2000Tony RiveraMr. MéxicoHair
May 1, 2000Brazo de OroValentín MayoHair
May 18, 2000Tony RiveraSúper CacaoHair
May 28, 2000Ricky MarvinSúper CacaoHair
May 30, 2000Ricky MarvinFieroHair
July 23, 2000Sangre AztecaPegaso IIMask
March 4, 2001Mano NegraMr. MéxicoHair
May 27, 2001Ricky MarvinAmérico RoccaHair
September 16, 2001Guerrero del FuturoChris StoneHair
October 14, 2001Ricky MarvinEl Hijo del GladiadorHair
October 28, 2001Alan StoneGuerrero del FuturoHair
June 16, 2002Súper KendoSolar IIMask
August 11, 2002Rey BucaneroBrazo de PlatinoHair
December 15, 2002Guerrero del FuturoSolar IIHair
February 18, 2003Pierroth Jr.Apolo DantésHair
June 15, 2003TakemuraMr. MéxicoHair
October 19, 2003Ringo MendozaGuerrero del FuturoHair
November 30, 2003Máscara Año 2000El SatánicoHair
June 20, 2004VenenoTony RiveraHair
December 5, 2004Negro CasasOkumuraHair
April 2, 2006Stuka Jr.La FlechaMask
June 5, 2006MáximoLoco MaxHair
August 13, 2006India SiouxMedusaMask
June 18, 2006Rey BucaneroOkumuraHair
October 29, 2006MáximoEmilio Charles Jr.Hair
March 18, 2007LeonoMogurHair
April 15, 2007Stuka Jr.El JequeMask
July 17, 2007Bam BamPequeño HalloweenHair
July 24, 2007Bam BamDemus 3:16Hair
August 5, 2007VirusTony RiveraHair
July 16, 2008Bam BamPequeño ViolenciaHair
August 17, 2008Demus 3:16Bam BamHair
October 5, 2008Loco MaxTony RiveraHair

See also

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 Not to be mistaken for the current La Sombra
  2. Not the most recent Ángel de Plata

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Los Lutteroth / the Lutteroth". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. 2005. pp. 20–27. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
  2. "EMLL Debut show". Pro Wrestling History. September 21, 1933. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Madigan, Dan (2007). "El nacimiento de un sueño (the birth of a dream)". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 51–51. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Historia de Los Aniversarios del CMLL". The Gladiatores Magazine (in Spanish). September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Arena Coliseo, La Genuina casa del Boxeo -Sus triunfos – sus muertes" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Gaceta. March 25, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  6. Brown, Kurt. "Kurt Brown looks at the tragic death of Sangre India". Figure 4 Wrestling. Retrieved March 19, 2010.
  7. Madigan, Dan (2007). "Okay... what is Lucha Libre?". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  8. "Enciclopedia de las Mascaras". Oro (in Spanish). Mexico City, Mexico. December 2007. p. 27. Tomo V.
  9. 1 2 "Arena Coliseo, El primero de sus 25,550 días" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Gateca. March 28, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Find it
  11. "La Arena Coliseo festejo sus 70 anos". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  12. 1 2 Mendoza, Gerado (April 8, 2018). "¡Felices 75, Arena Coliseo!" (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  13. Dark Angelita (April 9, 2018). "La Coliseo celebró 75 años en medio de nostalgia y algarabía". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  14. "CMLL Sábados de Coliseo - 75. Aniversario de la Arena Coliseo". Wrestling Data. April 7, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  15. Madigan, Dan (2007). "Masks". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 46–49. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  16. Madigan, Dan (2007). "The Mask in the match". Mondo Lucha A Go-Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 60–61. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Arena Coliseo, cementerio de máscaras y cabelleras". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). MSN. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
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