CMLL Universal Tournament
Tournament Details
The CMLL Universal Tournament took the Leyenda de Plata event's place as the most prestigious CMLL annual tournament. It includes most (though not all) of CMLL's top wrestlers in a multi-week tournament to establish a proverbial "champion of champions". The original format featured a three-week sixteen-man single-elimination tournament. Champions were drawn into two blocks of eight, seeded by battle royal, and competed in three single-fall rounds. The winner of each block would face off on the third week in a full three-falls no-time-limit match. The winner of the tournament is awarded a red and gold belt, though the championship is not defended through the year. Post-Covid, variants on the formula were employed, that delineate the championships by type.
Any CMLL men's division world or national champion is eligible for the tournament. The champions included are the CMLL set of championships (Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight, Tag Team, Trios), the NWA Historic Championships (Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight) and the Mexican National Championships (Welterweight, Light Heavyweight, Trios) held by CMLL men's luchadors. In 2019, the Mexican National Heavyweight Championship and Mexican National Lightweight Championship were both added to the list.
Originally, the field was strictly for sixteen luchadors. As CMLL had a maximum of eighteen possible champions for sixteen spots. That would lead to some wrestlers winning two or even three championships sometime during the year, strictly for the purpose of having the right number of champions. In other years, a healthy champion has been quietly left out of the tournament. The increased number of champions starting in 2019 meant multiple champions were left out for the first time. Meanwhile, when there was an odd number of available champions for the 2026 edition, CMLL simply adjusted the specific rules of the match type to allow for everyone's inclusion.
In addition to the listed champions, CMLL offered a spot to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on two occasions as an explanation to include Hiroshi Tanahashi. Lesser championships have been used as explanations for injury replacements. Okumura used the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Champion to fill in for Diamante Azul in 2013. Diamante Azul used the Occidente Heavyweight Championship in 2017 when Atlantis suffered a knee injury.
The weeks/months prior to the tournament frequently see title changes to shape the field for the tournament, both in getting the right people in and ending up at the right number. Winning the tournament is considered a major achievement in CMLL. The Universal tournament was moved to the August/September time frame after its first year until 2014, resettled on a regular April placement post-Covid as to coincide the final with the annual Arena Mexico Anniversary Show, and has frequently been used as a springboard for CMLL Anniversario matches.
Champions By Year
2009
CMLL originally announced a 14 man field. By the time of the first block of the bracket (all of which was held in Arena Mexico), the field had expanded to 16, with some changes to the list of participants.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
When the tournament was announced...
- Sombra held the NWA World Welterweight Championship. Mephisto defeated him on May 27, 2009, in Acapulco to earn a birth in the tournament. Sombra stayed in, with the tag team championship
- Mistico was not included despite holding the Mexican National Light Heavyweight Championship. There was no explanation why, nor one when he was added to the tournament later on.
- Rey Bucanero held the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship, but lost it to Ephesto. Ephesto took his spot in the tournament.
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Black Warrior | W | ||||||||||||
| Mascara Dorada | Black Warrior | ||||||||||||
| Texano Jr. | W | Texano Jr. | W | June 5 | |||||||||
| Hijo del Fantasma | Texano Jr. | W | |||||||||||
| Averno | W | La Sombra | |||||||||||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. | Averno | ||||||||||||
| La Sombra | W | La Sombra | W | June 19 | |||||||||
| Sangre Azteca | Texano Jr. | ||||||||||||
| Mephisto | Ultimo Guerrero | W | |||||||||||
| Hector Garza | W | Hector Garza | |||||||||||
| Mistico | W | Mistico | W | June 12 | |||||||||
| Ephesto | Mistico | ||||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | Ultimo Guerrero | W | |||||||||||
| Ultimo Guerrero | W | Ultimo Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| La Mascara | Negro Casas | ||||||||||||
| Negro Casas | W | ||||||||||||
2010
This year's tournament started on July 30th, with the second block on August 6th, and the final on August 13th. The tournament was won by NJPW's Jushin Lyger, defeating La Sombra in a three falls match.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Mascara Dorada | W | ||||||||||||
| Stuka Jr. | Mascara Dorada | ||||||||||||
| Ultimo Guerrero | W | Ultimo Guerrero | W | July 30 | |||||||||
| Averno | Ultimo Guerrero | ||||||||||||
| La Sombra | W | La Sombra | W | ||||||||||
| Mephisto | La Sombra | W | |||||||||||
| Texano Jr. | W | Texano Jr. | August 13 | ||||||||||
| Ephesto | La Sombra | ||||||||||||
| Metro | Jushin Lyger | W | |||||||||||
| Hector Garza | W | Hector Garza | |||||||||||
| Jushin Lyger | W | Jushin Lyger | W | August 6 | |||||||||
| Negro Casas | Jushin Lyger | W | |||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | La Mascara | |||||||||||
| Valiente | Volador Jr. | ||||||||||||
| La Mascara | W | La Mascara | W | ||||||||||
| Mr. Aguila | |||||||||||||
2011
This year's tournament started on September 2nd, with the second block on September 9th, and the final on September 16th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Lyger did not participate in the opening rounds of the tournament, not arriving in Mexico until the time of the finals. Fellow NJPW wrestler Hiroshi Tanahashi, who held the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, took his place.
After the tournament was announced, and before their participation, Ultimo Guerrero and Dragon Rojo Jr. kept their spot in the tournament and the CMLL World Tag Team Championship over Atlantis & Guerrero Maya Jr. on September 2th. Virus also kept the CMLL World Super Lightweight Championship over Stuka Jr.
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Diamante | W | ||||||||||||
| Polvora | Diamante | ||||||||||||
| La Sombra | W | La Sombra | W | ||||||||||
| Angel de Oro | La Sombra | W | |||||||||||
| Rey Bucanero | W | Rey Bucanero | |||||||||||
| Hector Garza | Rey Bucanero | W | |||||||||||
| Mephisto | W | Mephisto | |||||||||||
| Ephesto | La Sombra | W | |||||||||||
| Rush | Averno | ||||||||||||
| Ultimo Guerrero | W | Ultimo Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Mascara Dorada | Tanahashi | ||||||||||||
| Tanahashi | W | Ultimo Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Virus | Averno | ||||||||||||
| Averno | W | Averno | W | ||||||||||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. | La Mascara | ||||||||||||
| La Mascara | W | ||||||||||||
Finals
The finals of the tournament took place on September 16, 2011, and saw La Sombra defeat Averno two falls to one to become the 2011 Universal Champion.
2012
This year's tournament started on August 17th, with the second block on August 24th, and the final on August 31st.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Prince Devitt, a member of NJPW, was not in Mexico for the tournament and did not participate. Virus, world lightweight champion, also did not participate for reasons not explained. He became the first regular CMLL champion to skip the tournament.
Tanahashi, once again entered the tournament as IWGP Heavyweight Champion (taking Virus' spot).
None of the prior three Universal Tournament winners held a championship at the time of the tournament. La Mascara & Mascara Dorada are left as the only two luchadors to have participated in all Universal tournaments, after many familiar names did not qualify.
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Mascara Dorada | W | ||||||||||||
| Black Warrior | Mascara Dorada | ||||||||||||
| Terrible | W | Terrible | W | August 17 | |||||||||
| Mr. Aguila | Terrible | W | |||||||||||
| Rush | W | Rush | |||||||||||
| Rey Bucanero | Rush | W | |||||||||||
| Atlantis | W | Atlantis | |||||||||||
| Negro Casas | Terrible | W | |||||||||||
| Marco Corleone | 2:30 | Tanahashi | |||||||||||
| Tanahashi | W | Tanahashi | W | ||||||||||
| Polvora | 6:53 | Diamante Azul | 4:59 | August 24 | |||||||||
| Diamante Azul | W | Tanahashi | W | ||||||||||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. | 4:46 | Volador Jr. | 8:00 | ||||||||||
| La Mascara | W | La Mascara | 4:50 | ||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | Volador Jr. | W | ||||||||||
| Maximo | 1:17 | ||||||||||||
Finals
The finals of the tournament took place on August 31st, with Terrible defeating Tanahashi.
2013
This year's tournament started on August 23rd, with the second block on August 30th, and the final on September 7th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Jushin Liger, a member of NJPW, was not in Mexico for the tournament and did not participate.
Diamante Azul was scheduled to participate in Block B, but was apparently hurt during the week. Okumura, presenting the Arena Coliseo Tag Team Championship appeared in his place and became the first luchador only holding that championship to be in the tournament.
La Mascara & Mascara Dorada continued their streak of being in every year's tournament.
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Rush | W | ||||||||||||
| Terrible | Rush | W | |||||||||||
| La Mascara | W | La Mascara | August 23 | ||||||||||
| Mascara Dorada | Rush | W | |||||||||||
| Rey Escorpion | W | Rey Escorpion | |||||||||||
| Averno | Rey Escorpion | W | |||||||||||
| Mistico | W | Mistico | |||||||||||
| Polvora | Rush | ||||||||||||
| Titan | Tanahashi | W | |||||||||||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. | W | Dragon Rojo Jr. | |||||||||||
| Tanahashi | W | Tanahashi | W | August 30 | |||||||||
| Okumura | Tanahashi | W | |||||||||||
| Mephisto | La Sombra | ||||||||||||
| La Sombra | W | La Sombra | W | ||||||||||
| Virus | W | Virus | |||||||||||
| Valiente | |||||||||||||
Finals
The finals of the tournament took place on September 6, with Tanahashi defeating Rush.
2014
This year's tournament started on August 15th, with the second block on August 22nd, and the final on August 29th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Mistico missed the tournament due to an injury suffered in May.
La Mascara & Mascara Dorada both ended their record of appearing in every tournament. Dorada, Valiente and Stuka Jr. challenged Mr. Niebla, Felino and Negro Casas for the national trios championship on August 17th, after Casas & Felino had been eliminated but before Mr. Niebla had competed. Peste Negra retained, and it remained unclear if one of the challengers would taken Niebla's spot in the tournament had he lost.
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Euforia | W | ||||||||||||
| Terrible | Euforia | ||||||||||||
| Felino | Shocker | W | August 15 | ||||||||||
| Shocker | W | Shocker | |||||||||||
| Rey Escorpión | La Sombra | W | |||||||||||
| La Sombra | W | La Sombra | W | ||||||||||
| Negro Casas | W | Negro Casas | August 29 | ||||||||||
| Mephisto | La Sombra | ||||||||||||
| Ultimo Guerrero | W | Ultimo Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Mr. Niebla | Ultimo Guerrero | W | |||||||||||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. | W | Dragon Rojo Jr. | August 22 | ||||||||||
| Virus | Ultimo Guerrero | W | |||||||||||
| Niebla Roja | Volador Jr. | ||||||||||||
| Diamante Azul | W | Diamante Azul | |||||||||||
| Titan | Volador Jr. | W | |||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | ||||||||||||
Finals
Ultimo Guerrero defeated La Sombra on August 29th to win the championship for the second time.
2015
This year's tournament started on October 2nd, with the second block on October 9th, and the final on October 16th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Mascara Dorada missed the tournament as part of his year long loan to NJPW.
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Último Guerrero | W | ||||||||||||
| Rey Bucanero | Bárbaro Cavernario | ||||||||||||
| Dragón Rojo Jr. | Último Guerrero | W | October 2 | ||||||||||
| Bárbaro Cavernario | W | Shocker | |||||||||||
| Dragon Lee | W | Último Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Luciferno | Shocker | W | |||||||||||
| Ángel de Oro | Dragon Lee | October 16 | |||||||||||
| Shocker | W | Último Guerrero | |||||||||||
| Mephisto | W | Atlantis | W | ||||||||||
| Ephesto | Místico | ||||||||||||
| Místico | W | Mephisto | W | October 9 | |||||||||
| Valiente | Atlantis | W | |||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | Mephisto | |||||||||||
| Máximo | Volador Jr. | ||||||||||||
| Atlantis | W | Atlantis | W | ||||||||||
| Negro Casas | |||||||||||||
Finals
Atlantis defeated Último Guerrero on October 16th to win the championship.
2016
This year's tournament started on October 14th, with the second block on October 21st, and the final on October 28th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Barbaro Cavernario (former Mexican National Welterweight Championship) was listed in Block A, but replaced a few days later by Rey Cometa.
Blocks
| Block A (10/14) | Block B (10/21) |
|---|---|
| Mistico | La Mascara |
| Último Guerrero | Dragón Rojo Jr. |
| Negro Casas | Dragon Lee |
| Máximo Sexy | Volador Jr. |
| Valiente | Ephesto |
| Rey Cometa | Luciferno |
| Mephisto | Rey Bucanero |
| Shocker | Atlantis |
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Máximo Sexy | W | ||||||||||||
| Rey Cometa | 3:19 | Valiente | W | ||||||||||
| Valiente | W | Máximo Sexy | 1:41 | October 14 | |||||||||
| Negro Casas | 2:23 | Valiente | W | ||||||||||
| Último Guerrero | W | Último Guerrero | 10:17 | ||||||||||
| Mistico | 5:37 | Último Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Shocker | W | Shocker | 2:50 | October 28 | |||||||||
| Mephisto | 3:07 | Valiente | W | ||||||||||
| Luciferno | 3:55 | Volador Jr. | |||||||||||
| Dragón Lee | W | Dragón Lee | 4:32 | ||||||||||
| Ephesto | 3:40 | La Mascara | W | October 21 | |||||||||
| La Mascara | W | La Mascara | 6:06 | ||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | Volador Jr. | W | ||||||||||
| Dragón Rojo Jr. | 3:30 | Volador Jr. | W | ||||||||||
| Atlantis | W | Atlantis | 1:46 | ||||||||||
| Rey Bucanero | 2:30 | ||||||||||||
Finals
Valiente defeated Volador Jr. on October 28th to win the championship, at that year's Friday Dia de Muertos show.
2017
This year's tournament started on June 30th, with the second block on July 7th, and the final on July 14th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Atlantis was announced as participating in the July 7/Block B phase of the tournament but was announced out of the tournament on July 5th due to a right knee injury. Diamante Azul, holder of the Occidente Heavyweight Championship, was announced his replacement.
Blocks
| Block A
(06/30) |
Block B
(07/07) |
|---|---|
| Volador Jr. | Soberano Jr. |
| Angel de Oro | Último Guerrero |
| Negro Casas | Soberano Jr. |
| Dragon Lee | Niebla Roja |
| Valiente | Ephesto |
| Luciferno | Marco Corleone |
| Hechicero | Mephisto |
| Shocker | Diamante Azul |
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Valiente | 3:52 | ||||||||||||
| Shocker | W | Shocker | 4:28 | ||||||||||
| Hechicero | 6:58 | Volador Jr. | W | June 30 | |||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | Volador Jr. | W | ||||||||||
| Ángel de Oro | 2:21 | Negro Casas | 5:54 | ||||||||||
| Negro Casas | W | Negro Casas | W | ||||||||||
| Dragón Lee | W | Dragón Lee | 3:55 | July 14 | |||||||||
| Luciferno | 5:51 | Volador Jr. | W | ||||||||||
| Ephesto | 3:28 | Último Guerrero | 22:41 | ||||||||||
| Diamante Azul | W | Diamante Azul | 3:36 | ||||||||||
| Marco Corleone | 1:58 | Último Guerrero | W | July 7 | |||||||||
| Último Guerrero | W | Último Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Mephisto | 7:28 | Niebla Roja | 7:31 | ||||||||||
| Mistico | W | Mistico | 5:31 | ||||||||||
| Niebla Roja | W | Niebla Roja | W | ||||||||||
| Soberano Jr. | 3:22 | ||||||||||||
Finals
Volador Jr. defeated Ultimo Guerrero on July 14th.
2019
CMLL alluded to a Universal tournament taking place in 2018, but none took place. The tournament returned in early 2019
This year's tournament started on February 1st, with the second block on February 8th, and the final on February 15th.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
Euforia also held the CMLL World Trios Championship. No reason was given for his exclusion. CMLL has an unpublicized policy not allowing sons and fathers to be on opposite sides of matches, which may have led to CMLL choosing to decide to include Soberano Jr. over his father.
The Mexican National Heavyweight Championship was reactivated in 2018. This was the first edition where the championship was included.
This is also the first edition where the Mexican National Lightweight Championship may have been considered. The reigning champion, Electrico, moved from the mini division to the main division in 2018. However, the championship has not been defended or even mentioned much in CMLL since the move.
Blocks
| Block A
(02/01) |
Block B
(02/08) |
|---|---|
| Carístico | Volador Jr. |
| Barbaro Cavernario | Soberano Jr. |
| Dragón Lee | Último Guerrero |
| Valiente | Niebla Roja |
| Stuka Jr. | Cuatrero |
| Terrible | Sansón |
| Gran Guerrero | Mephisto |
| Forastero | Diamante Azul |
Tournament
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||
| Terrible | W | ||||||||||||
| Stuka Jr. | 2:31 | Terrible | W | ||||||||||
| Gran Guerrero | W | Gran Guerrero | 3:38 | February 1 | |||||||||
| Valiente | 5:16 | Terrible | W | ||||||||||
| Dragón Lee | W | Dragón Lee | 10:06 | ||||||||||
| Forastero | 4:45 | Dragón Lee | W | ||||||||||
| Caristico | W | Caristico | 5:00 | February 15 | |||||||||
| Cavernario | 3:23 | Terrible | W | ||||||||||
| Último Guerrero | W | Niebla Roja | 21:31 | ||||||||||
| Diamante Azul | 3:14 | Ultimo Guerrero | W | ||||||||||
| Cuatrero | W | Cuatrero | 4:02 | February 8 | |||||||||
| Soberano Jr. | 4:42 | Niebla Roja | W | ||||||||||
| Niebla Roja | W | Ultimo Guerrero | 6:00 | ||||||||||
| Mephisto | 3:40 | Niebla Roja | W | ||||||||||
| Volador Jr. | W | Volador Jr. | 5:04 | ||||||||||
| Sansón | 3:21 | ||||||||||||
Finals
Terrible became the second man to win the tournament twice on July 14th, and the first to do so in straight falls, pinning Niebla Roja twice (both with aid from Bestia del Ring).
2022
CMLL's 2022 Universal Tournament was expanded to include 19 wrestlers. The tournament was broken into blocks for national, Historic (formerly NWA), and CMLL champions. Double champions could only participate in one block (and were split so there'd be no more than eight wrestlers in one block.)
Mexican National Championships
The Mexican National Championship block was held on April 8 in Arena Mexico. Participating champions at time of block:
The third Mexican National Trios Champion, Raziel, was not expected to compete in the tournament as he was recovering from knee surgery. Unfortunately, Raziel passed away on April 4 after a car accident. CMLL honored him before the this block of the tournament started.
The Mexican National Welterweight Championship was in CMLL's possession but vacant at the time of the tournament.
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
| Panterita del Ring Jr. | 4:42 | ||||||||||||
| Virus | W | ||||||||||||
| Virus | 2:22 | ||||||||||||
| Templario | W | ||||||||||||
| Cancerbero | 2:38 | ||||||||||||
| Templario | W | ||||||||||||
| Templario | W | ||||||||||||
| Angel de Oro | 4:06 | ||||||||||||
| Fugaz | 5:51 | ||||||||||||
| Angel de Oro | W | ||||||||||||
| Angel de Oro | W | ||||||||||||
| Terrible | 4:49 | ||||||||||||
| Terrible | W | ||||||||||||
| Esfinge | 2:48 | ||||||||||||
Historic Championships
The Historic Championship block took place on April 15 in Arena Mexico. CMLL refrained from using the NWA portion of the "NWA Historic" championships following the reactivation of NWA Mexico in December 2021.
| Wrestler | Championship |
|---|---|
| Volador Jr. | NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship |
| Mistico | NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship |
| Stuka Jr. | NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship |
This block winner was determined by a "three-way" match (essentially wrestled as 2 back-to-back singles matches). Stuka Jr. drew a bye to the final. Mistico defeated Volador Jr., then defeated Stuka Jr. to advance (thanks to a distraction from Stuka's rival Atlantis Jr.).
CMLL Championships
The CMLL championship bracket took place on April 22 in Arena Mexico.
Angel de Oro, the other holder of the CMLL World Tag Team Championship, participated in the national block.
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||
| Titán | W | ||||||||||||
| Stigma | 4:52 | ||||||||||||
| Titán | W | ||||||||||||
| Dragón Rojo Jr. | 7:21 | ||||||||||||
| Dragón Rojo Jr. | W | ||||||||||||
| Gemelo Diablo I | 8:05 | ||||||||||||
| Titán | W | ||||||||||||
| Niebla Roja | 16:47 | ||||||||||||
| Hechicero | W | ||||||||||||
| Gemelo Diablo II | 5:04 | ||||||||||||
| Hechicero | 5:59 | ||||||||||||
| Niebla Roja | W | ||||||||||||
| Niebla Roja | W | ||||||||||||
| Sagrado | 5:00 | ||||||||||||
2022 Final
The CMLL Universal Final took place on April 29th, which was also the Arena Mexico Anniversary show.
As in the Historic qualifier, the wrestlers drew balls to determine which wrestler would get the bye. Místico drew the bye.
Titán defeated Templario, then Místico defeated Titán in the final.
2023
CMLL's 2023 Universal Tournament was expanded to include 22 wrestlers. The tournament was broken into blocks for National, Historic, and CMLL World champions.
Historic Championships
The Historic Championship block took place on April 7 in Arena Mexico. CMLL refrained from using the NWA portion of the "NWA Historic" championships following the reactivation of NWA Mexico in December 2021.
| Wrestler | Championship |
|---|---|
| Rocky Romero | NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship |
| Mistico | NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship |
| Atlantis Jr. | NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship |
This block winner was determined by a single three-way match. Mistico submitted Rocky Romero, then Atlantis Jr. immediately submitted Mistico in 22:34 to advance.
Mexican National Championships
The Mexican National Championship block was held on April 14 in Arena Mexico. Participating champions at time of block:
| Eliminated | Eliminator | Time | ||
| Espiritu Negro | Sagrado | |||
| Magia Blanca | Panterita del Ring Jr. | |||
| Dulce Gardenia | Esfinge | |||
| Rey Cometa | Fugaz | |||
| Sagrado | Templario | |||
| Esfinge | Angel de Oro | |||
| Fugaz | Panterita del Ring Jr. | |||
| Angel de Oro | Templario | |||
| Panterita del Ring Jr. | Templario | 30:42 | ||
| Templario won the cibernetico | ||||
CMLL Championships
The CMLL championship bracket took place on April 21 in Arena Mexico.
Angel de Oro, participated both in the national and the world block.
| Eliminated | Eliminator | Time | ||
| Stigma | Mephisto | |||
| Niebla Roja | Euforia | |||
| Barbaro Cavernario | Dragon Rojo Jr. | |||
| Mephisto | Angel de Oro | |||
| Hechicero | Gran Guerrero | |||
| Angel de Oro | Titán | |||
| Euforia | Titán | |||
| Titán | Dragon Rojo Jr. | |||
| Gran Guerrero | Dragon Rojo Jr. | 27:05 | ||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. won the cibernetico | ||||
2023 Final
The CMLL Universal Final took place on April 28th, which was also the Arena Mexico 67th Anniversary show.
Templario defeated Atlantis Jr. in 5:33, then Dragon Rojo Jr. defeated Templario at 10:43 to win the Universal championship.
2024
CMLL's 2024 Universal Tournament was expanded to include 23 wrestlers. The tournament was broken into blocks for National, Historic, and CMLL World champions.
Mexican National Championships
The Mexican National Championship block was held on April 5 in Arena Mexico. Participating champions at time of block:
| Eliminated | Eliminator | Time | ||
| Apocalipsis | Magia Blanca | |||
| Guerrero Maya Jr. | Rugido | |||
| Cholo | Futuro | |||
| Disturbio | Injury | |||
| Futuro | Esfinge | |||
| Star Black | Magnus | |||
| Magia Blanca | Rugido | |||
| Rugido | Esfinge | |||
| Esfinge | Magnus | 26:45 | ||
| Magnus won the cibernetico | ||||
CMLL Championships
The CMLL championship bracket took place on April 12 in Arena Mexico.
| Eliminated | Eliminator | Time | ||
| Stigma | Titán | |||
| Dragon Rojo Jr. | Niebla Roja | |||
| Gran Guerrero | Averno | |||
| Terrible | Angel de Oro | |||
| Averno | Templario | |||
| Niebla Roja | Barbaro Cavernario | |||
| Barbaro Cavernario | Templario | |||
| Angel de Oro | Titán | |||
| Templario | Titán | 29:33 | ||
| Titán won the cibernetico | ||||
Historic Championships
The Historic Championship block took place on April 19 in Arena Mexico.
| Wrestler | Championship |
|---|---|
| Máscara Dorada | NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship |
| Mistico | NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship |
| Atlantis Jr. | NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship |
This block winner was determined by a single three-way match. Mistico submitted Atlantis Jr., then Máscara Dorada submitted Mistico with the same move in 18:35 to advance.
2024 Final
The CMLL Universal Final took place on April 26th, which was also the Arena Mexico 68th Anniversary show.
Máscara Dorada pinned Magnus in 12:31, then defeated Titán at 15:25 to win the Universal championship.
2025
This year's tournament started on April 4th, spanning 4 weeks with the final two rounds on April 25th. It reverted to a single elimination format, albeit with the first round match-ups delineated by the titles' division, and a focus on three-way matches. E.g. All 3 Middleweight champions competing in a three-way elimination match.
Champions At Time Of Tournament
As National Trios champion Hombre Bala Jr. was injured and World Trios champion Averno already had a placement in the Light Heavyweight qualifier, the remaining Trios champions faced each other in a 2-on-2 tag team match.
Tournament
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||
| Titan | |||||||||||||
| Magia Blanca & Máscara Dorada | Titan | ||||||||||||
| Stigma | Mephisto & Stigma | ||||||||||||
| Rayo Metalico | |||||||||||||
| Esfinge | |||||||||||||
| Atlantis Jr. & Averno | Esfinge | Titan | |||||||||||
| Akuma | Akuma & Niebla Roja | Esfinge | |||||||||||
| Gran Guerrero | Angel de Oro | ||||||||||||
| Angel de Oro & Niebla Roja | |||||||||||||
| Magnus & Rugido | Angel de Oro | ||||||||||||
| Flip Gordon | Flip Gordon & Euforia | ||||||||||||
| Guerrero Maya Jr. & Templario | |||||||||||||
Note: Los Infernales (Euforia & Mephisto) defeated Los Viajeros Del Espacio (Futuro & Max Star) in their first round match to qualify for the semi-final.
Finals
In the three-way final on April 25th, Angel de Oro eliminated Esfinge in 8:15, and Titan defeated Angel de Oro in 13:45 to win the championship.
2026
This year's tournament reverted to the 2024 format and once again spanned 4 weeks, starting on April 3rd & ending April 24th. All matches took place in Arena Mexico.
Historic Championships
The Historic Championship block took place first, on April 3.
| Wrestler | Championship |
|---|---|
| Máscara Dorada | NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship |
| Flip Gordon | NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship |
| Averno | NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship |
This block winner was determined by a single three-way match, this time single-fall instead (reflecting CMLL's move away from elimination rules in February 2026). Máscara Dorada won by pinning Averno in 14:31.
CMLL Championships
The CMLL Championship block took place first, on April 10.
Welterweight Champion Titan broke his foot shortly before the tournament, so did not compete. Trios Champion Máscara Dorada was entitled to a spot, but had already advanced the previous week.
Although wrestled largely like a cibernetico, it was nominatively a 7-way elimination match, so tags & batting order were not strictly necessary.
| Eliminated | Eliminator | Time | ||
| Stigma | Hechicero | |||
| Niebla Roja | Templario | |||
| Templario | Mistico | |||
| Neon | Angel de Oro | |||
| Mistico | Angel de Oro | |||
| Angel de Oro | Hechicero | 39:49 | ||
| Hechicero won the cibernetico | ||||
Mexican National Championships
The Mexican National Championship block was held on April 17.
National Tag Champion Rugido was recovering from knee surgery undertaken in December, so did not compete.
As with the previous week, this was a 9-way elimination match, treated very similarly to a cibernetico.
Finals
The 3-way final took place on April 24.
