Mexican National Middleweight Championship

The Mexican National Middleweight Championship (Campeonato Nacional de Peso Medio) is a professional wrestling championship controlled by the Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission). The official weight definition of the middleweight division in Mexico is from 82 to 87 kg (181 to 192 lb).[lower-alpha 1] The championship was created in 1933 and was promoted regularly until December 8, 2008. Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) had control of the championship from its creation until 1992,[lower-alpha 2] at which point it was transferred to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).[lower-alpha 3] The championship's history between 1933 and 1937 is only partially known; for some periods it is unclear who held the championship. The first champion was Yaqui Joe; records of the identity of his opponent for the championship are unclear. In early 2009, AAA stopped promoting all Mexican National Championships, opting to focus on its AAA-branded championships instead.[2] In 2021, the championship was reactivated by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, with Templario defeating Dragón Rojo Jr. to win the vacant title.[3]

Mexican National Middleweight Championship
Details
PromotionEmpresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (1933–1992)
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración/AAA (1991–2008)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (2021–present)
Date established1933
Current champion(s)Guerrero Maya, Jr.
Date wonJune 2, 2023
Statistics
First champion(s)Yaqui Joe
Most reignsEl Santo, Octagón (4 reigns)
Longest reignEl Santo (1,758 days, disputed)
Shortest reignPerro Aguayo (11 days)

There have been at least 63 championship reigns, and 38 wrestlers have held the championship. El Santo and Octagón both held it four times, the most for any wrestler. The longest confirmed reign belongs to El Santo. His third reign lasted 1,758 days from May 31, 1956, to March 24, 1961.[lower-alpha 4] The shortest reign lasted 11 days; Perro Aguayo held it from February 28 to March 11, 1977. As with all professional wrestling championships, matches for the Mexican National Tag Team Championship were not won or lost competitively but by a pre-planned ending to the match, the outcome of which was determined by the CMLL bookers and match makers.[lower-alpha 5] Occasionally, organizers of a promotion declared the championship vacant, which meant there was no champion for a period. This was either due to a storyline,[lower-alpha 6] or real-life problems such as an injured champion being unable to defend the championship[lower-alpha 7] or they had left the company.[lower-alpha 8] All title matches took place under two out of three falls rules.[lower-alpha 9]

Title history
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
N/A Unknown information
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre
 1  Yaqui Joe  1933  Live event  N/A  1  N/A    
Championship history is unrecorded from 1933 to 1937.
 2  Octavio Gaona  February 6, 1938  Live event Mexico City  1  208 Defeated Black Guzmán  
 3  Firpo Segura  September 2, 1938  Live event Mexico City  1  N/A    
 4  Octavio Gaona  January 1, 19391938/1939  Live event  N/A  2  N/A    
 5  Tarzán López  February 9, 1939  Live event Mexico City  1  823    
 6  Black Guzmán  May 12, 1941  Live event Mexico City  1  218    
— Vacated  December 16, 1941 — — — — Championship vacated after Guzman won the NWA World Middleweight Championship, defeating Tarzán López in Mexico City
 7  Murciélago Velázquez  May 24, 1942  Live event Mexico City  1  299 Defeated Octavio Gaona to win the championship  
 8  El Santo  March 19, 1943  Live event  Mexico City  1  84    
 9  Bobby Bonales  June 11, 1943  Live event  Mexico City  1  119   [9]
 10  El Santo  October 8, 1943  Live event  Mexico City  2  176    
 11  Tarzán López  April 1, 1944  Live event  Mexico City  2  7    
— Vacated April 8, 1944 — — — —  Vacated the championship as he already held the NWA World Middleweight Championship  
 12  El Santo  May 31, 1944  Live event  Mexico City  3  366 Defeated Tuffy Truesdale to win the vacant championship  
 13  Bobby Bonales  June 1, 1945  Live event  Mexico City  2  116    
 14  Gory Guerrero  September 25, 1945  EMLL 12th Anniversary Show Mexico City  1  151   [10]
— Vacated  February 23, 1946 — — — — Championship vacated after Guerrero won the NWA World Middleweight Championship
 15  Tarzán López  April 12, 1946  Live event  N/A  3  11    
— Vacated  April 23, 1946 — — — — López won the NWA World Middleweight Championship
 16  El Santo  May 31, 1956  Live event  Mexico City  4  1,758    
 17  Karloff Lagarde  March 24, 1961  Live event  Pachuca  1  826 Won a tournament for the vacant championship  
 18  El Santo  June 28, 1963  Live event  Mexico City  5  1,455    
 19  René Guajardo  June 22, 1967  Live event  Mexico City  1  37    
— Vacated  July 29, 1967 — — — —
 20  Karloff Lagarde  December 15, 1967  Live event Mexico City  2  72    
 21  Humberto Gárza  February 25, 1968  Live event Monterrey, Nuevo León  2  238    
 22  Alberto Muñoz  October 20, 1968  Live event  Guadalajara, Jalisco  1  396    
 23  Rene Guajardo  November 20, 1969  Live event  Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes  2  174    
 24  Humberto Gárza  May 13, 1970  Live event Monterrey, Nuevo León  2  328    
 25  Ciclón Veloz Jr.  April 6, 1971  Live event Monterrey, Nuevo León  1  983    
 26  Adorable Rubí  December 14, 1973  Live event Mexico City  1  196    
 27  Aníbal  June 28, 1974  Live event Mexico City  1  84    
— Vacated  September 20, 1974 — — — — Anibal won the NWA World Middleweight Championship  
 28  Ringo Mendoza  November 29, 1974  Live event Mexico City  1  812 Won a tournament for the vacant championship  
 29  Perro Aguayo  February 18, 1977  Live event Mexico City  1  21    
— Vacated  March 11, 1977 — — — — Championship vacated after Perro Aguayo won the NWA World Middleweight Championship, defeating El Faraón in Mexico City
 30  José Luis Mendieta  April 15, 1977  Live event Mexico City  1  218    
 31  Sangre Chicana  November 19, 1977  Live event Mexico City  1  467-497    
— Vacated  March 1979 — — — — Championship vacated for undocumented reasons
 32  Cachorro Mendoza  June 8, 1979  Live event Mexico City  1  133    
 33  El Satánico  October 19, 1979  Live event Mexico City  1  231    
 34  Ringo Mendoza  June 6, 1980  Live event  Mexico City  2  182    
 35  El Faraón  December 5, 1980  Live event Mexico City  1  N/A    
— Vacated  1980/1981 — — — — Championship vacated for undocumented reasons  
 36  El Solar  May 29, 1981  Live event Mexico City  1  147 Defeated Cachorro Mendoza  
 37  El Satánico  October 23, 1981  Live event  Mexico City  2  119    
 38  Lizmark  February 19, 1982  Live event Mexico City  1  377    
 39  Espectro Jr. (II)  March 3, 1983  Live event Cuernavaca, Morelos  1  86   [11]
 40  Lizmark  May 28, 1983  Live event Puebla, Puebla  2  6    
— Vacated  June 3, 1983 — — — — Championship vacated when Lizmark won the NWA World Middleweight Championship
 41  Ultraman  August 12, 1983  Live event Mexico City  1  205 Defeated Águila Solitaria in a tournament final  
 42  Jerry Estrada  March 4, 1984  Live event Mexico City  1  271    
 43  Atlantis  November 30, 1984  Live event Mexico City  1  457    
 44  El Talismán  March 2, 1986  Live event Mexico City  1  273    
 45  Mogur  November 30, 1986  Live event Mexico City  1  427    
 46  El Satánico  January 31, 1988  Live event Mexico City  3  N/A    
 47  El Dandy  1989  Live event  Mexico City  1  N/A    
 48  Javier Cruz  July 26, 1990  Live event Cuernavaca, Morelos  1  35    
 49  Emilio Charles Jr.  August 30, 1990  Live event Cuernavaca, Morelos  1  82    
 50  Octagón  November 20, 1990  Live event Mexico City  1  612    
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración/AAA
 51  Blue Panther  July 24, 1992  Live event León, Guanajuato  1  665    
 52  Octagón  April 30, 1994  AAA Show Veracruz, Veracruz  2  27    
 53  Blue Panther  May 27, 1994  AAA Show Tijuana, Baja California  2  609 Awarded the title by default when Octagón was unable to defend it because of injury  
 54  El Hijo del Santo  January 26, 1996  AAA Show Tijuana, Baja California  1  233    
 55  Fuerza Guerrera  September 15, 1996  AAA Show Saltillo, Coahuila  1  867    
 56  Octagón  January 29, 1997  AAA Show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  3  58    
 57  Pentagón (II)  March 28, 1997  AAA Show Nezahualcóyotl, State of Mexico  1  417    
 58  Abismo Negro  May 19, 1998  AAA Show Tlalnepantla de Baz  1  253    
 59  Espectro Jr. (II)  January 27, 1999  AAA Show Ecatepec de Morelos, State of Mexico  2  141    
 60  Máscara Sagrada Jr.  June 17, 1999  AAA Show Toluca, State of Mexico  1  21    
 61  Espectro Jr. (II)  July 8, 1999  AAA Show Toluca, State of Mexico  3  659    
 62  Pimpinela Escarlata  April 27, 2001  AAA Show Querétaro, Querétaro  1  473    
 63  Psicosis II  August 13, 2002  AAA Show Huamantla, Tlaxcala  1  1,086    
— Vacated  August 3, 2005 — — — — Psicosis was stripped of the title for defending the title in a hardcore match against Histeria. [12]
 64  Zumbido  January 29, 2006  AAA Show Salamanca, Guanajuato  1  167 Defeated Histeria in a tournament final to win the championship. [13]
 65  Octagón  July 15, 2006  AAA Show Torreón, Coahuila  4  877   [14]
— Deactivated  December 8, 2008 — — — — AAA stopped using all of the Mexican National championships around this time, focusing on AAA-branded championships instead.  
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
 66  Templario  September 24, 2021  Aniversario 88 Mexico City  1  616 In 2021, CMLL (formerly Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre; EMLL) reactivated the title. Templario defeated Dragón Rojo Jr. to win the vacant title.  
 67  Guerrero Maya, Jr.  June 2, 2023  Super Viernes Mexico City  1  145+ Guerrero Maya, Jr. defeated Rugido to win the vacant title.  

List of championship reigns by combined length

Championships without a specific start or end date are not included as it is not possible to calculate the specific number of dates for a reign.

Rank Wrestler # Of Reigns Combined Days
1El Santo53,839 ¤
2Lizmark12,204
3Octagón41,574
4Blue Panther21,274
5Psicosis (II)11,086
6Ringo Mendoza21,004
7Ciclón Veloz Jr.1983
8Espectro Jr. (II)3886
9Fuerza Guerrera1867
10Karloff Lagarde1826
11Tarzán López1823
12Alberto Muñoz1621
13Octavio Gaona1573
14Pimpinela Escarlata1473
15Atlantis1457
16René Guajardo2435
17Mogur1427
18Pentagón (II)1417
19Satánico2350
20Humberto Gárza1328
21Murciélago Velázquez1299
22Talismán1273
23Jerry Estrada1271
24Abismo Negro1253
25El Hijo del Santo1233
26José Luis Mendieta1219
27Black Guzmán1218
28Ultraman1205
29Adorable Rubí1196
30Zumbido1167
31Aníbal1154
32El Solar1147
33Cachorro Mendoza1133
34Emilio Charles Jr.182
35Javier Cruz135
36Templario1761+
37Máscara Sagrada Jr.121
38Perro Aguayo111

Championship tournaments

1977

Perro Aguayo won the NWA World Middleweight Championship on March 11, 1977, while being the reigning Mexican National Middleweight Champion. As a result, Aguayo relinquished the Mexican National title so that the EMLL could hold an eight-man tournament to determine the next champion. The first round was held on March 25, the semi-finals on April 8 and the tournament's finals on April 15. In the finals, Jose Luis Mendieta defeated Rubí Ruvalcaba to win the championship.

March 25 April 8 April 15
         
1 Demonio Blanco W
8 As Charro [15]
Demonio Blanco [16]
Jose Luis Mendieta W
4 Jose Luis Mendieta W
5 Spirit [15]
Jose Luis Mendieta W
Rubí Ruvalcaba [17]
2 Rubí Ruvalcaba W
7 Tony Salazar [15]
Rubí Ruvalcaba W
El Faraón [16]
3 El Faraón W
6 Ringo Mendoza [15]

2005–2006

The tournament ran from October 14, 2005 – January 9, 2006. Records are unclear as to who Histeria and Psicosis II defeated to qualify for the semi-finals.[18]

First Round Second Round Semi-Final Finals
            
1 El Ángel W
16 Gran Apache L
El Ángel L
El Hijo del Fantasma W
8 El Hijo del Fantasma W
9 Hator L
El Hijo del Fantasma L
Zumbido W
5 Audaz II Jr. L
12 Charly Manson W
Charly Manson L
Zumbido W
4 El Oriental L
13 Zumbido W
Zumbido W
Psicosis II L
6 bye n/a
11 bye n/a
bye n/a
bye n/a
3 bye n/a
14 bye n/a
Histeria L
Psicosis II W
7 bye n/a
10 bye n/a
bye n/a
bye n/a
2 bye n/a
15 bye n/a

Footnotes
  1. Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre (2001): "Articulo 242: Super Welter 82 kilos / Medio 87 kilos" ("Article 242: Super Welter 82 kilos / Middleweight 87 kilos")[1]
  2. EMLL was renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in late 1991
  3. In this, "control" refers to the everyday use of the title, determination of storylines in which the title is being used, selection of wrestlers who challenge the title, and use the championship's name for public relations.
  4. Due to gaps in the title's history, it is not clear if there was a longer reign.
  5. Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "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."[4]
  6. Duncan & Will (2000) p. 271, Chapter: Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [World Class, Adkisson] "Championship held up and rematch ordered because of the interference of manager Gary Hart"[5]
  7. Duncan & Will (2000) p. 20, Chapter: (United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) NWA/WCW TV Title "Rhodes stripped on 85/10/19 for not defending the belt after having his leg broken by Ric Flair and Ole & Arn Anderson"[6]
  8. Duncan & Will (2000) p. 201, Chapter: (Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title "Vacant on 93/01/18 when Spike leaves the USWA."[7]
  9. Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre p. 44 "Articulo 258.- Cada combate de lucha libre tendrá como limite tres caídas; cada caída será sin limite de tiempo, ganará quien obtenga dos caídas de las tres en disputa" ("Article 258.- Each wrestling match shall have as limit three falls; Each fall will be without time limit. The winner will be the one to first obtain two of the three falls in the match")[8]

References
  • Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Middleweight Championship". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  • "Los Reyes de Mexico: La Historia de Los Campeonatos Nacionales". Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). 2004-12-20. Especial 21.
  • 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. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2.
  1. Rojas, Arturo Montiel (August 30, 2001). "Reglamento de Box y Lucha Libre Professional del Estado de Mexico" (PDF) (in Spanish). Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2006. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  2. "¿AAA dejará de contar campeonatos de terceros?" [Will AAA stop recognizing third-party championships?]. SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
  3. thecubsfan (September 25, 2021). "CMLL 88TH ANNIVERSARY: La Jarochita & Lluvia vs. Dark Silueta & Reyna Isis". POST Wrestling. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  4. Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  5. Duncan & Will 2000, p. 271.
  6. Duncan & Will 2000, p. 20.
  7. Duncan & Will 2000, p. 201.
  8. Arturo Montiel Rojas (August 30, 2001). "Reglamento de Box y Lucha Libre Professional del Estado de Mexico" (PDF) (in Spanish). Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2006. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  9. Hoops, Brian (June 1, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (June 1): Rogers beats Gomez, Gordman & Goliath, Baba loses PWF Title, Flair Vs. KVE, Lawler Vs. Son, Undertaker Vs. Edge". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  10. Ruiz Glez, Alex (September 7, 2010). "CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  11. Hoops, Brian (March 3, 2019). "Daily pro wrestling history (03/03): Sting wins TNA World Title". Figure Four Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
  12. "2005 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 3, 2006. issue 140.
  13. "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2006. issue 192. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  14. "2007 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). December 26, 2007. issue 244. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  15. "EMLL Super Viernes". CageMatch. March 25, 1977. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  16. "EMLL Super Viernes". CageMatch. April 8, 1977. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  17. "EMLL Super Viernes". CageMatch. April 15, 1977. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  18. "AAA Title Tournaments". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on 2007-09-22. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
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