El Protector (2018) was a
major ''lucha libre'' event produced and scripted by Mexican
professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling that has little relationship to the rules of the amateur olympic form. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails man ...
International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), which took place on January 31, 2016 in Arena Naucalpan,
Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The 2017 ''El Protector'' was the seventh annual event produced under that name. The focal point of the show was the ''El Protector''
tag team
Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...
tournament where eight teams composed of a "rookie" and a "vet" team up to compete for as a way to showcase the "rookie" of the team.
The 2018 El Protector tournament saw 8 teams of rookies and veterans wrestle in a single elimination tournament.
Villano V Jr. was originally scheduled to team with Shadow Boy, but IWRG booked the tournament so that
Rokambole Jr. was allowed to replace Shadow Boy to team with his brother. The brothers won the tournament, defeating Ram El Carnero and
Trauma I
Trauma I (born March 27, 1985) is a Mexican ''luchador enmascarado'', or masked professional wrestler, working on the Mexican independent circuit and as a freelance wrestler for promotions such as International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG), ...
in the finals, marking the first time that a "rookie"/"veteran" team did not win the tournament. There were five non-tournament matches on the show as well.
Production
Background
''Lucha Libre'' has a tradition for a tournament where a rookie, or ''novato'', would be teamed up with an experienced veteran wrestler for a
tag team
Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establish ...
tournament in the hopes of giving the ''Novato'' a chance to show case their talent and move up the ranks.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Co., Ltd. (CMLL; , "World Wrestling Council") is a ''lucha libre'' professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City. The promotion was previously known as ''Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre'' (''EMLL'') (''Mexi ...
has held a
Torneo Gran Alternativa ("Great Alternative Tournament") almost every year since 1994, but the concept predates the creation of the Gran Alternativa.
The Mexican
professional wrestling company International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG; at times referred to as ''Grupo Internacional Revolución'' in Mexico) started their own annual rookie/veteran tournament in 2010.
The first two tournaments were called ''Torneo Relampago de Proyeccion a Nuevas Promesas de la Lucha Libre'' (
Spanish for "Projecting a new promise lightning tournament") but would be renamed the ''
El Protector'' tournament in 2012.
Storylines
The event featured five professional wrestling matches
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. Some gimmick matches are more common than others and are often used to advance or conclude a ...
with different wrestlers involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines. Wrestlers were portrayed as either heels
The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.
Structure
To distribute the compressive forces exert ...
(referred to as ''rudos'' in Mexico, those that portray the "bad guys") or faces (''técnicos'' in Mexico, the "good guy" characters) as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches.
Results
References
External links
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{{Portal bar, Mexico
2018 in professional wrestling
2018 in Mexico
IWRG El Protector
February 2018 events in Mexico