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LAS VEGAS – Travis Lopes Jr. is a former US Army National Guard reservist and father of two, but when he steps into a Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) ring, a switch flips—almost literally.
Inside the squared circle, Lopes is known as Flip Gordon. He is CMLL’s current World History Middleweight Champion, and in Las Vegas this week, he will help the company make history. CMLL will host his first ever solo US show. It comes in the middle of WrestleMania week, as pro wrestling fans hit Las Vegas for a few days of high-flying and hard-hitting action.
Lopes described his journey from the National Guard to a professional wrestling ring.
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CMLL star Flip Gordon performs a dive outside the ring. (CMLL)
“I started in 2015. I was in the Army National Guard at the time and I moved from the state of Idaho to the state of Massachusetts to begin this amazing journey of becoming a professional wrestler,” he said. “And now, almost 11 years later, it has taken me all over the world. I have managed to see more than 15 countries and now I have a beautiful life down here in Mexico.”
He said pro wrestling was always his dream – it just took him a different path than most.
But it was his time in the Army that helped him gain the discipline he needed to stay the course and stay focused on his ultimate goal. He said he joined the army when he was just 20 years old and that the service helped him “grow up”.
“For me, I’ve always wanted to be a professional wrestler. So it’s something I always knew I wanted to do. Obviously life takes you on different journeys, but ultimately I ended up where I wanted to be. But if it wasn’t for the Army, I don’t think I would have ever made it as a professional wrestler. The Army taught me a lot about being an adult.
“I joined at 20, but it taught me discipline. It taught me work ethic. It taught me how to be away from my family because being in the Army was the first time I was away from my family for an extended period of time,” he told Pakinomist Digital. “But I think the work ethic and the discipline really helped me the most because wrestling takes a lot of discipline. Not just with the in-ring aspect, but the traveling, being away from home, the discipline of, if you’re on a strict diet, not eating junk food or fast food.
Flip Gordon is preparing for a match in CMLL. (CMLL)
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“So, discipline is a really important part of it. And another thing that helped me, I think, was my time in college before the National Guard. I was a mascot. But I got to work out with the cheerleaders and gymnastics, and that’s where I learned my body control. I think if it wasn’t for those things, especially in the military, I would never have been a successful wrestle.”
Being at CMLL was also part of his dream as he watched legendary professional wrestlers like the late Eddie Guerrero and Chris Jericho compete for the company and eventually become huge stars around the world.
Lopes said he first got his opportunity at CMLL when he was with Ring of Honor. He made his debut at the company’s anniversary show. He said he didn’t initially think he would be offered to stay with the company since he was only in his first few months of his Ring of Honor contract.
He expected to take off in September 2017, when an earthquake nearly derailed any hope he could realize that dream. He said his willingness to stay in Mexico and see how the community came together helped him fall in love with Mexico and led him to a CMLL ring full-time.
“I came down here in September 2017, made my debut at the anniversary show. I was here for about two and a half weeks and then a big earthquake hit and they canceled shows that whole week because they had to inspect the buildings, make sure it was safe to do events,” he recalled. “And I went to the office and I was like, ‘I know I’m supposed to leave on Monday,’ I said, ‘But can I stay another week?’ And they say, ‘Well, we can’t pay you any more,’ and I thought, ‘Well, I didn’t get to fight this week. So it’s basically the same thing,” I said, “If you’re willing to pay my hotel for the next week so I can stay here, I’d love to stay one more week so I can give you my fixed dates.”
“And then, I was able to stay here for another week. And those three and a half, I think it was weeks, I just fell in love with the country of Mexico. I fell in love with the culture, I fell in love with Lucha Libre, I fell in love with the food. Just seeing how everyone came together in a time of need was just so inspiring and I just loved that feeling that everyone had. country that comes together for each other.”
Flip Gordon gets a CMLL Championship put around for life. (CMLL)
The CMLL World Historic Middleweight Championship is also known as the National Wrestling Alliance World Historic Middleweight Championship. Gordon captured the title in November 2024, defeating Villano III Jr. at the CMLL Viernes Espectacular.
Gordon will be in a tag team match with Capitán Suicida in Las Vegas. The two battle Mascarada and Neón. It’s one of a handful of matches that CMLL has put together throughout the week.
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The CMLL show will be part of Slam Fest, which will take place in the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort. Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, Stardom, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and House of Glory will also run shows at the venue.
The event starts at 3 p.m. PT.
