Who are the chicago lucha promotions ?

updated 01/21

There’s a lot of randomly named interlinked lucha promotions in the Chicago area all the sudden, and a completely different one running (at least in name) the show Saturday. Let me see if I can sort it all out without being too wrong – maybe you’ll be smart and just say “chicago lucha” to be close enough.

Yell if WHEN I’ve said things that don’t appear to be true.

locals

OMLL – The ‘original’ lucha promotion in Chicago, based around in-house trained worked with contributions with (random) Mexico guys. Promoted a small gym show on a regular basis in Chicago but eventually shut down to due to venue problems. JTron produced an award winning * tape of a few of their shows. Regulars now appear on all sorts of lucha (and non-lucha shows), and are refered to as OMLL guys even though there are no current OMLL shows.

* award may be thecubsfan.com’s “2003 Award For Steadest Handheld footage of a wrestling event.”

OELL – Promotion shows out in Cicero and Aurora. Business plan seems to bring in a Star main event match from Mexico and fill out 3-4 undercard matches with local workers. Claims to have promoted shows elsewhere in the Chicago area, but apparently did it under our collective conciousness till the 12/04 shows. Next big shows are at the end of the month, based around a Negro Casas/Virus vs Ultimo Guerrero/Rey Bucanero match.

ELL-MEX – Congress Theatre based promotion. Seems to be running cards with OMLL workers as a weekly cultural arts attraction? Hosting the big 01/22 show, although actually under another group’s banner.

out of towners

Lucha Va Voom – Ran one show at Park West in 11/04 and another one at Congress (which could generously be called the first ELL-MEX show) when they cancelled their Cleveland show. Gave indication they’d be back at some point, but no date scheduled.

FMLL – At least in name (maybe more? unknown), running the 01/22 show and bringing in the talent. Nominally a LA-based lucha promotion taking advantage of it’s proximenty to bring in mostly indepedent workers. The name workers are the draw, but they run angles and title matches underneath.