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 87kg (181 to 192lb).[a] The championship was created in 1933 and was promoted regularly until December8, 2008. Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) had control of the championship from its creation until 1992,[b] at which point it was transferred to Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).[c] 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]
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 2,400 days from September 14, 1956, to April 11, 1963.[d] The shortest reign lasted 21 days; a tie between Perro Aguayo in 1977 and Máscara Sagrada Jr. in 1999. 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.[e] 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,[f] or real-life problems such as an injured champion being unable to defend the championship[g] or they had left the company.[h] All title matches took place under two out of three falls rules.[i]
Perro Aguayo won the NWA World Middleweight Championship on March11, 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 March25, the semi-finals on April8 and the tournament's finals on April15. In the finals, Jose Luis Mendieta defeated Rubí Ruvalcaba to win the championship.
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 semifinals. The tournament winner was Zumbido.[21]
Templario won the CMLL World Middleweight Championship on May12, 2023, while being the reigning Mexican National Middleweight Champion. As a result, Templario relinquished the Mexican National title so that the CMLL could hold an eight-man tournament to determine the next champion. The first round and semi-finals were held on May26, and the tournament's finals on June2. In the finals, Guerrero Maya Jr. defeated Rugido to win the championship.
↑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]
↑EMLL was renamed Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in late 1991
↑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.
↑Due to gaps in the title's history, it is not clear if there was a longer reign.
↑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]
↑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]
↑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]
↑Duncan & Will (2000) p. 201, Chapter: (Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title "Vacant on 93/01/18 when Spike leaves the USWA."[7]
↑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]
Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Mexico: National Middleweight Championship". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
"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 (Reviseded.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN978-1-61321-808-2.
