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LAS VEGAS – Pro wrestling fans will flock to Las Vegas for days of action ahead of WrestleMania 42 this week, but WWE is hardly the only game in town.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), one of Mexico’s most popular pro wrestling promotions, will hold its first solo show in the United States in its 92-year history. CMLL has produced many legendary pro wrestlers, and some of its top stars are making significant waves in other major North American promotions, such as All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH).
The company has partnered with AEW and ROH on plenty of occasions, with some professional wrestlers in the latter promotions signing dual contracts, allowing them to compete on each other’s shows, including Místico and Thunder Rosa.
CMLL is ready to put together an exciting card that will showcase the Lucha Libre style of pro wrestling that the average fan may have never seen before.
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CMLL star Flip Gordon performs a dive outside the ring. (CMLL)
Flip Gordon, who is the National Wrestling Alliance’s historic middleweight world champion, is among those taking part in matches at the historic CMLL show. He said that CMLL hosting its own show in Las Vegas underscored the incredible momentum the company has put together.
“I think it’s very important. Last year we sold over a million tickets in Arena Mexico, which no other company has ever done in the history of professional wrestling,” Gordon told Pakinomist Digital. “CMLL is on a hot streak right now. We’re selling out shows left and right. I think this year we’re going to break the record for most sold out shows in our 92 year history.
“This show is very significant because it is the first time we cross the border into the United States as a company. We are bringing our talent to Las Vegas to put on the best show we can to show what Lucha Libre is. CMLL is the creator of Lucha Libre. Now is our chance to show exactly what Lucha Libre is and we are very excited.”
He added that fans are in for a treat as many notable names will be on the card.
“Oh, this show is stacked,” Gordon said. “So, we got, in the main event, we got Místico (and Templario) vs. Hechicero (and Ángel de Oro) in a champion vs. champion match. We’ve got Claudio Castagnoli vs. Atlantis Jr. … Atlantis Jr., of course, the second-generation superstar. He’s a huge star. He’s having a breakout HeLL year right now.
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Mistico and Ultimo Guerrero compete during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling CMLL Fantastica Mania event at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on February 18, 2026. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
“Then we have my match. I’m tagging with Capitán Suicida. We’re going up against two of the brightest young stars in all of professional wrestling, not just Mexico, all over the world, in Máscara Dorada and Neón. One will be a really fun, fast-paced match. I think that one, a lot of people will get that match, then we’ll be very interested in seeing others.
“We got Persephone defending her Women’s Championship (against Tessa Blanchard). We have another trios match. We have a legends match. We have Blue Panther against Último Guerrero, which is going to be phenomenal. Blue Panther, I think he’s in his 60s and he’s still at the top of his game, because if you’ve never seen this show, this is a must-see show. He’s going to be crazy, especially against Último.”
Gordon, who is from Massachusetts, said he relishes the opportunity to be on the card because he is an American who gets to represent his adopted home, Mexico, at such a crucial time.
He added that he hoped to showcase the different style of pro wrestling that CMLL has to offer.
“I’m very honored to be a part of this map because obviously I’m a foreigner, I live down here as a foreigner,” Gordon told Pakinomist Digital. “My wife and my family, I have two daughters. They are Mexican, they were born here.
Atlantis Jr. enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling and CMLL Fantastica Mania event at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo on February 18, 2026. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
“So, being part of the show as a foreigner, but representing Mexico, representing CMLL, it’s a real honor for me because I get to represent the country that I love, the company that I love. And it’s going to be exciting to show a different style because a lot of the fans have never seen me do Lucha Libre. They’ve only seen me in the American style. So I’ve shown how much I’m excited, how much I’m the most professional. I’ve grown as a person and it will be really fun to see some familiar faces.”
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CMLL is one of a handful of companies participating in Slam Fest, joining Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, Stardom, Maple Leaf Pro and House of Glory. Each company will host their shows at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino Resort.
The CMLL event is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. PT.
