The IWRG Rey del Ring (Spanish for "King of the Ring") refers both to an annual tournament and a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican Lucha libre professional wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG). From 2002 until 2011 the IWRG Rey del Ring only referred to an annual 30-man tournament, but as of the 2011 tournament there is also a physical championship belt that is and can be defended throughout the year.

IWRG Rey del Ring Championship
El Pantera, winner of the 2011 Rey del Ring tournament and first holder of the Rey del Ring Championship
Details
PromotionInternational Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG)
Date establishedJune 16, 2011[1]
Current champion(s)Vangellys
Date wonMay 12, 2024
Statistics
First champion(s)El Pantera[1]
Most reignsHijo de Máscara Año 2000, Oficial Factor and Hijo de Pirata Morgan (2 reigns)
Longest reignDemonio Infernal (672 days)
Shortest reignEterno (49 days)
Oldest championPantera (47 years)[2]
Youngest championHijo de Pirata Morgan (20 years)[3]
Heaviest championRicky Cruz (123 kg (271 lb))
Lightest championHijo de Pirata Morgan (80 kg (180 lb))[3]

As it is a professional wrestling championship, the championship was not won not by actual competition, but by a scripted ending to a match determined by the bookers and match makers.[a] On occasion the promotion declares a championship vacant, which means there is no champion at that point in time. This can either be due to a storyline,[b] or real life issues such as a champion suffering an injury being unable to defend the championship,[c] or leaving the company.[d]

Rey del Ring tournament

edit

Originally the Rey del Ring tournament was a 30-man elimination match, starting with four wrestlers in the ring, then when a wrestler was eliminated through pinfall, submission, count out or disqualification another participant was added until 29 men had been eliminated. In 2008 IWRG changed the format to be more like World Wrestling Entertainment's Royal Rumble match; two men start in the ring and a new wrestler joins the match at a specific time interval. Unlike the Royal Rumble throwing a wrestler out of the ring did not result in elimination. The first tournament, the 2002 Rey del Ring was held on June 6, 2002, in IWRG's primary arena, Arena Naucalpan in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The tournament was won by Último Vampiro when he eliminated Bombero Infernal as the last participant.[8] In 2004 the winner of that year's Rey del Ring tournament was also awarded the vacant IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship; the match saw Fantasy eliminate Avisman as the last participant to win the tournament and the championship.[9] Cerebro Negro won both the 2005 and 2006 tournaments, making him the only person to win the tournament twice.[10][11] In 2007 the Rey del Ring was won by Yamato, the first non-Mexican to win the tournament.[12] Yamato worked for IWRG through a deal struck with Japanese wrestling promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) that allowed AJPW to send young wrestlers to Mexico to gain in-ring experience. The 2008 Rey del Ring was won by Scorpio, Jr. while the 2009 Rey del Ring tournament was won by Puerto Rican Ricky Cruzz.[13] The two Rey del Ring winners would later team up to win the IWRG Intercontinental Tag Team Championship from Los Junior Dinamitas (El Hijo de Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000, Jr.).[14] IWRG did not hold a Rey del Ring tournament in 2010 and never gave an official explanation as to why not. In 2011 IWRG introduced the Rey del Ring Championship to be awarded to the winner of the 2011 Rey del Ring tournament winner El Pantera.[1] Pantera would vacate the Championship on the date of the 2012 Rey del Ring tournament, allowing tournament winner Oficial Factor to become the new champion as well.[15] After Oficial 911 won the 2013 Rey del Ring tournament Oficial Factor handed over the championship belt to 911.[16]

Rey del Ring Championship

edit

El Pantera became the first ever Rey del Ring Champion as a result of winning the 2011 Rey del Ring tournament on June 16, 2011 when he eliminated Último Gladiador as the last tournament participant.[1] He was awarded with an actual championship belt, to be work for IWRG matches and defended when appropriate between tournaments. Pantera made the first ever championship defense on July 10, 2011 when he successfully defeated Último Gladiador to retain the championship. The championship was vacated for the 2012 Rey del Ring tournament so that the winner of the tournament could become the new Rey del Ring Champion at the same time. Oficial Factor won the tournament, lastly eliminating Hijo del Pirata Morgan to win the Championship.[15] on August 12, 2012 Hijo del Pirata Morgan became the first person to win the Rey del Ring Championship outside of the tournament when he defeated Oficial Factor.[17] He held the championship for a total of 42 days, until September 23, 2012 when Oficial Factor regained the championship.[18] Factor won the title in a Relevos Suicidas match that also included Trauma I and Mascara Ano 2000 Jr., and as a result of his victory Factor also won the IWRG Junior de Juniors Championship from Hijo del Pirata Morgan.[18]

Rey del Ring Tournament winners

edit
Year Winner Date Location Notes
2002 Último Vampiro June 9, 2002 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [8][13]
2003 Unknown 2003 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [e][19]
2004 Fantasy March 18, 2004 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico Won the vacant IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship as a result.[9]
2005 Cerebro Negro November 17, 2005 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [10]
2006 Cerebro Negro 2006 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico Only two-time winner.[11]
2007 Yamato July 26, 2007 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [12]
2008 Scorpio, Jr. July 24, 2008 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [13]
2009 Ricky Cruzz July 16, 2009 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [13]
2010 N/A N/A N/A No Rey del Ring tournament was held in 2010
2011 El Pantera June 16, 2011 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [1]
2012 Oficial Factor May 31, 2012 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [15]
2013 Oficial 911 May 19, 2013 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [16]
2014 Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 May 4, 2014 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [20]
2015 Ricky Cruz April 5, 2015 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [21]
2016 Máscara Año 2000 Jr. December 11, 2016 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [22]
2017 Imposible May 14, 2017 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [23]
2018 Emperador Azteca May 20, 2018 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico [24]
2019 Demonio Infernal May 19, 2019 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico
2020 Demonio Infernal June 14, 2020
August 23, 2020
August 30, 2020
September 6, 2020
Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico
2021 Hijo de Canis Lupus May 9, 2021 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico
2022 El Hijo de Pirata Morgan May 15, 2022 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico
2023 El Hijo de Pirata Morgan May 7, 2023 Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico
2024 Vangellys May 5, 2024
May 12, 2024
Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico

Rey del Ring Championship history

edit
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
N/A Unknown information
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
  1  El Pantera  June 16, 2011  Rey del Ring (2011) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  350 Awarded a championship belt after winning the 2011 Rey del Ring tournament. [1]
Vacated  May 31, 2012 Vacated for the 2012 tournament. [15]
  2  Oficial Factor  May 31, 2012  Rey del Ring (2012) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  91 Won the 2012 Rey del Ring tournament. [15]
  3  Hijo de Pirata Morgan  August 12, 2012  Caravan de Campeones (2012) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  42   [17]
  4  Oficial Factor  September 23, 2012 IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  2  238   [18]
  5  Oficial 911  May 19, 2013  Rey del Ring (2013) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  350   [16]
  6  Hijo de Máscara Año 2000  May 4, 2014  Rey del Ring (2014) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  154   [20]
  7  El Hijo de Dos Caras  October 5, 2014  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  98  
  8  Hijo de Máscara Año 2000  January 11, 2015  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  2  84  
Vacated  April 5, 2015 Vacated for the 2015 tournament. [21]
  9  Ricky Cruz  April 5, 2015  Rey del Ring (2015) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  2  616   [21]
Vacated  December 11, 2016 Vacated for the 2016 tournament. [15]
  10  Máscara Año 2000 Jr.  December 11, 2016  Rey del Ring (2016) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  154   [22]
Vacated  May 14, 2017 Vacated for the 2017 tournament. [23]
  11  Imposible  May 14, 2017  Rey del Ring (2017) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  371 Won the 2017 Rey del Ring tournament [23]
Vacated  May 30, 2018 Vacated for the 2018 tournament.
  12  Emperador Azteca  May 20, 2018  Rey del Ring (2018) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  364 Won the 2018 Rey del Ring tournament
Vacated  May 19, 2019 Vacated for the 2019 tournament.
  13  Demonio Infernal  May 19, 2019  Rey del Ring (2019) Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  672 This was a 30-man battle royal where Demonio Infernal won by lastly eliminating Huracan Ramirez Jr.
  14  Eterno  March 21, 2021  Guerreros de Acero Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  49 This was a Lucha de Apuestas Hair and Mask vs Titles tag team match between Eterno (hair) and El Hijo del Espectro Jr. (mask) against Fresero Jr. (Intercontinental Heavyweight) and Demonio Infernal (Rey del Ring). Eterno pinned Demonio Infernal to win the title. [25]
Vacated  May 9, 2021 Vacated for the 2021 tournament.
  15  Hijo de Canis Lupus  May 9, 2021  Rey del Ring Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  371 Defeated DMT Azul by DQ to win the vacant title. DMT Azul performed a piledriver (which is a banned move in Mexico), being DQ'd, so Hijo de Canis Lupus won the title. [26][27]
Vacated  May 15, 2022 Vacated for the 2022 tournament.
 16  Hijo del Pirata Morgan  May 15, 2022  Rey del Ring Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  2  364 This was a 30-man battle royal where Hijo del Pirata Morgan won by lastly eliminating Flamita. [28]
 17  Hijo de Canis Lupus (II)  May 14, 2023  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  126 Not to be confused with the original Hijo de Canis Lupus, which currently goes by the name, Alpha Wolf. [29]
 18  Vito Fratelli  September 17, 2023  Lucha Libre Luchadores Al Grito De Guerra Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  238 [30]
 19  Vangellys  May 12, 2024  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico  1  214+ [31]

Combined reigns

edit

As of December 12, 2024.

Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns
Combined days
1 Demonio Infernal 1 672
2 Ricky Cruz 1 616
3 El Hijo de Canis Lupus 1 371
Imposible 1
5 Emperador Azteca 1 364
El Hijo de Pirata Morgan 2 364
7 El Pantera 1 350
Oficial 911 1
9 Oficial Factor 2 329
10 Hijo de Máscara Año 2000 2 258
11 Vito Fratelli 1 238
12 Máscara Año 2000 Jr. 1 154
13 Hijo de Canis Lupus (II) 1 126
14 El Hijo de Dos Caras 1 98
15 Eterno 1 49
16 Vangellys 1 214+

Rey del Ring (2002)

edit
Rey del Ring (2002)
PromotionInternational Wrestling Revolution Group
DateApril 21, 2002[32]
CityNaucalpan, State of Mexico[32]
VenueArena Naucalpan[32]
Event chronology
← Previous
IWRG 6th Anniversary Show
Next →
El Castillo del Terror (2002)
Rey del Ring chronology
← Previous
First
Next →
Rey del Ring (2004)

The very first 'Rey del Ring tournament was held on April 21, 2002, produced and scripted by IWRG and held in Arena Naucalpan. While most of the match results are known, sources are unclear on who competed in the Rey del Ring Torneo Cibernetico match, only recording that Bombero Infernal won the match.

No.Results[32][33]Stipulations
1Avisman defeated MalignoBest Two Out Of Three Falls Match
2Black Jaguar defeated Zonik 2000Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match
3Cirujano and Paramedico defeated Los Megas (Mega and Ultra Mega)Best Two Out Of Three Falls Tag Team Match
4Los Payasos Tricolor (Coco Blanco, Coco Rojo and Coco Verde) defeated Comando Delta, Engendro and Toro IrissonBest Two Out Of Three Falls Six Man Tag Team Match
5Bombero Infernal wonRey del Ring Torneo Cibernetico elimination match

Rey del Ring (2004)

edit
Rey del Ring (2004)
PromotionInternational Wrestling Revolution Group
DateMarch 18, 2004[34]
CityNaucalpan, State of Mexico[34]
VenueArena Naucalpan[34]
Event chronology
← Previous
IWRG 8th Anniversary Show
Next →
El Castillo del Terror (2004)
Rey del Ring chronology
← Previous
Rey del Ring (2002)
Next →
Rey del Ring (2005)

The 2004 Rey del Ring show was a Mexican lucha libre, or professional wrestling supercard show held March 18, 2004. The show was produced and scripted by International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) and was held in Arena Naucalpan, IWRG's main venue, located Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. The show marked the second time IWRG hed a ""Rey del Ring" ("King of the Ring") and it would later grow into an annual tradition. Due to minimal record keeping for professional wrestling the full show results are not known. It is only known that Fantasy won the "Rey del Ring" tournament, and as a result won the vacant IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship as a result.

Results
No.Results[34][35]Stipulations
1Fantasy won the tournament, opponents undocumentedRey del Ring elimination match for the IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship

Footnotes

edit
  1. ^ Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities – but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters"[4]
  2. ^ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 271, Chapter: Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [World Class, Adkisson] "Championship held up and rematch ordered because of the interference of manager Gary Hart"[5]
  3. ^ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 20, Chapter: (United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) NWA/WCW TV Title "Rhodes stripped on 85/10/19 for not defending the belt after having his leg broken by Ric Flair and Ole & Arn Anderson"[6]
  4. ^ Duncan & Will (2000) p. 201, Chapter: (Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title "Vacant on 93/01/18 when Spike leaves the USWA."[7]
  5. ^ Reference to the 2003 tournament has been found but no winner was identified.

References

edit
  • Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling - 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2.
  • Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  1. ^ a b c d e f Mexicool, Rey (June 17, 2011). "IWRG (Resultados 16 de junio): El nuevo Rey del Ring es El Pantera". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500 - 2008 :344 Pantera". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States: Sports and Entertainment publications LLC. August 2008. October 2008.
  3. ^ a b "El tesoro del Hijo del Pirata". Mi Lucha Libre (in Spanish). May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  5. ^ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 271.
  6. ^ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 20.
  7. ^ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 201.
  8. ^ a b "2000 Especial!". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 9, 2001. pp. 2–20. issue 2488.
  9. ^ a b "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2004". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 24, 2005. 91.
  10. ^ a b "2005 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 3, 2006. 140.
  11. ^ a b "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2006. issue 192. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "2007 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). December 26, 2007. issue 244. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d "Rey del Ring". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  14. ^ Reyes, Eduardo (August 9, 2009). "Resultados IWRG, Ricky Cruzz y Y Scorpio Jr, Nuevos Campeones Mundiales de Parejas" (in Spanish). Estrellas del Ring. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Factor Campeón del Rey del Ring". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). June 1, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  16. ^ a b c Mejía Eguiluz, Diego (May 20, 2013). "Oficial 911, nuevo Rey del Ring". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  17. ^ a b "Noche de Campeonato en IWRG". MedioTiempo (in Spanish). August 13, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  18. ^ a b c "¡Factor, nuevo bicampeón de IWRG". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). September 23, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  19. ^ "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2003". Súper Luchas (in Spanish). January 5, 2004. 40.
  20. ^ a b Mejía Eguiluz, Diego (May 5, 2014). "El Hijo de Máscara Año Dos Mil, Rey del Ring 2014". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  21. ^ a b c Mejía Eguiluz, Diego (April 6, 2015). "Ricky Cruz nuevamente Rey del Ring". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  22. ^ a b Lizarraga, Alfonso (December 12, 2016). "Mascara Año 2000 Jr. Rey del Ring de IWRG 2016". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  23. ^ a b c Lizarraga, Alfonso (May 15, 2017). "Imposible Rey del Ring 2017". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  24. ^ Lizarraga, Alfonso (May 21, 2018). "Emperador Azteca es el nuevo Rey de Naucalpan". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  25. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 21, 2021). "IWRG Guerreros De Acero". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 9, 2021). "IWRG Rey Del Ring". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  27. ^ "Hijo de Canis Lupus ganó el Rey de Ring por descalificación de DMT Azul | Superluchas". 10 May 2021.
  28. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 15, 2022). "IWRG Rey Del Ring 2022". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  29. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 14, 2023). "IWRG". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 17, 2023). "IWRG/RGR Lucha Libre Luchadores Al Grito De Guerra". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  31. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 12, 2023). "IWRG". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d "IWRG". CageMatch. April 21, 2002. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  33. ^ "IWRG @ Naucalpan - Rey del Ring 2002". Wrestling Data. April 21, 2002. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  34. ^ a b c d "IWRGIWRG Rey del Ring 2004". CageMatch. March 18, 2004. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  35. ^ "IWRG @ Naucalpan - Rey del Ring 2004". CageMatch. March 18, 2004. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
edit