5 minSports
CMLL Expands U.S. Push With Las Vegas Debut and Streaming Deal
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is bringing its historic Lucha Libre brand to American audiences through a Las Vegas solo event, a streaming partnership with AEW's MyAEW platform, and a growing roster of crossover stars.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, the nearly century-old Mexican wrestling promotion, is making its most aggressive push yet into the United States market, combining a landmark solo event in Las Vegas with a streaming partnership designed to give American fans regular access to its product.
Founded in 1933, CMLL has long been one of the most historic professional wrestling promotions in the world, built on the Lucha Libre style that has made it a cultural institution in Mexico. In recent years, the company has partnered with All Elite Wrestling to feature its stars on AEW and Ring of Honor programming, allowing performers like Místico to maintain their legendary status in Mexico while reaching new audiences north of the border.
The next step came with CMLL's first solo event in Las Vegas, held as part of Slam Fest during WrestleMania weekend. The card featured Blue Panther, Ultimo Guerrero, Persephone, Tessa Blanchard, Místico, Hechicero, Templario, Angel de Oro and others, showcasing the athleticism and storytelling that CMLL believes can hook American viewers.
For fans who want to watch from home, the company has leaned on MyAEW, a streaming platform launched to give audiences access to events that are otherwise difficult to find. CMLL's New Japan Pro-Wrestling Fantastica Mania Mexico 2026 was added to the schedule, followed by several more shows, including the company's anniversary event on Sept. 18.
CMLL Mexican national champion Thunder Rosa described the streaming access as a major breakthrough. «A lot of people have been asking for a long time, how can they watch CMLL, right?» she said. «And I think right now CMLL is at a point in where it's known globally.» She noted that fans have long traveled to Arena México in Mexico City to experience Lucha Libre in person, but the question of where to watch it at home remained unanswered for many. «Now they partner with AEW with this big partnership that we have had on this almost for two years and now people in America, if you have access to you can watch the shows,» she said.
Thunder Rosa, who works for both companies, said the arrangement allows her to point fans toward a single platform. «It excites me because as someone who works in both companies, now I can tell people, if you have now you can watch CMLL,» she said. She added that CMLL features some of the best wrestling in the world and hopes more of its programming becomes available on the platform.
Miguel Castro, who handles English-language commentary among other roles for CMLL, said the biggest obstacle to growth in the United States is brand recognition. «I believe that our talents' work speaks for itself,» he said. «Anyone that enjoys wrestling, even if you like it by 5% compared to a fan, you will enjoy a CMLL show.» He argued that CMLL's focus on sport over drama gives it a distinct appeal that has translated well in partnerships with AEW and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. «Even if you've never seen wrestling and you go to a CMLL show, you will enjoy it. It's fun. It'll make you gasp, it will make you scream, you'll have fun, and then you're gonna want to know more,» he said.
Castro noted that CMLL operates with little to no advertising budget yet still sells out Arena México for its shows. He credited AEW with giving CMLL a platform to showcase its talent and brand while helping create stars in the U.S. Místico's entrance music, «Me Muero,» has become a sing-along moment at AEW and Ring of Honor events, while Persephone has emerged as a rising star in AEW after winning the TBS Championship at All In.
Looking ahead, Castro said success by September 2027 would mean increasing pay-per-view numbers tenfold on MyAEW and securing a media deal in the United States. He said he would prefer such a deal not be limited to Spanish-language networks like Univision or Telemundo simply because CMLL is Mexican. «That, for me, would be huge,» he said, though he acknowledged it may not happen soon since conversations have not yet begun. CMLL recently started a partnership with Fox Sports in Mexico that reaches about a million viewers monthly, a figure Castro called significant.
Next on the CMLL calendar is Fantastica Mania, a showcase in partnership with RevPro scheduled for Oct. 17 and 18. Both shows are available for purchase at $14.99.
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