Lucha Libre Tríos matches

The bread and butter of CMLL as I said in the vocabulary CMLL 101. It can also be the most confusing to newcomers. It’s 2 out of 3 falls most of the time, but with a strange caveat. Most of the time there is a captain/team leader. If you pin/submit him then that counts as the first fall.

However, if you instead pin or submit 1 of the other 2 members of the team you must pin or submit the other non-captain or the captain himself to pick up a fall. This is why often times you will see 2 simultaneous pin/submissions, because they need both those to get the first fall.

Also, if you pin/submit the non-captain they can no longer be part of the round. Making it a 2 on 3 match, but only for the rest of the round. Once the next round starts, things are wiped clean and it goes back to 3 on 3.

Lucha Libre Tagging(Trio) Rules

One thing most will notice about the tag/trios matches in CMLL is that no one ever seems to tag! Which isn’t true, tagging in and out is still done. However, it isn’t required instead if someone leaves the ring, someone on their team can come into the ring and becomes the legal man.

Torneo Cibernetico(Cybernetic Tournament)

This match type is common, but mostly as a big deal/event. It’s a tournament format that works like a much bigger tag match. Sometimes as a free for all or a big team vs team bout. Instead of having to get 2/3 falls instead it’s elimination.

Example : The most recent Torneo Cibernetico was at La Copa Junior. Where they held two 8 man Torneo Ciberneticos. With the 8 men, only 2 are suppose to be in the ring at a time. When one exits, one of the other 6 can take the open spot. Then as people are pinned or submitted, they are eliminated from the match until it’s whittled down to the final 2.

Then the one that eliminates the last other luchador wins the Torneo Cibernetico. At La Copa Junior these were blocks with the winners of the two 8 man Torneo Ciberneticos taking each other on in a final that’s 2/3 falls.

Sometimes they can be bigger and not have a final like La Copa Junior, for instance this year's Reyes del Aire was a 16 man variation with no finals. Just who ever wins the 16 man match is crowned the winner.

Example of the team variation : Years ago CMLL changed the International Gran Prix that they do from a standard single elimination tournament to a team vs team Torneo Cibernetico. This normally works as an 8 vs 8 version. It works the same way that the previous example worked, except people go in and out to replace their partners. So instead of free for all, you have Team Mexico vs Team International. If you are familiar with WWE’s Survivor Series it’s a lot like that just with the Torneo Cibernetico format.

Lightning Match

Covered this in vocabulary, but thought I’d cover it here too with more information. The match is 1 on 1, 10 minute time limit and first fall unlike most matches in CMLL. If no man gets a fall in the 10 minute time limit which will be counted up on the titantron, neither man wins and it’s ruled a draw.

This match is always very exciting imo, because it’s always fast and urgent. Also, in CMLL this is a great way to see what CMLL currently thinks about the two talents involved. It’s the greatest measuring stick that anyone can have without putting a mask/hair/belt on the line. Draws often indicating that they are more equal than anything, meeting one another step for step.

Infierno en el Ring(Hell on the Ring)

First happening on August 4, 2000, the match has happened 19 times as of this writing(in CMLL). Infierno en el Ring is their branded version of this match like how Hell in a Cell is the WWE branded name for that sort of cage match.

In CMLL it starts with many men in a cage at least 4, though in recent years it’s normally like 8-12 and sometimes even more. The match starts and people try to escape, the last 2 in the match then are in a bet match. The loser by pin/submission/escape has to shave their head or unmask.

This match was very popular a few years ago and even headlined the CMLL Anniversary Show 2 years in a row(77/78). Though now, it has it’s own yearly PPV which will always be headlined by this match type.

Luchas de Apuestas(Betting Fights)

The biggest of matches in Mexico, also the one most people think about when it comes to Lucha Libre. Just like title matches, these are 2 out of 3 falls affair. First person to score 2 falls will unmask/shave his opponent in the ring. Often keeping a lock of hair or the others mask as a trophy of sorts.

Sometimes younger talents will lose a mask early in their career and be remasked in another promotion. However, it’s not common in CMLL. Instead the unmasked person just continues to be unmasked and for future betting matches they instead will grow out their hair and wager that instead.

The rules for title matches are pretty much the same, 2 out of 3 falls with the winner getting/retaining the title, so I won’t make a separate entry for those.

Hands off the mask!

Strangely the rules for masks can be sorta… weird. You can tear a mask in half basically and not get disqualified, however if you take it off completely by undoing the back and pulling it off the luchador. That will get you disqualified and award a fall to whomever’s mask was taken off of.

Sometimes, cheeky rudos will even take their own mask off and throw it to their opponent and get them DQ’ed ala Eddie Guerrero.

Just like I said in my CMLL 101 #1, I may add to or amend this at a later date if I feel like I forgot anything. At the moment though this seems like enough to explain the basic rules for most of CMLL’s most used match types.