The CMLL Universal Championship of 2017 was a high-octane arena of spectacle, athleticism, and traditional wrestling entertainment that took place at Arena México, in Mexico City, from January 20 to February 10. Gone were any remnants of participation awards and social justice lectures. Instead, this championship was a celebration of raw power, skill, and talent in the world of lucha libre, a sport that's both primal and elegant. Here, participants weren't competing for hugs; they were fighting for glory, pride, and the title of supreme talent in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), one of the oldest wrestling promotions in the world. CMLL, founded in 1933, remains a defiant outpost of true wrestling values.
The CMLL Universal Championship is no stranger to colorful narratives and bold personas. The 2017 edition was no different, with its all-action combat and electric crowds. It brought together sixteen champions from different weight classes, each attempting to cement their place in the lucha libre tradition. Wrestlers from all over vied for the grand prize, igniting unforgettable matches weekly. This was wrestling at its most captivating: unapologetically fierce and authentically exhilarating.
Our 2017 hero was Volador Jr., a seasoned high-flyer with an acumen for drama and thrilling acrobatics. Volador Jr. clawed through the competition with that characteristic flair, filling the arena with tension and excitement. No social statements, just pure lucha libre spirit grinding away to outdo his opponents, displaying unmatched prowess. He faced formidable opponents like Mephisto and Mascara Dorada, yet he kept his eyes on the prize. It was halting and primal, who needs participation medals when there's history to be made?
The format of the championship was unique, featuring a tournament that involved all current male CMLL champions, showcasing their abilities in face-offs full of fire and fireworks. Matches took on a knockout format, quickly eliminating the weak and elevating those who demonstrated the true mettle required to survive. There's no room here for politics, just power, agility, and sheer will to win.
The event was spread across five weekly shows. Each evening pulsated with the echoes of valiant efforts and was a testament to wrestling without frills or fancies. Arena México, the giant cathedral of lucha libre, was packed to the rafters with fans eager to watch history unfold and witness wrestlers untarnished by the lure of virtue signaling. The air was charged with a desire for excellence, not approval from the virtue-peddling section of the crowd.
Timeless in its rules and structure, this CMLL championship retained its traditional stance, avoiding the pitfalls of progressivism that often seeks to dilute the pure essence of sportsmanship. Here, moves and maneuvers were deadly art; fans cheered with no guilt, no worrying if they were shouting too loud. Modern-day principles couldn't penetrate this fortress of rugged entertainment. The audience yearned for an outlet like this, where action spoke, and trivial matters stayed outside the ring.
Volador Jr.’s journey through the Universal Championship epitomized a passion that remains untouched by the slippery slope of contemporary mantras. His victory reaffirmed the essential parts of wrestling that hark back to warriors from eras past — stoic, true, and committed solely to the art of wrestling. In a domain free from any external noise, his matches were exaltations of strategy, dexterity, and mental fortitude.
While some may find it hard to ignore the constant embroilment in today's sociopolitical cube, the CMLL Universal Championship in 2017 was a reprieve that reminded fans why they fell in love with wrestling in the first place. It was all about resilient athletes who brought narrative and resolution into each battle they engaged in, unswayed by the external winds of opinion, confronting and conquering the struggle in its sheerest form.
The 2017 tournament thus became an unforgettable bookmark in the history of CMLL, lauding competitors where victory was the ultimate triumph, not a place to pontificate self-importance or victimhood. It displayed the virtues of a sport with rich history and tradition that continues to captivate individuals with its authentic allure and timeless grit. Here lies the heartbeat of wrestling, undisturbed.
To those onlookers anticipating virtue over valor, the championship was an affront. Yet to genuine aficionados, Volador Jr.'s victory was a celebration of what makes sport great — unapologetic determination, heritage, a touch of machismo, and unapologetic talent displayed at its zenith. This was a pugilistic ballet, unfurling with simplicity and mere physical genius, yet this, ladies and gentlemen, is wrestling without restraint.